Happy New Year's Eve!

This has been the longest after Christmas and before New Year's week ever.  Well, it seems like it to me!  I'm super pumped about the launch of our January challenge #30dayhomies starting tomorrow morning but for now, let's look back at the last year.

Year in Review

2012 began with the birth of my sweet baby girl Bella.  She was born on January 19th and she completed our foursome perfectly.

Click here to view these pictures larger

Everything has been pretty low key until August when my sweet nephew, Wes, was born.  And then my son, Rich turned 3 and we had a construction birthday party complete with a homemade bulldozer cake!

Of course, I have to include the beginning of my blog in October and I also decided to go back to school at the end of October.   November was time for my Pearland girls Annual Aggie Tailgate with all of our kids and our craziness!  It was so much fun!

 It's been a great year and I look forward to what 2013 has to bring.

Fav Posts of 2013

I was so proud of my Paper Plate Workout.  I thought it was so fun and so different!

I loved my Cozy Coupe Redo.  Bella loves to tour the neighbor in her pimped out ride.

What were your favorite posts?

Best of 2012: Movies I saw

I like a good movie.  But I'm just not really a big movie person.  The whole spending two plus hours of my day sitting watching a show is just too much time idle as far as I'm concerned.  But every now and then I will watch one and I'll actually like it!

• BEST IN THEATER:  The Dark Knight Rises.  My hubs and I saw this about a week after the massacre.  I was petrified to go but my hubs has his CHL and I always feel safe with him and I really wanted to see this movie AND we had a babysitter, so I had to go!  Despite all the terrible circumstances surrounding the movie release, it was actually a really good movie.  I didn't understand anything that Bane said but the twists were totally unpredictable and I love that I didn't know what was going to happen.

• CHICK FLICK:  I don't think I even need to put this down because it was strictly for chicks!  Hello, Magic Mike!  Hmmm, yes, Channing Tatum is HOT! 'Nough said.

• LOVE/ACTION: I'm sure this would be considered a chick flick but This Means War was sweet.  My hubs and I saw it with my two month old in the movie theater because I was nursing and couldn't leave her that long so I was nursing a baby in the theater!  I think Reese is a class act and she had two hotties fighting over her.  Semi predictable but I liked it, it was quirky.

• CAUGHT ON THE DVR:  

1. Crazy Stupid Love - This was so cute.  The twist was perfect and the actors were great!  Funny and engaging and my hubs and I watch it whenever we run out of DVR shows.
2. Snow White and the Huntsman - Liam is a hottie even though Kristen is sorta lame.  Whateve, it was a good show.  Charlize Theron was an amazing evil witch!  I love the turn on the typical story of Snow White to make it dark!
3. Red Riding Hood - Maybe not a great movie but it was entertaining.  Apparently everything has gone dark but it was popcorn worthy.

Best of 2012: Best Music

This was a fun to make list.  I love listening to all different sorts of music and since I've been pretty much only listening to Christmas music until today, it made all these songs seem new again!  I was slightly forlorn to turn on my car today and the Christmas station had gone back to the Variety station that it is for 11 months of the year.

Well, I've gone through the Billboard top 100 of this year to remind me of songs that have come out over the year and I had so much fun remembering! 

