False Advertising

All I'm going to say is that several phone calls have been placed to the Head Elf in the North Pole's Behavior Department this week.

I've even left a few messages for Santa Claus, and I'm sure he heard the frantic "But I want to be a good girl!! Please don't tell Santa!" in the background.

I'm hoping they can live up to the standards that these pajamas proclaim...it's been a long week....

I hope no one has had to call the North Pole from your house this week. Anyone else got kids on the Naughty List?

Dear Santa Claus {Reality Version}

Dear Santa Claus,


I realize my last letter lost touch with reality, but there was no reason for the snooty phone call from your Head Elf. I sincerely apologize for my greediness. There's no way I can expect you to come through on the pool boy or the sound-proof craft room. 


I got carried away. 


I thought I'd tone it down a bit and send you another list. This one is more doable, I think.


1. Mr. Coffee espressso maker from Target

2. I love this ruffle bag from Old Navy

3. Cute jewelry 

credit: mlmrenegade.net

4. Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts

credit: craftcouncil.org

5. Subscriptions to All You and Family Circle magazines

credit: dealseekingmom.com

6. Gift card to JoAnn Fabric to feed my crafting addiction


7. Jute rug

credit: furniturehomedesign.com

8. A weekly babysitter (Sorry, I couldn't resist)


Thanks for giving me a second chance, Santa. 


I don't want to be on the Naughty List with my 4 year old, who told a friend she'll be receiving "dirty sticks and a fire rock" (coal) in her stocking this year. It's been a rough week.


Good luck on Christmas Eve!

Last Minute DIY Gift Idea: Mini "Keyring" Photo Album

It was about this time last year that I remembered I needed one more gift for T's sweet grandparents, who would be in town for Christmas. My budget was maxed to the max, my throat was starting to get a little bit sore, and I just wasn't feeling like heading out to the mall again. (If you know me, then you know I really must not have been feeling well.)

So I sat down with some Afrin for a few minutes and thought about what to get Grandmommy and Granddaddy that they might not already have. (Older folks are sometimes the hardest to buy for, I think. My Nannie has had 98 Christmases...they've seen it all!)

I know they love photographs. Every year, I make them their annual Shutterfly Photo Calendar with photos of my girls, and they spend the better part of the year showing it off to anyone who crosses the gates of their retirement community.

I had some of their treasured family photographs downloaded on my computer, so I decided to create a little project just for them.

You'll be surprised at how inexpensive and easy this Mini Keyring Photo Album is to create.

You crafty people can probably figure the whole thing out just by looking at the picture above, but if you are arts-and-crafts-challenged, here is a complete step by step list of instructions:

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A SCRAPBOOKER TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT! (That's in bold to get my point across)

1. Start with anywhere from 5 to 12 of your favorite photos. It's nice if you have a theme, like "baby first year," or "wedding," or "our pet," or "vacation." I chose old black and whites from Grandmommy and Granddaddy's early years. Scan them onto a CD if you have to.

2. Once your photos are on a disc or memory card, head to the nearest Kodak Photo kiosk.

photo credit: lammersfoodfest.com

(You could use another brand of photo machine, but Kodak is the one I use and I will be giving you directions for that. Most photo kiosks also allow you to do some scanning there.)

3. Print your photos in the wallet size option.

photo credit: 1000words.kodak.com

It usually lets you print 4 separate photos to a page (the pages come out in 4x6 size and you cut each wallet sized photo individually), which is why choosing 12 photos gives you more bang for your buck. 4x6 sheets usually run around 30 cents.

4. Supplies:
~3 sheets of double sided scrapbook paper in a pretty pattern (both sides of the paper will show, which is why you need it to have a pattern on each side). This should be more than enough.
~2 or 3 small reams of thin, coordinating ribbon (I find this stuff all the time in Target's Dollar Spot or the Dollar sections in craft stores)
~A package of binder rings/clips from Staples or Office Depot (around $3 for a box of 20)

photo credit: superringfit.com

~ Acid-Free Glue stick, one-hole punch and Scissors

5. Cut out each photo.

6. "Mat" your photos by laying them flat on the paper and gluing them down. USE AN ACID FREE GLUE STICK so your photos won't be ruined. Lay a photo on the scrapbook paper and measure around it so it "frames" the photo. *Leave enough room at the top of the photo for a hole to be punched through the paper.

