Brown Paper Packages

Did you get all your lovely surprises sent off in time? I got all of our packages filled with goodies for our family members far away (IN, FL) to the post office on Monday morning! (Is it just me or does it take just as long to pack up the boxes as it does to make the gifts?!) They are to be delivered by Christmas Eve at the latest! I was so pleased with myself. Handmade gifts did not happen last year and I was so excited to give a handmade holiday this year. The fact that I accomplished just that and ON time? Well, I'm thrilled! Anyone with small children knows that being on time to anything is a struggle. My husband was quite impressed and admitted that he didn't think it was possible. Puh, how could he ever doubt me?! ;)

I dressed up our brown paper packages with little strips of washi tape. Super simple, but it added something special. As simple as it is I thought it was an idea worth sharing. Have a beautiful weekend and a very Merry Christmas! See you in 2013!

Handmade holiday.

I've been working away on gifts! Here's a peek at what I've been up to. Detailed posts to come about my projects after the big day! Hope you're all enjoying the holiday. Looking forward to my daughter's vacation time from school and my husband's vacation time from work! Lots of fun still ahead...and more Christmas gift sewing still to go. Having such fun! Hope you are as well!

25% off Josh & Kate prints!

Do you guys love discount codes? I love a deal, or maybe I'm just cheap. For those of you who love being able to type in a code during your online checkout Josh & Kate has a little gift for you. Now through Dec 21st you can save 25% on your total order in our shop. Here it is, use the code HOLIDAY25 during checkout. Gift a lovely print to a friend, or sister, or parent, or yourself! The Chickadee is quite appropriate for the holidays with it's bright snowy backdrop. The warm colors of the Goldfinch print are great for the season as well. A nice gift for under $15 is always a win. A little self promotion on my own blog is okay, right? Shameless :). If you're interested check out our little shop. Thanks! And Merry Christmas from Josh & Kate!

Christmasing

Hello! It's feeling like Christmas over here. Other than the 50/60 degree weather that is. CO needs some snow! Though I'm not complaining too much. Our walks to and from school are much more pleasant in mild weather.

This weekend our family made our first gingerbread houses! I've been wanting to do this for years, literally. My mom gave me a gingerbread house mold by Pampered Chef years ago and I finally pulled it out and used it. We just have had too many fall babies! I've declared this year as my year though. I'm making Christmas gifts and making a gingerbread house! House, check. Christmas gifts, started...so I'm hopeful. My plan has been to do all the prep work and then have two or three crazy blissful nights of sewing. It'll be a good time :).

Back to the gingerbread houses. Day 1: First step, view a life size gingerbread house at a local Embassy Suites to scout out some inspiration and ideas. Step two, take a little family trip to the store to buy your decorating supplies. Step three, explain to kids that it is now too late to start making and decorating a gingerbread house and that we'll do it tomorrow. Tell them to stop their whining, no they can't have any candy, now go to bed! Step four, frazzled exhausted parents relax on the couch by the light of the Christmas tree :). After a good nights sleep and some good teaching from the pulpit to refresh your mood and perspective it's time to tackle Day 2!

 I started making the gingerbread dough around 12:30 after we ate lunch. The plan was to make two houses, which meant the mold must be filled and baked four times. I finished baking the houses around 3:00, then realized I didn't have any cream of tartar for the royal incing (mortar), nor did I have anything to make for dinner. Back to the store I went, and because of great deals on produce and the practical thought of buying food for a couple more meals while I was there I didn't get back home til close to five. We took a gingerbread break for dinner and then were back at it around 6:30. I tell you I did not expect this to be an all day ordeal! After laying down the rules and reprimanding small quarrels and greedy little fingers we finally put the houses together and then SLOWLY decorated them. Gingerbread house decorating is not a speedy process. Even so the kids did pretty great and their house looks pretty great too! And I don't think they gorged themselves too badly on the trimmings. Everybody got their teeth brushed extra well and were tucked into bed on time. Overall success. I've satisfied the desire to make a gingerbread house for the holidays and I'm confident that desire will be sustained in full until next year, or maybe the year after. Perhaps it's a good every other year tradition :).

This is the kid's house, with help of course. I like the coconut snow.

This is the parent's house with our four little brats, I mean angels. Don't worry, they know they are very much loved.