2012 was a jam packed year. It was filled with adventures, triumphs, and destruction. But, overall it was filled with a mass of accomplished projects. I shared some great tutorials with you and these are just a few of the best from 2012!

One of my favorite transformation tools is paint. Whether it be spray paint, craft paint or glazes, the changes can be amazing. These are my favorite paint transformations from 2012: Read more

I have to share something that happened to me on Friday. It’s long so pull up a chair and a cup of peppermint hot cocoa (a yummy recipe from Tauni at SNAP!)

A few weeks ago Pretty Handsome Guy made up some bags for homeless people with our 8 year old for a Y Guides service project. The bags had warm gloves, water, snacks, canned meat, socks, etc. He put two in my car and said we should give them to homeless people we saw. Living in suburbia, I don’t see many homeless—except this one man who I always see at the same time everyday as I drive to pick up my boys from school. He is always walking on the road carrying three large bags (two big army sized duffle bags and a backpack.) You can tell he’s hauling around all his possessions (including a ratty tarp that I saw peaking out of the hole of one bag.) Read more

 

How are y’all holding up in this holiday rush? The boys and I ventured to the mall to see Santa on Friday. The 2.5 hour wait quickly helped us decide to skip the big guy’s lap route and attempt a last minute letter to his greatness. The boys were a bit crestfallen, but I told them that they could see Santa from the fence and wave to him. As luck would have it, a family was just getting off his lap and he happened to look our way. I nudged the boys and told them, “Go ahead and wave.” They snapped out of their shock at seeing the Big Jolly Fella and gave a wave (which of course he returned.) CHECK!

Next order of business was to secure that gift for Handy Boy #2, who decided at the last minute he wanted a Build-a-Bear. As we entered the store and I shooed the kids to the back, I turned around and assessed the 15 person line being attended to by one (count that, ONE!) cashier. Nope…not gonna happen. I quickly got an answer from the employee, who was busy stuffing the innards into the dead lifeless animal skins to make them real for the little girl eagerly clutching the plastic heart for her animal. “Yes, you can buy an e-gift certificate online.” CHECK! We were out of there faster than my boys could say, “Look Mom! I want that…..”

We made it safely out of the parking lot without a scratch or fender bender (a Christmas miracle, I know!)

After we left the insanity of the mall a little something happened to us. I will share it with you tomorrow. Today, it’s all about the laughs. Enjoy this video I made for you! You do open one gift before Christmas morning right? Well, if not, it will be our little secret.

If you can’t see the video, you are probably reading this post in your email. You can view the video directly on YouTube.

Merry Christmas Eve!


I hope you all enjoyed the 10 Days of 15 Minute Gift Ideas. I really wanted to include this gift idea because they are adorable and were well received last year, but they take more than 15 minutes. But, they cost next to nothing to make. So, if you find  yourself with a little extra time (LOL, who am I kidding.) I hope you enjoy making these bottle cap flower magnets, complete with smiling faces of the ones you love. Here’s the tutorial: Read more

It’s the homestretch before Christmas. With less than a week away, those procrastinators amongst us (ahem, me) need to get crackin’.

These were a few of my favorites from the DIY Gift Idea link party.

DIY Instagram Necklace by Mod Podge Rocks

DIY Photo Ornaments by Making Lemonade Blog

DIY Pocket Hand Warmers by Practically Functional

DIY Map Coasters by The Country Chic Cottage

3 Ingredient Lemon Salt Scrub by Eclectically Vintage 

You’re So Hot! DIY Potholder by Flamingo Toes

Christmas Light Canvas by Ask Anna Moseley

DIY Wine Gift Basket by Bonfires and Wine

Chalk Painted Thrift Store Bucket to Gift Basket by Thrift Diving

I hope you have some more inspirations for those last minute gift idea! Good luck.