{fudge} & A-man's program...

Well... I think the holiday baking this year is nearing an end! We have baked for parties, school mates, teachers, neighbors, & co-workers. The kiddos have been a HUGE help this year- at least @ taste testing- ha ha! These last 2 weeks I have been missing my Grandma Sissy even more than when I have stains {she was a master stain remover} or when I make vegetable soup {hers remains the family's favorite}, or just when I wear one for her aprons. But... ALWAYS when I make "candy" her word for peanut butter fudge. I use her recipe faithfully {I hold it very dear because it is written in her beautiful writing}. This year I made her version & Paula Dean's- both were a hit, but Grandma Sissy's was the best!

*****

Paula Dean's Peanut butter Fudge:

*****

I wrapped mine just like Grandma- she hand wrapped each piece.

*****

Also- this year I added 1 cup butterscotch bits to my brownies- THANKS Carol! They were a HUGE hit!!!

*****

My A-man had his pre-school program last week... isn't he handsome!!!

*****

He & Syd stood next to each other.... of course!

*****

...and this year- HE SANG! {with all of his heart}!

*****

.... & I cried {with ALL of mine}!! Then I kissed his little face off & bought him some ice-cream!

*****

P.S. our Christmas break has officially begun around here..... let the fashion begin! This is Prissy's day #1 Pj/morning ensemble!!!

{keeping up the charade...}

We have been so busy lately that I haven't gotten to hit some of my favorite "junk stores". So.... when I got the chance this weekend to sneak out ALONE- {dare I say it}, I stumbled on some unlikely treasures. Now rule #1 of thrifting is: keep a running list going of things that you need. I call it "my mental needs list" which Joey thinks is a figment of my imagination... and that's partially true. When I come home with something he'll say sorta amazingly "I didn't even know we needed that" after I've driven home the point {the minute that he gets in the door}- that I've been looking for this for weeks...... & it's perfect..... & I saved tons of $...... and well you get the point!

*****

I really {wink wink} have been looking for one of these old watering cans with a fluted neck. This particular one was just the right size, I LOVE the color, & it was $2.00- SCORE!

*****

My little guy's arsenal of weapons is growing by the day.... and Christmas isn't even here yet! We formally had a little wire trash can, but it was easily knocked over when company comes & it was NO match for the "big guns"! Solution- this galvanized one that weighs about 10 lbs. It looks sorta retro-cool & is perfect in size. Total cost a splurge @ $8.00

*****

As I was leaving I noticed this little tree... the owner through it in for free. I attached it to one of the A-man's little vintage trucks. I love the look of it & I saw some of these for $15.00 on Etsy.

*****

Now as I was leaving again.... the owner {don't know his name, but he knows my little guy cause I dragged him along a few months ago :) } asked "is your little fella still into Star Wars?" "Yes Sir I said." "Does he like Legos?" "They are is love language right now, why do you ask?" I said. "Well I knew I had some Star Wars stuff around here somewhere... you give him this from me & tell him Merry Christmas!" Y'all I was shocked- I knew 2 little boys {Joey included} that were gonna be over the moon when I returned!!!

*****

Joey {being the novice gypsy- ha ha} looked on eBay to price it. It was an original Star Wars Lego- UNOPENED going for $195.00 on eBay! Needless-to-say we opened it! And it now has a shiny new spot on the "favorite" shelf. I guess I have no other choice but to keep up this whole "junking" charade .... it's a chore but it must be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

*****

p.s. this little picture says it all. 3 of my most favorite things in the whole wide world. And one of them is clutching a new Lego in this pic.................

{stocking shop talk....}

So... when I went away to IU Cooner sent with me: a glue gun & floral wire?? I know I looked at her crazy-like. I swear if y'all knew how much I used those things then.... and how much I do now- it would amaze you! Now speaking of crafting.... let's talk stockings! This year I wanted to go neutral & knew that the red & green oldies {circa 2001- when the Mr. & I moved to NC} had to go! I found some white ducking fabric @ Wally for about $8.00/yard {60 wide}. **do not count out Wal-mart for your fabric needs**

*****

I started out with a pattern out of a shirt box {I left it @ Cooner's}. One thing these new ones needed was to be FUNCTIONAL. The others were a bit narrow at the top- these are NOT {I like to stick DVD's etc in them}. I decided to go the easy route & not even turn them once I stitched them- gasp!!! I think they are prettier with the more sorta worn look & they took all of about 5 minutes each {including the cutting}!

*****

Next I added {with the help of Cooner's button box & Carol's advice- THANKS girls!} some buttons & other ruffly scraps....

