Christmas Decor

It's not much of a secret how much I love Christmas and decorating for the holiday.  This year it felt extra special to decorate our house for Christmas.  Some of my decor were passed down from my grandparents like the "marble tree" and "Merry Christmas" banner, and others were an easy DIY like the pine cone garland.

Wish List :: Christmas Presents

{Google}

I have a few things on my Christmas wish list this year that I'm hoping to see under the tree in a few weeks. 

1) iPad :: I've been wanting an iPad for multiple reasons, and one being that I have a two hour commute everyday and would love to look at a screen larger than my iPhone. 

2) Love Actually :: Every year for the past few years I've heard of people watching Love Actually, and I can't believe that I've never seen it!

3) Weekend trip :: Although I only live a couple hours from Seattle it's been years, like 10+ that I've been in Seattle for longer than a day. I would love a weekend trip to Seattle or San Francisco.

4) Nail polish :: I just bought a bottle of Sally Hansen complete manicure on clearance at Target and now want it in every color.  It really is a complete manicure, and it dries super fast!

Christmas Weekend

How was your Christmas weekend? Mine was wonderful, I got to spend some quality time with my bf and family and was spoiled by each of them.  In addition to the presents, I was lucky enough to have a great walk on a spring-like Christmas day, and several rounds of games!

1. My bf and I after we celebrated Christmas early

2. My new camera! I can't wait to learn more on how to use it.

3. Cozy new JCrew slippers!

4. Christmas night Jenga game

5. Will Zumba Fitness 2, love it.

Merry Christmas

I'm so excited, and a little in disbelief that Christmas is this weekend.  My boyfriend and I are hopping in the car and going to my parent's house to spend the holiday with them.  I hope that everyone has a safe and happy Christmas weekend!

Outfit Crush

{Note to Self}

I am beyond excited to recreate this simple, casual, and comfy outfit over Christmas weekend.  Oregon, and in particular Portland has been particularly bright and sunshiny this December, and I am welcoming it with open arms.  So much that I'm willing to risk cold toesies to rock some heels that are otherwise left for dryer months.  Rock on December, rock on, I knew I always loved this month for a reason.

Over the Weekend

Over the weekend my boyfriend went up to his mom's house to celebrate Christmas with her.  It was a really nice weekend, and the sun was out for most of it which made it even better.  We got dinner on the harbor, went to see Sherlock Holmes. played cards, and opened presents.  It was a great start to the Christmas festivities!

1. Snacks and my boyfriend's moving hand during cards

2. My love and I

3. Our Christmas tree before and after

Christmas Baking

{Google}

If you were to come over to my apartment, you would find me knee deep in a baking marathon that started last night.  One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to bake a lot of goodies and give them to my friends and family.  I'm making very similar items that I made last year, and it's something that I look forward to do every year.  Happy almost Friday! :)

Tree Accessories

{Double Glass Sphere}

{Glitter Glass Snowflake}

{Striped Jolly}

This probably isn't the first time, and most likely not the last time that I'll talk about how much I love decorating for Christmas on the blog.  Each year, for as long as I can remember, my brother and I have been able to pick out a new ornament from our parents.  It's something that I look forward to every year, and I choose carefully. In the beginning, I'm sure I wasn't as thoughtful with my choices, but now I think about how long I want the ornament, and want it to be timeless.  I hope that you enjoy a few of my picks!

Weekend Wrap-Up

 {Lights on Peacock Lane}

 

 {"City" lights of Roseburg}

Thursday night I celebrated Christmas early with my boyfriend, we went to Henry's Tavern for dinner, and then to Peacock lane, since it turns out the Christmas ships had already stopped for the year.  It was one of the best nights I've had in a long time and can't think of a better way to celebrate.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend.  Santa treated me very well this year and I got a lot of things on my wish list, and was able to spend some wonderful time with my family and both of my parent's cats!  I have to admit, I was beyond happy to be back in Portland yesterday after an almost five hour drive (a lot of wrecks and rain!) it was nice to order some pizza and play a board game. 

Tonight I'm going to a get-together at Bridgeport Brewery in Portland. Can't wait to hang out with more pals!

Holiday Goodies

This week I've been baking like mad.  I plan on giving some treats to my boyfriend's parents, my parents, and my pals so I wanted to have a good assortment.  I made Rolo pretzel treats, cranberry, oatmeal, and white chocolate cookies, peppermint bark, and sugar cookies that I bought premixed to support a local childrens' hospital. 

Tonight I'm celebrating Christmas with my boyfriend, I plan on going out to dinner and to either Peacock Lane or the Christmas ships to see Christmas lights.  Tomorrow I'm driving to my parent's house to celebrate Christmas with them.  I hope that you have a wonderful holiday and weekend!

Christmas Decorations

I thought I would share some of the decorations that I've made and put up in our apartment to make it feel more like home.  With the exception of the ornaments on the tree, all of the decorations are made from things I had around the apartment, and they were all so simple to make!

  {Picture "wreath" on the refrigerator or another surface}

 {Magazine Christmas trees - instructions in this post}

 {Paper ring garland}

{Christmas tree with silver and blue ornaments and clear Christmas lights}

Christmas Stocking

Even though I already have a stocking at my parent's house, I felt like making one for my apartment.  I found the idea on the Better Homes & Garden's website and it couldn't have been easier.  It only took a few items to decorate this stocking, and just a little bit of time.  I chose to decorate my stocking with simple rick rack, but you can decorate it anyway you want.

 {Stocking, scissors, rick rack, Tacky Glue}

{Apply a thin line of glue to the rick rack, and press down on stocking to adhere it}

 {Finished stocking, I wrapped the rick rack completely around the stocking and then cut off the excess.}

Does anyone have any ideas on how to hang the stocking when I don't have a fireplace?

Jingle Bell Rock

I am in full force Christmas spirit, I've been looking everywhere for Christmas decorations and even just seeing Christmas lights puts a smile on my face.  This holiday is and always has been so wonderful to me.  I've also been gathering some wonderful decoration inspiration from these pictures:

 {Via}

{Via}

 

{Via}

 {Via}

 

Christmas Wish List

{Acrylic Recipe Card Holder}

{Boyfriend Style Watch}

{Eat Pray Love}

 

{Fun iPhone Cover}

{EA Active 2 Workout Game for the Wii}

{Cozy Sweaters}

Although I am currently in a shopping ban for the 30 for 30 challenge, I have been thinking about my Christmas and birthday list.  It's both a blessing and a curse to have my birthday just nine days after Christmas, it really makes me think about various wish list items, and gives my boyfriend some clues about what to get me - hint*hint.

P.S. The best part about all of my wish list items is that they are all under $125!