Merry Christmas from our Home to yours!

This is our annual trip to visit Santa in front of the tallest Christmas tree I have ever seen.

A rare pic of just me and my handsome hubby.

I got to be in the Santa picture this year. Brayden did not want to get too close, but wanted to say hello. Makenna asked Santa to bring me a purse this year since mine broke at Target a while back....so sweet of her! He brought me one and I LOVE it! I'll share a picture later...

There is nothing better than excited kids in their Christmas P.J.'s on Christmas morning!

We got an extra special surprise this year...a WHITE Christmas! It is beautiful outside! We don't see these things in my neck of the woods. Supposedly this is the first Christmas snow with accumulation since the 1890's. So cool!

Makenna even brought baby Frosty to life.

This one word describes our Christmas day. It is such a blessing to celebrate the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ, with my family. I feel blessed beyond measure by the grace He pours out on my life daily. Merry Christmas!

Fleece Scarf Tutorial - need a last minute gift?

First of all, I am terrible at tutorials and this one is no different! I don't plan very well when taking the pics...

Step One: You will need two different colors of fleece (1/4 yd. of each) Joann's has a great selection of fleece. Hobby Lobby also carries it. (Ignore the cuts in the fleece. I did not get a before picture.)

Step Two: You will then lay the two pieces on top of each other wrong sides together and sew a zig zig stitch directly down the center of the fleece long ways. (Yes, this picture is of a different scarf- I told you I was bad at this :)Your stitch will look like this down the center.

Step three: You will then lay out the scarf and cut slits to make the tassels on each side. The slits should be about 3/4 inch wide and 3-4 inches long. You do this all the way down both sides of the scarf.

Step four: Give it to a cute girl in your life and it will keep her toasty warm this winter. Just a few things I learned... I made the tassels a little thinner on the others and I like it better that way, so maybe cut 1/2 inch wide slits if you want to. Also, the thinner the fleece, the better the scarf hangs and feels. This project cost me $2.60 per scarf because the fleece was 50% off. My daughter loves hers and gets lots of compliments on it.

Happy sewing! I would love to see yours if you make one!

Linking up to Momnivore's Creative Juice Thursday's

4 More Days!

Still lots of baking, crafting, and wrapping to do! Ready or not...

Personalized gift tags

I wanted our Christmas gifts to be extra special this year, so me and the kids have been making gift tags with the specific name of who it's for. We just have been stamping the name on the tag, and adding a picture stamp or two.

Here is what you will need. I bought large shipping labels from Staples and soaked them in coffee to age them a bit. One batch I did not soak long enough so they are lighter. Then you will need some alphabet stamps, ink pads, and decorative stamps of your choice. I get most of my stamping stuff from Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Even Target has $1 stamps in their dollar section sometimes.

Just get creative and stamp the name and then add whatever stamps you have room for. You can write who it's from on the back.

You can change out the natural twine that comes on the tag and add a small colorful ribbon and tie it to the gift that way. This is fun and easy and makes the gift extra special. The kids love to help with this too. You don't have to use shipping labels. You can even cut out your own from card stock. This is just my easy, simple way. I would love to see what you come up with, so send me your creations! Have fun with it!

I am linking up to Kate's Christmas craft linky party and Creative Juice Thursdays.

A Christmas Vignette on a shelf

I added some Christmas cheer in my dining room on the shelf I made from a bifold door a few years ago.

I used what I already had up there, but switched a few things around and added some more tree clippings, burlap garland from Michaels (that stuff is hard to find right now!), and some snowflake ornaments and balls.

My rusty "peace" sign is hung on my mirror with care...I have been collecting some milk glass lately. I love it with some simple greenery stuck in it. "Easy" is my decorating theme this year (and cheap).

These snowflakes are glittered, but it's hard to see in the picture.

I am hoping this might work through winter so I can enjoy it longer! Hope you are having a good week and checking lots of things off your list!

I am linking up (late) to Rhoda's Christmas Vignette party.

My Nature-Inspired Christmas Mantle

Tis the season for filling the house with the scents of the pine and evergreens! It is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I spent no money this year on my mantle. Just used some Christmas balls and sparkly pine cones that I had bought on clearance last year after Christmas. Here is the finished product minus the stockings that I am still working on...

I used wooden white candlesticks that I have collected here and there and some big, shiny ornament balls. Then I filled in with Christmas tree clippings. I picked a few bundles up from the local tree farm for free.

I wrapped candles in vintage sheet music tied with twine.

I filled some big mason jars with snow, pine cones, a crocheted snowflake, and a book page bird. I used the jar as another candleholder too.

I love sheet music! So pretty on anything!

Here it is all lit up at night. So magical! I love being home at night at Christmastime.

I painted the mirror that was in my bedroom with metallic spray paint. I have a new one that needs painting in the garage for my bedroom now. Another project for another day... I made this wreath last year and got the reindeer at Target. I tied cinnamon sticks onto it with fabric.

I love how it turned out and it makes me in the mood to have a Christmas party. I am loving seeing all the mantles over at Layla's party, so I am linking up too!

http://theletteredcottage.net/holiday-home-linky-party-our-christmas-mantel

Thanksgiving around our house

My harvest table set for the family.

It was simple, but festive.

My sweet girl, who loves to decorate, did the place cards for me. I just love that she has an eye for making things pretty!

Each person had a special place at the table.
Bryce had been talking about eating the turkey leg and he finally got it (I think it makes him feel like a tough guy and he actually does look like one).

We also celebrated my dad's birthday. I made the sweet potato pie off the cover of the November Southern Living magazine and put a candle in it. It was good, but I still like my mom's pumpkin pie the best! Happy Birthday Dad! He is a special man. I think he's a keeper.

The kids enjoyed lots of jumping in the leaves.

Bryce finally lost that top front tooth. He's still so handsome without it. It was a day full of things to be thankful for and a week of rest and fun times together at home. Now off to do some Christmas decorating!

Looking for some Unique Christmas Gifts?

I am so excited about the Christmas gifts that I bought from my friend, Erin! She is a talented, creative girl with such an eye for fabric combinations and she has such a cute business card, don't you think?

I got this bag for my daughter, Makenna. It will hold coloring books/spiral notebooks and a pack of crayons or twistables. This is going to be her new church bag. A girl can't have too many bags, right? (Yes, I put up one of my Christmas trees yesterday...I am spreading it out so I can enjoy decorating this year.)

I also got this ADORABLE doll quilt and pillow for Makenna also. It even has a strip of fabrics on the back. Love it and plan to pass this one down to the grandkids as well!

I bought a crayon roll for Brayden. I will get a new pack of crayons to put in it and a coloring book. The crayons go all the way across, but I just didn't take the time to do it.

It rolls up like this and travels easily in my purse. LOVE this fabric too! Go check out her site. She has such great baby gifts too! Let me know what you find!