12.09.2010

ribbons and paper and bows, oh my

Today's topic...

Wrapping Tips!

button


Grab the button and link-up for the fun!

First off, let me just say, I love to wrap.   If I could make a living out of it, I would.  It's just so fun to me.  It's like artwork.

Some of my tips....

-Recycle bags and bows from previous years.  This way, have lots to choose from and mix and match each year.  (This is also helpful on the budget.)

-Create your own tags from pretty card stock.

-Create personalized wrapping paper.  You can buy brown paper wrapping paper or plain white wrapper paper.  If you have kiddos, they can draw on it or using paint, you could have them add their hand prints (turn into reindeer) or fingerprints (make into snowmen).  If you don't have kiddos, you could glue black and white photos onto the paper or even use stamps to add pizazz.

-Use tissue paper to wrap. Lay a couple layers of tissue paper (different colors and/or patterns work well) flat.  Sit the item in the middle of the paper.  Bring up all sides and gather it at the top. Use a ribbon to secure the tissue paper at the top.  This works great for small trinkets!

-Wrap in a gift itself.  You could wrap in a tote bag, basket, or even a Rubbermaid container.

-Attach a trinket to the bow.  A small toy works great for kiddos or you could attach an ornament to packages for adults.

 So what are your favorite wrapping tips?

Tomorrow we're decking the halls!! Link-up your holiday decor!


Pin It!

12.08.2010

Dear Santa...

Today's topic...

Letters to Santa...YOUR Christmas Wish List!

button


Grab the button and link-up for the fun!

Dear Santa,
I really have done my best to be good this year.  Yes, I whine occasionally.  And sometimes I get a little stubborn.  But overall, I think you would consider me on the "nice" list, right?! I have divided my list into my "for real" items and my "get real" items.  Any and all of the below items would be more than wonderful to see under the tree.  If you need other ideas...my hubby and mom know me really well.  I'm sure they could help you out.

My For Real list...

KitchenAid Mixer
(I should have kept this on my wedding registry list.)

via
Gift Cards
(You know this girl loves to shop. Among my favorites are Gap, Ann Taylor Loft, Target, iTunes, and TJ Maxx.)

via
Answered prayers
(However, I know I can't have my way all the time.)

via
Vera Bradley
(Basically anything from Vera.)

via
and

A New Brown Coat
 (Isn't this North Face one nice?)

via
And just in case you're feeling extra generous this year...
 My Get Real list...
A new car (or SUV),
A garage for our house,
A truck to give to my deserving hubby,
and last but not least,
world peace.

 Love,
Your Favorite
(Cait)

Looking forward to reading your letters to Santa!
Link up your wrapping tips for tomorrow (Day 9).


Pin It!

12.07.2010

yuletide entertainment

Today's topic...

Favorite Christmas Movies and Music!

button


Grab the button and link-up for the fun!

{My favorite Christmas Songs}

1.  Mary Did you Know?
2.  Oh Holy Night
3.  Jingle Bell Rock
4.  Baby It's Cold Outside
5.  Relient K's I Celebrate the Day
(check number 5 out below!)



And almost any other Christmas song....
Seriously.  I'm a little crazy about Christmas music.

{Favorite Christmas Movies}

1.  Elf
2.  Santa Clause 1, 2, and 3
3.  Home Alone 1 and 2
4.  Sappy Hallmark Holiday movies
5.  The Holiday
6.  Family Stone

lots others I'm sure that I'm blanking on right now...

Again, I'm a sucker for Christmas movies, just like Christma music! 

And just for fun since this is one of those weeks where I need a good laugh...and maybe you do too....
Click here for a little "Elf" humor!

Oh, and tomorrow...get excited...it's your Christmas wish list and letters to Santa!


Pin It!

12.06.2010

Gettin' Crafty on Day 6

Today's topic...

Christmas Crafts and DIY!

button


Grab the button and link-up for the fun!

I haven't been too, too crafty myself this holiday season.  When I share my decorations on Day 10, you'll see more of my DIY decorating ideas...as I feel most decorations have a little DIY spin on them since YOU choose where and how to use them! (One of my favorites being using ball ornaments in various glass containers to decorate.)  So I thought today I would share some of my favorite DIY internet finds from 3 of my favorite magazines...

{Country Living}

framed Christmas paper as ornaments

I made my own rendition of this to hold our Christmas cards

how cute is the idea of a photo wreath?

spray paint? check!

{Real Simple}

guests can write a holiday message to apply to the wreath or it could even be filled with favorite bible verses, memories from the year, etc. Oh...or what about cut pieces from the fronts of Christmas cards to adorn this wreath?!

{Southern Living}

deck the stairs! (use nice paper and yarn. simple.)

I can't wait to see your craft and DIY ideas for the holidays!

Tomorrow...

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
tomorrow's the time to share your favorite songs and movies,
yay!"


Pin It!

12.05.2010

Munching Around the Christmas Tree

Today's topic...

Holiday Recipes 
and/or 
Entertaining Ideas!

**This link-up will be open until tomorrow at 11:59 pm due to me messing up the posting time.  Oops! Sorry for any inconvenience! Day 6 will also be posted tomorrow to link-up as well.**

button


Grab the button and link-up for the fun!

I'm going to share one of my new faves with you....

