a little this and a lot of that {christmas home tour}

i guess i wanted to explain what this blog is... it is called my life in general and that is exactly it!

my life in general is:

*family

*crafts

*cooking

*dieting

*thrifting

*army life

*photos
*running
*getting in shape

and more. just can't think of more right now.

so i hope you'll join me on my adventure!

i have loved looking at christmas home tours on many blogs and instagram, i thought i would share mine! my home is not perfect but it is perfect for us. i love plugging in my christmas lights everyday, playing a little christmas music and I just warm up walking around my house at christmas.

this is the table behind my couch. just a dollar store tree, pine tree candles, and vintage ornaments.

 just a quick doodle drawing on my chalkboard

 i found this cute printable here

 this little guy is in my dining room. it is my fave! it is full of the homemade ornaments we have made over the years!

in 2010 when kendall was in the 5th grade, she learned to make these "god's eye" and i just loved them. i loved the twigs and the fact we can change them with the color yarn we use. i am a merry and bright kind of person, so that is what i went with.

 these little felt trees are so cute, but we ended up making about 50 of them- so the fun of making them wore off.... quickly.

 i loved when we made snowmen on glass ball ornaments, but when you make quite a few of them sometimes you have to improvise.

inpsired by cracker barrel

 ryan and i went to cracker barrel for brunch a couple days ago and i fell in love with the pail of pine cones they had by the fireplace. as soon as i got home i went to work and ended up with this! in love.

our advent calendar this year. a lot different than years past, as in- instead of 24 gifts, there were 4-5. mostly focused on seasonal events that i wanted to make special. like parades, tree lighting, fun christmas events.

we have a tiny bathroom downstairs. it's hard to decorate and photograph.

my favorite creation this year.

i started this wreath 4 years ago. by started i mean i wrapped tinsel around a straw wreath and hot glued one ornament. that's how it sat until 3 weeks ago.  i was ready to finish it! it took quite a while and i don't feel like it's done, it needs more ornaments to be evened out. but it's done for this year. it's huge and it's heavy. it won't fit on my front door because the screen door won't shut. and i've already broke one of my very favorite vintage ornaments. but i still love it!

be merry - target dollar section for the when

entry way

oh, hi. still in pj's :)

i made these last year and i love love love it!

seriously in love with my tree. it's fake and old, but full of memories!

christmas kept simple and small this year = less stress. 

my vintage beauties. scattered through the house in vases, bowls, cups, baskets. etc.

i made the button tree years ago. funny thing- i've never finished the back, shhh. i made the burlap tree last year. and my made gave me her pine cone tree. i started another tree this year for my collection- you'll see it next christmas :)

thank you for visiting! xoxo- christina

Yearly Update....

Well, hi.

I'm back. For the 27th time. It is has been a year since my last update. Obviously a lot has happened.

• Everyone is one year older.
• Ryan has left and come back from Afghanistan.
• We lived in Florida for the 6 months her was gone.  
• We have moved onto Fort Campbell. 
• I am now a half-marathoner. 
• Emily started playing the guitar. 
• Kendall is still a violinist. 
• We are all living under one roof again!

We are keeping busy making more ornaments this year. 

Our advent calendar is a little different this year. Instead of little toys everyday- we do things. Write letters, go to events, help each other. Those are just the few we have done already. I will write up a post about it soon!

I'm off to get a haircut soon. I have to find someone new- it is so nerve racking to try a new hair stylist. Last time I got my haircut (by a new girl) it didn't turn out well, so wish me luck!

xoxo,

Christina

Off to a bad start...

i know, start and blog and then don't write on it, i knew that was coming :)

actually, i do not like typing up posts on my iPad and computer has a dead battery. like dead dead. i have to get a new battery for it. i'm glad that was all that was wrong with it! i bought my little white apple macbook brand new for $200! i was wandering around the px (the army's version of walmart) one day and meandered through electronics and there it was. she was so pretty and sleek and a mac. it didn't take me long to decide she was coming home with me. that was 4 years ago and that little $200 laptop has converted my family to apple people. i've not had one single problem with that computer, no viruses, not one blue screen of death, never just shut down on me for no reason and always fast. <3 nbsp="nbsp">

so anywho, tomorrow we will be in nashville to see the nutcracker and while we are there i can stop by the apple store and grab a battery.

