My First Pottery Barn Purchase. I'm SO Grown Up.

My mom and dad got me a gift card to Pottery Barn for Christmas. I went and browsed through the store once. Then I flipped through the catalog marking pages of things I fell in love with. A day later, I looked over the marked pages. I chose this lovely cake stand (something every grown up who likes to host even a little bit needs). I am very excited to make my first cake to display on it. I kind of feel like I need to practice before hand. I can't just put ANY cake on there. It has to be beautiful to be worthy of this simply beautiful white cake stand. Thank you mom and dad!!!! You know me so well.

I'm a Surprise & Christmas Eve

My brother flew me home for Christmas to surprise my parents and nieces.

I had to make up a story about going to Whistler for Christmas to throw them off the track.

After 13 hours of travel I was finally at my parent's house. The house I did my growing up in.

Actually I was laying in my brothers truck using my nieces booster seat as a pillow trying my hardest to stay awake and not pee my pants while I waited for my mom and dad to make an appearance.

Let's just say I eventually took care of my personal issues AND surprised my parents.

Christmas Eve was a hoot.

Here are the highlights.

(My mom had to work. That's why she is nowhere to be seen)

 We made oatmeal cookies, snickerdoodles, shortbread, and sugar cookies ALL day.

We also frosted them. That's my dad with frosting on his nose.

He's the biggest goofball in the house.

 Mackenzie & Kennedy. The next biggest goofballs.

Our fancy lace tablecloth with all of our beautiful & perfectly round cookies.

 Our juice experiment. Veggie juice got a thumbs down. Fruit however was loved.

My hairs' feelings got hurt from being teased so much.

I was appalled.

Botanical Garden of D'Lights

This winter was full of firsts for me: Christmas tree farm, Christmas crafts, Snowflake Lane, and the Botanical Garden of D'Lights. It was a very magical winter to say the least.

Snowflake Lane

Pretty much this magical show of lights, dancing, drumming, and snow is like Disneyland on steroids...condensed onto one city block. If you like your personal space this is not the place for you. But if you like free candy then it is exactly your kind of place.

 There is not an empty spot anywhere. There is actually negative space.

 Some crazy drummer boy on stilts.

 Whit & Quinn

 A dancing snowflake. You know you're jealous.

People I don't know posing with a polar bear I don't know.

A Timeless Tradition

Who says you ever get too old to make gingerbread houses? 

Gabby & Gelle took a nice break from their busy schedules 

to get their hands in gluing frosting and sprinkles. 

There was a lot of laughter. 

That's all I can ask for. 

When I'm a mom I hope I feel the same way. 

The mess was big, but the fun was bigger. 

They were keeping score. 

Fun won.

Hands down.

They were boxed kits, but we pimped them out with extra sprinkles and candy. 

 And for dinner a turkey pot pie...

I just wanted to show off my first lattice crust. 

Thanks for caring.

Decorating Downtown Kirkland

Every year a group of us get together to help Kirkland decorate for Christmas. It has been awesome experiencing the great community feel. A ton of people come out on a freezing cold morning to wrap lights and hang garland. Local restaurants also donate food and coffee. I seriously had a moment this year where I thought I was going to go home with one less finger. Worth it! Thankfully all my fingers are in tact...it's a good thing. I am going to need them all for next year.

Unfortunately we didn't take a group photo this year, but here is lasts years just for your enjoyment.

A Winter Wonderland IN the Apartment

To just cut to the chase, I'm here to show you how wintery and wonderlandy our wonderful apartment was for Christmas. Here it is...

 The Fireplace.

 Our tall Charlie Brown tree. I have always wanted a Charlie Brown tree...

thank you Christmas tree farm!

 The overall feel. I wish I had better photos. iPhone, you aren't always that smart.

 Fabric ornaments. So easy. You just cut squares of fabric, wrap it around the head of a pencil, dab it with a dot of hot glue, and shove into a styrofoam ball. That's it.

 Beaded ornament. Just hot glue a ton of beads of your choice to a styrofoam ball.

 I tried going out the box on this one. I MIXED fabric & beads. Watch out!

 Homemade felt garland. This was a bit more intricate but easy enough. 

Click here to learn how to make your own Felt Garland

Ruched tree skirt made from a round table cloth. Easy peasy. You just need an embroidery needle, thread, a table cloth, and scissors. 

Click here to learn how to make a Ruched Tree Skirt 

 Making tissue paper Christmas trees with the girls. Can you say "spray glitter"!?

You get whatever kind of tree base you want and hot glue tissue paper on it in whatever way you want. A couple of us opted for tissue paper rosettes.

 Finished products & smiling faces.

I think I am going to add pearls to my tree for next year.

Finding a Christmas Tree. Pacific Northwest Style.

This was magical. A step up from picking a tree out of a grocery store parking lot. A Christmas Tree Farm!!!!! I really had no idea these existed when I was growing up. The closest idea I had was from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. That didn't turn out too well for them I might add. Then Whitney opened my eyes to what I was missing out on...we actually bought 2 trees for our tiny apartment. One tiny tree (for Melissa) and one tall tree (for me). Both had a bit of Charlie Brown in them. The best part was just trudging around with everyone. Friends are not to be taken for granted.

 Do you see that fog!? The most refreshing!

 3 cars, 7 adults, 1 baby, and 2 dogs. That's how we roll.

 Oh A Hunting We Will Go, A Hunting We Will Go...

 The happy engaged couple.

 I want to live there...right on the tree farm.

 Here is our tall friend.

 Our tall friend being shaken.

 Our tiny friend.

Thanksgiving Tradition

Every year the weekend after Thanksgiving I take my nieces to the Orange Circle to see the beginning of the Christmas lights. I also treat them to whatever they want at Starbucks. I try to whisper to the barista to make it decaf. I really appreciate it when they hear me. This year their friend Henry from across the street came also. He might as well be my nephew. I've known him my entire life. Parents (theirs or mine) are not allowed to come. It is strictly Auntie Lindsey time. I treasure this night. A ton.

 Trying to be cool. Gangsta? They're way too cute for that look.

 The center of the Orange Circle

 Inside the Christmas tree. It was too cute for me to ask them to get out. I'm pretty sure they weren't suppossed to be in there though. If you can't be a little crazy with your aunt then who can you be crazy with?

 My precious not-so-little Mackenzie

 Little Miss Ned

 Mr. Henry

Silly. Life has to have some silly in it.

 Hello Mr. Snowman

Here are some photos from the first time I took Mackenzie in 2005. She was four years old. Oh just look at her cute little face. This was also the first scarf she ever borrowed from me. There have been many more in the last six years.

 She was my first true love. Seriously.