the man of the house

Have you realized some Christmas tasks are just made for the man of the house? I wouldn't even think about putting the lights on the Christmas tree that just seems like a one man job. We were out of town last week and saw some impressive houses decorated with lights and Tom started critiquing the job each house had done. He had strong opinions on droopy lights so in my mind this task quickly became his as well. This was our first year in a house and we kept it tasteful. While this doesn't look like the Griswold's house it is the most decorated house in our little neighborhood. Though if we owned the house I think we would take it up a notch but we will save that for another year.  I am a fan of the old ceramic lights because that is what we had growing up. I handled the front porch because I knew what I wanted it to look like when I came home at night. I wrapped the doors with a couple spools of red ribbon and put pre-made bows. The tree with the santa topper is made from tinsel and a tomato cage and set into a plastic urn that will be great with spring flowers in it when it is time for the season change. 

We decided to add some icicle lights too this year. Tom got creative with and put them on the peak of the roof so it would look like snow on the top of the roof. Plus he has apparently always wanted to have lights on the peak of the roof. I have seen the roof of the house he grew up in and in his dad's defense I wouldn't have gotten on top of that thing either. Heck I wouldn't get on top of this roof and it isn't steep at all. The picture doesn't really do the look justice. It looks very cute and snow like. Forgive us we live in California so we try whatever we can to create that winter wonderland feel some of you just get naturally. 

It has been a very busy holiday season. I will get the post about Christmas cookies up soon. I tried yesterday but just as I went to publish it there was a meltdown on my blogger page and it disappeared and I just haven't had the serenity to redo the entire post.  Doesn't look like I will make my cookie goal this year. Somethings are just more important than cookies. I have a plan for a new cookie goal so stay tuned for that post. 

If I am not back on the blog before Christmas have a happy holiday. 

star light star bright

I got really excited that this would be our first Christmas with a fireplace. Not because of the warmth or ambience a fire gives off on those cold nights. I got excited because it meant I could decorate it. I haven't had a proper place to hang a stocking in over 16 years creating years worth of excitement to be had this year. Now that it is all put together there is nothing better than sitting on the couch admiring my handy work. Check out that Christmas tree it is beauty too.

It isn't as twinkly and pretty in the daytime but you can see the color and some of the other decorations that I just couldn't capture in the night photos.

We got these angels in Maui on our honeymoon. They are made by a high school student and sold in a small shop so she can earn money to go to college.

Last year we hung our stocking on a bookcase using these cute stocking hangers from Target.

I got the snowmen at the dollar tree. I think it is the pink cheeks that I am a sucker for on Christmas decorations. The tiny tree cam from Trader Joe's and I love the creepy eye in the middle of the star.

What is that you say you want your own large star for very little money and very little time? You are so in luck. Have I got a deal for you. A few yard sticks, some thumbtacks, spray paint and lights and you too can have a well lit mantle this holiday season or all year if you are really into the star thing. 

I of course got my initial inspiration on Pinterest. The original post is at Little Bit Funky. I have had all the other decorations on the mantle for a while now and it was really lacking something. My husband suggested a wreath and that sounded perfect until I started looking at prices. Enter the large star. Turned out this is the exact reason that Little Bit Funky stumble upon this project too. 

Made out of yardsticks it ran me $5 for enough yardsticks for all three stars, spray paint I had for another project and some new lights. At around $20 that is significantly cheaper than a wreath. 

For that large star I used 5 yardsticks and for the smaller ones I cut 5 more yardsticks in half. It took me a minute to figure out how to lay them out so the corners would connect but once I overcame that challenge (which really was more challenging than it should have been) it was easy.

I used thumbtacks instead of the suggested glue gun. Cause I don't even own A gun let alone many guns that would necessitate the need for a gun rack. What am I dating myself with a Wayne's World quote? Seriously I just got back into making crafts and I don't have a glue gun. I tried gorilla glue but the wood was too porous and just absorbed the glue so thumbtacks were my next logical choice. Once you paint and add lights you won't know they are there.  

Cut the other yard sticks in half and you can make stars that are literally half the size! Clever aren't I? Add your favorite color of spray paint and you are ready for lights.

I went with a two tone experiment which I have mixed feelings about but it is hard to notice it on the mantle. 

 I think I am going to have to find a home for these after the holidays I like them so much.

What have you done to your mantle? Need ideas check out the link party at Ten June. 

If you came over from Dare to DIY via any of theses great sites: NewlyWoodwards, Maybe Matilda, Decor and the Dog and Two Twenty One then thank you.
Also linking to: whipperberry, liz marie blog and house of hepworths

let's get crafty

During my November blogging marathon I mentioned that I am going to attempt baking 85 dozen cookies. For those of you, like me, that aren't good at math that is 85 x 12 = 1,020 cookies. No problem right? I think my record was set last year at 31 dozen or 372 cookies. I started my preparations on Thanksgiving and have some dough prepared and in the freezer but the big days are Tuesday and Wednesday. Posts about the cookie baking will certainly be coming later in the month. Probably next week while I am away at the happiest place on earth.

Today however is about how in the world one gets rid of 85 dozen cookies. While we enjoy cookies at our house we don't need quite that many for the two of us. Luckily for me marriage has given me a lot more people to share my passion for baking. So next week I will be stopping by the post office to send out packages of goodies. I couldn't very well just pack them in ziploc bags. It is all about presentation. So tonight I sat in front of the roaring fire and got my craft on. It sounded so cozy but man that fire was no joke. This might be the only time I break a sweat making a craft.

I went to the craft store today and went aisle by aisle looking for items that I thought would be great inspiration. I came home with this pile o' stuff.

Got some decorative tape, ribbon tape and the original tacky glue.

The baker's twine is always a good call for cookie gifts

I really liked the scrapbook paper selections and was especially drawn to the sticker pages

I had some leftover boxes from the container store for other cookie gifts and picked up a chinese takeout box. After over two hours in front of the fire I am a little dehydrated but have some great boxes and gift tags to start off the holiday season.

The three round tags glued together to become my snowman tag is my personal favorite. Wouldn't you just love to get some treats in a box like that? 

Take note of that blaze my husband got going for us. I feel cold being away from it now and the thermostat reads a balmy 70 degrees. 

A few of my favorite gift tags. Like I said I really loved the sticker scrapbook pages. They made the craft so easy.

This post is going to be strutting it's stuff on a couple places this week. If you came over from Dare to DIY via any of theses great sites: NewlyWoodwards, Maybe Matilda, Decor and the Dog and Two Twenty One then check out the great holiday crafts at the link party that starts Tuesday, December 4th at Hi Sugarplum! and vice versa. Thanks to all of these ladies for hosting great events.

Dare to DIY is in it's third week. Come back next Monday to see the fourth and final installment and see what great ideas everyone has for decking the halls.

Bringing Christmas Cheer to the Blogosphere is just getting started and has events planned twice a week for the next three weeks.


If you have questions on any of the products above feel free to contact me. Below is some of the information.
Product info:
food containers are from the container store
Star felt stickers are Felties from Darice
Dark gift tags with metal grommets are called Core Tags from core'dinations
Trendy tape from Queen & Co.