Our Christmas Card 2014
This year we were extremely blessed to have been gifted a photo session (for Ara's birthday back in March) from a beautiful family friend & photographer Christy Leiter! She is a new Mama herself to a gorgeous little one and has always done such wonderful/beautiful work. She is amazing & didn't even mind (at least not too much as the damage/my editing was already done... lol... yay for family friends! but seriously I won't take advantage next time) that I took WAY too much artistic freedom with her work to create this year's silly Christmas Cards: THANK YOU CHRISTY!
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Ara was generally kind of grumpy & attached to Daddy- I know disbelief!
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Ara's Portrait
So since our Miss Thing was so clingy with Daddy... I caved & scheduled a session last minute at a (shall remain un-named) portrait studio. We had much better luck capturing my truly happy baby's smile :) & Here is one of my faves.
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Cross Necklace Gift from Great Grandma Sue
Dress from Gammy Holly |
Outdoor Decor
I brought out Mr. Frosty! The last giant piece of Holiday Decor my (in case you didn't know... late) Father made for outside of our home in Newark. His arms & shovel screw on and off, but he most certainly remains a beast to move in & out of a town home basement. Luckily I have an amazing Husbie... Also we have decided that he will stay out till spring!
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Mr. Frosty, Exterior Paint on Plywood
Russ Campbell 2007 |
So my step dad is crazy handy & has the unfortunate task of making all the pins I send my mom on Pinterest. Definitely sorry I'm not sorry because he was sooooooo kind & made two of these crazy cute log snowmen! Mom has one & I have one too! I think he secretly likes these little creative projects (why else encourage me by gifting me one!?) or he just loves my mom that much... most likely a combo of both.
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Photo by Christy Leiter Edited by Yours Truly :D
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Main Living Area
I LOVE decorating for Christmas! Like dis-tastefully so! During the holidays my already well knick-knacked home seems to shrink exponentially due to my cramming shelves, tables, walls, doors or any nearly clear semi flat surface with my "holiday joy". Below you can see my use of sconces to hang stockings, planters to hang ornaments & a glimpse of mistletoe hanging from our ceiling. Donnie & I shared our very first kiss (k, fine... with each other) under this same ball of fake mistletoe circa 2004? or 2005... oh dear apparently it only takes about 10 years for things to get blurry.
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Blogging Parent trying to Take a Picture Use of Highchair Level: Expert
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| Media Shelf & Substitute Fireplace |
Lego Bathroom Sneak Peak
Ok so it isn't a secret if you have been over... but our downstairs bathroom is Lego themed. It, however, is not "finished" in my humble opinion. So here you can catch a glimpse of our little tree, colored towels & Lego Reindeer!
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Why he didn't come with a red nose option I'll never know.
Donnie says he has a red piece... but he didn't find it for me.
#Husbieshaming |
Christmas Art Project
In my cluttering up any/all space with Christmas I most certainly do NOT forget doors. This wall space is our downstairs bathroom door. I had the two top pieces of decor in place & immediately knew in my heart of hearts that the bottom was completely NECESSARY. Enter our first ever toddler painting project: despite all preventative measures... paint ended up on the carpet (I totally washed it out), on my shirt, on my bra, on my jeans but clearly mostly on my toddler (ok & the intended poster board).
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Funny Note: I ended up hot gluing this thing to the door to get
it to stay... at the end of the season I was able to remove it with
little to no damage to the paint on the door...
I DON'T RECOMMEND TRYING THIS UNLESS I'M PRESENT |
Toddler Christmas Decor
Her room could not simply go untouched by Christmas. That would be a dis-service to the holiday. This was mostly not clever & a bit of a hot mess that involved me stashing my own beloved childhood Christmas decor items along with some that she got last year just wherever I could.
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| Because EVERY child needs 3 "1st Christmas" plushes |
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| Didn't YOU know that the 3 wise men had to travel over a pink bear? |
Star Wars Bedroom Christmas
Okay so I put my "girly" tree with pink & purple ornaments in here... and it totally worked. Also I decided that our Canes also got to reside in here. Alas we didn't get one from this year... (National Lampoon Christmas Vacation Themed!... I guess it saves me the heartbreak of having to pick between Eddie & Clark)
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ONE LOVE
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| The Star Wars Wreath I made Donnie the year we got engaged :) |
We'll Have A Blue Christmas...
In our bathroooooom.... This is where all my snowy blue wannabe Jewish decor gets displayed. I believe the first year I did it my good (Jewish) friend Davida made fun of me for it.. I am undaunted though. My love for Christmas will not be constricted solely to the traditional Green & Red decor... no.
Most Importantly Yay!
Well that's how everything LOOKED around here, but otherwise we had a WONDERFULLY blessed Christmas & I am so very thankful for all of the quality time we have had together making memories with our little one. I am also VERY thankful for how much less cluttered my life feels once Christmas is packed away!
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| Christmas Day Smiles |
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