Christmas Break

It's just so hard having a little over a week off during the holiday season.....

Mornings are rough......











And I have such trouble filling up my time.....










But between playtime with the niece and nephew, trips to Silver Dollar City, pedicures with the sister, thrift excursions, Christmas with my fam and the mister's, annnnnnnd shopping I learned something important....

I am very good at having a Christmas break.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I hope you are just as good at having some time off around the holidays!

Thrifting Frenzy

This week, I walked into Red Rack and was greeted by the most beautiful site ever.

I'm pretty sure it took my breath away.

It was shabby, with chippy paint, and green.  It was only $29.96.

It will not be going into my booth.........

Then I found these vintage babies.  In their original box (only $2.98).........

I'd been wanting a set since I saw something on Pinterest that I wanted to duplicate.  One clear glass compote later, they were ready to display atop my pie safe.....

Finally, there were the two suitcases I found ($3.98 each)......

I seriously thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

I swear I did buy some things that will end up in the booth.

Just not anything pictured above.

And my New Year's Resolution should probably be to chill with the thrifting.

But who am I kidding?

I have a booth to stock people.


(Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl & Her Library Adventures today!!!!)

Sometimes...

.....it is just a fish stick kind of night.

And I think they should always be kept on hand for evenings such as these.

I mean, I love trying out all those Pinterest inspired recipes.

But, on occasion, we all need to just preheat the oven, flop some fish sticks on a cookie sheet, and whip up a side of mac & cheese.....

And why it always mac & cheese?

For me, it was a staple as a child.  Fish sticks, mac & cheese, and peas.  That goes for the mister too.

Only the mister has banned peas.

I like peas, but I honor his no peas wishes.

I also honor his strange dipping sauce choice.  Ketchup is the only option for me.  The mister, however, coats his in mayo.....

Gross.

Buuuuut I guess if he doesn't mind the occasional fish stick dinner, then I don't mind the mayo.

Shiny Brite Obsession

When it comes to Christmas ornaments, there's only one type for me.  Vintage Shiny Brites.  

I started this collection a few years ago, buying every single one I could find.

They hang on my tree.....

And they get put in lots of different glass containers........

But I know when to say when.  I don't put them everywhere.

Like my mantel.  I just added a wreath.....

And maybe some super cute stockings made from old feedsacks and vintage towels.......

Why three?

Well, I have to put Sir Chester's Christmas treats somewhere!

Recently I....

....made another Pinterest recipe (that mom had been begging me to try too).  Crockpot Italian Chicken.  Boy howdy, it was tasty.  A keeper, fo sho.....

....stopped by our new (and only) Hy-vee.  I do not rush out to new stores.  It is against everything I believe in.  So I waited until the hype died down and parking was more plentiful.  Shrug.  It's cool, I guess.  Tasty coffee, while you're shopping, at least.  And I had a good cart.  Usually, I get the not-willing-to-turn-or-even-go-straight-cart.  But this cart glided along nicely...... 

....piled up all the books in my possession that I haven't read.  EEEEK!  I counted four.  Three of which are borrowed.  DOUBLE EEEEK!  I just need a good snow day or Christmas break to roll around......

....took stock of all my decluttering.  My 30 days are almost up.  I'm proud to say that I've definitely rid myself of 90 items.  The house is so clean, since I started.  Annnnnnd the special room has a walkway.  This.  Is.  Big.  People......

....got a new ironing board cover.  Handmade by Schlager!!!  Check out her tutorial!  I may have freaked out over her new cover, and she graciously volunteered to make one for me!  I picked out my fabric, and she whipped that baby up in no time.  What.  A.  Lovely.  Friend......

....have been listening to this Christmas song non-stop.  I have a major girl crush on Zooey.  Oh, that voice....

DIY No Sew Tree Skirt

Pinterest did it again!

It made me get crafty.  All because of a tutorial and these pictures......

Tutorial

Tutorial

I think it was the ruffles.

And maybe that I had to throw away my skanky tree skirt last year that made me want to make this really, really bad.

So I was determined.

Even after the Joann's fiasco, I was still determined.  I had purchased linen for a base, along with the red burlap that day........

First I folded the linen into a pizza slice shape, then I rounded the outer edge.....

Here it is all unfolded....

I also cut a circle out in the middle.

Next I began cutting long strips of burlap.......about three inches wide.  These were to be hot glued to the linen base.

And here's where I started to feel like I wanted to die.

Instead I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte.....

Although easy, this part was tedious.  Not to mention, dangerous.  Hot glue hurts.

This entailed row after row of:  glue, fold some burlap over onto the glue, and hold.  I should have counted all the folds it took. 

Yes.  I hated this.

However, I loved those pictures from Pinterest and the color of my burlap so much that I was NOT going to give up. 

But I could totally see why someone on Etsy was charging $130 for one.

Sir Chester was even over it........

But I kept at it.  And even though I wouldn't make anymore after completing this one, I am IN LOVE with my finished product......

Now I just need to play Santa!  Better start shopping.....