Here comes Santa Claus and good fortune

This year, I wanted to do a real tree. Actually, I wanted to add a real tree and put up our two fake trees. Insane, I know, but this girl loves sparkle for Christmas. If it don't glitter, it ain't Christmas in my book.

So Jonathan researched tree farms in the area. This was after I nixed his idea of a $50 Groupon for tree delivery. I wanted the real deal: ride a sleigh, pick it out, hack it down, drink hot chocolate, and tote her home. Not having done the tree farm thing before, I didn't realize that's stuff Christmas movies are made of. (Blame my mother in law. She has me watching the Hallmark channel this season.) We did go to a farm that has sleigh ride, cookies, and hot chocolate, so that does exist. But there was no snow like I fantasized. And Vincent didn't want to ride the tractor pulled sleigh ride. He was having a grumpy day. He did enjoy walking through the trees and helping pick one out. To have him tell it, he picked it out all by himself. 

Ironically we ended up with a Frazier fir that was brought in from Wisconsin. We could have picked one of the two varieties grown in Kansas, but we were pretty smitten with the Frazier. Next year I'm going for the Kansas native for the mere experience of hacking it down. It was a pricey adventure ($80) for a species of tree we could have gotten for $30 at a stand, but it was fun to check it out and they shook and tied up the tree for you. Vincent really enjoyed sorting through our ornaments and playing with them. 

In really good news and fortune: Jonathan got a new job! No more 2 hour commute coming our way this summer, more money, and learning new skills to make him more marketable for future jobs, say, in Colorado some day. 

What I got for Christmas

This Christmas was mainly about Vincent. I was sad he was so grouchy. On Monday we woke up and wanted to open presents right then. He opened one halfway and started bawling. Food first then. He was grouchy off and on that day. Between waking up early from his cough, not getting in good naps (cough again), teething, not eating well, and finally, all the people he didn't know but who wanted to hold him, he wasn't the exuberant child I imagined on Christmas Day. Maybe next year. Maybe we'll also make it a priority to bring the pack and play along so he can take a decent nap. In spite of all that, our Christmas Eve dinner party and Christmas was wonderful. Here's what I got:
• a collection of jewel-toned inspirational sayings to hang in my office (thanks sis!) I'm going to hang them today, so look for that picture.
• a journal
• Starbucks! There is nothing more inspiring than coffee.
• lotion, lip balm, nail file, and cuticle oil (I love pampering gifts!)
• pjs (two sets!)
• a sweater (needs to be returned...the husband failed!)
• bra and undies (the girls and the goddess are happy!)
• money to get a passport (headed to Canada this summer possibly)
• a pearl necklace and earrings (thanks honey!)
• a blingy bracelet set (my mother in law did good)
• wonderful ornaments (only four this year: a custom made one from my sister that I plan to hang in the office, the Hallmark Christmas radio countdown I had been wanting, a Hungarian egg, and a beautifully knotted ribbon wreath that I'm told was inspired from the pages of Martha Stewart Living...my new magazine subscription for the year!)
• a blanket for the air mattress Jonathan received
• young house love's book (my BF knows me so well)
• bath salts and truffles (mmmmm!)

I can't believe how thoughtful all my gifts were! It makes me inspired for next season!

Merry Christmas

It's Vincent's second Christmas and boy is it wildly different from last year. Last year he was still a baby baby and drinking formula from a bottle. This year it's what do we feed him that he'll actually eat and keeping him entertained while I cook. Thank goodness for Curious George! The thyme and parmesan roasted sweet potatoes, kale and bacon Mac n cheese, wine braised brisket, and pumpkin crescent rolls were a smashing success! Well, for all the adults anyhow. Vincent wouldn't eat anything after all the crackers he ate. Typical.

Presents under the tree

My sweet sister sent us a box full to the brim with lovely packages. What joy to place them under the tree. Vincent wasn't as happy about it. #mamaletmeopenthem

Busy randomness

Things 'round here have been busy y'all! This month's goals were: blog, journal, and knit every night. Guess what's not been happening? But it's not for the lack of trying, and I've still got time to turn this ship around.

I've been applying for new jobs (fingers crossed) and doing freelance work. Ick and ick. But I need to make more money and I need a new venture in life. I've been at the same job for 7 years, and while it's treated me well and I've learned more than most people learn in probably two decades, it's time to move on. I just hope I can impress some people after two years of working from home. My people skills are lacking from the general lack of people.

