Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone has a fabulous Christmas! Click here to view our Christmas card pictures from years past. 

Reindeer grapes

I was responsible for grapes for Camille's Christmas party at school. Yesterday, I was trying to figure out the easiest way to serve them and remembered this pin from Pinterest.

I decided to make reindeer with the clothes pins instead of butterflies. Camille helped and they turned out super cute! I think they were a hit today!

I found these cute red stickers at AC Moore. Clothes pins were from Dollar Tree. 

I glue gunned the eyeballs and they were the most challenging part because of their size. 

Camille cut the pipe cleaners in half

Then added them to each clothes pin. 

I shaped the pipe cleaners into antlers and we added the grapes in plastic bags and we were done. 

I found the Santa platters at the Dollar Tree

I was in charge of cookies for Clyde's class and he wanted in on the fun. So at the last minute I threw together this cookie carrying case made from a grocery bag. It was so cute to see him carry it to school this morning.

Instagram

I am now on Instagram...please follow me at alysonstoakley. It's fun. Here is my favorite picture so far.

Yesterday, Camille, Clyde & I visited Hollywood Cemetery and the place where my dad is buried. He passed away when I was pregnant with Camille and I really want my kids to know him and all the wonderful things about him. We went to Martin's and picked up some pink, red and purple carnations and made three small bouquets to lay on his grave. On the way, we talked about his love of plaid, his cat Penelope who had the slightest bit of pink in her fur and that his name was Clyde too. I snapped this picture of my Clyde while we were there. It is so sweet seeing his little hand resting on the headstone.

Menu Planner

Here goes with this week's menu planner. I am going to include last's night dinner because it was tasty. Michael was craving vegetables. Do you ever have that feeling? We ate horribly all weekend...tis the season! He found this soup recipe online and it's a keeper!

Sunday - Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Monday - Pork Tenderloin, Risotto, Asparagus

Tuesday - French Dip Sandwiches, French Fries

Wednesday - Chicken Fajitas

Thursday - Chicken & Mozzarella Ravioli, Salad

Scenes from our week....

Look where Tinsel ended up this morning! 

Clyde LOVES nutcrackers. He plays with them like they are robots and I am sorry to report that two have been decapitated this Christmas! :( We found this one at Walgreens....a Santa Nutcracker and he has been treating it like a lovey! 

Picked this up for Camille's room from Class and Trash yesterday. $25! It is in great shape. Now are just dreaming up what color to paint it. Stay tuned! 

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Oh and I am done with my Christmas shopping! Woohoo! I have never been finished this early. 

Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Your Wife

I would be hard pressed to say that Michael is as interested in shopping as I am. He has already gotten me an awesome laptop for Christmas. Loving it. I am so technologically advanced now with my iphone and new laptop. ;)   But every year he always has trouble with stocking stuffers so Michael this post is for you. Just some ideas...please don't get everything on the list. This is also a test to see if you are reading my blog. Just kidding.

1. Pedicure Gift Certificate
2. Split of Sparkling Wine (Freixenet in the black bottle is my favorite)
3. Sleep Mask
4. L'Occitane Hand Cream
5. Monogrammed Koozie from Libbie & Winston
6. Colored Pens
8. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Perfume
9. Lip Gloss Set
10.Patterned Socks
11. Favorite Candy (Tootsie Rolls, Smarties, Hershey Bars)
12. Altoids or Mints
13. essie Nail Polish
14. HGTV Magazine Subscription  (You can also get tons of $5 subscriptions on Amazon.com)

PS...This is a picture of my sad little mantle from 2010. But the only one I could find with stockings. Woah! I have come along way since then.

PPS....This is a great source for stocking stuffer ideas for your preschooler.

Menu Planner

Sunday - Store bought Chicken & Mozzarella Ravolis (from BJ's) with store bought Vodka Sauce, bread

Monday - Kickin Mini Meatloaves, Beans & Rice

Tuesday - I am not sure! Michael did all the grocery shopping and menu planning this week. Woot! Woot! It was such a nice break for me and he said he was going to "wing it" at the store for this meal and then forgot! Ha! Oh well...still love him for going and putting away all the groceries!

Wednesday - Chicken Tinga Tostados (We made these once and they were so spicy we could barely eat them...so we have made some alterations to the recipe...you don't need a whole cans of chipolte peppers...that is enough to set you on fire!)

Thursday - Company Christmas Party

In other news...Tinsel has made his return to our house.

And I found these at the Goodwill for $4.25 each. I looked and looked at them and another Goodwill shopper said to me "Those are cute. You want them. Put them in your cart. You will be sorry if you leave without them." So I did what she said and I think she was right! 

I am still trying to find a home for them. It is beginning to look like the local pet store in my living room with the owl bookends and other dogs, birds and fish. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Easy Update...Chandelier

Source Emily A Clark

 

Source Little Green Notebook

Recently, I ran across two examples of updated lighting with more traditional chandeliers. Then a couple weeks ago, I ran across this post on Sadie + Stella and thought that looks like a lot like my chandelier but with updated globe bulbs. So then I was inspired.

Source Sadie+Stella

Here is my chandelier before....

The burned out bulb adds to the before affect! 

And after with the new globe bulbs.....

 

I am so happy with the change and how cheap at less than $6!

Christmas Decorating 2012

I found the star for $1 at Diversity Thift. Jury is still out on whether it is tacky or not.  We found the train there last year  for $10 and it works and already had batteries! 

I found the red trees last year at Diversity Thrift. Garland is from the Dollar Tree. The presents were a gift I received years ago. 

Merry Christmas ornament is from the Dollar Tree last year

I usually put a small Christmas tree here but it seems to get in the way. So I am happy with just garland. 

Sign is from the Dollar Tree last year. 

These Christmas balls were found at Diversity Thrift for 10 cents a piece! 

I added a pretty runner cross stitched by Michael's Nanna. 

My grandmother gave me these Christmas balls which I have always loved. So excited to find the similar ones above at Diversity Thrift. 

Here are links to last year's decorating posts...1/2/3/4/5. I still plan to do a card tree like we did last year and our outdoor lights are up. Stay tuned for posts on those.

Weekend Recap & Menu Planner

We had a full but fun weekend. Camille, Clyde & I kicked things off in Williamsburg at my niece Paige's 3rd birthday.

Friday night, we went to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Fest of Lights. We went two years ago and Camille has not  forgotten. She has been so excited to go. It was a good night for it...chilly but not freezing!

This was made out of origami. So very cool. 

Saturday night, we had dinner at our friends Ashley & Matt's house. Look at her pretty table setting.

Here goes with this weeks menu planner....

Sunday - Brown Butter Gnocchi (carryover from last week)

Monday - Sriracha Honey Cashew Chicken

Tuesday - Chili (from the freezer...never got to this last week)

Wednesday - Kickin' Chicken with Crunch, Rice & Black Beans, Corn

Thursday - Chipotle Pork Soft Tacos