christmas decor ideas

you've all probably spent the last few days decking your homes for the holidays. the theme at my house this year is traditional green and red, with a lot of greenery. which is probably why i loved these.

getting organized

i have always been a fan of the "Shelf Reliance" rotating shelf systems. but at $500/pop i have had a very difficult time justifying buying it. i mean, at that price i could practically purchase all of my food storage... even if i didn't have the convenient storing option. but the convenience of having a system that rotates the older cans to the front.... i really wanted it to be a part of my food storage. so i have just put off both the shelf and the food storage because i don't want to do one without the other.

















and now i just learn that my next door neighbor sells the next best thing at a price anyone can afford! i think it is a genius product, and i can hardly wait for them to get back in town so i can reorganize my entire pantry. i am getting anxious just thinking about it. and i really can't believe i didn't know about this sooner! i know there are so many people out there that would like this, so i have to share!!!!! visit them at "THE CAN ORGANIZER!"

Option 1- Cupboard Organizer
This smaller option fits conveniently in your cupboards and rotates 9 soup cans, or 8 vegetable cans, or 18 tuna cans. You get 4 of them for only $11.96!!!








Option 2- Pantry Organizer
This is a longer option that fits 16 Vegetable, 18 Soup, or 39 Tuna cans. This is the perfect option for me, and my deep pantry shelves. This would also be what I imagine you'd use in a cold storage room, depending on how deep your shelves are. Again, you get a 4 pack for just $15.96.

Thanksgiving Place Cards

Hopefully I am not the only one that finds holiday place cards DARLING! I think these personal touches are just precious. Maybe one day when I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner... but for now, I enjoy being the guest! Is that bad?

Thanksgiving Craft Project 4 Kids

I thought this was a darling little craft idea to do with your kiddies. With the cold weather arriving, any new indoor projects are greatly appreciated, right?

This wreath makes a very pretty and colorful piece to hang on a door or wall in your home. You will need: Autumn-colored construction paper, scissors, glue, a good-sized piece cardboard, one large paper plate and one small paper plate, and a black marker. The children can make their own, or they can make one together. Basically, you are gluing rolled strips of construction paper onto a circle shaped piece of cardboard. Then at the bottom you add the face of a turkey. The turkey will be the traced foot of a child. Eyes, wobbler, and beak will be cut out using scraps. If you are a teacher, it would be creative to have each student write one thing they are thankful for on a strip of construction paper before you glue it to the cardboard.

Sweet Potato Casserole

This recipe seemed fitting for the Thanksgiving season. I have always loved sweet potato casserole, and after finding out all the ingredients I can certainly see why- it really is suited for a dessert category. But if you're like me, you are definitely not counting the calories on Thanksgiving day... so why not a few extra hundred?

INGREDIENTS

• 5 sweet potatoes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Bake sweet potatoes 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until they begin to soften. Cool slightly, peel, and mash.
3. In a large bowl, mix the mashed sweet potatoes, salt, 1/4 cup butter, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, and heavy cream. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
4. In a medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup butter, flour, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Mix with a pastry blender or your fingers to the consistency of course meal. Sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture.
5. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until topping is crisp and lightly browned.

staircases

why must MY staircase be so un-interesting? are these not beautiful? it's just a pity we don't all live in mansions with huge spiral staircases, don't you think? :) fine, i will add a more realistic design for the rest of us. i like the stockings hanging from the stairwell. if you are like me, and don't own a fireplace, you might wonder every year where to hang the darn things? mine hang from my buffet table, but this is a great idea.

mini christmas trees

i love all of these pictures. what i really like about them- & you probably don't notice this at 1st but i think it makes a big difference- is the pots that they are sitting in. i happen to have quite a few mini Christmas trees and alpine trees hanging around, and this is how i have attempted to use them this year. i think they are just darling. i decorated the house last night, it smells of evergreen, and Christmas music has been playing all morning. i am feeling the spirit!

5x5 Christmas Cards

i have an addiction to photography, and even more so, i have an addiction to square pictures, square invitations, etc. so when i came across these 5x5 custom designed christmas cards, i fell in love. i'm planning on busting out my photoshop skills and creating some equally adorable christmas cards this holiday season. the company that designed these charge $1.60/card if you don't feel like designing them yourself. you can find them by clicking here.

