It's been awhile...

I have not fallen off the face of the Earth.  Quite the opposite.  I've been firmly planted on the ground trying to get things done for the holidays.  My goal was to have the non-glamorous stuff out of the way 2 weeks before Christmas Day.  For the most part, I've accomplished that, but there is little stuff that pops up along the way.  The little detail bits that I always seem to forget year after year.

Once school let's out, I will breathe a bit easier. 

But sharing details about my schedule is a total bore.  So, I will tell you what I'm making all of the teachers, bus drivers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and teacher assistants for Christmas gifts. 

I insist on handmade when possible, and useful in some way.  You can imagine my difficulty every year in coming up with something.  Honestly, if I could give them all $100 in a card I would.  We love our teachers, etc.  They deserve it without a doubt, but my pockets do not run that deep.  :(

For the men on the list above, we are doing THIS.

Assembly will take place later this week.  If you want to know where any of my supplies came from they came from here and here.  I am making some cute, vintagey red & white labels for the spice containers with clip art from here.

For the ladies on the list, we are making THESE.

They are coming along nicely.  I was able to find fun wooden spools at Hobby Lobby, and I think they make the kits look much better than the cheap plastic ones. 

These gifts are turning out cheaper than I originally budgeted for, but I think since our blood sweat and tears {mostly mine} is going into them, they are more meaningful, even if it's just a little bit.

What do you do for teacher gifts?  Do you give to your mailman, trash men, etc?  If so, what do you give?  In the past, we've given those peeps fast food bucks for a quick lunch.  You'd be amazed at what good service you'll receive when you let them know they are appreciated, too. 

If you have any questions about these projects just let me know...

My 2011 Holiday Wishlist

Because sometimes people Big Daddy needs some direction, and PLENTY of time.

Oh, who am I kidding.  We rarely even do the gift thing. 

So, I will be really irrational and make some of these items DREAM wishes.

Go big or go home.

The gifts are more fun when they're for the kids anyway.

But, just in case...

Cath Kidston Gnome Jasmine Jumper

Lensbaby Composer Lens & the Sweet 35 Optic

Hunter Original Tall Wellies in Dark Olive or Green

AlienBees B400 flash unit

Tory Burch Patent Caroline Ballet Flat in Camille Pink

a trip HERE because I heart it, and haven't been in 12 years

{can we add Scotland & Ireland this time?}

Yeah, right.

And, since I have been a good girl this year, and will be receiving every item on this list, thank you in advance, Big Daddy. 

Wink, wink.

'Chicago' in St.Louis?

Tomorrow, I'm going here to see 'Chicago' with my sister and our mom. 

It was a Christmas gift for our momma bird. 

I can't wait!

Pause my playlist in the sidebar,
and enjoy...

Oops! I forgot.

I just bought the most amazing PDF file from Twig & Thistle's's etsy shop.  

Why?

Because it was cute, cheap, and it never fails that I always forget a little something for someone somewhere along the line during the holidays.  Not a gift, per say, just a little somethin' somethin'.  For a party hostess, a great-aunt, a neighbor.  You get the idea. 

I have a box of unbreakable ball ornaments I got for 90% off last year and tons of ribbon (because I'm a ribbon floozy), so I'll make a big sack of them and keep them on hand for those, "Oops, I forgot" moments. 

photo from 'twig & thistle'

photo from 'twig & thistle'

The other thing I really like about this PDF is that it's black, so you can print it on, virtually, any color of cardstock.  I'm envisioning some unlikely Chirstmas combos.  I love the unexpected. 

Aren't they sophisticated cool? 

I love them, and it just reinforces my philosophy, "It's all in the details, and that doesn't mean expensive". 

Peace out, girl scouts!

Holiday happenings.

Today, Betsy handed out gifts to her teachers and therapists.  Tomorrow, her bus drivers will receive their gifts from her.  Then, on friday the boys will pass out gifts to their teachers and bus driver.  Personally, I think it's these individuals who deserve $1000 cash for Chirstmas, but the budget just won't allow it. 

That being said, I still wish to honor teachers/bus drivers with a small token of appreciation.  Being a speech and language implementor in schools for a couple of years (before the kiddos), I am well versed in all of the stuff given at this time of year.  WELL versed. 

Although, it's not much, I always try to include a $5 gift card to somewhere...Panera Bread Co., Steak-n-Shake, or Target.  I also try to include something handmade.  Usually, it's chocolate covered Oreos, or vanilla bean cupcakes, but this year it's key fobs as seen here with supplies purchased here. 

I know it's not much, but along with the gift card, I try to choose things that you can either eat or that are useful.  And, let's face it, those key fobs are pretty darn scrumptious if I do say so myself. 

I've also been working on an embellished shirt for myself to wear on Christmas Eve.  I am trying to refine my ruffles and fabric/ribbon flowers.  It's going, um, uh...okay.  I looooove J.Crew embellished tees, but just can't justify paying J.Crew prices unless it's one of their super sales.  Sadly, it's not one of those times of year. 

