Afternoon Project.

For some reason I decided to wait till the last minute to find something for Audrey to wear to church for "Christmas Sunday." Stores pretty much seem to be out of all the pretty dresses already, swimsuits are even coming out. Geesh. If I was smart and well-prepared I would have found a great dress online like this one. But since it won't ship in time, I settled for shopping at the mall. (Which I am becoming more and more less fond of doing. Especially with my Etsy addiction). I came up with an okay outfit from Old Navy. But the shirt needed a special something to it. And my new found love? Flowers and ruffles made from lovely material like silk and chaffon.

Here is what I came up with...

This was super easy to do and I LOVE how it turned out. Time to do more fun projects like this.

A pink room. Yup.

You would almost think I made up the whole house remodeling thing, since I haven't posted on it in f.o.r.e.v.e.r. But I didn't. Truuuust me. We are living in our little bungalow now. There isn't a sink, counter tops, dishwasher, or floor in the kitchen. Audrey's door doesn't fit all the way and allows for a 2 foot gap, which results in having to be quiet after 8pm. [Her door doesn't fit because it actually goes on the hallway closest, we just haven't got a door yet for her room.] Trim is lacking in pretty much all rooms (except for existing trim). A light bulb is dangling from our living room and dining room.

On the other hand, we have made TONS of progress. Like a working shower (which I have done dishes in), toilet, and bathroom sink (which I have scrubbed pototoes in). Painting is pretty much done in every room. It is really starting to look like a home. Soon. Very soon. I will be posting pictures of rooms with our stuff in it.

I will at least share a completed room (without stuff in it).

May I introduce you to Audrey's room...

It was no easy task to get to the "after" part. We had to do things like this:

Do you know what they are doing? Scraping plaster off the ceiling. Omgosh. Have you ever done anything like that? Just know, if you saw their face, it would be completely black. NOT. FUN. Once the plaster was scraped then new drywall needed put up. Wait, did I mention there was a drop-ceiling first up? Then the plaster. Oh, and the walls had to be built up to the ceiling, because they were exposed where the drop ceiling was. Awesome, I know. We did everything ourselves (with lots of wonderful friends and family), except install the new beautiful windows. So after the new ceiling, new windows, cleaning poop off the wall (this is not a joke), priming, painting, adding carpet, all new eletrical, new ceiling fan, you get a finished room. And don't forget about this beauty found in Audrey's room.

There you have it folks, one room shared, many more to go. So stay tuned...

Traditions. For Real.

Since I was little I have gone to the same tree farm every year to get our Christmas tree. The minute we turn onto the long driveway and get welcomed by the lady with the flag, wonderful memories start flooding back to me.

And now with my family, I hope to create the same type of feelings and memories.

Last year, Audrey was a mere 6 weeks old when we braved the snow and freezing cold. I didn't step foot outside. Instead Audrey did what she did best, just nursed.

Andrew picked the tree and I agreed from the window. He was so sweet to pose as if we were next to him.

This year we just braved the bitter cold, which was a great incentive to pick a tree really fast.

While you wait for them to shake and wrap your tree, you can hang out in the beautiful log cabin and enjoy free hot chocolate and apple cider right off the wood burning stove and delicious popcorn.This tradition I am definitely passing on.

Dear Santa. A Holiday Shopping Guide.

Still looking for that unique, reasonable priced gift? Avoid the mall and hit up Etsy. But be careful. I'm not claiming it takes less time then going to a mall. Because well, it's addicting. You can find just about everything on Etsy. See, look here.

In case you don't have the time left, I have come up with what I like to think is a list of fabulousness. This would be my Christmas wish list, if I had one. But I don't. So this list is really for YOU.

Enjoy!
Linen Tea Towel by Sara Smedley. You just can't have too many dish/hand/tea towels. They work great just to display like art or use them for what they are or place them in a basket and add some other fun things (like antique silverware), or place under a centerpiece. I love that this tea towel is made from natural linen. Oh, and did I mention there is a matching apron? Love.

1980's Chic Secretary Dress by Noble Town Village. Love this dress. Mmmmmmkay. May not be the best gift for just anyone, but it is definitely on my list (which doesn't really exist, remember). And I would pair it with the Daffodil earrings listed below. Thanks. Moving on.

Floral Headband by Knit Berry. I love this creative twist on a headband/hat. And for under $20? Yes, please.

Reusable Produce Bags by Love for Earth. How cool is this idea? A) It makes shopping so much more fun B) It is eco-friendly c) Your refridgerator will look even pretty keeping all your producer fresher. You might be tempted to buy yourself a set and a friend.

Daffodil Dream by MD Sparks. Give a little spring and cheer in this dreary cold weather.

I Will Be Grateful Canvas Print by Vol25. I'm a big fan of decorating with personal pictures or inspirational art. And this piece is definitely inspirational. What a reminder that we could each use every day.