My holiday decorating is still undone. Every time I go to execute this flawless, brilliant plan in my head it turns out crapaticular. Then I get frustrated, stressed, and I give up. It's a cycle.

My holiday shopping and wrapping are also undone. And this year I want produce some "Wows" in the wrapping department. I'm thinking craft paper, bakers twine, homemade tags. Again, it's all in my head and the inside of my head is brilliant (someone should hire it). If only I could put them to the page like I imagined, I'd be so much happier. I guess, in a way, decorating is much like writing. No wonder I procrastinate.

And because I in nonstop dreaming of pepperminty Christmas mode, here are some recent pins I have a hankering for:

Source: yourhomebasedmom.com via Jessaca on Pinterest

Source: pillsbury.com via Jessaca on Pinterest

Insta Friday

Here I go again. Maybe this time blogging will stick, but instead of focusing on my very obvious lack of blogging, let's instead focus on how Jessica Simpson may or may not be pregnant. If I see her in a poncho, my vote is that her stall is occupied.

Somehow it's Friday already. This week went way too fast.

On Monday we went to the doctor to get Vincent's ears checked after a two-week course of antibiotics for an ear infection. Another one. We're done. We're throwing in the towel and seeing an ENT for possible tube placement. I'm heartbroken. I had these when I was little, and I here I am today still with chronic ear problems. I hope Vincent wasn't cursed with my ear genes. Here's to ear health.

Speaking of that little boy, he's so silly. Already hates to have his picture taken. He tells me, "No, Mama." What? Like taking a picture of this dashing boy shouldn't be worth my time. Please.

Those eyelashes set my heart a pitter pattering. Love. 

Those teeth. Thank you tooth fairy for finally blessing my son with teeth at 15 months, but did they really have to be carrot chompers. My bad ears and big teeth. Poor guy.

Handsome, right? Even with a smidge of soup right. there.

"No Mama."

Last Saturday was spent trying to get started on my Christmas decorating. I gave up. Sunday we sent Vincent to grandma's. Boy am I thankful for aunts who love him so. 

This garland looks a little sick and sad. More decorating is in order. I'm told one jingle bell is plenty. Testy, aren't ya?

Not done yet, but look a farm at Christmastime! Yeah, this is probably as close as I'll ever get to owning one.

Since I had to drag the ladder out to decorate I decided I should take a peek at the burned out lightbulbs so we can quit living by candlelight in the dark. This the bulb I found. Seriously? This is like a Christmas tree light!

I introduced Vincent to penguin and snowman tic tack toe. Not sure we fully understood the concept of the game. 

Red and gold just because I think it's magical, not because I was am a Chiefs fan.

Oh, look, a fire while we decorate. Ha! Thanks Netflix.

Oh, you had me at gold mercury jeweled glass hello. And all for $1.49. I had to buy you and two brothers. Might have to go back for more. 

Sherpa is the new Uggs. I wear this thing. And I want one in colors for every season. Meet my Christmas Sherpa. I'm contemplating the name Shirley.   

Speaking of shopping, Mama bought herself Young House Love's new book on the Nook. It was a steal at $2.99. Hoping Santa brings me the hardback. I can appreciate both pages that turn and screens that swipe. I'm savvy like that.

I've been doing a lot of this lately mixed with applying for new jobs. I wish knitting could be my full-time job. If it was, I'd be more broke than homeless man. I'm terrible. Herringbone might be my nemesis.

I've been drinking a lot of hot tea with the onset of winter and work stress. With a dash of honey and my Shirley Sherpa, I feel so zen. Cue the "Ommmm."

Free: A print or four

This Christmas, my sister and I decided that instead of buying each other things we'd make each other something. I'm not as talented as her so I think I got the better end of the deal with the beautiful flower necklace she made me (post to come!). I put my skills to work looking on her Pinterest page and created some prints she had pinned. You can see them in her house here. But for those of you who share her tastes, I've included them here for your download and print pleasure. Nothing like a freebie.

PRINTING NOTE: These were sized for 8.5"x11" prints. For some reason I got the picture size and standard paper size mixed up. They should print high resolution at 8x10. To download, click on the print. You'll be launched into Blogger's image viewer. From there, you should be able to Control + Click the picture, which will give you the option to open the image in a new window. From there, right click or command click the image and you should get a Save Image As option. Once you save it, it's ready for your print pleasure.

