The 12 Dates of 2013

This year for Christmas Hubby and I set a rough budget to spend on each other. After I felt I had spent enough I wanted to think of a gift for Hubs that was something that wasn't a "thing." I had been on Pinterest (of course) and saw a few different ideas I liked:

http://followinginmyshoes.com/life-as-i-know-it/wifedom/hubbys-gift-a-year-of-date-nights/ 

http://www.thepoefam.com/2012/01/year-of-going-out-by-staying-in.html 

www.thedatingdivas.com



I love the dating divas - they have so many cool ideas for date nights, that include going out or staying in. And you can adjust the ideas to whatever suits your time and liking. (Not endorsing them because they told me to. I just really think they have awesome ideas.)

So I just chose 12 of the dates that I thought sounded fun, adapted a few, and made a book out of scrapbook paper. I made little tickets for each date and then I added any explanation for the date on the page for the month. I made sure to leave room for any pictures we took on the date. Then I left the inside of the page open like pockets and used brown paper bags at pockets for pictures. Then I can also write details on the bag. I looooved it! And Steve enjoyed getting it. It was a really nice and cheap way to make sure we have at least one date night a month in our busy schedules.

Here is what it looked like:

Here is a picture from our first date in January to the Jazz Game. (This one was technically another one of Hubby's Christmas gifts, so that was easy to plan.)

Crochet Snowflake Garland

This is not necessarily a pin... but let's pretend, k?

I have recently taken up the obsession hobby of crocheting. It is so fun to make things with my hands and I love how it feels to finish a project. I also love crocheting because I can make things for others and serve those in need or those in my family.

I was having the urge to create something Christmas-y for our first Christmas in our new home. So I went searching on the Red Heart website. It's great because it has so many projects for all kinds of skill levels. I eventually found something I liked and wanted to try - The Snowflake Mitten Ornament. I went to work, and after finishing I did not love the mitten. But I did love that cute little snowflake!! So I decided to make a bunch and make it into a cute little garland for my mantle. Off to work I go!

So stinkin' adorable!

I forgot that it would overlap with my stockings, but I am leaving it for now. Next year I'll find a better place for it.

I plan to make our fireplace lovely and perfect whenever we can paint our living area. But it is what it is for now - and I actually am okay with it. I could have made the garland a little longer, but like I said - I like it for now. So cute and it wasn't too hard to make.

Sorry it's not really a pin - but I hope it inspired you a little bit to go and create something lovely!

Lynnette

12 Days of Christmas pin

The hubs and I bought our first home this year, so this is our first Christmas in our home! I decided to try out a new tradition to go with our new home this year. It helps that I'm not worrying about homework or finals right now. I have always loved the idea of the advent calendars that have a little thought/activity leading up to Christmas. It just helps get me in the Christmas spirit.

A while back I had pinned this pin. Source: 12 Days of Christmas to Christ

 

You need to know that this is from LDS Living. So this may not be exactly matching up with your belief system. I also pinned some other cool ideas, like ... 50 Things to do at Christmas, Reason for the Season Devotionals, Christmas Symbols, The 12 Dates of Christmas. Take your pick - these all rock. I'm actually probably going to take ideas from all of these. But for this project I focused on The 12 Days of Christmas to Christ.

 

I decided I wanted to make it an advent-type thing, so I made little pocket-ornaments for each of the 12 days. I simply took cute Christmas paper, measured it about 2 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches, folded it in half, one staple on each side, hole punched the two top corners, and strung ribbon through. I typed the little thought/lesson in pretty fonts, and folded them up and stuck them inside the pocket. Then I traced the numbers on the ornaments and colored them in. Not too fancy, but cute and simple.

Don't you love our little Utah Jazz ornament? Us too.

So I plan to start on the 13th so we'll end on Christmas Eve. I hope it's fun and that we can keep doing it every year, and maybe even add new things as our family grows.

Lynnette

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?