Our Christmas

We spent Christmas day in our home.

We were so excited to set out The Girl's gifts.

She LOVED her stroller and Baby Stella.

It was so rewarding to see her eyes light up when she saw her new toys.

 This year was a lot more fun than last.

The Girl was healthy, and totally into opening her gifts.

She was so excited about each item.

We bought her a back pack, and as you can see from the photos she didn't take it off.

We also got her Minnie Mouse stick on earrings.  

These took me back to my childhood.

People keep asking me if I am going to pierce her ears or not.  

I have really been going back and forth on this so for now we are sticking with the stickers.

Then it was off to Florida to visit family.

Travelling took a lot out of us but as always it was worth every second.

We love being with family and The Girl LOVED all the attention.

New Years was low key.

The Hubby and I got away during the day to shop and go on a date.

We had smoked pork for dinner (Hubby's fav) and spent time with our family and The Girl.

The next day we stopped by the Gator Bowl pep-rally!

Go Gators!

And got to watch the game with other Gator fans.

All and all a great Holiday!

'Tis the Season....

We spent the weekend celebrating the Christmas season.

We started with our Church Christmas banquet and finished with Mr. D's work Christmas party.  

The Girl was a champ.  

Taking in all the festivities.  

Unfortunately, Sunday morning she had her little seal cough back.  

We spent the day nursing her back to health and hope she is back to normal ASAP. 

Next weekend is a busy as this weekend was.   

No time for sickness.

This year I helped with the decor for the banquet.  It's always a fun time to get in the Christmas spirit and spend time with some other great women in our church.  I'm not going to lie, I enjoy the lead up as much as the actual event.  The decorations for the banquet are always tricky.  We have next to nothing for our budget and a large naked room to work with.  The theme was "Old Fashion Christmas" so the tables were decorated with lanterns from IKEA, burlap, glittered pine cones, red ornaments and gingerbread men at every place.  

To go with the "Old Fashion Christmas" theme we strung popcorn strings on the tree.  This was a fun project.  We got a bunch of women around a table with Christmas carols, treats and lots of chatting!

My friend even convinced her husband to make a snow globe...that's right a snow globe!  This man is every DIY'ers dream!  They saw something similar at another Christmas event they were at, next thing you know he's building a better version for his wife.  Isn't it amazing?  

We also painted a winter scene (by we, I mean, I painted a few trees and the yellow windows...another one of my friends was the master mind behind this...I was impressed)  It was the perfect background for families to take pictures.  There was also a fake tree and a life size frosty made of newspaper and a white blanket.  

Here's a view with the shoes and Frosty!

Making a tree skirt...

This year I am busier than I have ever been, yet something inside of me just can't help to add more projects to the list of things I want to do.  I mentioned here how it took me sometime to fall in love with my ornaments.  This year my goal was to add warmth to my Christmas decor, and while I would never in a million years describe my decorating style as country.  I am trying really hard to add a rustic, country-ish element to my decor to add warm.  I started with my twine ornaments seen here, then added burlap touches here, and finished the look off with a tree skirt.

I was trying to think of the most cost effective way to make the skirt while keeping with a simplistic yet rustic look.  I decided to make the skirt out of a drop cloth purchased at a hardware store.  The material is thick and durable and I was able to get one 5 feet by 12 feet for about $18.  If I had've shopped around I probably could have found this for cheaper or possibly even used but like I said I am so busy right now and I didn't have time for that.  I was totally okay with my tree skirt costing $18.  I started by googling tree skirts and reading a few tutorials.  Once I got the idea of what others had done I started my own.  I measured from the centre of the tree out and decided I wanted my skirt to be about two and a half feet long.  I created two squares 5ft x 5ft and then folded them in half like a triangle and in half again, and again.  I cut a piece of ribbon 2.5 feet long and taped a pen on one end.  I pinned the other end at the top of my triangle, pulled the ribbon tight and drew my circle.  I also traced a circle at the top to go around the trunk of the tree.

Once the first piece was cut, I cute from the bottom of the tree skirt to the top and tried it around the tree to ensure I liked the way it fit.  I then traced a second piece (back) the exact same size.

