unmerry Christmas & happy new year

My little family had quite the Christmas.  A family emergency and a nearly 1500 mile road trip have been this season's excitement, but more on that later.  First I have to get home (only about 925 miles to go), load pictues, and organize my thoughts.  Not to mention clean out the car, unpack, do laundry, and take down the Christmas decorations.  [I've never been so excited to take down the Christmas tree and decor.  It's the first thing I want to do when I walk in the door, but I'm sure I'll have to pee first.]

Until I get around to divulging the details of our very unMerry Christmas, I want to wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and blessed New Year!

 

cider and a card

Yesterday was rough.  Callan didn't nap very much or for very long, I got sick about mid-day (I don't need to share the details, but trust me, things weren't pretty), and Travis ended up having to work a last minute 12 hour shift - which made for a very long day.  So last night I unwound with a cup of hot apple cider.  It was a good way to end a not-so-good day. 

hot apple pie cider is delicious

On a different note, our birth announcements went out last Thursday, and to my knowledge, they have reached both the East coast and the West coast, so I'm ready to share it here on the blog.  Since we had to choose between a birth announcement and a Christmas card, we went with a birth announcement on the front with a Christmas wish on the back.  We love the way it turned out and can't wait to put our copy into Callan's baby book. 

"Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New year - from our family to yours"

I hope the next few days leading up to Christmas are both relaxing and productive for you!

gifts, cocoa, and a baby

While I was feeding Callan this morning, the doorbell rang.  My mom told me to expect a package today, so my guess was that it was UPS.  After I finished feeding him, I put him down and went to check the front door.  Indeed there was a package waiting for me on the doormat.  I brought the large box inside and opened it with excitement.  It's so much fun to open a box and find this many goodies inside!  I can't wait to open the gifts to see what Callan got for his first Christmas.  Only 4 more days!

After arranging the gifts under the tree, I put Callan in his bouncer while I went into the kitchen to make myself a cup of hot cocoa to enjoy while I waited for him to fall asleep.

By the time I came back from the kitchen, about 2 minutes later, he was out.  Such a beautiful sight.

They only bad thing about letting him fall asleep in his bouncer is that when the vibration turns off, he jolts himself awake.  It's crazy how he can sense that and wake right up.  So when I started this post, I was sitting next to a peacefully sleeping little boy.  Now, a very wide awake Callan sits next to me, just tootin' away.

that face...!

Maybe it's time for another cup of cocoa...

avian inspired

Last week, I was clicking through some of the blogs that I follow and somehow found my way over to this website.  I came across this fantastic mobile.  I fell in love with it and it instantly got my creative juices flowing.  I see a modified version of this mobile somewhere in my future...

My first thought was a mobile idea for my sister's baby (due in March - yay!), then I thought of some ideas for Callan's room once he outgrows his current mobile...and then I got inspired for some other projects.  I scoured other websites for more bird related inspiration. 

I've always loved the simplicity and serenity of birds on a line - there's just something about it...

 

(image from here)

(image from here)

(image from here)

I found this light fixture on Urban Outfitter's website - I'm totally diggin' it, but thinking rather than spending the $98 (which is out of my budget anyways), it'll make a great DIY project (minus the birds)...one of these days.  It's officially on my list. 

birdcage hanging lamp

These birdcages, found on Amazon.com, are super cute (and quite reasonably priced!).  They would be adorable with ornaments suspended in them during Christmas time, or even used for a modified version of the above light fixture.  

birdcages on amazon.com

These lamps from Anthropologie totally embrace the whole bird theme.  I adore them both, but if I had to choose one, it would definitely be the table lamp.  I love the pale blue of the "papier mache" birds, nevermind the little bird finial.  So cute.

Sort Sol Lamp from Anthropologie

Sibley Floor Lamp from Anthropologie

A few more graphic bird related items that I find inspiring.

wall stickers from this etsy shop

print from this etsy shop

I found this cute little felt bird Christmas ornament at this etsy shop.  I may try to whip up several of these using this one as a guideline.  You might see a few of these on my tree next year. 

I think this wallpaper would be adorable on a focal wall in a guest bathroom or other small-ish space.  Or maybe lining the back of a bookshelf or the inside of dresser drawers.

Lofty Larks Wallpaper from Anthropologie

I can't wait to get started on the projects I already have floating around in my head!  I'm not expecting it to be any time too soon, though.   We've got to get through the holidays first.  Have you come across anything lately that has inspired new projects or project ideas?  Do share!

puppy chow and kahlua cake

We had a very lazy day today.  We sat around, for the second day in a row, waiting for the doctor to call to have us head over to the hospital to have Callan circumcised.  (Yes, we are still waiting for this to happen.)  Needless to say, he called sometime during the 7 o'clock hour (pm) to say that he had a nightmare of a weekend at the hospital and he'd get a hold of us sometime time during the week to finally get this procedure taken care of.  Ugh. 

