More Festives

You all remember my summer wreaths that I had made to freshen up my home this past summer. Well this holiday would only be fitting to have a Christmas wreath for my living room shelf that Jack and I made. I had told the hubs that I wanted to center a wreath on the top shelf when the holiday season was near, and here we are less than two week till the big day, and me with no wreath. I was looking, high, low, east and west, nothing really seemed to stick out for the shelf. Then I remember how much I enjoyed making my summer wreaths, and how much dough I banked doing it myself. Wreaths are so much cheaper when you make them yourself.

So off I went to Michael's. I love Michael's. And you know what I found? Next to nothing. The store was pretty much cleaned out. I had spoke to one of the clerks, and she told me that around Dec. 1st, the store gets extremely busy with all those DIYers, who also plan to make their house festive. So my getting there two weeks later left me with the scraps. I did manage to find a few things, a plain wreath, some silver ribbon, and some silver mini bells. I had wanted large silver bells to place around the wreath, but they were long gone. After that I simply hoped to find some things around my house to make the wreath a little more fancy schmancy.

Tie bells and ribbon around wreath loosely.

Repeat over and over. Then tuck in white glitter snowflakes that you will find in your closet. C'mon, everyone has them in there.

A little sparse, but will due. I plan to add to it when I come across more decor.

ooooooohhh ahhhhhhh.

That's it for my wreath for now. Any of you make your own holiday wreaths? Got any fun ideas for me? I'm always up for new projects.

Making It Festive.

I have been slowly decorating my house with each day that comes. You would think that I would just whip it all out on one day, and be done with it, but that is not the case here, and for good reason. I don't really have a lot of holiday decor.

This is only our second Christmas in this house, and with shopping for all our loved ones, it just doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money on all things Christmas for the house. So what do I do, I buy as I go. If I see a good deal on a holiday item that I really want to add to my decor, I buy it. I have noticed that in the last two weeks, I have found a lot of great deals here and there on holiday decor, while shopping for my loved ones, and I haven't broke the bank buying these things. Score! Not to mention, there is definitely something special about adding to your holiday decor as the season goes, and throughout the years. Things you buy little by little, tend to be more meaningful, rather then just going out, picking up whatever appeals to you $200.00 later, and then calling it quits. It's much for fun to do it in steps. Or so I feel.

Here is just a few things I have purchased so far this year.

The Red Barry twigs were $1.00 at Walmart, and while I didn't know where I wanted to use them at first, soon as I got home I found the prefect location in this green vase. They look right at home with my white flowers. And how perfect that the colors are red, white, and green.

The Snow globe was $5.00 at Target, and the Snowflake candle base was $3.00 at Kohl's.

I bought two of these mini wreaths for a $1.00 each at Pat Catans.

I made my ordinary bird cage candle holder festive, just by draping the wreath over it.

The mini tree was a $1.00 at Target, and the mini decorations are from the Dollar Store.

I also got a few red candles to change throughout the house from the Dollar Store as well.

The little tree.... Free, from a friend.

The Stocking are PB, I just couldn't resist. But I got them triply on sale last year, and I am stoked about that!

Holiday Cards = Chaos

I have been a busy bee. Trying to get my house ready to Santa and his trusty reindeer, and then to top it off, shopping like a maniac with a craving for all things on sale. Big fun. Last night Jack and I gave a our debit card a brake from all the swiping, stayed in and had my future sister in law come over to take our holiday photo. Yes, we do it up casual on our cards. Just like last year, we stand in front of our tree, smile, and hope to get a good pic to send out. Usually we do, it just depends on what definition of good you are going for. Good, everyone is smiling nicely and ALL looking at the camera, OR Good, the pic will definitely make those who receive it smile, do to the pure hilariousness we have bestowed upon their eyes. Usually it's number 2, or letter B. Only this year, we got to throw a Winnie dog into the mix, take that for what you will.

Here are some samples.

Isabelle not even looking at the camera. First take in, she has already decided she does NOT want to do this. F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.

Winnie trying to get free, Isabelle going after her, Jack laughing at the situation, ME, still smiling at the camera, hoping to get a good pic (letter A. type of good.)
Lets huddle and cover up all evidence of the tree.

Winnie begging God to just take her already, me talking, per usual.
Would have been cute, had Winnie not decided to bite off Isabelle's hand. It was a clean break, no worries.

Two Words, Thanks Isabelle.

"Are we done YEEEEEETTTTT?"

Okay....I L.O.V.E.D. this pic when I was looking at it on the back of my mini camera screen. Everyone looked half way decent. Then I uploaded it and I was shocked at what I found upon seeing it on the big screen. Jack looks like Edward Cullen about to feast! Does he not? I mean, really....reeeeaaaaalllyyyy, look at the eyes, either he is thinking about me in some cute nighty wear, or he has gone all vampire on me. I mean I know I love Edward, but this is a bit much. If I say I love Tarzan, I really hope he does not take that as a cue for a loin clothe a baby rub. Not. My. Thing.

