Handmade for Christmas {For the House}

I hope your holiday weekend was memorable. Mine was just lovely. Good food, family time and beautiful weather! So thankful for all the blessings in my life. Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the reality of Christmas has creeped up on me. My goodness we only have 26 days!? What!!? One of my favorite things about the holidays are the Christmas cards you get in the mail. I especially love the photo cards!! Today at MOPS we made these cute little card holders! So easy and perfect for hanging over a door way or fireplace (instead of taping them to the wall...which is what I always end up doing). Make and Takes has a cute tutorial on it. Here is what it looks like.

Here are a few other great ideas for hanging up cards this holiday season via Martha Stewart.

Giving Thanks

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Halloween Fun

I have to say, I still love dressing up in silly costumes. But even more fun is getting to dress up my little stinker in something fun. He is at an age now where he actually likes dressing up. He loves putting his dad's shirts over top his outfit (usually his arm is through the head hole and the shirt is dragging on the ground) or socks pulled right on up to his hips! I find that even at nearly 2 years old, he already loves to entertain all of us by his crazy sense of style. So this year I decided to wait and see what he was interested in, and based his costume on that. He has been a bit interested in his Daddy's beard. He walks around telling everyone to look at "Liam's beard." So I decided that he would get just that for Halloween! My little man was a lumberjack this year! Still can't believe he stood still long enough to paint on that beard. Check him out!





What did you/your kids dress up as this year?

Handmade gifts are the BEST!

This past holiday weekend was such a busy one! We tried to squeeze as many things as we could into it. One of the fun things on our calendar was my girl friend's son's 2nd Birthday Party! He is such a sweet little boy. Seeing that Liam is only a few months behind him, they get along well! We love getting together for play dates whenever we can. So when we got invited to celebrate his Birthday I knew I needed to make him something special. I found this tutorial over at Noodlehead awhile back and thought it would be perfect! He is at an age that he likes to draw, color and read. With a baby sister at home, it's helpful to be able to tend to her and know that he is staying out of trouble. So making a little backpack filled with quiet activities that he can play with at home or even in the car was the perfect gift!








I lined the bag with cute little critter fabric and placed a pocket on the front for his crayons. Inside the bag I put a small coloring book, box of crayons, a bouncy ball, stickers, and a mini magnadoodle! He loved it! I may need to make Liam one of these! If you would like to make your own, head over to Noodlehead and you will find the tutorial!

Holiday Reflections

I have been super busy lately with TrendyMeg. Feeling so blessed. It was nice to have a little break to visit with friends and family over the Memorial Day weekend. Spent some time camping and then back home for holiday parades and BBQ. Here are some of the highlights.




Dancing/Marching with the band!


My beautiful niece Dakota.


Liam waved a lot that day!


Enjoying his first taste of a lolly pop!


Toddlers are so hard to photograph. One day I will get a good photo of the two of them (looking)...just wait,...someday I will! ::Crossing fingers::

Working on a fun project: "His and Hers" apron set for a future bride and groom! :) Will be posting about it later this week.

Happy Memorial Day!

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Camila on Pinterest

What a beautiful weekend we have been having here in Ohio. Spent some time camping,and visiting with friends, a parade this morning and a BBQ with family. Thankful today for the life God has blessed me with. Thank you to all of the men and woman throughout our nation's history (and those who are there today) who have served to make this country great! Hope you have had a wonderful weekend as well!
Happy Memorial Day!

My Dapper Toddler

I have been meaning to post some photos of Liam in his Easter get up. Unfortunately I bought his outfit months in advance and didn't think to try it on him before hand. He still needs to grow into those shorts. Hope you enjoy these outdoor shots! Yay for warm holidays!

Happy Mothers Day!

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"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
-Elizabeth Stone




I am so blessed to have a mother whom I also call my friend. Thank you mom for all you have done for me. The older I get, the more I realize all the sacrifices you made for all of us. I am privileged to be your daughter. I love you!

I am also blessed to call myself a mother. Liam, you have made my dreams come true. You are forever my sunshine. I love you xx

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!

Kiss Me I'm Irish!

I put out a trap last night and caught myself a wee Leprechaun. It was difficult to keep him still enough for a photo,..but luck was on my side and I snapped one!

May your day be touched
by a bit of Irish luck,
brightened by a song in your heart,
and warmed by the smiles
of the people you love.

Happy Valentine's Day

"Their fingers seemed to fit together in just the right way- effortlessly clasped,like perfect complements."
- Nicolas Sparks

May your Valentine's day be spent with those you love. Happy Valentine's Day!

Count Down to Valentine's Day....

I was told by my dear husband that he has a surprise up his sleeve. Of course he had to let me in on part of the secret (so that I could get a sitter for the occasion) but I only know that I need to dress nice. I love surprises! It got me thinking "what will I wear!?" A dress? Skirt? Cute sweater and black pants? It's been freezing lately (literally below zero). I am hoping it warms up by Monday. ::crossing fingers:: If it was warm out, I may be half tempted to run out and buy this dress from Anthro.I have been sooo into Yellow lately. It would be worth the hour drive (so excited that we will have one 15 mins away this summer!!!)

Wouldn't this look cute with a sweet pair of red heels and a white cardigan, red belt and flower patterned clutch? Seeing that a new outfit is out of my budget at the moment,..I may just buy a cute colorful scarf instead. While browsing through one of my favorite online store (Liberty of London) I came across these amazing videos! Thought I would share one with you. French woman have a knack for wearing scarfs. They can make any outfit look stylish! So excited to try this out this weekend. Enjoy!

Valentine Dreams

photo by



It is no secret, Valentine's Day is my most favorite holiday! There is something to say about sweet red hearts, romance and chocolate. Ooo it's just lovely. There is nothing that screams romance than Paris! I have had the privilege of visiting this city of love a few years ago, and let me say, there is something in the air. The food, music, fashion and people are all so glamourous. At this point of my life travel isn't high on the priority list, although I am looking forward to the day that I can pack a suitcase and head to Europe again. Until then, I will have to go there virtually. Wouldn't a date in Paris France be a dream? Come along with me.....


Click here: Lovely Virtual Paris


This would be a wonderful end to a day in Paris....

Tuesday's Tunes

This Thursday I will be one of millions of Americans (Lord willing) sitting around a table with family and friends, eating turkey and pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. It will be a time of fellowship as we all catch up with each others lives. What a blessing to have some of my extended family visiting from out of town. It hasn't been since my grandpa's funeral that we have been together like this. What a blessing.

In one of our small local communities here in Ohio this month, a family will not be enjoying this blessing. During a rainy evening this past month a young family was driving home, went left of center and with a blink of an eye were taken to heaven. Mom, dad, two year old daughter and an unborn child that was due to be born not a week later. What a horrible tragidy that the family and community are dealing with. Losing all of them at once in such a horrible way. There will be seats empty at their table this holiday season. My heart hurts for them. It's just unimaginable. It's during these moments that I reflect on how fortunate I am to have most of my family together this year. (one of my brothers will be celebrating in Kansas this year) Thankful for all that the Lord has blessed me with this year. So many, that it would take me all day to list them. I know for me personally, I will be hugging my baby a little closer and cherishing my time with my grandma, parents, siblings.......you never know what tomorrow may bring.

During Thanksgiving I challenge you to think about the things which you are thankful for. Sometimes we get so busy with our lives and what needs to be done, that we forget to thank the Lord for his blessings. This song is so approapriate for this Thanksgiving season. I hope it blesses your heart as it does mine. Bing take it away!