So, last week I went to the doctor and got the 'go ahead' to start working out again.  (Hurray!)  I've been chomping at the bit because I'm already sick of this post baby belly (and it's only been six weeks).  It jiggles - ick.  Tomorrow we start working out on a daily basis and eating healthier meals.   We've done it before, we can do it again.  To welcome a healthier lifestyle, I made one last sweet treat.  We had to go out with a bang.  (However Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, of course, will be days of exceptions - within reason ;))

This afternoon I made puppy chow, aka muddy buddies.  I'm a sucker for this stuff and tend to eat it by the handful.  Thanks goodness Travis will be taking it to work tomorrow to share with the guys in the shop.  But not before some of this goodness made it's way into my stomach.  

As I dumped the coated cereal onto a large cookie sheet to set, "holy giant mound of puppy chow" were the words that echoed in my mind.  Seriously, though.  That's a lot of yumminess right there.  (Click here for "puppy chow" recipe.)

Tonight I made a Kahlua cake (recipe from Travis' mom) for Travis to take to work tomorrow as a treat for the guys he works with for Christmas.  These guys work hard - they deserve a home baked treat every now and then.   I'm trying very hard not to sneak a slice for myself...

kahlua cake ready to pop in the oven

kahlua cake, baked & frosted

What are you baking this Christmas season to share with others?  

P.S.  Can you believe Christmas is only 5 days away?!!  I'm dying to know what's in that big package under the tree!

mesmerized

I love the fact that when Callan is in a good mood I can put him down in his crib for a little while, with mobile on, to get a few things done around the condo.  The mobile totally mesmerizes him - it's fantastic.  My one complaint is that it only runs for a few minutes (like every other mobile), so I'm constantly having to run in there to wind it back up, otherwise he lets me know that it has stopped.  At one point yesterday, I snuck into his room to take a quick peek at my favorite little man and found him gazing away at the 4 little birds twirling over his head.  He was so content and looked so cute, I had to grab the camera. 

another wreath, another cut-out

Last night after Travis went to bed and while our little guy was taking a snooze, I finished up this wreath that I've had sitting around half-done for several weeks.  I finished wrapping the yarn and added the embellishments.  I used a little bit of burlap, some white felt, a piece of ribbon left over from my Christmas countdown, and a large wooden button.  I also added three dried flowers left over from this project.  I think it turned out really cute.  What do you think?!

I also worked on another cut-out last night.  

Have you been crafting lately?  What have you been making?

outgoing mail

announcing the arrival of our announcements

I'm so excited!  The birth announcements/Christmas cards that I ordered on Sunday night showed up today!  12:25 pm, to be exact, via FedEx.  They are absolutely adorable.  I can't wait to get them out in the mail - I should have all of the envelopes ready to send out by tomorrow.

The dilemma this year was whether to send out a birth announcement OR a Christmas card.  We had to choose one or the other - it would be too expensive to order two different cards and then pay postage for each.  So we decided to make it primarily a birth announcement (you only get to send those out once!), with a little Christmas wish on the back of the card.  I hope you're not disappointed.  The announcement is just so cute you won't even miss the fact that it isn't "Christmas-y". 

I'll share the birth announcement with you here on the blog sometime next week.  I just want to give the announcements a head start so most of you get to see it in person before you see a digital image of it on here. :)

decked out

It may have taken us longer than expected, but we are finally decorated for Christmas.  I was even able to squeeze in a few Christmas related projects.  I'm usually one of those people that, as soon as Thanksgiving dinner is over and cleaned up, I'm breaking out the Christmas totes and cranking up the Christmas tunes.  This year was different.  Maybe it's because I'm so tired from lack of sleep being a new mom, maybe it's because we'll be alone this Christmas and my heart is slightly saddened by that, maybe it's because...oh who knows.  Nonetheless, it's done, and the Christmas spirit is slowly creeping up on me.  Kinda.  After all, this is our son's first Christmas.  We need to make it memorable - not that he'll remember a stitch of it, but we will.  He'll "remember" it through pictures. 

Last night after the little guy passed out for a late evening snooze, I picked up a bit and then finally snapped a few pictures of our place dressed up for Christmas.  

Callan's first Christmas ornament (from my parents)

view from the entry

view from the kitchen

from the kitchen

'Tis the season...  Hope the Christmas spirit has found you!