I can’t tell if it’s cold in here or if it’s just that I’ve been reading too much about first snow sightings and chilly weather. I think the low tonight can hardly be classified as cold (43 degrees F), but I’ll use any excuse to stay inside and have some hot apple cider.

I’m on a full time mission right now to round up Christmas hints and organize my shopping expeditions. I try to come up with ideas unaided, but sometimes you need a little push in the right direction. So far, my sister is the only one who has helped much in that department. I’m getting the impression that she’s been divvying up hints across the family so as not to get any duplicate gifts. It’s pretty impressive, really.

The only thing I have organized so far is the wrapping paper. This will now be the third year that I’ve stuck with one wrapping paper/gift tag theme. It’s so wonderful. I mean, it’s horribly obsessive-compulsive, but it makes things so much easier. The wrapping part is very calming that way, and I find it incredibly satisfying to see a growing stack of monochromatic presents. I’m sure this wouldn’t work for everyone, but I do enjoy seeing everything match like that. I also splurge on fabric ribbons. I had one to many run-ins with the curling ribbon and scissors.

These pictures are from last year, and I used the same circle punch/eyelet setter combo as I did to make my numbered stocking tags. The circle design was heavily inspired by the alphabet garland I saw over here at The Small Object. For my version, each one was labeled with a person’s initial and name... as in "K is for Kristen."

This year, everything is getting wrapped in a silver/white motif. Mr. Bunny Slippers is in charge of designing our new gift tags which I’ll share here when they’re done. Now we just need to get stuff to put inside. Oh.

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 06:30 PM | Permalink

It’s grey out today which is very nice for things like cozying up the house and pulling out the Christmas decorations – and not as great for things like taking pictures for one’s blog.

So I’m pulling a couple of pictures out from my stash.

Like a number of people I can think of last year, I got completely caught up in the Advent stocking frenzy (see posts here, here, here, and here). I am a total sucker for Advent calendars and have always kept an eye out for unique ways to mark the count down. Even now, I don’t think I’ve ever quite lost the here-comes-Christmas anticipation. My sister and I shared one as children that was a small felt tapestry with Velcro ornaments that you placed on the tree each day (kind of like this, but cuter). Oh man, when it was time to pull that thing out and hang it on my bedroom door, I knew Christmas was coming. At some point, almost all of the Velcro wore off of the backs of the ornaments, but I was still quite devout about trying to get all of the pieces to their proper spot.

Last year’s holiday season was very special as it was the first Christmas I spent with Mr. Bunny Slippers. Looking back, I know I really over did it – planning everything down to the last possible second and creating a spirit that was more manic than festive. Working on that. Really. Working. I promise.

We haven’t started putting up the décor this year (please see above where I promise not to over-plan everything and force holiday spirit upon others). However, I am REALLY looking forward to pulling out the decorations and just enjoying them. And top of the list for me are these stockings which I just loved making, but were also quite a source of stress at the time.

They are so warm and cuddly looking – all store bought, but different textures, sizes, and colors. All lined up, they make this side of the living room feel deliciously cozy. The numbers were printed on card-stock in different fonts and colors. I used my beloved eyelet setter and circle punch to make numbered tags for each. Although if you had the time and the inclination, I think the beautiful appliquéd ones that others made would be lovely (and probably longer-lasting).

I think I spent the better part of last November trying to figure out what 24 items to put inside. There are some great lists circulating now with ideas for children, but I had a much harder time adapting these ideas for adults. Being young at heart, this sort of dilemma seems to creep up quite a lot (which may be a clue that I need to grow up a bit!). I ended up surprising him with an assortment of chocolates, practical items, the occasional trinket, and a handful of notes directing him to the fridge where a favorite snack or dessert would be waiting. All in all, it was a pretty good time. I figured out by the end of the month that all he really wanted were the chocolates anyway, so I think I’ll be simplifying this year. Feels good.

[For those not cutting back on new projects this year, here are some more ideas: here, here, here, and the one I will eventually try here. Above are photos from two of my all time favorites from Pottery Barn.)

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There is a lot to catch up on here.

For now, I’ll start with the smell of cinnamon and sugar and the pumpkin pie just now deposited into the warm oven.

It’s quiet here except for the halting sounds of my young neighbor practicing the piano. He’s started learning some Christmas songs now, although I’ve heard him sneaking them into his practice sessions since July. Do you know that song “Up on the Rooftop”?

Up on the rooftop reindeer pause
Out jumps good ol’ Santa Clause

I’m convinced it’s not a real Christmas song – just one that was written for new piano students. I can’t imagine a choir or a Christmas caroler breaking that out at a holiday event. In fact, I’m sure that it never goes on anyone’s list of favorite Christmas songs, but it’s easy to play and seems to find its way in to every child’s anthology of easy Christmas piano tunes. He’s moved on to a shaky version of “Deck the Halls,” and I’m feeling grateful.

I have until noon to bake my pie, sip some coffee, and enjoy the morning. I do like baking, but I rarely leave enough time to actually enjoy the experience. It’s usually done at a manic pace that leaves flour on my shoes (yes, it happens regularly!) and a ruin of dishes, measuring cups, and other assorted supplies towering precariously in the sink. It is not usually done meditatively -- where one has a chance to savor the smell of spices, ponder thoughts of thankfulness and shared hospitality, or most importantly -- stir at a gradual pace that does not leave bits of mixed ingredients flying through the air and deposited on fronts of cabinets and floors. This methodical state allowed me to catch a most grievous error in the creation of this pie, my first pumpkin pie ever. Perhaps I was reflective almost to the point of sedation, because I nearly added one tablespoon of salt instead of a teaspoon. Mayhem was avoided, but it was a close call and some spices had to be sacrificed down the drain although I did take a moment to inhale their delicious aroma before washing them away.

It is almost time to go and wake my husband(!) who doesn’t have the same affinity for leisurely, early mornings. And here is where we arrive at the explanation for my long absence. (I am supposed to apologize profusely here for being away – aren’t I? It seems to be a rule.)

I have been on a whirlwind since August, when Mr. Bunny Slippers and I started planning to get married. I think we did everything just slightly out of order and at a brisk pace that left some of our unsuspecting friends a little startled. There is a lot to tell about planning a wedding in just a couple of months while working a very full-time job. Despite our abbreviated schedule and intimate scale (families only), we did not skimp on details. There really hasn’t been space in my head to hold a single other task or thought.
So here it is November, on Thanksgiving, and I feel I am waking from a very long sleep in which I had some panicked nightmares and some of the most beautiful, lovely dreams I’ve ever had.

I return here excited (and a little nervous), but ready to embark on the holiday festivities. I feel v-e-r-y, very behind. It may not be sane, but I usually begin my Christmas planning in August. I’m realizing that this year I’ll have to scale back quite a bit on my “to do” list as well as my expectations. But I’m starting this morning, and I’m going to try to enjoy the things I can do – like making a pumpkin pie and recording these thoughts.

I hope you’ll come back and indulge me while I share some Christmas projects (some old, some new) as well as some details from our wedding day. I want to get them down mostly for myself and my family, but we did do a lot of the design and decoration ourselves. I think there might be something craft-related in there worth sharing.

So here’s to making space for the little touches and pies. Happy Thanksgiving.

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)