Coolest Gift Ever

I bought this for James for Christmas:

Be jealous friends. I bought it from noodle hug on etsy and it was the only one. The shop does sell some other awesome prints so check them out to satisfy the geek in you.

Ask…

…and you shall recieve.
We asked “Do you have any more awesome trees left? We have been eyeing them all season and would loveone.”, to the express manager. He said “Sure I have three and I’ll give you a dolly to one carry it out with.”

This is the tree we tried to model our own Christmas tree after this year. Now having it our office(because our other one is sitll out) we see ours cant compare to the express tree’s beauty.
Thank you express manager for your kindess.

Ideas for the Future

West Elm always has the most beautiful items in their magazines. This year though I saw a few things that I knew I could create. If I can create it then you can too! Take for example the white nutcrackers (http://www.westelm.com/products/modern-nutcrackers-c551/?pkey=e%7Cmodern%2Bnutcrackers%7C21%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=NLASEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Holiday%202011%20D3%20Billboards-_-). Very modern and expensive. I found one at dollar tree, gave him a closed shave and then a new look.

These ornaments are adorable (http://www.westelm.com/products/filled-glass-ball-ornaments-c427/?pkey=cchristmas-ornaments) but at that price I felt like I should try to make some on my own. So I pulled out some clear ornaments we had from last year.
pulled out the puffy ball and went crazy with scissors and a hole puncher. My little dots did not stick to the side of the globe like West Elm but maybe if I had added some glue to them prior?

Hope you had a wonderful holiday and maybe you can use these ideas for next year.

4×4

I bought 4 items for 4 dollars to make these monogram stockings.

The stockings came from dollar tree. Aren’t the so cute?

The ‘J’ and ‘C’ are from Kohls. I bought them last year post-Christmas so they were clearance for a $1. I actually found them when I was unpacking ornaments and then I remember that is what I bought them for. This was so much easier than making my own stocking! So anyone else out there how monogram stockings? I show you mine can you show me yours?

Christmas In The South

We had our ‘first’ christmas this past weekend. We traveled to S.C. to visit with James’s mom,stepdad and our neice Rachel.

Oh-so cute.
Since it is almost a 8 hour drive we did not do much Friday but Saturday was go-go-go. We went to the movies and saw, “Arthurs Christmas”.

Look! Light weight sweaters and palmetto trees in December. Oh the joys of the winter in the deep south.
That night after Sandy made a wonderful ‘Christmas Dinner’ we opened presents! Yay my favorite part.

I like to watch people open their gifts.

Our last day in S.C we went for a walk with Rae.

I love this picture.
And here are some random shots.

Wish List Update

Remember how earlier this month I made a of things I wanted to accomplish this Christmas season? Well I accomplished a few more things this past weekend.
Number 2, James and I celebrated our Anniversary on Wednesday as embaressing as this may be the cake is already gone. That James!
Number 3, we order our cards and half of them have already been sent, so friends beware cheesy Christmas cards comming your way.

On Friday we went to see Glorious Christmas Nights at West End Assemby of God. Unknowing we accomplished number 7 and 8. This is the second Christmas show we have seen and while there we realized we have seen it almost ever year since we were married. We actually started going to it before we were married. Its a amazing show and if you live in the Richmond Area you must go see it next year!
Number 12 and 14 can be crossed off too.
That is my roommate from good ole college days, Ashley. I know my BIG head is blocking her but maybe you can make her out. We met at Christmas Town this weekend and dranks lots of hot chocolate. We later found out later was melted soft serve icecream and syrup. Yay for winter coats that will hide huge muffin tops caused by mass amounts of hot chocolate.

So let us review what is left:
1. Attend a Christmas wedding. I have a weakness for these and my dear friend is tying the knot December 3rd. It is going to be Ah-maz-ing!
2. Have my cake & eat it to. James & I celebrate our 3 year anniversary the 7th
3. Send out personalized cards on time! Last year we were sending out days before the big day.
4. Decorate our tree on turkey day.
5. Watch as many Christmas movies as possible
6. Visit the malls and NOT shop but enjoy the decorations
7. See a Christmas play or two.
8. Start a tradition
9.Make or buy monogram stockings. I am only so crafty so this may end up in a purchase.
10. Finish our Christmas shopping before December. I want to focus on the holidays not on meaningless thoughtless last mintue gifts. So spoiler alert everyone is getting gift cards. hello Black Friday!
11. Tacky Tour. In good ole RVA we have the tacky tour- a scenic route where you drive around and visit houses that are covered in lights. We always say we are going to this but never leave our own backyard to see the lights.
12. Visit Williamsburg and see my sister from another mother. Willamsburg is BEAUTIFUL during the holidays and it the perfect middle point for me and my college roommate who lives in Virginia Beach
13.See the deer. During Christmas the city is filled with beautiful decorated deer. It was a traditon during my childhood to drive down there and check out the deer.
14. Drink hot coccoa until I bleed it.
15. Give our tree a new look this year. We been doing blue, white & silver for 3 years now.
16. Go to Christmas Eve service. I especially like the midnight ones.
17. Make cookies-have a cookie party?
18. Make our home festive
19. Listen to Christmas Music. I usually don’t do this cause I don’t want to get tired of it but maybe I’ll listen to the mix we made for our wedding.
20. GIVE TO OTHERS in some way, time, money, gifts.

Fingers cross I can finish the rest of this before Christmas. It just over 2 weeks away!

3 Years

December 7th “A day which will live in infamy’

Yes we were married on Pearl Habor Day and No I did not know that when I picked the date. Yesterday we celebrate our 3 year anniversary by eating cake and buying traditional gifts.
3 years is leather, I found a leather photo album to hold pictures of us and our anniversary cakes cutting. James bought me a leather journal with a awesome owl engraved on the front. We plan on using it to record our memories from our anniversaries. So when we are old and gray we can reminisce. Also I dream of our children reading them and seeing our love grow over the years.

Most Wonderful Time of The Year

I was able to check another item off my list this past weekend. James & I were invited to a wedding. Winter weddings have a special place in my heart and this one was exceptionally beautiful.

Thank you Lindsay & Jason for allowing us to be part of your special day.

Spray Painting Fly Aways

Just like your hair may have flown always (mine does all the time-sexy i know) your can of spray paint will do. I don’t know why it floats around everywhere. Anyways while painting on the PORCH paint stuck on every surface! The rail, my boo’s jeans, ah the misery! Luckily(?) I have made this mistake before and had the perfect solution; SHAMPOO & a scrub brush. Before

During

And the after

We even let some of the shampoo sit on James’s Jeans for awhile and after a quick was they were as good as new. Behold the power of shampoo.

Checking Items Off My List

It only been 2 days since Thanksgiving but I think I already accomplished a few things on my list.
Number 4

Our tree this year was really inspired by the trees in the express windows. Apparently they giving away these trees in January by drawing names so James and I put our name in the drawing. Woo hoo! Fingers crossed we win.

Number 6

Look away from my huge face in this. It was just a quick shot to prove Jamie and I were loving this GIANT tree. Traditional colors, very beautiful.

Number 7

Okay so it was not a play this picture was taken at but instead a Christmas concert. It has been a tradition for us to see Carbon Leaf play black Friday between us and our friends. This year Scars on 45 was one of the opening bands. And what do you know James & I ran into them and met them again. Oh how I love to hear them talk! Great band check them out. http://form2form.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/weekend-getaway/

Number 10

Is that paper not pretty? Compliments our tree me thinks.

Not bad for my first weekend right? Anyone else make a ‘bucket list’ for Christmas as James says.