Pinterest Round-Up: January Projects

It's cold out and I have a sleeping baby after 8 p.m., so what better excuse to dive into some Pinterest projects on these chilly, winter evenings and during baby naps on weekends. I've been waiting until the holidays were over and my schedule to not be as crazy to start some of these. Here's what I'm hoping to work on this month.

READ Box for Library Books

Maybe it's the librarian in me who knows how often library books go missing or get mixed up with books kids already have, so I'm making Carter a READ box for his library books to keep in the living room. His books stay in the bedroom.

Baby Shadow Box

It's taken this long for me to realize that the pile of items in Carter's room that I set aside for a shadow box are still sitting there - his hospital bracelets, rose from church, bassinet name tag, etc. 

[Image from Pinterest.]

Space for Dennis' Stuff in the Living Room

This isn't really a Pinterest project but an organization task I need to accomplish. We have a large ottoman in the living room that doubles as a storage bin. I'm going to organize the inside for all of Dennis' mail, magazines, textbooks, etc.

Baby Size Hangers

Finally, I want to make size hangars for Carter's closet. Four months late again but at first I thought I didn't need it but I realized again tonight that it would be nice to have to separate his clothes.

[Image from Pinterest.]

And I hit the jackpot last weekend at Target with Christmas ornaments, so I think an impromptu Pinterest party might be in order to make holiday wreaths. Then I don't have to store the ornaments or I won't forget until it's too late that I bought them.

[Image from Pinterest.]

What Pinterest projects are you working on this winter?

Merry Christmas, Carrie!

Happy Holidays, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! It's hard to believe that it is already over. There was so much hype and rushing around that as always I feel like I missed it.

This year I was so much more excited about the gifts I gave that I really didn't even have time to think about the gifts I received. I'm still unpacking some of these that literally got put in the bedroom and not thought of again since we were so busy.

It was also special because it was Carter's first Christmas. Not that he had any idea what was going on but it was still fun to somewhat see it thru his eyes. We are still celebrating of course since Dennis worked. Tomorrow we are taking Carter to see the lights at Phipps.

I have to say that my favorite gift this year or at least the one I've used the most so far, would have to be my heating blanket from Dennis. It could be 60 degrees out and I'll be under the blanket. I've been asking for this for years, so I'm so happy I got it. And don't worry it is up to safety standards for the fireman. I can't wait to start reading some books cuddled up under my new blanket.

What were your favorite gifts?

Happy Holidays! Just a quick post for today! My goal as always is to be on here more in the New Year! We will see what happens!

Christmas DIY: Beer Cap Coasters

Do you ever find that you have multiple bottle caps in your beer area, especially after a picnic or holiday party? I keep them in a bowl in our bar area in the hopes that I will have enough if I every do one of those great Pinterest projects using beer caps or wine corks.

One of the ones I had pinned was beer cap coasters. I made them tonight for my sister's fiance. The coasters are incredibly easy. The only supplies you need are beer caps and a hot glue gun. You might also want to grab some cardboard to glue on.

Arrange the beer caps in an order that you like. Keep in mind that you will need 16. I guess you could do it with nine but I found it looked better with the larger number. With that being said though, I only made a set of two rather than hat I hoped would be four or six. 

Here's a picture of the coasters.

Happy Holidays!

All I Want for Christmas...

What do you want for Christmas?

My top holiday wish every year is a trip; however, that isn't always realistic although I have gotten it twice before. There's always hoping.

This year, I'm hoping for...

- The new season of Blue Bloods on DVD

- A FitBit

- A label maker (nerd alert)

Of course, I'm always hoping for new books and clothes, since I never buy these items for myself.

Happy Holidays!

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

(New Year's Eve 2008, Cruise to the Bahamas)

For a person obsessed with travel, I want nothing else than to be on a plane to a warm destination, big city or a cozy winter retreat; however, I have to say that when it comes to traveling for the holidays I'm all for it but I want to be home on the actual holiday.

I've spent a few Thanksgivings away from home and that was fine because I was surrounded by family. At Thanksgiving, you start to notice the Christmas decorations going up. In a warmer climate, this was always a little weird to me. Santa in a bathing suit and on a surf board, fake snow everywhere and Christmas lights on palm trees. I loved it but I missed my crisp, cool Northern air; the smell of fresh fine; and Santa dressed traditionally.

So, although I'm always eager to travel - I like to go before or after. I would love to be leaving for a cruise again this year on the day after Christmas but that's not happening. I'll just have to wait for my next plane trip in the fall - Denver! Happy Holidays!

