On the first day of Christmas...

...and so it begins...25 days til Christmas starts today!! Time to turn Christmas music on and hang an ornament on your advent calendar.
This time last year some great friends introduced me to Pandora and I am HOOKED! It's what's playing while I run, while I work on my computer and it will fill our house with Christmas music this year...unless you are in the garage while Brandon has the Sirius radio Christmas channel blaring.
We are super excited for the holidays this year, even more then usual. Our youngest is five (will be 6 right after Christmas), our oldest will be home on leave from the army and my sister's family, whom we haven't seen in years will be here for a WEEK! YAY!

So, let's get this party started! Whether you LOVE the holidays like I do, or are a grinch at heart, try doing something fun each day. Here are some ideas:

GIVE

Remember the true meaning of Christmas and help others.
Buy food for a homeless person (or someone in need).  This does not have to be expensive. $5 should cover lunch.
We all see people standing with signs, needing help. One popular place for people to stand in my town is close to a Subway restaurant. I have thought about getting a few $10 gift cards and giving those. Look around for ways to help others.

Play

This fun Virtual Countdown Calendar features a different thing to make or do with kids each day.

Santa sent an elf to our house again this year. Based on "The Elf on the Shelf", we found a plushy (MUCH cheaper) elf and attached a note from Santa. He will keep coming for short visits, then reporting back to Santa. Its a GREAT way to keep little ones "being good" during this exciting time of year.
Here are some awesome ideas for elf adventures: 101 Elf on the shelf ideas; Fun Ideas; Pinterest Board; Gift ideas for elf to bring

Kids at Christmas

Each year I search for new traditions to start with our family. Last year we started a gingerbread making get together. It was wonderful. Our youngest son is five! The PERFECT age for cherishing the magic and spirit of Christmas. 
Today's post is all about kids and pure joy. We all get SUPER busy. I tend to make my family wait quite a bit while I work. I am making a game plan ahead of time to make sure this year is a wonderful one. I want to sit by the tree Christmas morning, drinking in the joy...instead of regretting working too much.
 
Decorate

When I worked at an elementary school we made salt pictures like this one year. The kids loved it! Really easy and simple, yet cute.

Delightful

Our youngest loves telling jokes! These are super funny ones. I think it would be fun to print them on little strips of paper and attach to each advent piece. A new joke each day :)

Delish

Snowmen are my favorite! There are several fun winter/Christmas treats even little ones can help with.

Delovely

 

I HIT THE JACKPOT!!! This is an incredible thing for those with kids. I am super duper happy to have stumbled across this! A fun list of things to do each day from Dec 1-24. When my two older kids were little we lived by a mega mom who did something fun with her kids every single day during the holiday season. This is similar to what she did. LOVE it! Click here for printable list.

Here is this year's countdown.

 Deliver

Simple snowmen kids can help make and deliver to friends and family...or eat for a yummy snack.

Reminder to self: don't let the holiday stress turn me into a monster mommy....instead, find happy moments with my son each day.

Decorating ideas

Decorate

One of my favorites this year! This granny square tree skirt would be a great family project, having members of the family make a square for the skirt. Might just have to make this next year's CAL!

Delight
I LOVE luminaries! They are charming. So many wonderful DIY ones are floating around right now. I had to share a few of my favorites.

A snappy friend recently made these doilie luminaries to decorate her wedding. I love decorations that can also be sent home as gifts!

What a clever idea! Definitely going to give these epsom salt luminaries a try. I just adore them.

Delish

Divinity candy reminds me a winter and fresh snow.

Delovely

Isn't this charming?! It is a beautiful creation from Bella Crochet, made from 10 crochet cotton thread. Many of you know I am not a fan of working with thread...mostly because it makes me feel like a granny as I sit with my bifocals, still straining to see it. But this is cute and one of my close friends LOVES thread. I have been thinking this would be a super cute base for our advent calendar..made from worsted weight yarn!

Pinning fun

I am loving pinterest lately! It goes in waves. Sometimes I get totally addicted in finding things. I LOVE that secret boards can be created now and I have been using them for things I want to make for Christmas presents and future designs.

If you haven't found Pinterest yet, you should give it a try. It is fun seeing all of the wonderful things others find. I got searching for new decorations and ways to bring a warm and cozy Christmas feeling into our home and am excited to share them with you.

Decorate

I have been searching for a quick and easy pattern to make these ever since I saw them hanging on a tree on some random show I was watching. These "woolly balls" are super cute. I need to make some bright colored ones to polka dot my snappy tree...but they would add an elegant touch made from cream cotton.

Delight

A beautiful hotpad, but also a nice centerpiece to put a candle on.

Delish

Mmmm...overnight cinnamon rolls to have ready for Christmas morning.

Delovely

I love coffee cozies. This cabled cozy would make a wonderful gift that keeps reminding friends how much you care.

Deliver

I LOVE dish towels with crocheted tops. This is even better, giving any towel a handy place. These work up quickly. Add a Christmas towel to this hanger for a nice neighbor or teacher gift.

Celebrating the end of fall

We just got home last night from spending a few days in Yellowstone and Island Park. As I walked through the door I was hit by the site of Halloween decorations! gross! I will be packing up most of it and leaving out those things which can pass for fall/Thanksgiving..which aren't many.

