tree...check.

Today was the day.

Got the tree.

We had a lot of fun. We got on Craig's 4-wheeler and with chainsaw in back we heading out on the ranch to find a tree.

We found one, Craig got out the chainsaw and there she fell.

It's a bit of a Charlie Brown tree...but the best ya could get for a wild tree.

Before...

After...

I kinda wish I could glue some branches in there :)

I love it...it's our tree.

an amy butler christmas.

I found a fantastic Amy Butler article in Mary Engelbreit's magazine. (got the mag due to a hot tip from Kam).

In the magazine Amy Butler is featured for her designer Christmas. They also prompt you to go to her website to get free holiday patterns.

I love these signs!!

O Christmas Tree.

The best part of Christmas decorations (by my call and by far) is the tree.

So some quick tree tips...(but the biggest tip of all is have fun and enjoy)

Number 1...You can't have enough lights!

Now, I don't care if you are into colored or white lights...doesn't matter, what matters is the quantity. So it takes me FOREVER to put lights on my tree. The best I have found is winding the lights around each branch (and even the trunk with the lights). The general rule is 100 lights per foot of tree (6 foot tree, 600 lights). I say this is definately the minimum. :) Just make sure that you check your lights and find out how many strings can be put together! And don't be afraid to mix and match lights! :)

Number 2...Make a fresh cut in your tree before you put it in water!

Ok, so this should be number one...and most of you do this, I am sure, but just in case :)

Number 3...Hang your ornaments at different depths.

Hang larger ball style ornaments closer to the trunk on your tree. This creates more visual interest and depth.

Number 4...Use green ornament hangers.

By using green you can conceal the hook part of your ornament...(obviously if you use a non-green tree choose your wire color from there). When I hang my ornaments I wrap the wire up tight against my branch so you can't see any of it hanging and it makes the ornament more secure in case you have animals or little ones running around.

Number 6...Garland.

Add garland, ribbon, sprays of glittered whatevers to make your tree sparkle. Make sure you put this on before the ornaments. Beads look best swagged around the tree while ribbon looks best if its wrapped.

Number 5...Ornaments.

When picking ornaments try to stick with a theme; either color, style...some sort of commonality. Have fun with it...start a collection...a new ornament every year. But most importantly...if you like it, it's perfect!

Really, none of this matters...the tree is what you want it to be...make it you!

make-over.

i need one.

My hair is fabulous (thanks to Missy), my makeup is wonderful (thanks to MAC...even though I could use much more variety), but my clothes...ugh, are sloppy.

Everyday I am throwing on the same old thing...a hoodie and jeans. (well, the jeans part isn't going to change)

I need to shop, but I need so much I don't know where to begin.

Ok...grabbing my keys...out the door, gonna see what I can find.

Starting my holiday tips post tonight! :)

grateful and blessed.

(this vintage card is so me...i've even got the red shoes, and if i had a turkey i'd give it a makeover) :)

I am so grateful for all of the blessings I have been given; my dream come true boyfriend and his sweet as can be family, my AMAZING family, my faith, my friends, my health, my safety, shelter, food, diet pop {don't tell Craig}...so many things. Craig and I are heading over to my parent's house in a few hours. Our Thanksgiving is totally kick-back...which I love! My dad is an amazing cook and my mom is a gravy master. Can't wait.

Looked at the ads...don't know if I will be going out shopping tomorrow. I always like to hit a couple stores to experience the energy of the day, but getting up early...we'll see.

I asked Craig what he wants for Christmas and he has been no help! :) I know not to get him clothes...hmmm, no clue. I know what he can get me, it's a circle, generally sparkly and would make me cry...but at the same time I'd hate for him to spend the money. I'm happy with just spending time with him.

Thank you to all of you who have made my life more whole and warm.

Have a beautiful Thanksgiving and God Bless.

yay.

2 reasons to be excited...new shoes...red flats.

and christmas ornaments. i got all mine out and can't wait to put these on the tree. :)

chandelier.

i love chandeliers. i like the sparkle. the glitter.

i love chandeliers in the bedroom.

in the bathroom.

and of course, in the dining room.

my favorite from Pottery Barn, for someday in my home.

i almost got this one at ikea this weekend. it's way prettier in person.

and how cute and perfect for a baby girls room. (yup, babies still on the brain...i don't think that one is going away soon.)

i heart shoes.

