live what you love.

cozy & crafty.

What a perfectly cold, cozy, crafty weekend we had. We got the outside of our house decorated and even got some snow! Real live snow. I woke up on Saturday morning & saw it when I looked out the front window. Parker was sleeping on a chair (where he fell asleep the night before, watching a movie), heard me, and popped right up. Then before I knew it he was dragging Mary-Kate out, bedhead and all. At 6 a.m. on a Saturday. But I didn't mind because I was almost as excited as they were - snow changes all the rules.

 

I was even giddy about going to school on Saturday - because it was my LAST DAY! I really cannot convey to you how good it feels. I didn't care what grade I got, what comments my professors had (we don't take any tests or exams in this program; just do lots and lots of projects and had to turn in a final portfolio in each class), I just wanted out. But it turns out I got three A's anyway - holla!! :) We only have a month off before we start the same schedule again with the same teachers, same times, same classmates (really do love that) and I am going to be relishing every free second I have. Below is my final math manipulative project - we had to come in and set up on Tuesday and wait for our professor to come by and grill us about what we had, how we'd use it, etc. I thought I would pass out before he got to me.

  
The kids can't understand all of the "fun" things I've had to make and buy this semester. "But... those are... wait..." :) And ohhh kids, it will only get worse once I have my own classroom. :) Over the weekend we colored and colored in my new coolest coloring book ever (and yes I said MY book; it killed me to have to share), and Mary-Kate and I made some of the cutest felt ornaments you ever did see. They were so easy and fun - I love felt! No hemming = the perfect sewing project. I found the pattern for the peppermint candy ornament here (and I would love to make enough of those in different colors to do a whole tree of them!) and the others here. No, they're not perfect; you can't look at them too closely - but isn't that what homemade ornaments are all about?

     

Their surprise in today's advent was a box of the most adorable foam gingerbread boys & girls. I had thought it was so perfect because it had a boy and a girl; turns out it had five of each. So Parker & I both did a couple and then MK went to town on the rest. Watching her enjoy things like this as much as I do... nothing in this world could make me happier! And yes, she was wearing a winter hat inside. A hat she wore when she was one year old, no less. Someone had to take over with the crazy get-ups once the Mormons moved back to Utah. ;)

    

 

  

 
I had lots of big plans with things that I wanted to make to sell in my little shop, but it's just not happening this year. Just like my dreams of having all of our presents under the tree wrapped in the same gorgeous way... it's just not happening. I don't think we're even going to have any wrapped gifts under the tree this year... and oh how I love wrapping paper and ribbons and tags! I've never been able to follow through with the "one gorgeous paper" thing because I can't ever commit to any one paper! I do have orders for dresses and necklaces piling up, mostly for strangers - which makes me a nervous wreck - so I better get on it. Now all that time I've spent stressing & crying & hating life over the last four months can be used in December for good and not evil. :)

in the spirit.

I am officially in the spirit. I got my first photo into my December Daily album and ohhh it made me feel so good to get something done. It felt good to play with paper and ribbons and stickers again. Eve is seriously so good at putting things together; without her kit I never would've gotten this done. Ali has such good information that I've been devouring, and Liz Kartchner, whose style I LOVE, is also working with an evalicious journal so I've been using her for inspiration!

I've been looking at Christmas Cookie ideas, and am freaking out, ready to get busy in the kitchen. Look at these - omg! They put mine to shame. How about these sweet ones, with the most perfect piping ever? And look at the detail - I've never thought about using fondant on sugar cookies but wowowow! How about this whole post? Her cookies are SO gorgeous.

All of these are reeeally making me want to try some new things, like this smooth royal icing and these silver balls - I never buy those but love how they look. Just gorgeous. I think I need to change up where I'm shopping... Target doesn't have quite the same selection. My sugar cookie recipe take a while to make, then has to be in the fridge overnight, then making the buttercream icing is a pain... but oh it's all worth it! You just have to make them from scratch. Nothing else will do. And I'm DYING for one now.

I've got to go out today for some more goodies for the advent box. Parker woke me up waaay before my alarm was set to go off, poking me and saying in a stage whisper, "Can I open up today's drawer??" When I told him he was welcome to but I hadn't put anything in it yet, he huffed off & went back to bed! So I've gotta get on it. I love what Melanie is doing, opening up a new book everyday. SUCH a good idea. I may have to get some special Christmas books & put a little coupon in the drawer. I got a pass to a Scholastic Books warehouse sale that starts next week and am hoping to find lots of goodies there.

I have about 6 hours to find a pair of black pants, a white shirt, and shoes that Parker can wear in his Christmas program tonight. It's the third year in a row that he's needed this outfit for the program, and I always wait til the last minute to get it all. Come on Target, don't let me down! I love the Christmas program. I haven't heard them practice this year but have caught him singing a few songs at home and his favorite is one called "Shaggy Smelly Sheep." Sure to be a good time tonight. :)

23 days.

December, really?! 23 days til Christmas?! I cannot accept that. Yesterday I finally got to set out this advent calendar that I bought after Christmas last year and I thought the kids were going to explode! It's amazing how happy a little piece of candy can make them. The boxes are tinier than I thought... so some of the things that I bought aren't quite going to fit! The suspense of each day's box is killing the kids and I so remember that feeling from the ones that we had every year when I was little. Such good memories with those. So many new things you can do now. How cute are these?? I wouldn't mind finding a treat in those everyday. Or oh mercy. These look like the ones that I make. The more sugar sprinkles, the better. Mmmm. 

