Christmas Condensed

Hellloooo Friends! I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a great new year! I know I did, and I am! :)

I started out December ahead with lots of things done and lots of things planned, then life happened and I barely got everything done before Christmas!

 

The major life stuff that was going on was that my sweet Nana had another heart attack at the beginning of December and fell and cut her ear and hurt her back. Poor Nana :( We celebrated her 82nd birthday in the hospital. Because of her heart and her injuries she wasn't able to go home right away, so she has been in a Rehab Center since leaving the hospital. She is doing pretty good and hopefully we will have her back to her own home before long! It made for a tough December, for her and for us but as always she has a great attitude and our family is so blessed to still have her with us.

So to recap December...
I of course put up a tree and decorated. I also made two of these Tomato Cage Trees to decorate the outside of my house

The Christmas committee at my work had the cutest idea....the week and half before our Christmas dinner every morning there was a little treat and Christmas song lyrics on our desks. I snapped a picture of a few of them. I loved it, I couldn't wait to get to work every morning and see what the treat was! It really helped get me into the Christmas spirit.

The popcorn was "Let it Snow" (I brought some corn for popping...too cute!)

My friend and I continued our tradition of Christmas light looking while hot chocolate drinking...

A few days before Christmas we finally got our first snow!

 

My sister and her family came for Christmas and I got to spend time with my sweet, fun, beautiful nieces. Oh how I love these girls!

I also made a gift (it may or may not have been at the last minute...don't judge...we all do it right? right? ha ha!) using the same technique I used HERE & HERE,with a bit of twist. My sweet friend made me the stencil with her Silhouette. It made the process so easy! A Silhouette is so on my wish list!!

I assembled my supplies on the only place I had free (I was cooking in the kitchen, wrapping in my craft area) I set up my work area, complete with a peppermint hot chocolate. (I sure did a lot of hot chocolate drinking this year!)

And the finished product:

Which brings me to the thing I love most about Christmas, the reason for it.

Jesus

He is the true reason for the season. May His love and blessings fill your heart and your home in the coming year and always.

So that is my condensed version of December/Christmas. It was great, I hope yours was too!

Join me on Tuesday for the top posts of 2012 and a preview of some things I have planned in 2013!

Happy New Year friends, stay safe!

Tomato Cage Trees

You say tomato, I say tomhato....:)

 

Anyway you say it, tomato/tamhato cages were what I used in a project I have had planned all year....

Yes, you heard me correctly. Last year I saw some tomato cage trees somewhere on some fantastic blog (that I did not write down-boo me) I did a Pinterest search to see if I could find the source. Sheesh! Do you have any idea how many people are out there making tomato cage trees? ALOT! I had never read any of their blogs though, so I didn't get the idea from them. So thank you fantastic nameless blog that inspired me, I salute you. :)

 I saved my tomato cages from last summer and bought the "good" garland and lights at 90% off after Christmas. I would like to pretend that once I had all my supplies I whipped those suckers out. Nope. Didn't happen. I made these last week.

 

I started by flipping the cages upside down and clipping them together with a binder clip. I then tied the cage together so it would resemble a tree.

 

Evidently I felt the need to take lots of pictures of the simple steps above, and none of the next steps. I don't know about you, but once I start getting into a project I forget to keep taking pictures.

 

I wrapped the garland around the tomato cage, then wrapped a string of white lights around the cage. I added a red velvet bow to the top and then I had a cute little Christmas tree!

 

Love it!

 

Here are the finished trees outside. I really wish I had shutters, but when you rent you take what you have and just try to make it pretty!:)

 

I love Christmas!

 

Sharing this with those awesome ladies at

Keep Calm and Link Up
 

Spray Paint Sunday

Helllloooo Friends!  We have been having crazy warm temps here in Missouri, is that happening where you live too?

When the weather gets cold my spray paint projects get banished to the garage (aka my future craft room-it's a work in progress.)  When the temp was in the upper 70's on Sunday (after church)  I took advantage of the warm spring December afternoon and decided to have a spray paint palooza. :)

 

I spread a big plastic tarp across my back patio, gathered my supplies and grabbed every project that I have been putting off out of the garage and got to work.

