New Year's Resolution Kit Printable.

I know it often gets a bad wrap due to the dreary gray skies and cold, short days but I'm sort of in love with January. I love the idea of starting fresh. I love the potential of a whole new year. It's hard to believe that 2012 is just days away. This past week I've been pondering my goals for this next chapter, making lists in my head. You too? 

If you get excited about setting goals and making lists you'll want to print off a few of these Resolution Kits. They're a simple collaboration between me and my talented friend Lindsay of Run Lucas Run. She designed them up, I snapped a few shots + we're both excited to share them with you.

You can download the kit here on Lindsay's blog. I think they would make the perfect party activity/favor come Saturday night.

Christmas Cards 2011.

It's Christmas Eve + I'm feeling thankful. Thankful for my little babe (I can still call him that, right?) who has been fighting a cold all day but is making a comeback. For a husband who has banned me from the living room so he can finish his wrapping. For four "big kids" who chose to sleep together on the family room floor. For cinnamon rolls rising for brunch in the morning. For those snippets of time when my eyes fill with tears because I can't imagine being happier than I am at this very moment. But especially for our Savior. For his birth, his life and love.

If I could, I would package up a Merry Christmas card to send to each of you. Sadly that's not really a possibility but I wanted to give you a peek anyway.

Image of us by You Look Nice Today Photography, cards ordered from Minted.

Elf On The Shelf Ideas.

Our little elf friend has had a lot of fun in the cozy brick house. Here's what Simon's been up to:

I keep my Instagram feed (@danyelle_mathews) updated on all our elf's happenings. Have you seen any great ideas Simon should know about?

Christmas In A Jar.

If you've been reading this blog for any time at all you've figured out that I have a thing for packaging. Specifically, packaging something up and then naming it based upon what it's contained in. For example, Spring In A Can, New Year's Party In A Box, Summer In A Basket. . . I'm sure there are more but those were the first few off the top of my head.

This latest installment, Christmas In A Jar, is just another way to package up the neighbor gifts I mentioned a few years back. You will need to borrow a food dehydrator if you don't already own one but that is the extent of the work this project takes. It's so simple and is a wonderful gift because it doesn't involve slaving away in the kitchen and there isn't a single calorie to count. Hooray!

To make a few to give to friends, neighbors or teachers here's what you need:

-Christmas Potpourri Recipe
-Glass Jars (I found mine at Wal-Mart)
-Coffee Filters
-String
-Downloadable Christmas In A Jar labels.

As always, have fun putting this project together and of course feel free to blog about it. Just make sure to link to this post instead of linking directly to the download.

P.S. I'll be announcing the 31 Favorite Things package winner tomorrow. One more day to enter!

31 Tomorrow.

There is something magical about having a birthday in December. The twinkling lights strung up around town, the parties, the treats dropped off on doorsteps. Everyone is happier. Friendlier. More willing to share a smile. When I was younger I remember the only concern I had on my birthday was whether or not my sweet mother would make the mistake of wrapping my gifts with Christmas paper (those of you with December birthdays know what I'm talking about). A first world problem, I know.

As I've gotten older the concerns have changed. Like they should. This year on my birthday the one thing I keep thinking about is my family. Their happiness. I am so thankful for the gifts they give me everyday.

I'm also feeling thankful for you. I know it seems like a small thing but your comments brighten my day. This week I've received a couple not so nice ones (that were deleted) and it's made me appreciate those of you that leave encouraging and thoughtful words in this space. Thank you.

To show my appreciation I'd like to offer a giveaway to all of you. Just like last year. A happy mail package filled with 31 of my favorite treats. I have some new favorite things I can't wait to send to one of you! To enter simply leave a comment on this post. You can add another entry to the hat by giving a "Like" to my sparkling new Facebook page. I'll choose a winner in a couple of days and announce it at the bottom of this post.

Image of us by You Look Nice Today Photography 

I'll be sending my 31 Favorite Things package to:

Congratulations, Natalie! I'll be contacting you shortly.

Pinned.

