CHA & Elles Studio

Oh yes, sometimes I scrapbook too! Last month a brown box made it's way from Washington to my front door. Filled with the latest collections from Elles Studio, I had the job of creating a few projects for their booth at CHA this weekend. If you've always loved Elle's tag and journal spots, she's now designed collections of double sided papers in trendy colors and patterns (seems pink and teal is the going trend this season) I got to play with the Serendipity collection!

 
They also have lot's of giveaways going on right now on the Elles Studio blog, don't miss out and you check out the rest of the collections at CHA too! 

I felt like this post should have a song that goes along with it too, so here it is. One that I've been listening to alot lately while packing up all of our Christmas crap  stuff. I don't remember purchasing anything new this year and yet I find myself needing a couple of extra storage containers to make everything fit..... story of my life - much to the dismay of my husband. :)  



Sweet dreams and Happy (almost) Monday to you! ~  Tara

   

 
 

citron faire - update

I wish I could say that our winter break was nothing short of amazing but..... that would only describe the first part of our vacation - the second part, not so much. Christmas was wonderful, the kids and I spent afternoons making cookies, being crafty, evenings spent driving around looking at Christmas lights, it really was a spectacular holiday this year! The week after Christmas though we had some bad luck with various viruses settling into our home. It seemed every time we went out, we brought back a new illness which after 2 weeks of the kids and I being sick it was almost comical - like a bad episode of Punked. You name it, and the kids and I have probably had it. After more rounds of antibiotics that can be counted on one hand, and enough chicken noodle soup to feed a small army, I think the kids and I are slowly on the mend these days!

So, with all of the time I had spent indoors, I put my creative hat on and came up with a small collection of Valentines inspired products for the shop. I love this holiday - any excuse to create using excessive amounts of pinks and reds!

I plan on updating the shop tomorrow morning! I also created a mini scrapbook kit too called Paper Hearts, it's not an overly themed mini and kind of perfect for everyday photos (I'm going to  fill mine with photos of the kids). I'm hoping I can get a chance to work on it a bit more today. (I have Chase home sick with me today, maybe during naptime I can stow away to my craft room - fingers crossed!) 

Happy creative - productive Wednesday to you! ~ Tara

Snow Day

Back in October I had this brilliant idea - I was going to organize a trip up to the high country, to see the snow, ride the Polar Express, visit with Santa, walk through a Reindeer park and, most importantly, to go sledding. Yep, I was going to plan all this plus I was going to keep it a complete surprise from the kids! Well, Chase figured out that we were going to the mountains earlier this week and I asked him to keep it a secret (which he did, the little sweetheart)  but Alaina had no idea what I had planned and just how many people were in on it until we were on the highway and nearing Flagstaff. 

On Wednesday morning, Alaina and I went into school together and on the way into her class she was kind of whining about all of the fun things that Chase's preschool always had planned. (I even heard a few 'it's not fair!') I worked for a few hours at school, told her not to worry that I'd think of something fun to do and I'd be back for lunch. Little did she know, I had already packed a suitcase, all of our snow stuff, a basket of snacks for the kids, printed off directions and hotel info and had thrown it all into the back of the truck. (Have I mentioned how much I love that Alaina is completely oblivious to everything around her, I think she actually had to step over the suitcase that morning to get into my closet and she never thought twice about it. -  It sure makes surprising her really easy!) After running a few last minute errands, Peter, Chase and I went back to her school to pick her up and head up North. I walked into her class, told her to grab her backpack and that I had thought of something fun to do after all! 

 She screamed when she realized we were going up to the snow, "I've never seen snow in my real-life!"  Jumped up and down when she saw that we were going to ride on the Polar Express Train, told Santa that all she wanted for Christmas was a sleigh bell from one of his reindeer's (which Santa gave her on the train ride). She fed lots of deer and even a camel named Gracie! Chase meanwhile was awestruck and his usual quiet self, except when it came to sledding - I've never seen him smile so big or scream so much!

Best "last-minute" mini vacation ever. Enjoy the photos, xo ~ Tara

a hazy shade of Winter

Want to see one of my favorite color combinations right now? :)

I'm not much of a purple kind of girl. I like it but I never seem to use the color in any of my work and it's not a color that I wear..... but this combination reminds me of Winter and January. What do you say, thumbs up or down to Purple?

 I have a girls day planned for Grandma and myself tomorrow, I think I may try to pick out something in an amethyst or lilac shade.... even if it's only a sheet of paper. I'm always up for a color challenge! 

xo ~ T

a Phoenix Winter

It's easy to forget that it's mid December when you live in the desert. Mother Nature seems to skip over us each year and instead of bringing snowy grey days, we get clear skies and lots of flowers. I can't really complain about either! The Great Grandparents are visiting this week from Washington (another reason to love the desert in the Winter time - everyone wants to come visit!) and on Sunday we went down to their Hotel (this particular Sheraton is one of my favorite places to stay in Scottsdale the grounds are gorgeous!) to hang out with Grandpa Howard and Grandma Judy, soak up a little sun, and take advantage of the pool..... in other words: the recipe for a perfect Sunday afternoon!  