 

My projects included three shelves for my daughter's room (all snapped up at a dollar or less) a shelf for my Mom, a big awesome fancy frame that I have a project in mind for, another frame that I was going to throw away that will become a Christmas craft, and a candle holder that I love but needed updated.

 

I went through almost three cans of primer....and then I painted.  My favorite part.  I spray painted all afternoon.  It was starting to get dark when I finished.  I was tired and my finger was a little sore, but yesterday I could barely grasp anything.  I used muscles in my arm I didn't even know I had!

 

I really love how spray paint transforms things.   I also love when things turn out like I imagined in my head.  :)

 

My spray paint Sunday gave me a good start on some projects I have been meaning to do.  Have you done any fun projects lately?

Change, Strength & Thanks

Change is hard. 

 

About a week ago we moved my beloved grandma (Nana) into senior living apartments.  We've been spending this last week getting her settled.  I knew it would be hard for her, I just never realized how hard it would be for me, or my Mom.

 

My Nana's health has declined in the last few years since we lost my grandpa.  Nana is amazing.  When it came time for her to give up driving due to her declining eye sight, she voluntarily gave up her keys.  When it came time to discuss the need for her to live closer to us, she picked the place she wanted to live.  She handles change so well.  She makes a decision, no matter how hard it is and just does it.  Nana has an inner strength that I can only hope to have someday.  I know that strength comes from Jesus, and her relationship with Him.

Nana had lived in her house for fifty years. I have gone to Sunday dinner after church at her house for as long as I can remember. Last Sunday we had our last Sunday dinner there. Christmas Eve at Nana's is also a tradition. When I was a little girl Nana always let my sister and I choose an ornament off her tree. I always picked the sparkly ones....go figure!

Angel food cake is my favorite cake, and Nana has always baked one for my birthday. Her declining eye sight has made it hard for to cook so Sunday she gave me her angel food cake pan.  I cried.  Ask anyone in my family (ok, anyone who knows me) and they will tell you I'm emotional.  I'm a crier. 

 

My Nana has a beautiful daughter. She is my beautiful Momma. My mom is beautiful inside and out, she has one of the kindest hearts of anyone I know. She is my confidant, my counselor and one of my dearest friends.  She lets Jesus shine through her in her actions and words and the way she serves others.  This week I have seen her strength in so many ways.  I am so proud to be her daughter.

 

I am so thankful for my family and that this is the family God chose to place me in.  I am so proud to come from a long line of strong, faithful and brave women. 

 

This week families everywhere will gather together to give thanks. Our family will be one of those families. My sister will be here Wednesday!!  I hope you and your family have a great week and 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Sharing this post with Elaine at Sunny Simple Life

My Monday Musings

Helllllo friends! Hope everyone is doing well. My heart and prayers go out to everyone in the path of Sandy.  Praying for protection and strength.

My new job is still going great and I am getting into a routine. Routines are good. I like routines. They make me happy.

As I admitted on FACEBOOK tonight, I have done zero decorating for Halloween. I love Halloween, it just kind of snuck up on me. Yes....I know it's the same day every year. Lol  I haven't decorated for Halloween, I haven't done any crafting. I could pretend like I am so overwhelmed by my new job that I just don't have time for anything else but that is not true.

Let me show you what  had my attention all weekend:

Yep, the next two books in a series I'm reading and finally the second season of Downton Abbey! I was set. There was really no use speaking to me.  Lol :)  I love the library.

 

Tonight I joined two of my awesome friends for Mizzou basketball. It was a blast and it was a blowout. Go Mizzou! :)

I am so tired right now, I need to hit the pillow! Hopefully I will get some decorating done tomorrow night, in the mean time you can check out this post from last year.  :)

 

http://amandaslittlelight.blogspot.com/2011/10/spooky-much.html

 

This is a busy week, the end of the month, Halloween and Saturday will be my birthday! :)

 

Have a great week and stay safe friends! :)

A Basket, A Bracelet and a Winner!!

