Good Bye 2011! Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's already the end of another year!  Where did all the time go?  Do you have any New Year's plans tonight?  We are going to the city celebration where they are having a kids carnival and bingo.  We went last year and it was hilariously awesome.  Maybe we'll win the big prize this year?

In typical Megan fashion, I'm ready to throw out everything in my home.  Every year, I stop myself and ask myself to be a little bit logical about it.  This year, I think it reeeeaaallly needs to go.  2012 will bring me trying to  sell a bit, give way a bit, donating a lot and filling up the garbage bins repeatedly.  Awesomeness.  I've even started a rather large project today that I didn't really have any direction for.  In otherwords, I've made a HUGE mess!  Wish me luck.

Wishing everyone a safe and fun New Year's Eve! 

"Behold Him" and "Let It Snow" kits available

**UPDATE AUGUST 2013**
Limited number of original kits available as of August 2013.  Please go to this post here for more information or use the Paypal link on the left side of blog to order your kit.  Thanks! 

There has been a lot of interest in my "Behold Him" Nativity blocks and "Let It Snow" blocks.  I am able to reproduce a limited number of kits and am currently taking a list of people interested.

Kits must be pre-payed and will be shipped unless other arrangements are made for local people only.  Please click on this link here to find further information about these kits or feel free to email me at megitys(at)gmail(dot)com.  Thank you for your support!  Big hugs!  Megan

**Behold Him kits available for pre-order now! Please click here for details about kits. Paypal links are located on my left sidebar.**

Martha Stewart Paint FYI

Did you guys know that Martha's paint is being discontinued at Home Depot?  I stopped in there a few weeks ago and discovered that.  I quickly picked up another paint swatch since they said that they will still have the codes to make the colors.  This week, I stopped in quickly and found that the pre-made samples of paint that was in the display case for just 50 cents each.  These samples have a built in paint brush and are great colors which will be great crafting paint.  Hurry on over and see what you can get too! 

"Let It Snow" Blocks

**KITS NOW AVAILABLE!  For more info, CLICK HERE. **

For gifts this year, I made some "Let It Snow" blocks for some of my sisters.  I think they turned out pretty cute!  Two of my sisters don't really care for the vintage images that I usually do, so I custom made them a little snowman for the last block.  I hope to make a set for me too, but will include a vintage snowman image to complete my set.

 These pictures aren't the best since I hurriedly snapped a picture before quickly wrapping them to be delivered.  I do like the way the snowmen turned out.  This year, I'm planning on doing a little Winter decorating.  It's fun to have something crafty to think and work on while I wait for Valentines.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! 

Christmas Eve

Wow!  It's amazing to me that it's already Christmas Eve!  I hope I'm all prepared.  I keep thinking and re-thinking what I have done to make sure.  I'm sure you are doing that too!

I got some last minute wrapping done.  Very simple with a beautiful red satin ribbon.  I think the packages turned out beautiful!

I added pom-poms to my banner.  (Hello neighbor washing your car.  Would you like to wash mine too?)

We got a darling package from my sister that included this little handmade pine cone elf and a delicious treat! It was a fun surprise!

The house is clean and I've got cookie dough thawing and dinner started.  I'm sure I'm missing something but I'm enjoying these few free minutes I have.

Wishing you and your family a very, Merry Christmas indeed! 

xoxo, 

Megan

Christmas Eve Eve

Today it's Christmas Eve Eve!  We are planning a sleepover in the front room under the glow of the Christmas tree with Christmas movies and treats.  It's our first year and I'm hoping to make it a tradition.  Let's see if I can handle the crazies.  They are extremely excited for it!  All except for my oldest who got sick yesterday and is really whiney sad about it.  It sounds like strep throat so we are headed to the doctor today.  It's strep throat again, oh my!  It wouldn't be Christmas if somebody wasn't sick.  It's a tradition that I don't enjoy.

I'm in the mode trying to remember who I'm forgetting and getting the last bits done.  I may be guilty of adding a little more here and a little more there.  It's hard for me to let some things be.

