We went to see the Lion Dance, drummers and Dragon Dance this weekend for the Chinese New Year celebration. We couldn’t feel our toes at the end, but it was worth it. I need to bring the big camera next year as my phone pics are lame-o. The Year of the Dragon deserved better than this.
One day, we would love to be in Asia for the new year and take in the beauty of the festivities to the fullest extent.
I talked about my bedroom wishes (NOT THOSE) but didn’t follow up. I did indeed buy that Home Depot drop cloth after all, so now my mattress on the floor issue is gone. Yay for $30 solutions! I also got new night tables off Craigslist I never showed you.
Otto has decided he must be the supermodel of all my interior shots….every time I’d try and take a photo, he’d settle himself right into the shot.
Yes, that is the Monopoly Man trophy you see. I NEVER win, but managed to pull one out over the holidays so it’s finally my turn to proudly house the trophy…until I lose the next game.
Doesn’t look like we got a whole lot done compared to past years. But it felt like a busy year…oh yeah, WE BUILT A TREEHOUSE!!!! And it took a long time.
We still haven’t painted the interior, and are beginning to wonder if we really need to. I realized after the leaves fell that I could finally get some decent shots of it so you can see how it relates to the house a bit better.
In summer, the treehouse is almost completely obscured by foliage….but now, it’s quite naked!
The sleeping bunker/level two building plans are on hold to address some more pressing needs around the ranch. Namely a pantry, to keep the dog out of the foodstuffs, and if all goes well, a real bathtub. I always thought we’d do the half bath first, but the lack of proper bathtub in the house is starting to become more and more important to both of us. The CC has been playing soccer on weekends and as he limps home stiff and sore…he’s starting to want a good soak as badly as I do. Time and money will tell. I’ve been pinning ideas for it here.
As for which outlet I should choose to sell my finds? There’s pros and cons to all of them and if I can manage it, a hybrid of the options might be best. Maybe an Etsy shop for smalls and E-bay for big pieces? We’ll see…I’ve actually been pretty busy this winter redoing some dining chair sets for other people. Once I get my last set finished and out the door..it’s time to start selling again. Hope everyone is looking forward to a good 2012…I love the optimism January’s clean slate can bring.
I didn’t blog much over the Holidays since I’ve become such a fan of Instagram. It doesn’t mean I won’t ever be back here, but it has definitely changed the way I share. Being able to snap on the go minus all the time required for a blog post=more time for family and friends=good thing. I’m switching the link on the side to Followgram over Instagrid since I think it’s more comprehensive. Anyway, here’s what we’ve been up to.
There were Ninjabread Men…..
and Star Wars Pancakes….. (Thanks LBJ and JJ!)
We made our very first Gingerbread house! It’s never been my thing, but after seeing an A-Frame at Trader Joes, I couldn’t resist. We had a blast making it. Next year we might try again, baking all the pieces ourselves…The CC thinks we should make a mini treehouse!
and there was daily Elfing…..
A road trip…..
…and back home in time for Christmas.
The first signs of doubt…heartbreaking. Hoping this wasn’t our last year for the magic…but if it was, I like to think we made the most of it.
Of course, there were gratuitous puppy shots…..
On New Year’s Eve, we hosted a slumber party with an art project…the ubiquitous crayon melting project.
This was mine……
and here’s the gallery of the kids’ creations….
I showed them photos from here and here in order to give them more ideas with different styles. I loved how everyone made something unique, and they had such a good time. There was (outside) doubt about whether boys would get into such a project, and when they were done and so proud of their creations, I felt quite pleased that maybe all my ideas aren’t so bad after all!
For what it’s worth, here’s my take on this project. I found that the embossing heat gun (white one above) was the best tool. The hair dryer puts out too much air, so we tended to use that to create splatter patterns and not so much for melting. A tea light flame isn’t quite strong enough and gets extinguished easily, so we subbed out a taper candle.
Time to start packing up the decorations and get organized. We haven’t printed out the annual list yet, so lots to do to ring in 2012…Happy New Year!
UPDATE: Hung the yellow piece in the bedroom. Things are still deciding where to hang theirs.
The holiday disco balls are back, and I’m feeling the need for a little extra sumtin’. Last year, I went for the bare and spare look, letting the sparklys take center stage, but for 2011, I’m wanting a more cozy feel. Previous posts on the disco balls are here and here.
This year’s version looks more Charlie Brown than ever.
A few favorite ornaments seemed to be a good place to play around…..
These first two are from my childhood….my parents picked them up for me on their travels in the 70′s.
A family favorite was “Pancho Claus” picked up south of the border. He was a candle in the form of Santa wearing a sombrero….the wick came out of the top of his hat. One brutally hot summer he melted in the attic and we mourned his loss, not unlike a pet. What?! It was the 70′s and Pancho Claus was cool I tell you….Trust.
These glittery little beauties were found at estate sales in my 20′s….from someone elses childhood.
Um…all birds. Sorry.
The red flocked deer below belonged to my parents, and I adored them growing up. They used to be on our dining room table every year, in front of a silver punchbowl full of poinsettias. Sometime in my 20′s or early 30′s, I begged for them, and they were kind enough to oblige. The vintage brass deer candle holders are a recent Etsy purchase.
Felt circles bought from Fred Flare a few years ago are sill holding strong….
On the puppy front, Otto is growing very fast and into everything…..he even tried to chew the lights!
He is Ottofabulous the LoveShark. Sometimes he’s Pushkin (the CC wanted to name him that at one point, so it’s one of his bazillion nicknames.)
What are some of your favorite holiday decorations? Hannukah, Chinese New Year, etc.. Is there a piece from your childhood that you cherish, or have you gotten something new that will be a keeper for years?
Photos brought to you by Diptic, Hipstamatic, Big Lens and Instagram. I found a plug- in that imports the Instagram photos to the right sidebar, so the latest snaps will be there. I swear, I will pick up the SLR again at some point.
