chikaustin
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  • November29th

    3 Comments

    let the season of advent begin

    Posted in: inspiration

    I have so much to be thankful for after hosting Thanksgiving at our house. My family came from near and far to sit down for dinner. Some from Austin, others from Fort Worth, and my uncle won the award for traveling the farthest by coming from Jakarta, Indonesia. Yep, he wins.

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    Now it’s onto Christmas. And this is how we roll. A wagon packed to the rims with three children and bags, and topped with a Christmas tree on the roof. Truly a Griswold family Christmas.

    While browsing the blogs last week I came across a great list for your advent calendar. I really liked it because it was experiences instead of things. I can’t for the life of me find the blog I found it on. If any of you know, please let me know and I’ll give her credit. It’s one heck of a list. Thanks Kim, the advent calendar is from Jordan Ferney who blogs at oh happy day!

    Advent Calendar

    • Go ice skating
    • Watch It’s a Wonderful Life, make spiced cider
    • Exchange gifts
    • Make Christmas cookies for friends
    • Find Mistletoe, hang it in our house and kiss under it
    • Address and mail Christmas cards
    • Go the bookstore and pick out one new Christmas CD
    • Go to The Nutcracker
    • Handel’s Messiah Sing Along
    • Leave out wooden shoes on December 5th
    • Go see a live Nativity
    • Make thick hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows
    • Host a Christmas sweater party
    • Put up a ribbon sash for Christmas cards
    • Donate canned goods
    • Give neighbors a present
    • Put up a wreath
    • Make a gingerbread house
    • Make a popcorn garland
    • Make hot chocolate and read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
    • Sing or listen to your favorite Christmas songs
    • Drive around to see neighborhood lights
    • Go out and see public light display
    • Read Christmas story from the bible
    • Open a gift (new stocking, pajamas, or pillowcase)
    • Make a family traditional dessert
    • Eat out at a festive restaurant
    • Go to a seasonal movie
    • Tell stories of childhood Christmas around the fire
    • Have a romantic candlelit dinner by the Christmas tree
    • Make decorative sugar cookies
    • Sign up to purchase gifts for a needy child
    • Host a Christmas dessert party
    • Write out a Christ-centered goal to start early for the New Year
    • Have a movie party with classic Christmas clips
    • Go to a Christmas concert
    • Attend a city tree lighting event
    • Have a full traditional breakfast while listening to Christmas music

    Of course our list will have a few more kid crafts, such as making paper snowflakes. Do let me know if you have any special family traditions for your own advent calendar. I’d love to hear them.

    ‘Tis the season.

  • November24th

    2 Comments

    tumblr

    Posted in: inspiration

    I need something else to keep up with like I need a hole in my head. I’m just sayin’.

    2009-11-kraftpapertable

    Photo compliments of Country Living.

    A while back I found out about Tumblr and set up my own page. I like to call it my clothesline. A simple place to place pictures that inspire me. Kind of my virtual wish list. My google reader is bursting at the seams and I am inspired daily by the blogs. I read everything from design blogs to mama blogs to crafty blogs to cooking blogs. I get ideas, learn new recipes, and take on new projects. I keep up with old friends, new friends, and the cool kids.

    My cup overflows with bloggy goodness. There is so much good stuff out there. I just needed a place to keep it all organized. Some of the ideas I will do, others I will just dream about. Nonetheless, it is a fun place to go for inspiration.

    There’s a shortcut in the sidebar if you want to keep up with my Tumblr page. And I believe you can follow me on the Tumblr site. Does anyone else have a Tumblr page? If so, I need some friends over there. Let me know how you like it and how you are using it.

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