• Somethin' 'bout a truck, Kip Moore - this song just makes me want to go back to college, crack open an ice cold beer, and feel the hot sunshine on my shoulders.  Seriously, it is like 20 degrees right now and I can listen to this song and feel like I'm in the middle of summer!
• Some nights & We are young, Fun. - Some nights is a quick reminder of when my SIL was in the hospital after she delivered my nephew.  The nurses were listening to it and it just made me feel so happy.  We are young is a great sing a long in the car at the top of your lungs, I mean who doesn't love to do that?
• Goodbye in her eyes, Zac Brown Band - The Zac Brown Band did it again.  They've come out with a song that I do enjoy BUT it still sounds like the rest of their songs so...
• Red, Taylor Swift's new album - ok, I know this isn't just one song but I love Taylor Swift so I had to write her whole album on here.  Her music takes me back to when I was in high school and appropriately describes so many difficult feelings you go through in adolescence and she's a class act.  What a great role model for our young girls!
• Home, Phillip Phillips - I don't watch American Idol anymore so I don't really know his story but I do know I like this song.  Good stuff!
• 21, Adele - I love Adele and all her throatyness!  Sassy and splash.
• Somebody I used to know, Gotye - My hubs likes this song so much that he made it his ringtone.  We saw them on SNL and they sounded awesome.
• Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepson - She is so darn cute!  And this is definitely a poppy sing along song that doubles as a peppy running song.
• Starships, Nicki Minaj - So Nicki is kind of strange but some of her edgy-punk-rap is great for my workout mixes.
• Sexy and I know it, LMFAO - Sad they broke up but this song is fun to workout to.  It helps me rev up my engine to try to talk myself up.
• I won't give up, Jason Mraz - Pulls at my heart strings.  Jason Mraz makes great music and this song did not fail in the greatness department.
• Boyfriend, Justin Bieber - The Biebs made my list.  I have not been a fan of his music until this year.  I'm still slightly creeped out by how young he is but I have to admit the kid can make a beat bump.
• Ni**as in Paris, Jay Z & Kanye - When this song comes on and I'm running I get PUMPED UP!  "What does that even mean? No one knows..."
• Tailgates and Tanlines, Luke Bryan - Takes me back to high school pasture parties!
• Pontoon, Little Big Town - I want to go to the lake NOW!
• Domino, Jessie J - Poppy, fun and I want to sing along.
• Want you back, Cher Lloyd - Geez, I'm such a sucker  for pop songs...
• Red Solo Cup, Toby Keith - As much as I don't want to like this song I can't help but sing along.  Toby Keith was awesome back in the day but this song made me want to go play Beer Pong.
• A Thousand Years, Christina Perri - This came out last winter and I remember turning it up everytime I heard it.  Home girl has got a beautiful voice.

We'll as strange and random my list is I couldn't leave any off.  See any you can't live without, look below and go get them for your own playlist.

No Resolutions!

I am not a resolutions type of gal.  Very year after Christmas I just fret about what I'm going to do different next year and each year I try to avoid all the "So what is your resolutions for next year" questions because I am quiet embarrassed about not having a big list all ready of what I'm going to change about myself.

Thing is, I try to keep on these sorts of things all year.  If I want to change myself, I'm going to attack the issue when it arises versus waiting because, honestly, I'll probably forget about it and then it'll just never get done.

But I understand this works for other folks, why else has it stuck around this long?  So I'm finding a middle road and I think this will be a fantastic challenge for both of us extremes.

I read an article in Self mentioning Kristen Bell's twitter challenge to her friends last year.  It was called #30dayhomies and she was challenging them to "help friends get off their hiney holes" and do something active every day for 30 days.  I love the idea!  I love to work out but I don't do it every day so I thought this would be a super charged way to jump into the New Year with something fun to do!

Interested?  Check it out...

<center> <a href="http://www.shecookscraftsruns.net/p/30dayhomies.html" target="_blank"><img alt="She cooks, She crafts, She Runs" src="http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q642/aggie06sara/30dayhomiesinfobutton_zps1b953ebd.jpg"/></a></center>

#30DAYHOMIES

This is about you and what you can do for YOU!  We are making a vow to you that we will do something active every day for 30 days, but you have to make that same vow to us.  

Starting January 1st, do some thing active, whether it's walking the dog, doing some 1 minute planks, or running a marathon, every day through January 31.  The gimmick, you HAVE to tweet, leave a blog comment, or post on our Facebook pages WHAT you did, EVERY DAY with the #30dayhomies in the comment and tag one of us hostess bloggers!  Also, grab the blue button code above and use it in one of your posts declaring your dedication to #30dayhomies, link to my page, and leave me a blog post comment telling me of your dedication and I'll be sending you some Sweat Pink shoelaces!

As for your daily commitment, just get your workout on and post to one of the three venues and one of the three bloggers but you MUST be accountable every single day.

Check out my fabulous cohostess,  Sarah from How My World Runs.  She's a fellow runner and workout enthusiast!

Run out of ideas?  Get bored easily?  Well we are here to help you with that too.  Check out our blogs for fun circuits, elliptical workouts, ab attack ideas, or just things to do outside that will keep your workout brain challenged.

And we couldn't ask all this without some rewards (other than your banging bod), we have TONS of great giveaways we'll be unveiling all month long to keep your motivations revved up.

If you are in it to win it, it's super easy to get started.

1.  Register here and grab the buttons.  Please place the small blue snowman #30dayhomies button that is on the top of my sidebar somewhere on your Facebook and blog.  Please grab the blue snowflake button shown up above in this post and include in a post on your blog showing your commitment and tweet or facebook it.

