a few snapshots from back east

Baking with my Oma. That rolling pin is 100+ years old & those cookie cutters are
in their 70s.  

Our trip is slowly wrapping up and it's getting harder and harder to say good-bye to friends and family especially since little Charlie has been added to the mix. This trip has been jammed packed with lots of family, snow (yes, snow!), yummy home cooked food, Christmas movies, baking & naps. I've been loading us up on vitamin c, fluids and bought a ton of hand sanitizer in hopes we won't catch the germs that have been going around. As I write this, the snow is falling and nothing makes me happier. I hope you all have been enjoying your holiday! xoxo       

::insert Bruce Springsteen's Jersey Girl::
one of our many car rides between states   

hot cocoa with marshmallows in mason jars make the perfect gift if you have a lot of family
(like we do)

surprises 

magical snow = snow on christmas morning

holiday decor (on a budget)

I am so sick right now (tis the season!). I swear since I got pregnant, it has killed my immune system. There's no sick days when you're a full-time mama. As much as I want to lay on the couch and nap (constantly), I can't because I have to finish up a huge batch of "thank you" cards I was hired to create. Oh, and decorate. Don't ask me why I feel I HAVE to decorate when I'm feeling this crappy. 

Enough of that unimportant stuff... I've found that it is possible to decorate on a budget and have it look nice. It may not look exactly like that $20.00 item you want in the store but you can come really close. Before I decorate for any holiday, I look around my place and see what I already own and elaborate on that. I already owned a vase or two but then I inherited all those vases from all those floral arrangements. That was like striking gold. Vases are expensive (kinda redic). Last year I was really into the "blues" (maybe because I was feeling really blue?) and this year I'm over it. This whole gold and glitter look started rubbing off on me (i have no idea why either). If you know me, you know I loathe glitter. Remember when it was cool to wear glitter as make-up or have glitter lotion? I opted out of that trend. Getting back on track... I decided to buy some new ornaments this year for a tree I may or may not have (more on that later). Michaels has some great sales and check the website for coupons because they have some great ones. Due to a lovely 30% off your purchase coupon from Michaels I saw, I opted to go there. My entire trip cost me under $20.00 and that included all the items I got side tracked with (typical. always happens in that store). So here's some inexpensive holiday decor ideas :)  

holiday gift ideas: stocking stuffers - for the tween & teen

1. desktop dogs 2. batgirl nail art 3. lego mini storage boxes 4. instant snow 5. worry dolls 6. reindeer speakers 7. soda lip balm 8. snowball maker 9. flying origami 10. krink paint markers

1. butt station assistant 2. ticket stub diary 3. shark tea infuser 4. silicone mini speakers 5. what happened bandages 6. slushie mug 7. drumstick pencils 8. set of 3 beanies 9. bacon socks 10. critters lip balm 

holiday gift ideas: stocking stuffers for the dude or lady in your life

i come from a family that has a tendency to start their holiday shopping in the summertime. i have always found this really annoying until recently when i started my holiday shopping later and later and i could never find the "perfect" present for the people i was shopping for. while i still think summertime is a bit too early to start your holiday shopping, i think the earlier you start the better off you'll be. i also find that sometimes it's very easy to get "stumped" on what to get people. this is why i decided to share some of my "ideas" for holiday shopping. some of these "ideas" i either have given and they were a hit, i've liked or i've heard they were good. i hope the holiday gift series will help or inspire you!!

1. fork chops 2. grow your own coffee 3. swiss army knife 4. stainless steel mini flask keychain 5. mobile foodie survival kit 6. beer soap 7. superhero caped socks 8. bacon lollypop 9. cord wrap 10. mustache magnets 

1. touch green gloves 2. seed bombs 3. zoya nail polish 4. disposable camera 5. state dish towels 6. rosebud salve 7. big picture farms caramels 8. cute little pouch 9. wonder woman nail decals 10. emi-jay hair ties

pumpkin decorating party

making my favorite pumpkin cookies!!