I spend every day walking by the tree and straightening something on it. Have I mentioned that we have a crazy kitten who believes we put it up just for her enjoyment?? She climbs up the inside of it, smacks the ornaments, pulls down the ribbon... killing me. We found a tip online to put a few pennies in a Coke can, tape it up, and shake it. Well, it works. One shake and she's gone in a blur of fur! I'll definitely have to include a photo of her in the tree in my December Daily album. As much as I hate it, it is hilarious and will definitely be part of what I remember most about this year! Hopefully next year she'll be old & lazy like Miss Puddy and only be interested in curling up under it.

Speaking of December Daily, we're on day 2 and so far I'm following along nicely. Two whole days! :) I love this little album and all of the embellishments SO much. I've got to get it done this year. I did take photos every day last year during December but never did anything with them. Big ideas but no follow through. That's me! Heather has an awesome list on her blog of things I definitely want to do this month. I would be satisfied if we could just do one, though - watch it snow. Will we ever see snow again?! My kids saw a couple of flakes last year but not enough to do anything fun. I would love nothing more than to be snow-covered til March.

I ordered the first Christmas gift over the weekend... an American Girl for you-know-who from Santa. That has been her consistent request for months (since we visited the store in Chicago!) so I hope she loves it. The price makes me a little nauseous. I've got to make a little dress to match this Christmas one that I made for MK. Finally finished it last week and she was a very unwilling model, hence the crop. :) This year, we're going through with our "5 gifts from Santa" plan. It just gets so out of control every year and the kids need not one thing, much less the 30 they usually get. So they've come up with their five favorites and can focus on those Christmas morning instead of tearing through the others & having no clue what they got or what to play with first.

I don't think we're buying any adults gifts this year. Because of financial reasons but also because we've all agreed that being together & having fun & enjoying our time is the most important and best gift of all. My grandmother still asks me what I want every time I talk to her, looking for a real list like I had 20 years ago! And I just don't want a thing. (Okay, want... maybe. But need... no.) We're going to pick out our Angel Tree gifts today. Nothing is more fun or feels better than that. I wish I had an endless supply of funds to buy for each and every one of them. Parker's class is doing something similar this year; bringing in gifts for another second grader's dad who's in Iraq instead of buying goofy and pointless $5 gifts for each other. Giving really is so much better than receiving!

sign of the season.

No time for much, just wanted to post & say hello. Tonight is my final day for my Tuesday night classes. Turning in my final projects and saying a Hallelujah as I walk out those doors. Saturday is my last last day, and then I'll really be celebrating.

Got this layout done over the weekend, using these light wood frames by Jen Martakis and these cute Sweater Weather papers by Betsy Tuma. Worked so perfectly with the photo of my sweet family.

 

Our Thanksgiving was nice and relaxing - we went to Biltmore Estate and it was the perfect day for it. The day before, MK danced at the Fantasy of Trees and I'll leave this video for you so you can share in the ridiculous cuteness.

santa baby from Raven Edwards on Vimeo.

pampered.

I have a friend from high school (this is her adorable little boy) who just became a Pampered Chef consultant... I needed to order some things before the holidays and figured I should just have a catalog party so my baking/cooking friends could order, too! :) I am not a salesperson... repeat, NOT a salesperson. I had a job in radio sales for exactly one month after college before my boss had pity on me and let me quit with three months' severance because I was so terrible at it. I honestly just love these products and haven't found any that I like better. My pots and pans are Le Creuset, and they are the best. I love having pots that I can put on the stove or in the oven. Simple = good.

But anyway, I wanted to share my favorite PC products with you because honestly they are little lifesavers and the prices are next to nothing.

Can Strainer - seriously, such a helpful little tool - and it's under five bucks! After you've stuck the can lid down into the peaches or tuna or whatever canned good you're trying to drain fifty million times, you really appreciate never having to do it again!

Jar Opener - I have not struggled with one spaghetti sauce jar in over a year. It's the little things that make life easier. And this one is very good at it.

I have a thing for mixing bowls. Love that it's glass, love the handle, love that it has a lid. Love it.

I pull out this serving spatula for everything. The edges are almost like a knife so I can cut out a piece of cake or pie in a snap and then put it on the plate. Same thing for this little one - it's perfect for cookies & brownies.

I've had this Measure-All Cup for years. One side measures liquid, the other side does solids. And with the solids you can just push them right out & you get every last bit - you know what it's like when you have to scrape out crisco from a regular measuring cup!

This has to be one of my top-three favorite products ever. The small mix-n-scraper. I have the medium & I have the large, but I have several of the small ones and they just rock my world. They will not burn, no matter how hard you try. :) I can leave it in a pan of ground beef and come back and it's not even warm. LOVE that. They stir, they scrape, they're just awesome.

This is a fun one. I've had tons of ice cream scoops over the years, but when I saw a consultant at a party grab this one, hold it to an ice cube, and watched the ice melt right there... well I was sold. It's just too cool. And always, always does exactly what it's supposed to.

Another favorite (I keep saying that, don't I...) is this scoop. I have the medium and love it when I'm making muffins - it's the quickest & easiest way to get the batter from the bowl to the pan. But the small works just perfectly for cookie dough. Couldn't be any easier.

Everybody needs a cooling rack, and this one is awesome. That's all there is to it. Folds up flat and cookies cool in no time.

And then there's the stoneware. I haven't used a metal cookie sheet in years and you couldn't pay me to do so now. If you've never tried a PC stone (and yes, they are different and OH so much better than any other brand) I beg you to do it one time! You'll never be the same. :) I make my pumpkin bread in these, pizzas on this, cookies on this, and casseroles in this. A little obsessive maybe, but once you try it you'll be shouting AMEN! 

If you want to order a little something for yourself or make somebody's Christmas really happy, you can order through my show here until December 5th. Doesn't matter where you live - they'll be shipped to you & on your doorstep within a week after that. And now I'm feeling the urge to go bake something really yummy... tis the season.