Brown paper packages, tied up with Sting.

Four days to go! I have finished my shopping, and have moved on to wrapping. Which is on of my favorite parts. Sometimes I feel boring, because I don't use a lot of fancy wrapping paper. I like to keep it simple. Brown paper, and string. Does anyone else hear Julia Andrews singing in the back round?

a (Utah) girls best Friend .

I wish I could spend all my money on sweaters....... who needs a house anyway?

favorite of the week

The Hamburglar.

Need I say more?

10 days to go- and counting!

It finally snowed in Utah this last week. It snowed, and snowed and snowed. It was freezing, and beautiful. It has defiantly set the mood for Christmas! The snow was all I needed to finish my last minute decorating around the house. I decorated my tree the week of Thanksgiving, and have loved having the lights on and the cozy feeling a tree brings to the room. I worked hard this year to stretch Christmas throughout the entire house.

1: I had to show off some more of my favorite ornaments. This year I found 2 broken ornaments in my ornament box. There is nothing more heartbreaking than when you tenderly unwrap an ornament only to find it shattered from its long hibernation. As Mushy put it- "Its a good thing we have a couple hundred left..."

2: Last night I decorated my table. It turned out so beautiful- I wish I was holding a Christmas party this year so I could show it off! I guess that Mushy and the Pinchers (The Ying & Yang) will have to gather around the table so that we enjoy the candle light.



3: I got this cute iron sleigh the first year I worked for Pier 1. It was perfect for the kitchen hutch. Remember my little penguin? He found a home on our refrigerator. Its the closest to the Arctic that we could get.

Of course the bathroom needed a little sprucing too! I found these cute and towels at target. a set of 2 for $4.00! What a steal!

Happy Decorating everyone!

11 days to go... and I am in the Tour of Homes!

One of my favorite home decor blogs is "The Nester" This week she kicked off a huge celebration of Christmas by hosting the Christmas Tour of Homes. You can check out all the homes taking part in the tour here. http://www.thenester.com/ More pics of my house to come....... since I am officially in the "tour". Its time to show off my Christmas delights! Check in tomorrow for more Christmas- and for my favorite of the week!

Festival of Trees & 17 days to go!

It has been a very busy couple days. We now have 17 days to go until Christmas! Isn't that crazy? Its been snowing here in Utah so its starting to feel a lot like Christmas! last week the Mush and I went to the Festival of Trees with our friends Ben and Lindsey. It was so fun to see them- I think we laughed the entire time! I loved seeing all of the different styles of trees, and beautiful colors used. This was only a topiary, but I loved the colors!


The festival is so inspiring. Everything there is donated, and put up for bidding. Then all the proceeds go towards Primary Children's Hospital. I donated a centerpiece for the festival about 4 years ago, and it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. It brought $600 in on the biding night. I have not been able to donate the past couple years, but was definitely inspired to participate next year. I decided that next year I was going to donate an entire tree! If you have any theme ideas let me know! While I would never put a theme to my own tree, the best trees at the festival were all themed. There was lots of Disney/ princess trees, peppermint trees, Dr,Seuss trees... even camping/hunting trees! Some of the trees were very funny- but not as pretty as others.

The star wars trees was nuts. They had an entire set up with all the old, original toys. I took a lot of pictures for my brothers to drool over. I think a saw a lot of toys they always wanted!



This was one of my personal favorites. It wasn't because it was fancy, pretty, or even that creative. But the fact that someone made a tree that was dedicated to Labyrinth made me giggle for a very long time.

23 days to go!

Whats on your christmas list this year? While looking around for gift ideas, these are a few things I have stumbled on that made my heart pidder patter. While my wish list gets a little fatter.

$25. The first one is just a given. Who doesn't want to make cookies all year round. Do you think you could open the pre-made Toll House cookies from the store, flatten out the predetermined amount they cut for you, and cut it with a cookie cutter? If not.... this may be a waste! Or a lovely reminder of my failure to cook fresh cookies.



$200- $500:This one would end up costing a bit more. 1st, we need to buy a Wii. 2nd. We need to buy al the paddles. 3rd: I also want a Wii fit. 4: The reason we would spend all of this? To play Mario Brothers of course! The best game, and music in the history of games. Plus you can play this one with friends. Maybe they would help me finally beat bruiser!


$45: I love this ring. I fell in love with a similar one at Tiffanys. It was $7000. I think this one is more in our budget- and it looks just as sparkly. Which is the whole point isn't it? Maybe we'll get Tiffany's Next year.



$199: Last but not least. I have been wanting this jacket for months...... Love the lines. The distressed leather. I have been trying to remind myself that I am not a victoria secret angle, my hair looks like a boy (unlike the long sexy locks shown here)- and I would NOT turn into a super star in this jacket. Still, here I am, drooling over the keyboard.



These are just a few things I would love to splurge on. Are you itching for anything special this year?

Day 24- The debate of the Holidays.

The big question that has haunted christmas decorators for decades is.......
Colored lights?


Or white lights


Which do you prefer?

Day 25: Its time for a very good cause!

This year at work we are partnering with Ellen, and participating in the Toys for Tots program.



If you are looking for a good cause this year- I encourage you to stop by your local Pier 1, and drop off some TOYS FOR TOTS!
Nothing puts the Christmas Spirit in your heart for than giving back. Only 25 more days to go people.... are you getting ready for Christmas?


Here is the website, if you wan to read up on it.
http://www.toysfortots.org/