Holidays

A Winter Manifesto

1. Make mini gingerbread houses 2. Make Fire Cider 3. Make a snowflake curtain 4. Hand write letters 5. Read by the fire 6. Go sledding 7. See the ice flows on Lake Michigan 8. R oast chestnuts Photo credits: snowflake, “Winter”

My Gift To You

Enjoy these printable gift tags as my gift to you!

Over the years, and especially since working with The Rocking Yak, I’ve become increasingly intentional with my purchases. Even more so in this last year as my desire to simplify and travel has become more pressing in my life. This holiday season has found our family craving more shared moments and adventures over things. Even so, there are a few items that have found their way onto my Christmas list this year.

1.earth paint 2.apron 3.blanket 4.plant dyed watercolor paints 5.gourd speaker 6.iphone case 7.messenger bag 8.woven bag

X O X O

Hello February . . .

“One month is past, another is begun,
Since merry bells rang out the dying year,
And buds of rarest green began to peer,As if impatient for a warmer sun;
And though the distant hills are bleak and dun,
The virgin snowdrop like a lambert fire,
Pierces the cold earth with its green-streaked spire
And in dark woods, the wandering little one
May find a primrose.”
February 1st, 1842
Hartley Coleridge

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Some things I am looking forward to . . .

February 7 – 23: 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia

February 14: Valentine’s Day

February 21 – March 4: Fur Rondy & The Iditarod (March 1)

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photo credits : french knot, lark & linen, style me pretty, fanci taste, counting stone sheep, Design Sponge, Puppy chow

Advent Capsules

We have one of those advent calendars where you open a different door for each day of advent, so every year, I am trying to find creative ways to fill each space in a way that won’t matter if my children open all the doors on the first day of advent. One method I have come up with is to seal each days activity in it’s own decorative capsule. Here is how I make the capsules.

:: Materials ::

* Advent notes * Washi Tape * Plastic straws * Pliers * Lighter *

1. The first step is to seal one end of the plastic drinking straw. To do this, hold the tip of the straw shut using the pliers. There should be a small of amount of straw sticking out of the pliers. This is the section that is going to be melted. Hold the straw tip to a flame until the end is melted down to the pliers and sealed shut.

2. Write out the messages and activities that you want to open each day of advent onto strips of paper. Roll these up tightly and secure them with washi tape. Cut the sealed drinking straw so that it is slightly larger than the note. *You can find a few of my favorite advent activities below.

3. Insert the note, and seal the other end of the drinking straw in the same way that the first end was sealed.

4. Cover each end of the straw with washi tape. Then continue to cover the rest of the straw until it is completely covered. You may want to use the pliers again to press down on the sealed ends to ensure that the washi tape is stuck down well and the ends are properly sealed.

To open each note, carefully cut off one of the sealed ends of the straw and pull out the message.

My favorite advent activities: