Merry Christmas

I don't know about you, but it's not really feeling like Christmas to me this year.  There's a lot going on in my personal life, and the fact that it's been in the 60s and 70s the past month (NOT that I'm complaining!), has kind of put a damper on my Christmas spirit.  However, I'm blessed to have friends and family that love and care and I got to spend some time with.  Also, I get tomorrow off (meaning I get to sleep in, woot!), so hooray! Oh, and I got some awesome swag this year - a sewing machine and a Kindle Fire!  So excited to get to mess around with them both and discover their amazingness.  I'm hoping to get started with the sewing machine soon...maybe try to make 

this seat cover (are everyone elses dogs shedding like crazy now!?)

 

 these adorable baby booties 

and this adorable pillow.

I've never sewed before and I'm kind of clueless about how complex/easy these tutorials might be...we'll find out soon I guess!?  Any other recommendations for beginner sewing projects?

Hope you all have had a fun holiday weekend...I would say relaxing but if your Christmas is anything like mine it'll be far from it! :)

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

I don't have kiddos of my own, but I did get the chanced to keep the kids I watch over a long weekend, and they have an Elf on the Shelf (named Carl) so I got to play along with all the fun I see floating around the blogs!

I finally got around to decorating my house for Christmas too!

 This is our upstairs tree, and it's a travel theme.  Since we've been dating, the hubster and I pick up an ornament from every place we visit, so that's what's on this tree, along with some fun pink and turquoise ornaments for a fun!

Last year we got a new tree for downstairs, and it's SO pretty! 

 I LOVE the berries and pinecones that are on it!

 Our kitchen table even got a mini makeover too!

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Link Parties - I don't get to all of them with each post, but you should check them out!

Sundays:  I <3 Naptime, 1+1+1=1 ( kid friendly), Little Wonders' Days (kid friendly)
Mondays : C.R.A.F.T.,Making the World Cuter, The Girl Creative, Skip To My Lou, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping It Simple, Sew Can Do, The DIY Home Sweet Home Project, Home Stories A to Z
Ninth Street Notions, Polly Want A Crafter, Ask Anna, Pinkapotamus, So Creative
Tuesdays: Today's Creative Blog, All Thingz Related, Sugar Bee Crafts,Tales of A Trophy Wife, Today's Creative Blog, Not Just A Housewife, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Crayon Freckles,
Wednesdays: Fireflies & Jelly Beans, Sew Much Ado, Blue Cricket Design, Lil' Luna, Polka Dots On Parade, Free Pretty Things For You, A Little Tipsy (DIY under $5), DIY By Design, Raising 4 Princesses(kid friendly), This Chick Cooks (recipes), Lollipops (what I love), Sew Much Ado, Organize and Decorate Everything, The Girl Creative
 Thursdays: A Glimpse Inside, My Repurposed Life, Simple Home Life,
Fridays: TaterTots & Jello, Sun Scholars (kid friendly), Remodelaholic, Bacon Time, Stuff & Nonsense, At The Picket Fence
Saturdays: I Can Teach My Child (kid friendly), Be Different, Act Normal,

Fun and Ideas - NC State Fair

Yes, these are pictures from the fair almost 2 months ago...don't judge, just enjoy! :D

Check out how cute these fair food cupcakes are!

 One of my favorite things to visit is the building with all the weird produce, biggest pumpkin, etc.  They have kids use pumpkins and apples to make a scene and these were a couple of my favorites!

 The cake's entered in the competition look amazing, both professional and non-professional ones!

Take a look at these cute table settings!  Great ideas to use for future Fall and Winter parties!

Last but not least, I'm not sure what contest this was entered for, but it won and it looks like it took someone a LONG time to make it!  So cute, and the detail that went into it is incredible!

Baby Cake Number 3

I decided to try making a diaper cake differently this time.  The recipients of the diaper cakes I've made in the past (see my first one here and blanket wrapped one here) have loved their gifts, but I always felt bad they had to take off a rubber band and unroll each diaper to use them, I wanted to make it a little easier this time.  I just did some guessing and reworking, and it all turned out good! 

Supplies: ribbons, johnsons travel pack, baby washcloths, artificial flowers-stems cut off, tape, 42 size 2 pampers, clothes

1. Lay the diapers out in a line, overlapping evenly.  These had images at the top, so i just had the next diaper start at the bottom of the design.

2.  I folded up the clothes the width of the diapers and included that on top before I started rolling...then just start rolling it inwards on itself.

3. Add more diapers and clothes to make the "layers" different sizes.  Secure with a rubber band (making only one rubber band to take off than one on each diaper!) and stack on top of one another.

4. Cove the rubber bands with decorative ribbons,

 

 add in flowers and goodies, 

 

Tah-dah!

It's sitting on top of a cute magnetic memo board that can be used in the nursery, and I can't wait to give it to the mommy to be!

How Does Your Garden Grow? - Dig, Drop, Done!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done. for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love flowers, but really am an awful gardener!  I try to keep my flower beds looking nice and pretty (see my gardening post here) and I do love to use bulbs! It's a nice surprise when flowers pop up later on!  Luckily, DigDropDone.com has made it easy for you to use bulbs, and shows you endless possibilities of beautiful flowers!  They have three leading ladies who you can identify with, and who will share tips and ideas with you!  I really identify with Marcy - the supermom! 

  

While I don't have kids of my own, I do take care of 3 kiddos full time, and like me, she is super busy running around everywhere!  She loves that she can get beautiful flowers from bulbs without having to spend a ton of time on gardening, and she shares tons of tips with you to make your home and garden beautiful.  My mom didn't pass the gardening gene onto me, but she did pass on her appreciation of flowers!  I am excited to use Digdropdone.com to help me with tips on how easy it can be to grow flowers!  Bulbs aren't just for planting outside in flower beds either.  You can use them in cute planters for the front porch, add some color to your bathrooms, or even throw a couple in a cute watering tin with a pair of gardening gloves for a great Mother's Day or housewarming gift! Go and visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more about how you can beautify your surroundings using bulbs. It gives you month by month tips for keeping your garden looking great.  According to the bulb calendar, "The month of November is perfect to start on that first round of tidying up the garden.  For some plants, a layer of leaves offers good protection. But gardeners beware: if you fail to move the debris quick enough come spring, the earliest flower bulbs may be hindered. To give your bulbs growing freedom, remove excess leaves and plant debris early on, making sure to keep your lawn particularly clean.  Add some fertilizer to those bulbs that you left in the ground after they bloomed this past spring. You will be rewarded with more blooms next spring!"  Go try it out and let me know what you think!

 

DigDropDone.com also has an exciting contest with Curbside Chaos called "Bulbs. Dig Drop Done." where you can upload a picture of your yard and win a $5000 makeover for your yard!  Not only do you get a yard redesign, you also will get a visit and consultation from Taniya Nayak (@TaniyaNayak on Twitter)!  Also, for every tweet shared about "Bulbs Dig Drop Done", they will donate $1 to Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit organization that works on revitalizing communities!  How exciting would that makeover be!  Also on you can use the Garden Guru Tool that lets you choose where you live and then gives you a planting guide based on what will grow best when!

  

Now I know what I can plant to make my garden look great year round!  Have fun exploring all the possibilities for you!  Go visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more and Curbside Chaos !