2.  Leave a blog post comment on my blog letting me know you reposted the blue button above, leave a link to your post, and your email so I can get your info to send your free shoelaces to you!

3.  Stay accountable!  EVERY SINGLE DAY tweet, Facebook comment, or leave a comment on my blog telling me what you did and use the #30dayhomies to trend it.

Here's an example:

@mamafbfan Ran 1 mile and did 10 lunges! #30dayhomies

4.  Keep your eyes open for our super awesome giveaways we'll be having all month long!  Sneak peak alert ***Handanna, Columbia Muddy Buddy, Nuun*** Just a few of the TONS of prizes we are giving to YOU!

Have questions?  Feel free to leave a blog comment and I will happily get back to you to make you successful.

Best of 2012: Books I read

I LOVE the radio marathons of all the tops songs from the year that play on New Years Eve.  I'm totally one of those people that hear a song and immediately am taking back to a memory.  Sure some of the memories I might would rather forget but usually it's that warm, fuzzy feeling of something from my past that comes rushing back to me.

Today, I'm taking you down my 2012 road of reading.  I love to read.  I totally get whipped into buying a book by it's cover and title and summary.  Sometimes, just sometimes I'll read a book because it's been referred to me but I have to be in a certain mindset for a book and it just has to tickle my fancy!

2011, was the year I read all of the Harry Potter's. 2010 was the year I read all of the Chronicles of Narnia (yes, I know they are old but that's just when I got around to it).  2009 I spent an entire month with my nose in the Twilight books whenever I possibly could!

This year, I guess was the year of 50 Shades.  Yes, I read them.  But I really didn't think it was all that great.  The love story was sweet but I thought it all was just overplayed and predictable.  Seriously, the handsome, filthy rich guy falling in love with the poor I-had-no-idea-I-was-cute girl and her being kidnapped or threatened and him saving the day is just too predictable for my taste.

Whateve, here's some of my favorite reads that I read this year (notice this does NOT say published this year because I don't think they were all released this year).

• QUICK READ: Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger

Photo courtesy of About.com 

Seriously I love Lauren Weisberger.  She has these great quick reads that take me straight to NYC living the glam life!  This particular book was a slower mover than most but still good.

• PARANORMAL:  Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Photo courtesy of Goodreads.com

I don't really know what these books should be categorized under but I would call it a Paranormal love story.  This is the second of the All Souls Trilogy and I LOVED the first and this one.  Seriously, it's about a witch and a vampire that fall in love and time walk.  Can it get any cooler than that?

• HISTORICAL FICTION:  So this is a big list.  I have a terrible habit of falling in love with a series and when it's over I feel so empty because the whole thing is all over!  This is why I love historical fiction.  I can get taken to another time and place and live a life with someone I've only known a little bit about, like their name.

1. Madame Tussand by Michelle Moran - All I knew about Madame Tussand was there is a wax museum with the name.  I had no idea she lived during the French Revolution and was caught on this tightrope between the common life and the King's family.  Very well written and I could not put it down.
2. Three Maids for a Crown by Ella Marth Chase - 3 sisters are royal cousins with an insanely ambitious father.  So good!
3. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory - This is about Elizabeth Grey and her family.  I have been scouring the bookshelves for books about this family every since reading this and the next book.
4. The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory - About Elizabeth Grey's mother and it's so good.  It's starts out with a bit about Joan of Arc even.
5. Roma by Steven Saylor - I found this one at Costco and was fascinated by it.  It's a history of ancient Rome through the life of a family.  Lots of drama and ties in pieces of history you already know to make the timetable relatable. 

I hope I have as many good books on my lineup next year.  I have a few on my Amazon wishlist that I hope to get to.  If you have any great books please tell me about them so I can check them out myself.

White Christmas

Ok, I think this is my last post on Christmas for this year but I have to share.  My both of my kids are so lucky to have had a White Christmas for both of their first Christmas's!

R was 3 months old when we got stuck in a blizzard for 25 hours in our car Christmas Eve 2009.  Not fun, I was scared but my hubs was amazing and got us to Wichita Falls by 5 am Christmas morning.

This year, we were at our home in Fort Worth, Texas and it snowed about an inch yesterday.  Today we came to my in laws in Wichita Falls, Texas and got to play in the snow that was much more plentiful here!

By the way, check out my cool lil blue snowman button on the side bar.  Keep tuned because I have an awesome event coming up in two days, one hint...it's called #30dayhomies!

Christmas Eve gift

Santa stopped by our house!