I never did share my Christmas banner with you.  It's been up for weeks!   I'm blessed to have a friend who gives me fabric and she chose a festive red and green color scheme.  I think it turned out cute!  I never added the pompoms to it.  Maybe I'll put them on today? (*Update:  Banner got pom-poms! )

Love the carolers...

And the flower is so fun and unexpected that I think it's probably my favorite.  Well, next to the poinsettia, and the carolers and the holly toile.

I got this gold wreath, that I love, from Home Goods.  I realized how nerdy I am when I tried to take a picture of it.  My son, however, is a little bit nerdier then me being that he kept opening the door and laughing at me.  My poor kid has strep throat and is pale with dark under eye circles, but he just can't stay down.  He may or may not be shooting me with darts right now.

We are super excited for Christmas to come!  We are all ready and I'm thrilled to give the kids their presents this year!  We will have a little time before church to enjoy them which I'm so happy about.  We usually go to Gram's house right after our Christmas morning for breakfast and a BIG present opening fest for the kids that makes them forget all about what they got from us.  Gram likes to spoil which is perfectly fine to do.  I'm sure I'll be the same way when I get grandchildren!

So, are you ready for Christmas?

Behold Him

**Update August 2013!**
Limited number of original kits available as of August 2013.  Please refer to this blog post here for more information or use the Paypal link located on left side bar to order your kit.  Thanks! 

This year, I have had a great time designing and teaching my craft classes.  After my last class, I decided to not continue on due to the store closing that I was teaching at.  My darling niece called me up one day and begged me to make her a set of blocks for her shelf for Christmas.  I'd been asked before by others and had come up with a few ideas, but nothing that I was too excited to finish since I wasn't holding the classes anymore.  But Kaylin had the best idea and I couldn't say no.  She requested a nativity scene and we settled on the words "Behold Him".  I think that it turned out elegant and beautiful and I'm thankful for the opportunity to design it.

The blocks look great without any decoration, but I wanted to add a little something.  The simple green poinsettia was my choice.  I love the way it turned out.

Happy 5th Birthday!

I can not believe that my baby is five!  FIVE! How time has flown by.  He, however, thinks it is fantastic. Birthdays are for spoiling and yes, he was spoiled.  This year, I didn't throw him a friend party.  He didn't understand why we were sending out the envelopes to his friends.  Thankfully, we were able to snag a few friends for an afternoon movie and some playtime.  I couldn't hardly catch these boys for a picture.  They were too excited to play with the present they brought.

It's tradition to help make your birthday cake.  This year, he picked homemade chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. Mmmm!   He wanted it to look like a muddy battlefield so we sanitized some army men and let him have at it.  Love his chocolate face!

See what I mean about being spoiled?  That heap of presents is mostly from Gram.  She just can't seem to help herself!

A few highlights about him:

• You love Curious George and monkeys (notice the shirt and the wrapping papers?)
• You ask to make cakes often because you just can't resist the licking the beaters and the bowl
• You really love preschool! 
• You're best friends are Eli and Abe.  You would play with them everyday, all day long if you could.
• You love Mexican food especially enchiladas. 
• You still have cute round cheeks that I can't resist kissing. 
• You love to wear that old bomber jacket of your uncles and black wellies every single day.
• You can't wait for your Dad to take you duck hunting.  
• You often ask for a Grandma Sharon day and if she is busy, you always ask for a Uncle Matt day.

Happy Birthday my little man!  I love you so much and you are such a joy to have in our home!

Addict

A week ago, my computer got a virus that completely seized it up.  Fortunately, we could get it fixed and I'm grateful to have my computer back!  Sadly, I realized how much time I waste on this thing.  Blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, emails, bills, etc.  It's obviously time to stage an intervention and find a happy medium.  How does one do it though?  How to not get sucked into this abyss while enjoying the benefits of the world wide interwebs?  Any suggestions?

Christmas Cheer

This year, I played four Christmas concerts with my flute choir group, Flautissimo; one concert with the Davis Arts Council (which I played just ten measures but the concert was so amazing!) and one 3rd grade Christmas program.  Phew.

I'm so happy that I got the opportunity to do it.  Listening to Christmas music is festive, but playing Christmas music and enjoying live Christmas concerts brings a warm, happy holiday cheer to me.

