ok, i know. i know. but at least it's tasteful. i could have posted one of these.



oh, wait. i just did. my bad.
thanks to the crazy fans over at twilightguide.com for these oh so seasonably appropriate images.

HAPPY HOLIDAY DECORATING

my goal this year with holiday decorating was to
a)make it easy
b)not buy anything new
and
c)find a way to balance what makes me happy with what makes my boys happy.

i pulled out my fake milk glass collection (all from thrift stores) and added a variety of red and white christmas ornaments, garlands and peppermint candies.

here is my mantle. the only things i spent money on were the two candles and the white ribbon for the star hanging on the wall. i've never put these pom pom garlands up like this, and they make me so darn happy! it's a polka dot feast for the eyes! the white with red dot box is where i store my basic sewing kit. the red felt garland behind everything decorated starbucks a few years ago. i bought it after the holidays for cheap. the small red striped hat box was a gift from my mom many moon's ago and houses a few miscellaneous knick knacks that i like to keep track of.

above my white goodies, i hung an old thrift store frame i painted this summer. you can also see some fabric yoyos (i love making these things!) and a crocheted granny square in shadow boxes from ikea. i also framed a page from an old rudolph golden book, hung my cool starburst vintage clock and a little garland i made using a new pennant punch i got at impress and my tiny janome sewing machine. this stuff totally makes me happy, happy, happy!
i helped boon's class make clay snowmen last year, and hudson made one, too. they added these cuties to the gingerbread village they put together. so dang cute.


each day this month, the boys opened a door in their lego advent calendar. they add these little guys to the village. it's really fun to see what they get each morning. (these calendars are uber expensive. watch for lego sales early in the season!)

and of course, packages in my favorite colors. this is the first year all my wrapping coordinated and man was that ever fun!

it was fun to decorate using what i already had and with the colors i love!

happy holidays!

THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY

i was an instant fan of this trilogy by suzanne collins. now i just have to wait patiently until a movie surfaces, which it surely will!

there have been a few books in my life that i couldn't put down.
first, there was harry potter.
then there was twilight.
and now, hunger games.

i can appreciate good literature.
i can appreciate some trashy-esque writing.
i can appreciate children's books.
i can appreciate blog writing, and magazine articles, and an ocassional piece of non-fiction.
i can appreciate a lot of types of writing, but there is something about each of these series that struck me more than any other. maybe it's the characters. or the descriptive style. or the totally creative storyline with all its details. whatever it is, i was hooked on all three. and interestingly enough, all three are writtern for young adults.

if you need a quick, fascinating read, try these.
the hunger games trilogy isn't really light reading.
it's pretty heavy and at times depressing stuff.
in fact, if you don't already know the basic plotline,
i'd recommend you don't find out.
just dive in.
it'll get you thinking...and hoping...and wishing...and questioning.
and if you do take the plunge,
let me know what you thought, ok?

THRIFTY FINDS

have been finding random treasures at my thrift stores lately. i get so seriously giddy at finding a goody. such thrifty goodness in the world. sigh.

first off, this delightful typewriter. in brilliant shape. a beautiful silvery pale turquoisey blue. works like a charm. even has the case with key. and only 7 bucks! wahoo! i'll use it for scrapbooking and ransom notes.

and these beeeeaaautiful books. complete with that musty old book smell. i would have paid extra! i've been keeping my eye out for oldish books with spines in a variety of colors. and if i can find one with a title that i find humorous (ie the art of cheese cookery) or have a personal connection with (ie copper kings of montana), all the better. in my current collection are a few science books that make me think of wyatt and the boys, a little book about love i've had since a child, a synonym-antonym-homonym book and an old basal reader that hints to my english/education roots as well as books with other connections that make me happy. and of course, a couple of heloise books. because i am so into cleaning house, don't you know.

and what will i do with these books, you ask? well, we'll see. as i dream of rennovating my living room, i picture these grouped on a bookcase somewhere with a few white milk glass type pieces placed about. when they do find a somewhat permanent place in my home, i'll share, ok?

SO MANY KINDS OF FUN

on the way home from school today,
boon says,

"four square is so freaking fun!"

hudson says,

"it gives to you the freaks?"

COOKIES!

when the boys got home from school the other day,

there was a package from grammie.

but not just any package.

a big box full of homemade cookies! the boys were so excited.

boon exclaimed,

"that grammie is such a nice woman!"

SHOUT OUT!

let's give a big woo to the hoo for my two new followers.
thanks pam and angela.
welcome aboard our wild ride!

NEW GAME

it's called
real or on purpose?

one person burps and the rest of the players try to guess if the burp was "real" or done "on purpose."

fun for the whole family.

any marketing ideas can be left in the comments section. we'll soon be taking bids for distributors as well.

and you're welcome.

LOVE AFFAIR

is it wrong to have a love affair with a store? i mean, come on. this packaging from trader joe's sends my heart a-twittering. sweetly retro. i just might buy me some for decorating my home. especially that cute frosting mix with the cupcake. would look cute out at valentine's day, don't you think?

TWO THINGS...

...i never imagined would need to be said, by me, ever:

#1 time to clean up. all weapons need to be put away in the weapons drawer.

and

#2 put your penises away.

i am a mom of boys.

THIS GUY IS 8!

so, way back in october, this amazing guy turned 8. 8! unbelievable! and he requested an indiana jones AND star wars party. and i do believe i was on crack, but i agreed to 18, count 'em 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17...18 kids.

we had an indy tablescape full of goodies from thrift stores...

and a delightful little cake decorated by daddy and the boys. basically a bunch of figures stuck in frosting...just exactly what the birthday boy ordered.

the kids dined on yoda soda (lime sherbet and sprite)...
crunchy jedi light saber breadsticks...
death star donut holes...
wookie cookies...
and padawan pizzas (and yes, i realize it wasn't the healthiest of fare. we just went with it. it was a party, after all).each kid got an indy hat and played a few games including the mummy wrap... and practiced using the force with balloon light sabers.

the birthday boy was so happy on this day and so deserving...what a great guy.

we love you so much, boon!

CASE SOLVED

hudson was taking a bath.
i was cleaning the toilet.
the toilet in the boys bathroom.
the toilet i don't use.
because the boys use it.
two boys.

i said,
"wow, this toilet is going to be so happy now that i cleaned all this pee off of it. you boys get it everywhere!"

hudson replies,
"how do we get it everywhere?"

"i don't know. i guess you guys don't pay attention or something."

"i just think we need a bigger toilet."

PARTY FOR TATER TOT

hudson chose the name "tater tot" for his not-yet-born cousin, Ezra. and we all met in spokane to celebrate said tater tot and his mommy (aunt lissa), daddy (uncle michael - who was running a marathon the day of the party) and brother addison.

for this shower theme i chose little birdies with orange, aqua and white. auntie jessica made the beautiful paper birdies and the darlingly packaged and delicious cream cheese mints. i scoured thrift stores and discount shops for birdies and cages to spray paint and added a few other goodies here and there. here are some shots of the event. we had a nice time and i sure hope lissa and addison did, too.