Argyle Labels by Bohtieque. There is nothing like getting a personalized gift. And who doesn't love labels?

Splat Mat by Chalky Doodles. This is perfect for a mom with little ones (or ahem, me). Place this under a high chair or under a table when children are playing with playdough or other messy materials. You don't have to worry about your floors getting ruined.

Wanna know the stores off Etsy that I just personally bought from? I can't reveal what I bought, because some of my lovely readers are my friends which will be receiving the handmade gifts, but you can at least know the store. Check them out here, here, here, and here. [By the way, some of stores profit goes to helping a family with adoption- now how cool is that?]

Put yourself in someone else's shoes.

Literally.

I scored these super cute vintage shoes at Goodwill the other day for $4. I would have to say, one of my top favorite finds at the thrift store. Now I wonder where these shoes have been before...I like to think they have walked to a broadway show or down an aisle to a daughter's wedding. But for me, my shoe story includes chasing a one year old around. (Believe it or not, they are reallly comfortable. Not the most appropriate for this cold weather, but totally worth wearing anyway.)

I kind of really love shoes and seem to be passing this gene (there has to be shoe gene, right?) on to my daughter.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Edited to Add: Over at I Should Be Folding Laundry, I came across her Christmas Tour of Home, which brought me to a new blog I just discovered and LOVE, The Nesting Place. The Nester has this grand idea to share your Christmas decorated home with others. Well, since I already shared some of my decorations in a previous post, I am just going to link this post right up.

So, enjoy taking a tour of my new-old 1930's bungalow that we are in the process of still renovating!
.
.
.
.
.
I may not have a fully functioning kitchen. Or a door on Audrey's room. Or trim around anything. But I do have up Christmas decorations. A beautiful Christmas tree. And a house full of warmth.

(Ah, yes. Baby's First Christmas picture will be displayed every year.)

(Stockings my best friend and I made, hanging up in my bathroom on an old metal cabinet I found at a local antique store. Did I mention the inner stockings are made from velvet? So divine.)

(Christmas tree sitting above the old metal cabinet- wait till you see the whole bathroom complete!)

(Ignore the unpainted door. It will be painted one day. Any suggestions on color, throw them my way. I was thinking light-minty green? If that even makes sense.)

(The piece above used to have ugly fake fruit on it. I took them off and added the pretty ornaments I scored at Goodwill the other day. The ornaments were also added to the wreath I made hanging on our door.)

(I love the papa, mama, and baby deer hangers.)

If you haven't noticed yet, I love everything vintage. I think people back in the 50's had great taste [and just overall great ways of living. But that is for another post, another day.]. Furniture was made a lot stronger too. But what I really love about vintage finds are the stories behind each piece. Someone used it before I did. What did they do with it? Who opened up that cabinet door? Was it a little girl like Audrey looking for her toys? For some people, it is so not appealing to use something some else once had, but for me, I love to be another story for that special piece.

I hope your homes are looking merry and bright in which ever way you love to decorate.

And this is how I spend my afternoon...

Yesterday was a special day. It wasn't intentional, it just happened. And now that day has it's own place in my heart that gives it an extra beat.

And this is how it was spent...

I went to an afternoon Christmas tea and cookie exchange at my dad's neighbor's house barn. The neighbors I grew up with. The type of neighbors that only seem possible in dreams anymore. The neighbors that have become family. While Audrey (and her cousin Jonathan) roamed around the most beautifully decorated barn and explored, I spent time chatting with women who have really lived.

Audrey was fascinated with all the candles. Fortunately, most were battery-operated.

At each tea kettle (there were at least 5), a story was written about the significance of each one. If you could read the story above it would have said something like this: the tea pot has a rose on it which represents my husband buying a rose for me every Saturday the year we were married in 1946 for .50 a rose. (insert tears here, sweetest story e.v.e.r) After sharing the story with me, my neighbor, jokingly, said I put this up to remind him what he did way back in the day.

A woman of great wisdom and a reflection of Proverbs 31, Irene. I grew up visiting her and watching her hang her clothes out on the line, which she still does, now in her 90's.

This is me and Irene's daugher, Peggy. She and her husband live in a finished barn behind my dad's house. You know, the one with the donkeys. I would listen to donkeys every single day to have a neighbor like her. She is amazing and has a heart of gold. She never could have kids, but we were like children to her. She is truly a mother to so many. I want to spend more time with her and listen to all her great stories of living in Europe while her husband was in the war. She has been to Russia, Israel, Germany, Holland...pretty much everywhere. But her favorite place is at home taking care of her husband, her mother, and many animals. Living the simple life.

Let me just say, um, delish.

Cousins looking for the donkeys and horse out the door. I am so glad I was able to share Audrey with the most beautiful older women both inside and out.

This is what Christmas time is all about. Making memories. Sharing all the joys God has blessed us with.