I spent all of last week asking Chase if he knew who was going to come visit us, sometimes it helps to prepare him in advance for changes to his schedule. We also think it helps him to not be so shy and upset.  The first time I asked him, he answered Mickey Mouse?  *Laugh* and then at some point he decided that Grandpa Howard and Grandma Judy were just as good as Mickey & Minnie. He also decided they were coming here to celebrate their birthdays. So, we got to hear him practice his Happy Birthday song for his Great Grandparents for days! :)  

  

Hope you having a great start to the week! 

xo ~ Tara

Let it simmer, Home Fragrance recipe

Right now, you are only 4 ingredients and about 20 minutes from having a house that smells absolutely splendid this holiday season! I like to fill a little pot of this mixture put it on the back burner and let it simmer throughout the morning while we're getting ready for the day. About 30 minutes later my home smells warm and spicy just like a home should and that cinnamon smell will linger on into the evening... Yum!

Holiday Home Fragrance

 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks

1 tsp whole cloves

 the peel from one orange

 4 cups water

Combine all ingredients into a medium pot and place on the stove. Let the water come to a boil and then turn down temperature to just a simmer. Remember to check the water level from time to time and fill when necessary. 

I love simple pick me up's like this one and it's one from the 31 Things list I made for the month. The house still smells like cinnamon and orange tonight as Chase and I sit here playing the last game of Bingo before bed time. Now it's off to squeeze in a little scrapbooking time - I really need to get started on that December Journal I had planned! 

Thanks for stopping in tonight! ~ Tara

Hello December!

I was playing with some color combination ideas late last night, and what better way to start the weekend than with a little color. :) I have plans to wrap and ship out a few Etsy orders, some tidying up of the house (there is Christmas stuff everywhere!), a quick trip to the library this afternoon and playing with paper later on tonight.  Here's to carefree Saturdays!

~ Tara

31 Things

Hi all! It's almost December and I know this month is going to be incredibly busy for everyone, (with shopping, traveling, decorating, class parties & projects) but I wanted to post a list of things to do with kids and family! Most of these won't cost you anything but time (I'm all for low budget crafts and ideas right now!) and hopefully you'll have some fun in the process. Just think of the many photo opts for your December journal. :)

 1. start a Family Advent Calendar

2. donate canned food (this will make room in your pantry too!) 

3. decorate your home

4. make reindeer food (1/2 cup oatmeal, and a dash of glitter - sprinkle outside to attract Santa's reindeer)

5. take your child(ren) to see the snow this year & go sledding

6. make hot chocolate and watch a Christmas movie as a family

7. be a secret Santa to someone unexpected

8. donate old coats to charity

9. make dinner for someone who could use a night off this month

10. read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas eve

11. volunteer to wrap gifts for someone 

12. visit Santa at the Mall

13. make paper snowflakes from coffee filters

14. bake cookies and decorate as a family

15. host a gift wrapping party

16. build a fire and roast marshmallows

17. host an ornament making party for the kids in the neighborhood 

18. make paper ornaments and let the kids decorate

19. write a letter to Santa

20. leave an apple or carrots for Santa's reindeer

21. play an old Christmas record or cd as background music for dinner tonight

22. write a letter to our troops stationed over seas this Holiday

23. sort through your kids' toy box and bookcases to donate old or unloved items

24. make a 'magic key' for Santa to use if you don't have a fireplace this year

25. bundle up and take a walk around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights

26. simmer orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves and some water to make your home smell wonderful

27. start an ornament exchange with family members and guests (we do this during Christmas dinner, I have a sleigh full of wrapped ornaments)

28. donate any extra blankets or quilts to a local charity

29. make time to hold a family game night

30. take your children to the library to read Christmas stories from around the world

31. spend an afternoon making peanut butter and bird seed pine cones, tie to a tree and watch the birds come to visit

~

After a long day this month, kick your feet up, enjoy a cup of hot apple cider and remember to breathe! I'm actually really excited for my to-do list this month as well as spending lots of time at school helping out in the classroom. (Usually I'd be a bit frazzled thinking about how much needs to happen this month.) I think with this year being our first in the new house, I'm feeling more energized and ready for the holiday. Chase is really helping too, he understands so much more this year that it's fun to now be able to include both him and Alaina in all of our holiday plans. It really is the most wonderful time of the year! 

Have a splendid weekend everyone! ~ Tara