The Mrs.: holiday

Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Family Pictures

{I'm really at a loss for words. Sometimes I try to be inspiring, sometimes I try to be funny, and sometimes I try to bring the facts. I have none of the above to bring to you. Instead I share family beach pictures.}

Madison opens her gift....

We bought Madison this sweet Monkey and she loved it! She got so excited when she saw it behind the paper! Just watch for yourself!
{I apologize in advance for the baby talk!}

I hope you all had a very wonderful Christmas! I'll fill you in on ours and do a full recap tomorrow!

Not a single gift wrapped.

Hi everyone! I have taken a hiatus apparently. I went into blogger hiding. I had this radical idea to do a {mostly} handmade Christmas. It's such a great idea and I'm loving it. It's also a terrible idea at the same time. It's kinda stressful, but the rewards of seeing my handmade gifts come together has been so rewarding. I haven't had to fight the crowds at department stores or anything - I've just had to fight for time to get into my craft room and create. No, I'm not finished - and I don't have a single gift wrapped.Seriously, I will probably be wrapping gifts in the car on the way to family's house. I may skip that part this year! Haha! My husband and I have a hard time keeping our gifts a secret, so we exchanged them about a week ago. We've never once opened a gift from each other on Christmas Day. It's just what we do.

Having an 8 month old makes Christmas totally different. Totally. She craves my attention at night, and I hate not giving it to her. Also, she has not felt well these past few days so I'm soaking up some sick baby snuggles {the only time I get snuggles from her}. I will be that person scurrying about on Christmas Eve trying to get things together. Oh well. Long live procrastinators.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! And remember to bless someone less fortunate this year. It's always very rewarding!

And no blog post is complete without baby pictures.

give grace.

This Christmas there will be lots of giving, decorating, parties, shopping, and so much more. There will be divine sparkly outfits with the perfectly matching cardigan and glittery mini belt. There will be colored skinny jeans and bubble necklaces. Holiday hair and so much more.

This Christmas, why don't you give yourself a gift?

Grace.

Christmas with children, or with a job, or a business, or even simply a husband and a family can be overwhelming. There is so much pressure put on women during this time of year. Have this kind of hair. Where this type of outfit.

So what if you don't throw the most spectacular holiday party.
Give yourself grace.

Who cares if your dessert is store bought because you can't cook worth a lick.
Give yourself grace.

What if your child isn't dressed in the latest fashions for children.
...or has food on their face.
Give yourself grace.

So, you didn't get around to sending Christmas cards again this year.
Give yourself grace.

If you don't blog for a few days... Or a whole week.
Give yourself grace.

Your gifts aren't wrapped like something you'd see on Pinterest.
Give yourself grace.

You are lucky to have stockings hung, much less any other decorations.
Give yourself grace.

You can't make those little reindeer treats with pretzels for you kids' school party.
Give yourself grace.

If you can't afford that gift for your child.
Give yourself grace.

Your tree has no ornaments because the tots take them off anyways.
Give yourself grace.

The exterior of your home has no Christmas decor.
Give yourself grace.

Your hair is in a ponytail for Christmas festivities.
Give yourself grace.

We need it wives, moms. We need to just excuse ourselves from all of the hooplah. Most of it is fun, yes. And to those of you who can do all these things - you need a trophy. But, this year, I'm giving myself grace. I'm focusing on what's important this month, and that is Jesus. Each year we all talk about "The Reason for the Season." I think we've gotten that message.

How would He want us to treat ourselves?

Like He has.

With love, mercy, grace, patience.

Let's put aside all the things we are going to blog about. Let's not feel pressured to do things that aren't natural for us. And by all means, let us quit comparing our homes//outfits//makeup//children//parties to each other. Let it go, and let God bless our down time with family.

Merry Christmas, readers!

a zebra in our yard!

I know this post is a little late, but Madison was a Zebra for Halloween!

We did a tulle tutu from Junebug's Boutique, a zebra onesie, tights, and a crocheted hat from a friend. I know, know, I should have taken better pictures. I'm terrible, I know... but we were so rushed to get home from work, get her dressed up and out the door.

I feel like it turned out lovely! What do you think??

Trashy Pumpkins {A working mom tutorial}

I call this a "working mom tutorial" because my craft room isn't spotless, my pictures aren't good, I may ramble, and my project is unPinnable - but it sure made me happy!

See. My craft room is probably the opposite of spotless. In her defense, though - she's kinda in transition. We had a leak in this room and it's in disarray.

So, I'm going to show you how to make "trashy pumpkins." I call them trashy because I used trash bags. Also know as Wal*Mart bags or grocery bags. I save all of my trash bags. ALL of them. So, when I wanted to do a fall craft, they were PERFECT!

To start off, you gather your trash bags. Ball them up and stick them in another bag. Stuff and stuff until you think you have enough for the size pumpkin suitable for you (I did a small, medium, and large).

Close off your outside trash bag.
Twist it a few times
Tie it off with a scrap piece of twine or ribbon.
Cut off the excess.

Grab your desired fabric. It doesn't have to be fall fabric. It doesn't have to be orange. I love the whimsy essence of my trashy pumpkins. Cut yourself a circle big enough to cover the pumpkin. I used no science, no measurements, no patterns for this. I just eye-balled it. And yes, I did in my lap with my feet propped on the yoga ball (that only gets used when my husband plays video games).

Lay your tied off trash bags on top of your circle and baste (is that what it's called - whatever, loosely hand stitch) around the perimeter of the circle.

Once you've stitched all the way around carefully pull your thread tight. This will allow you to cover your punkin'. If your pumpkin grew in the process, you can just smash it down to fit. Remember to pull carefully because your thread may break. Filth and foul.

Cut yourself a strip of scrap fabric. It doesn't have to be symmetrical... and mine totally had rough edges. Then roll it up to make your stem.

Stuff your stem into the trash bags. No science here, just wiggle it in.

Then, you will do a whip stitch(?) or maybe it's a loops stitch. Anyways, attach your stem to your pumpkin by stitching it on somehow *wink*

Not easy on the eyes is it? Don't worry - you can shape it.

See? It looks more like a pumpkin now! Just add a little twine, scrap ribbon, or lace to the stem to kinda hide your sloppy hand stitches, and voila! Trashy pumpkin.