It's Friday already? How can that be? This week has been a busy one here in the cozy brick house. There have been projects for school, plays, Christmas preparations (working on our cards now) and poor Ryan came down with a fever and sore throat yesterday. As busy as things are I couldn't let the week slip by without sharing some of my favorite recent pins. Lately I've been inspired by simple hearts. Can you tell?

1.Molasses Cookies from Always With Butter via Suann | 2.Little Trees from Dainty and Dangerous via Mandi | 3.Home Love (added to my wishlist) via Pamela | 4.Good People from FifiduVie via Lindsay | 5.Jacket Florals Stripes via Mandi | 6.Kraft + Heart packaging from Swoon! via my original pin.

P.S. Be sure to meet me back here later today, dears. Something fun is in the works. xo.

How To Wrap A Gift.

Four years ago I shared a tutorial on how to wrap a gift. Since then, my gift wrapping method hasn't changed but the posting capabilities we now enjoy on blogs has. Pictures are BIGGER and it's possible to add video. I decided it would be nice to make a little gift wrapping video since oftentimes it's easier to learn from watching someone complete a task rather than just following along a string of photos.



I'm by no means a professional vlogger but I hope you enjoy it anyway, friends. Perhaps it will make wrapping those piles of gifts a bit easier this season.

Weekending.

Hooray for wintertime weekends! It's a nice change to wake up on a Saturday morning and not feel like yard work is the order of the day. Instead, we curled up on the couch and watched Mr. Popper's Penquins. It was lovely.

This weekend we drank smoothies for breakfast,

caught Simon reading one of our favorite Christmas books,

made cranberry garlands,

enjoyed cheesesteaks and fries,

and cooed over our newest little cousin at the annual progressive dinner.

Other highlights: Finishing up the children's stocking suffers, new bedding, and the lighted boat parade.

A Few Announcements.

Hello, friends. I have a few bits of news to share with you today. 

First up: I started a Dandee Designs Facebook page! I'm excited to have another way to connect with all of you. I'm still learning the ropes but thought I would host a little giveaway to kick things off. How does a package full of some of my favorite things sound? Something like this, perhaps? I'll be sure to tuck the latest goodies from my shop in too. All you need to do to enter is "like" the Dandee Designs Facebook page. I'll pick a winner from the bunch first thing Monday morning and shipping the package off later that afternoon to guarantee delivery before Christmas. Fun, right?

I also wanted to let you know that I spent some time this week updating my Projects page. Maybe there's something in there you'd like to make over the weekend? How about these for that little girl on your list? There's also a new batch of favorite posts on the sidebar to click through. This time they're all holiday related.

Finally, I received an email from a reader in New Zealand letting me know that this little blog of mine was mentioned in the latest Australian Home Beautiful. Do any of you Australian readers know how I might get my hands on a copy? I'd love to see it in person!

Have a happy weekend, friends. I'll be wrapping gifts and putting the finishing touches on our holiday decor. Plus, I've been dying to take Easton and Abby to Hugo. Have any of you seen it? What did you think?

Reader Worthy | My Life as a Sugar Lander.

How do you choose which blogs are added to your google reader? For me, it's a tricky process. My computer time (as is yours, I'm sure) is very limited. My family is my first and foremost priority so I try to be careful about the number of blogs I subscribe to. This helps keep that pull to the computer at bay. Some blogs are perused every few weeks, others longer than that. Every so often I come across a blog that is immediately added to my google reader because I don't want to miss a single post.


My Life as a Sugar Lander is one of those blogs.

I first came across Casey's cute blog, My Life as a Sugar Lander, after stumbling upon her etsy shop. Hello, darling tooth fairy kits! On My Life as a Sugar Lander Casey posts about her current craft projects, her family, and her (awesome!) baby finds. It's a fun spot full of fresh ideas and is definitely reader worthy.


p.s. I'm totally LOVING Casey's most recent project. Amazing, right?


Image: Brooke Schwab

Hello, Paper Coterie + A GIVEAWAY!

The winner of the Paper Coterie Giveaway is:

Congratulations! You will be contacted shortly.

How's your holiday shopping going friends? If you still have a few people to check off your list you're going to LOVE my latest sponsor, Paper Coterie. I prefer to give sentimental gifts, especially for family and Paper Coterie is full of amazing ideas that I know you will love. They have cute photo books, clever memory boxes, calendars and holiday cards that will stand out from the crowd. I give my mother a calendar every year plastered with images of her grandchildren and I'm especially smitten with this clip wall version. 

