Holiday Traditions

Every family has it's own traditions and things that they do to make the holiday season special. Holiday memories are always favorites so I try to do a few things that I remember as a kid and of course every family makes up new things as they go. 

• I make hot cocoa anytime it's requested.
• I waited it out as long as I could, but Jolly our Elf on the Shelf finally made an appearance last year.
• I use my Spode Christmas dishes the whole month of December.
• We do Zoo Lights every year.
• I always spend a lot of time wrapping gifts so they seem even more exciting to open.
• We do the Advent Wreath every Sunday night during Advent.
• Watch lots of Christmas movies.

This is us, I'm curious about other families holiday traditions. There might be something that we need to add!

{all images from Sarah's Fab Day Christmas Pinterest Board}

Last day

The kids get out of school today. I'm excited, so are they.

Like super excited. Cookies, lights, Christmas movies, park days, all the good stuff.

{1,2,3}

Holiday Neon

The latest in the "may your days be merry and bright".

{1,2,3,4,5}

Coming up :: Mother's Day

I just realized it's Mother's Day Sunday. Gulp. We usually host the Mother's Day festivities at our house and this year it isn't any different so I should probably call all the mother's huh? So for my present my husband called our former cleaning lady (when I worked) to give the current cleaning lady (moi) the week off. Yay. Yesterday I also did something I normally never do but I told the kids to tell Dad that I wanted cycling shoes for Mother's Day. Hehehe. I'm so tricky.

Also I think for this shindig I need some new table linens or something to brighten up the table. What do you think of this table by Eddie Ross as seen in In Style or the pop color in the napkins from Coco + Kelley? All I know is my linen closet is sucking right now and it needs some new things.

And what should we serve? Any wonderful ideas? Oh and for cocktails I think it's high time I actually try Lillet Blanc. (You know the drink that all the bloggers were gaga over like two summers ago? Yeah that one. I'm late to all the cool parties.)

Easter Ideas

I didn't do any special craftiness this year for Easter, I'm bad. Monday we're headed off to Carlsbad to for Big's spring break so we're busy packing, getting the house ready for the house sitter and doing the Easter grocery shopping. Which totally reminds me I need to go to the store, ugh it's going to be totally packed. My aunt called me and left a message asking where the Easter posts were so I guess I dropped the ball but here are a few things just for her. Easter is a holiday where cuteness abounds that's for sure. Maybe Saturday after the groc I'll have some time to knock out some of this crafty stuff.  Here are a few of the adorable Easter things seen around Blogland.

Eggs filled with grass so cute but maybe a little late in the game, file it away for next year.

Darby (the egg and grass girl) always has cute ideas and I loved her Easter story cookies last year and maybe I could do it with the shrimps tonight. I think it would be fun for Little.

Peeps S'mores. Cute and more importantly easy.

Send an adorable message via Eggogram.

It wouldn't be Easter without Martha so here's one of my favorites of hers. I'm a sucker for jars filled with stuff.

What are you guys making for your Easter meals?  We have a huge family gathering with all of our family; mine, my husband's and my brother-in-law's, it's awesome. No running from place to place, the kids get to see all of their grandparents in one spot it makes me very thankful for having such a cool family.  The past few years we've done omelet stations in addition to the usual fare and this year my mom is making her famous Eggs Benedict. I will be assisting her on Benedict duty but I will also be bringing Ina's Sour Cream Coffee Cake which is delicious and pretty and a Green Chile egg thing that I always make for those that don't like Eggs Benedict (which I think is near impossible but to each his own).  So what you have going on, what are your family Easter traditions?

Vintage Santas

I found this picture last year right after Christmas and saved it until this year. I almost forgot all about it, whoops. We have one of these, it's from my husband's grandparents house and he loves it. I've always kind of thought, "Hmmm, where are we going to put this?" But thankfully I've come around to loving Santa Baby as long as he's hanging out somewhere en masse. Now I just need to find a couple of more of these.

I could kick myself because I did see one at an antiques store but didn't buy it because I had just purchased something else and couldn't justify buying two things. Of course I went back the following week and figured if it was still there it was meant to be. Well I was s.o.l. and after Christmas I'll be combing eBay and Goodwills to see if my Santa can find some friends.

