Christmas Card Photoshoot

I am so excited to share this photo shoot with you. My friend Corynne took pictures for us to use in our Christmas card and I could not be happier with how they turned out.

You want to know what else I am over the moon about??? My blog face lift. What do you think? The amazingly talented Lindsay from over at Scenic Glory designed it and I just couldn't wait to show it off. Lindsay you are the best! Thank you!

Goodbye Thanksgiving, Hello Christmas!

My Thanksgiving was fabulous...I got to shoot guns with my husband and his cousins, ate more amazing food then I can tell you about and enjoyed some amazing company including my sister in law who was in town from NYC.

Friday hubby and I got up early, drove through McDonald's to power up and hit the stores for some deals. Surprisingly by the time we got up and out the stores weren't all that crowded. We checked a few people off of our list then went home to decorate our house for Christmas.

Right now I have THIS in the crock pot, the Ohio State vs. Michigan game on in the family room and my ornaments out to hang on our tree! Here is a sneak peek at one of my Christmas decor ideas.

If you have a picture hanging up on the wall that is not Christmas-y, simply cover it in some fabric and wha-la...a new look for the holidays! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Thanksgiving eve...

Today was a beautiful day in the Midwest. I went to the outlets with my mom to do some Christmas shopping and Black Friday or not we found some amazing deals! I came home with my hands full of shopping bags! I didn't take a picture of us shopping, but this picture is us a few days ago when I gave my mom one of her presents early. Ever since I made my first banner she had been hinting that she wanted one and I couldn't wait any longer to give it to her. Plus now she can enjoy her banner during the holiday season.

Right now Drew is in the kitchen baking one of his famous Chocolate pies. My grandpa loves Drew's pies so much that he gave us a pie carrier as part of our gift a few years ago. So sweet (literally.)

I have all the ingredients set out to make Cranberry salsa! My friend Ashley brought it to our book club last night and I could not stop eating it. Yummmm!

Source: jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com via Allison on Pinterest

Tonight I plan on cooking, drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music while we deck our halls...starting with finding the perfect spot for my own  Christmas banner! I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving tomorrow filled with family, food and fun!

Twilight: Fan or Ban?

Okay girls,
This may come as a shock to some of you Twilight fans, but I just caved and saw the movies for the first time this weekend.

I had been "protesting" seeing them because vampires and werewolves don't quite appeal to me and there was just too much hype for my liking. I did read the first book and I'll admit I couldn't put it down, but then I refused to read the others...just because. My friend Bekah has been wanting me to watch them and Friday our boys were working on a manly building project so I caved and we had a Twilight girl's night complete with slippers and No Bake cookies.

I will admit that the movies were better than I thought they would be, but I still wouldn't consider myself a hardcore Twilight fan. So what do you think...are you a fan of Twilight or would you ban these books/movies if you could? Fan or ban?
Happy Weekend!!

Chili, Crafting and...Christmas!

Here is a sneak peek of what a Friday night might look like in my house...
That hubby of mine is fixated on his latest video game purchase while I have the Christmas music on and the table covered in fabric, ribbon and paint. We sit together and enjoy a bowl of Chili, corn bread and a new winter beer while watching an episode of 24 and then we go back to "work." Drew's mission-kill bad guys, my mission-make a cute Christmas banner to hang.

Crock pot Trail Chili from my "Fix it and Forget it" cookbook

I saw a few adorable burlap banners on Pinterest and set out to make my own. I started by cutting out a 5 inch x 6 inch triangle from cardboard to use as a tracer. I traced enough triangles out of burlap for the letters I needed. I decided to make the words "Be Merry" so I cut out 7 triangles.

After I had all my triangles cut out I picked a font I wanted to use on my computer. (I didn't trust myself free hand) I printed each letter large enough to fill up space on the triangles and printed them out. I cut apart each letter and taped it under the burlap. In a blog tutorial I had seen it suggested you tape the burlap to the window and use the light to trace the letter onto the burlap and then fill it in with a fabric marker or paint. Problem...it was 10pm and completely dark. I got mad thinking I couldn't finish my project and then a light bulb went off. Since my burlap was so light I could actually somewhat see my letters underneath...so I went for it. I grabbed my handy Martha Stewart paint brushes and Holly paint and went to work slowly and carefully.

I was very happy with how the letters turned out...my idea was a success. After the paint dried I added Mod Podge to each triangle to make them a little sturdier.

 Then I laid out my letters just like I wanted them and got out my ribbon. (Michael's purchase)

I hot glued each letter onto the burlap. If I had a sewing machine I probably would have sewed it on, but hot glue works too. Here is the final product...what do you think??

 I can't wait to find the perfect place to hang it. And you just might see this banner again in our Christmas card picture! Happy Weekend!

The "berrrr" months

Happy November! I love this time of year with the holidays right around the corner. I can feel the excitement in the crisp fall air. I love this time of year because many people make an effort to reflect on the things they are thankful for. Even though this should be something we do daily it is nice to have a month devoted to giving thanks.

Source: adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com via Allison on Pinterest

October was a hard month (more on that in a future post) but I have so much to be thankful for.  Since there are 30 days in November I sat down and wrote 30 things I'm thankful for.
1. My amazing husband who I love more and more each day
2. Our two sweet kitties who truly make me a happier person as silly as that sounds.
3. Chipotle. I crave you too frequently.
4. My amazing family and their love and support.
5. My job...I'm so thankful to have a job that I love!
6. Nutella by the spoonful
7. My crock pot
8. Hugs
9. This blog and all of you who make up this amazing blog community that I love, love, love being a part of!
10. My amazing group of girlfriends who can always make me laugh
11. My cute little house that keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer
12. Pinterest (yes I said it)
13. Smiles from strangers 
14. My church family and what our church is striving to do in our community
15. My camera and all the memories it helps me capture
16. For a God who cares so much about me and every small detail in my life
17. Monday night bible study
18. Rain Boots
19. Sunsets on the water
20. My students and the privilege I have in being able to pray with them each day.
21. Scrapbooking and all things crafty
22. Lazy Friday nights
23. Pioneer Woman and her delicious recipes
24. Camping and cooking over an open fire
25. Cookie dough
26. My sweet grandparents and their example of marriage
27. Freckles
28. Good neighbors
29. Libraries
30. I'm thankful for every day I am given...

Source: inspired-design.tumblr.com via Allison on Pinterest