Pssst- Big News!!!

Ok, maybe this news isn't all that big to you, so I apologize if you clicked under false pretenses. ;)

My news is, after almost 5 years of blogging here, I've decided to pack up and move to a new corner of the internets! I'm so excited about a fresh new space, and hope you will come over and join me there. My new blog address is: www.thetinyteacupblog.com

I'm hoping to be blogging more often, and about new and exciting topics! Please come find me and be my friend? ;)

Resolved

I can't make "resolutions"- something about the word itself just turns me off. Maybe because I know that I will just end up breaking them anyway! But the promise of a "New Year" is so uplifting and bright. It helps me get over the fact that the holidays are done (so sad and depressing) and realize that these new days hold so much promise. 

In my heart, I know what my "resolutions" are, even if I choose to call them by a different name.

I've resolved to be more PRESENT in the every day living, not looking back in regret or looking forward in worry, but looking out in the hope that Christ has given me. I love being a wife and mom so very much. I used to have so many goals and ambitions, but they have taken a back seat to this all-important job I now have. Being present in the moment is so very important as the caretaker of our home!

I've resolved to continue simplifying our lives. We've gotten rid of SO MUCH crap (emotional and physical) this year. Think 10 different trips to Goodwill with carloads of stuff to donate. And way less shopping there to bring home more crap. ;)  

Speaking of less shopping, I've resolved to continue this as well. After Evie was born I went a little crazy with clothes shopping, and it's time to get it under control. I've rebuilt my wardrobe, which was very needed, and now it's time to calm down (and stop looking at Pinterest for "inspiration" which always leads to wanting more!). 

I've resolved to continued letting go of my fears, and stepping out in faith when it comes to my career as a musician. I did that quite a few times this past year (and wow, it was hard!), and God has continued to open doors in my career in singing as I step out. I am SO EXCITED to be learning my first full role for an opera! The opera will be debuting in May, so this Winter/Spring will be full with rehearsals. I can hardly wait.

What about you? Do you make New Year's Resolutions?

The Tree Farm

This year, we used our fake tree again, but that didn't stop us from tagging along with my family to the tree farm! We have a tree farm nearby that we go to every year now, and it really is one of the highlights of the season for me.

It's just so fun to be outside in the fresh air, surrounded by evergreen trees, laughing with the people I love the most. 

The pictures from my phone don't do it justice of course, but I love that they have a cute little "cabin" (which used to be a chicken coop apparently) that they decorate and keep cozy and warm. 

Evie got to ride in a little red wagon. She loved it! 

I totally used this photo for our Christmas card this year! Hello, new phone, I love you. 

Do you cut down a tree, or use a fakey? We're lucky that we kind of get the best of both worlds, but the real trees were $50 a pop this year. Yikes! They seem to get more spendy every year! I love our faux tree, and the fact that it is completely lit with beautiful white lights, and I don't have to cuss my way through detangling several strands of lights. ;)

Merry Christmas Darling!

I truly love decorating for the holidays. I love having Christmas music playing, baking up sweet treats, and making our home look festive. It's far from perfect, but I love it that way! 

This year, our daughter is finally old enough to get excited too. I sing "You better watch out... you better not cry..." and she starts bobbing her head and humming along. The joy that brings is simply indescribable! 

This year, I haven't had a lot of time to dedicate to crafting and creating. Our Christmas gift shopping was kept super simple and inexpensive. But, I did lay in bed the other night and watch "A Princess for Christmas" while my husband snored beside me. It was a perfect moment of peacefulness, and it was simply wonderful. Evie and I baked cookies with my mom and sisters. We all visited the tree farm as a huge, rambunctious family. I think the memories will stay longer than the decorations, and for that I am grateful. 

Merry Christmas, Darlings!

Pinecone Wreath

So- I saw a pinecone wreath last year at the tree farm when we were picking out a Christmas tree. I wanted it so badly, but it was a little spendy (like $60, yipes). I have a really, really hard time buying things that I know I could make. The problem is, it often takes me a year to make them!