Paper Coterie would like to offer a $50 coupon code plus free shipping to one lucky Dandee reader. Wouldn't that come in handy right about now? For a chance to win simply follow the giveaway guidelines below. Good luck!

Giveaway Guidelines:

-Make one comment on this post telling me what your favorite Paper Coterie design is.
-For an extra entry "Like" the Paper Coterie Facebook page.

-Giveaway closes Sunday, December 11th.
-Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Monday December 12th at the top of this post. 

Make Something | Snowman Straw.

We drink hot chocolate by the gallons this time of year. It's always a special treat but sprucing up our cute striped straws with a marshmallow snowman makes it even sweeter.

To make a marshmallow snowman straw you will need:
-straws
-large jet puffed marshmallows
-twizzlers pull n' peel licorice
-bakers chocolate
-colored sprinkles
-skewers + toothpicks

Melt your bakers chocolate according to package directions. Push a straw through one marshmallow at a time until you have three stacked on top of each other. Tie a couple of twizzlers around as a scarf and trim. Dip the end of a skewer and/or toothpick into the melted bakers chocolate and create the face, mouth, and buttons. Stick an orange sprinkle on for a nose and you're done!

Make sure you involve the kids. They will have fun making (then drinking!) with their little snowman creations. I'm sure they won't mind eating them either.

Pinned.

I've noticed that I've been pinning a little less lately. I'm so busy caring for my family, filling orders and crossing off my holiday to do's my boards have been quieter than usual. When I have hopped on Pinterest, anything Christmas related pops out to me. I'm really loving the classic holiday red, evergreen trees, pretty packages (what's new?) and snowy scenes. What are you pinning?

1.Wrapped In Lights from Haley Sheffield (LOVE her work!) via Mandi | 2.Write More Letters from Mary Kate McDevitt via Marta | 3.Kraft + Tiny Bow from One Fine Dae via Hana | 4.Go There from Fox On The Run via Lindsay | 5.Paper Twine from Cox & Cox via Ez.

Passionista Presents: A Holiday Concert With Mindy Gledhill.

Happy news! Mindy Gledhill is coming to our neck of the woods for a special holiday concert. Our family is loving Mindy's new album so you better believe I've marked our calendar and purchased our tickets. It's the perfect family activity and will surely be a night to remember. Will I see you there?

You can find more information about the show and purchase your tickets right here.

Concert Poster by Lovely Lindsay

Photography by Jefra Starr Linn

Weekending.

This weekend I was hoping to relax, wrap gifts and catch up on the laundry. 

None of that really happened but it was still nice. Busy, but nice.

We watched Easton play in the same middle school gym I played in over 19 years ago,

hung up our outdoor Christmas lights,

started a new project,

discovered our little elf is a Lisa Frank fan,

and fell asleep mid breathing treatments.

Other highlights: starting our Christmas cards + decorating, then un-decorating the Christmas tree (more on that later).

P.S. Today's the last day to enter the Tiny Prints Giveaway. The winner will be announced tomorrow at the top of this post and will receive a $50 gift certificate. Don't miss out!

Elf On The Shelf.

Tip of the day: It's never too late to begin a new family tradition. After seeing this cute little Elf On The Shelf all over Pinterest and running into him at Target and Barnes & Noble I decided it would be a good idea to have him live with us at the cozy brick house.

On the last day of November the children unwrapped him, we read the story, then pronounced his name. Simon! Simon watches over us and reports our deeds back to Santa each and every night, the good and the bad. While we're asleep he also gets into a bit of mischief. Take last night for example. Our little elf friend found my new camera and snapped away. There are shots of him with our Santa pillow, in the (still undecorated) Christmas tree, and even one on sleeping Owen's head!

I'm a bit surprised at how excited I am by having him around. The children are thrilled too. So friends, do you elf? If so, I'd love to hear where you have found your elf in the morning.

Looking for more Elf On The Shelf inspiration? My friend see_jane on Instagram has all sorts of great ideas.