IS OPENING THIS SATURDAY!!!! TOMORROW!

They will open at 10 AM and she has some to die for shoes!! Definately make it part of your Saturday plans. Downtown is getting such a facelift. It's so great!

"One shoe can change your life" - Cinderella

it's happening.

i'm excited. i'm going. it may be a lone trip...which might work out. i really like to shop by myself. i can zoom through the things i am not interested in and spend a little extra time where i want. it will be difficult not having anyone to say "isn't that cool!," but i'm excited. i love shopping with my girlfriends, but when it is a i want to get stuff done trip...well, i can be annoying, then i stress because i'm annoying. :)

i was considering getting furniture, but now i'm kind of leaning towards textiles and decor. i can do so much with there awesome prices in that department. we shall see.

i am also stopping at Nordstrom. yes, i have a gift card. i die (thank you melody!!)

countdown to Christmas.

i have decided to give my blog some direction. the day after Thanksgiving i will be posting a Christmas idea of the day on my blog...crafts, food, entertaining, gifts, etc.

some will be my ideas, some will be found.

(p.s. I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week! Yowzas!...which means I can't believe that Celebration of Trees is the week after...double yowzas!)

i miss.

plans.

looking towards the weekend and this is looking pretty good.now if only i can get Craig to go.

he's got good taste and sometimes i need reeling in. :)

maybe i can bribe him with a stop at the 4-wheeler place...or food...hmm.

i miss him. :(

i love.

got the christmas stuff out last night. yay! now i really want my tree!!

chipboard rocks.

i am so excited to start this project.
(come to think of it, i better get crackin' on the stitching and the stockings too!)

last year i moved out of a house my sister and i shared and well, took the ornaments with me (they were mine of course, i didn't just take them!)
we both absolutely love the Season at Cannon Falls Glitter ornaments, so i'm going to make her a bunch for her tree...with her help of course!

i have made this 3-d star before....my mom has it on one of her trees.

i actually dreamed the one up the other day...i must have seen it last year and totally stored it in my memory bank.

With some chipboard, good scissors, xacto knife, glue and some antique silver glitter we will be on our way to a fabulously sparkly (and inexpensive) tree.
Creative Crafts in Corvallis is the only place that I found chipboard. $1.15 for an approx. 18x20 piece. And Martha Stewart Crafts (found at Michael's) has a fantastic variety of glitter...looks like glass glitter! it was all 30% off today.
I will post pics of her tree when it's up.

all that is on my mind.

and...
*sigh*

yum.

These look so amazing...I think I need to make them for a "bad" day.

that's all i need.

*found on hostess with the mostess

Nutty Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

8 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 egg

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups pecan halves

14 ounces unwrapped caramels

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

5 ounces milk chocolate chips

5 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Beat in egg until well combined.In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Pour into sugar mixture and beat until dough forms.Scoop out dough into a 15x10" baking pan and press it out to fill the pan. Scatter pecans evenly over dough. Bake for 10 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Set on a wire rack.In a heavy small saucepan, add caramels and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.Drizzle caramel mixture over pecans. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let cool completely and cut into bars.

(i wonder if i can make them without nuts...i don't like nuts in my cookies....HA!)

OOH! I am so going to make chocolate chip cookies for Craig when he gets home tomorrow...YES!

paradise.

Our imperfectly perfect life. (our washing machine actually does that.) :)
Craig called and said he heard this song on the radio and made him think of me and how happy he is. He made me go get the cd out and listen to it after we got off the phone. i love him and i love that our idea of paradise is the same thing.

(sorry about the ad...but it is kinda funny)

advent calendars.

i love advent calendars. i am not sure why, since the ones i got when i was a kid had this nasty chocolate in them....yick, but i guess it was still chocolate. i found these on poppytalk

the one above is actually from target.

p.s. i found this really pretty garland at michaels. its golden and sparkly, check it out. (hard to see here, but i'm sure plenty of you will make it to michaels this holiday season).

oh! and p.p.s. blackberry junction starts this friday at the fairmount grant on north albany road.

the graphic designer in me is freaking out.