I am happy to report that my parents' gifts are DONE!  Since we didn't get our family photos taken, my sister and I had to kick it in gear and think of what to get them.  They are the HARDEST people to shop for.  They never really want anything, and since they don't ever want much, when they do have a hankerin' for something they just buy it for themselves.  See?  Tough cookies.  We bought my momma some tickets to see 'Chicago' (which she already knows about).  For our pops, I decided to work on a lil' somethin' on behalf of both my sister and I.  I cannot reveal what, but I will tell you it involves this guy...

...my father's beloved.  His airedale, Griffin.  The third & favorite child.

Finally, I would like to share a BIG project I recently finished.  Literally, BIG!

This is the window of my in-laws' automotive shop, J & W Automotive (where Big Jake thinks he's the boss).  It was the first time I've done something like this, and I'm pleased with the results.  Incidentally, my husband made the executive decision to have it say 'Merry Christmas', and NOT 'Happy Holidays'.  Nice!  That's why I love him.

I only have a few more sewing projects, and then it's time to wrap until my hands bleed.  I can't wait. 

Only 9 more days!

My Christmas list.

Before you go all nuts on me for making a Christmas list, let me tell you here and now, that I haven't made a bonafide Christmas list since I was probably 13.  Maybe younger.  Jake and I don't even really exchange gifts.  As for my folks, they give us the same thing every year.  A very generous, very much apprecitaed family check.  Jake's folks usually give us a very thougthful 'family' gift that is equally appreciated.  So, you see, there really isn't a need for a list.  Nor do I ever want enough stuff to warrant one.  I mean, not REALLY want it, anyway.  Not enough to procure a list.  But, if I was asked to make a list, this would be what was on it.  Now, I know for a fact that I will never get everything on this list.  Some things are just too far out of reach for any one person, but a Christmas list should be full of unattainable things.  Right?  That being said, I think anything is fair game on a Christmas list.
Hope you enjoy, because I sure enjoyed thinkin' it up. 

#1 World Peace

#2 Kitchen-aid stand mixer in Marth Stewart blue

#3 Clean water for every world citizen

#4 Pentax SMC P-FA 50mm f1.4 lens (P.S. Reviews say the comparable Nikon and Canon lenses look 'dated' in comparison, but i'm just sayin'.)

#5 Cuisinart ice-cream maker
(It also does gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and sherbet in, like, 30 min.)

#6 True happiness for all

#7 stove-top grill (for the cold months)


#8 Tom's Navy canvas shoes (Don't forget; for every pair you buy, a pair gets donated to someone in desperate need of shoes.  Sweet.)

cropped form "The Light of the World" by William Hollman Hunt circa 1853-54
Incidentally, I saw the life-size version in real life which hangs
is St.Paul's Cathedral in London, and let me tell you, it's a world rocker, that painting.

#9 Jesus in everyone's heart (Pretty simple, right?  Afterall, He's why we get to make these lists in the first place.)

also...

My dear cousin, Mel, is getting married in March. I will be a second-time bridesmaid at the ripe, old age of 31 (my birthday is in February...9th if you're wanting to get me a present). I am making their wedding cake topper, as a gift to them. Goosegrease makes them to your custom specifications, as pictured above, and they are incredible.

BUT, they also sell unfinished dolls. SO...

Stay tuned...

And, my other dear cousin, Kate, gave birth to her second baby boy on Monday. I was hoping to have a picture of baby Grayson, but I forgot my stinkin' camera when we went to the hospital.

Dang it!

Well, congrats, anyway, to Kate and Ryan, and their expanding family!

Word!

teacher gift?

Having previously worked in schools, being a speech/language therapist, I know, all to well, the horrors of the giving and receiving of the dreaded "teacher gifts" during the holidays. People always have the best of intentions (or they are just tired of shopping by the time they get to the teachers on their list, and they just don't care), but sometimes I wished that the few dollars that was spent be given to a charity or used to buy Swedish Fish. I heart Swedish Fish. What I'm getting at is that the above gift is not only easy on the eyes, it is affordable (the notebook is from Wal-Mart for cryin' out loud), and useful, and partly handmade (which is kinda personal), and just darn great. I saw this on whatever, and that crazy Kansan, Meg, is at it again. Check out the whole post here because the letter crayons and magnets are just as cute, just as personal/handmade, and just as affordable.

fyi I'm planning on baking vanilla cupcakes with fluffy icing and adding a handmade initial ornament to the tied bow on top of the pretty Martha Stewart cupcake boxes I got. Total cost of ornament project for 12 teachers/therapists $3.75, and cupcake boxes (used a coupon on top of a sale at Macy's) and ingrediants will run me about $12. I will post pictures at the end of the week. Yea!