Happy 2012

{Pinterest}

This will be my last post before the new year! I can't wait to dive into 2012 with a ton of new projects in mind.

I wish everyone and safe, happy, healthy and prosperous year to come.  I think 2012 is going to be a good one. 

Happy New Year

xoxo

Tanya

After Christmas Boredom

I think this picture describes it all! There was so much excitement with Christmas festivities that now, my boys and I are experiencing a little bit of boredom.  It would be different if we could go outside and play, but the weather is horrible this week.  Wet and windy.  Yuk! 

So, we've been doing a lot of playing with new toys, play dough, coloring, movie watching and adding touches of winter to the house.  Just because it's not Christmas  doesn't mean we can't decorate still. 

 We found this basket in a parking lot!  It's one of those old locker baskets.  Can you believe it?!  Just hanging out in a parking lot ready to come home with us.  Funny how something so small can make you so happy.  I kept all my pine cones out being that it's still Winter.  I always love bringing the outdoors in.  And, since I already had them from Thanksgiving and Christmas decor, why not use them through January.  Free is my favorite.

Speaking of Free, the blog Eighteen25 has some amazing Free printables.  One being this cute New Year print. I love the Gray and Yellow.  It's so calming after being taken over with Red and Green for the past month.

If you would like the Free printable for yourself, go {HERE}

Coincidence, I'm not sure!  I happen to have a Gray couch and an old Yellow Coke box in the next few photos.  I love when things mesh well.

  All I did is add some fake snow to the bottom of my hurricanes and put a battery operated candle in each. I added some more of my Free pine cones into the Coke box to surround the candles and....

 that's all.  Pretty easy and it makes my coffee table look a lot less boring.  Do you ever feel like you have a ton of junk tucked away, but then you bring it out and add a few more junkie things to it and voila, you have something awesome to decorate with?!  I feel like this a lot. 

I hope everyone had a fabulous Holiday(which ever one you celebrate during this time of year)  Here is to a wonderful New Year!

Happy Birthday Erin

This is my older Sister, Erin and today is her 35th Birthday.  I hope her Birthday is just as wonderful as she is.  I wish I could be with her to celebrate.  I love you Erin.  You are the Best Big Sister ever!  Happy Birthday.

Christmas At The Old Goat Farm

Good morning Blogging Friends!  If everyone has a chance today I would like you to go visit my FB page {HERE} and check out all the Christmas goodness at the Old Goat Farm.  It's my Uncle Greg and Gary's home in Graham, WA.  So many trees and all different themes.  You will love it.  My personal favorite is the Peppermint Bathroom. 

Happy Wednesday everyone.  Only 4 more days till Christmas!

Cookie Of Christmas Past
I have a recipe that I posted last year and it has been pinned several times on Pinterest.  I thought I'd share it with you again as it is one of my favorites.  Enjoy!
Chocolate Crinkles

These oh, so delicious cookies will always remind me of my Aunt Kathy. I loved these cookies when I was younger and the only person in our family that ever made them was my Aunt. I've never attempted to make them and decided this year I would give it a try. Trust me...this recipe is so, so good! They remind me of a gooey brownie, but topped with powdered sugar. How bad can that be?! I hope you'll give these a try. Here is the recipe.

MIX TOGETHER:

1 Cup Cocoa Powder

2 Cups Sugar

1/2 Cup Veggie Oil

BEAT IN

4 Eggs(one at a time)

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

COMBINE IN A SEPARATE BOWL

2 Cups Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

ADD DRY INGREDIENTS TO WET INGREDIENTS

* Cover dough and let chill for 2-4 hours

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Either line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or cooking spray

-Roll dough into 1 inch balls and then roll in 3/4 Cup powdered sugar

Bake 12-13 min.

EAT AND ENJOY

Weekend Finds

 My husband creates and runs special events for the city we live in and this weekend he ran a community indoor yard sale.  I don't have any new projects to share with you today, however I wanted to share with you my fun finds.  I'm already looking forward to Summer and yard sales. 

Above is a really pretty bowl that is actually bigger in person than it looks in this picture.  I love having a bunch of different serving pieces.  This cost $2. 

 I also found on old 7Up wood crate.  This can be used for so many things. This cost $5.