*sigh...i want to make stuff like this all day long.
(i found on hostess with the mostess)

my evening.

As you can see *from a couple posts ago* I haven't been feeling well today. I have been getting headaches more frequently and it is driving me nuts. I also am kind of a baby...I hate not feeling good.

I was going to help my sister with her shop tonight, but I just needed to come home. That actually seemed like the best medicine. I still feel a little punky, but much better.
I decided to make a list.
Since Craig is going to be gone, I decided I needed to come up with things to occupy myself and that I'd get excited about accomplishing while he is gone.
A lot of it will cost money, but hopefully I can be creative (or put my Ikea gift card to good use).

My List...
1. Clean & Organize; recycling closet, pantry, dvds, cds
2. Find storage for said dvds & cds
3. Find something to store Craig's memories in (Football awards, clippings...those awesome buttons that the Booster Clubs make)
4. PAINT...lamp by door, the table the lamp is on, 2nd bedroom, our bedroom & a couple walls in the living room (don't really feel like doing the long wall down the hallway).
5. Get a new dresser (ours is busting at the seams)
6. Pick up some more Martha Stewart curtains to finish the office.
7. Curtains for living room, 2nd bedroom and our bedroom.
8. Finish logging pictures.
9. Hang shelf.
10. Pick a photo to print at Costco (12x12 size)
11. Find a small cozy dining table (that I can also craft on)
12. Find a small side table for the printer.
13. Slip cover for couch no. 2.
14. New comforter for 2nd bedroom (and for ours...but I am way more picky about that one).
(the logging pics...no. 1 Craig and the truck, no. 2 my dad rigging (in the 70s), no. 3 will be Craig's dad when he was in his 20s)

I will be busy. I want to get a good amount of this done in the next couple weeks...I want perfection when I put up the Christmas tree.

p.s. if you see anything super cute for my list...let me know...I love your style! :)

thank you kambria!

Today I was the lucky recipient of Kambria's giveaway. She always does such a fantastic job!

a fantastically adorable candy cane, a vintage tray and a flannel baby logger shirt (i die).
i am now even more determined to have a baby boy soon.Thank you Kambria!! You are so thoughtful!

ouch.

I have had a headache since Saturday night. I thought it was self-induced, but now I wonder.

I really do not want to deal with migraines....this is my third sucky headache in a couple months. (my mom and sister get migraines). Ugh.

blue.

I'm sad today. Craig is leaving tomorrow for 3 nights (as he will be nearly every week until around February). I'm kind of pathetic without him and have been easily teary today. I feel bad because I know seeing me sad makes him sad and he is the one that has to stay away from home.
He works so hard and always tries to do the right thing. He rocks it.

Last night we had dinner at his parents...with my parents. and yes, grandchildren came up...I had to pour more wine....today, not feelin' so hot. :)

I hope everyone is having a good weekend...Maybe I will go to the craft store.

i heart shoes.

I went by my sisters shop today and she had boxes of shoes!!!! There were so many hip cute adorable styles that I am simply freaking out! :)

My sister has always had the best taste in fashion than anyone I know. She knows how to put things together and make them look fabulous (without being high maintenance)!!

(pic: my sis)

She is hoping to open the doors of I HEART SHOES on November 15 (next Saturday, in Flinns Block, Downtown Albany, Oregon). I will keep you all posted for the official opening date. Also, in December all the boutiques down there will have a Ladies Night Out night which she will probably make her grand opening.

Here are a couple pairs of the shoes that she currently has in stock....

Some Betsy Johnson (one of my faves!! These pictures do NOT do these shoes justice!) and below Betsyville.

and for those comfy days (like everyday for me) some Rocketdog...

i am really excited for Christmas! :)

i die.

Glam has new foxy necklaces in...they're bananas! I want the first one...I may just have to make it mine.
Glam is located in Flinn's Block in DT Albany. Fun store......next to.....soon to open......I HEART SHOES!!!

donna.

i adore donna downey. her art and her funky fun attitude. everytime i visit her blog i am inspired. her color choices, font (which i am a big freak for) and use of found materials get me in the art making mood....

here are a couple of her pieces...

check out her blog!