Christmas craft to do: cone trees

Katie over at BowerPower has a cute, easy, and cheap craft: cone trees. I'm in love with some of the cone trees I've seen this year, including a $15 mirrored version at Target. (You can't even purchase them online anymore because they're out of stock. Do you know how tempting it is to go see if they're still there and snag them because they're so popular?!) I'm too much of cheap to buy it though. Instead I'm going to try making my own versions with yarn and Christmas card stock.

Glittery mantel

I couldn't wait to decorate the mantel this year. Unfortunately, work and other projects prevented me from finishing it until this week. I had purchased a $9 pre-lit garland from Target and during last year's after-Christmas sales, I had picked up two pre-lit 3ft. container Christmas trees for $25/apiece at Jo-Ann's. I set one on the mantel and the other outside. These were my foundation pieces besides the afore mentioned Keep Calm print and my hurricane.

My other purchases included a glittery Believe sign I picked up in Hermann, Missouri during our anniversary trip, a set of 50 gold shatter-proof ornaments for $15 from Target, 4 gold and 4 silver glittery snowflakes for $1 a package, and probably my most favorite finds for the mantel: a jingle bell G and one gold and one silver birdie (you know my thing with birds), which I picked up for less than $6 at Michael's. I repurposed some items I already had on hand, including little red glass balls, a Santa teapot that was my Mom's (I liked having a piece of her up there since it was her dream as well to fireplace), and the star in the corner is actually our tree topper that this preggo didn't like on her tree this year.

I loved how the mantel turned out for my first mantel. And in the process, it shook open some decorating vein in me! I want to decorate everything now. And repaint, but let's not tell my husband that!

I give you what my mantel looked like before:



And here's the Christmas after:

On order

Tomorrow I pick up my Keep Calm and Merry On poster that will be the center piece to my mantel decor for Christmas. I'm so excited how my mantel is shaping up! Get your free download from Craftily Ever After.

Hung by the chimney

When we bought our house, the fireplace was optional. We actually forked over some dough to have one put into our floor plan. It's a decision I'll never regret! I mean, how else is Santa getting in? And this year, I get to do what I've always dreamed of: decorate a mantel. I haven't quite decided how I'm going to deck it out, but I do know that the mister and I (and eventually the bambino) need new stockings—preferably one without a giant 49ers bear in a football helmet. Problem is, I can't find any I like—even on the craft mothership Etsy. I have, however, found some cute Christmas fabric, but I'm not sure I trust my instincts enough to buy fabric for something that will last this family years to come. I can't do too trendy, but I'm really digging this Riley Blake fabric. Thoughts? Too trendy? Not Christmasy enough? Should I go more Pottery Barn classic?

Christmas card sneak peek

Designing a certain someone's Christmas card. This is only the beginning, and knowing this person, it'll go through more lovable revisions until I come to a perfect final.

Get my ornament on

Next year I think will be the year I venture down the make-your-own-ornament path. I have my dear co-worker Lucy to thank for this idea.

Last night, I went shopping for some ornaments for my sister (we do a yearly ornament exchange). And I really don't get it: What's up with all the fugly, crappy, and cheap ornaments out there. I even went to a Christmas store and I still wasn't impressed all that much. I guess I expected to be blown away. I still managed to find an ornament for my sister and my niece Abby, but I'm a little disappointed in them. I saw an ornament that was perfect Abby (aka Girlfried, Miss Sassy), but it was shoddy in craftsmanship. When you're a crafter, it's those little details that get you and make you think, "I could do better."

So next year, I'm making my own. I think I'll start with something simple like glass balls with rub ons. But I have a whole year to come up with my master plan.

P.S. I broke an ornament in the store too. I've always wondered what it would be like to be the person who broke something in the store. Now I know. It wasn't my fault, but still embarassing.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Well, not really, but I am designing some stickers to put on packages. If I find a house this week, I'll be thinking about where my tree will go and if the kitchen is war-ready for gingerbread men baking. Do you like my sticker design? Now I just need to get a cartridge for my sticker machine.

