Coffee and Cross Stitch

What a whirlwind. | Scrapbooking

And just like that, it's December 30th.  Christmas is over, and we're gearing up for the new year.

2014 is gonna go out with a bang, and 2015 is gonna be wicked awesome.  You heard it here first.

But, before we get that clean slate on 1 January, here's a peek at my full December Daily album.  I had a lot of fun making this album, mainly because I decided to stop hoarding all my Christmas paper and embellishments.  They're not doing any good laying around in my bins, so I did the best I could to use most of what I had for this project.  I'm actually really, really proud of myself - I didn't buy any new Christmas paper before OR after Christmas.  THAT takes an insane amount self control, my friends.  Hooooo boy.

I'll start where I left off in my last post about DD --

Day 9:  kiiiiinda lame, since I have no pic for that day, but I like the tree printable on the facing page...

Days 10 & 11:  Day 10 is from the Anthropolgie store in Rittenhouse Square.  It's one of my absolute favorite buildings of all time - they kept most of the original architecture intact from this house when they converted it to a store.  It's absolutely stunning inside.  I took this from the ground level floor, looking down to what used to be the kitchen in the basement, where they have their  home goods section.  Day 11 is the gigantic tree in the Liberty II building in Center City, one of my favorite trees to see each year.

Days 12 & 13:  I'm eh about Day 12, but what can ya do.  I may switch this up, I may not.  The pic I chose is the light show from the old Wanamaker's building - now Macy's.  Day 13 is the wreaths in the arches at Macy's, which are in the area of the light show.

 Days 14 & 15: Day 14 is of the tree and the tops of some of the shops in the Christmas Village in Love Park, right outside City Hall.  Day 15 is a snap of the handmade gift tags I made for all the gifts this year.  Just a simple stamp on a kraft tag (that I cut out using my Cricut, but you can use pre-made tags) that says "I'm dreaming of a white christmas" with red glitter embossing power, and red baker's twine.  Boom.

Days 16 & 17: Day 16 is all about the Santa display at Pottery Barn.  I wanted everything on that table.  Day 17 is a little stitching I've been doing when I should be doing 47 thousand other things.  (yes, i stamped directly on that photo of my stitching - Staz-on ink works on any surface!)

Day 18:  Day 18 gets a two-page spread.  It's the day my nephew was born! I'm an honorary aunt to many of my friends' kids, but this time I'm an aunt to my sister's first baby!  Welcome to the world, Carrick James!

Days 19 & 20:  Day 19 is when I was able to see the baby - the day he was born, I didn't get the chance to see him, but when I went back the next day, I was able to see him and hold him for a while.  Day 20 is the ornament I made for him for his first Christmas.  It's a Prairie Schooler design, from the Christmas Tree Farm chart.

 

Days 21 & 22: Day 21 is a snap of a house in my neighborhood whose lights are the rosary, and they have a manger scene below.  I've never seen anyone do anything like this, so I had to get a snap.  Day 22 is a snap of the cards I made this year.

Days 23 & 24: Day 23 is hot chocolate and White Christmas.  The best Christmas movie ever.  I have to watch it at least 46 times during the Christmas season, including on Christmas Eve.  Day 24 (Christmas Eve) is a pic of the altar at my parish church before the vigil mass. 

 Day 25: My mom and I went to my sister's house this year for Christmas, since it was only a week after the baby was born, and that way she didn't have to go anywhere, especially since she's not supposed to take the baby out in the cold.  I took a quick pic of the tree and mantle and of the table, and she sent me the one of my bro-in-law with the baby in his Christmas bib. The facing page is a quote from one of my favorite Christmas movies - Christmas Vacation - and I thought it needed a place in this album, so I used it as the final page.  Clark's freak out is so great.  My other favorite line?  "Why is the floor wet, TODD?"  "I don't know, MARGO."

That wraps up my December Daily for 2014!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate)!!!  What are some of the traditions you have?  Did you do anything new this year for Christmas?  Did you do any Christmas crafting?  

 

Christmas Stitching

Even though I have about 47 things I should be doing, stitching seems to always find its way to the top of the list.

Especially when it's cute Christmas stitching.

I've been obsessive about reindeer for the past year, so this piece has been ridiculously fun to stitch.  It's "The Night Before Christmas" from Prairie Schooler.

 

Simple. Colorful. Love.

Mini Treats.

Today marks the second of two office Christmas parties.

It's the best day in the office.  Ever.

Food all day long.  Not even kidding.  From the second we all walk through the doors until the second we leave, it's wall to wall food.  Breakfast, lunch, desserts, snacks, you name it, we're eating it.  It's a bit ridiculous, actually. Throw in some holiday trivia games and a gingerbread house building contest, and it's a good day.  Then, it's off to happy hour to celebrate the season.

Remember that insane gingerbread cake I made last week because I was dying to have some?

