Hello Friends!

Seeing:  icicles hanging from roof tops   

Smelling:  chocolate chip cookies  

hearing:  the tick of the clock.

 I thought I would post a picture of my cluttered dining room table.  Why?  I'm guessing a lot of us have had messy tables, kitchens, laundry rooms or whatever at one time or another.  We all have busy moments and I think it's important to stay balanced and not be so particular about things all the time.  Whether it's a spotless home or another area in your life.  Maybe take a moment to just be.  Sure, I much prefer tidying up and keeping things clean and organized, but on this day it was okay to just let this be for a minute.    

       

   

Happy Holidays!

{weheartit.com}

I love this photo.  It reminds me of all things wintery and cozy.  I feel like...finding a bench to sit on the next time I am out and about.  Taking a walk down town and looking at the festive lights.  Maybe finding a moment to look out the window and notice the quiet snow fall.  Putting on warm holiday socks and lighting some of my favorite candles, or relaxing by the Christmas tree with a favorite book and a cup of hot cocoa.  Marshmallows and whipped cream please!!    

Happy Holidays Everyone!  

Tell me, what do you most enjoy during the festive season?        

Cat Nap

Sorry for the delay everyone!  We've been busy, busy bee's around here.  You know, every day stuff to do.  At our house, the Mr. and I both work, while there has also been festive food to prepare and presents needing wrapping.  All in good fun!  On a side note, there is snow for days out where I live and I find that it adds to my enjoyment and excitement of the season.  

This little monster on the other hand, seems to spend her entire day resting or taking long winter naps.  But after all, isn't that what cats do?...    

Wow.  

Sneak a little cat nap in and rejuvenate.

hearing:  my fingers on my keyboard.

seeing:  The Mr. taking his own cat nap.   

   noticing:  a tiny crack in the ceiling of my 100

       year old home...Character.  

  

Christmas is almost here!

Christmas is almost here! 

It sure is a festive season everyone!  Do you enjoy getting out and participating in all of the hustle and bustle around town?  Are you one that does all of your shopping online?  I really enjoy seeing all of the lights displayed around my town, hearing the Christmas music playing in the shops and discovering new spots of snow that haven't been touched.   

Oh and the food!  Baked goods make me happy.  Cookies, pies, pastries, brownies, cakes, sweet drinks, hot chocolate.  Oh my list could continue on.  One word:  Yum.     

So while your on your way to buy this or that, make sure you notice the beauty that is around you.  It sure is magical.  And if it's not, make it magical!   

Tell me, What are some of your favorite Winter or Christmas activities to take part in?  

Taking a look

The detailing on this antique chair

more specifically, the detailing on the chair back.

Natural wood frames with pressed leaves between 

the glass.  Purposely left behind by the couple 

we purchased our home from.  I love them.


The Mr. and I purchased this wood carving in 
St. Lucia, West Indies 

 Do you ever look around your home, or wherever you choose to spend your time, and see things again, but as if it is for the first time? They have always been there, you simply have not noticed them over the last little while?  Maybe you haven't given them the attention you desire?  Take a look.  You might find that you notice something you didn't realize you had. 

What are you noticing today?        

Tasting:  Dilettante Truffle Cremes, peppermint.  One word.  Yum.    

Smelling:  My Yankee candle scent Red Apple Wreath.  Mmm.  

    Hearing:  The soft hum of the furnace.  Thank you warm house.

Seeing:  the cat walk around, sniffing.  

  

Trimming The Tree

We did it.  We went and got ourselves a Christmas tree.  

For a moment we contemplated going all Clark Griswald and hiking up in to the mountains to chop down our own tree...and then we got real and decided to head over to a local Christmas tree lot.    

