Christmas Archives - white house black shutters

Spice up Your Home with World Market!

posted on: December 5, 2012 18 Comments

I have been wanting to create a photo wall in our home for a while, but have been lacking inspiration. Bland frames, bland colors, all from a garage sale, none I truly love, and a whole lot of blah. This space when you first enter our home was equally bland, and I needed to create an impression. I wanted to spice up my home a bit so I headed to World Market last weekend to check out their new Life of Pi collection, inspired by the movie of the same name. Life of Pi is the story of an Indian … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, decor, family room, foyer, giveaways, reviews, SPONSORED

Picking out a Christmas Tree

posted on: December 3, 2012 5 Comments

This weekend we drove out to our favorite farm and frolicked in the beautiful snow until we found the absolute perfect tree. It was like a scene out of a movie or postcard. Just kidding, we went to Lowes. ;) We got a Frasier fir, actually the first one we looked at! We did a fake tree our first two Christmases and while growing up. We tried out a real tree last year and loved it. The smell is way worth the mess! Gotta love the use of pallets! On our way home from picking up the tree … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, family

Painted Votive Advent Wreath

posted on: November 30, 2012 4 Comments

paint clear votives to recreate the look of candles for your advent wreath, via @whbsblog

Advent starts this Sunday, December 2nd and normally on a day like today I am running around to a few stores to find three purple and one pink candle. I've tried painting the candles, which looked like a joke. I've thought about ordering them online, which did not happen cause well, I am not good about that. Last year, I painted some vases and stuck a candle inside and they turned out okay. They looked really great before I actually used them, but once I did, the big candles made for a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, crafts, DIY, painting, traditions

7 Reasons Why We Are Never Ever Ever Doing “Elf on a Shelf”

posted on: November 29, 2012 99 Comments

7 reasons why this mom is never ever ever doing Elf on a Shelf, via @whbsblog

Disclaimer: I made this post to make myself feel better for not doing Elf on a Shelf because I’m the only mom on social media not doing it. I am not making fun of you or your elf. Please do not send him to come eat me and my children. Thank you. Ahhh, it’s that time of year. The time when everyone from real life friends, to online friends, to bloggers are posting about Elf on a Shelf. You’re probably wondering where my pictures are, but I am here to tell you, no, sing to you, that we are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, talking to you, traditions

Introducing Adam Joseph!

posted on: December 29, 2011 20 Comments

I hope you and your family had a wonderful and blessed Christmas! We certainly did :) We had a great Christmas, and unexpectedly, I started getting contractions at the end of the day. We went into the hospital around midnight and our beautiful son, Adam was born at 2:29 am at 38 1/2 weeks, 7 lbs 8 oz, and 20 inches long. although we had some complications near the end of the pregnancy as a result of my health issues throughout the pregnancy, Adam is perfectly healthy. I feel so blessed. :) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, family, kids

Cranberry Orange Cookies

posted on: December 21, 2011 Leave a Comment

Okay, this is a bit late for Christmas cookies, but I feel like I’ll be doing the world (and you) an injustice if I don’t let you know how ridiculously tasty these Cranberry Orange cookies are. I might even go as far to say that these are now my favorite cookies ever. Maybe it’s just my pregnancy craving for the combo of cranberry and orange? Maybe I’m still on a cookie-induced-sugar-high? But ohhhhh snap. These cookies are dang good. Cranberry Orange Cookies, revised recipe via … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, recipes

Painted Glass Vase Advent Wreath

posted on: December 20, 2011 3 Comments

Last year I forgot to take our Advent wreath out until after Christmas. This year I discovered that a hot attic is not a good place to put candles that can melt. On the third Sunday of Advent (raise your hand if you’re a slacker…), I decided I needed to do something in the way of an advent wreath. I took vases like these that I found at Goodwill and see there all the time glass vases image via Google I painted them using acrylic paint and inserted some candles I had in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, holiday decor, traditions

Evolution of a Christmas Tree, Making Your Tree Glow!

posted on: December 19, 2011 5 Comments

How was your weekend? Are you all ready for Christmas?? We finished decorating around here and kinda just hung out. My little sister had a birthday party at an indoor pool (the kids loved it!) on Friday night, I worked and Doug fixed our car (new radiator – blah) Saturday afternoon, and Doug’s parents and family came over on Sunday. Each night though, we took it easy and watched movies together. It was nice. :) I’m totally not ready for Christmas, I was hoping to have my shopping … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, holiday decor, traditions

Hot Glue Icicle Ornaments

posted on: December 15, 2011 7 Comments

Inspired by the look of these vintage icicles that were on my parents’ tree (and now ours), I wanted to make a ton of icicles for our tree! To make the icicles, take an ornament hook, straighten it out, make a little loop, and hang them on some string Take your hot glue gun and glue away, letting the glue drip as it wants to to create more natural looking icicles. After they dry, take a look around and add more drips of glue as you need them. If your icicles try to stick … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, family room, favorite things, free projects, greatest hits, holiday decor

Scribble Christmas Trees

posted on: December 12, 2011 7 Comments

I got these HUGE sheets of green paper from my mother-in-law and since they were green, decided to put them to work as Christmas decorations ;) Lily and I started out by coloring the huge pieces of paper. I would draw shapes, she would color them in. We then switched to having crayon races, and trying to go FAST! and sloooooow. I cut the paper into three triangles, then cut some stars out of scrapbook paper, trunks out of a paper bag, attached glue dots to the back, then Lily helped me hang … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, free projects, kid projects, kids' room