In the famous words of Buddy the Elf:

"The best way to bring Christmas Cheer, is singing  loud for all to hear."

I think it's true.  Watching your child sing Christmas songs wearing a silly little collar is one the best ways to bring Christmas cheer.  Laughing at how much she would not show any emotion while she sang.  Enjoying my husband at her concert because miracle of miracles, he was off early that night!  (Seriously a miracle!)

Have you been enjoying Christmas concerts this year?  

Marshmallow Bits and Peppermint Hot Chocolate

It's snowing today.  When it snows, it means it's time for hot chocolate.  The kids and I found these Mallow Bits this week and we are in heaven!  Little mini marshmallows just like the ones in the hot cocoa packets but even better because you can put as many as you want in your delicious peppermint hot chocolate.  We bought vanilla Mallow Bits but there are also peppermint Mallow Bits.  Why didn't I just get both?

Hot cocoa + Christmas tree lights + snow = cozy.  

It's these little things that I am really enjoying this Holiday season.  

Pretty Tiny Initials

I found these tiny initial rings on Etsy and fell in love with them.  I would love to have a stack of them with my childrens' initials. 

I think it would be the something personal without being as obvious as an initial necklace or the dreaded vinyl family decals you put on your van.  You know, these stickers.  (Sorry if that's your cup of tea.)

Our Christmas Tree

This year, I really, really, reeeeallly wanted to love my Christmas tree.  My trees have always looked nice, but nothing special.  One year, I bought a bunch of brown ornaments.  Fail.  Do not use brown ornaments unless you have a white flocked tree to show them off.  Instead, use brightly colored ornaments like chartreuse and hot pink and turquoise!  That will ensure some happiness in there.

I scored the pink vintage pink ornaments for 75 cents at the thrift store!

Add lots and lots of glittery things! Even those doily snowflakes sparkle.  Those silhouette ornaments are my favorite!  I would love to buy some more this year, but it's just not in the budget right now.  I will be sure to get some more when I can!  

Our book advent is under the tree in that basket.  The kids are loving the book advent.  They are so excited to read them with me and are being really good about taking turns.  Even my nearly 12 year old loves it!  He loves Christmas.  He still believes very strongly in the magic of it all.  Looks like it's time to wrap some presents up.  My kids have been enjoying wrapping up their old things to give to each other.  Funny babies!

So this is our tree this year.  I'm wonder what it will be like next year?  Are you enjoying your tree now too?

Star Wars Wallpaper

Are you kidding me?  Star Wars wallpaper.  My boys would die over this! 

Windy

So, after (nearly) 30 days of blogging, I suddenly quit?  Not by choice.  The last two days feels like it's been two weeks.  Our city was hit by a very strong east wind Thursday, knocking over trees, siding, roofs, fences and power.  It was crazy!  We've been very fortunate as there does not appear to be any damage to our house.  Just a lot of debris and branches.  Our neighbors did not fair so well.  Many huge pine trees just could not withstand the 90-105 mph winds.  This was the common site just in our neighborhood.

downed fences and ripped off shingles are everywhere

huge tree in the park - the roots were at least six feet tall

trees lining main street

This tree was huge!  Taller on its side the both of the house.  Looks like a blessing landing right in the middle but unfortunately, it bounced off both houses before coming to its resting place.

Crazy right?  It's not common weather for our city  We are grateful that we fared well as far as damage goes, but we were without power for almost two days.  It was coldy, coldy, coldy in our house.  We opted to spend the night at home that night, sleeping together in one room like a little ol' pioneer family.  It was quite cozy actually.  I was surprised at how well the kids slept and how early they went to bed.  I think that we might need a "power outage" every night!  Ha! A mom can dream.  

Now, we are back with power (can I get a hallelujah?) and feeling like we are far behind when really, we are just starting the holiday season.  I've got my tree all decorated and Christmas banners are in full production.  I   didn't put out any holiday decor other then the tree.  This year, I just feel like making something new.  Something holiday inspired instead of holiday obvious.  Does that make any sense?  

Hope all is good in your neck of the woods and you are all cozy, warm and toasty!