Christmas PJ Breakfast

We hosted a PJ Breakfast with friends to take time to get together and exchange gifts. It couldn't have been more perfect. It was so nice to stay in Pj's, listen to Christmas music, relax and enjoy friends. It seems as if we never really take a look and have time to enjoy each other during the busy season. This was just that, enjoying each other.

We had a waffle bar, eggs, and bacon.

xoxox BristolK

What we have been up to.

Who loves the Christmas Season? Who has a love/hate relationship with it?
This time of year is so wonderful and magical. What about stressful? I know everyone's plate is full and everyone handles stress differently. I try not to think "Well, I am busier than them, why are they stressed" I think everyone has different stress issues to deal with this time of year; whether it's financial, family, or too much on your to do list.
 This Christmas I have made it a point to take a breather and be okay with the sink being full of dishes,the laundry room being full of laundry, my car being a live in elephant zoo and much more.
That's life. Last year I felt that I didn't get to enjoy everything, that it went by SO fast and I was up Christmas Eve excited but dreading wrapping ALL the presents and getting everything ready.
I have been slowly wrapping presents and slowly getting things done that will lead up to the big day.
However, the main thing for me this year is that my kids understand the real reason why we celebrate Christmas and the real reason why we should be thankful. 
On a different note, who's ready to see what we've been up to within the first week of  December? 



Wrapping. Wrapping. Wrapping

I talked about making something different other than our Christmas Tree for all the sentimental ornaments to go on, and all the home-made ornaments to go on. Here is my youngest working on it. Yes, my kids put everything on here.. This was there thing so I let them have a free for all and put them where ever they wanted. 

Lounging on the couch watching the hallmark channel. Cuddled up with Christmas Cozy Blankets.

Kids Christmas Programs At School. I look forward for these programs every year. They work so hard with their music teacher and their music teacher truly puts her heart into their programs. They each are on a different night and last about an hour. 

 On Berlyn:                                                                                        On Kambria:
Dress: H&M                                                                                      Dress: Crazy 8
Shoes: H &M                                                                                     Shoes: Target
Tights: Target                                                                                     Leggings: Target
Headband: Target                                                                                Headband: Target

Ladies Christmas Plate Party. Every year my mom hosts this at her house and it is such a blast. We have been doing this ever since I was little. I have built up an awesome Christmas Plate collection that the kids love. We eat on all the Christmas plates throughout the holiday season. On your new plate that you bring, you put on their 25 treat bags with a baked good. I filled my bags with Christmas Cookie Bark.... ADDICTING!

Dress: Forever21

Jacket: TJ Maxx

Tights: Target

Shoes: Target

Christmas Parade!! This is one of our favorite traditions and we bear it even in the cold and our busy schedules. This year Kambria rode on the float with her Gymnastics team and we watched it. Another favorite tradition? The festival of trees. After the parade is over, we walk over to the Civic Center and hit up this trees.  I didn't snag a picture of them but they are always beautiful to look at and enjoy! Santa is always there for a visit after, too!

What are you busy doing this Holiday Season?

xoxoxo

Christmas Advent Calendar

Lately, we have been obsessed with wood and pallets. I LOVE the look and can't stop swooning over everything!

This year, we wanted to spruce up a traditional advent calendar and take it to the next level.

Ready. Set. Go

This can be used as an advent calendar OR card holder.

Let me tell you about these bags... LOT'S OF LOVE AND HARD work were put into these things. I got different size goodies to put into these so that is why I first had the idea to make my own with the fabric I wanted... because they all needed to be different sizes. The sewing machine was not happy with my husband nor I..... but guess what, they are done!! & another guess what... They aren't perfect.... I am okay with that :) The girls love it!

p.s my house may of been a heck of a disaster for a week while trying to accomplish this and I MAY of filled these the night before December.

Some little sneak peaks of what we put in the bags. 

So, filling a tree with other things besides candy can get pricey, am I right? I was trying to think of other options I could do because I knew I didn't want candy in there daily... (I have about 5 days out of the 24 that have candy) and I made up tags of fun things like; No chore night, Hot coco date with mom, 5 minutes extra on a school night etc. (Basically free). I found cute pairs of gloves, colored pencils, mini chalkboard.

So far I have received positive feedback from the girls. I love that every morning after they get ready, they have their bag ready to open and are sitting on my bed waiting for me to watch in the mornings. 

Total price of tree, bags, goodies? 

Around $80. Which since I did it all for under $100 I was pretty excited!!

Hope you all enjoy and I hope everyone is having a great time counting down the days until Christmas!!

xoxox

Christmas Living Room Tour

Good Morning Everyone!! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and Holiday.
I am on day two of being sick with the flu. I am home today again resting. I have seen so many different posts about Christmas and it gets me so excited! Although, I am not a fan of putting up Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving, to each their own.
We start putting up Christmas on the day after Thanksgiving. Which is a plus in this situation because I didn't start feeling bad until Saturday evening...
Here is a little peek into our living room during Christmas.

First I will show you what my hubby & I put together to display Christmas Cards.

You'll need;
Wreath ( I got mine at Trader Joes & It's real... Any wreath will do, though)
Ribbon ( You can choose whatever ribbon you want to hook on the wreath with)
Chicken Wire
Wooden Large Frame, OR wood to make your own frame.
Heavy Duty Staple Gun

I am completely obsessed with how this turned out. Can't wait to display all your Christmas Cards on here!! 

Here is the wall all together that it is on.

Next up;

I purchased this burlarp from Hobby Lobby awhile ago, and stenciled in "Kantor" with black paint. These cute little Christmas ornaments spruce up a window without sprucing it up TOO much.. Also it helps use what you have.... We had left over ornaments that we weren't using so I just strung them through with this beaded twine I had, hung them on by the window and walll-la! So easy!

Last year we gave the girls a Christmas Book each day as a countdown for the 12 Days Of Christmas. They loved opening a new one up each day, and reading it.. This year they were SO excited to get them out and start reading them again. I love reading stories with them at night, or watching Kambria read to Berlyn. It warms my heart.

Here are our stockings! We use this old ladder as a blanket holder and we are doubling it's usage this Holiday Season by using it as a stocking holder!

I hope you all have enjoyed this little post about Christmas in our living room. Stay tuned for more decorations this week!






It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts:2035