I really wanted to personalize our skirt so I used freezer paper to create a stencil.  I selected a font from the computer.  Printed out what I wanted it to say and iron the freezer paper onto my skirt.  I used fabric paint and a paper towel to paint over the stencil.  I used the paper towel instead of a paint brush to get a softer look, as a pose to a thick heavily filled in letter.

Once the paint was dry I removed the freezer paper.  To connect the twine and burlap on my tree and continue with the rustic look I hand stitched a burlap star on the skirt.

Once I was finished with the front of the skirt I pinned the two main pieces (front and back) of the skirt with the fronts facing each other and sewed all the way around.  Before sewing shut the straight cut (opening of the skirt) I pinned ribbon on the inside to be used to tie the skirt shut.  I left a small whole, then flipped the entire skirt right side out and sewed the whole shut.  Took it to my tree and tied it on!

Our Weekend...

Naughty or Nice?

Are we good parents for posing with her OR terrible parents for making her pose at all?

The Girl has been loving the idea of Santa.  Pointing to things with Santa on it and talking about him, however when it came time for the annual picture she was having none of it.  She didn't throw a temper-tantrum...we've seen those and know what they look like...she instead was clinging to and clawing at Mr. D's shirt.  We decided to make it a family photo in an effort to  actually get a picture for her memories.  

Do you think if she was a little older she would have told me to forget the memories, this is not happening?

Either way, we look somewhat happy and we have year two for her baby book. 

Terror in her eyes and all!

Last year, much better if you ask me!

Linking Here:

Adding burlap to my tree

When I saw this Burlap Garland at Micheals I  knew it was either going to be exactly what my tree has been missing or another epic fail.  I was shopping with my bestie who said, "If anyone could do this it's you.  Try it and let me know how it goes."  Love her!  I bought it and in my opinion it is perfect.  I love the mix of modern ornaments and this rustic touch.

I used some of the extra garland to make a bow for my banister.  This is my favourite addition to my decor this season.  I just love how it looks.

The Tree...

Last week I told the tragic story of my first Christmas married and how I hated my ornaments.  If you missed that you can get caught up here.  This year I have focused on warming up my Christmas decor and I will be sharing these new touches with you all week.

What have you added this year?

A story about ornaments...and how they're now covered in twine

When Mr. D and I first got married we were so excited for our first Christmas.  I absolutely love this time of year, and it brought tears to my eyes every time I thought about us creating our own Christmas.  Being newlywed meant we got to pick our own decor and start our own traditions.  We started by purchasing all the ornaments for our tree.  Mr. D wanted colour while I preferred something more subtle.  We eventually decided on some beautiful red and white ornaments from Crate and Barrel, a compromise on colour yet still modern.  I ordered all our ornaments online and could not wait to put them up when they showed up at my door.

I pulled them out of the box with eager anticipation of our "forever tree" and...HATED what I saw.  I didn't like anything I purchased.  Crushed, Mr. D took me to Target, Walmart and Kmart to find the some Martha Stuart inspiration and hopefully save our first Christmas.  I purchased all blue, which was a total copy cat of my Mom's tree, I felt anxious about trying anything else new.  We took our Christmas Starbucks drinks home and set to work hanging our new choices.

Mr. D sat on the floor attaching the hooks and handing me the ornaments.  About half way in he knew something wasn't right.  "Is everything okay?" he carefully asked, not sure he really wanted an answer. "Yeah..." I said.  "You hate it don't you?" he asked.  "Yeah, I do."  Being the loving husband he is, he suggested I try my Crate and Barrel ornaments I thought I hated on the tree.  Maybe they will look better on.  As we spent the next hour carefully removing one set of decorations and exchanging them for my original purchases I felt so nervous I might not like them.  Luckily Mr. D was right.  The ornaments looked much better on.  We returned the blue ornaments and fell in love with our forever tree.

While I was super happy with our tree there was always something about it that kept me from absolutely loving it.  I couldn't get past the "friendship" phase if you will.   We filled some of the holes with some plastic  ornaments to make the tree look full, so when I decided twine would add the warmth my tree was lacking I grabbed the cheap balls and set to work.  I simply popped the top off, covered the ball in glue and wrapped them in twine.  Glue the top back on and you are done.

