Merry Christmas

Hi everyone.  Just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  As we recover from a late night and an early morning of fun, I was thinking a bit about my childhood Christmases.  I have to say that my mom did a dang good job of always making Christmas as magical as possible for us, amidst everything that was going on.  My happiest memories of childhood always center around Christmas time.  Maybe it was because it was the time of year when everything did seem to be perfect.  Extended family got together, Grandma made biscochitos and through lots of lay away and penny pinching, Santa was always able to somehow get us what was on our list.  Christmas time was so happy in fact, that I would feel a deep sense of longing for weeks, usually until Valentine's Day.  I distinctly recall as a kid coming across an old Christmas issue of Woman's Day in a doctor's office in January.  I saw the cover, filled with Christmas cheer and was so sad it brought me to tears knowing that I'd have to wait another 11 months to see twinkly lights and big red bows. 

Now as I look at my kids, with their childhood so different than my own, I wonder if their memories of Christmas time will be as sweet.  Year round their little lives are filled with so much fun and activity, will Christmas memories be so sharp in comparison to their everyday?  I hope so, I really, really do.  Either way, I'm so thankful and happy to have my little family, with these 2 special kids to dote on and spoil just a bit.

Merry Christmas friends.  I am so thankful for you all that do read and have become a special part of my life this year.  It's been quite fun and I can't wait to share every more in 2012.  I wish you all a warm and magical rest of the day. 

Lost and Found - Songs of the Season

{what a magical scene - source}

Yesterday I lost my wallet somewhere between Hot Dog On a Stick and Aaron Brothers.  My husband bought it for me 5 years ago this Christmas and I discovered it was gone when I went to buy tickets for us to see A Christmas Story at our old local theater.  While Art and the kids went inside to watch the movie, I was stuck in the bathroom calling each place I had visited, to no avail.  No one had found the wallet.  I then started the tedious task of cancelling all our credit cards. 

Three hours later I retraced my steps and went to Aaron Bros, even though they had already told me they didn't have it. I walked in and the manager saw me and said "Hey you left your wallet!" I screamed,cried, and ran around the counter and hugged her I was so happy at the very unexpected news (I probably have problems respecting people's boundaries but she didn't seem to mind). So thankful for small miracles, we went out and celebrated.

On the way home we drove through the neighborhood listening to Christmas songs on Kost 103.5 and looked at Christmas lights.  Harry Connicks' version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer came on and we loudly sang in the car.  The lost wallet incident reminded me to celebrate the little things, be thankful for everything, and appreciate all this season has to offer, especially 30 days of Christmas songs on the Kost.

I know some grow tired of Christmas songs by December 1st but I am a complete sucker for Christmas songs, and I keep a stack of our favorite CD's readily available to play in the house and the radio doesn't leave Kost from December 1st till January 1st.  I thought I'd share my top 10 (okay maybe top 15 because 10 is really hard to choose) Christmas songs of all time, and would love to hear some of your favorites.  With thousands of songs out there, and hundreds of different versions of some favorites, it's always fun to discover a new gem.  So please share in the comments!  So here goes...

15. Winter Wonderland - Lena Horne's version 
14. Little Drummer Boy - Bob Seger's version
13. This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
12. Jingle Bells - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles' version
11. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee's version
10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Harry Connick Jr's version
9. Winter Wonderland - Eurythmics
8. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - U2
7. Last Christmas - Wham, but Taylor Swift's version is a good rival to the original
6. O' Holy Night - Bing Crosby
5. Silent Night - Frank Sinatra
4. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole's version
3. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
2. Baby It's Cold Outside - Zooey Deschanel & Leon Redbone
1. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid



I know this song may be a bit of an unconventional choice, especially for #1, but this song above all others still gives me chills every single time I listen to it. I think it has a lot to do with strong, vivid memories of hearing this song over and over again while growing up, and the fact that it had almost all of the top British icons singing in it at the time.  George Michael, Sting, Boy George, Phil Collins on the drums.  The only thing that could make this song better is if it had Morrissey in it.  One other note, four of my favorite songs all came from this Old Navy CD I bought in store years ago.  A completely random purchase but a good one and we've listened to this CD at least a hundred times over the years.  It's still available, so maybe give it a try!