yesterday i spent the morning wrapping the girls presents. i am glad to report, i have 2 presents of theirs left to wrap! then i have other people's presents. it is never ending. i love to wrap presents but after a gazillion, i'm running out of creative ideas. i snapped some phone pics (bc laptop is dead) to show you some of my favorites, and there are a lot of faves. once i get started on a present, things just kind of flow and all the presents turn out differently.

this present is kraft paper, washi tape (from michaels), sharpies and a letter template.

this is kraft paper, tissue paper, and bakers twine

this is hard to see, but wrapping paper, with scrapbook paper garland and glitter

every year i buy all the ornaments i use for packaging in the after christmas sales, so i get them super cheap. this present is kraft paper, scrapbook sticker letter and yarn-balls

this present is wrapped and then has twine around it a couple times, cute tag and ornament

a few years ago, i made lots and lots or chalkboard tags (when i became obsessed with c.b. paint!) so i just love the way this one turned out with the tulle bow.

again: ornament, sharpie, and letter template. but do you notice the garland on the present in the background?turned out super cute. i used scrap from another christmas project i got goin' on and tied around twine, then wrapped around the present

another shot of a chalkboard tag

Hi!

I have tried having a blog a few times before, maybe this time it will stick! We will see...

I figure I will blog about everything. Travel, crafts, Army life, deployments, kids, and health. Whatever I am facing-you will most likely read about. I will warn you, I am not a great writer. I just isn't my strong suit, so be kind :)

I have been crafting a lot lately, I can't wait to show you what I've been working on. Right now, it is mostly Christmas stuff. The girls (Kendall, 12 and Emily, 10) and I have Ben really busy cranking out ornaments. I have some mini tress in the kitchen and the entry way we have filled with our handmade ornaments. Well, I had some cute pictures of the trees and ornaments, but I am on my iPad and the google+ app isn't cooperating. Maybe tomorrow. I DID IT- here you are!

My tiny kitchen tree

My favorite ornament we made are the God's eyes. Kendall learned to make these in the 5th grade and they were my favorite then too!

No Promises.....

I just thought I would squeeze in an update.

I would love to write more regularly, but it just isn't possible right now.

I am good, tired, but good. I do love my job. I am excited about my classes dwindling down. Glad that I won't miss my family so much.

I have been busy:

1. enjoying this beautiful weather we have been having. The whole fam took a walk to the park yesterday, we saw people throwing baseballs, footballs, riding bikes, rollerblading, picnicking all in NOVEMBER!!
2. looking at all the beautiful colors around me, hoping to take some family pictures in those colors this weekend.
3. planning out my December Journal, hoping to start it this weekend.
4. gathering pictures for my Mom's birthday. I am just printing a buttload of pictures for her. Scratch that, I am going to make a book for her.
5. planning a couple trips. Going to Des Moines for Thanksgiving and the WHOLE fam is going to Florida for Christmas.
6. creating tons of lesson plans and printing them and binding them to create a portfolio for my PE class that ends TOMORROW.
7. driving to Starbucks (every chance I get) for the nonfat pep mocha. mmmmmmm.
8. creating do-able menus.
9. waking up early and walking.
10. Finishing Eclipse and trying to find a time to go get Breaking Dawn. Eclipse took over a week to read.... I am dying to finish it though.... Will Bella marry Eddie? What about poor Jake? Do Bella and Edward....you know? Does she become a Vampire? ugh. I want to read it now.

I would love to write more and detail my life over the last few weeks, but I am pooped. So for now, I bid ado.

My World....

..... is a tad bit crazy right now, and for the whole month of October. This week is especially busy.

• Monday: end of online class, Kendall volleyball practice, night class (Lang Arts in the elem)
• Tuesday: Kendall Dr. appt, first Tuesday night class (PE /Elem school)
• Wednesday: Fingerprinting and paperwork for job @ school, Kendall volleyball practice, Girl Scouts
• Thursay: start working :) First night of Math/elem school
• Friday: entrance interview for teacher program 520pm
• Saturday: Kendall vball game 9am, 10-5 Diversity class (in class one time, must complete 20hrs observation and journals, papers, ideas and reflections all due in Nov.)

So for the month of October, I will be working and going to school 3 nights a week. It is going to be hectic. It is only one month though, I CAN DO IIIIIIIT.

I have no pictures to post, as I have been spending the majority of my time on the Mac creating lesson plans galore. It is not to bad, except different classes, different teachers all like a different format for their lesson plan. So to adapt all my ideas that I scribbled down into an order they want, and look up specific names of ideas and implementing those. Time consuming and worrisome if it is even right. So far so good, I am holding my straight A status. I thought this online class would be the death of that, but I am pretty sure I pulled off an A in there, waiting for 2 more grades to post.

