I saw this this gift idea on Pinterest and thought it was a pretty fantastic, if not a possibly expensive thing to do.
12 pre-planned, pre-paid date nights
would be great for Valentines Day or a wedding gift
So, my mind is on Christmas just a wee bit. Like, I wrote out a list of who I need to shop for and some vague ideas so I can keep my eyes peeled when I’m out and about.
I decided I’m going to do a 12 Days of Christmas thing for my mom and the bf this year. Who the heck doesn’t like getting presents before the big day? These two are TERRIBLE about nagging for early presents so this way, they can have almost 2 weeks of fun little treats.
I think I’m going to have everything in little paper treat bags clothes-pinned to a ribbon, across my mom’s giant mirror in her bedroom and across our mantle.
Nothing major or too heavy for the gifts but still fun. Yesterday, I found those little $1.50 face mask packets by Freeman and got my mom one. That day, she’ll get a facial. Maybe a gift certificate for lunch one day, candy, hot chocolate mix, cute stuff.
This will be fun!
Well, right after I wrote about those yarn trees, I went ahead and carried my butt to Michael’s Crafts on Sunday afternoon and got what I needed. Those cones cost more than I thought they would – about $14 for 3 in different sizes. It’s freakin foam! This is where I get frustrated at DIY projects when you can find a lot of things already made, cheaper than the supplies at the store. I really wanted to do this though and it wasn’t that bad. There’s probably a cheaper source out there somewhere.
Anyhoo… here are the supplies:
3 cones, acrylic yarn, flat top pins, 2 multi-packs of pom poms.
Someone’s ready to get into those pom poms! (Don’t worry… he totally did.)
I was disappointed with the pom pom selection. I had a certain color scheme in mind but I wasn’t paying out the ass for felted wool balls in muted hues. So things turned out more bright and festive. Whatever, they’re cute. They came out kinda kitschy, like stuff my mom made in the 70s, and I’m totally okay with that! Now I need to find some sweet deer figurines to hang with my trees and it’s good to go!
- Start at the widest end with a small knot and pin the yarn every inch or so for the first wrap, so it doesn’t slip off.
- Wrap an even layer of yarn over the entire cone (green cones are great so any small gaps aren’t obvious).
- Then get silly wrapping yarn up and down in zigzags, filling in any gaps you may see in the process.
- I made it back to the top and coiled the yarn on the tip, pinning it as much as I needed.
- Push pins through pom poms (they sink into the fluff and don’t show) and pin them where you want.
- I had some wooded stars and gold paint already, glued toothpicks to the backs and painted them. Stabbed em into the trees! Done!
That paint is awful to get out of brushes so I dabbed it on with q-tips!
You can pick any color scheme and I’m pretty stoked that this only cost about $20 and maybe 2 hours of my time on the sofa to have a cute little mantle decoration I’ll use for years.
So there you have it! One thing marked off my small list for this week AND I did something for Christmas! This heat is frying my brain, you guys.
Summer, I mean.
I don’t know what’s going on but I’ve gotten into a funk. It’s too hot and humid to do anything and not be miserable. I’m uninspired to dress in anything but tees/tanks, rolled up jeans and sandals/sneakers. Don’t get me wrong, I love warm weather waaaay more than freezing weather but sweet baby jesus has this summer been gross or what?
I feel like all I talk about on my blog is nails. Sorry about that. I need some inspiration!
Here are some things I want to do this week:
- Go to my favorite Goodwill. It’s been too long.
- Look at all the Fall 2011 Couture and Resort 2012 shows.
- Go through my collection of DIY ideas and pick at least something to make.
Don’t hate me for thinking about Christmas this early but these look easy enough:
via
There’s no real tutorial but duh! Foam cones in varied shapes wrapped in yarn (will probably pin ends of yarn to secure), multi-pack of pom poms discretely pinned on (forget messy glue) and some gold stars attached w/ toothpicks.
** I actually made them last night! Will share soon!
And a reminder about the 3-year blogiversary:
I have 2 people lined up to add things to the goodies in exchange for free ad space in the month of September. If you’re interested, read this and let me know!
Happy Monday y’all!
