Five on Friday | Christmas Edition

ONE.
Washi tape.

Picture via Pinterest

Washi tape is my favorite thing! It's so versatile that you can do pretty much anything with it. It's pretty removable too so again, you can do pretty much anything with it! I read on Little Baby Garvin's blog that she even let her daughter Christmas washi the walls! I'll have to keep that in mind for next year. For this year, I'm decorating my Christmas card envelopes with washi to give them that little extra something .

TWO.
Elf on the shelf.

Picture via Pinterest

We're not doing Elf on the Shelf this year because I don't think Mason would really understand it yet, but I'm still loving seeing everyone else's ideas on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. SO MUCH creativity!

THREE.
Mini pumpkin pies.

Picture via Fabulessly Frugal website

I can't cook. Well, it's not that I can't, but I don't. I probably (maybe?) could if I tried, but since Seth is so good, I stick to my forte : baking. I seriously could bake everyday if I could. And if I wouldn't gain a hundred million pounds. But since we are having our friend Christmas party on Sunday, I thought I would try these out. I haven't really ever baked my own pie from scratch but I've been dying to try these mini pumpkin pies so I thought the party would be the perfect time. The recipe seems simple enough so when I found it on Pinterest, I thought I would give them a try! I hope they are good!

FOUR.
Champagne sangria punch.

Picture via Iowa Girl Eats blog

I subscribe to Iowa Girl Eats blog by email and when I saw my email about her post about this champagne sangria punch, I was intrigued. I'm a sucker for a good sangria and when I saw this, I knew I had to try it and make it for our friend Christmas party. Will report back if it is good how good it is!

FIVE.
Perfect picture wall.

Picture via Iowa Girl Eats website

Not totally Christmas related but while I was searching for the recipe for my Christmas party drink on Iowa Girl Eat's website, I came across this gem and thought it was amazing! The website tells you the exact dimensions of the pictures and how to make a great picture wall for a stairs case. I love this perfect picture wall!

Linking up with The Good Life, Carolina Charm, A. Liz Adventures, and Hello Happiness.

Christmas | Toddler Edition

For the past couple months, I'd been so pre-occupied with how excited I was for Christmas that I didn't fully think it through. I was so busy trying to figure out where we could put our Christmas tree that I didn't fully think it through. I was so busy planning all the activities that we would do that I didn't fully think it through.

And then I stopped to think.

Mason will surely tear every ornament off the tree (and put them in his mouth). Is it worth it to put up the huge tree this year? Thanksgiving was so late this year and we were gone for it and for a few days past that would it be worth all the hassle to put up the huge tree just to have Mason tear it down?

The answer was no so I tried to find a better solution.

I had been wanting to get him a little tree for his Christmas books and I found this one at Target (and for only $12!). It's 2 feet tall and pre-strung with lights and is perfect for Mason.

At the time, I had thought I would put it in his room with the books under it, but we spend most of our time downstairs and I wanted to enjoy the tree so it has since moved downstairs.

I was thinking this might be our tree for the year, when I saw this amazing item on my friend's Instagram.

I can't link to it on Target's website (maybe it's only sold in stores?) but it was $10 and from Target and PERFECT. That very day after work, I was on my way to Target to find it. And thankfully I went when I did because it was the last one! I came home and started putting it together. I think Mason likes it as he has been ripping ornaments off everyday!

It's perfect! I kind of love it and think it will be fun for him to play with and help set up in the coming years.

Even though we didn't put up our regular tree, that didn't stop me from continuing to decorate. I decorate my "mantel" aka entertainment unit and put up lights around the townhouse. I just LOVE the way the lights look lit up at night. I would keep them up all year round if Seth would let me :)

Our "mantel"

The menorah that I talked about a couple weeks ago!

It went on sale 50% off so I had to get it. 

Since we don't have a big tree, I added the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

ornament I bought for Mason on to the "mantel".

The book tree's new home. 

My chalkboard and Yellow Bird, Yellow Beard paper garland. 

Happy decorating!

Candycane Lane

There is this street in Rancho Santa Margarita that is called Candycane Lane. I think lots of places have streets like this that decorate for Christmas so if you google "Candycane Lane" and the area that you live in, something should pop up.

{above picture is from the Popsicle Blog}

Last night I had an appointment last night in Rancho Santa Margarita and figured since I was already there, maybe Seth and Mason could meet me and we could go check out the lights. Seth and I hadn't been in years, probably since my brother-in-law and sister-in-law lived there, which was like 4 years ago. The last time we went, we got Starbucks and got all bundled up and walked around the crowded street looking at all the lights. I was excited!

So, last night, we went to one of my favorite restaurants (Wood Ranch) for dinner and then headed to Candycane Lane.

They even brought Mason his own little plate of goodies

as an appetizer, which I think is so sweet.

He LOVED the cheerios! 

The rolls there are TO DIE FOR. 

Obviously, Mason LOVED them too. 

BBQ tri tip salad! 

After dinner, we headed over to see the lights. As we pulled up, I noticed that there weren't too many cars. I thought that was weird for a Friday night but was happy because we got a close parking spot. We got out of the car, bundled up in our jackets and hats (Mason must have thought it was cold too because he ACTUALLY kept his beanie on without ripping it off), and headed off to see the lights!

I was a little disappointed because it wasn't as great as I remembered it. That being said, maybe they weren't fully ready for people to come see yet. Maybe not all houses had put up their decorations. Or, maybe people had moved out of that neighborhood and the new people didn't want to decorate. Either way, we had a good time seeing the lights! Last night's trip made us more excited to find other neighborhoods in our area to go see more lights too!

