3rd Day of Christmas: Music Video

Photobooth is our newest activity… it entertains Eva forever! And I must admit, I have fun doing it too!

2nd Day of Christmas: Christmas Outfit Linkup

I’m sure you all have seen that Instagram Husband video by now, right? I showed it to TJ today and we were laughing so hard… then I asked him to take some photos for me for my blog. Because we had just watched the video, he was teasing me so much which made it even harder to take non-terribly-awkward photos for this 12 Days of Christmas Outfit Linkup! Guys, I just will never be a fashion blogger but like I said on instagram, I really love dressing up for the holidays, so why not give it a shot this time?

So, this skirt from the Loft is probably one of my favorites of all time. It’s leather with pockets and has an elastic waistband so I even wore it when I was pregnant! The only thing about it is that it’s on the verge of being too short, so I have to wear it lower on my hips if I don’t wear it with leggings. Oh, well! I still love it. And the top is from Old Navy-got it on Black Friday for 50%. I was going to have TJ give it to me for Christmas but I just couldn’t wait. Button-ups are my jam right now because of breastfeeding. I sure wish I had it in all colors and patterns because I love the fit and the soft material. As for the shoes, they’re just some black wedges from Target I got several years back. I rarely wear heals anymore but these wedges are quite comfy and bearable for the three hours at church.

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Make sure you check out Danica’s outfit linkup over here! She’s my outfit inspiration… I wish I was as cool as her 🙂 !

1st Day of Christmas: Giveaway with Humspun

Since it’s the season for giving, I’ve partnered up with my bestie Laura who makes adorable and unique pillow covers and sells them on Etsy. So, who wants one? She is giving away the Quilted Throw Pillow Cover in Four Corners by Riley Blake! To enter, you must favorite Humspun on Etsy. You can also share this blog post with your friends on Facebook or follow my blog on Bloglovin’ to get extra entries. The contest goes through Wednesday… Good luck!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Christmas Craft Exchange

I hosted a Christmas craft exchange party this week and was blown away by my crafty friends! Everyone was so shy about having their craft be opened, but each one was as awesome as the next!

So, everyone brought one craft wrapped up, then we played the left/right white elephant game and ended up with someone else’s gift. We went around and opened the gifts and the person who made the craft told how they made it. It was so fun and great to see some old friends and chat with new ones!

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Decorated presents (made out of boxes and wrapped with tinsel and garland)
Paper Trees (made from books, folded every thirty pages)
Homemade Purse
Wooden elf block set (decoupaged)

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Floral Arrangement
Leather Baby Moccasins
Advent Calendar
Christmas Print
Ornament Magnets
“Jingle All The Way” Shadowbox frame with bells inside
Burlap and Lace Christmas Trees
Wall Decoration-Wooden Star
Christmas Trees (Wooden and painted)
JOY letters (Wooden and painted)

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Gold Christmas Tree (Folded magazine, spray painted)
Mason Jar Candles with Snow (Epson Salt as snow)
Wall Decoration-Joy (wreath as the “O”)
Crocheted boot toppers

I really love hosting parties, but especially loved this one because not only was it Christmas themed, but also it was so fun to see what everyone came up with to create! Can’t wait for next year!

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One Single Bell

I’m flooding my blog with Christmas videos this week. Here’s another one of my favorites!

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Let Him In

On Monday, I was so lucky to see the amazing Forgotten Carols show with my in-laws. I absolutely loved it. I had no idea that Michael Mclean was actually IN the show, along with his son and his wife! So neat. I was familiar with the music but had never actually seen the play. It really touched me and made me want to focus on the Savior this Christmas season. After all, that’s what it’s all about.

“Yes I did believe them Though I’d not seen a thing
I did not go to Bethlehem Or hear the angels sing
But there was something magic In the air
That made me feel as if I had been there

I knew that as the world moves on through time
There would be more stories just like mine
About the souls who’ve chosen to believe
In something that they never got to see

Do you think you’ll join us Though you’ve not seen a thing?
You were not there in Bethlehem To hear the angels sing
But if you feel the spirit In the air
Then just like me you’d know

That He was here, He was here
The King of kings, And Lord of lords was here”

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One Year Ago

It’s been one year since our magical trip to Disneyland. TJ and I were watching this a couple days ago and he said, “I’m so jealous of myself one year ago!” Me too, TJ. Me too!

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Insta-Update

What the heck? It’s almost the end of November and I’ve barely blogged at all! I feel like I’m constantly playing catchup on here now that Finn has joined our family. Life is busy, folks. And I don’t even know what we’re busy doing, but I do know I wish we had like six more hours each day (preferably after the kids are asleep) to get things done. But there’s not, and I’m sure I’ll start to juggle things better as the months go by. But for now, this is the best I can do.

Life with two kids is still great (overall). We’ve had some bumps with Eva, but are trying some new discipline techniques (such as a listening chart, which has been great) and that’s helped us through. And Finn seems to be a little colicky each night… which sometimes makes me think I NEVER want to have another baby ever, EVER again, but then he’ll fall asleep and be so sweet and cuddly in my arms, so I think I’ll want a hundred more babies. Motherhood is truly an emotional roller-coaster, changing minute to minute!

Let’s see, what else has been going on? This month has been kind of quiet compared to October’s Halloween Festivities. So, we have filled our days with play dates, library trips, Grandma visits, baking, crafts (Eva has been making little bead candy cane ornaments), and Christmas shopping. Eva really likes the play area at the Provo Town Center mall (which is kind of far, but worth the drive for a fun and free activity) so we’ve gone there a couple of times too. We’re just racking our heads for fun activities inside now that the weather has been cold (and sometimes snowy!). Have any ideas?

We are heading to Arizona this week to visit my brother and his wife, along with my parents who are flying in. I can’t wait for our little getaway, we need a little something to break up the mundane life right now.

Well, that’s all for now… here are some instagrams from this month!

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We took some family photos over the weekend and I told Eva she could take photos in her princess dress if she wore what I wanted her to wear first. She posed like this by herself… so adorable and passionate! Haha!

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Whenever it’s snowing, Eva puts on some snow clothes crazy fast (why can’t she put on her clothes that fast everyday?) and then plays on the balcony! This was on the first snow of the season and her excitement was so precious, I nearly cried. Something so simple like a little bit of snow was just magical to her.

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 8.48.39 PMHere’s Mr. Finn yawning the cutest, biggest yawn.

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On Tuesdays at the Megaplex, all movies are $5 and popcorn is $1. So, we took the kids to see a matinee of Peanuts. It was really simple but very cute. I don’t know if the kids liked it as much as we did, but just going to the movie theater is exciting as kid so everyone enjoyed it.
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We bought a Christmas tree (thank you, Big Lots, for a tremendous deal!) and set it up last week. We aren’t decorating it until after Thanksgiving, but I have already loved sitting and watching it each night. I’m so excited for this Christmas season!

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I finally put up some pictures in our bedroom! I also set up a little Christmas tree next to our bed. Our room finally has a little charm.