2010: A Year in Review

I hope you all had a great Christmas!  We had a great Christmas together and I will get around to sharing what thoughtful and amazing presents I received from Adam. 

I've really enjoyed this little break but I'm glad to be back to the regular posting schedule!  I thought I would do a quick review of our year.

We finished the nursery...

finished up our bathroom...

created a free birthday calendar printable...

had Rilo Jane on Feb. 20th...

added a gutter bookshelf to the nursery...

gave a house tour...

created a t-shirt dress tutorial (hello post-baby body, so glad you're gone)...

moved to Chicago for the summer...

threw a graduation party for my sister...

threw a fabulous 50th birthday party...

switched to cloth diapers...

finished our $200 summer rental redesign project...

came back home and made plans for our kitchen renovation...

fell hard for photography...

finished some Christmas crafts...

and had the best Christmas yet!

What a year!  It has flown by, especially now that we have a cute little girl to occupy our time.  I can only imagine that time will seemingly pass by faster and faster each year.  With a kitchen remodel in a week, a few quick room revamps, a new blog/website and tons more, I am so looking forward to 2011!  I'll be smooching someone special at midnight tonight and hope that you will be too!  Here's to the new year!

See you Monday for a fun giveaway tied to helping you keep your New Year's resolutions!

Merry Christmas

Well, as you can tell from the lack of posts yesterday, I am happy to be enjoying time with my little family.  I have a few treats to make, a yummy dinner to prepare for and there is lots of snuggling to be had, so I'll be ditching the regular daily post until after New Year's.  I may hop in from time to time until then though!  I hope to have my new site up sometime in the beginning of January...I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product!  I hope you'll be willing to make the jump over to the new site with me!

I feel so grateful this year for all that we have.  So happy to be spending our first Christmas with Rilo Jane!  Thanks for spending time here on this blog.  I really love this space that I have to call my own.  Merry Christmas and see you next year!


Our Christmas card from this year (if you're on the East coast and still haven't received it, don't peek!):

All Wrapped Up

I finally finished up all my wrapping!  Here is the final product...brown paper and doilies from the dollar store, twine from Savers, tags and peacock ribbon from Hobby Lobby.  Everything else I already had on hand.  Total cost for all of my wrapping supplies this year...under $10!

And here they will stay for just a few more days!

Isn't it the most perfect brown paper?  Thanks Dollar Store!

Snow Day

Yesterday we had a lovely snowstorm, just in time for Christmas.  I think holiday snowstorms are pretty much the only good kind!  We finally took Rilo to play in the snow and we all had so much fun.  I am still on a mission to document our house for the holidays and also show you my wrapped presents, so I'm starting off with this filler post, in hopes I come back later today with more pictures.

 

More over on Rilo's blog!  See you later today!

Trader Joe's Wrapping Paper

For many more reasons than I can probably even count, I wish there was a Trader Joe's somewhere in this state.  Most recently it's because I would love to utilize their bags to use as wrapping paper, just like I spotted over at Mer Mag. 

I picked up the best brown paper with a great floral pattern at the Dollar Store.  I just ran out and am crossing my fingers they still have it.  I am thinking about by several rolls...I want to use it for everything and anything all year long!

Lindsey and Kit

Lindsey is Katie's sister.  We did her family shoot right after Katie and Mike.  They were troopers because it was FRIGID outside!  I an still loving the beautiful mountains in the background!

I realized I need to document our house decorated for the holidays today. I can't believe Christmas is only 5 days away! Are you ready?

DIY Stocking Holders

This year Adam and I were on the hunt for stocking holders!  However, we were striking out left and right every where we looked.  Nothing screamed "us".  Plus, most were in sets and were rather pricey.  Our family is not near complete, so what happens if we buy a set, and next year we have another addition to our family?!  We would just have to cross our fingers the set was still around, or splurge on another set.  Anyway, all these factors led us to the decision to just make quick temporary ones.

We stopped by Hobby Lobby and grabbed 3 little wooden boxes and then browsed their knob section.  We decided on white monogrammed knobs.  Using silver spray paint we had left over from the summer, we sprayed each box.  Then we (and when I say "we" in all of this, I really mean Adam...just thought I should give him the credit he deserves) drilled a small hole in each box and screwed in the knobs.  Ta da!  Simple and extremely inexpensive stocking holders.

They hold the stockings up really well, but for a fun touch and some added weight, I threw in some Hershey Kisses!

And an inside view.

I think they are the perfect solution for this year!  I only wish I had finished up new stockings to hang on them.  Oh well, next year I guess!  

Hope you finish up all your last minute Christmas details so you can enjoy the next week!  Or maybe that's just my own wishful thinking...Happy weekend!

Wrapping Paper Holders

Ever since I saw a similar idea from Martha Stewart, I knew I needed something to hold my wrapping paper.  And I even had the perfect spot!  Next to my desk/craft area is a odd side door that NEVER gets used.  We've toyed with the idea of drywalling it, but it would be a big pain.  So instead, I will put the door to good use.

This project was cheap and probably took less than 10 minutes to complete.  I bought the dowels at Hobby Lobby for $0.99 and the hooks at Home Depot for $0.79!  And now I have a nice place to keep my wrapping paper.  I can't wait to put some of my favorite ones on there, after the holidays are over!

Bloggers Give Back: TODAY!

Don't forget, today is the day to bid on all of the great items for the Bloggers Give Back auction!  Bidding ends at 10 PM MST tonight!  In case you're in the market for a card or invitation, I am listed as item #24.  Happy bidding!

Go here to participate.

Kate Schintzius

I saw this house tour on Design Sponge a few weeks ago and was amazed!  This apartment belongs to Kate Schintzius, a designer for M. Design Interiors.  I just love her use of color!  So bold and bright!  I don't know that I could quite pull off this bold, but I'm using it as great inspiration.

I've really been loving this coral color lately in clothing and design.  And I can't get over it with the blue!

Check out more here.

Katie and Mike

I met up with our friends Katie and Mike to take some family photos.  We are so excited for them...they are expecting a little boy in May!  They also have two really fun dogs, Birdie and Bucky.  Birdie was our dog Sawyer's first love.  Katie was also one of my first practice photography subjects a year and half ago!

We are home safe and sound now!  I'm excited to show you 2 quick, simple projects for the holidays!