Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope everyone's Christmas was wonderful! Mine was awesome. Robert and I had Christmas at our house with my family for the first time! It was great. Everything turned out perfectly and I wasn't hyperventilating in the kitchen. No cooking disasters or anything! Here are pictures of our winter festivities:
Our Christmas Tree
My winter/themed desk
My decorating theme was inspired by Narnia (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), The Snow Queen, and The Polar Bear King. Some of my favorite fairy tales. And of course I had to get out my Narnia bookends :)
This is me and my husband, Robert, at a local performance of "The Nutcracker". I hadn't been able to go in years and I'd never been to one with Robert, so that night was really special for us.
This is a better view of my dress. I found it at a thrift store earlier this year. It was a bit long for me, so I cut it and was going to hem it but my sewing machine is having issues at the moment. I waited until the day of to do this (of course) so I ended up just wearing it without hemming, and hoped no one would notice :D I think I'm just going to add some black lace to the bottom edge, instead of simply hemming it.
The Christmas Day spread on our Dining room table.
I made gluten and dairy free gingerbreads and peanut blossums. Robert is allergic to both, so over the years I've learned to substitute. The chocolate chips I used do have butter in them though. Robert tested better with butter, so he is able to have it, just not a lot. There is white cotton candy (or fairy floss!) to the left, and dark chocolate non-pariels ( or snow caps as I prefer to call them) to the right.
The Winter Place Settings
Our stockings, above the little fireplace my sister created when we were kids!
A ball of mistletoe! I found this at Lowes and originally it had red velvet ribbon with a bell dangling from it. The bell hung at just the right length, so that tall people passing under the doorway would get bonked on the head. A.K.A. - Robert.So, I found some blue snowflake ribbon I had laying around, cut off the red ribbon and the painful bell, and glued on the new ribbon. Voila, a bunch mistletoe to match the rest of my decorations!
Some of the Snowflakes we made together.
This was a Christmas gift for my sister. I bought a plain white plate and mug at the dollar tree and drew on them with a black sharpie. After drawing, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and pop it in for 30 min. Design is permanent and safe! I got the inspiration off of Pinterest. They are both Narnia themed. The mug says "How would it be if you came and had tea with me?" and the plate says "It's only just 'round the corner, and there'll be toast and sardines and cake." She loved them! Well that is all for now! Today I've been taking down Christmas decorations and thinking about New Year's resolutions. Keeping life simple and trying new things are some of them :) I think my brother plans to take us to see The Hobbit DOS tonight...I know, I haven't seen it yet! Enjoy your Winter! You shall hear from me soon :) ~Mary
My blog has been pretty quiet for the past few months, I'm sorry to say. I had every good intention of blogging (at least) monthly, but life caught up with me. There was always something else that needed to be done :P Like dreadful housework! It's never ending. I need to learn how to juggle things better or at least set a time or day to do this and that.
But, here I am now! I'll just fill you in on a few things that happened these past few months....
The Halloween party was a success! I'll try to post pictures soon, even though it's December already! Yikes! Where does time go? I was able to throw a costume together for myself and Robert. I was very pleased with the result. I mostly used things I already had for both of our costumes. Robert's Phantom costume consisted of his black wedding suit w/ a black dress shirt, a black cloak I had made him several years ago, black gloves, a black tie that I tied to look like a cravat ( I wanted to make one, but ran out of time), his black dress shoes, and a phantom mask I made out of plaster cloth to fit his face. That was a bit of a challenge, but it turned out all right for my first one :)
For my costume I used my white lace cami from Maurices, a medium length, white slip, my white nylon stockings, a lacey sleeveless, V-neck shirt that I found at a garage sale for 25 cents (SCORE!), a 2 yds. length of lacey white material my Dad brought home for me, which I used for the skirt ( I just pinned it where I wanted it) and finally, a dressing gown made from leftover lace from my wedding and my nieces baptism. I made my own pattern out of newspaper for that. I LOVE it!!! It came together so perfectly AND I didn't have to spend much on it!
So yes, pictures. SOON!