Well, I made it again for the party, but this time as mini loaves, so I can give it to my friends.  Food gifts are the best.  And if it's gingerbread?  Total win.

 

Have you had your office Christmas/holiday parties yet?  Do you make food gifts to give to your friends and/or coworkers?  What do you make?

This month is already flying... | Scrapbooking

It's hard to believe we're already at 8 December already.

I mean, really.  There are only 17 days left till Christmas!!  I need to start binge watching my Christmas specials.  I still have some saved on my DVR from last year - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (anyone else remember that one??  The one where the clock stops and the mouse and the clockmaker have to fix it so Santa knows it's Christmas????), The Grinch (the original cartoon, not the Jim Carey version), It's a Wonderful Life....I need to watch them ALL.

I also need to watch White Christmas as many times as humanly possible in the next 17 days.

Each day has kinda flown by, but I have managed to keep track in my December Daily album.  Much of it routine, but that's ok. 

Day 3 was just a day where I didn't feel particularly like I needed a photo, so I journaled what I was feeling.  There are some pretty awesome things happening this Christmas season, so I took this time just to jot it down in my album.  I also got my first Christmas card last week - I decided this year that, instead of saving my cards in a separate album, I'd incorporate them into my DD album as I get them.  Much easier that way.  Day is kinda hidden...because I forgot to slide the card over and take another shot...(sigh)...but it was the day I sat in Starbucks and wrote out all my Christmas cards.  (yes!  they're out! they're mailed! i can barely believe it myself!! check your mailboxes!!)

 

Days 5 and 6 are just foundations pages at the moment.  Day 5 has journaling for that day, but I didn't print out the picture I wanted for that slot up top.  Same goes for Day 6 - I have the pic, just didn't print it yet.

Day 7 was all about this PHENOMENAL gingerbread cake I made.  I was busy cleaning and purging and gathering clothes to donate to Purple Heart, and took a break for a smidge to bake.  I'd been craving gingerbread for days, and I decided to just give in and bake.  I much prefer darker gingerbread, and was skeptical of this recipe when the batter turned out pretty light.  However, it baked up super dark and moist, and OH.MY.GOD is it good.  I made it gluten-free, saved a couple pieces for myself, and took the rest to work.  There is no way I can allow this to stay in the house.  It would've been completely gone by now had I not cut it up and put it on a plate to bring into work.  Also, it's iced with a cream cheese frosting.  Next time, I'm making a chocolate frosting for it.  The thought of that....I can't even. (if you want to try your hand at this beyond delicious gingerbread, the original recipe can be found here on Joy The Baker's website)

Gingerbread is seriously one of my favorite things....ever.....

That's all I have for now!  This week should fly by as well...one of our work Christmas parties is this Thursday, which is always a good time, so we'll all be anticipating the celebration!

How is your Christmas season so far??  Have you done any baking?  Have you put up your tree?  Do tell!! :-)

 

December Daily: Day 2

Well, I'm already a little behind, but that's ok.  I have photos mapped out for yesterday and today, so at least I'm on track to being somewhat up-to-date.

Here's Day 2:  I spent the bulk of the night sewing a nursing cover for my sister.  I promised her one as part of her baby shower gift, and was so busy getting other things ready for the shower, this project was a victim of me running out of time.

 

While I sewed, I had "Charlie Brown Christmas" on tv in my bedroom.  Somehow, I always miss the airing of this special every year, but my mom reminded me, so I put it on while I worked, AND set my DVR.  I refused to miss it this year!  I found this printable of Linus's speech, which I resized to 5x7, and put in a 5x7 Project Life protector.  Perfect addition to the day, and a reminder of one of my all-time favorite Christmas specials.

So, that's Day 2.  

I also changed my cover page - I didn't like the 4x6 I originally had in there.  

There's a moose now.  Much better.  

December Daily: Day 1 | Scrapbooking

I am seriously determined to keep up with this album this year.  Seriously determined.  Having a photo printer this go-around will hopefully help with that.

Yesterday was your regular run-of-the-mill Monday.  Nothing crazy to report.  I did continue working on a few projects, including making envelopes for my Christmas cards.

I haven't gotten to fill in the squares on the facing page yet, so I just put squares from the scraps after I made the envelopes for my Christmas cards.  Making envelopes might be my new favorite thing to do.  Ever.  I got the templates from Paper Source (same place I got the envelope liner templates which are also super fun to use), and the Cavallini paper I used I got after Christmas last year when it was super cheap.  Since I didn't make each card different this year, I decided to make a few fun envelopes instead.  Totally worth it.

The 3x4 cards up top are from Project Life (left) and Stitch In Time (right).  The stamp set I used for the #1 on the card on the left is from Cavallini.

Tea was close at hand last night...it was a dreary night as we wait for some cold air to come our way.

Hope you all had a great start to your week!  Are any of you doing a December Daily album this year??

23 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!