Hellooooo Friends! I hope you are having a fabulous week. I know I am! I started my new job this week and I am really liking it...yes, I know it has only been a few days...but sometimes you just know ! :) 

 

I would like to thank everyone who entered the giveaway for the $25 Hobby Lobby gift card.  I really appreciate everyone who has supported me, my friends, my family, my blog friends, my new friends...:)  Welcome to all my new friends! I am so happy you are here! Thank you!! And the winner is........ :)  Congratulations Barbie!!!!

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/51503e1/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

So first let me show you my blanket basket.  I started by thrifting (of course!) my basket.  I paid $3 for it at my favorite thrift store. Then I picked the little wood frame up at Hobby Lobby when it was half off. I paid less than $1 for it. :)

 

 

I painted the outside of the frame turqoise.

 

 

Then I added my handy dandy most favorite stuff ever aka chalkboard paint to the inside of the frame.  I put some brown yarn through those holes, and attached it to my basket. My cute little basket cost less than $4 total. Yayyyy!

 

I like. :)

 

The second thing I whipped up this week was a knock-off Pandora bracelet that I saw at Happy Hour Projects.  Adrianne has an awesome blog filled with great tutorials and lots of cute jewelry ideas.  When I saw THIS bracelet I knew I wanted to make one!

 

These were my supplies

 Sorry about the fuzzy-far away pic, I don't know what happened-I need camera lessons! Lol
 

 I picked green because lately I have gotten a lot of green clothing  (like enough to justify owning green shoes-which I don't have yet ) but I didn't own any green jewelry. I do now!

 

This is my version of Adrianne's DIY Pandora knock-off bracelet. 
 

 I love it!

 
Happy a fabulous Friday friends & a great weekend! :)  Thanks again for celebrating This Little Light's first birthday with me! I plan on making this next year the best! :)

Linking my basket up (well and I guess the rest of the post...but mostly my basket lol)  with the ladies at
Keep Calm & Link Up :)

Happy 1st Birthday This Little Light & A Giveaway!

So you may know by now that I am a tad bit birthday crazy! :)  I love them! Mine, yours, any one's! They just make me happy! :)  I think any reason to celebrate is a good one! If you are just joining me, welcome to This Little Light! You can go HERE to learn a little bit about me.  I hope you stick around for awhile! :) So, with out further ado...Please enter my giveaway! :)

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/51503e1/

 

This Little Light is celebrating it's 1st Birthday this week! You have no idea how much it means to me to say that. When I started this blog, I was unsure if I would ever have anyone who wasn't related to me or worked at desk right next to mine read this. I think I cried the first time someone I had never met in real life followed my blog! :) I am thankful for each and every one of you that read This Little Light. It makes my heart happy! :)  Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ♥
 

 

Reflecting on this last year I realized even though it was a rollercoaster for me personally (I went from two jobs, to one job, to no job, back to one job, that I will be trading for a new job next week! Sheesh!) that I learned so much about blogging and I have made some wonderful blog friends.  I am really looking forward to what this next year will bring! :)

Let's take a look at my top three view posts from the last year!

 

1.) Mirror, Mirror a Before and After

 

2.) Before and After Jewelry Tray

 

3.) Bling a Ding Ding Ding

 

It doesn't surprise me that the before and afters were the most viewed. They are usually my favorite part of reading blogs too! I also really love bling, so I get that too! I'm expecting my daughter's recent Wonderland Birthday Party  will be on it's way to the top 3 soon!

 

 If you read the "About Me" (about me) :) then you know one of my favorite places in the whole world is Hobby Lobby.  I have a few other favorite places (a local thrift store, the library, my house) but none of those places offer gift cards...Hobby Lobby does! :)  I tried to make this giveaway super simple....Good luck friends! :)

  I will be back this weekend with a new project and the giveaway will go until next Wednesday (the 17th)!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

A Wonderful Wonderland Birthday!

