1 Choosing the right Christmas Card

It's that time again...time to get the Christmas Cards in the mail. I love sending Christmas Cards, and up until a few years ago, I had always done the traditional boxed cards, maybe 2-3 different designs.  I love the idea of Photo Cards, but thought isn't that just for families with cute babies? Then I started getting photo cards from friends that didn't have kids, and I loved getting them, it was nice to see their family, especially if they don't live close! And ones with pets...too cute! And anyone that knows our family, knows that Emma is like our cannine child and now we have her "sister" Ellie, so of course the dogs would be included in our card photo!

So I thought about ordering some for this year, and then when we found out we were expecting I thought, what a fun way to start doing Christmas Photocards!  I have ordered prints from Shutterfly in the past and have always been happy with their service, so I checked out their selection and found a few designs I am loving! I'm thinking of going with multiple photos, since it would be pretty tough to get all 4 of us in one shot and look presentable. Actually, there would be be 5 of us, but bean is just the size of a peach now, so we can work that in just fine.

What do you think about this one? Hubs and I at the top and solos of each of us in the other ones.

I'm kinda digging this one too. Maybe get both dogs together in one shot for the bottom?

Or what about this one, and dressing up in our Ohio State attire? That would be ubercute!

My question to you: Do you like getting the flat cards or do you prefer the folded ones? We put ours on a stand, so the folded ones are a little easier to stand up, but the flat ones are good for hanging along the door frame.

Guess I have some decisions to make about what pictures we are going to put in this card...time is ticking and we need to get these holiday greetings to the right people pronto!

*The wonderful people at Shutterfly are offering 50 free photocards in return for blogging about their 2010 Holiday Collection. I love browsing thru all the cards, even if I don't end up buying them. I choose to do this on my own, not because they tell me to.  As you can see, this is super easy to do and gives you so many ideas for fabulous holiday cards. If you want to, go check it out here for yourself!

4 Christmas and Emotions....what a combo!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and got to spend time with family and friends.  It was a nice Christmas, didn't get our Holiday bonus at work (no big surprise there) so it was alot smaller than normal, but that was perfectly ok, my DSLR camera will have to wait.  We were together and the few things we did get were appreciated that much more. Or at least I hope so.

I did have a little breakdown Christmas night and ended up in tears in my husbands arms, but someone said something that really hurt my feelings and I just lost it.  Was better by the time I went to bed, but sometimes words can hurt so bad.  I need to not let some things affet me so much in the new year, but that will be hard because I am such as emotional person...sometimes too emotional.

I ate TOOO many sweets, but didn't overdo it on food since I've been off work.  Only had a few glasses of wine, which I will have another of tonight.  I ate the last piece of toffee that I am sticking in my mouth last night, so I've sworn off munching on sweets.  Been loving getting to relax in my PJ's all day yesterday and chill.  I'm off work until next Monday, and I'm going to enjoy every last minute of it.  Going to get some things straightened up around the house and organized, but enjoying the downtime with my hibs and pup.

But the last 24 hours have been raher annoying.  Ever have one of those days where the stars just aren't lining up?  Last night I went to download my Christmas pictures and only 5 of them are there.  Pissed me right off.  Took a few minutes of video of my cousins baby starting to push herself (early crawling I guess) towards a toy on Christmas Day.  Took on of the 4 generations of ladies, a good one of my hubby and I....all now are gone. Then today, our garage door opener decided to take a crap, of course when it's been snowing for the last 2 days and is really cold. 

So I thought I'd take a few minutes and share a few of my favortie gifts from Christmas to de-stress myself.

My favoritest gift of this Christmas would have to be toe socks!  You know those socks that have toeholes, like gloves for your feet?  I have wanted a pair for the longest time, but never really felt the need to buy them for myself.  I asked Santa for a pair of rainbow striped ones.  He did better than that...he brought me rainbow ones, green and red striped ones with rudolph on them, a pair with penguins...and these fuzzy Santa ones.  They are the warmest socks ever...I am so lucky to have 4 pairs of them!  Each toe stays warm and cozy-love them!

I also got some knitting looms which I've been enjoying so much!  I started working on a scarf to match my runners headband/earwarmer I got....which I can't wait to wear outside!!  Love the looms....much easier than knitting freehand, but not as precise and delicate, although I feel much more accomlished seeing it progress!

