A Scandinavian Christmas

Good Housekeeping

I'm not quite sure when my love of Scandinavian decorating began. It may have started with my first trip to IKEA, the simplistic approach taken, or the way everything seems to be hand crafted with love. Regardless of the when or were I LOVE Scandinavian decor.

Good Housekeeping

I first bought straw star ornaments and tree topper at IKEA several years ago and then added to it a straw wreath. Wouldn't you know that my cats loved my straw ornaments as much as I did and reduced my collection by a few. 

Good Housekeeping

You will find a lot of red and white in Scandinavian Christmas decorating. 

Now for a little shameless IKEA promoting. Take a look at what is available this Christmas.

Perfect for lighting up the entrance to your home. Try hanging a few from a sturdy branch over your dining room table.

Perfect for Santa's milk.

Adhere to a throw pillow for an instant Nordic touch.

These cards are perfect for framing and displaying during the Christmas season.

Good Housekeeping

My daughters thought this was the perfect way to display Rudolph. 

I encourage you to explore the ways different cultures celebrate the season as I have. 

You may just fall in love with one.

Nail Polish that Makes me Smile

O.P.I

Who is not a fan of The Muppets? With the new Muppet movie out in theaters I think it only fitting to celebrate with a new nail color to fit the occasion. With names like Gone Gonzo!, Fresh Frog of Bel Air, Gettin'Miss Piggy With It!, Animal-istic, Meep - Meep - Meep, Wocka Wocka!, Warm & Fozzie and many more I have fallen in love. 

Take a trip to your local Target, CVS, or other O.P.I selling store and rock some Muppet color. Even if you prefer a more neutral pallet I would reserve the your little piggies for the Divine Swine.

Operation Christmas Child

I know! I'm talking about Christmas and I've skipped Thanksgiving completely. I'm not entirely skipping Thanksgiving but letting you know about something going on this week. 

As a child my family would fill shoe boxes with gifts for children all over the world who were a little (or a lot) less fortunate. This year I am starting the tradition with my own children and I have to tell you I think I got more out of watching them shop for their child.

My oldest chose a girl her age and my second daughter chose a boy. We made a trip to the dollar store and Target and filled the cart with toys, toothpaste and toothbrushes, candy, a note from my daughters and a prayer. It was THAT easy. I would suggest that if you can afford it buy a plastic storage box the size of a shoe box for your gifts. This way the box can be used for other needs after it is emptied.

Tonight, after Daisies, my daughters and I will take the shoe boxes to a drop off location (usually a local church). 

Samaritans Purse has this wonderful feature that lets you track your shoe box so my children will be able to see where their gift goes. Each shoe box requires a $7 donation to cover the cost of shipping and such.

I would STRONGLY encourage you to start this tradition in your home this year. Go to 

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

for more information and start shopping!

My Halloween Movie Picks

With every holiday and season I have a list of movies I like to watch more than at other times of the year. Halloween is no exception.  My list differ's from most Halloween lists in that I am not a blood and gore kind of girl. More the corny,old black and white kind of girl. (Who really wants to have nightmares all night? Really??) So I have put together a list of my favorites for this holiday and I would encourage you to check some of them out. They may surprise you!

Halloween Movie Picks

Private Eyes

Topper Returns

The Time of Their Lives

"Arsenic and Old Lace"

Bewitched (Nicole Kidman version)

Ghostbusters

Any Harry Potter movie

Hocus Pocus

Men in Black (1 & 2)

Van Helsing

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Pottery Barn Kids

I have always been a big fan of Eric Carle and the technique he has for creating his illustrations. The patience that man must have to paint tissue paper is more than I possess. The story The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of the best children's books ever written and is full of color and imagination. Pottery Barn Kids currently has an entire line of bedding, wall art and bathroom things devoted to Eric Carle's illustrations and it had me looking for party ideas and crafts that I can do at home.

Pottery Barn Kids

Pottery Barn Kids

A Very Hungry Caterpillar party can actually be a very healthy party. Full of fruits and cheeses with some cake of course at the end.

Etsy

This is just too cute!!!

Etsy

Again, too cute!!!

Pottery Barn Kids

The picture that started this obsession.

Cake Pennant Toppers

Life has been busy, but there is always time for birthday's and cake. Recently a friend of mine asked me to make a birthday cake for his wife. Nothing fancy just a cake. I wanted to portray my friends personality which is fun and artistic and she is a new mommy as well. (we had our son's on the same day)

I've made birthday pennants before but none as tiny as this. All you need are two wooden dowels, string, paper, hot glue and scissors. I cut a diamond out of the paper, folded it in half over the string and hot glued it shut. Tie the two ends of string to the wooden dowels and insert into your cake. The hardest part is choosing what paper you want to use.

Here are some of the pictures I used for inspiration. I am henceforth addicted! 

Embellishing Life Everyday

Embellishing Life Everyday

Etsy

My Little Man

Camden 

After taking his precious time in arriving (one week late) Camden has captured our hearts.

His big sisters (aka little mothers) are loving him to bits. He has NO idea what he's in for!

We are all operating on very little sleep but are soaking up every little smile and enjoying this time together.

Posts may be few and far between with adjusting to having an infant in the house again and my "baby" starting Kindergarten next week! I will try to hold it together until after the school bus leaves:)