A Few Pins I'd Like to Actually Try

What is your relationship with Pinterest? Is it a love-hate relationship like mine? I love Pinterest but sometimes it can be quite overwhelming. There is too much there. Too many pins to try. Too many pins to make you feel inadequate about what you are already doing in life. Too many distractions. I'd like to say I do a lot of what I pin but who am I kidding - I don't have the time for that. Here are a few pins though that if time permits in the next few months I would definitely like to try.

Bike Wreath

(Photo courtesy of REI.)

I make a wreath every year anyways, so this pin shouldn't be too hard to accomplish. I just need to find a bike wheel. The instructions seem pretty simple. If anyone wants to learn to make a wreath, let me know! It is one domestic skill I have!

Mail Art

(Photo courtesy of The Realistic Mama.)

I'm one of the few people that still sends snail mail. I love sending it and admit it - who doesn't love receiving mail that isn't a bill, ad or junk. Everyone should be shaking their head yes! Now, I just to actually remember to do this when I send mail. I have three cards currently waiting to go out, so maybe I'll start there. This blog has some great suggestions to make mail prettier in the mailbox.

Layered Picture Frames

(Photo courtesy of Beneath My Heart.)

I doubt that I would do this for the apartment but fingers crossed if we ever get to move into a house I love this photo arrangement. I'd want to use my own artwork and black and white photos from places that Dennis and I have been together. 

There are so many more pins I want to try but I'm limited by time, money, space and tools. I remember what planning a wedding was like with Pinterest, now I'm obsessed with home decor and all I have is an apartment where I can't paint and am running out of space. Sigh...

Happy Pinning!

These are a Few of My Favorite Gifts

I got so many wonderful gifts from family and friends - new clothes, books, fun notebooks for work and an awesome Christmas quilt from my mom and so many other fabulous presents. One of my favorite gifts fuels my 2014 TV obsession - Dennis gave me all three seasons of Blue Bloods. I had checked the first two seasons out from the library but had never seen the third season. That was one good reason about being sick during the holidays because I had plenty of time to rest and catch up on the Reagan family.

 

 

What did everyone get for Christmas?



Simplify Sunday: Old Christmas Cards

Today, I was taking down the Christmas cards that were hanging in my kitchen. Don't worry! It's the only piece of Christmas that I'm taking down, especially considering that I didn't get my decorations up until late. I'm just trying to organize the kitchen and they needed to go.

What do you normally do with your old Christmas cards?

I absolutely love receiving and sending Christmas cards but once January comes around its hard to part with those that have been received yet it is also hard to come up with a good plan on why they should be kept year after year.

In the past, I think I either donated the cards to the library for projects with my teens or recycled them. Sometimes I even used them for my only DIY projects, which I didn't really get to do this year. What to do then?

I was searching around online and found that you could donate old Christmas cards. There is an organization called St. Jude's Ranch for Children, which uses the front of the cards to make new ones that are sold to raise money for the organization. Learn more here.

I decided to send them a stack. I didn't really have that many to send once I weeded out the picture cards and ones with sentimental value that I either hang on the refrigerator or use as bookmarks. They also don't take American Greetings, Disney or Hallmark so that dwindled the stack.

Just an option that I found interesting, especially since many don't know what to do with those old cards. Don't want to throw them away or spend the money to send them away...donate them to the local library!

25 Days of Christmas

It is finally my favorite time of the year and I'm going to make the most of it! Last year, I was deep in wedding thank you notes and putting away gifts. This year I'm going to enjoy every minute of the holiday season and hopefully doing some or all of these activities!

Welcome December!

When I started this post at the beginning of the week, I intended on making up for the last month of not keeping this blog updated with an end-of-the-month list of 30 things I'm thankful for; however, as started to write the post, I realized that my brain was far too much into Christmas to dwell in the past of November and Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful!  I have an amazing family, a wonderful boyfriend, a new apartment to call home, a job that pays the bills, my health (well, not right now) and fabulous friends - I am very blessed and thankful this year.

I had the day off today, so I've been thinking a lot about how I plan to spend the holiday season.  I did some more decorating today around the apartment.  My gift lists are complete, so now I just need to complete the shopping.  Dennis and I are working on the Christmas cards and baking cookies to deliver to special people from our families, work places and churches.  Thanks to Pinterest I am obsessed with the random acts of kindness lists.  Instead of my normal daily goals, I incorporated these.  I also made a holiday bucket list for Dennis and I to attempt on the few nights that neither one of us has work or a meeting.

Happy Holidays!

The Start of the Holiday Season

For me, the official start of the holiday season is the annual wreath party at my church.  Since I was a small child, this has always been one of my favorite days of the holiday season.  My sisters, friends and I would wear the red wreath party t-shirts and serve homemade cookies and cranberry tea to congregation and community members attending the party. 

