:: christmas wish ::

this is ned's

what is yours?

♥

regrouping {and complaining}

despite my efforts to simplify the holidays, yesterday pushed me into deep exhaustion.  i raced around to be part of a very hip open studio sale & party, then emily arrived at 10:30 pm.  i was too drained and too depleted to post here.

for six weeks, i have not had time on the weekends to catch up on sleep.  i've been really busy and stressed, with no time to do the things i need to feel good & grounded.  {my friend amber calls this "cycle of neglect."}  it is my own personal recipe for getting sick - and yes, i've got a cold & cough to show for all my hard work.  i have received several "are you okay?" calls from friends who have not heard from me.  no, i'm not really okay.  my life is hugely out of balance.

today i woke to a headache and a messy kitchen.  {ugh}
i washed dishes, cleaned counters, made a batch of scones & a big pot of tea.

now...
do i start making christmas cards?  {have not even started}
on the drive home from the airport last night, i decided that i might not send them this year.  honestly, the kids fought me when i took their picture for the card.  when you look at the photo, will you see my 3 darling kids?  or will you see the agony i went through to take it?  add to that, i deleted my entire address book so i will have to input each address letter.by.letter.  or write them by hand.  {gasp}

today i will take some advil, drink 20 cups of strong black tea, and regroup.

any and all advice {and encouragement to do less} would be greatly appreciated.

♥

show & tell {and felt star ornaments}

for show & tell today,

ned brought his slide-out, wind-up, musical,

spin-around-christmas-scene matchbox

it is his second favorite christmas thing.

{his snow globe from santa is his #1 favorite.}

and he gave handmade felt star ornaments

to all of his teachers

♥

have you seen what my friend jessica is up to?

this is my new necklace that was

♥ handmade by jessica ♥

(freshly finished yesterday)
i {L♥Ve} it!
my 3 favorite names
with 3 kinds of metal
and 2 different chains,
and it has a beautiful hammered texture.

she & i are on the lookout

for a taupe pearl to add to it,
because more is more.

also, check out the new ruched jersey scarf

she has created in my favorite color

they sold out fast and are now backordered

{you can get in line behind me!}

she is always coming up with new designs,

and it was so much fun to work with her

to create my special necklace.

click here to see all of her designs.

email her with any questions or special requests:

jesscall0214@yahoo.com

♥

all aboard the polar express

ned got to wear his pajamas and slippers to school

because today was

:: polar express day ::

his principal was the train conductor.

he collected their tickets & read the story.

they had hot cocoa with marshmallows,

and bunny came home wearing a bell.

♥

p.s. have i mentioned just how much i love ned's school?

handmade holiday :: plaid desk set for dad

start with plaid flannel shirts.

photocopy.

{expect a few raised eyebrows at the copy store.}

cut to fit a large empty can
& hot glue in place.

{we also glued circles of felt to the bottoms & insides of our cans}

trace can with dressmakers chalk 
onto four thicknesses of flannel.

sew along line & cut to trim.

{it's a coaster!}

extra credit:

use a fancy button-making machine

to make a matching button magnet

to hold a note on the can.

:: plaid pen cup ::

:: plaid coaster ::

:: plaid magnet ::

 a plaid dad is a glad dad.

♥

the olympia candy kitchen in goshen, indiana

my dad grew up in goshen.

he hung out at the olympia.

he took me there as a little girl.

he and i took emily there as a baby.

there is an old-fashioned soda fountain

and a super-tall pressed-tin ceiling.

it is like stepping back in time.

you can order a vanilla phosphate {my favorite}

and a toasted peanut butter sandwich.

{or a toasted nut olive sandwich... not sure about that one.}

take a look at their menu here.

whenever we would visit

grandma grace & grandpa weldon,

we would stop by the olympia for a box of

hand-dipped chocolate maple creams.

{the chocolate is swirled into an M on the top.}

you can still order them here.

♥