Got the tree up...PICS!

Last night Mimi and Grandad watched the girls while hubby and I had a date night. It was so great to be alone without the ankle biters! We had an excellent steakhouse meal and then stopped by Academy to get "the" bicycle which will be from Santa.

Then I made the hubbs stop at Tutti Fruiti Frozen Yogurt. Have you guys tried these frozen yogurt bars with the zillions of toppings? So fun...but SOOO expensive in my opinion. I paid over $5 for my yogurt. :?

Mr. FP got down all of the xmas stuff and even put up the tree. Now that's a great date night!

I have about 200 icicles...all from the dollar store! In fact everything on this tree is "thrifty" or homemade.



I can't find my white tree skirt...but other than that it is DONE!
I only put about half the ornaments on this year. It's just getting to be too much, and it's taking the fun out of it. Not to mention 3 year old looove to disassemble and destroy.♥


Anyways...here are just a few shots. I still have more to do. We are having the big Christmas at our house with lots of visitors. I want to get the new house looking blingy for her first Christmas!

Look...you can see the reflection of my little DIY $10 snow village back there...click here to see that post FARMHOUSE PORCH: Homemade Snow Village!

Can't wait to see what the rest of you girls are doing. I love your inspiration!

♥Linsey

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Raise your hand if this is how you feel after Thanksgiving dinner?

Make sure to go for a walk after the big dig (as if that's gonna put a dent in the 5 million calories you just consumed). LOL

But that is what today is for. Family, football and Food, and most of all...giving thanks to God for the gift of life and the blessings and bounty we all have.
I'm grateful for my friends and followers in blogland-

♥Linsey

Tried my hand at making an old sign...

I think I need to sand it once it dries...maybe put some wax or a brownish glaze on it.

Very homemade looking, I know, but I figured the old farm signs were homemade anyways!

♥Linsey

A Natural Christmas

Colorful storebought Christmas decor is amazing. Believe me...I drool over the ornaments section at Garden Ridge! But there is something to be said for a "country" Christmas theme of handmade crafty crafts.

I'm really into the idea of a natural Christmas theme this year. Something about the whites and neutrals,the burlaps, textures, twiggy nature themed found objects strung together with twine and paper and glitter feels so homey and farmhouse to me. It brings the family together...my girls smiling as they stand at the dining table with me helping me glitter our "treasures" and going for walks with me, baskets in hand, as we gather interesting twigs and pinecones.

Knowing that I didn't buy something from China but instead took the time to make it myself. A little messy looking is OK. When I take it out of the attic next year a flood of memories will come back to me. Not memories of standing in line at Micheal's, but of making something imperfectly wonderful with my own two hands ... something magical to my children because we found it on the ground under the trees and turned it into treasure.



Did I mention budget friendly? : )

*For comparison here is the Ballard Designs glittered pinecone ornament. I love Ballard...but 3 for $15 plus tax & shipping???

vs. free...

*Some things are store bought, yet still budget friendly. These little paper churches were $1.97 each at Walmart!

♥Linsey

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Homemade Snow Village!

I worked on these for several hours yesterday. It was a fun project to do, although if you have little girls around it's almost irresistable (sp?) for them as a dollhouse.

The little paper mache houses were $10 total and it took 1 and a half cans of white spray paint (0.97 each), some glitter, and a few plastic pearls. Overall a fun, easy, and inexpensive xmas project.

I may cover each window with parchment paper and put lights inside like this...haven't decided yet...

And how cute are these glittery little church ornaments I found? I don't know if you can see it but I put one in the middle of one of my burlap wreaths...

♥Linsey

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