Is it really the end of 2012?! Can you even believe it? I still think 2012 sounds like some kind of space-agey futuristic date, not like an actual year in which we live. Ahhh old age. It suits me. Let’s see what the sponsors have been up to! Ready for a little shoppin’? Warehouse Fabrics […]
Archives for 2012
Reader Projects
Some of my favorite things in the world include: 1. Those sweet sounds my baby girl makes on the baby monitor when she first wakes up. 2. That feeling when you’re in a large group and you all laugh at something together, but then the conversation moves on to something else but the joke is […]
Blog is going crazy! Please disregard. So sorry.
My blog just took on a life of its own and randomly decided to publish some three-year-old posts that have been in draft and were not intended to be published. I’m not pregnant with Weston again. We didn’t just go on a cruise. I’m not trying to make a job decision. SO SORRY. This post […]
Top Posts of 2012
Welcome back, buddies! Did we all survive Christmas day? Did you get some sweet loot? I welcome all your most horrific stories of your family’s holiday misbehavior. Andy and I agreed to buy each other gifts that we could both use, and guess what? We bought each other the exact same thing. A 3D pantograph, […]
Christmas Eve
…and just as quickly as the Christmas season swooped in, all glittery and smelling of cinnamon sticks and peppermint, we reach this day: Christmas Eve. A season of waiting and hoping, of anticipation, culminates in these next few hours. In these next few moments as we catch up with family and friends. As we mourn […]
Put Some Ornaments in it: Tips for easy, simple Christmas vignettes
I don’t know why, but this year I just could NOT get it together when it comes to the elaborate Christmas decor. We had our Christmas tree in the living room for THREE WHOLE WEEKS before we put a single ornament on it. This year I wanted to keep the decor super simple and easy. […]
Progressive Dinner of Recipe Features
Oh good! You’re right on time for our progressive dinner of features from Monday’s recipe link party! Before we get started, two things. 1. Did you remember to download the free heirloom recipe e-book? It’s right here, and by the way? Totally free. 2. Quick funny story about Monday’s post where I shared the chocolate […]
Make Your Own Kissing Ball with Fresh Greenery for the Holidays
I’ve found one of the greatest joys of parenthood is tricking your children. For example: Weston is going through a phase in which he no longer likes to give affection on demand, no matter how urgently I need to kiss those squishy lips. (This is a temporary phase. I’m sure of it.) But we’ve found […]
My Grandma’s Chocolate Pie Recipe
You guys, I have one legendary grandma. Meet my “grandmammy.” That’s what we call her – all TEN of her kids, 20-something of her grandkids and seemingly infinite numbers of great-grandkids. Grandmammy – “Mam” or “Mammy” for short – is something of a legend, as anyone who has raised ten kids must be. Today I’m […]
DIY Christmas Canvas, Take 2
Last year, I whipped up this little DIY Christmas art using chipboard letters and a little wooden nativity ornament. It was a fun little project, and after the holidays were over, I stored it back in the dark recesses of our guest closet, where my piles of unused decorations go to hide. I suspect when […]
Metallic Star of Bethlehem Christmas Mantle
Let’s talk about what Christmas is all about. It’s all about a tiny infant baby who was God, coming down out of the heavens and being born in the most humble situation: a freakin’ manger among the cows and horses and remarkably-calm-but-reverent donkeys, according to my nativity scene. (My nativity scene would also suggest there […]
The Pros Weigh In: Child-safe Christmas Decorating
I’ve gotten a few questions via email about how we decorate for Christmas when we have two tiny little terrorists – I mean kiddos – running around our house. First of all, I was shocked that anyone would assume my sweet angels do anything except sit quietly all day with their hands to themselves, reciting […]
Posts of Christmas Past
It. Is. ON. Thanksgiving is over and it is officially no-holds-barred all-out Christmas decorating, Christmas music, gifting and hot-chocolate-drinking season. OFFICIALLY. Hallelujah! In case you’re starting your Christmas decorating and could use a little inspiration, I thought it’d be fun to kick off the season by dusting off a few Posts-of-Christmas-Past, whaddaya say? Christmas Home […]
Cyber Monday Deals and {November Sponsors!}
Do you LOOOVE this time of year like I do? The Christmas music and decorating and gifting and crafting? And tree-shopping? (Our tree is home now, but sadly still naked.) I also love love LOVE the deal-hunting this time of year! My sponsors have some pretty crazy-awesome deals for today and Cyber Monday. Can you […]
Quick Tips: Black Friday & Cyber Monday Shopping
I haven’t been actual real-life Black Friday shopping in years. I’ve found that you can get equal or better deals sitting at home online in your fluffiest, most record-settingly unsexy pajama pants, so that’s totally how I roll. But I will TEAR UP some deals from this here keyboard, so I thought I’d share a […]
Hi, I'm Kelly. Glad you're here! This little blog is where I chronicle our efforts to fix up our beaten-down home on a tiny budget. We're not there yet, but here's a peek at the view along the way...
