festive

♪It's that time of year

When the world falls in love

Every song you hear

Seems to say

Merry Christmas

May your New Year dreams come true♪

frosted windowpanes

My heart is stuffed with  marshmallows and tinsel..it's full haha

of cheer?

I said I was making up for the year without Christmas..

 Merrymaking mission accomplished.

 These little vintage Santa fellas have been part of Christmas my whole life..it was pretty horrifying to watch the same one burn/melt off in the tree scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation..no joke. I had to rewind to see it again! haha
It's tradition to watch it every year..
I'm into cheeky comedies.
Edward Scissorhands, muppets(family Christmas), and Elf make me happy too.

Traditional primary Christmas colors make me feel all nostalgic, grandma Betty used to stuff our presents in a cream burlap "santa sack" every year. She made it so much fun.

 

We had a pretty amazing Holiday!

and ate a lot..

Christmas Confections

iced wintermint cake

I spent the days leading up listening to my favorite classic songs and being

a mad scientist in the kitchen baking/making giftable treats.

I've been making these vanilla marshmallows for a few years now, I use a Martha/Ina method combo..they come out perfect every time. Even without the stand mixer I'm dying for..15 min by hand haha. My first time making a big batch!

So amazing melting in hot cocoa..

I always dab any leftover lid vanilla on my wrist per my baking days with Betty.. the house and I smelled amazing.

Apple Pie infused whiskey

Betty Jo's Fudge

 went ham on the cooking section at the store,

had to have silver sugar pearls!

scallops and snowflakes

Scored these perfect little boxes on sale! Last minute shopping is awesome sometimes. 

Packed full with:

caramel/nutella fudge

walnut-chocolate cookies

gingerbread

vanilla marshmallows

caramel apple cloud

breakfast/brunch

and last minute present wrapping

Went the classic wrapping route- plaid paper tied up with black string and simple white tags.

We're tuckered out. Luke thinks he pulled something wrapping presents..probably haha

We recovered with movies and Chinese food..don't all good Christmas stories end with laughter and Chinese food?

Hope you had a Happy Holiday!

girl

THERE is something in the autumn that is native to my blood—
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.
The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry	5
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.
There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,	10
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name. -a vagabond song Bliss Carman. 1861 ♥ A favorite, written around the same time our house was built! The wind is rattling these old bones and whipping the forlorn leaves around..along with the first flurries of snow, a white Christmas perhaps? My girl..the first antique photo/frame I ever bought. This old girl's made it through a lot. It's the kind of eerie old photo whose eyes seem to follow your every move. Perfect colors and a Tambourine in hand. I like to pretend she's my long lost great grandma.(dad was adopted in Chicago and I always wondered about genealogy)  Her music making hangs over my old record player and stand. I've been working on my mantle, I like to change it up with the seasons. The weather outside is frightful..these make me dream of pretty places. summer sounds and beekeeper bookmarks comfy/cozy wearing my warmest over the knee sweater socks and oversized wool..so warm. This old cardigan follows me everywhere, vintage Irish wool with perfect little grandma pockets-homes of Donegal "MacGintys BallyBofey" teal is having a moment in my life right now.. I'm working on painting a few more little accents, put those alleyway saves to good use haha Hope you're staying warm! update: I finally got the chance to get a look at my ancestor's genetic makeup..because we're living in the future(nearly 2020) and this technology is almost as cool as flying cars. My dna traveled a long way on its journey to me. (these are the origins of my parents) Basque Country Cameroon/Congo/Southern Bantu Fennoscandia France India Ireland Orkney Islands (Scotland) Peru Pima(Sonora) Sardinia Siberia Tuva

sentimental heart

It's beginning to look a lot like..

(chocolate & candy cane stained

I love having a real cut tree, that forest fresh smell!

My grandma Betty's ornaments have always been in this beat up vintage luggage, every time I crack it open..it's like the 60's in here haha

Lots of the mercury glass ones were so delicate..and broken.

The house was such a mess last year that we didn't even put up a tree..ah the joys of restoring a 150+ historic house. I'm making up for it this time around! I really missed Christmas..

Lumen does a lot of supervising around here haha

what I've been up to lately..

and watch out for fingers!

took a nice chunk out but I'm healing..the human body is an amazing thing.

this band aid is the most stylish thing I've been wearing.

but..

I rediscovered my favorite blazer..

thought I wore it to death in high school,

let's just say I had a blazer phase..

that never ended.

I'll let you guys in on a little secret.

I have crazy curly unruly hair, all I want to do is throw a beanie on that mess..so I do.

Almost every day. It was time for some new ones!

Slouchy styles like this are the best.

I have a headware obsession, it started way back..

I'll save the embarrassing hat tales for another day haha

and..

I made this yummy new concoction

roasted mini sweet peppers+creamy greek yogurt/avocado filling

most of my recipes spring from-I'm hungry and these things are about to expire haha

New Year's Eve snack?

We used to have awesome little parties at home growing up.

Grandma Betty would have dug em, this was her season.

Happy Friday!

hark!

♪The sky might fall
But I'm not worried at all♪



 kind of quiet around here lately..

last of the pretty leaves

I've been keeping myself busy in the studio and attempting to work on the house. The colder weather makes it tough, I just want to cuddle up in front of the heater haha I'm such a baby.
 Lu is too.

He follows me like a puppy, my little tuxie kitty

Even the fireplace haha

I'm refinishing every inch of tese old walls, it's tedious to say the least

I need to get my self in gear on the house renos so I can have an awesome Christmas here with my little family!

tea time,fave vintage mug- pale blue/silver hair,flowers,and animals! adore her freckles

I hope you're having a great week!