fOrMaL aFfAiR.

In a little over two weeks, we are hosting a work function formal affair.  In one way I am getting kinda giddy about being able to get all dressed up and accented with all sorts of beautifulness (I have to say that I like shopping for accents like jewelry, shoes, hair accessories, tights, etc. alot more than I like shopping for actual clothes).  And I am especially giddy about getting my hair done- soooooooo excited about this even though it is very short now.  Another thing I am just giddy about is seeing my wonderful husband all snazzed up.

However, lets get to the other side of the story.  Prom 1996- I believe this is the last time I actually got dressed up in fairly formal attire.  Lets face it, things have changed alot since then and styles haven't quite come back around to the mid 90s yet, or have they?!  Plus, since having kids, I notice my sense of style is somewhat lacking due to less time and money spent shopping and searching through the latest fashion mags.  I mean its not horrible, but yes, it is lacking especially when it comes to formal wear. 

The search begins . . . at the suggestion from a friend, I started searching aimlessly on JCrew's website (sale dresses).  Here is what I found.

1) I am thinking a shorter style dress - because I am short.

2) I am thinking something pretty plain so I can dress up with some fun accessories.

3) I am thinking a camisole cardigan because I am pasty white with lots of dry skin - it is so bad that I think I need a dress with long sleeves and a purchase of some very thick tights.

  This is when I wish I had the mad designing/ sewing skills like those on "Project Runway".  When it comes to lots of things, I can always kinda picture what I want, but I usually have a hard time finding it and when I do find it I usually don't have the money to purchase it :0)! Oh well, in this particular situation, it will be fun looking.  And when it comes down to it, because 1996 was a long long ago, dressing up in anything semi-formal to formal should be tons of fun!

2010. TEN THINGS.

Below is a list of 10 things I would like to accomplish in 2010 (in no particular order).

I am a note/ list freak- I just wish I was better at accomplishing what I write on them.  Wish me luck with this one- I will try to keep you updated on my progress!

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and many wishes for a fabulous 2010.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Love these from design*sponge 2007

twas the night (and day) before christmas

and all through the house . . .

and beyond the house . . . gift exchange with ursa

maddox came running into the kitchen this evening and was yelling "i just peed on isla" (i'm thinking - oh yippee.) and then maddox puts my mind at ease and says "don't worry i don't think any got in her face".

just one more.

I couldn't resist just one more post about a last minute christmas gift. 

I found this box of ribbon candy at our local chain store that begins with a "W" for $2.50. 

I am smitten with the looks of it.

Put it in jar, box, or whatever you can come up with.  I think this particular jar also came from the "W" store.  (Jars- big, small, skinny, fat, clear, colored, old, new- I am infatuated with them and therefore love any gift that comes in a jar.)  Decorate it with ribbon, fabric, ornament, a tag with the recipients name or initial, anything you like. 

VERY EASY.  VERY PRETTY.  VERY SWEET.

Obviously, candy in a jar is nothing out of the ordinary as far as Christmas gift giving goes; however, when you find something a little less ordinary like this ribbon candy and package it up nice and neat it puts a cool, new, less ordinary twist on a popular holiday gift. 

Once again, Happy gift giving!  Here's hoping you get something special too.

made a LIST. checked it TWICE.

As most, I had a list of things (holiday preparations) I wanted to accomplish this weekend and before Christmas.  My hope was to get everything done so that I could enjoy the next few days and not necessarily HAVE to do much of anything, but just be able to what I WANT to do and soak up all of the warmth and joy of my family and Christmas!

Have just one or two more left to wrap, but for the most part- task accomplished.

ALMOST DONE.

Wash sheets and clean up bedrooms. 
DONE.

It had been about 6 months since I had a haircut- at least 6-8  inches came off yesterday. 

I feel like a new woman.
DONE.

I am happy to annouce that I will be sending out Holiday Greetings this year (unlike last) in the form of "Happy New Year" cards.  Task almost accomplished- just waiting on envelopes to arrive.

Make snowglobes for table centerpiece. 

DONE.

Wanted to try my hand at making some scarves- learned I need alot more practice when it comes to sewing.  Even something as simple as a scarf takes me awhile.

