A Holiday Break.

Wow has this year gone by fast. I know I’ve been talking about Christmas and the holidays for a while but its here! I feel like I turned my back on the calendar and *poof* like magic Christmas is only five days away! On top of everything I’ve been doing lately, tomorrow night we board a plane headed back to Pittsburgh. I’m really excited to spend time with our friends and family. We left home at the end of August and it’s just been a whirlwind ever since. I don’t know how I’m going to deal with the change of weather! It’s been in the upper 70s to low 80s here in Phoenix and in the ‘Burgh it’s been about 20 degrees, fun.

I’m completely stressing over packing too. Not only do I have to worry about myself but Aurora too! I’m making my husband pack for himself and the dog (sorry hun.) I feel sorry for poor Piston, although he has a really super place to stay, and he gets to be in warmer weather then us. I’ll miss the big goof ball. Who’s going to keep my feet warm while I’m sleeping?

Marc and I are going to "share" one suitcase. Share meaning: I hope theres enough room for Marc's clothes after I'm done.

Piston is helping me pack, or something.

I was really hoping to get a few more blog posts cranked out before we left but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen, soooo much stuff to do! I’m going to try and post maybe once and again while we are away but I think this is going to be a much needed internet break for me. Between online classes and blogging I’m pretty much on the computer all of the time. My wrists have been killing me lately and I think all the typing might have something to do with it! I’ll be back enthusiastically posting again the first week of the New Year. I have so many great things and ideas to share already!

Lola, my lovely SLR camera, will be traveling with us so I can’t wait to share photos of the trip. Hopefully it will be a white Christmas in Pittsburgh and I’ll get to share our winter wonderland!

Have a safe and wonderful Holiday season! See you in the New Year!

I also wanted to share my favorite Christmas song. Yeah, it's Hanson, I can't help myself. It really is a beautiful song.



No matter who you are
How far you've come
This is where you belong
At Christmas.
- Hanson

And as always… Happy snow tire trails…

Adventures in Craftiness: Mini Wreath Ornament

I have been kind of obsessed with ornaments this year for whatever reason. You may have seen my past two Do it yourself darn it! Take One and Take Two and this is my contributions to your holiday DIY festivities. This could be great as last minute hostess gifts or perhaps a craft for the little bit older kiddies to do during holiday gatherings.

Things you’ll need:
*Floral wire
*Wire cutters
*Your favorite adhesive (I like E600)
*Ribbon or Yarn
*Scrapbooking goodies, buttons, stickers, feather or whatever your decorating heart desires.

Cut a length of floral wire to your desired amount. The more wire the thicker it will be. You can free hand the circle you’ll be making for your mini wreath ornament or you can use of cup to guide you.

Next start wrapping your wire around itself until you get reach the end of your cut wire.

When you have wrapped all of your wire cut off any excess that you don’t need and it should look something like this:

Wrap your desired yarn or ribbon around what will be the top of your wreath. Make sure to leave some some length to create a loop for hanging your mini wreath.

Now comes the really fun part! Decorating! If you needed a great way to keep some of the older kids in your life occupied during holiday celebrations you could pre- make the wreath and let them decorate like crazy! I picked out a really great scrapbooking flower and sticker (A for our last name Amelio). I also sewed two buttons together with embroidery floss. Play with your decorations until you get them where you like them and glue them down.

Let dry and TADA! Your very own holiday goodness!

Have fun with your design too. Make it as colorful and unique as you are!

Happy Reindeer Trails!

Holiday Decor

We’ve always tried really hard to decorate for the holidays with a tree and lights and all the little things but this year I’m extra excited about our tree! In honor of living in warmer climate this year we decided to do something a little different with a tree. We want to Ikea and got ourselves a palm tree to decorate! I have to say I love the way it turned out!


Our Tree!

Marc and Piston helped so much with the decorating ^_~

Doggie and Aurora safe ornaments

This is one of my favorite holiday decorations. If I ever own a coffee shop I'd want it to look like this.

I also had to make a new yarn wreath for our front window! If you’d like one of your own check out my tutorial and make one yourself: Adventures in Craftiness: Yarn Wreath.



There’s a lot more I wish we could but up but with a dog who will eat anything in reach and a two year old who is… well a two year old it seems better to leave it simple this year! Here are some items that I’d love to add this holiday:

zime.

3rdlife.

The Cupcake Girls.

ara133photography.

Candy Bandits.

bird from a wire.

I hope everyone else is fun getting ready and enjoy this holiday season! Even here is sunny AZ we're having a blast!

Happy Trails!