On Saturday I hosted my second holiday arts get together. Since Halloween is right around the corner I decided decorating pumpkins would be perfect. I invited a few of my girlfriends to come over and asked them to bring their own pumpkin(s). I provided the snacks and beverages, and artsy fartsy supplies. 

I got the idea for the holiday arts get together this past Easter when two of my girlfriends came over to decorate eggs and I provided the snacks, eggs, etc. All of my friends and I lead pretty busy lives (boyfriends, kids, jobs, pets, etc.) so sometimes trying to coordinate a monthly get together would be hard. That's why the holiday idea was perfect! It's a little easier to coordinate. I'm a person who constantly needs to be doing something artsy to lead a normal life. I also think it's healthy for everyone to get their hands dirty and do something different and creative from time to time. That's why the craft idea was perfect! For each holiday I pick a theme (craft) and provide snacks and beverages that match with that holiday. Since most of us are trying to cut back expenses and save $$ this is also a better option than a bunch of us going out to a bar, dinner, etc. 

I was up since 5am on Saturday (oh, the life of having a baby) and spent most of the day running errands, cleaning, rearranging furniture, baking, cooking, working on stuff for Charlie's party, etc. If it wasn't for that red bull that I started drinking around 4pm I would've been dead by the time the get together started. I loved watching my friends get creative with their pumpkins and see them get creative. I was also excited to see my friends that I only painted my pumpkin black. Well, that was half the reason. I wasn't sure what else I wanted to do to it. I think the creativity was drained from me at that point. Last night's get together was a hit and I'm already planning our next craft! 

all the artsy crafty goodness!

I hung up inspiration just in case anyone needed it 

keeping with the Halloween theme I used vampire teeth (that wouldn't stay close even with glue, etc.)
and I gave each of them a little sponge brush and a pencil. 

trying to break Hope's concentration by playing with a mask that I'm working
on for Charlie's birthday

Hope & Lindsay's baby pumpkins

I nicknamed Jenn's pumpkins the "Honey Boo Boo" pumpkins

glitter seemed to become the theme of the night

Lindsay decided to make a Martha Stewart inspired mobile 

my famous pasta salad (gluten free this time around) was a hit and I finally
put those skeleton arm servers to use! 

Amber's "Sleeping Beauty" pumpkin

Lauren's "gothic" pumpkin. I loved seeing her pumpkin come to life. I also blame her for starting the glitter bandwagon. Still getting it out of my carpet :)

a glimpse into our east coast holiday vacation

Big furry brother meets little human brother 

Rude Elf Reserve aka best beer ever!

I'm currently writing this post with my left hand while Charlie sleeps on my right. We've been busy visiting friends and family this past week. Poor Charlie is all out of sorts from being shipped back and forth. I was informed today by a doctor that it isn't the best thing to do with babies and little kids - yikes! Back to our trip...

Charlie has met most of his east coast relatives and important people in his daddy and mommy's life. On the 23rd we did a tour of Nazareth & Bethlehem. We met up with a bunch of Charlie's dads friends. I finally got a hot dog from Potts' and I was in hot dog heaven! That night my mom offered to babysit Charlie so I could go out with everyone. Haven't had a night out like that in over a year - it was much needed! Even if it did end on a slight hurtful note. This vacation I spent three nights without Charlie and it was pretty unbearable. He was in good hands with daddy and his family but it still hurt this momma so so much. I'm cool with a few hours away but a night is completely overwhelming at this point. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. It's been very emotional the past few weeks. A lot of immature bs has been going on recently. So being around family has been helpful. Safe to say I really wish I could've enjoyed my son's first Christmas a little bit more. This Monday we said goodbye to daddy. I can only imagine how hard this is on him. It's hard for us too. Even though I love having my family around and they're such a HUGE help, I still miss having Charlie's daddy around to share things with. I know Charlie misses him too. Charlie and I will be returning to Jersey tomorrow to spend some more time with Tia Leanne, Grandma & Grandpa before we leave. We also have a wedding on Friday to go to. Then we're back in LA on Saturday night. That's if this momma decides to actually get on the plane. It's been heaven having our families around to share and help out with Charlie.

I hope you all enjoyed your holidays!!