A few days in December...

How are your holiday plans coming along? It's hard to believe that December is almost half over! I thought I'd share some pages in my December daily album to show you what I've been up to. I'm having fun with the album, sometimes I follow prompts, other times I just go with what we were doing on that day. It's nice to sit down each night to reflect and take a bit of time to create something.

Chloe and I got creative with our gift wrapping, using vintage reflectors and some goodies that I stashed from Silver Bella. We thought they looked festive! Hope you're having a merry weekend! Lovin' these felt coasters from Anthropologie.

Over the top...

Keeping with my kitschy holiday theme, after reading Danielle's post on blowmold decorations (never knew they were called that) and other vintage outdoor decor, I decided to go looking for some of my own. I knew I had seen it around. Once I knew what I was looking for, I found a treasure trove in an older suburb of Minneapolis. Boy were they fun to photograph in their snowy glory the morning after our big storm. Can't wait to go back and see them at night!
I have never owned one of these creatures and never plan to, but there is something to be said for a slew of them in mass quantity and how tacky it looks. It's just plain fun! I cannot imagine how long it took for one person to collect all of those snowmen!!

My life in red....

We are now into the last month over on A Year of Color blog. The theme for December is RED. I have mixed feelings as this year-long project comes to an end. It's been a very challenging project in so many ways, and also so fun to have a team of wonderfully creative people involved. I am pleased that such a wonderful community developed that contributed and inspired one another. It's also hard to see it come to an end. I know I will always be inspired by color and will look at it in new ways since experiencing it in such a fun way this year. Needless to say, I have lots of red around my home right now and wanted to share some fun vintage kitchy holiday treasures that are putting a smile on my face. Oh my...have you seen this extraordinary wish list?
Here's to all your holiday wishes come true!

Five senses friday: early december edition

I love following along with abby when she does five senses friday. It's a great way to recap what I've been up to. Seeing: Holiday lights and wonderful vintage colors inside and outside the house. Love that there is now a dusting of snow on everything to make it look that much more magical.
The kids had fun doing their own candy themed tree.
Hearing: The squirt of the paint tube as Chloe gets down and dirty painting. I love watching her creativity blossom!
Tasting and smelling: I went to Trader Joe's for the first time this past week. The Candy Cane Joe Joe's are the best!! I love the smell of peppermint as I down these.

Loving: One of my favorite estate sale finds ever was found this week. These three earthenware vintage French mushroom jars. Need I say more?!

Working on: A page a day in December for my holiday journal.

Some secret crafty fun!

Have a wonderful weekend!

It's all about the sugar cookie...

I'm participating in Scrappy Jessi's cookie exchange today. I cannot wait to see all the yummy posts!! In my mind you cannot beat a holiday sugar cookie. It's absolute perfection. It combines several of my favorite things: family tradition, baking, decoration and sugar. You really can't beat it!I made them with my sister and my parents every Christmas my entire life and now my kids and my sisters kids share in that tradition and we make them together. Priceless.The kids like to really load them up!Here is the recipe that we've always used...

Sugar Cookies

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. shortening

1 c. white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 - 3 c. sifted white flour

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Mix the butter, shortening and sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Slowly add mixed dry ingredients.
Cover, and chill dough for at least two hours (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Decorate!!
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Some cookie inspiration from flickr.

1. Christmas cookies, 2. Decorated Snowflake Cookies, 3. Pink and Green Christmas Cookies, 4. 2007 ornament cookies, 5. Christmas Cookies, 6. Cookies, 7. christmas cookies, 8. CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES, 9. christmas cookies 041

Can't wait to see what you've all been baking.

Thanks for stopping by!

Four years in the making...

My blog birthday post is always one of my favorites to compile. I love looking through the blog posts from the last year and re-living the highlights. This blog is truly a creative diary for me. Looking back at the last four years gives me so much joy. To have this format to share my life with so many others and find so many like-minded people never ceases to amaze me! If you'd like to get all caught up, see my first birthday post, my second, my third and now here is my fourth! What a fun ride it's been. Thank you to all my blog reader's. You inspire me and motivate me to keep sharing myself authentically in this little corner of blogland. I'd love to hear about what have been some of your favorite things about visiting this blog. It's also become my tradition to share photos of my favorite local inspiration spot Nature's Harvest in my birthday post. All photos are from their marvelous store. There are also lots of links embedded to link you over to my other posts over the last year. Enjoy!

This year I created one of my favorite scrapbooks ever. I printed out over a hundred pictures of my favorite estate sale finds and compiled them all together along with a bit of journaling about where I found the item or what it's significance is. I love how it turned out!

I shared 16 random things about myself here.

My big project for the year was my Year of Color blog. It was a lot of work and a ton of fun. I hope that those of you that have been involved enjoyed it. I look forward to a new project next year!

I hosted several swaps: All the I Love, May Basket, Sweet and Sinister and more!

Started a style journal and became journal buddies with Hope. Am looking forward to continuing to work on the concept of style in this class next year.

Traveled to ArtNest in Utah and hung out with some of my favorite people and made the most amazing projects! It was a wonderful retreat.

Discovered my style statement after working through the book in my own journal. Then attended a firestarter session this summer with Danielle LaPorte.

I was honored to be published this year, here and here and here. I hosted a huge online book release party for Blogging for Bliss by Tara Frey. I hope to self-publish another book this coming year.

Journaled about where I'm at in my life right now.

Attended some amazing estate sales and a few that were truly memorable.

Interviewed Anita Kaushal. Her books are so inspiring!

ArtsyMama.com, the web site was born! Thanks to Hope, after her wonderful visit here this summer.

Took a birthday challenge. Have to admit, it's definitely been a challenge and I've caved at times. However, I'm keeping my head up and am going to keep striving!Attended the Junk Bonanza for the fourth year and Silver Bella for the third year. I cannot wait for next years junking event. It's going to be bigger and better than ever. Can't wait to tell you more!!

Thanks again for being here, it means the world to me!