Merry Christmas Season!

Five on Friday | Mommy Edition

I think I've been a pretty good girl this year so this is what I'm hoping for from Santa this Christmas...

ONE.
Extra phone battery pack.

While we were on vacation, my phone almost died (and actually died once) more than once at very inopportune times...always when I wanted to take a picture of something Mason was doing. I seriously didn't even feel like I was using it thaaaaat much during the day but the battery life was so bad. Rumor has it... Santa Seth might have gotten this Mophie Juice Pack for me!

TWO.
Scarves.

True love. Seriously. I don't know when I fell so hard in love with scarves but we are in love. It might be one sided but I know it is true love. Almost everyday (let's be honest, it's everyday) I wear a scarf. I just love the way it accessorizes an outfit and I love that it keeps me warm without having to wear too many layers. I am especially in love with this infinity scarf that Pinterest Told Me To showed me. If Santa didn't get it for me, I have some gift cards that I can use. This scarf will be mine :)

THREE.
New blog design.

I'm thinking of making some changes before the New Year or in the very beginning. Kind of like a New Year's resolution but one I will be sure not to break! I'm not so tech savvy so I'm thinking of having someone design a new blog layout for me. Well maybe not design since I LOVE so many of her pre-made layouts, but having someone help me give the blog a face lift! I'm using one of the basic ones that come from Blogger and am beginning to think it's too boring. I was randomly searching on etsy and came across NudgeMediaDesign and am in love with so many layouts. (The picture is from her and is one of the ones that I love!) Changes coming soon!

FOUR.
New computer.

I know this won't be under the tree but if some other Santas in my life bring me some gift cards, this baby might be a purchase in the near future!

FIVE.
Scarves.

Just to prove my love for them, I had to post about them twice! Rumor has it that the middle scarf that Shay introduced me to from the Gap might be under the tree for me!



Linking up (on time this time!) with The Good Life, Carolina Charm, A. Liz Adventures, and Hello Happiness.

25 Days of Christmas Books

Ever since last year, I had been wanting to do the 25 days of Christmas books. Last year I thought Mason was too little, so I started collecting Christmas books for my collection instead. But this year, I decided to do it! The 25 days countdown officially started on Sunday, the 1st.

I bought a little tree at Target that I thought I would put in Mason's room and have the books underneath. Then he could pick (or we could pick) a book we wanted to open and read that night and already be in his room, ready to read. Instead...the tree is in the family room, along with the books. I'm not sure if that is where it will stay, but that's where it resides right now :)

Christmas book : day 1 

Excited to open a book for day 2! 

Christmas book : day 2 

Christmas book : day 3 

I'm not sure if I will continue to post each days books, maybe a recap at the end of each week. If not weekly, I will for sure post a list of the 25 books that we read this year.

Hope everyone is having a great start to the holiday season! Happy reading :)

Thankful : Day 30

Thirty days of thanks.

I can't believe it is over. Just as quickly as November started, it is over. I had high hopes of being able to post everyday on the appropriate day, but alas, life took over. I started off well, but as the month went on and we got busier and we went on vacation, there just wasn't time.

I'm always glad I did it thought because there really is so much to be thankful for. Even when I think I am having a horrible day or everything is going wrong, I have to remember that I have so much to be thankful for. So today, in reflection of the last thirty days, I am thankful for all I have.

Thankful for my family.
Thankful for my health.
...even though I have a cold right now, it could always be so. much. worse. So thankful it isn't.
Thankful for the roof over my head.
Thankful that I live in a safe neighborhood.
Thankful for food in my refrigerator.
Thankful for my amazing husband.
Thankful for my beautiful son.

So, so thankful. Today and every day.

Thankful : Day 29 | Five on Friday

ONE.

25 Days of Christmas Books.

SOOOOO excited to start this tradition on December 1st. I already have a bunch of books that are from last year and that I have collected over the past year that I can't wait to read to Mason. Some books are a little old for him right now but I want them to be in the rotation for years and years. And some are age appropriate for now and will be rotated out as he gets older.

List will be shared at the end :)

TWO.
Christmas decorating.

With Thanksgiving being so late this year and us being away for the week, I have yet to decorate for Christmas. While I do normally wait until after Thanksgiving, had we been home, I might have pulled out a few things early. I am loving these hurricane glasses with simple bows, candy canes, and ornaments in them. I have a few already, but may need to invest in some more and do something like this.
Since we are now home, and have celebrated Hanukkah with the family, it's time for decorating!!!!
I cannot wait!

THREE.
This. Picture.

Seriously. I die every time I see this picture! It is like the perfect picture. So freakin' cute. If only we had a cozy coupe and a small tree... I would TOTALLY attempt this. Not. Kidding.
Mason does have a little car though with a little overhang thing...so I may still try!

FOUR.
A boy and his tree.

I bought a mini 2 foot tree for Mason's room for his 25 books of Christmas (and to make his room more festive) but I'm thinking that may be our tree this year. The reason being... I think Mason would try to take off every single ornament and put them in his mouth and I would have one big sparkely, slobbery mess. But, after seeing this picture on Pinterest...I may reconsider. I would LOVE to get a picture of Mason like this!

FIVE.
Christmas movies.

I think it may be time to start a Christmas tradition of Christmas movies. There are SO MANY good ones that I haven't seen in forever. Some are a bit old for Mason so maybe Seth and I will just watch, but some would be perfect for him! I just love Christmas time...books...movies...everything!

Linking up (again, a litttttttle bit late) with The Good Life, Carolina Charm, A. Liz Adventures, and Hello Happiness.