 I was so happy when a lady walked in with this window.  Finally, something for the big, blank wall in our bedroom.  It's neutral, yet reflects light and adds that vintage touch I love so much.  $5 woo hoo!

 I love this little Pyrex Bowl! It was only $3.  That is a steal for Vintage Pyrex.  Right now I'm using it to hold our Keurig Coffee singles. 

Finally, my husband found 4 of these cute candle holders.  They were only .39 cents a piece.  For dinner tonight, I added some Kosher Salt to the bottom (looks like snow) put a candle on top and voila!  Faux Snow and a candle.  These candle holders will probably be showing up from time to time in many of my blog posts.  So much you can do with a candle holder. 

So, those were my weekend finds.  Happy early Christmas to me...I should just tell my husband to start a prepaid thrifting Visa for me.  *hint, hint :) 

Wreaths

Last week I asked my Facebook friends & blog followers to submit their wreaths for a a wreath feature blog post.  I had tons of wonderful submissions.  Some are bloggers and some not.  I have to say, there are some creative people I know.  I hope you enjoy!

 This is my Cousin Amanda's Cute Coffee Filter Wreath!  They are a personal favorite of mine.  You did awesome Manda!

 Angie's beautiful Silver, Gold and Cream Wreath.  Love the "C" in the middle!

 This one is from The Toasted Coconut!  I featured it a few weeks ago, but I just had to share it again.  Love it.

 This is my Aunt Lona!  These are the two beautiful wreaths she made, part of the wreath workshop she runs every year.  They are always adorable!  Beautiful Lona.

 This wreath comes from my Arizona Family, Angie and Chris.  Traditional red & green with a cute little bear.  Good job Moellers.

 This looks so wintry and cold with the white and blue.  Sparkly and fun!  Submitted by Sissy's Salvation.

 What's more traditional than a Poinsettia.  I love them in white against the blue door.  Very pretty.  Submitted by Plum Patchwork.

 I just love the blues and greens in this wreath submitted by Fox Hollow Cottage.  Isn't it beautiful. 

 Here is one from another of my Aunts, Linda.  I think I recognize that ornament from Pier 1.  I might just have to get that one for myself.  Really cute!

 This one comes from a blog that I love following, Nest Of Posies.  The colors make me so Happy.  Love this one!

 My Uncles Greg and Gary always amaze me.  This is in their Gardening themed room.  Yep, that's right.  Each of the rooms in their home during Christmas is a different theme.  We'll be doing a blog post on their home next week!  You will love it.

 Here is the Peacock Wreath!  So fun.

 Welcome to their Front Door! What better way to welcome your guests during the Holiday season.

 This is also a personal favorite!  Greg and Gary, you guys are amazing at what you do.

 This one comes from another blog that I follow, All Things Home. I love thinking out of the box.  Rolled paper to make a wreath.  How creative and shabby chic. 

 This is really thinking out of the box and I will be borrowing this idea next Christmas.  I love this idea from Eclectically Vintage.  So cute!

 Jennifer claimed her wreath was not blog worthy.  I disagree.  Jennifer, anything traditional is always welcome.  I love how it looks frosty and your choice of colors.  Very pretty!

Something so classic and timeless when using silver.  I love a wreath all in one color.  Thanks for submitting your wreath Jenna!

 I think this wins for most adorable.  Yarn, snowflakes and fuzzy berries....so fun! This comes from Mandi Being Crafty.

Finally, I am all about re purposing!  You have to check out how this one was made.  Talk about getting crafty.  Wreath made by Art Is Beauty.

Thanks to everyone who participated.  I hope you enjoyed all the wreaths as much as I did.  Lots of inspiration from creative people. 

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Vignette

{Creating With What You Have On Hand}

 So, by now you should know that I love, love creating things with what I have on hand or with what I can find for little to no money.  I am a big believer in thrift stores, garage sales, and antiques.  Being a one-income family, I have learned that it doesn't take a whole lot of money to make your home cute. 

Here is a Holiday Vignette I created with objects and items that I've had for years or that are just laying around the house.

