Christmas Advent Calendar

Advent calendars can be fun to make if you have the time to do it. It will also brighten up your home if you use it as decor. As well as helping you count down the days until its time for the big celebration. You don't have to spend alot of money to make these as you can buy the little boxes at dollar tree. You can also use other items to add the numbers to your calendar not just what I have here. This calendar would still look awesome with the numbers painted on, stickers, bead numbers, etc.

DIY Mens Apron

  Every year I have the hardest time coming up with gifts for guys. My husband and Dad are so hard to shop for. They never tell me what they want and I always have the hardest time coming up with something.

To get started you’ll need an apron… I found this one at Jo-Ann’s!

Then I pulled out my Silhouette and cut out “CAUTION: EXTREMELY HOT” with heat transfer. If you will be doing this with your Silhouette make sure to mirror your image horizontally before cutting.

If you don’t have a Silhouette you can easily use  freezer paper or stencils for this as well. They sell packs of stencil letters at most craft stores. Just lay the letters down and brush over them with fabric paint.

Once I printed out my heat transfer I stuck it on the apron and ironed it on. Make sure to put a piece of fabric over the applique before ironing so it doesn’t melt. With the Silhouette heat transfer you’ll have to hold it for about 45 seconds. Just peel up a little edge to make sure it has stuck. Once the heat transfer has fully adhered you can peel away the top layer.

That’s all! Simple as that! Such an easy gift, and perfect if your husband loves to grill! 

DIY Tea Cup Candles

 These candles will be perfect for mothers or mother-in-laws as well as aunts, cousins and sisters!

MATERIALS:

• Nested pans
• Partially burned candles
• Candy or candle thermometer
• Tongs
• New wicking
• Teacups
• Wick sustainers
• Wooden skewers
• 
  

STEPS:

1. In a small pan set over a larger pan of simmering water, melt down old candles; clip the thermometer to the upper pot, and keep temperature at about 185 degrees. Remove old wicks with tongs.
2. Cut a piece of wicking to the cup's height plus 2 inches. Clamp one end to a wick sustainer; tie the other end around a skewer. Dip wicking and sustainer into melted wax to coat them. Remove and stick sustainer to cup's bottom.
3. Pour in the wax, stopping 1/2 inch below the cup's rim. Allow wax to set, about 1 hour. The candle will harden with a well in the center. To even it out, use another skewer to prick a circle of holes about 1/16 inch deep around the wick. Pour in melted wax until surface is 1/4 inch below rim. Cut wick.

DIY Dollar Tree Centerpiece

 Need a festive Christmas centerpiece?! 

No one will be able to tell this little tabletop tree is actually from Dollar Tree after this easy makeover! Use faux snow and a few holiday floral embellishments, also found at the dollar store, to dress up this inexpensive $1 Christmas tree into a pretty centerpiece to be proud of.

Supplies Needed:

• 18 inch tabletop Christmas tree (Found in-store at Dollar Tree for ONLY $1!)
• artificial snow spray
• faux berries, small pine cones, and any other floral embellishments (Dollar Tree)
• Christmas bow for topper (Dollar Tree)
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• floral foam (Dollar Tree)
• 7 inch planter, or some type of basket, box, or container

Directions:

1. ) Take tree out of box and separate each branch. Instead of setting up the stand I used a piece of floral form to support it.

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2.) Spray faux snow all over each tree branch, and let dry. (I found my can at Walmart for $1.50).

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3.) Cut faux berries into smaller bundles and hot glue them to tree branches. Glue any additional embellishments. Try to make them evenly spaced throughout the tree.

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4.) Place tree in a flower pot, basket, decorative box, bowl, or any other desired container. (I had these pots leftover from plants on my patio this summer. Look around the house for something to use!)

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I’m passionate about decorating for Christmas without spending a ton of money, and these trees can be transformed into boutique looking decor with just a few easy supplies! I love how mine have kind of a farmhouse look to fit in with my house. You can customize them with any colors you’d like!

Easy Last Minute Christmas Decor

 Holiday Decor!!!!!!!

because my holiday season has gone by in a FLASH. i've had to try to incorporate some last minute holiday decor around the house...with things i have.

case and point this center piece was made of all thrift-ed finds of the past.
i've used this glass candle holder cupcake stands before. so i thought why not a bowl?
placing the bowl on top creates a cute holder of things

                                    like leftover christmas ornaments.