Christmas Swags

these are my newest love this Christmas season. it is such a traditional decorating item, yet it isn't used very frequently. i bought a handful of these from tai pan last week, and plan on hanging them in my windows... unless inspiration strikes somewhere else. i do happen to love them as they are shown in this picture, but i have outdoor wreaths already. another place i love to see swags are on staircases. the options are endless. what is your favorite christmas piece this year?

Gap Coupon (& Old Navy, Banana Republic, etc)

take advantage of another deal, and get some christmas shopping done! 30%, i love it!

You're Invited... Allan Polier has invited you to save 30% during Give & Get, our Friends & Family event. For every purchase you make, we give 5% of the amount you spend to Feeding America, a non-profit selected by Allan Polier. Click a button below to RSVP to this event: In-store Barcode (For multiple uses) Online Promo code (For one time use) BBL1JJWBBBYL This offer is also good at Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Store!

Gap shop online | find store Old Navy shop online | find store Banana Republic shop online | find store Piperlime shop online Athleta shop online

Rather not receive updates? Click here. Gap.com values its customers and respects their privacy. Please review our privacy policy for more information. If you have any questions about the Give & Get program, contact gap.com Customer Service via email at custserv@gap.com, call us at 1-800-GAP-STYLE (1-800-427-7895) or write us at gap.com Customer Services, 100 Gap Online Drive, Grove City, OH 43123-8605. Please note: Prices shown on the website are in U.S. dollars only. Currently, we do not ship or bill orders internationally, including Canada. Offer valid November 12, 2009 at 12:01 am ET through November 15, 2009 at 11:59pm PT online and at Gap, Gap Outlet, Gap Factory Store, Gap Generation, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Store, Old Navy, Piperlime.com and Athleta.com in the U.S. only (including Puerto Rico). Not valid in Canada or at Edition by Banana Republic store. Discount can not be combined with other offers or discounts and applies to eligible purchases ("Eligible Purchases") which are merchandise only, not gift cards, packaging, applicable taxes, shipping & handling charges, catalog orders or telephone orders placed to stores or customer service 1-800/888 numbers. Not valid on Gap (Product) RED™, Junk Food™, Converse®, Havaianas®, Medela®, CharmIt!®, Robeez®, Stella McCartney for GapKids, Stella McCartney for babyGap, or the following babyGap Home items: strollers, car seats, high chairs and nursery furniture. Not valid on apparel, jewelry, final sale items, Belle by Sigerson Morrison, and Donald J. Pliner at Piperlime.com. Not valid on regular priced non-Athleta brand merchandise. Gap Foundation ("Gap") will donate an amount equal to 5% of Eligible Purchases to a nonprofit partner ("Partner") only when one is designated by the Gap Inc. employee ("Employee(s)"). If no Partner is designated no donation will be made. If the Employee selects Donorschoose.org as its Partner the Employee can also select a specific project on Donorschoose.org to receive the donation. Gap's total donations to all U.S. and Canadian Partners shall not exceed US$2 million. Such donation does not entitle the Employee or any offer recipient to claim a charitable contribution deduction. Employees may not use their gift match benefit with this offer. Merchandise cannot be put on hold during offer period. Return of discounted merchandise will be for the price actually paid. Exchange for different size is permitted; however, the discount will not be applied to exchanges for different merchandise. Reproductions or photocopies of offer card will not be accepted. Not responsible for lost or stolen offer cards. Offer is not transferable or valid for resale. No price adjustments are allowed on previous purchases or on purchases made with this discount. © 2009 Gap Inc.

Bath & Body Works

why not start your christmas shopping early this year? here is a great coupon for Bath and Body Works. i love their antibacterial soaps, and they are a great gift to have on hand for small gifts. their soap is 3 for $10, so with this coupon you can get 9 of them for only $20. of course there are many other great items to stock up on, my personal favorite being their peppermint lip gloss. heaven. this coupon expires 11/22 and if you look closer you will see an online code if you prefer to shop from home.

best news of the day

If any you live in Utah County, Utah- you may be (and should be!) just as excited as I was to learn that Tai Pan is now in Orem. It isn't nearly as big as the wharehouse in Salt Lake, but it seems like the only thing "missing" is the floral department and a very scaled down kitchenware department. It is located at the University Mall in the old Deseret Book location. I went in for just a few minutes yesterday evening and found myself lost in Christmas ideas. I just may put Christmas up early this year. Tai Pan is definitely on the very top of my favorite stores to shop at, and I used to get excited to make the trip up to Salt Lake on occassion. Now I don't have to! Best news of the day!