After we had fulfilled out duties, Nancy Price, the wonderful woman who started and led this wonderful tradition at our church, would patiently teach us kids to make a wreath of our own to take home.  At the time, I think I found this more tiresome and boring and probably took making a wreath with Nancy for granted, but now I am thankful that I know how and refuse to purchase a wreath. 

As the years passed, my sisters and friends stopped participating as much but I still loved the wreath party and would rearrange my travel plans as life took me to different states just so I could be home for this special time.  There were many years I didn't make a wreath but that was fine because I was happy just spending time with the other volunteers and talking to participants.

The party has changed in the last few years...

...the red t-shirts aren't so red anymore and are getting vintage...

...not as many people are interesting in making a wreath when they can buy one (we used to fill three rooms with participants and have four sessions, we are down to one now)

...Nancy, who ran the wreath party, has passed and we miss her terribly...

 ...but the spirit of the holiday season and Nancy's presence is still very much alive as we sip our cranberry tea, eat delicious cookies, listen to holiday tunes and make beautiful, handmade wreaths. 

I haven't had time to make a wreath these last two years, so last night I made one for the back door of our apartment.  It was the first time I had made a wreath since Nancy died.  The first time I had made a wreath without help from all the wreath "pros."  And the first time I made one the hard way.  It's not the best looking wreath but I made it myself.

I know some of the other kids, who are all now adults, have made wreaths for their own homes and I hope Nancy is smiling down us and is proud that we are all carrying on her wonderful tradition.

Yummy Christmas Crack!!

Since I have my own kitchen, I can cook and bake on my own terms with out Martha Stewart (Beth) and Julia Child (Meg) looking over my shoulder.  When I was little my mom made this great cookie with crackers, brown sugar, butter and chocolate.  For some reason she didn't like to make it and has told me in recent years to make it myself.  Well, I did!  I found it on Pinterest and they were calling it Christmas Crack! Love it!  It is super addicting!  Dennis and I are actually going to make cookies to give to people this year!  Bring on the holidays!

Merry Christmas in July!

I love any excuse to celebrate Christmas.  I could watch Christmas movies and listen to Christmas songs all year round.  And there was a time when I ate candy canes all year but I have sadly given up that habit to save my teeth (knock on wood, I'm still rocking no cavities at the ripe old age of 25).

So Christmas in July is a great mid-year celebration to remind me how much I love that holiday...

It might come as a surprise but my favorite Christmas in July celebrations are not the drunken festivities at Put-In-Bay or the impromptu Christmas celebrations the teens and I have thrown at the library but the summer we celebrated at Lakeside by staging the nativity.

It was probably 80 to 90 degrees and the children and youth of Lakeside were in full Christmas story regalia.  Annie, Meg and I were shepherds with beads of sweat dripping down our faces.  The weather must have been similar to that in Bethlehem on the first Christmas.

We walked through the streets of Lakeside and then held a live pageant in front of Hoover Auditorium.  It was a much different and more memorable experience than the routine children's pageants at church each year.  This was summer.  This was Lakeside.  This was special.

I think one of my favorite memories of my Grandma Grace comes from this Christmas in July as well.  Later on, my mom framed a picture of Meg from that day.  We all know how tan Meg gets.  Well, here is a very dark six- or seven- year old Meg in a shepherds outfit, headdress and all.  My Grandma took one look at the photo and loudly announced, "Look, it's Meg bin Laden."

If you look closely though, you can see Meg's blond wisps of hair peaking out from the sheet and her nose is covered in freckles.  She looks all American.  Ha ha!

In the future though, I'm going to make it a priority to celebrate Christmas in July.  Perhaps an Elfmas Party or Christmas movie marathon...  Whose with me?  Let's spread that Christmas cheer, singing loud for all to hear.

Merry Christmas in July!

(Pictures not from Christmas in July but they fit the bill.)

O Christmas Tree!

Well, I found some precious time in my ridiculous schedule to get the Christmas tree up this week. Ever since I moved back from Annapolis I have been putting the tree from my apartment up in my bedroom. Last year I decided that it was just a little too small and as luck would have it Gap was getting rid of Christmas trees from holiday displays a few seasons back. I jumped on the chance to have a FREE five foot tree. Well, apparently I didn't remember what the trees looked like in the Gap windows. It's a Charlie Brown tree, only worse! It's all scraggly on top and fuller on the bottom. My initial thought was to just put lights on it but I really wanted my ornaments too so I put it all on it. The result...
THIS IS CRAZY!! Even Charlie Brown's tree didn't look this absurd! Oh well, it is what it is... The tree and the lights might look insane but the ornaments are still awesome and I intend to write about each one in a little more detail in my blog throughout the next few weeks.