My DIY Christmas Binder

Now that it is November, I feel like I can talk about CHRISTMAS! It is my favourite time of year and this year will be even more special with a new little baby! I am still unsure if I can do all my normal Christmas traditions! I will be tired and not sleeping and have someone else to worry about! But because of this very reason I have made this:

A Christmas binder! 

A place to organize all my recipes, addresses for cards and other things! If you search Google or Pinterest there are tons of printables for this type of book! I guess a lot of people make books like this!? I have never been that organized. I thought with a baby on the way I should get my butt into gear though!!!!! I made a binder with dividers, page protectors and plastic pockets. I decorated the dividers with pictures from a Christmas magazine.

I made the following dividers: 2012 Organizer, Calendars, Gifts, Xmas Cards, Baking, Traditions, Wrapping & Tags, and  DIY Ideas

This was the first printable I found on Pinterest, before I even knew this type of book existed! ha It was for a Handmade Holiday Organizer 2012! It is basically organized by weeks and tells you what you should do that week....making cookie dough and freezing it, starting your handmade gifts, etc!

 I found it HERE

 After finding that printable I started searching for others. I found a gift giving idea sheet. You brainstorm all your ideas and write it down with the estimated cost. I  whited out my husbands list because he has 3 sisters and I don't want them to take my ideas...he is the HARDEST to buy for! hahahahah

 I included an envelope after this section to put all the receipts in!

I also got a Christmas baking planner...

 and a family traditions sheet

All of these printables are found HERE

I also found this Christmas card list.

You write the address in before and check every year you send or receive a card.

I found it HERE

I added a section for giftwrap/bow ideas.

As well as one fore DIY projects I want to make

I am very happy with how this binder turned out. As of now I am almost done all of my Christmas shopping. What I have done is already wrapped! I have also addressed and stamped my Christmas card envelopes. I think I am in pretty good shape! I would have been done all of my shopping but being on bed rest changed that! O well, I don't need much more anyway!

Come on Christmas!!

Ashley

My DIY Journal

I forget which blog I saw this on originally but thought it was the cutest idea...especially with a new baby on the way. I started it January of this year and have been pretty good at keeping it up to date!

 One day I will make the dividers looks a little nicer! (I hope so anyway ahahahahah)

All you need are cue cards...and I bought a date stamper. Every card gets a day, so you will need 365 cards. Each year gets a line and you just write something you did or something that happened that day. I think it will be fun to look back and see what happened on that day each year!

Here is the beginning of the year, after I took the January divider away

 I just think it will be cute to see what happened on March 18th of every year...although I bet 2012 will be the winner! :)

Super easy and super cute! 

Ashley

What I have been up to the last few days.....

Well lets just say it hasn't been much! I am 38 weeks pregnant today and was in the hospital last Thursday with high blood pressure, then on Saturday and Sunday for a non-stress test. I am very lucky I was allowed to come home. My blood pressure is still borderline but it is not affecting me or the baby! I am basically on bed rest at the moment and am bored out of my mind! I am thankful though, that I am not on bed rest at the hospital. Michael has been great cooking, cleaning, and basically doing everything for me that I need!!! I don't know what I would do without him! He sets up my "station" so I have everything nice and close. Here is what is on my station.....

1. cellphone, home phone and remote controls, wii remote: I don't want to keep getting up to get these things so it is important they are there with me! I have lots of people checking in on me so that is nice too!

 2. Water bottle and a few snacks: Just in case!

3. Puzzle book and pencils, pregnancy books and info, journal: So I can readreadread before this baby gets here and feel like I know a little bit of what to expect! I am also obsessed with these logic puzzles!!

4. blankets, slippers, socks, sweater, pillow: I like to dress in layers so I don't get too hot/cold and have to go upstairs to get more clothes! (Definitely need my toes done! I can't reach them anymore! Yikes!)

5. computer! This was added to my "station" this morning and it has been nice catching up on email, PINNING and updating my Blurb pregnancy book!

5. TV/DVD: I am still going through the shows and movies I had on the PVR so that has been nice!

I am getting up every hour/hour and a half to stretch my legs and to check the fire. (I completely forgot to check the fire today and it was almost out, but I saved it!)

So that is how my day looks right now!!! I have an appointment and ultrasound tomorrow so I am hoping she can tell me more! It is getting so close!!! ahhhh I just want to be able to go out and do things again!!

Ashley

Some Halloween Treats

Sunday, like I said, was the 7th annual pumpkin carve at Mike's parents. I usually make something to take over...last year I made pumpkin spice cupcakes with pumpkin icing. They were good but I thought I should try something new. I found this recipe in the Parents magazine I picked up at the doctors!

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

  Ingredients

• 1/2  cup salted butter, softened
• 1  cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  cup canned pumpkin
• 2-1/4  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon salt
• 1  cup fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
• 1/2  cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1/2  8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1  cup powdered sugar
• 2  tablespoons salted butter, softened
• 1  teaspoon vanilla

  Directions

  
  

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl beat 1/2 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and pumpkin until combined.

  2. In a medium bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture and beat until combined. Gently fold in the cranberries and walnuts.

  3. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake about 10 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove and cool on wire racks.

  4. For frosting, in a small mixing bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla until combined and smooth. Spread frosting over cookies.

  Here is how mine turned out:

  

  
  

    So, would I make them again!? Well, they were ok....I hardly tasted pumpkin at all. I don't know if it was the icing over powering the pumpkin taste but I couldn't taste it at all. They were pretty bland with sweet icing. If they didn't have icing they wouldn't taste very good, that's for sure! So i don't think I would make them again unless I altered the recipe!!!

  
  

  I also made the Rolo Pretzel Delights but instead of a pecan I used candy corn. They are always a hit!!! I still have canned pumpkin in the fridge so I need to make something else! Any suggestions?

  
  

  Ashley

  P.S - Today is my last day of work!!! This baby is coming soon!!! Yikes!