Merry "Kiss"mas and a "Chappy" New Year

 Make this adorable gift tag to add cheer to any present! 

 First, purchase some of the EOS lip balm. This is perfect for Rudolph's nose! :)

 Copy and paste the picture below in Microsoft Word or Publisher and print on cardstock. Then cut out and use a glue dot to secure the lip balm to the paper! So cute!!

The adorable reindeer is free clip art from mycutegraphics.com!

Thanks a Latte

Henry and I did one more gift tonight for two of his specials teachers! This one is super easy too!!

 We started by getting some supplies we would need!! This morning I went to Starbucks and asked for a few kids' sized cups and lids. They graciously gave them to me! (And of course, while I was there I also picked up my favorite Soy No Water Chai Tea Latte!! But that's another story......) We had some leftover green Easter grass that was the perfect color and some red ribbon too! I used a clear bag (that I purchased in a pack at Wal-Mart in their party aisle). I put the Starbucks card in the cup, put the lid on, put the cup in the bag on top of the grass, put on a twisty tie, and added the ribbon and cute card that I made!

Use this to make your own! Copy and paste this picture into Microsoft Word or Publisher, print on cardstock, cut out, and you are done!! Simple and cute!!

For Your Mistle Toes

Perhaps because I am a teacher, or perhaps because I love cute things and creativity..... Whatever the case, when I saw "For Your Mistle Toes" on Pinterest last year, I knew I wanted to use the idea for a gift for Henry's teachers. I also got this adorable gift from a sweet girl in my class last year!

 First, I bought various "feet" products and a Starbucks gift card. Who doesn't love a Starbucks gift card??

Next, I created this label to attach to each gift bag. You can use this label for free! Simply right click on it, and paste it into Microsoft Word or Publisher!

After I printed the tag on cardstock, I punched a hole through the center, strung some ribbon, and taped it on this red bag with the gifts. I added some silver tissue paper and "Voila!" If you are looking for an easy and adorable gift, look no further! Trust me, this is sure to impress and delight!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Like many of you, Christmas is my favorite holidays to decorate for! I get so excited this year to get all of the decorations out and on display! This year, I changed up my dining room decorations and decided to make them a little more neutral.

Dining Room

In  my dining room, I kept a very neutral pallet. I used the burlap and lace table runner I created this past summer for the center of my table. I then added three mercury glass pillar candle holders and a few snowflakes. On my buffet I used a weathered mirror and a Joy centerpiece. At the kids' table, Henry and I made a countdown to Christmas! He gets really excited each day to write in the new number!

Family Room

In my family room, we have our Christmas tree and stockings. Because we do not have a fireplace, I use a shelf that is in our family room to display our stockings. An easy and inexpensive way to add some Christmas cheer to any room is by adding ornaments in a bowl or fun container. I used an old blue bowl and added silver, white, and clear ornaments. And we must not forget the True Reason for the holiday season. Our Nativity set is front and center in our lighted cabinet.

 Kitchen

What would I do without this chalkboard? I change it every season! This year, I let my creative juices flow (and looked up "Christmas Chalkboards" on Pinterest!) Ha!

 

 Merry Christmas from my family to yours! May your holiday season be filled with love and cheer!

Joy to the World

 

When I bought this distressed mirror at a garage sale last summer for $2, I wasn't sure what I would use it for, but I just loved it! I decided to decorate my dining room buffet a little bit differently this year. So this seemed like the perfect time to use my mirror!

  

I bought a "J" and "Y" in the craft department at Wal-Mart and some silver metallic spray paint. 

 I spray painted both letters and let them dry. 

 While my letters were drying, I set to work making a burlap bow with a glue gun and some scissors! First, I cut strips of burlap to be the size I needed for my small wreath.

 

 Next, I hot glued the two ends together.

 I repeated the process, but made the next burlap strip slightly smaller.

 Next, I wrapped a small piece of burlap around the bow part and hot glued it on. Then I added the tails.

Next, I hot glued twine to each letter and tied a piece around the wreath. I hung them all from my mirror, added a mercury glass Christmas tree from Pottery Barn, and an old reindeer I spray painted years ago. I love this natural and simplistic look that I ended up with!

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Who doesn't love a good smoothie? This one has quickly become my new favorite one to make! I may or may not be addicted! If you know me at all, you know that I am not a big fan of chocolate. My family, on the other hand, LOVES it! When I created this smoothie recipe, I wanted one that had no chocolate but was still delicious! The recipe below feeds my family of 4!

What you need:

32 ounces of Almond Milk

A large handful of Spinach

A scoop of Protein Powder (optional) *I use Dr. Mercola's Vanilla*

A large spoonful of Peanut Butter

A scoop of ground flax seed (optional)

Blend the above ingredients, and then add four frozen banana and blend again. 

Easy and delicious..... oh, and healthy too!!

Fall Decorations

I absolutely love decorating my house for the various seasons and holidays! I think fall might be one of my favorite times to do this! Check out my house for fall! Using several inexpensive ideas, you can transform your house for each season or holiday!

I used an old mirror that was turned into a chalkboard to be the backdrop for my "mantle". Henry and I drew and colored in stars with white chalk. My creative friend, Chelsea, wrote the letters F-A-L-L on four burlap canvases. Spray painted white twigs look perfect in the blue Ball jars. 

 Even Henry and Lucy have a little fall corner. 

 I absolutely love Pottery Barn's white pumpkins, but they were a little pricy! So I went to Wal-Mart, found some very inexpensive Styrofoam pumpkins and spray painted the pumpkin white and the stem black. Click here to view my tutorial in making a burlap and lace table runner.

 I love these metal pumpkins to display!

 Oh my goodness! I think this chalkboard might be my new favorite! I found the quote on Pinterest by searching for fall quotes. After one two..... OKAY THREE times of erasing and redrawing the words, I was finally satisfied with the way it turned out!

Burlap & Lace Table Runner

My mother-in-law celebrated her 31 anniversary of turning 29 and I was in charge of table decorations for a small party we were having at their lake home. I wanted to do something simple yet beautiful and elegant. I had been wanting to create a burlap and lace table runner I saw on Pinterest a while back, so I decided to give it a try!

What you need:

Burlap

Lace

Stitch Witchery

An Iron

First, I laid the burlap down and put some Stitch Witchery on the bottom of it. Next, I laid the lace on top. 

 Next, I ironed on the lace! SO simple!!! In less than an hour, I had a gorgeous table runner!

I was thrilled with how the table turned out! White table cloths, new table runner, Ball jars filled with white flowers, and gold chargers made it perfect!