Wreath.

I began decorating my front porch for Christmas on Thanksgiving night. The next morning I woke up and realized I didn't have a wreath and the failed wreath experiment from last year was in pieces in the basement. I thought about trying to fix it and use it for this yes but then I went and looked at it, and to the trash it went. Feeling defeated about a failed crafty project I called my mother for some wreath advice and that's how my new wreath came about. It took total maybe and hour to make and I think it's super cute and exactly what I was looking for. Below are the instructions on how to make it.

Please ignore the icky white door, instead pretend it's the pretty apple red it will become in spring 

1. Find some logs at the width you want, mine were around 4-5" in diameter.

2. Cut them into 1-2" pieces.

3. Once you have them all cut lay them out in a circle about 2" apart. Once those are laid out lay out the second layer out on top of them. I used a scrap piece of wood to use a gauge how big I wanted my wreath to be.  Adjust as necessary and make sure you have enough pieces.

4.  Once you have the shape you like start gluing. I used hot glue and wood glue, hot glue because I'm impatient and wood glue because I want it to last. When it's dry turn it over and pound two nails into the back. After you pound the nails in take some wire or string and wrap between the two nails.

3. After you are done gluing time to add the pretties. I used real pine branches, fake berries, alder cones and some ribbon I had around the house.

And you're all done! It's so quick and easy the perfect holiday project!

Lately.

So much is going on right now and needs to be done I don't know where to start. 

Right now we are currently living in a little house attached to Husbands parents and it's fantastic. We have been on the fence about whether or not to move out but we have decided to stay until we are ready to buy our own house. This means it's time to start making this little place our own! I don't want to spend too much money because we won't be here for more than a few years but I do want to make it some place that I feel comfortable in. First step: switching out all of the furniture in the house for ours, which has been in storage. 

I'm really excited to get everything done and can't wait for this to feel like home. Here are some before pictures of what our place looks like. It's really blah and a 90's flashback but that's all about to change. I plan to show little projects that I'm working on plus before and afters and can't wait to see how it turns out. I know the holidays are the absolute perfect time to start this but I just couldn't wait! Here's hoping I finish before we move out. 

 

Twinkle Lights.

I LOVE Christmas lights!!

And by love I mean I would keep them up year round if I could, and put them everywhere. everywhere.

Well tonight I might just have put them all over my shop and I can't wait to do the house and yard next!

Besties.

My bestest friend in the whole world in South Africa right now on the World Race. She left in September and won't be home until August of 2012, and will only be home for a week before she moves across the country to attend Johns Hopkins for her graduate degree. 

I am so super proud of her and she amazes me everyday. Even though we are the same age she is someone I will always look up to, I can't imagine where my life would be without her. 

We aren't just besties we are sisters. 

Love you James, and come home safely. 

If you would like to follow her adventure here is the link to her blog http://jamiesmith.theworldrace.org.