Thursday, December 15, 2011

I've missed you!! {and a questionare}

Hi.  It's been awhile.  Have you missed me?  Well I have missed you.  My google reader has something like 950 unread posts :(  You guys have been busy!  I wish I could say that I am 100% better but instead I will say that things are headed in the right direction and every day is a new day.  Some days are harder to get through then others but I am hanging in.  And thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your love, support, prayers, emails, and sweet comments.  I'm so thankful for all of you.




So I am still on the fence about getting back into the blogging thing on a regular basis.  With Christmas and Natalie's birthday happening this month, blogging just seems like too much pressure at the moment.  But like I said I miss you guys so I thought I would pop in and say hi and share a fun questionare I saw on my good friend Cassie's blog.  


Here you go...


1. egg nog or hot chocolate?  I actually like both.  Just depends on my mood.

2. does santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapped!  He even has his own special wrapping paper :)



3. colored lights on tree/house or white? I like white lights on the tree and big old fashioned lights on the house!


4. do you hang mistletoe? not every year but I have in the past.

5. when do you put your decorations up? I don't have a specific day but I try to put them up by the first week of December.  


6. what is your favorite holiday dish? That is a hard one...I love the goodies like peppermint bark, fudge, gingerbread cookies...

7. favorite holiday memory as a child? I have so many! I remember the year I got my first bike, a huffy with a white plastic basket and banana seat!  

8. when and how did you learn the truth about santa? I'm sorry, what was the question?


9. do you open a gift on christmas eve? Yep...and traditionally it is usually new PJs!

10. how do you decorate your christmas tree? Lots of sparkle!  Olive green, cranberry and gold ornaments, lots of vintage style ornaments, white lights, and candy canes!

11. snow! love it or dread it? LOVE it as long as I don't have anywhere to go.


12. can you ice skate?I've only tried once when I went on a trip to York, England when I was ten and the ice was a little melted so I wouldn't really call it ice skating.  I would love to take the girls when they are older.


13. do you remember your favorite gift? that's a tough one, but I always looked forward to the stockings, Santa always did an awesome job!

14. what's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Remembering the true meaning of the season and trying to take time to enjoy the moments with my girls.  

15. what is your favorite holiday dessert? all of the above :)
.
16. what is your favorite holiday tradition? decorating a gingerbread house and driving around looking at Christmas lights.


17. what tops your tree? A gold star

18. which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving!!  Nothing is better then finding the perfect gift and seeing the recipients reaction.  Christmas with kids is the best!  I love watching their reactions on Christmas morning.

19. candy canes: yuck or yum? Yum!

20. favorite christmas show? It's a Wonderful Life and Elf :)


21. saddest christmas song? Can't think of one, do they even exist?


22. what is your favorite christmas song? Wow so many....I love Little Drummer Boy, We three Kings, Jingle bell rock, anything sung by Johnny Mathis :)

Your turn!  Just copy and paste and fill in your answers!



Thursday, December 1, 2011

Haul Out the Holly-DIY Styrofoam Christmas Lights

Hi guys!  I am excited to be apart of Haul Out the Holly for the second year!

Haul Out the Holly,Gwenny Penny,Christmas tutorials


Last year I shared my version of Elf on the Shelfand this year I am sharing how to make these jumbo Christmas lights...


Now I know some of you have already seen these and I am sorry for that but I am still dealing with some stuff right now and Gwen has been gracious to let me off the hook so to speak.  :)  And I kinda think they rock so I like showing them off :)

Ready to make some of your own?
Here we go...


  • hot glue gun and extra sticks if you plan to make multiple bulbs
  • sequin trim in assorted colors
  • metallic cord*
  • 1.5 inch styrofoam balls
  • approx. 2 inch styrofoam eggs, package says they are 1-13/16' by 2-7/16"
  • scissors
*After buying a spool of cording for $1.99 and it only being enough for about 3 lights I did some research and found out that for the same price I could get 27 yards if I bought metallic cording for plastic canvas.  So bypass the ribbon department and head over to the plastic canvas section.  Not only is there gold and silver but tons of other great colors too.


Step 1:
Take the styrofoam ball and flattened one side and then the other, leaving you with something that resembles a tire shape. (Or a mini donut, if you're hungry ;))


Step 2:
Take your tire shaped styrofoam and roll it back and forth on a hard surface while pressing down at the same time until it resembles a marshmallow. (still hungry)


Step 3.
Then on one end of the marshmallow press in and around making that end concave.  Doing this will help  it sit flush on top of the egg.


Step 4:
Now it's time to get your glue guns out.  If you have a dual temp glue gun opt for the low temp setting because the high setting tends to melt the styrofoam.  Now put a generous amount of glue on the concave part of your marshmallow and place it on the center of the wide end of your egg.




Step 5:
Next is the hard part....picking the color sequins you want.  :)  I bought my sequins at hobby lobby and also from this shop on Etsy.

Once you have picked the color you want start with a line of glue where your egg and marshmallow meet and start wrapping the sequins around, glueing and wrapping little by little until you get all the way to the tip.  Cut off the excess.  Make sure you overlap your sequins as you go around so that none of the styrofoam shows through.



Now for the top.  I chose to do mine in silver but gold would be very pretty too.  And if you don't like metallics you could always use hemp twine or jute.

Step 6:
Poke a hole in the center of the top of your marshmallow.  I use the tip of my glue gun.



Step 7: 
Make a loop at the end of your cord and push it into the hole you just made.  I use the tip of my glue gun to do this too.  And as I am pushing it in I squeeze out a little glue too.





Step 8:
Start glueing and wrapping the cord around and then down.


Continue until you cover all of the marshmallow.


And ta-da!!  You're finished!  Now go make lots and put them in a vase....


or string them on some of your leftover cording and hang them up....


or go all Flava Flave and make them into a necklace...


haha!  okay maybe not the last one but if it's your thing I'm totally cool with that :)

Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks Gwen for hosting such a fun party!  Make sure you check out all the other bloggers and their festive tutorials!

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