Stocking Stuffers for the Gussied Up (Everything Under $25)

Why not create a stocking filled with the bliss of self spoils!

Thanksgiving 2010

The spread was delish!  Rebecca (my sis-in-law, aka Reebok) made a mind-blowing salad which I'm still dreaming about...must get that recipe. Karen successfully tackled the turkey despite hating the look and feel of raw meat. The conversation was good, "No we will not be shopping on Black Friday".  The warmth of being with family was all encompassing.  What a great Thanksgiving 2010!

(Karen, me and Steve)

(Nana Johnson)

(Aunt Kathy, cousin Scott, Nana Johnson)

(Karen, Erik, Steve, Nana Johnson, Cousin Scott, Aunt Kathy)

I Heart...

I just signed up for another photography class for this term and think this little number by An Original Jewelry  would be well received! So cute!

Giving Thanks

Image by Diana Rattray

It's great to have a day devoted to relishing life's treasures. It's so easy to get caught up in the pressures of everyday life; the needs, the restrictions, the limitations. But on Thanksgiving day I take some time to reflect on my fortunate life. I'm grateful for my loving, supporting family and friends. I'm so thankful for the constant smitten love I share with my partner. We have a beautiful roof (well, most of the time it's beautiful) over our heads, good health, and the freedom to choose the life we want to live. I am so thankful. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. XOXO.

Craft and Create

I started this project months ago, without even knowing it. While watching episodes of Mad Men Season 4 I decided to start folding paper from old books into corrugated fans. I started with just one but by the end of the season I had at least one hundred. Not sure what to do with them at first, I finally decided that it wasn't too early to start making Christmas ornaments. And thus, the project officially began. Check it out:

All you need are a few simple supplies. Side note: that plastic tray is from Ikea and it's a crafting Godsend! For a few bucks it's perfect for painting, glittering, glue-ing, etc. I use it all the time.

Voila! I absolutely love how they turned out. I think I might make some for Lovely Lydia. I can't wait to show you how they look once we've decorated the house for the season!

Stocking Stuffers for the Kitchen Enthusiast (Under $20)

Everybody loves a Christmas stocking. A sock full of fun goodies...how could you go wrong? I fondly remember my younger brother, Cam, oozing with genuine excitement, pleading with me to sneak upstairs and check out the Christmas loot...on second thought, maybe it was the other way around. So in preparation for the big day I thought I'd start throwing out some fun stocking stuffer ideas. The goal: keep everything $20 or less.

A Green Thumb for Christmas

Not to scare anyone but...CHRISTMAS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!  I bring this up only because this year I decided to plant some paperwhite bulbs.  When the idea first blossomed in my head, I felt like I had tons of time! Not so much, though...before I knew it Christmas was just 4 weeks away. The thing is, it takes paperwhites (aka Narcissus tazetta) 5 weeks to flower...which means I'm cutting it reeeeaaaaalllllly close.  Nonetheless, this weekend I channeled my green thumb in the spirit of the jolly red season and did some planting.  Hopefully we'll have some beautiful flowers soon to add cheer to our home during the Christmas holidays. 

Once Upon A Time... We went to Montana

I finally had time this weekend to edit and organize the photos from the road trip Erik and I took last summer to Montana and Wyoming.  In the ten-ish years Erik and I have been together, we have never actually been on a real nitty-gritty road trip. So when we received a wedding invitation from our friends Charlotte and Brad and saw the wedding was to take place in Red Lodge, Montana, you could say we were pretty stoked!  It was a trip packed full of junk food, laughs, maps, camping, rain-outs, antique malls, roads, roads and more roads. We had an amazing time. So here it is; our "Road Trip of 2010".

For more images of our Montana road trip click here

Bad Hair Day... Not Any More!

My mission of the year...to grow my hair out.  It's been going pretty well so far, except now it's really starting to, well, annoy the heck out of me!  My bangs are currently at that length where they're too short to tuck behind my ears, but they're also too long to avoid scratching my eyes. So with a bit of research I'm hoping a few new hair pins will help get me through this part. How long can I go?  

I Heart...

There are just some days I feel like hanging from a ceiling which is why I covet this peice, Mischief Maker, by DKim-Art

Craft and Create II

More Jewelry! I know, I know! I've been in the mood for some serious accessories. So, I made this little romantic number last weekend. Inspired by ribbon from my friend Amber's company the Ribbon Jar, I combined some satin rose-sets, various pearls, and vintage rhinestone buttons to create this fun little piece...

Craft and Create I

Check out this awesome dresser my friend Kristin jazzed up! With a bit of elbow grease, some Farrow and Ball paint, and new hammered metal knobs it's a dreamy dresser perfect for her bedroom! Nice work lady!

Oh and it gets better, the inside of the dresser is just as stylish as the outside. Love it!

Twinkle Toes

With the up and coming holidays I've been in the mood for something dashing. And nothing can put more spring into my step than glitter on my feet! Here are a few ways to add twinkle to your toes...

Yibber-Yabber and a Quilt

Sunday was dedicated to bustin' out the old quilt (I started it in June). Coach Karen (my mom-in law) came over and helped me out. Karen has a huge wealth of quilting knowledge (she's been quilting for years!) I learned about proper pins, pressing techniques and the importance of the 1/4 inch seam. The time flew by with all our yibber-yabber and before I knew it the majority of my top quilt was assembled! Eureka! Thanks so much Karen. xoxo KR

Karen

I just realized when looking at this picture...I sew in this sweater ALL the time!

A Quick Dash to Denver

This weekend was an interesting one. I spent the first bit of it checking out Denver with my Fro-worker Jill. Every once in a while my job requires me to go to a conference over the weekend. Even though most conferences take place over the weekend, I rarely mind because I always get a chance to check out another new, neat city. This weekend I was able to soak up a bit of the Denver culture. I was surprised to find a city so clean and packed full of freshness. Denver is home to many great brew pubs and fabulous restaurants and the city center is rich with beautiful, re-gentrified brick buildings. Also, it was cold but sunny and there was a fresh crispness in the air. I would totally recommend checking this city out!

Weekend Project

Here it is...my weekend project. I started it last June but it's since been forgotten in a pile of undeserving neglect. But with my first meeting for the PMQG fast approaching I'm feeling extra motivated to start working on it again. Speaking of quilting I can't wait to show you some of the stuff Karen (my mom-in-law) has been making. AMAZING! Karen has been an avid quilter for years and honestly, her talent is un-matched. I am one lucky duck because I'm surrounded with lots of help in the quilting department!

I Heart...

Nothing beats whipping up some seasonal soup in a Le Creuset!

Chalk Board Spruce Up

While at the Little Winter Sale I picked up a cute decal designed by Shanna Murray and with a little help from Erik (I have a tendency towards skewing stickers) I was able to spruce up our chalk message board. I have to say I'm quite pleased with the results...