christmas porch inspiration

i'm going to do some christmas shopping today. i can't believe that it is coming up on us. i am excited. in the past, i've always thought the more decorations i had out, the more "festive"... but once everything is out i just think it looks like my house is "cluttery". so this year my goal is to not use everything. less is more, i will have to repeat that in my head a lot. on my list today is this big huge wreath for my front door that i saw at costco. this picture is my front porch inspiration this year. clean and simple.

gobble gobble

cute, don't you think?

some thanksgiving lovin

i'm quite obsessed with the acorn napkin holders shown here, and it reminded me of some acorn bells that i saw a year or so ago. i wish i could find some, i think it would be darling as a fall holiday decor piece, placed atop a table runner. i hope you are all ready for the big turkey day!

final 2009 halloween post!

tomorrow is halloween. are you ready to make it one big special day for your kids? if not, today is your day to prepare. here are a few fun things i have envisioned:

halloween themed breakfast: on the menu is halloween shaped pancakes with orange sides- orange wedges and orange juice!





















on the table will be my child's trick-or-treat pumpkin with his new halloween jammies inside, and a special halloween treat.

for lunch, i will probably make those adorable mummy hotdogs, posted here

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

holiday entertainment will never end

the halloween festivities are nearly over. after all of the pumpkin patches, hay rides, corn mazes, carving pumpkins, roasting pumpkin seeds, modeling costumes, family/friends/church parties, and trick-or-treating... whatever are you going to do with the kids besides eat all of that candy? well, here are some fun ideas to keep you busy and excited for yet another holiday.

have a girl? you'll like this.

my friend cassie found this great website/blog that sells baby stuff, mainly little girl things. like adorable bows, and headbands. and best of all, it is super cheap. here are some examples to get you there. the headbands are $2, the hair clips are $1.50, and the burp cloths are 2 for $5. you are welcome!
check them out here

pretty 4 thanksgiving

floating pumpkins just look pretty to me. i love pretty pictures that inspire table settings for thanksgiving.

gobble gobble

i am always so ahead of myself with the holidays. i'm already dreaming of white christmases, and yummy thanksgiving dinners. do forgive me. i saw these suckers/candy? online, and unfortunately there weren't any instructions. i have way more talented friends, and i am sure they could figure out the "how-to". so darling. here are my guesses, but i'm usually wrong! :)
(chocolate covered marshmallow- body? candy corn- feathers? jelly bean- face? heart shaped sprinkle? pretzel- legs? i just don't know?!)

easy do it yourself project

i love home decor pieces like this that you look at and say "oooh... i could make that!". and wouldn't this be a great piece to add around thanksgiving time? although i have to admit that i think it would be cute all year long.

deals you might enjoy

kohls.com is having 50% off all of their Fisher Price toys. maybe you want to pick up some christmas gifts early this year. in addition to the sale, you get $10 Kohls cash for every $50 you spend. and if you happen to have a Kohls card than you can get another 15% off by using the code PICK15OCT.


















pizza party! dominos is having a customer appreciation week and offering a $6 carry out deal for a Large One Topping Pizza with extra cheese. Add a Free 8-piece order of CinnaStix when you enter code ONLINE at checkout. another deal i noticed this week is that 5 buck pizza is having $2.99 medium pizzas on tuesdays and thursdays. wow!






















and lastly, toys-r-us has costumes for as low as $5 on their website, here. they have a lot of cute things. so whether you are a last minute planner and haven't gotten your kids' costumes, or whether you plan in advance and want to plan for next year at a discounted price, toys-r-us has some great costumes. check them out.

cute necklaces

a friend of mine, paige, has the most darling style. i always love her fashion! it's unfortunate she lives so far away because i could really use her as a shopping buddy! :) while she was in town she wore a necklace similar to the one shown below. you can find them on etsy for $15. they remind me of the ones they sell at anthropologie, and i think they are so darling. if you're interested, i found this from "cozy rosies" on etsy. you can be cute and trendy, just like my friend paige! :)

halloween costume photo shoot

being the photo enthusiast that i am, my advice today revolves around pictures. Halloween is creeping up on us. before the busy day arrives, when your kids are jumping off the wall from sugar overload... take an afternoon and let your kids put on their Halloween costumes. take them to a park... or target's photo studio... and have a Halloween costume photo shoot. you will love to look back on their darling little costumes that you, or they, dreamed up. some examples to inspire you...