Have a great day...I'm off to start sorting!
1 day ago
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The Aftermath
I'll share some pics from our Christmas tomorrow, but this is just a corner of the "Aftermath" I'll be cleaning up today. Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
(Yes, our last name is blacked out, but you get the picture)
Have a blessed Christmas day, readers!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Series Wrap Up: A Season of Serenity at Home
We made it! It's Christmas Eve. As I write this, the kids are in bed, the lights on the tree are lit, and the house is quiet. It feels pretty serene, so I'd say this series did its job! I wanted to take today to look back at this year's Christmas inspiration series, and to thank all the wonderful bloggers who contributed this year.
I definitely had my "moments" this Christmas season. Losing my temper with grumpy kids, freaking out about running out of lights for the tree, stressing over spending another Christmas running around town to "put time in" on Christmas day, feeling that sting of envy looking at another blogger's beautifully decorated holiday home when mine is strewn with toys.
But, overall, this series gave me the time I needed this month to "detox" from blog stuff. Instead of staying up late to edit photos or work on projects, I was able to wrap gifts and watch Christmas movies. I read stories to my girls instead of throwing together another craft to feature on the blog.
It was wonderful.
I know that series aren't always popular with readers. We like to see new, regular content from blog owners as often as possible. But blog writers are men and women with families too, and this blog writer knew she needed a Season of Serenity at Home! I appreciate the positive, encouraging comments that many of you left on the posts for the series.
My blogging friends came through this year with inspirational posts, projects, crafts, party ideas, style tips, and recipes. I read each post with all of you, taking notes for next year's Christmas fun.
I hope you found something new and inspiring to take away with you from this series. You can find a round-up of all the posts here.
Thanks to Imparting Grace, Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM, She's {Kinda} Crafty, At the Picket Fence, Yummy Mummy Kitchen, It's Overflowing, Two Twenty One, and Michaela Noelle Designs for taking time out of your busy holiday season to share inspiring content with us! You all made my December so much more pleasant and relaxing.
I'll have a short holiday message up tomorrow, but for today, I want to wish each and every one of you a beautiful, blessed Christmas! I'm off to get ready for our annual "dessert buffet" with family tonight!
What are your plans for Christmas?
Sunday, December 23, 2012
More Highlighted Links-Share Your Best Post!
If you're here to link up to Weekend Bloggy Reading, it's open for new links until 10 pm (ET) tonight. Please share your best post of the week with us...crafts, recipes, home decor, book reviews--all kinds of posts are welcome.
On Saturdays and Sundays, I like to share fabulous projects from the link party with my readers. I add many of these Features to my Pinterest page as well as Facebook, so be sure to link back in your post!
Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye.
~Canvas Wrapped Christmas Gift Decor via The Scrap Shoppe
~Modern Zig-Zag Quilt via Imperfectly Polished
~Gingerbread House Party via Moonfield Lane
On Saturdays and Sundays, I like to share fabulous projects from the link party with my readers. I add many of these Features to my Pinterest page as well as Facebook, so be sure to link back in your post!
Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye.
~Canvas Wrapped Christmas Gift Decor via The Scrap Shoppe
~Modern Zig-Zag Quilt via Imperfectly Polished
~Gingerbread House Party via Moonfield Lane
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Highlighted Weekend Links--Share Your Best Post!
Happy Saturday! Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Today's the day to link up because I'm busy rounding up more Features for tomorrow!
All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, tips and tricks, home decor, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.
Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far. A short list today because I want to enjoy the holiday weekend with my family.
~Christmas Study via Our Southern Home
~Coastal Christmas Tablescape via Two Story Cottage
~Chocolate Covered Peppermint Brownie Bites via Small Home Big Start
All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, tips and tricks, home decor, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.
Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far. A short list today because I want to enjoy the holiday weekend with my family.
~Christmas Study via Our Southern Home
~Coastal Christmas Tablescape via Two Story Cottage
~Chocolate Covered Peppermint Brownie Bites via Small Home Big Start
Friday, December 21, 2012
::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!
Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.
This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, etc.) and to see what else is out there.
Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:
~Jingle Bell Napkin Rings via Sand and Sisal
~Glass Christmas Trees via Alderberry Hill
~MultiGrain Buttermilk Pancakes via Honey We're Healthy
~And Me? This week featured:
This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, etc.) and to see what else is out there.
Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:
sources listed below
~Customizable Chalkboard Printables via Make it...Create~Jingle Bell Napkin Rings via Sand and Sisal
~Glass Christmas Trees via Alderberry Hill
~MultiGrain Buttermilk Pancakes via Honey We're Healthy
Time to link up your best post of the week!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Holiday Hair Tips (Style Guide)
The month of December can be so busy that we often run out of time to think about ways to dress up our day-to-day looks. I started thinking about what I'll wear on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and realized I needed to change things up again with my Holiday Style. Today my friend Michaela from Michaela Noelle Designs is going to share some fabulous style tips for your tresses this holiday season!
Fishtail braid
Materials:
comb, elastic, bobby pins, hairspray
Fishtail Braid how-to:
Start by taking a small section of hair from the right side of your head and cross it to the left. Gently pull. {No need to twist it under other strands or anything. Just leave it on top!} Take a small strand of hair from the left side and cross it over to the right side. Gently pull. Continue doing this until you run out of hair. Secure with elastic at the end and follow the rest of the instructions to complete the up-do.
Despite popular belief, a fishtail braid is much easier than a french braid-- all you're doing is criss-crossing sections of hair instead of actually braiding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
No-Heat Curls
Materials:
elastic headband, possibly a few bobby pins, hairspray
No-heat curls how-to:
After you're done wrapping hair around the headband, just lightly hairspray, go to sleep and wake up to take out the headband. I always end up touching up the top layer with my 3/4" barrel curling iron, but other than that, the curls come out great. Give it a whirl :)
What hair styles are you planning to try this holiday season?
Thanks for inviting me here today, Amanda. Merry Christmas!! :)
************************************
Thank you so much, Michaela, for putting together a fabulous guest post for me!
Michaela Noelle Designs is a beautifully styled blog full of design and fashion inspiration. Most importantly, Michaela is as beautiful inside and she is on the outside (aren't you jealous of that gorgeous hair?!). Her sweet spirit shines through in each post she writes. Please give her a visit and let her know I sent you!
This post is part of my Season of Serenity at Home series; a Christmas round-up of projects, activities, ideas, and tips to help you have a beautiful holiday at home without all the stress. Click here for a round-up of all the posts to date.
Get your party hats on! My Weekend Bloggy Reading link party is scheduled as usual for tomorrow morning (8 am ET), so be sure to swing by with your best post of the week.
Here's the button code for the party if you want to get a head start! Recipes, crafts, home decor, party ideas, tips and tricks, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.
If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.
Please help me welcome Michaela!
**************************************
Hello, friends and readers of Amanda! I'm Michaela, author of Michaela Noelle Designs. Normally I write about interior design, but occasionally throw in some lifestyle posts. I'm so excited to be here today sharing a few fun hairstyles you can add to your holiday style repertoire. Let's get started, shall we?!
Fishtail braid
Materials:
comb, elastic, bobby pins, hairspray
Fishtail Braid how-to:
Start by taking a small section of hair from the right side of your head and cross it to the left. Gently pull. {No need to twist it under other strands or anything. Just leave it on top!} Take a small strand of hair from the left side and cross it over to the right side. Gently pull. Continue doing this until you run out of hair. Secure with elastic at the end and follow the rest of the instructions to complete the up-do.
Despite popular belief, a fishtail braid is much easier than a french braid-- all you're doing is criss-crossing sections of hair instead of actually braiding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
No-Heat Curls
Materials:
elastic headband, possibly a few bobby pins, hairspray
No-heat curls how-to:
After you're done wrapping hair around the headband, just lightly hairspray, go to sleep and wake up to take out the headband. I always end up touching up the top layer with my 3/4" barrel curling iron, but other than that, the curls come out great. Give it a whirl :)
All photos via michaela noelle designs and victoria carlson photography.
What hair styles are you planning to try this holiday season?
Thanks for inviting me here today, Amanda. Merry Christmas!! :)
Love,
Thank you so much, Michaela, for putting together a fabulous guest post for me!
Michaela Noelle Designs is a beautifully styled blog full of design and fashion inspiration. Most importantly, Michaela is as beautiful inside and she is on the outside (aren't you jealous of that gorgeous hair?!). Her sweet spirit shines through in each post she writes. Please give her a visit and let her know I sent you!
This post is part of my Season of Serenity at Home series; a Christmas round-up of projects, activities, ideas, and tips to help you have a beautiful holiday at home without all the stress. Click here for a round-up of all the posts to date.
Get your party hats on! My Weekend Bloggy Reading link party is scheduled as usual for tomorrow morning (8 am ET), so be sure to swing by with your best post of the week.
Here's the button code for the party if you want to get a head start! Recipes, crafts, home decor, party ideas, tips and tricks, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.
If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.
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