DIY Glitter Lip Gloss

 Whose lips couldn’t use a little more shimmer?! This winter surprise the young girls in the family with this DIY glitter lip balm!

Supplies:

• Coconut oil
• Beeswax
• Essential oil (peppermint and lavender are my favorites!)
• Edible luster dust/edible glitter
• Cosmetic container

Step 1: Combine about 3 tbsp coconut oil and 1 tbsp beeswax in a small bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments until completely melted. Let cool 5 minutes.

Step 2: Mix in several drops of the essential oils of your choice.

Step 3: Add in about 1 tsp luster dust or more to reach your desired color and shine.

Step 4: Allow the glitter to settle in the mixture before dividing it into small cosmetic containers. Allow the glitter lip gloss to set before using.

Kids Christmas Poems

 

I Like to See Christmas

Author Unknown

I like to see the stockings
I like to see the gifts
I like to see the bells
I like to see the tree
And I like to see Santa
Looking at me!     

Little Pine Tree

Author Unknown

I’m a little pine tree
As you can see,
All the other pine trees
Are bigger than me.
Maybe when I grow up
Then I’ll be
A great big merry Christmas tree!

A Christmas Angel

By Denise Burke

Oh, I wish I was an angel on the tree
Oh, I wish I was an angel on the tree
I’d give every girl and boy
Lots of Christmas peace and joy
Oh, I wish I was an angel on the tree

Five Little Reindeer

Author Unknown

Five little reindeer playing in the snow
The first one said, “Can you see my nose glow?”
The second one said, “Listen to me sing!”
The third one said, “I can hear the bells ring.”
The fourth one said, “Let’s eat the pie!”
The fifth one said, “I’m ready to fly.”
Then clomp went their hooves
And the snow fell white
As the five little reindeer flew out of sight.

Kids Christmas Story

 

THE SNOWMAN 
SHORT STORY

"It is so delightfully cold," said the Snow Man, "that it makes my whole body crackle. This is just the kind of wind to blow life into one. How that great red thing up there is staring at me!" He meant the sun, who was just setting. "It shall not make me wink. I shall manage to keep the pieces."

He had two triangular pieces of tile in his head, instead of eyes; his mouth was made of an old broken rake, and was, of course, furnished with teeth. He had been brought into existence amidst the joyous shouts of boys, the jingling of sleigh-bells, and the slashing of whips. The sun went down, and the full moon rose, large, round, and clear, shining in the deep blue.

"There it comes again, from the other side," said the Snow Man, who supposed the sun was showing himself once more. "Ah, I have cured him of staring, though; now he may hang up there, and shine, that I may see myself. If I only knew how to manage to move away from this place,—I should so like to move. If I could, I would slide along yonder on the ice, as I have seen the boys do; but I don't understand how; I don't even know how to run."

"Away, away," barked the old yard-dog. He was quite hoarse, and could not pronounce "Bow wow" properly. He had once been an indoor dog, and lay by the fire, and he had been hoarse ever since. "The sun will make you run some day. I saw him, last winter, make your predecessor run, and his predecessor before him. Away, away, they all have to go."

"I don't understand you, comrade," said the Snow Man. "Is that thing up yonder to teach me to run? I saw it running itself a little while ago, and now it has come creeping up from the other side.

"You know nothing at all," replied the yard-dog; "but then, you've only lately been patched up. What you see yonder is the moon, and the one before it was the sun. It will come again to-morrow, and most likely teach you to run down into the ditch by the well; for I think the weather is going to change. I can feel such pricks and stabs in my left leg; I am sure there is going to be a change."

"I don't understand him," said the Snow Man to himself; "but I have a feeling that he is talking of something very disagreeable. The one who stared so just now, and whom he calls the sun, is not my friend; I can feel that too."

"Away, away," barked the yard-dog, and then he turned round three times, and crept into his kennel to sleep.

There was really a change in the weather. Towards morning, a thick fog covered the whole country round, and a keen wind arose, so that the cold seemed to freeze one's bones; but when the sun rose, the sight was splendid. Trees and bushes were covered with hoar frost, and looked like a forest of white coral; while on every twig glittered frozen dew-drops. The many delicate forms concealed in summer by luxuriant foliage, were now clearly defined, and looked like glittering lace-work. From every twig glistened a white radiance. The birch, waving in the wind, looked full of life, like trees in summer; and its appearance was wondrously beautiful. And where the sun shone, how everything glittered and sparkled, as if diamond dust had been strewn about; while the snowy carpet of the earth appeared as if covered with diamonds, from which countless lights gleamed, whiter than even the snow itself.

