Sweater Weather

Brrr...it's cold outside!

It is indeed sweater weather around here! We are expecting a high of 7 degrees
and are bundled up inside enjoying a self-imposed snow day!

It's a good day for egg nog coffee, lots and lots of hot cocoa with marshmallows and home made cookies with peppermint chips and sprinkles!

We are already enjoying the Christmas season at our house....
we dug out all the decorations this weekend!
Our tree is the only thing left to decorate and that is only on hold because of some
twinkle light issues.

It's also a good day for some sewing!

Two of the throw pillows I usually have on my couch have been sitting around "naked" for a few days. Their old covers got washed and frankly, I've been hesitant to put them back on.
They have seen a few years of use and are showing how much they have been loved.
Plus, I've been itching to make some cozy and Christmas inspired covers to replace them.

-The front of the pillow-

I ended up using three of my old sweaters and went
a little crazy cutting them up.

My plan was to make two covers but I ended up a little short on material so
I ended up making one cover a little bit too big.

One pillow insert was a little sad so I stuffed both pillows inside and now it is about the size of a bed pillow! I didn't really take into account how stretchy sweaters are when I measured it out.

-The back of the pillow-

Crafting bug satisfied...now to snuggle up with that pillow and watch the snowflakes fall.


"Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when it's mother is feeling chilly."
-Ambrose Bierce

Burlap Inspiration

So I've joined the ranks of all the other like-minded, frugal and crafty Pottery Barn loving Mama's the world over.

I think most of us get the Pottery Barn catalog in the mail. If you are like me, you save it, you look through it over and over again soaking up the inspiration. And occasionally, you see something you think you could take on - and take on for a much more reasonable price!

This Advent calendar caught my eye right away. Some girlfriends and I have recently started meeting for a craft night once a month. We decided our take on this Burlap Advent calendar would be our new project.

(Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn)

It was so fun to see all the different colors of burlap there are out there...I think every one of us girls showed up with a different color!

This project was so fun and simple. I made mine super large like the one PB is selling but it could easily be made much, much smaller!

The Pottery Barn calendar is 34" wide by 57" high. Mine is just a smidge bigger. I wasn't at all exact with my measurements.

Here is a shot of my finished Advent calendar.



This was really easy and fun to make. I found all my supplies at JoAnn's and it was pretty affordable especially if you freehand the numbers.

I chose to buy some small number stencils and then because I wanted some variety in my numbers I bought some larger wooden numbers that I used as stencils as well.

For the black numbers I used a paint pen. After I started "painting" I realized I probably would have gotten a similar result with a black sharpie...which I already owned.

I raided my fabric stash for some fun Christmasy colored fabrics, found some cute buttons at the store as well as some glittery felt. I wasn't sure how I felt about glittery felt as I was buying it but once I cut out the number I realized how much I loved the look!

I attached all of the fabric and felt numbers with a fusible web (Steam-A-Seam).

Once I had a few numbers done I started sewing on the pockets. I tried my hardest to make everything straight and shipshape but it turned out a little wonky anyway! I think it just gives it more of a homespun look!

I didn't worry about my pockets fraying. I sewed up three sides and figure the back stitch at the top of the pockets will keep the top from fraying too much.

Now to fill it up! I am waiting until the night before to stock it up because I know it will be too tempting for my little elves to wait once they spy treats in the pockets!

Some thoughts on filling the Advent calendar pockets:

Candy, candy, candy!
Little notes of promises....rent a fun family movie, go on a walk to the park, do a craft!
Matchbox cars
Small dolls
Bouncy balls
Dollar bills for their piggy banks
Small books

As you can see, the list is endless! I spotted some fun stuff in the dollar bins at Michaels lately as well and hear there are some great finds in the Target dollar bins too!

Do you do an Advent Calendar with your family?

What kinds of treats do you fill yours with?

Do tell! Please share your ideas!

"The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and his presence among us—as one of us—give us reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned."

Life Is an Advent Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONNECTIONS, 11-28-93

Grateful Heart

Feeling grateful the past few days for family, loving when all five of us are home together.
It just feels right.

Grateful for my sweet, kind and maturing oldest son. So proud of him lately.

Loving that the holiday coffee creamers are back on store shelves.

Very thankful that we have power and no damage after last night's big wind storm.

Loving this verse today:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Matthew 6:25

And this one:

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Matthew 6:27

Thankful for the scripture which brings perspective when sorely needed.

Feeling oh so grateful we have a God who loves us through the hard times
and gives us hope for our future.

Ella

So here I am a few days later with no daily posts of gratefulness.

On Wednesday a sweet friend unexpectedly had her baby at 31 weeks.

Sweet baby Ella is struggling and really needs our prayers.

You can read her story and follow her updates here.

What can you do for someone in that situation?

Love, and prayer, and more love and prayer.

And also quilts. Quilts are good.

Dear, sweet friends got together and we poured
all our love and prayers into a quilt for baby Ella.

That is why I have no posts of gratefulness.

But I am grateful for this:

An amazing God who still does miracles and loves us through the really tough stuff

Really wonderful friends

And the beautiful gift God gives us of babies.

Every single one is a miracle.

And Ella is just that, a miracle.

Grateful.....

So a lot of friends are sharing bits of gratefulness everyday in November as part of 30 days of Gratefulness. And even though I am nine days late to the party...I'm joining in!

Day 9

I'm grateful to just be home all day...no big to do list, no errands to run.

I'm grateful for a pot roast in the crock pot, a little less stressed dinner time & a happy husband when he walks through that door.

I'm grateful for two full bags of hand me downs for Addison.

I'm grateful for five full bags of hand me downs for Quinn.

And discounted after Halloween costumes Nama sent home for the kids for dress up.

I'm grateful to all of my family who made it possible for me to fly out of town this past weekend and have some fun.

I'm grateful that it's that time of year again to start baking and decorating and letting my mind wander to making crafts and presents.


“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.
Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”
-Margaret Cousins

Watch your tube tonight....

(This shot was taken at the Farm Chicks dinner held at Chaps in June.)

Because one of my absolute favorite places in my little neck of the woods is going to be featured on Diners, Drive In's & Dives!

This restaurant has incredible atmosphere, wonderful food, and the owner Celeste is one of the most sincere and nice people I have ever had to privilege to meet.

Check your listings since it may be on at different times in different areas. I think it airs on the Food Network around here at 10:00.

(Shot of Becca, Jessica & I at Chaps in June.)


(My sister really enjoys it there too...)


(And me, really enjoying it for my birthday in September.)

Tune in and tell me what you think! I'm excited to see the other restaurants featured too -
Greg and I often watch the show together and drool over the food featured...this time we can actually do something about those cravings!

"Chamberlain's Law: Everything tastes more or less like chicken."
- from The Official Rules