Got some awesome new athletic socks (I know I'm such a dork to ask for running socks)...can't wait to put those to use in 2010!

I got a really really cute apron made out of my favorite fabric in my stocking!  Love it!  The holiday one I made will be getting put away but this one will be worn often!

My cousin had a purse party earlier this month, so I picked out a bold handbag...I normally just go for black or brown...but wanted something a little different.  Love the zebra patch on this one-figure I will help remind me be an individual in the new year and not worry about what people say!

What was your favorite gifts this year?  Did you get something, big or small, that brought a huge smile to your face that hasn't been wiped off yet?

6 Let the Holiday Baking begin!

Monday is my last day of work for 2009, I am going to spend Tuesday baking Christmas goodies to give to our families on Christmas.  So far here is whats on the menu.

1) Buckeyes
2) Christmas Cutouts
3) Toffee shared by Ace
4) Peppermint Bark and Chocolate Peppermint Cookies shared by Beth
5) Puppy Chow

Some of you who follow me on Twitter, may recall that I have been looking at aprons for the last few months.  I saw some really cute ones, most of them in black and white damask fabric that I am IN LOVE with lately (hence my blog background) and then got to thinking how cute it would be to have a Christmas apron to wear when I do my holiday baking!

So....I had the amazing idea that it might be fun to get out my Mom's sewing machine and see how hard it would be to make one of my own!  I learned how to sew when I was in 7th grade or so and made a skirt and blazer out of this horrendous purple and green plaid wool that I wore to church once.  I'm sure I could remember the basics and maybe make several of them...and maybe they would turn out so good, I could make some for Christmas gifts next year!  OK....slow down, I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

I went to JoAnns and bought a few patterns and some holiday fabric that was on sale...and set out to make my holiday apron!  I cut out the pieces for the apron I wanted...only to realize about half way thru that I started to cut out the child's size on accident.  Thank goodness I realized this before I actually cut the fabric.  So I started cutting out the adult size pattern pieces.  Got them all laid out on the fabric and cut them out.  Pinned all the pieces together and was ready to sew them together.  Had a few issues getting the bobbin threaded but finally got it to work one night and knocked the whole thing out in a few hours.

It turned out much better then I thought for my first sewing attempt in over 2 decades.  While it isn't going to fall apart and looks like an apron, the stiches on the hems aren't exactly straight.  I need to work on the rounded adges a bit, but overall I am super-pleased with how it turned out.  I did it...I made an apron!

I can't wait to start my holiday baking on Tuesday.  I will be wearing my apron and listening to Christmas music...what a great way to get ready for the big day!

What  is one of your favorite holiday treats...is there something that you always make or always look forward to having at Christmas?

12 You Capture - Holiday Decor

Tis the season to deck the halls!  At our house, the decorating begins the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We have 2 trees up, one upstairs and one downstairs and snowmen and holiday baskets scattered thruout the house.  It brightens my day to see these decorations, especially with the cold weather keeping us indoors more and more.
 
Beth wants us to share our holiday decor this week....so here are some of my favorites from around our home!

Stop over and share your holiday pretties at I Should be Folding Laundry.

9 The season is getting merrier! Final tree is up!

Scarlet and Grey are colors for every season in our house!  We decorate the tree downstairs in Ohio State ornaments and get a new one each year....the last shot above is the one we got for 2009.  We even have the little replica helmet for a topper!  Go Buckeyes-Rose Bowl 2010!

5 The season has begun! Tree #1 is up!

I LOVE decorating for the holidays.  I turn on the Christmas music and sing along to all the classics...makes me smile almost the whole time!

I started decorating on Saturday and got one tree up.  This tree is our more traditional tree, it is upstairs in the living room.  It was the first tree that I bought when I moved out on my own, and actually the same ornaments, even though some of them have broken over the years. The angel holds a special place in my heart, as it is the one that we used to have at my Grandparents house when I was growing up.  I will keep that as long as it continues to glow!

It makes me feel warm and cozy...the gold and creams soothe me!  Does anyone else use those little grape clusters on their tree?  Not sure if you are supposed to seperate them, but I like them just randomly placed over some bare spots.