OK, enough school stuff. I really need some work clothes. I probably don't, but I love buying clothes, so I am just using it as an excuse. After K's Dr. appt I am going to Manhattan for at least a gray pair of pants and a white collared short sleeve shirt and some comfy black shoes. I bought this vest at the goodwill last week, nearly new Banana Republic pink cable knit vest. It is so pretty, so I to go with my $2 vest I need new gray pants, and a shirt. I have black shoes, but they aren't that comfy to spend all day on.

My exercise has been pretty much nil. Every morning I have been waiting for a phone call from the school to go get my fingerprints done, that call never came. I didn't know if I had the job or not. Well I knew the principle really wanted me. I know one of my references said "Congrats... she pretty much said you had the job." I know Em's teacher said so are you taking the job?" I said when it's offered.... But I hadn't got a call saying, You have the job. I got tired of waiting and stressing and eating and being depressed. (It's crazy how fast you can get depressed over something you didn't even know you wanted!) I called her yesterday. She was surprised I hadn't heard form the district, it turns out some lady is on vacation and comes back today, so I should be getting the call to come in tomorrow to fingerprint and my principal said I can start working right after that. So, glad thats clarified. Now maybe I can start getting back to normal. I am scared to weigh because of all the eating I did. I did do some exercising, I walked 5 miles with a friend this weekend. The girls and I went for a couple walks. I even made it to the gym once last week. I have definitely ate more than I exercised. Today is looking up though!

Hope you all have a great day!

It's been one of those days.

It wasn't baaaaad, per say, just non-stop, until now. I am done, pooped, drained....

After I dropped the girls off at school, I went to the gym where I worked out for about 35 minutes then sat in the sauna, my reward for the workout part. Just to lay in the heat, close my eyes and pretend I am laying at the beach, totally relaxing. I should download some beach sounds to the ipod to make it totally engulfing! I made what seems to be my daily stop at the commissary, for a couple things. And homeward bound I came, with a ferocious appetite in tow. When I got home I toasted (and burnt, but had to eat) a huge whole wheat bagel and added some pineapple cream cheese to the top. After breakfast, I cleaned the kitchen then showered and finally sat down to do some homework I have been procrastinating on.

I have 2 big assignments due Sunday. I had not one done. Well I knocked one out, kinda. The assignment (or so I thought) was a lesson plan incorporating art into a social studies lesson plan. ok, easy enough. I knocked it out in about 1.5 hours. I went to submit it online, and noticed I was supposed to do a drama infused lesson plan. ugh. Back to the drawing board. I kind of used what I had and tweaked it for drama, so it only took about 30min.

After that was done, I needed to get a birthday present for the girls to bring to a birthday party tomorrow, so back to post I went. The PX had nothing (for the girl) BUT they had some cute workout clothes on clearance. Who can pass up adidas shorts for less that 10$!! I got 2 pair :) I got Em some new balance tennis shoes for 15$ and some shorts for Kendall to play volleyball in. Not a bad trip, but not what I went for! So I went to Hallmark for a webkinz, score. Plus a little gift for Ryan who gets promoted on Monday. After that time to pick up the girls.

When we get home, I fold a quick load of towels, then start dinner.

(mmmm, all assembled and ready to cook!)

I am making a chicken spaghetti casserole for The Pioneer Women, I love her site! Here is the link for the casserole, in case you wanna make it! I made a few changes. Instead of pimentos, I used red bell pepper. I can not do cream of mushroom- it reminds of a recipe my Mom makes, she knows the one before I even say it. I am shivering thinking of it. I LOVED everything my Mom made, everything but Yucky Chicken. I don't know the technical name, but that is what my family calls it. It is one of those meals where I gagged and threw up over, but still had to eat it. My brother fell asleep at the table, bc we had to finish it before we could be excused. He thought he was slick, but when he woke up, he still had to finish it, now he had to eat COLD yucky chicken. That's olde school parenting there. This dish had 3 ingredients (correct me if I am wrong Mom). It was like chicken thighs wrapped in dried beef and smothered in cream of mushroom, then baked. Why you couldn't you just add some cheese to the top??? I know what she will say, because cheese was expensive, it was a luxury. lol. Man my girls have it easy.

(you can't tell it here, but it is still bubbling it's so hot!)

OK, I am going to enjoy a few beers, before my busy day again tomorrow. TGIF, people.