 I love my new twine ornaments.  

The next step to adding warmth to our tree, is adding burlap. 

 I added this on the weekend, and fell deeply in love with my tree,all over again.

Stay tuned as I reveal the Christmas 2011 additions that have taken our decor to a new height!

Linking Here:

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Christmas Shopping for a Toddler Girl...

Christmas is my MOST favourite time of year.  

I love it even more than Fall!  

I think its because, unlike any other time of year, we make time to spend time with family, friends and co-workers to celebrate the season.  

Even though The Hubby is American, and it is against his inner core to start celebrating before Thanksgiving weekend, I have softened him a little so we start Christmas music and Christmas shopping as soon as Halloween is over.  

He even lets me decorate the weekend before Thanksgiving.  

What a guy!

All year long I have seen things I want to buy for the girl but have been holding out for Christmas.

It makes it more fun right?

I know thinking of ideas can sometimes be tricky so I thought I would share some of the beautiful things I am thinking of for the girl.

She will likely not be getting all of them but here is a starting point.

Happy Shopping!

1. A baby stroller for her to push her babies in. Pottery Barn Kids $79.00

2. Minnie Mouse Ears for everyday play. The Disney Store

3. Could these moccasins be any cuter? I would wear them inside and out. Target $14.99

4. Hand stamped silver baby bracelet. Julie the Fish Designs $54.00

5. Toddler size back pac for her stuff when we are on the plane. Skip* Hop $19.00
6. I absolutely adore this jumper.  Add bright tights and a long sleeved-t. Baby Gap $39.95
7. Every girl with growing hair needs some clips to keep it out of their eyes. Target $2.49
8. Baby Stella has magnetic accessories that attach to her mouth. Manhattan Toys $32.00
9. Child size table for crafts or tea parties. Ikea Table $39.99, Chair $19.99
10. Stylish yet cute to keep her warm in our cold weather. Target $10.00

Linking up here:

Etsy= Easy, AGAIN!

I have had yet another wonderful experience with Etsy.

With Christmas decor hitting the stores like crazy I am in the spirit really early this year.   My Hubby doesn't let me decorate until further into November so the only "Christmas item" I could get started on was our Christmas card.  I really like the idea of photo Christmas cards, especially when your kids are young and you live far away from extended family.  Every year I find it difficult to get a good photo of the entire family.  It is literally like pulling teeth to get Mr. D to comply.  Last year it was a total fluke that we got a cute picture.  He took a self portrait of us right after we finished decorating the tree and it turned out great.  Enter Christmas card 2010!

  I didn't even tell him I was going to use it for our Christmas card or he wouldn't have taken it.  

Tricky, I know!

Last weekend I was shopping with my Mom and found the cutest red tule skirt at Gymboree.  Since it was on sale with 30% off the sale price it was the perfect piece for our Princess.  She loves to be fancy, but is also a little bit of a tom boy.  She is rough and tough and puts her clothing through a beating.  This inspired my editorial style photo shoot (more on this later).  I know, who do I think I am?  I am no photographer.  I have a little point and shoot camera but I loved the idea of mixing patterns, styles and letting The Girl run free outside.  What better subject than an 18 month old toddler.  She definitely has an opinion but I am way bigger than her.  If only I was bigger than my hubby....

Originally I tried this shoot as a practice.  I was going to add my hubby and myself and get my older sister to take the picture.  When I captured this shot and saw this Christmas card, I knew it was a match! Cute family card without organizing the entire family...Etsy = Easy.

Let me introduce you to Jocie of Cards Etcetera.  She has, in my opinion, some of the cutest holiday cards around.  The best part is that Mr. D was as happy with my selection as I was.  Her service was super fast and she was so accommodating.  We needed one minor change and she was more than happy to do so.  My cards were complete with edits in about 2 hours.  Awesome!  If you are looking for a cute design check her out here.  You will not be disappointed.

Also, for my Canadian readers, I received an email from Blacks Photography offering 50 5x7's for $5 all this week (Ending November 17).  This means my total Christmas card expense with printing will be $20 (without postage) plus I will have gotten a few extra photos on top of that, which always makes the Grandparents and Great-Grandparents super happy.

Where are you getting your Christmas cards done?