Well it's the week of Christmas and I hope you are all not stressing too much and are enjoying this very special season.  My shopping is done so it's time to really sit back and relax a bit this week.  I'm looking forward to it!  Happy Monday everyone!

Gifts and Beeswax

As of today Syd is officially on vacation, whereas Taylor's been off for two whole weeks already.  To be honest I'm a little scared of what the next two weeks will hold for us.  They say (who is the ever elusive "they" by the way?) that girls are easier than boys when they are younger, and boys are easier than girls when they are older and at this point I'm just praying that "they" are right.  Syd is a bundle of emotions and always has been since the day he was born.  Moody, dramatic, intense and full of passion, no one has ever been able to push my buttons like he does.

 The last few weeks he's really been skating on thin ice and our relationship has been up and down.  Taylor and I spent a lovely morning alone today and within 2 minutes of picking up Syd from his last day of school, drama ensued.  Something about a punching balloon and a Frisbee he brought home for dad, I'm still not really sure.  Ten minutes later he was flailing himself on the ground in the middle of BofA because he wanted the lollipop his sister got.  Bad parenting?  Almost 7 years into this parenting gig I'm wise enough now to know that it's not the case.  Each kid is different, they all have their strengths and different personality traits and I'm just trying my best to figure out how to ride this wild wave with Syd.

Some days I do a really good job at staying calm and keeping him busy and thus, our family stress free.  Other days not so much, and I admittedly do a real shitty job.  Some days are a combination of both, like Wednesday where we spent the afternoon making the rest of our teacher gifts for his preschool teachers and speech therapist.  Overall a very nice day, although a little chaotic when 7 kids and burning candle wax are involved.  He shyly gave each teacher their homemade present today, along with a little glittered poinsettia plant from Trader Joe's, which are quite cute by the way.  He begrudgingly accepted hugs from each of his teachers and then ran to circle time to play with the Lego's in order to escape all the mushy gushy lovey dovey stuff.  I shook my head at him, but of course knew I couldn't expect anything less of him.  After all he doesn't even really let me hug him.

Yup, it's been a rough few weeks, and even though I really don't 100% feel this way right now, still a little miffed from the BofA incident, I know that someday soon all this will pass and he'll be the one sweetly coming home from school to greet me and give me a peck on the cheek while his sister breezes in and barely acknowledges me with an eye roll before slamming her bedroom door.

And I know it's Christmas time and everything is supposed to be perfect and all, but just trying to keep it real ;)

By the way, if you're interested in making your own sweet beeswax candles for some gifts next week, they are really easy to make.  My friend Laura has been making them and selling them at local craft fairs for the last couple of months.  I purchased a few from her to begin with but we loved them so much we asked her to come over and teach us how to make them.  All you really need is some beeswax (we used all natural local beeswax from a supplier in Long Beach), a couple of silicone molds and wicking string.  The tree and pinecone is a mold that you just simply pour the wax into and let dry.  The sweet dinner candles are made by dipping the wicking string in wax over and over until nice and thick and the shape of a taper candle.  You can add decorative waxed punches in fun shapes and colors (this was the kids favorite part).  Laura is the absolute expert though and we loved spending the afternoon with her and her sweet girls.  She's the ultimate earth mama and is always a joy to be around.  Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions; I'll do my best to answer them :)

DIY Ugly Sweater

We're back from Napa, where we had a wonderful time.  I'm anxious to share some photos from our trip, but while I download the hundreds of pictures we took on our trip, I first thought I'd share a silly little DIY I did last weekend for a fun party we went to.

Sarah had an ugly sweater Christmas party last weekend.  I initially groaned when she announced it, I'll be honest.  Adding a trip to Walmart or the thrift store for a cheap and/or old Christmas sweater was not something I wanted to add to my list of things to do.  Party pooper I know.  The more I thought about it though, the more I realized I could just make my own ugly Christmas sweater with crap I already owned, and adding it to a sweater from my closet.  I've got a box of ribbons, jingle bells and beaded garland.  Add some hot glue and a few stitches and I was Good To Go.

After giving the jingle bell bows a few loose stitches, I remembered I had these pins I could use and so busted out the glue gun and called myself a genius.  A genius in terms of ugly sweater making.  Not necessarily a genius, genius.

OF COURSE I needed a big arse bow to add somewhere on me; like a happy Christmas package all wrapped up.  Taylor voted to place it on my butt and Syd voted for my neck.  The neckline seemed much more appropriate.  Because I am a fan of the epaulettes, I knew the sweater would not be complete without a couple added.