{image credits? I didn't save them, if you know shoot me an email!}

Love it :: RED

Just a little red vi.sualize roundup. It is my favorite color and it's Christmas after all.

Santa Photobooth? Love it!

Rats! Why didn't I see this sooner? Big has his Christmas party at school today and I think that this would have been a huge hit. A bunch of littles clowning with Santa accessories would have been too cute...next year.

Cute and not to mention easy all you have to do is print and cut.

{Hostess with the Mostess via Kim Vallee}

Love it :: Photo Wreath

I think this photo wreath is the cutest thing going.

{image via Decor8}

Father's Day Labels

You know I love a good downloable freebie, here's a goodie courtesy of Martha.

Read it :: Blonde Designs

During a blog surfing sesh I happened upon Blonde Designs (via Design Crush), I was looking for something for Big to give as a Valentine that was unique and fun. These easy Lip & Mustache Lollipop Valentine's fit the bill perfectly. So cute right? Made them and didn't trim the tags yet(which you can download on Blonde Designs) that say, "Happy Valentine's Day Love, Big" but you get the idea. My models found my stash of lollipops so I had to get a few snaps of them in payment for their treat. As you can see my niece is happy as can be with her glittery pink lips and well Little...he's his usual self. He wanted the lollipop sans moustache.

If you want some great party ideas and fun downloads this is your place. Oh yeah, and let's not forget their gorgeous invitations. So go now and check them out!

Monogram Mugs

I know that we're all obsessed with the Monogram mugs from Anthro, so look at this adorable floral display using them. How cute would this be on a Valentine's Day table or any table for that matter?

{Ariella Chezar floral, photography by Meg Smith via Snippet & Ink}

love brights

I know this image is from July but I can't help myself. This is how you wear brights and rock a pair of heart shaped sunnies.

Just in case you wondering how to wear them this Valentine's Day...

{photograph from the insanely talented Garance Dore}

Love it :: Sweet Love Valentines

My friend Kim of TomKat Studio sent me an early Valentine's Day presey, her printable Valentine's Day goodies. I'm so using these for Big's Valentine's Day party at school. I used TomKat's printable holiday labels over and over at Christmas. You just print as many as you need, so easy.

Collection includes six printable PDF files including:
Sweet Love Party Circles {4 designs}Perfect for cupcake toppers, favor tags, napkin rings & more!
3"x3" Mini Foldover Notecards {3 designs}
Blank Fancy Labels with White Backgrounds. Use for candy jar labels, gift labels & place cards!
Blank Fancy Labels with Black Backgrounds
Sweet Treats Fancy Labels
Goodie Bag Foldover Labels (to fit 6.5" ziploc bags)

Find it HERE!

I heart you

I actually made this set about a year ago for The Invitation Lady and thought it needed one more go round. It is almost Valentine's Day after all.

Items in this set:
fredflare.com hard candy heart sunnies#, $11
fredflare.com you warm my heart hot cocoa mix, $8
Blue Ribbon General Store: A Modern General Store: Secret Love Letter...
Sprinkles Cupcake Mixes Williams-Sonoma, $14
wheel o' wisdom: i love you

Blog Crush :: Lolliblog

I'm just completely smitten with the holiday images put together by Lolliblog. Gorge, gorge, gorge!!

{Cherry Blossom Girl image via Lolliblog}

Getting in the spirit

Today I'm off to the North to play in some snow and hopefully really get into the Christmas spirit. We still haven't told the kids about the train so cross your fingers that they love it. What are some of the favorite things that your family does around the holidays? I love to hear about holiday traditions because I'm always up for adding some more at our house.

Have a very happy weekend friends!

Buon Natale

I remember at Halloween the blogworld was abuzz with Brooklyn Limestone's fabulous Halloween invitations, well she does it again this time on the fly with a Buon Natale party. Here is what the fabulous hostess came up with with a day's notice

Come on, one day? Miss Limestone, you're a genius. Your party looks all kinds of fun and that invitation is pretty awesome.

See all of her bomb diggity entertaining ideas HERE.

Gingerbread

Here is what we did last night.



Those of you with children are your kids as crazy right now for Christmas as mine?

It's mulitpurpose

What a pretty way to store your baubles and show your holiday spirit.

{image via House and Home}