"This is really beautiful," said a young girl, who had come into the garden with a young man; and they both stood still near the Snow Man, and contemplated the glittering scene. "Summer cannot show a more beautiful sight," she exclaimed, while her eyes sparkled.

"And we can't have such a fellow as this in the summer time," replied the young man, pointing to the Snow Man; "he is capital."

The girl laughed, and nodded at the Snow Man, and then tripped away over the snow with her friend. The snow creaked and crackled beneath her feet, as if she had been treading on starch.

"Who are these two?" asked the Snow Man of the yard-dog. "You have been here longer than I have; do you know them?"

"Of course I know them," replied the yard-dog; "she has stroked my back many times, and he has given me a bone of meat. I never bite those two."

"But what are they?" asked the Snow Man.

"They are lovers," he replied; "they will go and live in the same kennel by-and-by, and gnaw at the same bone. Away, away!"

"Are they the same kind of beings as you and I?" asked the Snow Man.

"Well, they belong to the same master," retorted the yard-dog. "Certainly people who were only born yesterday know very little. I can see that in you. I have age and experience. I know every one here in the house, and I know there was once a time when I did not lie out here in the cold, fastened to a chain. Away, away!"

"The cold is delightful," said the Snow Man; "but do tell me tell me; only you must not clank your chain so; for it jars all through me when you do that."

"Away, away!" barked the yard-dog; "I'll tell you; they said I was a pretty little fellow once; then I used to lie in a velvet-covered chair, up at the master's house, and sit in the mistress's lap. They used to kiss my nose, and wipe my paws with an embroidered handkerchief, and I was called 'Ami, dear Ami, sweet Ami.' But after a while I grew too big for them, and they sent me away to the housekeeper's room; so I came to live on the lower story. You can look into the room from where you stand, and see where I was master once; for I was indeed master to the housekeeper. It was certainly a smaller room than those up stairs; but I was more comfortable; for I was not being continually taken hold of and pulled about by the children as I had been. I received quite as good food, or even better. I had my own cushion, and there was a stove—it is the finest thing in the world at this season of the year. I used to go under the stove, and lie down quite beneath it. Ah, I still dream of that stove. Away, away!"

"Does a stove look beautiful?" asked the Snow Man, "is it at all like me?"

"It is just the reverse of you," said the dog; "it's as black as a crow, and has a long neck and a brass knob; it eats firewood, so that fire spurts out of its mouth. We should keep on one side, or under it, to be comfortable. You can see it through the window, from where you stand."

Then the Snow Man looked, and saw a bright polished thing with a brazen knob, and fire gleaming from the lower part of it. The Snow Man felt quite a strange sensation come over him; it was very odd, he knew not what it meant, and he could not account for it. But there are people who are not men of snow, who understand what it is. "'And why did you leave her?" asked the Snow Man, for it seemed to him that the stove must be of the female sex. "How could you give up such a comfortable place?"

"I was obliged," replied the yard-dog. "They turned me out of doors, and chained me up here. I had bitten the youngest of my master's sons in the leg, because he kicked away the bone I was gnawing. 'Bone for bone,' I thought; but they were so angry, and from that time I have been fastened with a chain, and lost my bone. Don't you hear how hoarse I am. Away, away! I can't talk any more like other dogs. Away, away, that is the end of it all."

But the Snow Man was no longer listening. He was looking into the housekeeper's room on the lower storey; where the stove stood on its four iron legs, looking about the same size as the Snow Man himself. "What a strange crackling I feel within me," he said. "Shall I ever get in there? It is an innocent wish, and innocent wishes are sure to be fulfilled. I must go in there and lean against her, even if I have to break the window."

"You must never go in there," said the yard-dog, "for if you approach the stove, you'll melt away, away."

"I might as well go," said the Snow Man, "for I think I am breaking up as it is."

During the whole day the Snow Man stood looking in through the window, and in the twilight hour the room became still more inviting, for from the stove came a gentle glow, not like the sun or the moon; no, only the bright light which gleams from a stove when it has been well fed. When the door of the stove was opened, the flames darted out of its mouth; this is customary with all stoves. The light of the flames fell directly on the face and breast of the Snow Man with a ruddy gleam. "I can endure it no longer," said he; "how beautiful it looks when it stretches out its tongue?"