It was the first "real" tree for the Mr. and we were super excited to enjoy this opportunity together.  We visited a couple different Christmas tree lots in town and discovered one that looked and felt like it was going to work. I wanted the Mr. to choose, seeing as this was his first real tree.  There were so many to choose from!  So many different shapes and sizes.  They had skinny trees, full trees, short and tall!  We had some ideas in mind.  We had decided that we wanted a tall tree.  Seven to eight feet would be nice.  the most difficult part we found was trying to find a tree that was unique and not generic.  We wanted a full, plump tree.  The gentlemen employee explained the various types of trees they had available and we learned all about the different textures and colors of each tree.  Man was it cold!  Our toes were numb and our noses were red.  We felt like both a snow man and Rudolph the reindeer.  After a few minutes walking through the man made forest of trees, we decided on a plump old chap.

   

What a fun first tree buying adventure we got to have.  Even the cold became fun and provided an opportunity to enjoy some hot chocolate later in the evening.  Of course we wanted to decorate it. So we did.  

  

seeing:  the sun peeking through the clouds.  the snow is melting a bit.     

smelling:  our new red apple wreath scented yankee candle.  Mmm.    

loving:  quietly relaxing and putting together a puzzle.          

What are your tree trimming traditions?  Do you head out in to the wilderness and cut one down yourself?       

         

Snow

We've had a beautiful Autumn out here in Utah.  The warm weather was rich and long lasting.  We enjoyed many days with temperatures in the 50's and 60's.  Just gorgeous!  And then...as it does...

It snowed!  The weather quickly went from 50 degrees to the teens...and then went quickly from the teens to the single digits.  I mean it was cold.  It IS cold.  But I love it!  The snow has made everything so bright.  It makes me smile.  Winter has arrived.    

Do you like the snow?  

Do you have cold or snowy weather in your neck of the woods?     

Seeing:  The cat and Mr. taking a winters nap beside me on the couch.

Craving:  Gingerbread!  Anyone else?  No?

Hearing:  Bing Crosby sing us Christmas songs.

Loving:  The small things.     

A Lazy Weekend Breakfast

This morning we slept in...  I woke up and the house was warm 

with the sound of quiet echoing throughout.  It felt like a lazy

 morning kind of day, that needed to start out with a 

scrumptious breakfast for me and the Mr.  

So I made these...

(recipe adapted from allrecipes.com)

Buttermilk Pancakes  

Mr. topped his with Raspberry syrup, while I 

drenched mine in good old fashioned maple syrup.  

Here is what you will need:

2 cups buttermilk

1/3 cup milk

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tablespoons white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

3 tablespoons

plus 1 3/4 teaspoons 

butter, melted.  

What are some of your favorite lazy morning breakfast meals?  

  

Advent Calendar Time!

Hello Everyone!  Today is the first day of December...Do you know what that means?  Time to start your advent calendar!  

I love counting down the days until Christmas.  Growing up I remember gleefully awaiting each day I got to open each little cardboard door and popping the milk chocolate into my mouth.  Do you remember those fun grocery store calendars.  Yea, I still buy them...    

This year, Mr. came to me with the idea of creating our own advent calendar.  

He had been researching ideas online and we came up with this:  

This Advent Calendar is really easy to make.  We got all of our supplies at a local craft store.  We chose bags we liked, that would fit the gifts or notes that we wanted to put inside, and started assembling.  

Here is what you need to make your own:  

Clothes Pins

Twine

25 bags

(also push pins or nails to hold your string in place.)

There are many different sized and shaped bags available in stores.  Choose  bags that fit your style and decor.  You can make this classic and fun with bright red and green colors, or subdued with rich golds, silvers and browns.  Like it a little rustic?  Natural paper gift bags would look fabulous as well!  Let your kids get in on the fun and let them decorate their own bags.  There are no limits.  It's going to look amazing!  What are you waiting for?  

What is one of your favorite Christmas traditions?    

Hearing:  soft Christmas music filling the house. 

Seeing:  Christmas lights going up all around town.  

 Loving:  Dilettante Truffle Cremes & Miniature Oranges.