Antipasto Cheese Ball
 (adapted from a Nabisco recipe)

What You Need:

*2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
{I use one low fat and one regular to cut calories}
*3/4 cup chopped Pepperoni
{I use turkey pepperoni to cut calories here, too}
*1/2 cup Kraft 100% Three Cheese Blend
2 Tbsp. chopped basil
3 Tbsp. chopped roasted red peppers

Crackers to dip (i.e. Ritz or Club Crackers)

You may also choose to add 1/4 cup chopped black olives (the recipe calls for this, but I forgot it when I made it the first time, and it turned out lovely without it..so I stuck with that version of this recipe)

How to Make It:

*Let cream cheese soften
*Mix all ingredients until well blended.
(Nice clean hands work best to "smoosh" it all together.)
*Roll into ball and cover in plastic wrap.
*Refrigerate about 1 hour to firm up before serving.

This makes a great appetizer for holiday functions!

Extra thoughts:  
-Place onto a small cutting board and use a decorative holiday cheese spreader for serving.  
-You can also form this into a "wreath" shape and garnish with roasted red peppers on top as well as parsley leaves to give it a more decorative look.  
-Finally, if you wish to plan ahead, you can store this in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

I can't wait to read your favorite holiday recipes and entertaining ideas!

Tomorrow...Christmas DIY! Need some last minute decorating and/or gift ideas? We're talking crafts, ladies!


Pin It!

12.04.2010

Day 4!

Today's topic...

Christmas Memories!

button


Grab the button and link-up for the fun!

Oh my, I know there are far too many to count.  So I'll share with you some precious memories through pictures.  (Although, I'm thinking that possible some of the sweetest memories might not have even been captured on camera.)

(And let me get this off my chest too...I'm really a little mad at myself for picking this topic.  How in the world do you choose your favorite Christmas memories to share? Oh my...they are all my favorite.  So to make this a little easier...you're seeing a pic or two from each Christmas folder on my computer. I didn't dig into years before college. This just isn't a topic for someone indecisive like me.)  Okay now that that's said...let's begin.

Let's go from oldest to newest....

My grandpa always likes us to read some devotional he has picked out for Christmas Eve. (This Christmas included braces for me...yep, I waited to have them in college.  Gross.)

Christmas in our apartment with my college roomies...love them and don't see them often enough now!

My precious childhood friend, Megan, is a Christmas baby and shares her birthday with Jesus...this was taken right before her surprise bday party one year! Another sweet friend I don't see often enough now!

Some of us "college kids" from church...snow tubing was a part of our winter break one year...so fun! (This was pre-relationship for Justin and me...I was still in denial.  Silly girl.)

I may have been near peeing my pants in this picture from laughing so hard.
Justin's first journey with us to pick out our family tree...our first Christmas as a couple (we never dated through a Christmas...we were engaged here!)

Stockings from Santa on Christmas morning are spectacular no matter how old you are!
Our first married Christmas (2008)
Justin played Santa at our Children's Christmas program at church our first Christmas...funny part is that he may have been one of the skinniest guys in church at the time, hence the square-ish look from his pillow-formed belly. ;)

We traveled with my parents to donate collected items from our church to a Methodist Mission center

While we were there, we had the joy of watching all these donated gifts from the surrounding area be opened by gobs and gobs of excited children....so awesome.
At the annual "Christmas Carol" (our second married Christmas-2009)

our precious nephew (center), our twin nieces, and their cousins on last Christmas (2009)...love the matching clothes!

Christmas Eve night in my childhood home's newly expanded room....yep, it was unfinished...obviously that didn't stop us :)

Boone's first Christmas (2009) He's a Christmas puppy...Dec. 18th

We always pose for a pic with a gift at my grandparents'...my aunt is a fancy wrapper (as in paper and bows and gifts) as you can see
This year

Our little downtown has a tree lighting ceremony each December...we stopped by quickly last night!
Tonight is tree searching time and dinner out with the fam! Whoo hoo! 

I can't wait for even more Christmas memories this year! What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?

Get your stomachs and party-selves ready for tomorrow...we'll talk Christmas Recipes and/or Entertaining Ideas!



Pin It!

12.03.2010

And on the 3rd Day of Christmas...

Today's topic...

Gift Ideas!

button


Grab the button and link-up for the fun!

I love the idea of helping someone else out (besides those big-name retailers) with Christmas purchases.  All of the below gifts come from Etsy.  Here are a few of my faves!

For the ladies in your life...

knitted, floral ear warmer from bitsy blossom


adorable bracelet from Gifted Hands NYC...all proceeds benefit a non-profit organization that reach low-income and/or homeless individuals through the gift of art
organic, natural bath scrub!...Yum in the Tub
For the men in your life...

personalize guitar pick from CharitableCreations (10% of your purchase goes to the charity of your choice)
wash cloths...yes, wash cloths! But they are organic, "manly" wash cloths that I know my hubby would appreciate! part of the proceeds go to various charities...check out more at Bugsella

Lego piece key chain...so nostalgic! find it at Gro0glemann's shop
For the babies and kiddos...

Rainbow Owl Hat from Blessed2009 and can be customized with your chosen colors for boy or girl!

Dinosaur-shaped crayons! from ivylanedesigns (made from recycled crayons)
Ruffled Bloomers from Moore Baby Clothing (in assorted colors)

Giant Art Bag from Snuggle Bug Kidz
And the list could go on and on and on and.....you get the point!

Can't wait to see your gift ideas!

Tomorrow....Christmas Memories.


Pin It!
Related Posts with Thumbnails