And...TA-DA!  I know, the bow in the hair is just the icing on the cake.  Adds a nice touch doesn't it?

If you can't laugh at yourself, really, what point is there in life right?  I added some choice Christmas accessories including a festive boot necklace and jingle bell bracelet and I was set.   I felt a lot like Minnie Mouse.  Or a deranged ice skater.  People didn't quite know what to make of my ensemble.  Many looked me over a few times and asked in a hesitant voice "Did you make that?"  Well yes, yes I did.  Let's just say, luckily I am happily married because I would not be getting any dates that night looking like this.

While at Target I found some weird pixelated deer t-shirt for Art.  He thought it was cool, not ugly.  He is a goofball and weirdo.

So the next time you're invited to an ugly sweater Christmas party, don't fret!  Instead of running out to the store, grab some crap and affix it to a sweater you already own!  Guaranteed you'll be the only homemade ugly sweater wearing diva at the party ;)


So have you guys been to any fun themed holiday parties yet?

Christmas Mantel

I thought I'd share our Christmas mantel this year, since we've changed it up yet again.  This makes the 3rd transformation now for this mantel (see how it looked when we bought the house here, and then after we painted it the first time here).  When we painted our house a couple of months back we painted all of the living areas Benjamin Moore's Thunder, and our bedroom Weimerener.  For the fireplace we had them mix the two so it would stand out a bit and so it's a 50/50 mixture of those two colors.  It does stand out ever so slightly.

I already owned all of the pieces you see (with the exception of the metal pinecone garland), so I thought I'd switch it up a bit and go for a tonal mantel, focusing on silvers and golden bronzes.  It's the first time I haven't put any greenery on our mantel, and while I do miss the pop of fresh color a bit, I also love the simplicity of this look.  (I took the pictures at twilight so please excuse the graininess of them)

 the little trees and moose are from Crate & Barrell

 the metal pinecone garland is from Chartreuse

I've collected mercury for the past 4 years now, buying bits and pieces as I find them on sale and at Home Goods.  I love the look of mercury glass, especially for Christmas.

 the large deer is from Home Goods and the little deer is from Pottery Barn

The piece of art hangs on our mantel permanently and the little deers are what inspired sticking with a deer/pinecone theme.  it's from a local artist named Lisa Dawson and she uses a paper/varnish technique.

I think I may go back to using some sort of fresh garland next year, but for now I'm loving this simple, mess free look.  Linking up with Rhoda and Beth

Christmas Outdoors

Hey there internet, you are all so helpful I think I'll just turn to you all for all the important design decisions in my life!  I loved getting all your feedback over the weekend helping me choose a pair of glasses, thanks so much.  I've come to a decision and I'm going with the Preston, although in the Whiskey Tortoise frame, the same as the Thatcher.  The Thatcher is still my favorite but since Gina said it looked like I had a unibrow, and my sister said she thought the post was a joke when she saw that first pair, I don't think I can go with those now in good conscious.  Besides making important decisions on spectacles, we also watched Taylor walk in the local parade for the first time, picked out our Christmas tree and put finishing touches on our Christmas decorations around the house.  I hope you all had a great weekend.   

So now let's turn to another design dilemma shall we?  Well not quite a dilemma, more of just a curious poll to see who's in the pro-bow camp and who's in the no-bow camp.  I'll start by saying that in most facets of my life I'm in the no-bow camp, especially when it comes to home decor.  Remember the raffia garland from last Thanksgiving?  But Christmas just does something to me and makes me feel like I need bows in my life.  Big, colorful, fluffy, shiny bows.

Our old house was a bit more modern in design and so things like bows and garland would've looked a bit silly on it.  Like trying to wrap a bow around a Phillipe Starck Ghost Chair .  So we hung simple white lights and called it a day.

Our new house though is much more traditional, the whole neighborhood is in fact, and I think it screams for bows, and garland and a big wreath hung from the chimney, which we're doing today! 

We had 2 sad little bows from last year that we hung in the middle of our garland and after one Christmas season, they were trashed.  See, this is what the one from last year looks like.  It's faded and doesn't even hang straight, plus it's really too small for our big windows.  Looks like a single chocolate sprinkle on top of a seven layered cake. 

