diy:party favors

 For my friend's shower last week, I put together these little plant jars. I used them to decorate all over the house and each guest got to take one home as a party favor.  They were super easy to put together and with the ones I have left I have moved around to pretty much every room in the house. 

I love them!

Here is how I made them...

Save all those little jars...different sizes and shapes add more interest.

 Soak them over night in hot soapy water and in the morning the labels will just peel right off.  I used a rough sponge to get off any last bits of glue.

 I planted all succulents so I filled the bottom with some small stones for drainage then planted away.  It was a little difficult planting the really narrow bottles, so keep this in mind when buying your plants. 

Now put those babies all over the house or use them as a sweet little party favor.  

I added this little bow to dress this one up for Christmas...now I just need to do it in real life...sometimes I just wish I could photoshop real life..ha, ha!

his wish list...

 For the past month or so, every time we would pass Big 5 Julian would beg me to stop.  At first he didn't have an explanation why he wanted to stop...

he just wanted to stop.  

After probing a little more he said he wanted a sleeping bag.  

Ha, ha.  

He already had the one he wanted all picked out.  It had to be blue and from Big 5.

So here is his list:

a blue sleeping bag

star wars legos

a crown (not exactly sure?)

and

hex bugs 

 The sleeping bag will for sure be under the tree this year.

He wants to be prepared for a whole lotta camping this coming year.

Love this boy!

a leafy recap

this holiday weekend went by in a flash. 

 we now have christmas on our minds.  

this morning julian shouted 

"it's christmas eve!!!"

whoa, not quite, but i'm sure it will be before i know it.  

 here is just a little recap of our super relaxing thanksgiving.  usually we have about 2-3 different places that we go on thanksgiving, but this year it was just one.  this was the most relaxing thanksgiving i have had since having kiddos.  i really miss seeing the family that we didn't see this year on thanksgiving but it sure was nice to slow down the pace. 

we started the morning off with a late pumpkin waffle breakfast.

i thought it would be fun to make little indian headbands for the kids.  

they were super easy and fun and the kids were able to help a little.  ella sewed some of her feathers.

right now julian is wearing his and shooting his little toy bow and arrow...love it!

 then we headed outside and played...for hours.   

 i'm thinking for christmas all the kids need is a new rake. 

ha, ha! 

this pile of leaves kept them entertained for hours and hours.

somewhere in that time i was my typical last minute self and i turned out a quick thanksgiving dress for ella. 

then we headed over to my grandparents house for a not-so-quiet thanksgiving dinner. 

 i secretly love the loud din of family enjoying time together. 

 the kid's finally quieted down to watch a movie.

we went home with full belly's 

and very thankful hearts.

today i need to 

finish decorating the house for christmas,

edit way too many pics,

alter ella's christmas dance costume that is way too big and could probably fit me, 

try a new recipe for dinner 

and 

have a tree decorating party tonight

(love our fake white tree)

happy monday!

relax and enjoy!!

i had good intentions of making a nice list of all that i have to be thankful for but i will just say what ella said this morning...

i'm thankful for the whole world and ummmm...my family!!

easy vase makeover

i was doing a little spring cleaning (in fall) and this vase ended up in my pile to go to the thrift store.  

it's a nice vase but just a little too dark and I have been trying to lighten up our living room. 

 it is a really dark room.

as i packed it up to go, i had a little idea...

i used my little acrylic paints and painted it all a mixture of mostly white with just a little bit of yellow. 

oh, i should say my little helper did most of the white.

then i just added a few stripes of a couple of different colors.

lastly, once it dried, i sprayed it with a gloss clear coat...

such a quick easy project.  

i really like little projects that can be done in pretty much less than an hour.

baby shower weekend...

this weekend i hosted my sweet friend christie's baby shower at my house.

i had so much fun planning it and it definitely kick-started me into sewing and digging into some projects again...just the push i needed before christmas.

 the beautiful christie...glowing with baby number 2...it's a BOY!!!

 this cake didn't come out looking so pretty, but it sure was super delicious.  i think i ate about have of the leftover cake in less than 24 hours.  it was a spiced angel cake with a penuche glaze from this book.

so bummed these were the only pics that i got...no food pics, no gift pics, no game pics...ugh.

at least i did get more pics of the guests for christie.

such a fun time!!

rain drops and sand

 last weekend we went to the beach even though it was cold and about to rain.  it was nice to get out and get some fresh air even though we had to bundle up.

we finished off at a candy store as the clouds let loose and it started to pour.  

julian was there with us i just don't know why he wasn't in any pics.  

next time big guy!

jig-sew love

 what to do on a rainy day????

 we gave this jig-sew gift to ella for her b-day and we finally had a chance to play with it. 

i love the illustrations 

and both ella and julian were able to do it with a little help.  

we loved them so much they are now in their room next to the big map

  (that i now want in the living room)

jig-sew found at cost plus