My family is very blessed.  My kids have one set of Grandparents, a Great Grandma, an Aunt and Uncle, and a cousin to spend Christmas morning with.  Then after some present opening, sausage bread, and cinnamon rolls another Great Aunt and Great Uncle are coming in for Christmas dinner and more presents!

Those family members that can't be here will be greatly missed!

God bless and I hope sugar plum fairies grace all your dreams tonight.  To this day, if I hear strange noises at night on Christmas Eve, somewhere in my sleepy head the thought of reindeer prancing on my roof makes me smile.

Christmas Cookies!

Last week my friend and I had our "kids" decorate cookies together.  Ok, my friend and I decorated the cookies but the kids helped a little!  But the cookies turned out really good and they had fun with the handful of cookies they actually did decorate.

Today I'm going to share with you two recipes, one of which is seriously AMAZING!  First is a Ginger bread recipe that I snagged off of Allrecipes.com.

Gingerbread Men

• 1 package of butterscotch pudding mix
• 1/2 butter
• 1/2 brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg (I added the nutmeg because I LOVE nutmeg!)

Cream the pudding mix, butter, and sugar together.  Stir in the egg.  Make a dry mix of the flour, baking soda, and spices then add to the wet mix and stir till combined.

I left my dough in the fridge overnight and it was perfect!  I rolled out the dough on the countertop dusted in flour and then cut out the ginger men and baked in the 350 oven for 8 -12 minutes.

Now, drum roll please!  Seriously these are like THE BEST SUGAR COOKIE you will ever have!

Leslee's Sugar Cookies

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cup flour (I used cake flour and I added about another 1/3 cup since I was making shapes from the dough)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• OPTIONAL: I added a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg because that's how I roll!

Cream the butter, shortening, and sugar together.  In a seperate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices.  Once the butter/shortening/sugar mixture is smooth add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well.  Then slowly add the dry mix.  Once well mixed, lay out a large piece of Saran wrap and put about 1/2 cup of sugar on the Saran wrap.  Coat your ball of dough in the sugar and wrap up.  Put it in the fridge for 1 hour or let it sit overnight.

When you want to start making the cookies just sprinkle some flour on your countertop and roll out the dough till it's about 1/4 inch thick and cut out the shapes.  And bake in the 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.

If you are just wanting regular round cookies then roll the dough into 1 inch round balls and then roll in some sugar and place on the cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Let cool on cookie sheets and decorate when all cooled.

For our cookies we used two icings, a buttercream that hardens and a thinner more decorating icing.

Buttercream Cookie icing

Simply mix 1/4 cup butter, a dash of heavy whipping cream, and enough powdered sugar to thoroughly thicken the mixture so it will harden.

Now, the buttercream does not harden as much as the next but it's just so yummy I can't resist!

Decorator Cookie icing

Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tsp milk, 2 tsp light corn syrup, dash of vanilla extract, and a dash of almond extract till it's a nice thick, smooth consistency.  Then add your food coloring and decorate!

Paper Mache Christmas trees

I've been eyeing these cute little decor trees they have everywhere.  Unfortunately they are all more than I'm willing to pay!  So I picked up some foam cones from the Dollar Store for $1 a piece and made some paper mache trees of my own!  

I used some foil and duck tape to secure it and wrapped it in Saran wrap so the cast would come off easily.

Ta da!  Paper mache tree!  I would definitely suggest leaving the bottom of the cone un-mached so you have something to grab ahold of when you are trying to remove the cone.

Then you can add the decorations.  I had three different molds so I made three different textures.  I used some green yarn for my first.  I simply used hot glue to attach the yarn and added it as I looped it around the tree.

The second I spray painted white and covered it with mod podge and white glitter.

The third, I'm not going to lie, still isn't finished.  I had some coffee beans I thought might look so woodsy and natural.  But unfortunately it takes forever to hot glue coffee beans to a paper mache cone so it's only half done!  

 Hopefully I'll get it done in the next day or so!

Christmas Party Playlist

This is a small glimpse into my favorite songs for the Christmas season.  Seriously the day after Thanksgiving I am tuning my radio to Christmas stations and I don't let go until the day after Christmas.    If you are looking for some goodies, check out my playlist for some greats!

I hope ya'll are all having a great weekend.  I'm trying to make my way around Texas seeing family and I'm looking forward to seeing my sweet baby's faces on Christmas morning!

