Holiday Lights

This post is quite late in the month to be much help for this year, but I know I'll be pinning if for next years outdoor decorations.  Jenna of Hey Homeslice had a really original lighting idea and put together a great tutorial for you.
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Hi everyone! Thanks for having me again, Natalie. Today I'm going to show you a project we worked on this month. I know it's close to Christmas- but this is a really simple job. You can knock it out in a few hours and have your own holiday lights star ready just in time for the big day!

Materials:

1 x 2" strips of mdf

Screws

Drill

Handsaw

Measuring tape

Paint/ stain

Christmas lights (we used 5 or 6 100 light strands)
Extension cord (optional)

Lay out your boards until you have a star shape, don't forget to measure to make sure your sides really are even. Nothing worse than finishing a project just to notice it's a little lopsided!

Mark your boards so you can realign them if things get a little wonky. Things always get a little wonky.

Next just drill some screws in where the boards meet, we did two at every intersection just to make sure it was really strong.

Now saw off any excess wood at each star point and in the middle so you're left with something like this:

We liked the wood raw, but I think it would be really beautiful painted in an extra trim/front door paint, or even stained! Now all you need to do is wrap a zillion lights around it, and it will be gorgeous!

So romantic and beautiful, and full of holiday spirit all at the same time. So, what do you think? Do you have a spot on your house/garage/barn/loft/apartment building/igloo for a giant star? It looks beautiful outside, but I think it could also be a fabulous statement indoors. It also makes a perfect last-minute gift for those who are hard to buy for!

Don't you just love holiday lights??

25 Days of Christmas and Our Advent Calendar

Greetings from my couch!  Yes, I'm still sick on the couch.  The good news is I'm just out of my first trimester and the worst should be over soon.

My goal for the Holidays this year is to sit back at enjoy them!  Usually there's so much going on that I grit my teeth and plow through, not stopping for breath until Christmas has come and gone and then I'm full of regrets.  This year I've had plenty of down time to plan ahead and finished up all my shopping last week (all from my laptop!) and laid out our 25 Days of Christmas so there's no chance for the "too busy" excuses.

I splurged on this advent calendar from Pottery Barn kids this year and couldn't be happier with it.  

I just finished putting together the activity tags to fill the pockets.

Everyday we'll pull out our activity for the day.

 25 Days of Christmas 2011:

1 – decorate the kids’ tree + letter to Santa

2 – EVMCO Christmas concert

3 – EVMCO Christmas concert + frozen yogurt

4 – Christmas Devotional + hot Cocoa and popcorn

5 – draw names for sibling gifts

6 – Maddie’s school concert with cookies

7 – snuggle and read Christmas books

8 – Colby’s school concert with cookies

9 – decorate Christmas cookies

10 – shop for cousin gifts + wrap

11 – gingerbread houses

12 – make + deliver neighbor/friend goodies

13 – deliver neighbor/friend goodies continued

14 – homemade gifts for teachers

15 – Christmas carols + hot chocolate

16 – Christmas lights in the car

17 – take kids individually to shop for sibling gifts + wrap

18 – act out and read Nativity

19 – family dance party

20 – pack for Utah

21 – first half of drive + hot tub at the hotel!

22 – finish drive to Utah + Christmas Village in Ogden

23 – take Frontrunner train to lights at Temple Square + Discovery museum

24 – sledding + open sibling & cousin gifts +sleepover with cousins

25 – Santa’s here!

Let the fun begin!

Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving!  We're headed over to my parents' house in a little while to hang out and have a delicious lunch.  I'm really looking forward to the stuffing, but I think my brother might be in charge of it this year.  He'd better not ruin it!

I have so much to be grateful for this year and I've narrowed it down to my top four.

1.  Zac.  He definitely tops the list for me this year.  (This is going to make me weepy.)  He's been amazing these last six weeks of pregnancy sickness.  He's been the dad and the mom while performing 95% of the domestic duties around here…all on top of his 9-5 job and grad-school.  And, in the midst of all he's had going on, he's managed to dose up unearthly amounts of sympathy on my part.  I feel incredibly lucky he's mine.

2.  My 4.25 beautiful babies.  I love just about everything about being a mom and they've been making it pretty darn easy to lately.  I realize how lucky we are to be adding another little one to our family.  I know so many don't get this opportunity and I feel so grateful for this little peanut in my belly.

3.  My mom, dad and sisters.  They've taken my kids more times than I can count lately.  To the park, sleepovers, to the pet store and more sleepovers.  They've been relentless in their help.  My mom calls everyday to see how I'm doing.  If it's a bad day she says, "I'll be there in twenty minutes to pick up the girls" and then magically she's here.  Their weekends lately have been overrun with my kiddos and I'm so grateful.

4.  You.  I am so grateful for those who read this blog and those I call my "internet friends".  You keep me motivated and make my job so easy.  Thank you!

I hope those of you in the states have an amazing Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Prep

I'm in charge of two of the desserts for our feast this year - a pecan pie and, my most favorite, a strawberry cheesecake.  I made the pecan pie yesterday and it didn't turn out so well, so I'll be making another one tonight.  Right this moment this deliciousness is in my oven and it smells wonderful.

All I can say is that I'd better be feeling well enough to enjoy it tomorrow and keep it down!  If not, I'll be making another one in a few weeks just because and I will be eating it all. by. myself.

If you're a cheesecake lover, you won't be disappointed with this one, it's the best.  Hands down.

I finished these cutie pilgrim costumes for the kiddos yesterday.  They're so excited to wear them and it's given me something to do that doesn't involve just sitting.

Find the tutorial here on MADE.