Summer Blog Challenge, Day 36

Day 36: What is a holiday tradition you have in your family?

We put up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving every year... I'm hoping Bubby will stay in until his due date so we can do that again this year! LOL!

A Project for Next Christmas

When I was little my mom made an advent calendar for Christmas, and we used it EVERY year... and as far as I can remember she still hangs it up. It's definately worn and loved, and the sticky glue stuff she put on the back of the ornaments doesn't stick as well... but I remember fighting with Dylan EVERY day in December to be the one that got to put the next ornament up to count down til Christmas. So next year, probably starting in the spring so that I don't get overwhelmed with school, Elah, and another sewing project, I am going to start making an advent calendar for our family. I love this blog called Homemade by Jill... not only does she have two beautiful children (I love to see her update with pictures of them, they have the best eyes!)but she is a crafty momma! She posts some of the coolest tutorials and pictures of things she's made for her home, gifts and for her children. Recently I posted about some burp cloths that I made for Elah (as well as some I made last year for Janelle), well I found that tutorial on Jill's blog! Well... check THIS out! That is something she's been working on for her family! I LOVE it! So that is what I will be working on next year, with a little help from my mom. I still have lots to learn about sewing, but now that Elah is going to be here soon, it makes me want to learn that much more! I can't wait to get started!

Project 365: Day 54

Well... guess what came in the mail today? CHRISTMAS CARDS!!! WOOHOO! I was going to wait until after I mailed them out to share them, but I was too excited. So, if you get one, sorry for spoiling the surprise!

Shutterfly Christmas Gifts and Cards!

I've never used photo Christmas cards, however, this year being our first year starting a family, and even possibly having our little Miss Elah here for Christmas it sounded like a great idea! Since we don't know for sure when Elah will be here, Justin and I want to create Christmas cards with our "first family photo"... we're going to have my mom take a picture of Justin and myself holding Elah... in my belly. LOL! And then next year, our Christmas card will be all about our little princess all dressed up for the holidays! I think it will make a fun family tradition!

As I was browsing through all the many choices that Shutterfly has to offer, a few of them really caught my eye! This one is fun and a little bit different from your normal red and green traditional Christmas card...

This may be the one we choose, but I won't know for sure until after we get our picture taken! I might even plan our wardrobe to go with this card so that we can use it! Another one I really liked was this one...


I love the little snowmen! This would be a sweet card for our "first family photo!" I can't wait to start really going through and putting our picture into the cards to pick the perfect one! Shutterfly makes it super easy with a step by step process, and with all of their countless choices you should have no problem finding a card to suit your family!

Not only does Shutterfly have cards, but they have an endless supply of gift ideas, invitations, and even wall art! All you have to do is choose the pictures you want printed on the product and order! Here are a few of my favorites that I hope to order for Christmas next year with our daughter's picture on them!

Calendars
Personalized Mugs
Canvas Wall Art

Don't stop reading though! If you are a blogger you can get 50 FREE holiday cards from Shutterfly! Sign up HERE.

Project 365: Day 43 & 44

Ok. So... we decided to put the Christmas tree up a few weeks early, typically, we put it up on Thanksgiving evening... but I wanted it up NOW. After 2 days of putting everything up, which wasn't even everything we usually put up, I'm wishing we had put it up in like June. It took all of my energy, and all of my strength and stamina to just put ornaments on a tree. Seriously? It was awful :( I went to bed SUPER early last night, and after finishing today we went to mom's and I basically collapsed into a chair most of the day. I'm pooped!

And after looking at this picture... my OCDness comes out... the bottom of my tree needs to be fluffed. It's off balance people!

Project 365: Day 6

This year we decided to purchase little pumpkins and paint them, instead of getting large pumpkins and carving them like we usually do. We just don't have anywhere to display carved pumpkins at our apartment, so this was the next best thing. We got 5 little pumpkins (one for Justin, me, Elah, Snickers, & Mudgett) and borrowed some paint and brushes from mom... and here's a little preview for you:

The one on the left is Justin's.... DUH. He painted all 4 KISS faces on it. The middle one I painted, if you can't tell by the bug eyes it's Mudgett's. The one on the right was my crappy attempt at painting flowers and butterflies for Elah. Sigh. Oh well. Mine is a work in progress, as is the one Justin is painting for Snickers. Love Autumn :-D