Thanksgiving was nice and relaxing. We went to my Mom and Dad's on the day, ate far too much, and watched behind the scenes on "The Hobbit - The Extended Edition". We also played games. The Saturday after we went to Robert's family's Thanksgiving and did about the same thing except for watching Hobbit stuff :D
We also saw two movies in theaters over the weekend.
Number 1: Frozen
I LOVED it! Lots of singing and I especially liked that it was roughly based off of Hans Christen Anderson's "Snow Queen", which is one of my favorite fairy tales :)
Guess who my favorite character was?
Did you guess yet?
How 'bout now?
If you guessed right, then yes, it was Olaf!
He is hilarious!
Number 2: Catching Fire
I liked it and I THINK it stuck to the book pretty well. I read it over a year ago so it's hard to remember. I loved the costumes! There could have been a bit more coverage on some of Katniss' outfits but that's Hollywood for ya. I didn't really like the wedding dress they picked for her though, it looked really uncomfortable.
I loved their entrance costumes in both 1 and 2. The hair and make-up were awesome.
So after a fun weekend I'm back to the grind. I'll be working on Christmas presents for the next few weeks and other decorations. I need to finish decorating tonight. This year we are doing a combination of themes: Snow Queen/Polar Bear King/Narnia.
I have been so looking forward to autumn. This is the time of year when my love of creativity is renewed and I feel like I can do anything! I have already started three crochet projects :) And if I remember to take pictures of them I'll share them with you, but for now I'll just tell you what they are.
2. A Civil War Handbag - I also had already begun this, a few years back actually, but that aside I am determined to finish it by the time our local Civil War re-enactment comes around, which is at the end of this month. See? Deadline. (In my defense, I have already completed three of these lovely handbags. This one is for my sister.)
3. Fingerless Gloves - This I started in August, but felt guilty about the scarf and handbag soooo this is being put on hold at the moment. The yarn is scrumptious though! Lion brand Amazing yarn in the "Glacier Bay" color.
I love being busy with crafty things :) So as I've been dreaming of autumn and all the loveliness that comes with it I decided that I am going to have a Halloween/Phantom of the Opera party! I'm so psyched :) I haven't had a family get together at my house yet and I've just been itching to have something. *Squeals* And I love throwing parties :) I also have no limits to decorations ( now that I have my own house) so this is going to be so much fun!
Here's a list of my favorite things about Autumn: 1. The colors - Burgundy, Sage, Burnt Orange, Brown, and Yellow, and Black. Ah, me! They set my heart a-flutter. 2. Leaves - I happen to like raking leaves and they are so full of color. Especially the red ones :)
3. Long walks on a brisk fall day with someone you love. And a scarf. Don't forget the scarf.
4. Creative-ness - I feel so much more inspired and inclined to make things during the fall season. 5. Tea and Cider - I don't like drinking hot things during the summer, so now I have an excuse :) I'm not a big fan of tea, but I'm a bigger fan in the fall and winter months. 6. Pumpkins and mums - The smells, the colors, the look, what's not to like? 7. Halloween - I LOVE to dress up. This year I think I'm going to be Christine from the Phantom of the Opera and have my husband be the phantom. He doesn't mind :) I don't think he would dress up if he didn't have me to give him a nudge, but he draws the line where he wants it. And hey, at least my costume ideas are cool :D
I'll stop there for now. I could go on and on and on but then we'd be here forever. What are your favorite things about autumn? Planning a Halloween costume yet? I'd love to know! As for me, I will be planning away :) BYE! ~Mary~
This tag was started by Amy, whose blog I just started following :) Really fun idea Amy! I'm excited :)
I found Amy's blog through Treskie who I believe is her sister? (Correct me if I'm wrong!) Check their blogs out people, they are pretty cool :)
Anyways. I decided I would do this. Because it's AWESOME!
Feel free to join in! All you have to do is answer the same questions and/or do an extra blog post of something Disney-related. I'm not sure if I will do the Disney post yet....keep checking though! I plan to do a lot more posting than I have in the past. A LOT more.
Amy drew this. Isn't it wonderful? Okay, on we go. Here is the first question:
1.) What is your favorite Disney Movie?
