Christmas Traditions

Growing up (and let's face it, now), if it's a Christmas activity I want in on the fun. I have always crammed as much baking and yuletide crafts as one possibly can in a short month. (The shortest month of the year if you ask me). 

 

When I was little, I always made a gingerbread house. But back in the day, you couldn't find all these perfect little gingerbread house kits that include everything you need. My mom, bless her, isn't so crafty. She never baked me up walls and a roof for my little houses. So, I used what we had around the kitchen. Usually graham crackers, sometimes saltines and squeeze cheese. My parents always told me how beautiful they were, but now that I'm a parent I know they were tossing back eggnog and laughing till they cried.  

 

I'm pretty sure those windows are made out of cheese...

This year was Mally's first time to do a gingerbread house with me. Needless to say, she love it as much as I do.

We got this tiny house kit at Target for like $2.50. It came with the house pieces, some small candies and the frosting! I added in some extra candy and sprinkles from our stash. (Yes, we have a massive stash of sprinkles for every occasion.)

Turned out adorable! I am so excited to start this tradition with my little one and hope she looks forward to doing it each year as I do!

Happy Holidays!

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Our Family Advent Calendar

We had such a nice holiday weekend. Full of too much turkey, a trip to the movies to see The Good Dinosaur (bring tissues...), and some Christmas decorating.

She loved, loved, LOVED adding ornaments to the tree. She brought in her little stool from the bathroom and hung every ornament I would give her on the same branch. I had to keep coming behind her and moving them. She also wants every tree and ornament to all be in HER room. She already has a nice little artificial tree but she needs MORE CHRISTMAS! I hear you little one, me too...

We also have started a new tradition in the house. The advent calendar! I never did these growing up. My husband's mom would get the little cardboard ones where there is a chocolate behind each door. Downside? Had to share with his 2 sisters. So that's only like 8 pieces of candy! I purchased an advent calendar from Pottery Barn Kids. For some reason, in my head, it was like poster sized.. Nope, it's enormous. And I love it.

I've filled it with little goodies like socks, gloves, candy, small ornaments for her tree and some fun activities for us to do together or as a family. Like making and delivering goodies or dropping off little secret gifts to friends. Of course we are going to also incorporate the true meaning of Christmas along with the fun.

     
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Let the holidays begin.

This is what I keep hearing. Mostly from my husband, but I can't help it. When the spirit hits me, I'm done for. I have compromised a little by just decorating one room so far, but nothing puts this southerner in the Christmas decorating spirit like rainy, gloomy days and that is what we are in for this week.
I've always wanted to do a "Christmas bed" for my daughter. She was in her crib still last year, with the ugly mesh rail. But now that she's in the big girl bed, it's easier to make happen. We went to target to get a happy pillow and fuzzy blanket to go on her white quilt that is already there.

Merry Christmas pillow

Plaid Throw   I will post some photos of the room once I put a few more finishing touches on!
Happy Monday, Fa La La La La!

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Beachy Laundry Room Redo

Ever since we moved into our house 6 years ago, I have wanted to redo the laundry room. It's pretty small, more like a laundry closet. I can't really do much about the size, but I was determined to do something about the function and design.   For the past year, our cheapy washer and dryer have been acting up. The hubby actually did a little surgery on the washer not to long ago because a belt went bad and filled the house with smoke. So, for a while now we have been saving up and ready to purchase a new set. I also super hate having a microwave take up counter space, so when we moved in I had wanted to install it in our pantry. Problem is, there is no plug in there. So we stuck it in the laundry room.

 As you can see, funky open shelving and a too large sorting and drying rack

 I also keep my cook book collection in here.

Here it is in progress. We removed all the shelving, the drying rack and patched up all the holes for painting.

Here's the after of our NEW beachy laundry room:

We got a white cabinet from Lowes for around $140. The white shelf on top is just re-purposed from before. We added in a tension rod for hanging clothes to dry.

We got a Samsung washer dryer pair. The dryer is a steam dryer and I LOVE it. The laundry hamper is from Target.

My cookbook collection also has a new home:

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Baby's First Birthday!

Last week my little bug turned 1 years old. It's bitter sweet. This is such a fun time with a baby because they are learning so much. It also makes me sad that she's not technically a "baby" anymore.

I just did a pink and gold color scheme. Nothing fancy. I made her cake and the cupcakes. I burnt 20 cupcakes the first time because I thought I would multitask and take a shower while she was napping and while they were baking.

I cut the "1's" out of glitter card stock I got from Michaels. The pink paper straws were from there, too.

 

Juice boxes for the kids.

 

Cheese & crackers, fruit with vanilla greek yogurt (which everyone thought was that sugary fruit dip), and store hummus with pita chips.

The veggies, cheese and meat were a tray from Krogers. I just plated it all nice.

Happy First Birthday Baby Girl!