On the first day of Christmas...

Twelve more days until Christmas! I don't know about all of you but it's been a blur these past few weeks.  We don't know our holiday travel plans yet so that's wreaking havoc on my planning skills. It's been a whirlwind of shopping, parties, baking (lots of baking!), cleaning and decorating. 

At times it has been a little stressful but once Joe comes home from work and the fire is on, the lights are off, and the Christmas tree is lit up everything is ok again.  It's amazing what the glow of Christmas lights can do...it softens everything just a bit so it looks beautiful.

Abbey looking adorable in front of the tree

Duke and Abbey snoozing away while we clean (probably their muddy pawprints!)

My recent chalkboard art attempt. It will go on my mantle.

Me and Duke doing our best pose

Hope these next few days are filled with love, joy, and all things merry. Take a moment to breathe deeply and appreciate everything you have.  It all goes by too fast.

 

 

Merry Christmas!

~kc

I'm STILL dreaming of Christmas

I can't believe I'm just uploading these pictures.  I'm still in the Christmas mode (even though everywhere else I look I see Valentine's Day and spring clothes).  

Here are a few of my favorites from the holiday season.

Excited to see if Santa came

Find the baby

Holiday tradition of playing in the wrapping paper

Goosey and Maverick all smiles

Maverick with his newest BFF

Two of a kind

Hugs to our followers,
LC

Fabric Garland

I'm not the best DIYer, but I'm very happy with my fabric garland project.

I bought green and red patterned fabric,

cut it into 1 to 1.5 inch strips,

and tied them around a string of twinkle lights.

The result turned out to be a little bit rustic and a little bit country,

and I LOVE IT!

 I had lots of fabric strips left over.  

So, I bought an 8" wood embroidery hoop and clothespins.

I'll tie the fabric around the hoop, hot glue the clothespins in place,

and (hopefully) have a rustic cardholder wreath.

Here's my inspiration: Christmas Card Wreath.

My goal was to have it complete by Christmas, 

but this season has gone by WAY too fast.

Merry Christmas to all!

Hugs to our followers,

LC

Peek-A-Boo

Here's what we've been doing at LC's house for hours upon hours a day!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!
Hugs to our followers,
LC

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

This newspaper clipping continues to make me happy and believe in miracles at Christmas. I think it sums up everything quite beautiful even years later.

This excerpt was taken from the Newseum

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? "VIRGINIA O'HANLON. "115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET." VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Love
Kc

Sugar plum fairies

It may be in the 70's here in North Carolina but I'm doing my best to bring the Christmas spirit to my house.  We have stockings at work so I like to come up with some creative goodies to give to my coworkers.  Here's a roundup of my projects this year.

Candy Cane Peppermint Bark



So easy

And so cute!

Lazy Man's Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Start with some pretzels on a baking sheet



Have some pretty chocolates for decorating on hand

After putting some chocolate on each pretzel, bake for a few minutes to melt chocolate. Then decorate!

I wrapped them up and tied them with a bow

Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treats

So incredibly easy it kind of felt like cheating

 Smore's Cupcakes (Chocolate Cake, Marshmallow cream filling, and Graham Cracker Buttercream)

Decorated and ready to go

Gingerbread and Apple Spice Bread

I baked the breads in individual pans purchased from Michaels. I then wrapped them in brown paper and bakers twine.

I thoroughly enjoy having a reason to make fun treats! I already have a ideas for next year brewing.

I hope every one is having a wonderful Christmas season.
~Kc

DIYers

I aspire to become a DIYer.  I see these amazing creations made by artistic people, and I desperately want to be able to do the same. Last year for Christmas, I made my own fabric garland.  It actually turned out pretty cute.  I'll be sure to post a picture on an upcoming blog post. 

In the meantime, my new 4:00 a.m. obsession is DVRd Nate Berkus shows.  Check out these
holiday DIY projects featured on his show.  I'm hoping to get some of these materials after the holidays on super sales.  Then, when I'm cooped up in the house during the cold winter months and wishing for the Christmas season back, I'll be inspired to do some of these crafts.

 Hugs to our followers (especially the DIYers),
LC