The Eco Friendly Nestie Ornament Exchange

We Nesties had an EF ornament exchange for Christmas this year. Using Elfster.com, we were matched up with another Nestie, and the directions were for the ornaments to be homemade. This has to be one of the most fun echanges I've ever done!

Nestie Johan sent me these:

The snowflake was quilled by a local artisan. It's very pretty!

She made the cranes herself, using paper from her wedding. How special is that?!

I made the next 2 ornaments for Em&B:

I made this beaded ornament using seedbeads and wire from some wired ribbon.

I made these iceskates using felt, stuffed with poly fill, and paper clips for the blades.

I can't wait for next year's exchange!

The Amazing Blessings of Friends

Back, just before Thanksgiving, a friend and her family went to India. And landed at the air port in Mumbai-the day of the terrorist attacks.

What was so frightening to all of her friends here in the states (we had no clue if she or her family were safe!), must have been multiplied by a billion and then some, for herself and her husband. The relief when she finally was online and letting us know that she, her husband, and their 2 small children were okay, was overwelming.

They are safely home again, in the United States, and I'm sure traveling very soon is far from her mind. For a long long time.

Despite being faced with terrorism, she took the time to get gifts for friends. Which is aw-inspiring to me! Today, I found a box in the mail from her. Inside were metal Indian bracelets for Korra, and glass bangles for myself. They are, without a doubt, beautiful! I feel so blessed to have her as a friend!

Work It, Work It, Baby!

Saxton is a model! Well sorta. He's is going to be published on http://artsyfartsyfoofoo.com/12.html ! The website is owned by the VERY talented and incredibly sweet, Glad2bMrsSRS (hey-I don't have permission for her real name at the moment!) She has made 3 of Saxton's diapers and one wool soaker in the KCK pattern. She a doll to be long distance BFF's with, as well as a doll to work with! She does custom diapers, and her etsy store is http://www.artsyfartsyfoofoo.etsy.com/ . Want an AMAZING diaper??? Convo her!

I'm totally digging retro cowboy diapers. Dunno why, other than hey, I grew up in Oklahoma?

Xavian's Christmas Concert

Here's grades 1-3 at the Elementary school

The children sang several songs, including 3 ships came a sailing, Lights A-Glow (a Hanaka song), artic puppy, and several oldies but goodies.

I have to include the folling picture where he decided to pose, lol!

New Blog!

I am an official member of the Eco Friendly Nesties Team on Etsy, and as a member, I can now contribute to the blog!

Wonder what the Eco Friendly Nesties Team has on Etsy? Just searchEtsy for team econest, and see what goodies pop up!

Sugar Cookies!

Today, we decorated sugar cookies!


I iced, while J, Xavian and Korra covered them in sprinkles



Coating cookies in candy is a LOT of work!




But, totally worth it once you end up with treats like this:




And this:



And these!



Even Saxton decorated a cookie!

And then he tasted his sugery confection. He liked!

Saxton enjoying a cookie without icing because mommy worries about 7 month olds with sugar highs

New Hair!

I decided it was time for a fresh cut, so I went to the salon, and had 6" cut off! Not only 6 inches gone, but I also had the layers done differently!

Here's some before shots of my hair:

And a single after shot:

Okay, I just noticed the pictures don't seem any different, but, I swear that it's a lot different!!!

Breakfast with Santa

We went to Breakfast with Santa this morning. I goofed, and we were 30 minutes late, but everyone still had a blast! Here's some pictures from while we were waiting for our turn to talk to Santa.

J & Korra



J & Saxton



Xavian and I



Here's my 3 babies all together with Santa:



Xavian's wish list was short and sweet, but also included gifts for Alco (our puppy) & Chessie Cat.

A very animated Korra asked for one thing. Santa seemed quite taken with her!

Santa was a great curiosity to Saxton. No beard pulling, but he certainly kept his eye on the man in the red suit!

Santa then asked J & I what we wanted. That one was easy! Toy trains and Stitch n Bitch, duh!

Santa agreed that he too has a fondness for toy trains...

My Re-Done Dining Room!

I promised, so here it is!

Here is some "before" pictures:

Here's during wallpaper removal:

And, of course, after! (Christmas decor is not up year around, sorry) It's not completely done-I still have to find some artwork for the empty wall space, but it definately works for now!

I have to admit- everytime I remodel/redecorate a room, it becomes my new favorite room to be in, lol! Maybe I should really think about getting going on the master suite...

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I think the blog flatlined for a moment there. What can I say? It's the holidays, and I have been go go going!

So much to do before the man in the big red suit stops by!

Parties for hosting: 1 down, 2 to go (one tonight, the other is Korra's birthday party)

Marshmellows for roasting: I made a s'more in the microwave, does that count?

Caroling out in the snow: it's on the list to do

Scary ghost stories: I have one, it's about our 1st floor furnace

Tales of the glories of Christmases long long ago: well, not so long ago (hey! I'm not yet 30-there is no long long ago) but there has been some reminensing

The weather has altered between cold and miserable lately. Yesterday we were all frozen solid. Today it's supposed to rain and then refreeze tomarrow. Nutty weather!

J hasn't had a quiet night at work in a week. Murders, armed robbery, assults, crashes, and more. He comes home stressed out. I don't know how he does that night after night. Ugh.

Our house is (mostly) decorated. We have another HUGE tree in the living room. J. made the comment last year that the tree on top of the car looked like something out of Whoville. HaHa, sweetie! This year, one of the tie straps slipped and the tree blew out of the bed of the truck! Wonderfully, you cannot tell it bounced down the hilly highway.

I finished painting the diningroom, and have made and hung all 4 drapes! I'll try to take some good pics soon and post them.

In Saxton news, he now places one hand on the wall and pops! into a standing position. Oy. Free standing isn't too far away. He's also fiending on food like a starving man. He ate 2/3 of a banana for breakfast!

Here's some pics to make of for my lazy posting:

Xavian has been advoiding the camera. I really should hunt him down and pull a paparatzi-mom moment.