The night was long, but did not appear so to the Snow Man, who stood there enjoying his own reflections, and crackling with the cold. In the morning, the window-panes of the housekeeper's room were covered with ice. They were the most beautiful ice-flowers any Snow Man could desire, but they concealed the stove. These window-panes would not thaw, and he could see nothing of the stove, which he pictured to himself, as if it had been a lovely human being. The snow crackled and the wind whistled around him; it was just the kind of frosty weather a Snow Man might thoroughly enjoy. But he did not enjoy it; how, indeed, could he enjoy anything when he was "stove sick?"

"That is terrible disease for a Snow Man," said the yard-dog; "I have suffered from it myself, but I got over it. Away, away," he barked and then he added, "the weather is going to change." And the weather did change; it began to thaw. As the warmth increased, the Snow Man decreased. He said nothing and made no complaint, which is a sure sign. One morning he broke, and sunk down altogether; and, behold, where he had stood, something like a broomstick remained sticking up in the ground. It was the pole round which the boys had built him up. "Ah, now I understand why he had such a great longing for the stove," said the yard-dog. "Why, there's the shovel that is used for cleaning out the stove, fastened to the pole." The Snow Man had a stove scraper in his body; that was what moved him so. "But it's all over now. Away, away." And soon the winter passed. "Away, away," barked the hoarse yard-dog. But the girls in the house sang,

"Come from your fragrant home, green thyme;
Stretch your soft branches, willow-tree;
The months are bringing the sweet spring-time,
When the lark in the sky sings joyfully.
Come gentle sun, while the cuckoo sings,
And I'll mock his note in my wanderings."

And nobody thought any more of the Snow Man.

Things I Do When It's Cold

 Its simple and easy for me to answer that question! I completely hate the cold since I am very cold natured. So anyways..... If I can get away with it when its cold I sit on the couch bundled up in a blanket. I also make sure that I have on warm pants, a long sleeve shirt, and some fuzzy socks. YES..... I said fuzzy socks!!! Don't laugh we all know that they are comfortable and warm! I also like to take time to work on my blog,  catch up on reading, watch a show, oh and don't forget about the Hot Chocolate! No matter what I'm doing I must have my hot chocolate! And if the kids are both in school on said day then I like to just enjoy the silence because we all know that kids can be a handful sometimes and silence is just an extra miracle that God sent down for us mommas to enjoy when we get the chance. Then there are other time where I turn on my love song playlist and just enjoy listening to that. If there are any other days that I have free time I like to just nap because as we all know mommas do not get enough sleep no matter what they do. 

Christmas Movies

  This ladies and gentlemen is an epic Christmas movie list that I'm sure alot people love just like I do......

                               So on to the list!!!!!!!

1.  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 
2.  National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
3. Home Alone 
4.  Elf
5. The Santa Clause
6.  The Nightmare Before Christmas
7.  The Night Before
8.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
9.  The Polar Express 
10.  Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town 
11.  The Little Drummer Boy
12.  Frosty the Snowman 
13. Jack Frost
14.  A Charlie Brown Christmas
15.  The Muppet Christmas Carol
16.  Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
17. Holiday Inn 
18.   Scrooge 
19.  A Christmas Carol 
20.  White Christmas 
21.  Christmas in Connecticut 
22.  The Christmas Wife
23.  Christmas Vacation 
24.  A Christmas Without Snow 
25. The Christmas Star 
26.  Silent Night 
27.  A Christmas Visitor 
28. Prancer 
29. A Christmas Wish 
30.  The Santa Clause 
31.  Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 
32.  Mrs. Santa Claus 
33. The Fourth Wise Man 
34.  All I Want for Christmas 
35.  Klaus
36.  Eve's Christmas 
37.  A Boyfriend for Christmas 
38.  I'll Be Home for Christmas 
39. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 
40.  The Angel Doll 
41.  The Christmas Chronicles
42.  A Smoky Mountain Christmas 
43. It Happened One Christmas 
44.  The Night They Saved Christmas 
45.  Jingle all the Way
46.  A Mom for Christmas 
47. One Magic Christmas 
48.  Christmas Eve 
49.  Holiday Affair 
50.  Christmas Mountain
51.  The Nutcracker
52. The Kid Who Loved Christmas 
53.  The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story 
54.  Christmas on Division Street 
55.  The Christmas Stallion 
56. Dear Santa 
57.  Angel in the Family 
58.  Office Christmas Party 
59. The Gathering 

Family Christmas Lists

 Every Christmas I ask my family what they want for Christmas. Sometimes they give some really outragous answers but this year it wasn't so bad. So this year I thought I would share those lists with my readers.