Remember how you’d call your best friend on Christmas and tell each other what you got? I still have a few of those calls to make but here’s a sampling of some gifts I received!
The bf knows me so well. He’s had a huge box for me in the hallway for almost a month that’s been getting in my way and driving me crazy. This is what was inside -
This is my pretty pretty princess chair I will sit in to fix my face.
I’m going to get busy crafting again soon.
Yes, that’s exactly what it looks like. I love him. His name is Oscar.
My mom got me clothes, jewelry, undies, circle scarves, etc. I’m super stoked about the pair of Rock & Republic’s Recession line discontinued motocross jeans I found on Overstock for about $30 and the over-the-knee grey wedge boots!
I bought myself a vacuum with some gifted $! I kept asking the bf if there was a vacuum in the big box but he figured I would’ve killed him had he gifted me with household chore supplies. I seriously would’ve done a happy dance but, probably not as wildly as I did when I saw that chair!
What was your favorite gift this Christmas?
Christmas, that is! It’s over! Not to sound like a grinch or anything because I really do love the holiday but, I feel like I’ve been on autopilot for the past week or two – determined to not let things get to me – kinda disconnected. I didn’t get online all of last week, except for email and barely looking at Twitter on my Blackberry. My Google reader had almost 1500 posts (almost done catching up). Now that all the presents have been given and there’s no more pressure to cook, I feel a major weight lifted. The apartment was cleaned up today and I’ll probably take the decorations down some time this week.
Christmas was a major success this year. I’ll do a gift post soon. The bf done good and he and my family were very pleased with what I got them. I hope Santa was good to you!!!
For the past few years, my parents and I have gotten Chinese take-out for Christmas. You have no idea what a relief that is. Yes you do. Isn’t this the most exhausting yet rewarding holiday? After all family obligations were done, we’ve been pretty much curled up, snacking and relaxing.
It snowed on Christmas! The bf and I took a blustery walk around the neighborhood last night. We also got bundled up to get the enormous boxes and trash out of here and took another stroll this afternoon. Here are some pics:
I somehow miss all the good lights.
Here’s a pic of some good lights- stolen from Richmond gal Parasol Party
I peeked into a lot of windows
he always does a demented smile for pictures. ugh.
Here are some more Christmas pics of me, from 1983. I was 4. The one in the curlers… yeah. I was a stunner.
Have a great weekend!
- The bf will indeed be in town for New Years Eve so, I took matters into my own hands and made reservations at Acacia. We’ve wanted to go for so long and they’re doing a 4-course dinner for NYE. It was voted restaurant of the year in March. I. Cannot. Wait. Now, what to wear?!
- This is an oil painting! Click here and here for more! By Korean artist Kwang-ho Lee.
- Super easy and inexpensive Christmas ornament tutorial. My mom and I used to make these when I was a kid and the varieties are endless.
- Okay, this just cracks me up… especially when Oprah starts strutting.
(for you Jen!)
I still want to get pictures of all the lights at night but here are some daytime decorations:
Here I am in 1980, 1.5 years old. Hope your holidays are better than this!
Have a great weekend!
I really wish the bf didn’t peep my blog on occasion because I would love to tell you what I got him. We have the same sense of style for clothes and decor so it’s pretty easy to shop for one another and we kinda spoil each other on Christmas.
So, if money were no object, I’ll show you things I wish I could’ve gotten him!
replica Fight Club jacket
French Bulldog puppy
brand new X-box 360 because I am soooo sick of the problems he keeps having with the 2 he has, and I’ll throw in a PS3 for good measure.
Every color combination of Onitsuka Tigers known to man (I gave him a pair early, since he was having a bad night.)
MX Air mouse by Logitec
a giant mounted bull dolphin, painted white – something we’ve been talking about for a long time
wooden kung fu dummy for our future dojo/craft room/Japanese tea house
some giant squid and whale art (this is by Jesse Millest)
a new Dodge Charger or a ’49 Mercury
a saltwater aquarium – as long as I don’t have to take care of it
The bf would like me to add a hired hit on Kim Jung Il and his family, and free health care for all!
What are you getting the men in your life?
