Learning to Breathe, Pt. 12

Where has this year gone?? It is December! Christmastime is all around and I LOVE it!

There are so many fun Christmas activities going on around my area, so I am trying to take advantage of as many things as possible. It allows me an opportunity really enjoy the lights and music that makes this season so special.

Last Saturday night, my mom and I went out to Sauder Village in Archbold, OH for their lantern tour. It was so much fun! We rode around in the freezing cold on a wagon filled with hay bays and strung with white twinkling lights. We stopped by homes that reflected the holidays in the 1880s, 1850s and 1920s. I couldn't believe how new some traditions are. It was a great way to start the Christmas season.

December is often full of craziness! I hope that you find time to reflect on the true meaning and hope of this wonderful season. A tiny baby was born in deplorable conditions so he could grow up and die on a cross for a sinful people like me. We celebrate Christmas because we know that Easter is coming!

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

Oh, how I love this girl! My mom and I drove up to spend some time with my brother and his family for Christmas. And we got to spend lots of quality time with my niece. She is so much fun!

On the way back, we stopped at Mars Cheese Castle. Not only do they have tons of cheese, but they have a bakery. I may have gotten a kringle. Yum!

For Christmas, I got some puzzles. They have been fun to work on. I finished 2 100-piece puzzles. Now I am working on a 300-piece one. It a relaxing way to finish the day.

No more Christmas decorations. While I was sad to see the festiveness go, I was happy to have my house back in order. Now on to the cleaning!

From My Home To Yours

Rustic Christmas Tree

I am loving my family room more and more with each passing day. One of the reasons at the moment is my beautiful Christmas tree.

When I bought my house, I knew that I wanted my family room to be cozy. Naturally, I wanted that same feeling at Christmas time. With a few additions to decorations I already had, my rustic Christmas tree came to life.

I saw this Crate and Barrel tree collar on Instagram and knew that it needed to a part of my tree. I absolutely love it! It is a nice change from a tree skirt.

Burlap had to be incorporated into this tree somehow. It became the garland and is a nice accent.

Many moons ago,  I learned how to make bows for gift packages. I have made larger bows for  my trees in the past, but didn't feel like it would work for this tree. I also had no other idea of the direction I wanted to go. While roaming through Pier 1, I found this reindeer that is actually a really large ornament. It ended up being the perfect tree topper. It is just the right size.

The last addition was ting. Hobby Lobby had a glittery white kind that added a little flair.

The family room inadvertently also because the reindeer room. In addition the tree topper, I had these fun sparkly reindeer ornaments.

I have had these purple ornaments for over 10 years -  before I even had a tree. I am happy that they worked with the new rustic theme. It gave the tree some color and it really pops.

It is hard to believe that Christmas is a few days away. Are you ready??

Baking Center With a Holiday Spin

How can it be December already?!?!? I feel like I missed fall and all the wonderfulness it brings. Nevertheless, time moves on and the holidays are right around the corner.

I am hosting my first Christmas Open House in my new home on Friday, so my schedule is packed with cleaning, cooking and, of course, baking. My baking center is going to make my holiday baking - and all my baking throughout the year - a little bit easier is because everything is close at hand.

Along with my flour and sugars, this cute little Santa basket holds some of the special holiday baking items like M&Ms and Peppermint Hershey kisses. It provides a little fun holiday cheer to this area.

With flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar kept on the counter in pretty canisters, the top cabinet is left with lots of space for baking staples - cocoa, powdered sugar, vanilla, yummy baking spices. It also keeps some of my back stock items and some bowls.

Please don't pay too much attention to my messy drawer, but I know what is in here. Measuring spoons and cups, spatulas, pastry cutter. I am sure as I bake more and more this drawer will become more filled making organization a priority.

The cabinet below is the home for all my baking pans. My cookie sheets are missing, but that is because they have a special spot right next to my range that holds all those big flat items, like my cookie sheets and cutting boards.

Time is ticking away and I need to get baking. First on my list are these yummy White Chocolate Peppermint M&M cookies. Definitely give them a try!

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

One of my new favorite things are these Pillsbury pumpkin cinnamon rolls. They only make 5 rolls, so it makes a nice little treat for me without making a bunch of rolls. I definitely needed a cinnamon roll to get my week started.

Monday was unbelievably windy. I was so thankful to be inside working next to my pretty Christmas tree.

I have made zero attempt to clean up my leaves this fall. My front yard doesn't have any trees and doesn't get a lot of stray leaves in it. My backyard was a sea of leaves. My mom and I were going to attempt to tackle the leaf situation, but decided to pay to have it done. Such a good decision.

My family room is quickly becoming my favorite room in the house. I finished decorating my tree on Wednesday and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. And I love my tree collar from Crate and Barrel.

It was a very quiet Thanksgiving for me this year. It was just me and my mom. I made mini pumpkin pies, which turned out very yummy!

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

Last weekend started off with the start of a little sickness. Thankfully, the essential oils did the trick!

The sunset on Monday was so beautiful! Of course, the camera didn't do it justice.

Starbucks has a new holiday flavor - chestnut praline latte. It may be my new favorite. It was so good.

My mom and I went to see Saving Christmas on Friday. It was a wonderful way to start the season and not forget the real reason why we celebrate.

My Christmas party is in 3 weeks. I am not ready for it at all, but I started decorating by putting up a tree in my office.

Christmas in Wisconsin

My family was finally able to celebrate Christmas together. We knew we were going to celebrate in January, but it seemed so far removed from December 25. Unfortunately, I didn't take too many pictures. However, I do have some of my beautiful niece. I just love her so much!

It was nice to have a relaxing weekend to spend together. Our celebration of Christmas really only consisted of opening presents. The rest of the time was spent enjoying the time together. It wasn't rushed and we didn't feel overly extended. We missed the busyness of the holidays by getting together in January.

My mom's birthday was Saturday, so it was an extra special weekend. My sister-in-law let it slip to the restaurant hostess that it was my mom's birthday. So she was surprised with singing by the wait staff and an apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream. The ice cream was so good!

It is always had to leave, but I am very fortunate to have a family that enjoys spending time together. It isn't a frustrating experience and I leave wishing we lived closer together. Being far away is hard, but it makes the time together that much sweeter.

The holidays are now officially over for me, so I feel like life can return to normal. So, to honor that, I am joining a gym tonight and that story is definitely to be continued!