*****

~Joey's~

{simple with faux fur, scrap popcorn fringe, & a sweater button from who knows where?}

*****

~Mine~

{with a ruffle & a rose made from a sheet- you know me so well!! Finished off with a VERY girly button with a genuine imitation diamond!}

*****

~A-man's~

{sorta rodeo}- I couldn't make "lego" or "star wars" neutral.... so I told him that "he's the deputy around here & he can carry a pistol"- he smiled! Star buttons & a cowboy boot button finished it off on top of faux fur & some cream felt circles {courtesy of Antropologie- I love how they wrap gifts to me!!}

*****

~Prissy's~

{hers... well makes me smile! I had to add a rose cause she asked :) & the little antique crystal buttons were my grandmothers. I added some cream canvas ribbon as an outline to make it a little more "girly".}

*****

Total cost = $8.00 for enough fabric for: 4 family stockings, 3 American Girl Stockings, & a tree skirt {unfinished I'm afraid until next year}....... The happiness that they bring= PRICELESS!!

:: case in point that it doesn't cost a lot to make the holidays special ::

{our Christmas tour 2011}

Well.... if you stopped here hoping for a glimpse of what y'all saw last year- STOP! Or... you can check it out {here}. Cooner did not come.... but Christmas is still coming. I have scaled back {much to Prissy's fancy dismay} from last year & even changed my color scheme. You'll notice less red & much more natural colors & things that can be left out after Christmas.... I like to call it "winter decorations" -ha! I do LOVE the white & softness. Our home feels clean & fresh somehow?

*****

1st stop- the mantel.... I used fresh greenery this year, but it id dying FAST with the fire...

*****

How do ya like the new stockings? I'll show the details another day, but for now I LOVE them!

*****

I used subtle touches of Tiffany blue all throughout this year. This little music box came from a photo shoot with Tina.

*****

...on the other side- I flanked some books tied up with gray ribbon & a new compote pot from Cooner- {she finds the best things!}.

*****

I added in some more white in the built-ins. Owls seem to be all the rage this season. This little guy came from Ross- I think he was $5 .

*****

My tree is in Cooner's words "pretty, but not spectacular!". She has never been one for sparing the truth- but I love that about her.

*****

And to that I say "well then come over here & HELP me!"

*****

I know that it needs ribbon & perhaps star fish {and if you know where to get some- please tell me}, but this is all I got... this year!

*****

more little Tiffany blue touches....

*****

I added just a little touch of decor in the dining room with a white poinsettia {from trader joes- $2 } & vacation shells!

*****

The mantle wreath has changed 3 times already... and I can't promise that there won't be a 4th? I made this one out of book pages {tutorial to come} last night. What do you think?

*****

....and the packages are even joining in on the color scheme- I have used everything to wrap gifts with this year from grocery sacks to sheets to burlap!

*****

I'm also loving the look of faux hanging wreaths onto mirrors. I put this little girl up with a suction cup hook & strung some ribbon behind the mirror. {dang these gold walls- they make everything look jaundiced in these pics :) }

*****

p.s. I'm linking up with the Nester here....

{easy-does-it....}

I have been e-a-s-i-n-g into the whole Christmas decorating thing this year.... Partly because we went away over Thanksgiving & that's when I like to decorate, but mostly because Cooner isn't here to make the most tedious of tasks fun!!! However... I have 2 make that 3 eager elves around here that will not be "just one more day-ed" anymore- ha ha. I think our tree is done {for the most part}. It is much MUCH less excessive than last year, but I think it will do? The kiddos' trees are up.... I think you can guess which one is the A-man's!!!!

*****

He insisted on putting his "bath-time" Star Wars guys on it. I think it is positivity precious... much like the little boy that falls asleep looking at it!

*****

Chewy took top honors this year.....

*****

Prissy chose a more traditional tree with feather boas & tiaras & jewels... I wish she were more fancy- ha ha. I made her these little stockings for Lucy, Lanie, & Lizzy with scraps from our new stockings that I FINALLY finished- AMEN! I can't wait to show you how great they turned out!!!!

*****

The kiddos got their 1st ever Advent calendars tonight- gasp! A-man got this one- no surprise! He could hardly eat dinner tonight... he is so excited to get the tiny gun ship & the tiny Yoda & all the other "tiny-s" that come along with it!!

*****

Prissy got this cheapo from the Fresh Market. I was sorta in a panic with not having anything for her & knowing she would want to open something every morning like the A-man. She adored it- and the sparkly pj's that came along with it :) . And thanks to 3rd grade Latin- I just learned that "advent" is a verb meaning coming... which implies the "coming of the King=Jesus"! Am I the only one that didn't know that... please tell me I am not???

*****

p.s. Prissy & I decked out her classroom for "Crazy Christmas" tonight- SO FUN!!! Let's just say the spirit shield may have a new home- ha ha. And.... the A-man & I are headed there tomorrow to teach the 3rd grade all about the nervous system & the circulatory system- YIKES!!! I have a few fun surprises up my sleeve.... but I am NO public speaker {even with little people}!