 I think the only things that were bought this year are the big ol' Christmas Lights thanks to my Mom-In-Law, Linda Lue.  They came from a local thrift store and cost around $2.  The Christmas tin the lights are sitting on top of came from a friend.  I wish there were still cookies inside.  The large "J" normally sits by a picture of my Son Jaxon, however since our last name starts with a "J" also, it can be re purposed to represent our family name.  The little "J" was mine and my husbands wedding cake topper. 

 This is my favorite Santa Picture yet.  This was taken right before the tears started flowing from my son Easton.  This was two years ago, and he was NOT a fan of Santa that year.  I used and old IKEA frame to display it in.

 For the top of the red box(I normally use it to hold all my boys dinosaur toys) sits a wreath we bought several years ago from Ben Franklin for 75% off.  You gotta love those after Christmas sales.  The big pine cone came in the same box my Grandma sent the nativity scene in. You can see that {HERE}  I just spoke to her the other day and she said she found them in Reno, Nevada. 

The two mirrors off to the side are ones that I've blogged about in the past. You can see those {HERE} & {HERE}  I can't tell you how many times I've used both in displays for every season.  I love them. 

My challenge to you:

 find things around your home next year when decorating for Christmas or for any other season and see what kind of beautiful display you can make with things you already have.  It's a great way to be creative and save money. 

I linked up:

Someday Crafts
Lolly Jane

Blog Swap

I have a super, special treat for you today.  I'm doing a blog swap with Bonnie and Trish from Uncommon.  You are going to love this project.  When you're finished reading, make sure to visit their blog and become a follower.  They have bunches of great tutorials.  Thanks Bonnie and Trish. 

Happy Holidays  Y'all! 

We are Bonnie and Trish from Uncommon and we are so thrilled to be here today.  We are going to share a super quick project that you still have time to make for this year!  

 

The sweet folks at Lion Brand Yarn contacted us a few weeks ago to see if we would be interested in trying out a few of their products. Seriously? Pinch me now! We thought about it for half a second and quickly hopped over to their site to take a look at what they had to offer. 

I immediately fell in love with the Lofty Wool Blend yarn from the Martha Stewart Crafts Collection.  Just take a look at Snowdrift in all her soft and fluffy goodness.  So cuddly! 

Now, I don't knit, but it just screamed cable knit sweater to me!  I instantly knew that it would be perfect to make a cable knit tree for Christmas!  This was one of the easiest and quickest crafts I have made in a long time and I am so in love with it!  It literally took me ten minutes to make it... no joke!  

Here is what you will need... 

Martha Stewart Lofty Wool Blend Yarn 

Styrofoam Cone

Finial or Ornament for the Top

Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks 

Step One. Glue the first layer of yarn to your styrofoam cone (make sure you leave a little at the start tucked under the bottom). 

Step Two.  Wrap all the way up the cone.  You need to cover the styrofoam, but don't wrap too tight or your tree won't be "fluffy".  When you get to the top, glue down the ends.

Step Three. Glue your finial or ornament to the top and you are done!  Crazy easy and just so pretty! 

Here she is with our ribbon tree that we showed you a few weeks ago.  You can find the tutorial here. I also had to include a starfish, a jute wrapped ornament, and more shine and glitter to the mix.  Just perfect for my Coastal Christmas decor.  The best thing about these trees is that after Christmas is over I can keep them out all winter! 

Hope you guys are enjoying all of the joy that the holidays bring!

Thanks so much for having us Tanya!

Trish

My Grandma's Nativity

 A couple of posts back, I told you that I received a few large pine cones in a box my Grandma had sent for me.  You know it's going to be something good and something older when it comes in a box marked ATARI. 

Here's what was inside...A large Nativity scene that my Grandpa Rex painted years ago.  This is the Nativity that used to sit in my Grandma's dining room.  Christmas Eve and my Grandma's home go hand in hand.  I have so many wonderful memories of spending time at my Grandma's during the Holiday Season...decorating sugar cookies, eating Lutefisk and Lefse(If you're Norwegian, you know what these things are)

This Nativity is one of the things that stands out in my mind, and when my Grandma asked me if I wanted it, I did not hesitate to say yes.  A lot of Love went into painting it and it was displayed in a loving home for many years.  I feel honored to have it passed down to me and my family to enjoy for many years to come.  Thank you Grandma.