It's Wonderful

Stamped Wall Art, Minted

And what's more, it's the most wonderful day of the week!  Now if I can just keep this cold at bay for a couple of more days...
Lori

Creative Holiday Wreath Display

r_iver32 via instagram

Don't you just love instagram?!  It is so much fun to follow favorite blogger friends and designers and see their everyday inspirations.  One such designer I follow is Sarah Richardson.  Recently, she asked her instagram followers to snap a shot of how they style a wreath and hash tag it #showsharesarah.  Above is my offering:  A simple pinecone wreath in the center of my mantel mirror.  She is going to choose her favorite pics to share on her website sarahrichardsondesign.com.  There are quite a few lovely pictures that her followers have submitted and I have been enjoying browsing.  I hope mine makes that cut...how fun that would be!

I decided that I would do a little post on fresh ideas for holiday wreaths today, since wreaths have been on my mind of late.

designsponge.com

evelynandrose.blogspot.com

mybestfriendcraig.blogspot.com

elementsofstyleblog.com

inspired-design.tumblr.com

countryliving.com

desiretoinspire.net

camillestylesinc.com

pinimg.com

weewestchester.com

myhomeideas.com

Some interesting ideas, right?  There are so many creative people out there.  

Any ideas you are loving right now for wreaths?

Rustic Holiday: Pinecones

This holiday season I have been really drawn to natural, rustic, down-to-earth decorating.  Elements that are simple and honest but pretty are very appealing and can look contemporary as well.  Pinecones fit the bill and there are so many ways to decorate with them.  They can be painted, or left natural.  Here are some of my favorite ways to use pinecones in decor this season!

vibekedesign.blogspot

laloleblog.blogspot

houzz.com

housenumber15.blogspot

zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com

designsponge.com

etsy.com

dailysuze.com

via

margotaustin.ca

stampington.com

lamaisondannag.blogspot.com

factorydirectcraft.com

goinghometoroost.com

ahouseinthehills.com

realsimple.com

themommyinsider.com

greenteadesign.com

I might try my hand at a pinecone garland for my mantle this year.  I like that it will be just as pretty for Thanksgiving as it will be for Christmas.  

A Few Of Our Favorite Things...Last Minute Gifts

One of my favorite candles...ever!  $25

Another of my favorite candles.  Noticeable and clean, not too feminine. $28

Smells just like a fresh cut Christmas tree.  There is nothing fake about this scent.
The entire line is amazing!  I have the multipurpose cleaner that I use on my counter tops, and
I tell you, cleaning has never been so rewarding!  The candles are strong, yet not overpowering, just like
a real tree. From $10-$48.

This blouse is beautiful and for only $19 it is a great gift.

Vintage flour sac, days- of -the- week, dishtowels, set of 7 $28

I love my magazines.  Subscriptions make great gifts.  $12 for 12 months.

Adorable bottle opener. $12

Beautiful frames, matted in burlap $29-39

At the top of my "want" list: super soft cable knit throw, on sale for $99.

     

If my guy had the tablet he wants, I would get him this to go with it! $69

I saw this the other day and it is so beautiful, I wanted it! $23

If you know anyone who is interested in decorating, they would love this book, by the legendary Bunny Williams. $24

This would be such a great gift for the book lover in your life!  
The goal is to collect the most literary sets.  Each set consists of three cards:
the Author card, the Library card, and the Bio card.
Not only is it a fun card game for the avid reader,
it could also be a great introduction to literature for kids.  Like my kid.
I want to buy this and then play it with my kid so that she will inadvertently learn about
great authors while we are playing a game.
Buy it here.

I think this is so fun for the budding artist on your list!
 It's available at fredflare.com and is full of ideas to  inspire your artistic side.

Robot Tea Infuser- tea is delicious!  And now it can be pretty cool.
I think this would be such a great gift paired
with your favorite loose tea.  Darjeeling, anyone?
I originally saw and fell in love with this months and months ago,
and apparently so did everyone else, because it is out of stock here,
 but will soon be available here.

~Lori

Tis' the Season

My class and  I are reading Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli.  It is the story of a Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee, a boy who becomes an orphan at the age of 3 and runs away from home at the age of 11 or 12.  The book deals with issues such as racism, segregation, poverty, and homelessness.  I have read this book with my class for the past five years or so, but this year I wanted to do something special to go along with the fantastic story.  Cue Scholastic Book Clubs and the non-profit organization Pajama Program, which donates new pjs and books to kids that are in need.  Scholastic has teamed up with the Pajama Program and will donate a book for every pair of pajamas that are registered through them.  I thought this would be a great community project for my kiddos and I to do this holiday season, because it fits in so well with Maniac and I think it is so important for our kids to realize just how lucky we are, and how we can and should always try to help each other.  We set our goal at 30, since I have 30 students in my class. I know that this time of year is hard on a lot of people; it is the holidays, after all, and as a school we already do fundraisers for the PTA and for organizations like Wreaths Across America, which raises money to place wreaths on veterans' graves to honor the sacrifices they made for our country.  Alli and I have taken part in that for the past three years, and it's really moving.

Alli and I at Wreaths Across America, three years ago
 (we made it into the paper!)

I mentioned the pajama drive that my class and I were doing during a staff meeting, and my wonderful fellow teachers jumped on the bandwagon and opened the drive up to their own classes.  It was because of this that we met and even exceeded our goal.  I am so lucky to work with such amazing people!  I'm also really lucky that I get to work at a school where the instinct of the families is to reach out and help each other, even when we can all use help ourselves.

Get involved with the Pajama Program here!

How cute is this little pajama recipient?!