Of Course, when we are all done with the group shots, Belle was ready for the camera, smiling all sweet like. Go figure.
She is rather cute.

Tis The Season

To make ornaments! And that is what Isabelle and I did. I might also add that we, as in, I was a little anxious, and already have my tree up and glowing. I wanted to break out the holiday music, but lets not get ahead of myself. I want to first enjoy over stuffing myself with turkey and all things artery clogging. Anyhow, on to the ornament making fun.

This was seriously such a fun project to do with Isabelle. And it can be yours for the low price of 5.44 and all the goodies you have in your craft closet. All I did was go up to Michael's, buy some clear ornament balls, this was where the 5.44 came into play, brought them home, and filled them with all things fun! (Basically anything that fits into a small hole!) And The ornaments turned out gorgeous.

Ready, set, PICS!.....

Glass balls, fake pine tree sprigs, white sand, silver glitter, mini sliver bells, white feathers, and some glue.

Isabelle putting some bells in one of the glass balls.

With the help of mommy, Isabelle managed to put sand in another ornament and then a tree sprig.

Bells and Feather.

Bells, Feather, and Pine.

Gorgeous.

Our slim tree. Perfect for our main floor living space.

And of course some mistletoe!

Here are just a few of my favorites.......

Private Vs. Puplic.

Ever since Isabelle was born, Jack has said she would go to a private school. In our area, we are fortunate enough to have a wide variety to choose from, however, none of which come cheap. We also have a quaint elementary school just a few houses down from mine, that I have heard wonderful things about. Now this school is not a private school, however, it is only a fraction of the cost. Jack is still insistent on Isabelle getting a private school education. He firmly believes they are better, and it is the only schooling he has ever known. While I have agreed to send her to a private school, I have only agreed because I do not feel the public ones in our area are as great as I would like. I went to public school my whole life, and I feel that I received a great education, but I also lived a small town that had excellent school systems. The only crime my hometown had ever seen was kids staying out passed curfew. Woop De Doo.

All this being said, Jack and I had a heated discussion last night about what we were going to do. Isabelle will be ready for school in only two short years, and we need to be ready as well. My worry comes in due to the fact that I am not sure how we will ever afford the private schooling. I think if we did it, we would be living close to paycheck to paycheck, and never be able to save money for future expenses. And if we are not saving, how are we going to come up with college money? Ugh, such stress. I know college is years away, but with how fast each year comes and goes, I fear I will be sending her tomorrow.

Jack then said that if he had to, he would work 3 jobs to send her to the best school. I think that is very sweet and I know he has her best interest at heart, but, would that really work out in the long run. We would never see one another, he would always be away, we would still have little money. After that, he suggested we move. He feels that if we cannot do private school, we will move to a town that has excellent public schools. I do want only the best for my child. But I also feel it is best that she see both her mom and dad regularly. We sit down every night and have dinner together, no TV, just family time.

What is your take on private and public schooling? Any advice?

Not Quite Finished Yet....

But I wanted to at least keep you updated.

Here is the status of the mini project.

Yup, it's a shelf for above my couch.
( The crown on the top still needs stained.)

So a lot went into making this baby. First I had to map out a plan, then Mr. Jack had to build my masterpiece. Really, building it took but maybe two hours, including measuring and cutting. After that it was all on me. First stain, then comes poly, thirdly hanging it (securely into studs) and lastly adding crown. Well....maybe not lastly, I still need to stain and poly the crown, and I still want to accessorize my shelf with more family photos.

Hard at work adding the crown.

Once the crown was up, it was time to start accessorizing. My mom handed down some old photos to me that I had been itching to put into frames. Here is my grandparent's on their wedding day.

When I was little, my dad started the oddest collections for me. I never really cared for them much, nor did I appreciate them. Stamps was one of the items he used to collect for me. I have binders and binders of antique stamps, and even more bags worth. I never really educated myself on them or what makes them special. I guess just the fact that my dad put so much effort into seeking out the rarest ones just for me makes them special. As a 9 year old, I didn't care much. Now as an adult, I look through them and appreciate how gorgeous these stamps are. I chose some of my fav's and framed them.

I will be back with more pics after the crown is stained and I get my other photos framed!

-Jolie

Moving On.......

To yet another house project. I am telling you, this household does not get tired of mini makeovers, house projects, fix'its. You name it, I love it.

I am hoping to have this new project done and up by this weekend. But in the mean time, here are some pics to help give you some ideas on what this could be and where it is going....big fun.

All put together, ready for stain.

Want with a walnut stain.