Christmas 2012

Well, as most of you already know Christmas is my favourite time of year! I lovelovelove everything about it! (but most of all I love the beautiful decorations!) Almost every year living here I have changed up the decorations/colour combos of the tree and decor. However this year I am going to keep it as it was last year. I love my current colour combo of brown/white and green! Throw a little gold in there and you are set!!!

In 2007 (when we moved in together)  the tree was burgundy and gold

Look at the lovely carpet!! I don't miss that at all!! hahaha

2008 the tree stayed about the same....with a new topper and tree skirt

In 2009, we got rid of the burgundy and added brown instead. Brown and gold

In 2010 we kept the brown and gold, but added white to it.

and then last Christmas, 2011, we kept the brown, gold and white and added some green to the mix!

I love how the tree looked last year. I loved how all the colours looked together!!! That is the main reason I am keeping the tree as is this year!! Also because I have not seen another colour combo that I like better! 

This year I am loving everything glitter, and everything deer!! I know with having this baby shortly I probably will not have time to DIY anything new this year, but here is what is catching my eye at the moment:

adding 2 small wreaths to the cabinet in the kitchen

BHG

snowflake wreath

BHG

Love this Burlap Banner!

Sweet Something Designs

Loving the white stockings!!

 The Butlers

Glitter everything!

Martha

Where could I put this!?!!

Daisy Dreaming

And I really want to make some of these salt dough ornaments/gift tags:

Oleander and Palm

I know I made a list like this last year and didn't complete any of it! hahahahahh And with a baby, it is not looking good either!! But I will see what I can do! Maybe I can get a head start while I am here on bed rest!!!!!

Ashley

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