7. I usually lay all of my photos down on my paper in a column, glue them down, and do one cut straight up to make a long strip. Then I cut each "frame" individually so I have a little pile of matted photos. If you're feeling ambitious, make a little "title page" with a message or give the last page some embellishment with some scrap paper like this:

8. Take your stack of photos to the print shop to be laminated. My local place just runs them through the laminating machine and puts them all together on one or two sheets. This might run me a dollar or two...nothing to break the bank.

9. Cut each laminated photo individually, taking care to leave a tiny border of lamination around the edges so it doesn't peel off.

10. Punch a hole through the top of your laminated, framed photos. Hopefully you remembered to leave a large enough border at the top of each sheet so your hole doesn't go through the photo.

11. Clip your binder ring through the holes and embellish with some of your ribbon. Voila!

Grandmommy and Granddaddy were so surprised and pleased when they opened this on Christmas morning. The entire project probably cost me less than $5 because I already had the ribbon and binder clips on hand.

I love it because the whole thing can fit right in your hand, so it's easy to store or throw in your purse if you don't want it cluttering up your Family room.

Have fun, and please let me know if you try this project!

Linking to Kimba

{Are you making any gifts this year?}

I have a list as long as my arm of gifts I still need to work on!

This Makes Me Happier Than It Should

This GAP holiday commercial brings out the Christmas joy in this former cheerleader. {Spirit Fingers!}

I'm a sap for Christmas commercials, especially if they are fun.

"{She'll} Be Home for {Part of} Christmas"

If you read my post yesterday, you know I was worried that my sister might not make it home in the snow to spend some time with us this Christmas.

My knight in shining Toyota braved the "blizzard" and passed 25 car wrecks on his way to the Richmond airport yesterday. T and Alison spent far longer on I-95 than they normally would to get back to the 'Burg, but they made it home safely!

Alison said that she's never seen the road look that bad before...5 lanes of traffic (as opposed to the usual 3) and people using the median. She said even T, who is normally one of the most chill people in the universe, would be white-knuckled and whispering to himself, "Don't over -correct."

T brought Alison back to our house because by the time they reached the 'Burg we had well over a foot of snow on the ground and there was no way that they'd be able to get up the giant hill to my mom's house.

As you can see, Alison made herself right at home.

We did get to have our pizza party and we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas with the girls. Once they were in bed, we broke out the old Miracle on 34th Street and had a movie night.

Alison has to fly back to Texas on Christmas Eve (she's a nurse in the Air Force and will be on call), but we'll do our best to enjoy moments like this before she leaves.

Let it Snow...Or No?

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,

just like the ones I used to know.

Where the treetops glisten,

and children listen

to hear sleigh bells in the snow...."

-Irving Berlin

Today might be the only time I've ever wished away mounds of snow at Christmastime. Our area of Virginia sits under a soft, frigid white blanket and more snowflakes are falling.

It's beautiful.

With the lights on the tree and in each window, it reminds me of a scene from a movie or memories of Christmases past with my family.

Except that one member of my family, my sister, is supposed to be flying in from Texas today. I'm waiting with my fingers crossed, praying that perhaps Richmond didn't get as much snow as we did and that my mom and T might be able to make it to the airport to bring Alison home.

We had plans for some Christmas shopping, Christmas movie marathons, cookie baking, and a pizza party with my girls this weekend. I'm wishing and hoping we get to do some of that.

So while I'm wishing and hoping, we'll be out in the white stuff today...

You Know You Have a Problem...

...when your preschooler wants to play coffee shop and asks if you want a "grande 'molcha.' nonfat."

Y'all know I have a thing for mochas (Panera is my fave), but the Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha is my favorite holiday drink. I wait all year long to have one on Black Friday and then occasionally indulge during the Christmas season. It tastes like Christmas to me!

Dear Peppermint Mocha,
If lovin' you is wrong, baby, I don't wanna be right!

Do you have a favorite holiday drink?

{Happy weekend!}