Organizing for Christmas

We are in Christmas mode 'round here!

Hallmark movies are playing, cookies are baking, house is decorated 

{except for the tree ~ hubs is a firefighter, ya know},

and I am trying to channel my organizational self so that I don't forget a thing.

Each year I devote a little purse-sized notebook to everything Christmas.

It contains the draw names for everyone in our family, gift ideas, Christmas card lists, 

and Countdown to Christmas Activities {we plan an outing, activity, or craft each day of December leading up to Christmas}.

But this year  . . .  I found the CUTEST idea:

These adorable Christmas Planners from Eighteen25

I'm not great at following patterns, and I'm a Gemini,

so my attention span is . . . not.

So I used their general idea to decorate the cover,

 and made a planner that would work best for my needs.

I even purchased extra Composition books and scrapbook paper so my girls

could make their own Christmas Notebooks.

{The Scrapbook Paper was on a Black Friday special at JoAnns for 70% off!! Score!}

We've been busily scribbling away all our Christmas ideas, and eagerly counting down!

How do YOU organize?

I need alllll the help I can get!

Also ~ Countdown to Christmas Ideas coming soon!

Four more days, y'all!

DIY Christmas Gifts

Well, November is just zooming on by, isn't it?

But it's not too late to get moving on some DIY Christmas gifts.

One of my favorites is Homemade Vanilla.

Nearly everyone in my family loves to bake, so this gift is a no brainer ~

it's easy to make, fun to package, and greatly appreciated.

And if you make it soon, it'll be ready for gift-giving by Christmas!

I make my vanilla individually, but you *could* make up a big batch in large mason jars, 

and then divide it up into smaller bottles at the end.

I buy my BOTTLES on Amazon

My BEANS on Beanilla

and my VODKA ~ just the cheap-o kind at the liquor store

I slice through the center of each bean, drop a couple in each bottle, 

fill to the top with the Vodka, tie up with pretty ribbon, and set aside for 5 or 6 weeks.

And voila!

Seriously, y'all, they make the greatest gifts!

Make some today, and check some people off your gift list!

More DIY!

 We are in Christmas planning mode around here.
Y'all, it's only one month away!

In preparation for Countdown to Christmas {starting in SIX days!},
I thought I'd make the little girls somethin' festive to wear:

 

These little tees are super easy to make.

You just need a few different fabric patterns, fusible webbing, a shirt, and iron.

 

 

I cut my pieces the size I wanted the tree to be for each shirt,
then attached my fusible webbing.
I can't recall the brand I used, but that's okay, because I wouldn't recommend it anyway.
The brand I USUALLY use, I couldn't find at JoAnn's the last time I was there.
It's easy peasy to use, and it's called "Steam-A-Seam".
Go buy some!

 

 

I set the iron to cotton/steam, and placed it on top of the fabric and shirt for about 30-40 seconds.
 

 

Attach a bow to the top, and voila!
 

 

I also stitched around it because it finishes it off nicely.

Then I found my model:
 

 

 

 Pretty cute, right?

And the whole thing, from start to finish, took less than 30 minutes!

 

 What kinds of crafty have you been up to?

 

  

 

 

A DIY Christmas

It's holiday baking season, y'all.
{And gift-giving season as well, don'tchaknow}.
And if you're anything like me, you LOVE to be in the kitchen.

What I don't love? Spending a small fortune on ingredients.
So *sometimes* I make my own :)

It's super easy-peasy.

You should make some too.
And gift some.
Your friends will love you!
 

 

 

 

 All you need is:

* Vanilla Beans {I use Madagascar from Beanilla }
* Glass Bottles from Amazon
* Vodka
{I use the cheapie kind, and I make Jeremy buy it for me}

Just slice the beans down the middle, throw 'em in the bottle, and fill with Vodka.
You'll want to let them sit for a few weeks, and then give 'em to your bestest besties.
{and keep a few for yourself!}


Talk to me about your favorite homemade gifts!