Christmas mantle

It's almost Christmas and I am just now sharing my Christmas mantle.  Shame on me!  But for what it counts I made a change that I think really helped it out.

First, check out the before.  Cute but needed something vertical!

Now, with the Santa quartet!  So maybe not perfect but it'll work for this year!

Santa's!  Even the golfing Santa!

As for the rest of my mantle, it's just things I've slowly been putting together over the last few year.  Some white light garland, some green, red ,and white ornaments, and of course my stocking holders.  I love my gold stocking holders they just seem so antique but they are from Hobby Lobby.

I'm pretty excited about my new, big addition to the mantle, our new Pottery Barn Kids stockings.  I LOVE them!  They are the perfect mix of sweet and pretty!

Liebster Award and Literary Link Up

Liebster Award

Sunday evening I mulling around my blog trying to get stuff set up for the week as a comment pops up from a new blogging friend.  Sarah from How My World Runs nominated me for the Liebster Award.  Thanks Sarah!  You are great new friend and I'm so excited about what we are "cooking" up!

So here's the lowdown:

1. Write 11 random facts about yourself
2. Answer the 11 interview questions you've been given by the person who nominated you
3. Create 11 new questions
4. Nominate 11 bloggers and mention them in your post
5. Go and tell the person who nominated you and your nominees about your post

11 Random factiods about lil ole me

1. I love my kids more than anything, they are like air to me
2. I am not a very good cleaner, I hate cleaning house but I do it because it makes me feel better
3. I love to cook, I'll cook for you but will you do the dishes?
4. When I run, 90% of the time I'm pushing two kids in a stroller
5. I have a BOB Duallie Revolution and I believe that is the ONLY way to go
6. I have breastfed both of my kids for the first year, I'm working on talking myself out of going more than a year with my 11 month old right now
7. My hubs is the best hubs ever, he is truly amazing to me and our babies
8. I'm going back to school to get a Masters in Nutrition to be a Registered Dietician
9. I'm an Aggie and I bleed Maroon WHOOP!
10. I love to read, but I have to be excited about whatever I'm picking up
11. I'm addicted to Hobby Lobby

Questions from Sarah for me:

• When did you start your running or fitness journey?

I started running in middle school but started playing soccer in 3rd grade.  I've been involved in some sort of physical exercise pretty much constantly since then except a brief lapse during my lazy college drinking days.  

• What is your favorite form of exercise?

Playing volleyball.  As much as I love yoga and running, I just ADORE playing volleyball and if I'm ever given the opportunity to play you will have to drag me off the court!

• What is your favorite food?  Healthy or not.

Wine and creme brûlée.  I know wine isn't necessarily food but with creme brûlée I have to call it my favorite meal.

• What would your dream job be?

I'm doing it, except I'd like to get paid for it!  I love being home with my children and there is no where else I'd rather be.

• What is one goal you have for 2013?

Learn to plan ahead in my blogging.  I feel like I'm always playing catch up and everyone else is ahead of the game.

• What is your favorite song in your playlist?

Right now I'm loving my Christmas music.  Christmas Wrapping by The Waittresses is one of my all time favorites.  I'm even going to have an Ultimate Christmas Playlist this weekend of all my favs. 

• Favorite piece of workout clothing/accessory?

It's a toss up between my BOB stroller, my iPod, and my Brooks running shoes.  I love em!

• What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas!  I just love the magic!

• Do you have a favorite book?

I can't say just one.  I love the Harry Potter books, JRR Tolkien, and historical fiction like Phillipa Gregory and Ken Follett.

• Do you have one piece of advice for fellow bloggers?

Be nice to other bloggers.  It's not nice to ignore others and it hurts feelings when you are being ignored.

• What would be your favorite place to travel to?

Europe.  I just want to take the train and go all over with my hubs. 

My Nominations:

• Be Crafty. Be Creative. Be Cute
• Can I get Another bottle of Whine with my morning quiet time?
• Enjoying the Epiphany
• Glamorous, Affordable Life
• Goings on in Texas...
• The Recipe Critic
• Tales from the Nook
• The Taylor House
• Homemade Ginger
• House on the Way
• The DIY Dreamer

Nominees here's your Q's!

• Why did you start blogging?
• Have you ever been to a blogging conference and if you  could go to one which would it be?
• How do you plan your blog posts?
• What is your favorite holiday to decorate for?
• What is your favorite holiday to cook for?
• If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
• What is your favorite album?
• What is your favorite movie?
• Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall?
• What is your favorite TV show?
• One piece of clothing you could never live without.