I drove by Melissa's house (we live a block away from each other) and she had huge gorgeous bows hung from her very traditional garland on her very traditional porch.  She hung hers from each swag point, not just in the middle and it looked great.  I thought to myself, "I can make those!"  Of course.  So herein lies the problem with the internet, it makes you think you can do anything.  Even make big fluffy, shiny, professional looking bows, which it turns out, I cannot.  And here's the proof:

What a disgrace to the bow making professionals out there.  This was my first attempt, which I worked on for almost an hour.  First off, I was in a hurry and accidentally bought gold-backed velvet ribbon.  Even still, I persisted and went forth with my plan.  But they were just pathetic.     

I watched these two You Tube videos to try and help me out, and while I'd like to say it was all their fault, I'm sure a lot of it was user error.

Meghan, aka, Ask the Decorator, produced a clean and very polished video tutorial, but there were a few things in there that had me stumped.  Like how much is "a long piece of ribbon?"  3 yards, 10 yards, specifics Meghan, I need specifics.  And what and where am I supposed to put the small piece of pre-cut wire that I'm going to "thank you for later"?

Lori's video from Deescrafts was a lot more thorough, but I have to say, the poor production quality of the video had me too distracted to actually learn the proper method of tying a bow.  Way too much going on.  If you listen closely, doesn't it sound like there is a drum concert going on in the background, in addition to the Christmas music playing?  

In the end I went the same route as Melissa and left the bow making to the professionals.  Turns out our local Stats makes beautiful big, fluffy over-the-top bows for the low, low price of just $3.  I was a true copy cat and chose the same exact matte mylar ribbon as Melissa and I'm pleased as punch with how they turned out.  Yes, they are very big, fluffy and sweet, but there's just something endearing about them, especially this time of year.

So bows or no bows?  I like mine either way, but just curious how you all decorate for Christmas.  Simple and understated or festive and frilly?  It's funny because the inside of the house is much more understated and simple, but there's just something about the outside that I find the need to go big or go home.

And P.S. Looking at these pictures really makes me itch to get started on the front yard landscaping.  We haven't touched it since we moved in since we've been so focused on the backyard.  I'm thinking a maple or two and definitely a crepe myrtle.  We're also planning to stucco and paint the fireplace and paint the door black and add black shutters to either side of the big front window.  All in due time though, all in due time.  

The Countdown - Bring It

Alright 24 days of Christmas - BRING. IT. ON.  I'm ready for ya. 

I like to talk like that sometimes because it makes me feel more gangsta.  But really, I'm sooo tired and feeling quite silly and lame that we worked on this advent calendar till past 11 last night.  Turns out peeling off 24 numbered labels and 24 sheets of velcro is damn hard work and flipping time consuming.  And then trying to line up 24 boxes in 6 neat pretty little rows?  Forget about it!  We had my yard stick out to get everything all precise, and at one point I just looked up at Mary and said "dude, we are crazy."  For reals yo.  

But seriously, I'm psyched to start the countdown tomorrow.  Are you?  Or are you freaking out?  Please don't say you're freaked out because then you're gonna freak me out.  And for heaven's sake please don't say that you "have all your Christmas shopping done!" in a sing-songy nasally voice because then I'll have to smack you.  I can't stand you people that do that.  Really, what's the fun of Christmas if you're not running around Target at 10 pm the day before Christmas Eve for stocking stuffers?

Come to think of it, I'm actually really psyched because if anything, I did think ahead for ONCE in my freaking life, and while at the coolest neighborhood toy store Knock Knock on Monday, gathering advent supplies, I bought the kids their stocking stuffers.  Hooray for me and not having to buy crap at Target in a heated last-minute panic.  I mean don't get me wrong, I still bought crap, but it's cool crap that I won't mind having around.  Like those lighted Rail Twirler things from when I was a kid.  Bomb diggity. 

In other gift giving news, Taylor wants this: a Barbie Carriage from 2006.  She plays with it at a friend's house and has been asking for it for months.  I started searching for carriages that matched the description she gave me and was coming up dry.  So I had her sit with me and scroll through Amazon so, you know, I could "tell Santa exactly which one she wanted" and we couldn't find it.  So then I got the idea to search You Tube for Barbie Carriage commercials because You Tube has everything, right?  Well I was RIGHT!  We watched a bunch of videos and on the 6th one she screams "That's it!".  The thing is from 2006 and Amazon has 1 left in stock and it's $69.95.  Guaranteed the thing originally sold for $34.  Do I get it though since it's the only thing she's asked for or is it a total waste of money?

