Homemade Advent Wreaths

Our church does the coolest thing....after the service on the first Advent Sunday they have supplies for all families to make their own Advent wreaths. We love this activity and look forward to celebrating Advent with as a family every year.

These wreaths are super easy to make all you need is:

some floral foam, a tin pie pan (any pan or dish would do), evergreen boughs, 4 candles (traditionally there are 3 purple candles and one pink but our church used white because you can get them super cheap at IKEA), and some pretty ribbon for a bow.

First, you put the foam in the tin and pour plenty of water on the foam to keep the greens fresh.

Second, you push the candles into the foam.

Then, you start putting the greens into the foam. I like to start at the bottom and go all around then build up another row, go around & around until it's all full and pretty.

There will be a few holes on the top so we cheat and just lay them across.

After all the holes are filled in, we find the perfect place for the bow.

Don't worry if you missed this last Sunday, just do it this week and then get on track this Sunday.
Week 1:
Light one candle. This candle represents Christ as the light of the world.

Scripture Readings:
John 1:1-5
Luke 1:26-38

Family Reflections:

• Did you know that the "word" is a special name for Jesus? It means that Jesus tells us what God is like.
• Mary must have been afraid and confused at first but she trusted God. Sometimes we're afraid  to do what we know God wants because people might laugh at us or be mad at us. Has there been a time where you trusted God and did the right thing even though you were confused or afraid?

Prayer:
Thank God for coming as one of us, offering us forgiveness for sin and an opportunity to spend eternity in God's loving presence.

Activity:
Take time this week to be Christ's light to others. Bring food to a food bank, bring a neighbor a treat, let your brother or sister have the first turn, help your parents by doing an extra chore.

Here were some of our friends' finished wreaths...

Monster Box

We're having a little taste of winter this week and are enjoying about 10 inches of perfect powdery snow. My kiddos can only stay out in the cold for so long before we must retreat into the warmth of the house. I don't want my little monsters sitting in front of the TV all day so we had to come up with some new things to do. Gray quickly retreats to his own space creating all kinds of things with his Legos. Ash is a little tougher to entertain. He's completely obsessed with monsters right now so I thought I would make him a monster box.
To make your own you will need:

• empty box (mine is a garbage bag box that came with a big opening for the perfect monster mouth)
• wrapping paper
• buttons
• cotton circles cut into triangle teeth (the kind you use to remove eye make-up or nail polish)
• household supplies: tape, scissors, and glue

First ,I wrapped the box just the way I would a present.

Second, I poked a hole where the opening in the box underneath the wrapping paper was.

Next, I cut the paper away from the opening and that was the monster mouth.

While I worked on the mouth Asher picked out the colors of buttons he wanted.

Then Asher helped me glue the buttons on for eyes. His little hands were better at squeezing the glue than I had expected. Oops!

I glued on the teeth because I wasn't sure how that would turn out. Thankfully, it turned out just fine because Ash was really excited about the teeth.

The hardest part was waiting for it to dry. So far Ash's monster really loves to eat cars.

*Your monster could love to eat items to go with your letter of the week, the season, certain numbers or colors of things. This monster could eat lots of educational things. Let me know what you come up with!

Latest blog love....oh happy day

I found a new blog this afternoon during nap time. I love the style oh happy day. This picture made me want to wander through this home...stopping to enjoy the pictures on the walls, and checking out all of those books! (This is Kate Spade's house.) I can't wait to see what will be posted next!

Polka-Dot Travel Mug

These were designed for me! I l-o-v-e, love them! These polka-dot travel mugs would definitely make my morning! Ohh....what a perfect teacher gift....$5.00 Starbucks gift card, and maybe a little baggie of their favorite treat inside the mug. Super great and easy!!!

Rosette Christmas Tree

Shanty 2 Chic is one of my blog loves and here is their latest and greatest...the Rosette Christmas Tree! With all the snow outside this color scheme seems perfect! Did I mention that it's a snow day tomorrow!?! Sorry, the first snow day always makes me a little giddy!!!

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub

This is one of my favs. to lurke..... Under The Table and Dreaming shared this super easy and nice hostess gift tutorial, pumpkin spice sugar scrub. How thoughtful to bring something to pamper your favorite hostesses or maybe even yourself. This would make a nice little gift for neighbors, too. Oh and I almost forgot to mention...see the label? Stephanie hooks you with with those, too. Now how nice is that!?!

Pottery Barn Advent Calendar

I love this advent calendar from Pottery Barn but it's a bit more than I'm willing to spend. So this year I'm going to make one of my own. Homemade by Jill has some ornament templates for the project. I just need to get my MIL to make this our next sewing class. My MIL is giving me sewing lessons...bless her heart. I am a bit of a slow learner with sewing, but she's so sweet always telling me I'm doing a good job even when I am pulling out all my stitches.

How my obession with blogs started...

I get asked a lot about my blog list (you know the ones that I  am a lurker of regularly which I apologize to everyone for not being an official follower...note to self must become follower of all the blogs I enjoy!) It all started with Natalie's Sentiments which lead to Say Yes to Hoboken which lead to Freshly Picked

(this is the sweater that is still on my to do list. I l-o-v-e, love it!I have it saved and look at if often.) which lead to Ruffles and Stuff, which lead to Ucreate, which lead to many more....which I will share later. I will try to post all of my blog loves and become an official follower of all of them by the New Year. That way all that are wondering what I look at will finally be in the know. If you have good ones...please share. There is nothing like the thrill of a new great blog!

November Sensory Tub

I saw this features on Ucreate w/ Kids and I loved it! What a great idea...a themed sensory tub! Thanks to  Counting Coconuts. This is the perfect thing to keep little ones busy during those bluckie (that's blah and yuckie) afternoons. I will be creating one of these to keep Ash out of trouble while I work on my report cards this weekend.

Faux Snowballs

I am SO making Susie's faux snowballs to go on my mantel in my glass cloches! How fabulous is it that they can go in Dec. 1st and stay through winter!?! I l-o-v-e, love it when I can use crafty little touches for more than just one month.

Subway Art Inspired Christmas Pillow

I just love everything Jen at Tatertots & Jello does! She's so crafty!!! Here is her fabulous subway art inspired Christmas pillow that was featured on I ♥ nap time. I really do need a Silhouette...hint....hint! (I keep dropping little hints like these...hoping my husband will pick them up!)

Glitter Trees

It's no secret that I L-O-V-E love glitter! eighteen25 came up with these uber fabulous glitter trees! I love these trees and can't wait to make my own!! Thanks I ♥ nap time for these super fun trees!

Popcorn Turkey

I just love the way blogs work....I am a lurker of The Crafters File Box...she did a feature of this popcorn turkey from One Charming Party which was featured on Entertain Exchange. Such a small world!
How cute would this be for a pre-Thanksgiving play date!?! My boys are HUGE popcorn eaters so I see a popcorn turkey in our near future.

Thanksgiving Ideas and lots of them!

Room Remix is one of my favorite decorating blogs. PK makes sure her blog is full of fabulous inspiration. Check out her gazillion Thanksgiving ideas. I am SO making this Give Thanks banner with my boys! Maybe we'll make it a craft play date...crafty mamas are you in!?!

She's a Lady Cardigan Refashion

I'm in love with this cardigan! It is SO up my alley! I love the big bow! Disney at Ruffles And Stuff breaks in all down her in "She's a Lady" cardigan refashion tutorial. Can't wait to make one for myself!!!