christmas stuff

It is December 5th and I have yet to put one single christmas decoration up.

We don't have a tree up yet due to family coming this week and one of them is allergic to a real tree.

BUT

I am in the holiday spirit, though

AND I have been pinning like a crazy person on Pinterest.

Since we wont have our tree up until NEXT weekend

I want to keep it simple as possible.

I want a very small tree

with a fun, odd shape.

Maybe I will wait and pick out the poor little fella that nobody wanted :)

I may even avoid pulling down the boxes of decor from the attic

and just run to the dollar store and get a few strings of lights [already marked down].

I have been crafting a lot of handmade ornaments so I will get my girls involved and have them help create tree decorations!

This tree [from pinterest] really got me inspired.

actually, the entire room embodies what I am craving this cristmas. Simplicity and quirky.

I already have a sequin pillow and never thought of using it as holiday decor.

Silly me.

Why is it that most people feel like they must live up to certain standards when it comes to christmas and the holidays?

I was telling a friend that we did'nt have our tree up yet and she almost hit the floor right then and there!!

She even offered to buy me an artificial tree.

JESUS woman, it is only 5 days into December.

why? WHY?

Why must we complicate every good thing.

I enjoy christmas and I just really want to relax and take it all in.

I am going to spend time baking and crafting with my girls.

I am going to say no to invites that make me feel stressed.

I am not sending out cards.

I am only buying special gifts for special people in my life.

I am going to wrap each one with love and cute craft paper.

I am going to close my computer and breathe in the pure joy and wonder of christmas :)

I am going to hang pictures and cards and handmade garlad on my tree [when it is finally up].

and you know what else?

I am going to make a wreath for my front door out of the old newspapers from a box in the garage.

Simplicity. ahhhh.

:)

here are some pictures that have inspired me [from pinterest] over the last few weeks.

puchicollective.com

realsimple.com

papernstitchblog.com

juliacrossland.blogspot.com

cogey.blogspot.com

what's your christmas like this year?

lets talk toys: part 2: favorite things, kiddo version

{1}

Do you know about Donna Wilson?

If not, you should!

I discovered her last year around christmas and had completely forgotten about her lovely creations until I receved an email a few day ago.

Based in London,

she [and her team]  HAND knits her goodies, which makes them extra special.

What really made me fall in love were her "Creatures", like Mono Cat [below]

Her products are so unique. I have never seen anything like them before last year.

Let me just say, that I wish I was a kid again :)

The only downside, they are overseas, which makes shipping a bitch.

I picked out a few things that  I would love I think my girls would love!

Mono Cat

Rosie

Mog Cat plate

Rainy Day throw

can't remember this little guy's name

mountain peak pillow

If you love it, click HERE!

{2}

Maiike

this one is based in Australia.

 "Soft Things" are created using recycles sweaters.

EACH ONE is HANDMADE.

And each one is different.

amazing.

there is no website that I know of, but you can find them on facebook [MAIIKEstore] and contact them about ordering and shipping, etc.

Here are some "Soft Things"

{3}

Little Sappling Toys

an etsy shop that makes wooden toys.

The toys are eco friendly and MADE IN THE USA!!

and the best part, besides being to cute for words, for every toy sold, a tree is planted :)

Here are a few from my favorites:

{4}

These felt numbers and letters, also handmade and found on etsy at MiChiMaLAND.

{5}

Mama May I :)

yet another etsy shop.

I love their wooden toys.

They specialize in educational and learning toys like colors, sorting and counting.

{6}

Melissa and Doug art supplies

They are made for little hands.

And my girls, especially my oldest, LOVES to play artist.

water color paints

jumbo brush set

paint with water set

jumbo triangular crayons

easle pad

those were just some of my favorite things for kids.

what about you?

what are your favortes?

lets talk toys: part 1

Christmas is upon us.

My girls are 2 (almost 3) and 15 months.

From what I hear from other moms (i.e. mine) the "toys" will only get more and more expensive.

It happens pretty fast. The list changes from teddy bears to Ipods and crap. Somthing like that.

anyways.

I want to share a little history.

When my first daughter was born I had no idea how much JUNK people would tell me I needed in order to keep the little 8 pound bundle alive. So, with me being all new at mommyhood and stuff, I took the bait. I also worked too much and had dedicated no time to learning things on my own before she was born.

So, in conclusion, we had a LOT of baby shit packed into this SMALL house.

I hate junk. and clutter. and useless things.

When my second daughter was born, I was a different person. I knew what I wanted and didn't want and I knew that not owning a baby wipe warmer was actually better than owning one.

I was informed, empowered, and pretty strong willed  stubborn about what was allowed in my house, pertaining to my baby.

I wanted to share that little rant with you so you would know how I feel about JUNK.

So, that brings me to this :)

TOYS.

like I mentioned, my girls are only [not quite] 3 and 15 months.

