“Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer.”

I cut my workout short this morning when I remembered it is December 1st and I hadn’t filled the advent calendar with candy. So off to Target I went in shorts in 46 degree weather, shocked that it is already December. Stress started to set in as I rushed through the store, knowing that I still have a bunch of projects to finish before I can even think about Christmas shopping. I know this month is going to fly by in a blur of holiday frenzy, but I don’t want to be so rushed and so stressed that I miss the magic, especially the magic seen through my kids’ eyes. So I decided to stop thinking about what has to be done for a moment and start the month off with something special. I picked up some hot chocolate and marshmallows, a couple of Christmas plates, and made homemade cinnamon toast for breakfast.  I wanted to slow down if just for a moment and take the time to enjoy the beginning of my most favorite time of year, and help to spur on the excitement in my children that has been steadily building all year.

 

After breakfast, the kids started the countdown by getting their candy out of the #1 pocket of our advent calendar.

Tonight, after soccer and piano practice, we’re going to watch a Christmas movie, and then read a Christmas book [part of my other advent calendar idea…I’ll post about it soon.]

I know this season’s going to be busy and stressful, but I don’t want to let all of that get in the way of enjoying this time…especially when my kids are small. I know that one day, the traditions will be juvenile and the season won’t be quite as magical, so I want to take advantage of this time and soak up every little ounce of the joy while Audrie and Finn are young. I want them to remember these times and these traditions and hopefully, one day share them with their own children.

xo

nessa dee

Two

::Two aliens…

…they stowed away in the back seat on our trip to visit family.

::Two Thanksgiving celebrations…

…his family, then my family.

::Two cakes [or what’s left of them]…

 

…one said “Happy Early 30th!” the other “Happy 28th again”

::Two culprits…

…who ate my cakes.

::Two pounds…

[Picture not available]

…gained after a week of gorging myself on pie, stuffing and two cakes, I guess it could have been worse.

I’m now going to enter my 28th year of life for the second time around.

Hope everyone enjoyed a lovely holiday. For me, it was double the fun!

xo

nessa dee

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey All,

I will be taking a little blogging break while I’m visiting friends and family for the holiday. I hope you all have a wonderful and thankful week!

xo

nessa dee

P.S. I’ll be wearing my maroon socks on Thursday. Gig ‘Em Aggies!

IF: Music

xo

nessa dee

Glitter, Glitter Everywhere

Can you guess what we did over the weekend? I’ll give you a hint:

Have you figured it out, yet? Yep, our house is an explosion of tinsel and lights. It’s a bit early for us, I usually pull all of the decorations out the day after Thanksgiving, but since we’ll be travelling that day, and since I kept promising my eager children that we would start decking the halls soon, I was doomed. But, now I get to enjoy everything even longer!

I think my absolute favorite thing when decorating for Christmas is giving the kids free reign to hanging our ornaments we’ve collected over the years. I put myself in charge of the boring ornaments like the glass balls, and berry sprigs, but my kids get the rest. For me, as a child, there was such magic in unpacking and hanging all of the ornaments. It was just as exciting as opening presents on Christmas morning. Now, I love getting to see the wonderment in my kids’ eyes. It sparks such great memories. Plus, seeing where my kids choose to hang their ornaments is just icing on the cake. It’s not perfect, but it’s so much more charming and beautiful than I could have ever dictated. And every time I walk by the tree, I can’t help but smile.

The kids get their own tree to decorate as well. It’s housed in Audrie’s room and it’s full of bright colors, birds and memories from our Disney vacation the Thanksgiving before Finn was born. It’s always the first thing out of its box when we start to decorate.

And then there’s the advent calendar. Audrie and I made this last year, and it’s now one of our favorite things. I’m not sure where to hang it yet, but it will find its place, get filled with candy, and utilized to its fullest, my kids will make sure of that.

By the end of all the decorating, with boxes and glitter and pine needles everywhere, I kind of turned into the Grinch. But, once I got everything cleaned up and out of the house, and saw how excited my kids were when everything was done and lit and sparkly, my heart grew three sizes and quit being green and grumpy.

Now, back to work.

xo

nessa dee

Crafty Friday: Ornaments

It’s hard to ignore the excitement that’s been filling our household lately. With all of the Christmas decor in stores, toy guides in the mail, and the few early bird Christmas trees appearing in windows, the kids are ready to get this holiday party started. So we decided to kick off the holiday decorating with a festive craft project.

Here’s what you need:

-scrapbook paper
-plastic lids
-cereal box
-glue
-buttons or sequins
-ribbon
-scissors

Step 1: Take an empty cereal box and cut small triangle shapes out of it, approximately 4 inches tall. These will give the ornaments a sturdy foundation.

Step 2: Use the triangles as templates to trace the shape onto the scrapbook paper of your choice, and cut it out.

Step 3: Cut a strip of ribbon 4-5” long. This will be the loop to hang the ornament on the tree.

Step 4: Load the cardboard triangle up with glue. Make a loop with your ribbon and stick it in the glue at the peak of the triangle.

Step 5: Take your scrapbook triangle and place it on top of the cardboard piece and ribbon so the ribbon will be sandwiched between the two triangles.

Step 6: Embellish your “tree” with buttons or sequins to act as ornaments.

We used the same process to make little birdie and round ornaments. For the round ornaments, plastic lids formed the foundation instead of cut pieces of cardboard.

Let the decorating begin!

xo

nessa dee

P.S. Stop on over at The Shabby Nest and see what other people have posted for Frugal Friday.

Space Farming Pirate

Rocket plowing…an alternative to tractors. At a speed of 17,000 miles per hour, you can have your fields plowed faster than you can say John Deere. You might even have time for a quick trip to space and be back in time for supper.

Plus, when your done, your plow becomes the latest accessory in male fashion. Farm/space life not for you? Than try your hand at pirating. “But I don’t have a sword or a peg leg!” you might say. No need to despair. You can be just as menacing with a straw, lid, bongo drum and mischievous smile:

xo

nessa dee