BUT DONE.

(One for Maddox.  One for Isla.

And I threw in one for me while I was in the sewing mood.)

I wanted to make an ornament for Isla.  Another thing that taught me I need alot more

"sewing" practice.  It isn't exactly what I was thinking, but it will do. One more thing that I might try to do this week is make a "boy" face to go with it, but only if I WANT too :0). Was inspired by these. 

DONE.

#8  MAKE PICTURE COLLAGE.  BUT YOU CAN'T SEE THIS ONE. (ITS A SECRET BECAUSE ITS A PRESENT.)

DONE.

My "Holiday" goal this year was to not repeat the craziness of last year- I wanted to not be wrapping presents Christmas Eve and making presents Christmas Day.  I think I can safely say I have accomplished my goal.  Bring on Christmas and lots of time with family and friends- I'm ready!

On a side note:
I did some exploring on Heather Bailey's blog this weekend.  Loved this for some reason.

and for the holidays

Found this too. 

LOVE the color, LOVE the curtains (Jennifer Paganelli fabric), LOVE the bunting, 

LOVE the ceiling, LOVE the windows, LOVE it all.

Image came from here.

simple semi-homemade gift.

I always have lots of grand ideas about all of these gifts I am going to just whip up around the holidays and I do get to some of them, but, of course, like most of you, time isn't always on my side this time of year and my grand homemade gift ideas need some revising or they don't get done at all.  For example, Last year, my wonderful Holiday greeting card went from a Christmas Card to a New Year Card to a Not-a-Card-- so no I didn't get mad at you and take you off of my Christmas card list last year I just never got around to sending any out- bummer.  Anyway, getting back to my original story, I was going to design and make several sets of notecards for various individuals on my Christmas list, but as usual, times a wasting and a couple of them needed to be shipped today.  So last night, I came up with this not so grand but "very simple" idea and I liked the outcome if I do say so myself. 

With no time for designing, I started out with some 12 x 12 heavyweight scrapbook paper that I had accumulated some time ago and cut it into 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 sections and then folded the sections in half (like a notecard).  I matched them up with some A2 (4 3/8 x 5 3/4) envelopes (which you can get at your local office supply or craft store) and the end result is a cute little note card set- of course my love for paper makes me a little partial.  I made 12 cards for each gift set.  I used somewhat matching papers with these, but I thought to even do an assortment (all different types and colors of paper) would be very cute and is a great idea if you are not real sure of the recipient's likes.  By using these card holders I bought half off at Paper Source and using some of the scraps of paper to hold the envelopes together it really made it look like a nice little gift set.  I thought it would also be cute to stamp an initial on the front of the card holder.  I know that something like this card holder may be hard to find last minute, so to package up your notecards you could use a small decorated box that you buy decorated or decorate it yourself (with photos, initials, etc.), a small jar, or just wrap them up in some cute fabric.  And another plus for me, is that this is an easy gift to ship. 

Hope you enjoy and good luck with all of your last minute gift buying and/ or making.  Sorry about the not so great pictures- not even much time for pics lately- as you can probably relate!

holiday cheer.

After my father-in-laws passing, unexpectedly being gone for a week, and dealing with two bouts of the flu in our household last week (one of which was me) I wasn't feeling a whole lot of holiday cheer.  However, it is amazing what an uneventful weekend and a little bit of time at home can do for the spirits.  I am trying my hardest to live in the moment and actually enjoy the holidays this year; rather than wake up on January 1st wondering what happened to the last month. 

Bunch of random pics from the weekend.

Love the heart Maddox put on his gingerbread man. 

This was from parent/ kiddo craft time at Maddox's daycare.

I am in love with red and yellow lately -

I know, your thinking about those ever so popular golden arches aren't you! 

Maddox's very own Gingerbread House. 

Isla's "Holiday Cheer-ios"

I hope that you and yours are finding some
cheer in your Holidays!

PS- I haven't had a chance to finish up the mod podge canvas frames I started a couple of weeks ago.  I probably won't get around to them until after the first of the year- promise to keep you posted on this project.