If you add it up between christmas and birthdays, it is only 5.

but we have already reached our maximum capacity for toys in this little house.

and

It really made me think hard about life and stuff.

Quantity versus quality.

because there was so much stuff, half of it never saw the light of day.

and it was very difficult to keep it all under control.

so I went through everything.

alot of things were broken or needed batteries.

and right then and there I decided that I wasn't going to buy another toy that required batteries.

and it had to survive the smash test.

If I can't pick it up and throw it on the ground with out it breaking [before I buy it] then I will not buy it.

No, I dont go around stores throwing things on the ground :)

I just use my better judgement and a more thoughtful process of choosing toys.

I am not hating on all battery operated toys, but I do believe that there should be a limit [in my house].

battery operated toys, in my opinion, entertain kiddos.

give them a toy doll or truck and watch their imaginations COME TO LIFE.

Every mommy knows the cardboard box theory, right?

little ones would rather play with the box than what's inside.

same idea.

So, this christmas will be as simple and as thoughtful as possible.

no more "batteries not included" situations in this house.

here is my gift buying motto for choosing toys this christmas.

if it doesn't fall into one of these categories, it wont make the cut:

"play, read, learn, create, and wear"

 it must be smash-proof, and it must operate on imagination only :)

do you have any theories, ideas, or thoughts about buying for kids?

do you think I am totally nuts?

I want to know.

favorite things [link up]

This is the most brilliant idea. Why have I never thought about doing this?

I am linking up at the nesting place for the Favorite Things linky party.

The general idea was to gather you friends and family and celebrate gift giving by gifting your most favorite thing.

[[no more running around trying to find 10 different 'perfect gifts', everyone is gettin' double sided tape]]

:) :) :)

In doing this post, I found that the 'things' that i love the most are the hard working, practical, everyday items that i always seem to go back to, over and over again.

Here are my top ten most favorite things, in no particular order.

{1}

Double sided tape. It deserves it's very own post. I bought this for a specific purpose but soon discovered what I was missing in my life. I use it at least once a day...no lie. The possibilities are endless.

{2}

The Spoonula.

fanfreakintastic!!

{3}



Pizza Stone.

I think the stoneware most commonly heard of is by The Pampered Chef? maybe not. anywho. I believe I got mine at Ross on clearance for dirt cheap. It comes in all shapes and sizes and prices. It is the most used thing in our kitchen. Pizza, bread, cookies, appetizers, toast, i could go on and on. When im done using it I rinse it with hot water, dry it, and put it back in the oven. That is where it lives.

{4}

Sharpies. Love 'em. Can't live with out 'em.

{5}

Dry Shampoo.

Great for if you are too lazy to wash your hair because you have too much of it and it takes too long to blow dry and style. :) and I know it is not intended for this but I use it on my hair after blow drying but before styling! It adds a ton of volume and holds the shape better than hairspray or mousse. I swear. AND it does not have to cost more that $5 to work WELL! I know, I have tried SEVERAL.

{6}

Bella Manderin Woods by Illume.

It is my perfect fall/winter candle. It's not too heavy and it has a warm, homey scent. I have a picky nose and most seasonal candles are just, well, yuck.  I can't get enough of this one, though. And this pretty tin jar is under $10 at target.

{7}

Caldrea is a line of smelly-good cleaning products. They also make handsoap, kitchen candles, and hand cream. They made a line of products for Target. YAYY.

 My favorite is the Olive Oil scent. Sounds gross, right? It isn't, It is divine!

 I use the hand soap and the kitchen candle.

You know that nasty smell that seems to linger after you cook bacon or fry chicken? or burn something?

The candle ZAPS any yucky kitchen odors.

{8}

This Nomad scarf by Fluxus was a gift a couple years ago. I still love it. I have washed it a hundred times and it still looks and feels like it did the day I recieved it!

AND it is huge. You can use it as a blanket. It is made of a really light weight cotton so it isn't too heavy or thick.

 Well worth the $49.

{9}

Pure Body tee's from The Gap.

The best fitting, softest t-shirt on earth. In my opinion. I think I have every color that they make. You can sleep in it, louge in it, or dress it up. It never loses it's shape and it is sooooo comfy.

A great deal too!

{{{10}}}

and my most favorite, useful thing....

This product line by Mead. It is sold at Target.

I have this magnetic fridge filer:

It is sort of like a magnetic binder/ page protector. It has 3 tabs, like below:

This is the week-to-week notepad that I use inside each tab. I just tear the sheets off and slip it in.

I use one as a monthly calender, one as a weekly meal plan, and one as a weekly chore chart.

The great thing about this is that it has no numbers on it, only days of the week. So I can number each day for my monthly calendar or use the columns for each day's meals and/or chores.

It also has bullets on the back for to-do lists and things such as that.

I love how easy and durable it is. Everything is in one place.

So, those were a few of my favorite things.

Is or has anyone else linked up with the nester?