List 1: 7 year old daughter

• Make-up
• Jewlery
• Purses
• Hairbrush Set 
• Hairbows
• Trolls Dvd
• Diary 
• Weighted Blanket
• Bean Bag Chair

List 2: 9 year old son

• Art Stuff
• Dvds
• Avengers stuff
• Transformers
• Cars
• New Backpack
• Journal
• Weighted Blanket
• Bean Bag Chair

List 3: 20 year old son

• Car Stuff
• New Hoodies
• Star Wars Stuff
• Harry Potter Dvds
• Harry Potter Books
• Video games
• Nintendo Switch

List 4: 47 year old husband

• Rocky Dvds
• Rambo Dvds
• Miter saw
• Jigsaw

2020 Christmas Candles

      I have a feeling this holiday season the scents are going to be great. I am so excited!                                               

1. Christmas Morning Punch by Yankee Candle

2. Silent Night Candle On Etsy

3. Blessed Candle by satyasage.com

4. Christmas Cookie By Yankee Candle

5. Hot Chocolate By The Candle Daddy On Amazon.com

6.Champagne Toast By White Barn On Amazon.com

7. 'Tis The Season Candle By Milkhouse Candle Creamery On Amazon.com

8. Bourbon Pear By Root Candles On Amazon.com

9. Sculptural Marbleized Candles By bluewinestudio On Etsy.com

10. Hot Apple Pie By Our Own Candle Company On Amazon.com

11. Gingerbread By Grandma's Kitchen Scents On Amazon.com

12. Pumpkin Walnut Cheesecake By Shortie's Candle Company On Amazon.com

13. Spiced Pumpkin By Village Candle On Amazon.com

14. Spiced Pumpkin By Village Candle On Amazon.com

15. Woodfire Candle By Illume On Amazon.com

16. Balsam & Cedar Vanity Tin By Illume On Amazon.com

17.Large Jar Christmas Celebration Candle By Yankee Candle On Amazon.com

18. Holiday Scented Candle By Homesick On Amazon.com

19. Christmas Candle By sweet Water Decor On Etsy.com

20. Christmas Garland By Yankee Candle On Amazon.com

21. Joy Christmas Candle By TheDancingWick On Etsy.com

22. 3-Wick Candle - Holiday By NEST Fragrances On amazon.com

23. Baltic Amber By Voluspa On Anthropologie.com

24. Buddy The Elf Christmas Candle By iheartpopcandles On Etsy.com

25. Fresh Cut Christmas Tree By Silver Dollar Candle Co On Etsy.com

26. Rustic Christmas Soy Candle, Gingerbread By Midnight Owl Candle Co On Etsy.com

27. Peppermint Candies Christmas Candles By The Secret Owl Shop On Etsy.com

28. Cozy Cashmere 3 Wick Candle By White Barn On Amazon.com

29. WINTER SIGNATURE CANDLE By The White Company On thewhitecompany.com

30. TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SCENTED CANDLE By Juliska On bloomingdales.com

31. CRANBERRY ROSÉ CANDLE By Paddy Wax On paddywax.com

32. FROSTED CRANBERRY 3-WICK CANDLE By Bath & Body Works On bathandbodyworks.com

33. POMEGRANATE CASSIS SIGNATURE SCENTED CANDLE By Illuminations On illuminations.shop

34. Champagne  NOVELTY CANDLE By Jonathan Adler On wayfair.com

35. VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUM CANDLE By Voluspa On voluspa.com

36. CANDY CANE STICKS PEPPERMINT SCENTED JAR CANDLE By joss On jossandmain.com

37. Cocoa and Coziness Soy Vegan Candle By BriarWick On Etsy.com

38. Half Baked Cinnamon Roll Candle By MidnightOwlCandleCo On Etsy.com

39. Snickerdoodles Candle By PrettyHonest On Etsy.com

40. Merry & Bright Candle Gift By TheDancingWick On Etsy.com