DIY Table Top Christmas Trees

Miniature Christmas trees just must be one of my favorites. I seem to make some sort every single year. And, most of the time, the little trees are part of my Gingerbread House party decorations. I think there is something so adorable about mini trees with mini houses.

This year, I tried out two different ways of making these little trees. And, I love how it turned out mixing the two styles together.

Gingerbread House Party with free printable invitation

It's our 4th Annual Gingerbread House Party! Oddly enough, decorating gingerbread houses was one of our first family traditions we've started. I decorated gingerbread houses growing up, but it was never a "tradition". I guess it all started back the first year that we moved to Seattle. I was stuck in a tiny apartment, in a strange city, with an 18 month little girl and a husband who was never home (welcome to medical school!).

Miss Millie

We had a birthday this past week! Little Miss Millie picked December 1st to be her birthday, even with all the complaining her parents did about having a December baby. We were really hoping for a November baby. But, now that it is all said and done, December 1st seems to suit Miss Millie perfectly.

And.. we are in love with our little bundle of joy! She sleeps perfectly, she eats perfectly, and she even cries perfectly. Around here, we actually refer to her crying as squeaking, because that's what it sounds like. There has been a lot of adjusting this past week, and we are still not full speed ahead (thank goodness for getting ahead on blog and work!), but we are have a grand ol' time sitting at home and enjoying the newborn sweetness.

I can't believe I am the mom to these three sweet little girls. And, I never would have thought that I would've have spaced #2 and #3 so close together - just barely 20 months apart. But, now that all three sisters are together, it just seems to be the best fit possible. It's amazing how much they love each other.

I have loved this past week, it has been such a great time to stop and celebrate the best things in life - my family. It has also given me time to regroup and refocus my life. I always need those small readjustments ever once in a while.

 But while there are those things that I am going to let go of, and those things I am going to try to do better, one thing I am going to do is always celebrate life! Have a happy weekend!

A DIY picture calendar - it's my go-to gift!

This post was sponsored by Michaels

It use to be that my mom was the hardest person to buy a Christmas gift for. She's a very practical lady, which makes a frivolous anthropology purchase just not on the list. It was something I struggled with for years. I always try very hard to make my gifts meaningful in the least. I don't like to just give a gift because that's what you do, I like to give it because the recipient means something to me. I am a gift giver and receiver at heart. I love everything there is to do with gifts.

So, imagine my delight when, one year, unbeknownst to me at the time, I stumbled upon the perfect gift to give my dear mother - a picture calendar. I finally caught on to just how brilliant my gift was when it was brought up in just about every phone conversation I had with my mother that year. I figured I had struck gold and wouldn't stop there. Since then (about 6 years ago) I have been making some sort of picture calendar every year.

Free Printable Holiday Gift Labels - perfect for all those neighbor gifts!

This post was sponsored by Avery.

Every year my family gathers together and puts together little handmade treats to pass out to our good neighbors and friends. It's always a fun day busily baking while chatting with my sisters and mom. While we usually make homemade chocolates and candies, sometimes we also put in the occasional baked breads, candy popcorn, and cookies.

But, after all of that baking and test tasting, we are usually too worn out at the end of the day to want to think about cute packaging. So, I decided to think about it a head of time this year and come up with some fabulous printable labels that are easier to dress up a paper bag than it should be.

DIY Red Balloon Cupcake Topper

This party was sponsored by Fabuloos Dreams

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Ours was splendid and relaxing.  But, I did want to stop in and share just a few more ideas to go along with our Red Balloon Adventure party! 

Now, of course I was going to make cute little balloon cupcake toppers. How could I not? This party is all about red balloons! But, to add a little element of surprise, make these cute diy mini balloon cupcake toppers not only decoration, but a great placesetting too.

DIY Polka Dot Backdrop - for less than $3

This party was sponsored by Fabuloos Dreams

I know it's been said before, but seriously people, every good party needs a photobooth. It is just that much fun! Even kids love hammin' in up in front of a camera. But, I do understand the need to keep costs down. It's hard to make a cute backdrop, and even harder to make it cheap and look great.

Well, I've got the answer here - a polka dot backdrop for less than $3 total.

Isn't my daughter the best? She gets tired of modeling for me sometimes, so I think she was delighted when I told her to give me her best funny faces. Ah.. she's the best!

To make your own DIY polka dot backdrop for less than $3, you will need:

2 white posterboards ($1 total)

Tissue paper ($1.50 for the color package)

2 inch circle punch (already had)

Elmers glue (already had)

Paint brush (already had)

Tape (already had)

1: Tape the poster boards together and hang up on the wall. 2: Punch a bunch of circles out of the tissue paper with the 2 inch circle punch. 3: Hold one of the 2 inch circles up on your posterboard and brush glue over the top of the circle. 4: Add more dots. 5: And more dots. 6: Keep on adding dots until your backdrop is complete!