Snuggling Up With A Movie

Something about this time of year has me wanting to snuggle up and watch the same-old movies.  Movies that have a little bit of twinkling lights, maybe some snow and maybe a happy little tune. 

These are a few of my favorites to watch this time of year...

• When Harry Met Sally (not totally holiday but has that holiday feel)
• Love Actually
• The Family Stone
• It's a Wonderful Life
• Elf
• Dan In Real Life
• The Holiday

What are your favorites?

Filling the Activity-Focused Advent Calendar

So what to put into an activity-focused advent calendar you say? 

Here is a list of things that may or may not be part of my advent calendar.  I aimed for a balance of things to prepare for (for example- those that look like to do list items!) and to enjoy the season, things that are more involved and those that are simple, activities that are a tradition and a few that are contenders to become a new tradition.  Essentially the things that I really want to be sure that we do this holiday season.  Some of these are location specific but could easily be changed for the programs in your neighborhood.

Pick out a tree
Sign up to purchase gifts for a needy child
Donate to the animal shelter
Watch It’s a Wonderful Life
Make holiday candy (homemade marshmallows, divinity & salted caramels)
Write messages in Christmas cards & address envelopes
Watch Love Actually with bubbly & cider
Go to the Music Box Christmas Show
Decorate tree
Make hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows
Make a garland
Make & decorate sugar cookies
Schedule massages for the week after Christmas (gotta use that 2 year old gift certificate!)
Go to the Holiday Brew at the Cultural Center (a musical performance)
An evening walk in the Gold Coast to see the lights
Go to Zoo Lights
Make a special/festive dessert
Go out for festive drinks
Watch The Family Stone
A Christmas tree lit dinner
Give neighbors a little package of cookies
Fill stockings for each other
Enjoy a cocktail together before making dinner
Go to the Christkindlmarket
A festive breakfast with Christmas music in the background
Open a gift early
Exchange gifts

The Super Simple Last Minute Advent Calendar

Advent calendars pop into my reader every year throughout November.  They really are a sweet and fun little activity.  But I never actually put one together.

With living in a small space and the possibility of moving always in our future, I try to travel light and be thoughtful of what I add to our possessions.  Thus those lovely advent calendars that show up in the shops will always get cut (until we own a house maybe).  

So DIY a low profile one, right?  I tried to add this last year but it was a complete fail when I went with an overly complicated design and was going to fill it with little mini-presents.  I ran out of time and was at a loss on what to fill it with that wouldn't just be clutter. *sigh*

This year- I am doing an advent calendar...  I decided this last night.

It is going to happen!  What is different this time?  I picked the most simple design/set up ever.  I am filling it with slips of paper with fun, festive things to do.  I am using supplies that I already have on hand. 

Festive things to do are more aligned with our personal priorities (experiences trump random mini gifts).  And frankly this approach makes filling it so much easier. 

Putting to use what I already have instead of adding to the mix is less wasteful.  Also, no added trips to a craft store across town after the gym that would take up my entire evening leaving zero time to actually make the calendar.  Score!  This might be a location specific thing but doing last minute craft supply sourcing can be an enormous time drain & prohibitive for me.

I put together about half of it last night in an hour.  Tonight I will finish it.  And voila!

Maybe some year I will be super organized and sew up something fabulous for the display.  This year I am going to be pretty thrilled to have one concocted from the random pieces I pulled out of my crafting supply shelves (glassine bags, washi tape, shipping tags, mini clothes pins, and markers) that is filled with seasonal activities.

It is going to be fun!  Anyone else making an activity focused advent calendar?

{Sources for images of inspiration for simple advent calendars: one, two and three}

Sunday Edition :: Kicking off the Holidays

I hope that you all had an absolutely lovely Thanksgiving weekend!  This year I am finding myself very ready for the holiday season and this was the most perfect weekend to kick off the season. 

We had the chilliest weather yet this fall; that made for the perfect excuse to make the weekend cozy and relaxing.  And I just might have started a little bit of holiday baking and decorating...

 I am so looking forward to yummy holiday treats, sparkly decorations, and having our apartment smell like pine.  So lets talk holidays... 

Are you starting to get excited too?  What little holiday decorations are making their way out of storage first this year?  For me it was a bowl filled with red & silver balls and shiny new garland wreath.

DIY Wreaths

DIY wreaths seem to be coming into their own.  There are some truly fantastic ideas for pretty wreaths that require a fairly low level of DIY crafting prowess.   These are my favorite so far...

Absolutely brilliant tinsel garland wreath idea from Creature Comforts.

A homey felt wreath idea from Jones Designs Company

A scrappy little fabric wreath from Elisa Blaha on A Beautiful Mess

A rustic burlap wreath from Karina Ink

A pretty little yarn ball wreath from Madeline Bea

And a simple yet charming yarn wreath from take heart.

I kind of want to make all of these!