Countdown til Christmas!

Now that Thanksgiving is finally over, its Christmas time for real, and I can hardly stand it!  I'm a sucker for Christmas countdowns, thanks to Mom!  This one was really fun to put together.

Start by making 24 pockets.  I outlined them in double-sided white bias tape because it curls so nicely around curved edges.

Make a strip of fabric for the binding, and paint up twenty four buttons.  I found these blank wood buttons on eBay for cheap cheap cheap.

Sew button holes in the pockets, then lay everything out on a big quilted rectangle and sew the pockets down around the outer curve.  Add the binding and loops up top.

 We used a basic wood dowel rod: painted it white and drilled holes in the ends to run a string through.

 Then chock it full of candy and treats!

 This turned out really big--about a door's width, so hanging on the back of a door might be a great idea for saving wall space.

Merry Christmas!!

Happy Finally Thanksgiving

 Thank you to Ben (Jason's cousin) & Liz for inviting us to their house in Connecticut for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday!  As usual, Parley got carsick and threw up all over the backseat, but other than that, we had a grand time.

 This year's pie.  I've been using my recipe from my time as a TA for a BYU cooking class every year since.

Liz bought flowers and supplies and let Diana and I make arrangements for the table, and I got to try out our new gold-plated silverware for a review :)

And now, for reals guys, let's bring on Christmas.

Fiver

Happy Anniversary to us!  FIVE years ago, we huddled and shook uncontrollably for hours in the 18-degree cold for pictures.

 

I've decided there is nothing better than having your anniversary around Thanksgiving, when you can count your favorite person as one of your greatest blessings.

We're headed out of town (thanks, Diana!) for a day or two.  This will be the first time we've left the kids for more than 3 hours EVER! 

A little NYC

A few friends and I filled a mini van and spent a day in NYC! 

 We visited the 9/11 Memorial,

took the ferry to Staton Island,

then spent the rest of the day shopping! 

We hit up Canal St. and I think every one of us walked away with a knock-off designer handbag.  

I spent an hour in the fabric district, in all its wonder.  We ended the day at the "Stardust Diner"--a restaurant whose waitstaff consists of Broadway-bound aspiring singer/dancers who perform continuous showtunes throughout the night.  

SO fun, and what talent!  I totally want to come back every time we visit NY.

Fun weekend, ladies!

Thankschalking

I'm trying really hard to give Thanksgiving its fair amount of holiday attention, but this chalk print might only be up for another week or two...

My Photographer Boyfriend

Jason is a fantastic photographer and he has been a sweatheart and a half about taking all these glamour shots for the crazy reviews I do on Dandy.

We're like our own "model and photographer boyfriend" couple.  I love it.

 Ok, I took the picture above.  It took about 15 attempts of setting the timer and running up the steps to pose and balance!  It was 6am and the park policeman was chatting with me the whole time, haha.

 

 

And I think I look 30 yrs old in this picture from yesterday.  Someone at church asked if my husband has ever thought of running for office because I have the perfect 'politician's wife' hair, haha!  100% compliment!

Happy Halloween Y'all

 Yay!  I just LOVE Halloween!

 This year was easy, thanks to being able to do costume reviews for the horse and cow outfit.  Sewed Jason a vest, and used this gingham dress from a county fair singing competition 8 years ago, and we really only had to buy the boys cowboy hats.

 They had a ball trick-or-treating of course!  It took Parley about one house to figure out the system, and he spent the night rotating half-eaten suckers from his bucket to his mouth.

 

Grandpa Lee's belt buckle.

 Getting good pictures is 10x easier with Diana around!  Thanks for going Western with us!