My guide to all the amazing gift guides already out there..

I follow a few blogs. Okay, a lot. And I have seen soooo many great gift guides from those blogs this year. I didn't want to assume you follow all of these blogs too and have seen these guides, so I brought them to you. Hurray!

1. A Cup of Jo Holiday gift guide for the whole family. I can't tell you how many times I saw something that would be perfect for the people on our lists this year. She has ones for brothers, sisters, moms and dads and even your little toddler. (Some of my favourites were the portable bonfire log and enamel lockets).And you can see them all in this one link. Perfect.

2. La Buena Vida gift giving guide. Nicole Frazen (a chef and photographer, and otherwise very creative person in many areas I'm sure) put together a few ideas that I love. Very stylish for your home.

3. Design*Sponge's $50 and under gift guide. They actually have Tech gift guides, guides for Jewelery, pet lovers and more. So maybe just go to their site and take a look at them all!

4. Little Green Notebook. A little something for everyone.

5. A Beautiful Mess. Emma's December wish list. Lots of pretty ideas for the lady (or ladies!) in your life.

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What are some things on my wish list this year?

La Tartine Gourmande cookbook. Looks amazing! And of course Smitten Kitchen, Sprouted Kitchen or Julia Child's entire set  of Mastering the Fine Art of French Cooking would also be lovely.

This incredibly beautiful Michelle Armas print.

PJ's. Like real ones, not the leggings, nursing tank and Joe tee I wear to bed.

A beautiful scarf.

Stacking bangles because pretty jewellery is always nice to have.

Wren and Ellie's initials made into this necklace. Would also make a great mother's day gift...

And a backpack so I can finally ditch my tearing, worn out diaper bag! (These ones are cheaper and also extremely cool).



We aren't quite done our shopping yet, but I have to say that shopping online makes this time of year so easy when you don't have to fear the crowds at the mall. It would be fun to try shopping elsewhere this year if we must go to a store. Maybe Whyte Ave or 124th Street this year?

Mason Jar Snow Globes.

I followed a tutorial here to make my own mason jar snow globes. The craft inspiration came from Anthropologie, and I'm happy to say that they are incredibly easy to recreate!

Cute hey??

I went back to the Anthropologie website to see how much theirs actually retail for. The price is ridiculous, a globe like below retails for about $40...!

Mine couldn't cost more than $3 to make. That's pretty crazy. 

This one from Anthro below retails for about $28. Yikes. 

If you have a hot glue gun and can go out and buy mason jars from the grocery store, fake snow from Michael's (with a 40% off coupon that they have going all the time), and fake mini trees from the Dollar Store, you can actually do this craft in about 10 minutes...and I mean like make 8 of these at least in 10 minutes! It's really that fast. They also make great little Christmas gifts!

Christmas crafts all over the place

The girls and I went to Michael's yesterday. We had a coupon. We went crazy. 

Okay, no, I saw crazy there and we were not it. They need to make bigger carts for the crazies. But I got what I needed and zipped out quick. (It's very clear I have a huge aversion to big, busy places...note: Costco).

In the last couple of days I pounded out some serious decor...

Paper Christmas Tree.

I should have used bigger paper cut outs. This took me a long time. But was not hard. It gets a 4/5 for being a good and easy craft!

Red burlap Christmas tree. This wasn't really a craft. I cut my burlap into strips and wound it around the tree. Easy factor..5/5.

Snow globes. 

I couldn't find mini trees yesterday (but my sister did at the Dollar Store so I'll also make some of those in snow globes) so we improvised for today with ornaments. Easy factor? 5/5. Super fast, and you can use any jars you have, not just mason jars. Just watch out, that fake snow is messy business!

Chinese lantern wreath. No link, sorry, just thought of it myself. I bought a flat, cardboard ring and hot glued all the lanterns on. I could use a few more lanterns to make it more full and completely cover the ring...but I ran out. Easy factor- 4/5. Bird ornament was our own. 

Okay people! Get inspired to DIY if you are caught up on all your Downton Abbey and have nothing else to do!

(Someone awesome burns the episodes for us and we just finished Season 3. WHOA.)

I love How-To Websites!

Okay everyone, prepare to be amazed. Like all things that are new, I get really excited for several days, my brain going crazy with ideas and then I relax and go back to normal. Such a thing has happened, but I'm still in the crazy stage of this discovery. You can calmly go on with your day if you have already seen this site...

Knock Off Decor

Oh.Em.Gee.

I wanted to get Ellie her own monogrammed ornament this year for the Christmas tree. I bought Wren's at Anthropologie 2 years ago and wanted to get the new one that came out this year. I took one look and went..."Uh you have to be kidding me". C'mon Anthro, how can you charge so much for this?? This pipe-cleaner looking wonder??

On Knock Off Decor, they have a tutorial on how to make your own. I wish all the sticks in my yard weren't covered in snow. Hmm. But once I am past that hurdle, I can't wait to try this!

Anyway, get lost in browsing how to make the stuff you see in some of your favourite stores for way less.

Speaking of overpriced Anthro stuff, we are going to attempt to make this snow globe today. Woo hoo! I always have a million mason jars kicking around. Wish us luck.

Head Shots!

The head shots are in, and they are super cute. Amanda did such a great job! Take a look...

Wren.

Ellie.