Thanksgiving is like a giant dam that needs to be reinforced each year. I bet years ago the beavers' union gave up and offered a full surrender, not being able to hold the giant mass known as "Christmas" back any longer. No, this calls for a giant concrete one. A friend shared this graphic and I LOVE it!

So, in honor of the turkey, I will celebrate fall a little longer.

Decorate

Coffee Cozies are always a must this time of year. I love the "lid" for the jar too. There are tons of "mixes in a jar" recipes to put inside instead of pumpkin seeds...which make me gag.

Delight

I am usually not a fan of fall colors because I miss the bright and cheeriness that is lacking, but this crocheted tote is a gorgeous combination. The pieces could be assembled as a centerpiece or pillow too.

Delish

Ok...this is by far one of my favorite shares. Check out "10 days of mason jar gifts", use the cozy hat and lid pattern posted above and make it into santa or snowmen and you will have presents for everyone on your list this year!

Delovely

Cowls are really popular right now and a beautiful way to stay warm. Love the color, love the pic, love that it's a free pattern.

Deliver 

This makes me giggle. What a super cute little treat that kids can help make too! My son's kindergarten class doesn't do a party but I think I will see if we can have the kids make these. Makes an adorable goody to give to your Thanksgiving guests too! 

Have you started planning who will cook your turkey this year? 
Grab my Cooked Turkey hat pattern for only $1.99 til Thanksgiving (new wing pattern will be added by the 15th and sent as an update). Take a look at pictures people have uploaded while you are there. They are AWESOME. Two thumbs (or wings) up!

Getting into the spirit

Only a few weeks til Thanksgiving and then I will be putting up our tree. This time of year I LOVE cinnamon and spice smells, crisp air and warm drinks. Outside smells frosty (if that is a smell) and leaves line the streets.
The past few months I have been searching for wonderful ornament patterns for our "Countdown to Christmas Advent CAL" and came across some amazing things I want to make. From decorations to yummy foods, I hope you will enjoy these too!
Each day I hope to share these with you and together we can create holiday memories.

Decorate

This free Puff Centered Star pattern makes an adorable package tie-on or ornament. It would also be adorable sewn on an apron or hanging from a gift basket.

Delight

These little crochet animal ornaments are definitely delightful! Super cute free pattern from "All About Ami".

Delish

We LOVE (nonalcoholic) Wassail at our house. This cinnamony-spice drink is a wonderful winter tradition and adds a warm aroma while brewing.

Delovely

I am a HUGE fan of Attic 24. Her colors are amazing and make me happy. She used these granny stars for an advent calendar. Cute idea. Like the ones above, they would be fun sewn on items too! How about in all white for snowflakes?

Deliver

I am always looking for inexpensive, but thoughtful and unique gifts for neighbors, teachers and friends. As I come across things on my quest for that "perfect" gift, I hope to share them with you. Check out 13 of the funnest ideas I have seen! This "Just Add Snow (snowman kit)" is super fun for families. Pick up scarves, mittens, hats and more from your local dollar or thrift store. Add a few carrots and even crochet some coal (black circles) for eyes and mouth.

Don't forget to whip up some whimsical hats for the cold season to keep heads warm and snappy!
Buy more and save: spend $20 or more on ANY snappy tots' patterns and save 30% off your purchase.

Add the finishing touch

A lot of the time I see wonderful handmade items in craft boutiques and think, "if only they had added that finishing touch". You put so much time into your item, don't stop there. If giving as a gift, spruce it up with a handmade tag.
If you have a shop, add your shop info and "to:/from:" so its ready for giving. Plus, the recipient will have your info in case they want to order more.

I LOVE snowmen so when i came across this I started to giggle. What a fun, easy and inexpensive way to dress up your gifts this winter. Kids could do these too! Thanks to Crafts by Amanda for sharing her craftiness. 

 

 

 

 

Check out these cute tags...there are lots of different ones. Instead of the paper flower, how about crocheting one which can be used as a pin or hair clippy?

Crocheted ornaments make wonderful gift tags which keep on giving year after year. These are some I received this past Christmas from snappy friends.

Crocheted Cream

One of my favorite things to give to teachers and neighbors during the holidays is a "cup of cocoa". Throughout the year I collect Christmasy and winter-looking mugs from thrift stores for .25-.50 each. Then I put together this fun gift, complete with cocoa mix, a chocolate dipped spoon for stirring and whipped cream....which is actually a crocheted scrubbie. The free pattern, called "Red Carnation Pot Scrubber" is a wonderful creation by Priscilla Hewitt. Made from white cotton yarn, it is a fun addition to the gift. Its a quick project and one you can work on throughout the year while in the car, watching tv, waiting for kids, etc. It also makes a great bath pouf and baby scrubbie. The pattern is also available on Ravelry.
I received a similar one a few years ago with a cute note attached which read:
The legend of the snowflake
Long ago,
A gleaming star led the way to a
Child born in a manger.
Today it is believed that
Snowflakes are little pieces of that
special start that leads us to
The Light of the World - Jesus.

Doing boutiques? Make the scrubbies and attach the saying, typed on a cute tag or make up the mug sets and wrap in cellophane so its ready for giving.