And ladies, I'm sure you already have a wish list, but in case not, may I make a suggestion?  Add a Clarisonic to that list.  I got one for my birthday 8 months ago and for the most part it has been a gift that keeps on giving.  No more dry patches, cut down on little breakouts and pretty much eliminated the need or desire to get a facial.  Get it ladies.  Trust me, you won't be sorry.

Happy Festivus guys!  The countdown is officially ON!

Advent In Process

source

I'm admittedly not very good at advent calendars.  Rather, I'm not very good at the routine of opening each envelope every day and so days may pass before I remind the kids.  And it might be because of their ages or the fact that mom hasn't made a big enough ritual out of the whole process, but the kids have been no better at reminding me in the past.  For the past couple of years I made a simple red and green paper chain advent calendar with 24 rings on it and a bible verse attached to each ring that tells the Story of Christmas, from the day Gabriel appeared before Mary to the birth of Jesus.  Even something as simple as a paper chain I wasn't very good at though.  

This year though I wanted to start over and give the advent calendar the good ol' college try.  I think Taylor is finally at the age now where she will hopefully remind me, plus, if I make a big enough calendar and put it in a prominent place, perhaps we would actually remember to joyfully anticipate the advent ritual and each passing day leading up to Christmas.  I found the above calendar on Pinterest and I fell in love.  The simplicity of it is just perfection.  My friend Mary fell in love with it too so we decided to make them together.  We ran around yesterday gathering supplies and we'll assemble them tonight.  She found a local place where we could buy the kraft jewelry boxes in bulk (100 for $24) and pick them up.  If I ever planned ahead I could have had them shipped, but as always, I like to do things the hard way and at the last minute ;)  The only adjustment we're making to the original is instead of attaching them with push pins, we're using small pieces of velcro so no tiny pins get lost around the house (Mary has 1 year old twins who still hunt around on the ground for small shiny things).  Brilliant idea right?      

I'm sure most of you are much better about this and more prepared than I, and if so, you certainly don't need my help.  But if by chance you are scrambling to get an advent calendar up in the next 2 days, I thought I'd share this idea.  And hey, even if you just want to make a simple paper chain with the Christmas Story countdown attached, you can download my format here on the site.  Simply click on the link below and you'll get all 24 verses.  They are formatted in a Word label document so you can print them on labels and stick them onto the paper chain, or just print them on pieces of paper and cut out, which is what we're planning to do, and stick them in each box.   

download labels here

I'll share the final results in a couple of days when we're done.  I'm really excited now and hope this is a firm start of a new tradition.  A reminder to stop, slow down and remember each day why we're really celebrating the season.  A good lesson in intentionality that's for sure.  

So are you guys good about an Advent calendar, or are you more like me?  

He Used A Coupon

While Christmas 2010 will be remembered by many things, including the year Taylor got her first pair of roller skates, and Syd received his first remote control car, it will also be forever idealized because of the handiest little gadget I could have ever received, a milk steamer/frother.  For a coffee lover like me, it was the perfect gift and I have already used it several times since yesterday. 

This morning I took my cup of coffee up a notch by making some simple syrup.  I split the batch in two and added peppermint extract to one cup, and vanilla extract to the other (1/2 tsp of peppermint and 1 tsp of vanilla per 1/2 cup).  The results were heavenly.  While the sweetener that they use at regular coffee chains is quite rich, causing me to usually request half the number of pumps they normally add, this simple syrup is nice and light and just adds a hint of flavoring to the coffee.  I made a peppermint mocha and a vanilla latte for myself, and a regular mocha for Art.  To get more of that rich espresso flavor, I also added an extra scoop of beans to the coffee maker, which worked out quite nicely.  The frother that Art bought is made by Keurig, and although a little expensive, it works like a charm and is ridiculously simple.  Turns out he bought it at Bed, Bath and Beyond too.  It took all the strength I had yesterday morning to not go all Kate Gosselin on him and ask if he used a coupon.   I nonchalantly asked him a few hours later though and it turns out he did in fact use a coupon.  Good man.