Snow white and the Seven Dwarves! I've loved that movie for a long time. The video at our local library practically lived at my house while I was growing up :D I wonder why we never bought it...:) I have my own copy now though!
2.) Favorite Princess?
This is a hard one. Ummmmm....Sleeping Beauty/Princess Aurora/Briar Rose. Whatever you want to call her. I loved that movie too :) She was just so pretty and she liked to sing. And I like to sing. So yeah, she's probably my fave. I also like Giselle, Rapunzel, Merida, and Snow White a lot.
3.) Least Favorite Princess?
It's a love/hate relationship really. I liked her more when I was child, but not so much now. It is none other than: Ariel. I'm sorry! I love mermaids (well, certain mermaids) but this one... *grimace*. I didn't like how she was dressed, how she was really disobedient, and how desperate she was to become human that she would give up her own VOICE! And that hair. Let's just not get into shall we?
4.) Do you like drawn animation or the computer animated movies better?
I like both. But if I had to choose I would say drawn. I mean, can YOU imagine drawing all that out? I can't. So there.
5.) Favorite Male Character?
TARZANNNNNN! No questions asked.
I mean, who doesn't want a good looking, muscular man to sweep them off their feet? Just me? Oh. Okay. *embarrassed face*
6.) In your opinion, who was your favorite villain?
Maleficent.
She was just so EVIL. I mean, c'mon, look at that face!
7.) What is your favorite Disney hairstyle? ( I just had to ask that one!)
Although I also like several of Giselle's in Enchanted.
Pretty :)
8.) What is your favorite story?
Probably Beauty and the Beast. Whether reading it or seeing it, I've always loved the story. My second favorite would probably be Snow White.
9.) Which one has the best romance?
I really liked the romance between Tarzan and Jane. It was just cute :)
10.) What is your favorite Disney song? *Mrhrhrhr* (Yeah, narrow it down to one!)
Okay, make it even harder why don't ya ;)
I like a lot of Disney songs but for now I will leave you with these lovely numbers.
"Once Upon A December" from "Anastasia".
"Can you feel the love tonight" from "The Lion King"
"I'll make a man out of you" from "Mulan".
11.) What is your favorite costume?
Again, only ONE?!?!
Okay, I really liked the blue dress Giselle wore in Enchanted. I might have to make one.
AAAAND of course, Rapunzel's purple dress in Tangled.
12.) Would you rather go to a ball with a midnight curfew or get lost in the forest and keep house for a bunch of dwarfs?
I'm not very good at dancing ( I don't like the attention :P It's a bit hard to dance when people are watching me.) And I'd probably be late for my curfew.
Organizing, cleaning, and keeping house is my thing. It's what I'm good at. So yeah, I'd say I would rather keep house for a bunch of dwarfs instead of having everybody stare at me at a ball. I like balls, but not that much.
13.) Who is your favorite non-human character?
Abu or Timon would be my first picks.
Ooooooh, and don't forget Maximus!
14.) Do youwant adventure in the great wide somewhere or would you rather just be on an island of your own?
I would take both. first the adventure(s) then the island :)
15.) What Disney movie is most likely to make you cry?
16.) What character do you mostrelate to?
Definitely Rapunzel. This would be me if somebody broke into my house.
17.) What scene used toscare you the most?
The part where Pocahontas saves John Smith. That was really scary to me as a child.
18.) Do you like Aurora's dress better in pink or blue?
BLUE! For goodness sakes, anyone can see it looked better on her when it was blue. I thought it was dumb when Disney chose to advertise her in the pink version for everything. It was probably because Cinderella's dress was blue and they needed more variety :P
19.) Have you seen The Great Mouse Detective?
Yes. A long time ago, but I remember liking it. I should see that again sometime soon.
The girl was so cute in her tammy hat and scarf!
20.) What Disney movie, in your opinion, is the prettiest? Story aside, characters
aside, what movie is just the most fun to look at?
I always thought Mulan had some pretty scenery. Especially the scenes that involved cherry blossoms. Oh yes :)
Wow. I'm done?
My sentiments exactly.
So there you have it! Please join, spread the word and have some fun! I did :)
