Hey, thanks for visiting my blog! My name is Kimberly and I live in the lovely, flat land of Central Illinois. My husband and I have one child named Jasper. I get the lucky job of a stay-at-home mom and own a photography business.
I love photography, a clean house, meeting new people, coffee, paper, my fireplace in the winter, dance parties in my pajamas, all things Christmas, almost every kind of music, my hot husband and amazing kid. I hate squirrels, road trips, not having my cell phone on me, and dead batteries.
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Yesterday the weather was so nice I thought it would be smart to get my garland out on my porch. Since I was pulling that container out of the crawl space I figured I might as well pull out the rest. That’s how my entire house got decorated for Christmas so early. I turned on the movie Elf and went to work.
I just decided that I didn’t care if anyone else thought it was too early…I was going for it. Christmas is my very favorite time of year. Why not have the decorations up two weeks earlier than normal to enjoy it?
Merry Christmas from my family to yours. Eat lots of cookies and laugh as much as possible. That’s what we’re doing here.
When I saw this post on Not Martha I instantly thought, “I have to make those”. Forget the fact that I was already planning to make five different kinds of cookies. Forget the fact that I have never made any type of gingerbread cookies before. Forget the fact that I have to have my house clean by Tuesday night.
I spent the evening working on these little things. I was not careful at all when I cut out the pieces so my houses are slightly crooked. However, I think they are darn cute. Since this was the first time making them I just wanted to see if they would work. Next time I will put more energy into them and make them line up better.
I look at this picture and think, “This has to be someone else’s house. How did I get so lucky?”. I love my house. I especially love my house at Christmas time. I’m pretty sure that the number of times I have said the word “cozy” tallies well past a hundred in the past month.
It feels magical. And I feel so incredibly happy that this is our home.
You know, I love me some Christmas movies. As soon as Halloween is over I start my list of movies I have to see during the Christmas season. Here are the ones that I try to watch:
-National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – Oh, the amazing quotes that have come from this movie. And one of my favorite scenes:
-Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas One of my mom’s favorite Christmas movies that has turned into one of mine.
-Elf “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
-It’s a Wonderful Life – I cry every single time I watch it.
-How the Grinch Stole Christmas
-How the Grinch Stole Christmas
And just a few others:
-Home Alone
-Love Actually
-The Holiday
-Serendipity
-The Santa Clause
-Miracle on 34th Street
-Scrooged
-A Christmas Story
-Frosty the Snowman
Wow, that’s a lot of movies. I better get started! What’s your favorite Christmas movie?
I’m not usually one for entering these types of things because I’m about the most unlucky person ever. But, c’mon…look at that bike!
Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.
1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
- Letterpress machine
- Same as every year, a bag by Orla Kiely. This one would do, although I’m not picky.
- New camera bag by *emera
- I’m quite in love with this necklace by Figs & Ginger
- Pretty sure I would rock this Necklush scarf everyday if I had it.
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
I loved the baby gifts my friend Emmy Lou knit for Jasper. Especially the little baby booties.
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
I would love to make a quilt.
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
Probably one of the gifts that got played with the most was when my brother and I got walkie talkies.
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
Since Jasper is too young to make out his own wish list, we’re making it for him. Wooden toys, more books, toys that engage a child’s imagination…
6. What is your favorite holiday food?
Caramels and anything sweet!
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
I might have to whip up a few crocheted scarves.
8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
Hard to choose just one but I’d probably go with “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
9. Favorite holiday song?
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
10. Favorite holiday pastime?
Gazing at the lit Christmas tree until your eyes get blurry and all of the lights look fuzzy. And listening to Christmas music!
Before we even had closed on our house I knew how I wanted to decorate for Christmas. I imagined garland and lights on the front porch and around the front door. And we would definitely have to have a Christmas tree in the front window. It made me so happy to actually see that through.
This year’s Christmas was a little different. We didn’t do the normal morning with my parents since my brother and his wife weren’t coming home until the weekend. We dressed Jasper in his little Christmas outfit that I got for him and my parents came over for breakfast.
After breakfast with my parents, we went to Josh’s parents for Christmas there. Josh’s sisters really nailed the gift thing this year for Jasper. He got a wood train that spells his name, a couple of books, and even an eco-friendly wood letter toy. Christmas evening Josh and I spent hanging out on our couch like any normal evening. We both felt kind of bummed because it didn’t really feel like Christmas. Luckily Saturday came quickly and we had my family’s Christmas.
It was fun to watch Uncle Tony and Aunt Emily play with Jasper. Tony and Jasper even developed their own secret handshake. Jasper giggled and jabbered most of the morning. I think he was excited for his first Christmas.
Besides classic wood blocks from his Aunt and Uncle, my parents got Jasper some really cool wooden toys. We love them! They were totally what I would have picked out.
Jasper has the whole toy thing down. He’ll grab hold of one and shake it, put it in his mouth. It’s so fun to watch him start to play! Of course we can’t help think how much fun it will be next year at Christmas when he’s just over a year old.
It was a very nice Christmas even if it felt strange because we didn’t do our normal plans. I think as you get older it’s hard to feel like Christmas is as special as when you’re a kid. Growing up Christmas was so magical. I have a feeling that each year for me is going to be more like when I was a kid because I’ll be living it through my kid.
Tonight Josh and I are going to have a Christmas movie marathon. We will for sure be watching Elf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I also would like to watch White Christmas and Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. I think this just may have to become a Christmas tradition for us. It’s fun to think about traditions now that we have Jasper. We’re looking forward to celebrating Jasper’s first Christmas!
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!
Christmas is rapidly approaching and I can’t seem to remember that. You’d think I would, considering my house has been decorated since just before Thanksgiving. Over the weekend I realized I hadn’t even thought about starting my Christmas shopping. So I bought and wrapped one gift.
I did end up doing quite a bit of online shopping the other night and should be getting a lot of Christmas presents soon. I just haven’t felt very on the ball this year. Actually I don’t feel very on the ball about anything since I had Jasper. It is slowly coming back though so I have real hope that I’ll get with it by Christmas.
Josh and I always said that when we bought our first house we would get a real Christmas tree. The apartment was just big enough for our little artificial tree. As the holidays approached I got more and more excited about getting a real tree. My parents had switched to artificial years ago so I can’t even remember the last time I’ve had a real one.
Sunday after the snow Josh and I went into town and picked out our first real Christmas tree. We walked through the rows of trees. There were so many to choose from that I had no idea how we’d do it. Just as my toes started getting cold, Josh pulled one out. It was the perfect tree. At about 7 1/2 feet high it was the right size for my front window. It wasn’t too fat that it would take up too much room either. A few minutes later the tree was loaded and we were on our way to Starbucks.
I spent the afternoon putting lights on the tree and then we decorated it with our new ornaments. I think it looks just perfect and the smell is amazing. I walked downstairs yesterday morning and felt like I was about ten years old. It definitely took me back. I don’t even mind the pine needles on the floor. It is so worth it.