Christmas recap

Christmas this year was actually quite lovely. Despite my bah humbugness. It began with Chance and I exchanging ornaments via Skype, a tradition that we started last year. She's such a fun gift giver. Like Mom, she thinks and thinks and thinks about her gifts, and her ornament and present this year were no exception. After several phone calls earlier in the month to get my opinion on butterflies (no to the butterflies) and colors and other things, I ended up with a beautiful tear-drop-shaped purple glass bulb with bejeweled velvet swirlies. The theme this year: Twilight. I did I also mention that she's quite imaginative? Last year it was a bear holding a fish to commemorate our trip to Echo Lake. The funny thing about this is that the crazy bear matches my tree more than my fancy bulb does. For my present, she gave me a yoga mat bag from Denver Brunette. I just know people at my studio will ask where I got it, and can't wait to tell them it's handmade! I can't wait to to see what Chance will get me next year.

I did my last-minute shopping on Christmas Eve afternoon (I'm insane, I know) and Jonathan went to the store for our Christmas Eve dinner as per tradition. After I put my little cornish game hens in the oven to bake, I hurried to the wrap the mountain of presents I somehow had come to buy Jonathan. For some reason I kept thinking I needed to buy him more and more. While we ate our cornish game hens, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole, we watched White Christmas, which is the Christmas movie Jonathan got me this year. Last year, it was Elf. Every year I ask for a Christmas movie so that someday I can have a collection to watch throughout the month when I have children and should family come to visit. I always loved Christmas movies, so it's a tradition I plan to make for my kids (when I have them). We finished off dinner with a Hershey's chocolate mousse pie. Then I promptly went to bed.

On Christmas Day, we woke up at 8 so we could start the cheesy potatoes to take over to the in-laws and bake our cinnamon rolls. This is what I received from Jonathan: V-string underwear (I knew it was a mistake to say I needed underwear and then expect Jonathan to purchase the decent kind), the complete series of Angel, penguin ornaments, Chapstick, Starbucks gift card, iTunes gift card, lots of chocolate, and finally, the most impressive gift ever: jeans! Jonathan bought me clothes! Of course, they're too long, so I'll need to go get them hemmed, but clothes! Maybe next year I'll actually get a sweater or a shirt.

From my in-laws, who are always so generous, I got: pajamas, candy, Starbucks gift card, iTunes gift card, a Snowbaby music box, a Hawaiian ornament from their recent trip, a Cuttlebug, a Barnes & Nobles gift card, yoga clothes, fun tea light holders, and money. Later that evening we went to the retirement home where my MIL works to help serve dinner, sing carols, and play bingo. Usually the facility just sends sack dinners to the rooms and the residents eat a lonely Christmas supper. But my MIL thought that wasn't any way to spend Christmas, so she organized it so her family would come serve them dinner and bring some spirit to their evening without having to have the extra staff it would require. And she's only the receptionist! She's truly an amazing and giving woman. That evening we ate homemade enchiladas and watched Mamma Mia!. It was hilarious, but it was a little strange watching James Bond sing. We got home so late I fell into bed exhausted.

After Christmas run-down: This morning I could barely move thanks to my shot, but I braved yoga, which was a mistake. I could barely bend over without intense pain in my legs and lower back. Not to mention my sinuses, which I think they're working their way to infection level. Jonathan met me at the door when I got home and helped me out of my shoes and coat and pushed me on the couch where I slept all day. Ahh! After Christmas.

The Christmas tree has risen

We did it. Well, actually Jonathan did it while I was in the kitchen making some homemade hot chocolate complete with homemade whipped topping. The Christmas tree is up.

After drinking our chocolate I surveyed the tree, wanting to admire some of my favorite ornaments. I was surprised to see there were empty branches, void of any festive ornaments. I thought I must have imagined the extent of our ornament collection, but once I went hunting, I found that many ornaments weren't on the tree! We missed two boxes of our favorites that were sitting in our closet. Good thing we found them. I would have been heart broken if I hadn't been able to put up my Echo Lake Bear. He's an institution.

But where's my holiday spirit

Here it is Thanksgiving Day, and my holiday spirit is no where to be found. Not even two radio stations playing Christmas music can get me in the mood. In fact, I've vetoed them, opting for R&B and alternative stations. I love Christmas, so I don't know what gives. Right now my Christmas tree is sitting in its little box waiting to be pulled out and put together. But I can't seem to find the magic. This isn't me. My tree always goes up on Turkey Day.

Where are you Christmas?

Hung from the chimney with care

I love, love, love these Christmas stockings from withlovefromalabama's Etsy shop. They would make a great Christmas gift (hint, hint). I like the red striped and green striped ones best.