I think it worked out ok in this case, I made this cute little wreath just in time for the holiday season! I'm so excited about how it turned out. It was really easy to make, just time consuming. I bought a wreath form from the craft store, and several different sizes of pinecones (on sale!) to make this. I used a hot glue gun to attach the largest pinecones first, then the medium sizes ones, and finally the smallest ones to fit in the leftover spaces. You can't really tell from this picture, but I left the back of the wreath form bare. I think it will be easier to hang it that way, and it would have taken so many more pinecones to fill the whole thing!

My Facebook friends had a preview of this wreath, and we were jokingly discussing how silly it is to buy things that literally grow on trees outside. However, I think buying the pinecones was a good idea for 3 reasons:

1) I was able to buy different sizes to make a more sculptural wreath.
2) I knew that there were no unsavory beings (a.k.a. bugs) living inside them that would consequently be abiding in my home.
3) I'm super lazy and lets be honest, it would take forever to forage that many pinecones.

I'm a little embarrassed to show this close up, because you can see that there are obviously a lot of hot glue strands left over! But did you know that you can blast those away with a blowdryer on high heat? It works like magic! They literally disappear before your eyes.

My baby is napping now, which is why the blowdryer thing didn't happen before I posted these photos. ;)

 I love natural looking wreaths! This one will be useful in a lot of settings (I think I can have it out Fall-Winter easily) and it only cost me $16 to make. Yay for saving moolah! 

Fall Table-Scape

I'm a little late with sharing my Fall-inspired tablescape (isn't that the best word ever?), but it's been so fun to see every day that I just had to share it anyway!

I'm all about simple and cheap decorating, and this was both. The mini pumpkins were less than $5 for all of them, the candle was also less than $5 at Wal-Mart and smells AMAZING, and everything else I already had on hand.

We had a Halloween party at our house this weekend, and this also fit right in with that. So nice and easy!

Speaking of Fall and Halloween- it's been the BEST Fall. We have packed in so much goodness in these short months, and my Autumn-loving heart is happy. We had a get-together for my dad's birthday which culminated in a pumpkin carving party! So fun. 

Evie was a ladybug for Halloween. I had wanted to make her a costume, but then we found this on sale at Jo Anne fabrics and it was just meant to be! 

Then for a Halloween Party at our house, I had fun re-creating the "floating candles" from the Harry Potter movies. These pictures don't do it justice unfortunately, but it was a really fun effect! It took forever to make the candles and hang them from the ceiling, but it was so worth it. If anyone is interested, here's how I did it: bought "faux" lighted tealights (24 pack) from Jo Annes (the batteries are supposed to last 100 hours!), wrapped cardstock around them to create different sized candlesticks, and used hot glue to make "wax drips" on the sides, then hung them from the ceiling using fishing line and white thumbtacks. This is one instance where I was actually thankful for our popcorn ceiling! It hides the tiny thumbtack holes really well. =)

Everyone dressed up for the party, I was so glad! I didn't ask if I could share photos of the other costumes, so I'll just share ours. I was "Little Miss Muffet" and Josh was supposed to be Ron Swanson, but at the last minute he decided to be a Russian soldier. =) Boys. 

How was YOUR Halloween?

My One-Year-Old

I can't believe my sweet baby girl is one year old! She turned one back in September, and it's taken me that long to come to terms with it. =)

I love waking up to her smile and sweet little voice every morning. She doesn't have a huge arsenal of words yet (mostly Mama and Dada), but this girl loves to SING. Go figure. 

She's walking now, albeit still a little wobbly. I love how she walks; like a little sandcrab, scuttling sideways. 

She loves books but only has the patience for them when they are super colorful. Mama's girl. 

Evangeline, you are a gift from God! We are so thankful for you, and love watching you grow and learn.