Thanks for participating and I look forward to hearing from you!

Literary Link Up

Check out the Literary Link Up via http://www.bytheporchlight.com or http://taylornorris.blogspot.ca/

QUESTIONS

1.  What are you currently reading?  

I'm not currently reading anything.  I really want to start the Hunger Games since I so pitifully quit reading Anna Karenina because it got too long and drawn out for me.  I just got so tired of hearing Kitty complain!

2. If you could choose any author in the world to write a story based on your life, who would you choose to be the author? Why?

Candance Bushnell, she makes everything sound so glamorous!

3. Tell us about your favorite place to read.

I love to read before bed in the comfort of my bed but lately I've just been reading from my phone while sitting in the glider nursing my baby.

4. What books would you buy for lovers of 

a) suspense/mystery - James Rollins book

b) chicklit - Anything Candance Bushnell, love her girly glamour!

c) comedy - ?? I've been wanting to read Tina Fey's book

d) literary fiction - Jane Austen!

e)nonfiction - The Beatles the biography

f) classics - I love O Henry.  Or Dickens

Broken hearted

DIY Christmas Burlap Signs

I'm loving the cute Burlap decor fad right now.  I made a "Witches feet" sign for Halloween and my girlfriends loved it so much that I decided to have a little get together to help them make one of their own.  I gave them the choice of the Santa above or the Rudolph that I drew below.

Supplies:

• 1 yard burlap folded in half
• Mod podge or fabric stiffener
• tempera or acrylic paint
• sponge brushes
• jingle bells
• Red nose for Rudolph
• plastic bags
• thin wire
• tulle or ribbon
• metal clothes hanger

Apply mod podge or fabric stiffener to burlap that is folded in half like above, this will help you not have to use so much paint.  Be sure to have something behind the burlap because the applied product will soak through and do this step 1+ days before you want to paint.  I just used a old plastic table cover that I saved from a birthday party.  

I drew the Rudolph and Santa on 4 pieces of cardstock that I taped together and cut it out so I had a pattern to follow to cut the burlap to.

Just lay the outline on top of your burlap and have a cutting safe background under the burlap.  After it is cut out use fabric glue to glue the edges all together.  I found it easiest to use my fingers to apply and press it together as I made my way around the edge of the pattern.  Be sure leave a small opening at the bottom of the pattern that you can get your hand through to push the plastic bags into to make the side dimensional.

 Start painting.  You can follow the basic colors from the examples above or make your own changes.

Once you're done painting let it dry mostly and make sure the glue is dry.  In the Rudolph cut a metal clothes hanger so it is just long enough to fit the height of each antler and gently reach into your creation and push the wire so it fits in the antler and repeat on the other side. 

Now fill the inside of your creation to your liking with plastic bags and glue the hole shut.  To give yourself something to hang it with you need to cut two small holes on each side and loop some thin jewelry wire through and to your desired length, mine was about 1 1/2 feet.  On the Rudolph you cut one hole on the base of the head where the antler begins on the outer side.  On the Santa, I made the holes on either side of the base of his hat. 

We made a Santa and a Rudolph and they turned out so cute!  My friend added ribbon and a cute bow tie.  I added jingle bells all over Santa's beard because I thought it would be cute.

Menu Planning

This is a pretty laid back week.  

MONDAY:  Going to a friends for dinner...Yay!  I don't have to cook!

TUESDAY:  Meatloaf and stuffed tomatoes.  OMG!  I found a recipe on Pinterest and modified it for extra awesomeness by adding red bell peppers and I'm going to try some ricotta cheese this time around.

WEDNESDAY:  Crockpot cubed steak.  Modified it from my SIL Pinterest recipe find.  This is sooo good!

THURSDAY:  I'm going out of town so no cooking for me!

Front Door Decor at the MIL's

My MIL has no idea I snuck out on her front porch and started snapping away.  I was going to show ya'll my front porch today but since I'm at my inlaws I'm sharing their holiday decor with you.  She loves to decorate for the holidays and it totally shows!

Here's her front door.  She has a pretty deco mesh wreath that my SIL made for her with the garland and oversized ornaments around the door.  She does well with a country home feel with her decorations.  I love the wooden Santa's and the block reindeer!

A little close up of the deco mesh wreath with the cute "S" that my SIL hand painted.

Rudolph lights up!

I love all her Santa's!  I'm kind of a fan!

Even on the inside of her front door she has a pretty canvas Santa!