12.07.2011

Creative.

We thought we'd be in our house by Christmas but we've been told that's "extremely optimistic".
Oye.
Since all our Christmas decor is in storage we're having fun decorating with household items
such as paper, kleenex, string, crayons, etc.  It's been very fun for the boys.
In the meantime, here's a cute Christmas sign I spied on Houzz made by Gail.
See if you can figure it out.

  "Noel". 
Love the non-traditional, play on Christmas.

12.06.2011

How to keep your family safe throughout the winter months.

***This is a guest post from one of our site supporters***

How to keep your family safe throughout the winter months.

Whether you’ve got small children or a pet dog, it’s important to keep everyone safe throughout the winter months. Rain, sleet and snow can fall when you’re least expecting it, so perhaps now is the time to pull out those thermals and invest in a decent snow shovel.
Here’s how to look after your family during the nippy spell:

Wrap up warm.
Throwing on a few extra layers can help keep the cold at bay, as can turning up the heating and snuggling under a duvet. There’s nothing worse than shivering in your own home, so make sure you’re nice and warm throughout the nippy season. Thermals are a winter must-have as are bed socks and fingerless gloves for around the house. A matching hat and glove set is ideal for a night exploring the Christmas markets and a thick jumper can work wonders. Try your hand at knitting winter warmers or create your very own patchwork bed spread. Unleash your creative side and enjoy arts and crafts with the whole family.

Make your own draft excluder.
If you’ve got a cold breeze blowing through your house try making a draft excluder. Simply get your hands on a piece of colourful material that is 4cm longer than the width of your door. Iron it, fold it in half so the pattern is on the inside and pin the sides together before stitching up the length of the rectangle. Turn the material inside out to reveal the pretty pattern and stitch up one of the ends. Stuff a pair of tights using beanbag balls, rice or lentils and tie a knot in one end before inserting this in the open side of your material. Stitch the last end together and you’ve got yourself a homemade draft excluder.

Put up heavy curtains.
To keep your family snug, safe and secure, it’s essential to put up a pair of heavy curtains. Thick material with energy efficient thermal lining will help keep the cold out and the heat in. A chilly breeze can lead to high energy bills, so do all you can to keep the icy weather out of your house. Visit a home store near you or get creative with your sewing machine. There are many instructional videos online and you’ll be able to make a pair that suits your house perfectly. You might also consider layering curtains to make sure your house really does stay warm this winter.

Stock up on essentials.
Mother Nature can send a flurry of snow or a harsh frost at any time, so make sure you’ve stocked up on winter essentials. There’s an array of winter road maintenance kits online and you’ll also find snow ploughs, deicer salt, grit spreaders and even salt bins. There’s nothing more annoying the sliding down your driveway so make sure you take the relevant precautions. Always keep de-icer nearby for your car and keep a first aid kit nearby in case someone takes a tumble.

Winter can be an enjoyable time of year, so long as you stay safe throughout the dark months.

 

12.01.2011

Secret Santa Swap.

Stefanie at A Brooklyn Limestone came up with a holiday Secret Santa swap this year for some of her favorite bloggers.  Guidelines include sending two gifts to your assigned blogger but you have to keep it secret. 

BloggerSecretSanta

 Look what goodie arrived in the mail this week.



These cute holiday tags were purchased from Sweetly Scrapped.
Thank you Secret Santa Blogger...I'll put them to good use!

Want to follow along and see what other fun gifts will be given?
Here's the list of the other Secret Santa participating bloggers.


Thanks for the invitation Stefanie...such a fun idea!