Hello Friends! I'm back today with a Wonderland Tea Party! I told you we do birthdays big around here! I believe we brought "18" in with a bang! :)

 

I told you a little bit about how I love theme parties in THIS post and how my daughter had nixed all theme parties since she got older. I was so excited when she told me she wanted an Alice in Wonderland party for her 18th birthday!

Me & my imagination got to work. I started thrifting tea cups, saucers and unique glassware. I borrowed tea pots from my Mom (I'm lucky she collects them!) I figured out how I wanted everything to look in my head. Some things turned out that way, some didn't. Of course, isn't that how it always goes? :)

This was one of the things that didn't turn out like I imagined, but the kids liked it so it doesn't really matter. :) 

We had my daughter's party in the local National Forest. It has a big picnic area and this time of year it's not very crowded. It was the perfect place for our "Wonderland."

I served tea (of course!) put some Mt. Dew in a couple of the teapots and had little tea sandwiches. I wish I had gotten a better picture of the table :(  

 

Some of my daughter's favorite "Aliceisms" were placed all around. I just nailed this one to the tree...I'm fancy like that! Ha ha :)

 

 This little "Aliceism" was place on the table. I thrifted that frame for $ .50...I thought it looked very Alice in Wonderland. :)

 

We also had a candy bar, which was a hit. I mean, seriously, who doesn't love candy? :)

 

We also had three different types of cupcakes, chocolate, vanilla and my daughter's favorite, red velvet. I love making cupcakes, really. It makes me happy that people like them! :)

 

We had a photo booth. We took lots of silly pictures, it was a lot of fun!

!

This is one of my real life BFFs Lori! She loved the photo booth almost as much as the kids! :) 

 

All and all it was a great day and a really fun Wonderland Party!

Happy 18th Birthday my wonderful daughter!  :)

 

Speaking of birthdays.....This Little Light will turn one this week! Check back on Wednesday or follow me HERE on Facebook to keep updated for my very first giveaway! I love birthdays! :)

Linking this Wonderland Party up with the ladies at Keep Calm and Link Up, Elaine at Sunny Simple Life and Thrifty Decor Chick & Live. Laugh. Rowe :)

18....A Birthday Letter to My Daughter

Today my daughter turns eighteen. I just can't believe that 18 years have flown by so fast or that my beautiful little girl has turned into a beautiful young adult.  Excuse me while I wipe my tears away!

Today I share with you some pictures from the past and a letter to my daughter.

 

Dear Shel,

 Happy 18th Birthday. I can't even believe I'm saying that. It seems like just yesterday that I brought you home from the hospital.  I was just a  year older than you are now and I had no idea how to be a Mom, but I knew I loved you more than anything in this world, I still do, and always will. I am so thankful to God for you and the opportunity to be your Mom.

 

You have a smile that can light up a room. 

 

  

You are smart. Like super smart.  I know you aren't sure what you want to do with your life yet, but I have no doubts that you can do anything you set your mind to. God has great plans for you! I will never forget how in fourth grade you received the reading award and your teacher said she was giving the award to a student who read above a twelfth grade level. The crowd "oood" and "awed'' and I wanted to stand up and yell, "Yep that's my daughter!!!" :)  I didn't of course, because you would have never spoken to me again, but that is the kind of pride I feel about you all the time. For big things, for little things...all the time.

 

You have a beautiful heart.  In first grade your teacher said you were a "protector of the underdog." It broke your heart to see people treated unfair, or unkind.  When you were in third grade you told me you wanted to give all your birthday gifts to poor kids. We decided that you would just request donations to the food bank instead of gifts. You did that for several more years. You invited one child to a birthday party and later his mother told me that was the only birthday party he had ever been invited to. The list doesn't end there, I could think of hundreds of other ways you have shown your beautiful heart. 

 

You are beautiful, inside and out. You are an amazing person.  Being your mother is the greatest privilege I have ever had. I love you so much.

Happy 18th Birthday!

Love,

Mom

 

I'll be back in a few days with party pictures and if you hadn't already guessed we had a Wonderland Tea Party! It turned out great and we did birthday celebrating all weekend! :)