Some Christmas Favorites

As some of you know, I grew up in my moms home-goods retail store.
Watching her painstakingly merchandise displays, and obsess over products to carry, I have learned a thing or two about retail, and have definitely learned to see things a little bit differently.

Over the years people have come to know and love the beautiful Christmas decorations in her store each year. As a result, our home has been filled to the rim with gorgeous displays and amazing little goodies to decorate every nook and cranny.

Anyway...
I know most of us have memories that come with ornaments, and I just wanted to share a few of my favorites!
What are some of your favorites??

Impromptu DIY Candle holder

Waking up in the mountains is so refreshing. 

The air was clean and the sky was blue and the sun was so warm!

My mom and I went on a little walk through our 'back yard' and I found a bunch of these black, charred twigs. I thought this would be an easy project with very few supplies, that was wintery, but really pretty and kind of magical just in time for Christmas. 

Supplies:

Hurricane, or any simple glass container with a straight shape

Candle

Twigs

Scissors

1 Rubber Band

Thread, twine, ribbon, or string

After you have collected all of your twigs, measure your glass and cut, or break your twigs to the appropriate height, since I snapped my twigs by hand, they varied in height a little bit, but I really like that look! 

 Put your rubber band around the glass and put the twigs in place around the glass.

Once you have all of your twigs in place, wrap your thread over the rubber band and as much as you like until you are satisfied with the look of it all. 

Tie off the thread, and CAREFULLY cut the rubber band, and gently pull it out from under the thread. 

Light Candle and ENJOY!!

A few hours later when the flame has burned down a little bit, the twigs have made an amazing silhouette...

I am so ready for my computer to be back and running like it used to be! Virus killed it for awhile, it is down to the bare bones now... 

I am waiting to get my photo programs back up!! 

Headed Home!

Today I packed up my car with Christmas gifts, goodies, and Alabama and headed up the hill to my moms.  

I was born and raised in this place, and even though I haven't lived here for 7 years, I still call it home.

I think I always will.

I blasted Christmas songs on my way up, and tried to soak up every second of it. 

Alabama hid away from the cold under her blanket the entire time, and the last 15 minutes of the drive, for the first time in her life, she discovered that she can put her head out of the window!! I was laughing hysterically because it was SO CUTE!

The cold weather had made everything barren and empty, the red barns were the only color for miles around! 

I have always loved taking photos of where the sky meets the horizon, but these are some of my favorites. 

I hope you like them!

A little bit of puppy luuuuv

Today was the first day that I didn't need to wake up to an alarm in awhile, and it was AMAZING.

I still woke up before the sun came out, but it was pure bliss to wake up on my own. 

When I finally got out of bed, I put on, what felt to be, 43 layers of clothing to assure I wouldn't freeze!

It was so cold, and foggy, and quiet.

And it was perfect.

I know there are a lot of photos... I just couldn't edit anymore of them out!

beauty shots

bribing her to sit still with treats... 

I know these are a little bit blurry, but I think they are so funny and cute!

Christmas!!

I know it has been FOREVER since I have written a blog, but every time I sit down to write one I am soooo overwhelmed with things I want to write about!

So I figured I would start back with something simple, and something I LOVE.

Christmas time :)

Since I live alone, in a fairly small place, I tend to keep my decorations small.

This year I just kept it simple with some vintage ornaments, colorful ornament bulbs, and some other little goodies.  

Anyway, I thought I would just post a bunch of photos for everyone to see! 

Let there be light!

I have been seeing a lot mason jar ideas online lately. There is something about canning jars that feels so homey and warm.

I have been looking for a way take these little cuties out of the cabinet and have them on display, so I made this little guy...

It was so simple, and I think it's really sweet.

What do you think?

Apple Core, BALTIMORE

I just made apple sauce. 

For the first time ever. I made sweet, fresh, amazing apple sauce!

I have the worst luck buying apples, no joke, every time I buy apples, I take a big-HOPEFUL bite and what do I get? Mush. 

It's awful!  Last week I went to Costco, and I thought for some reason I would get lucky, so I purchased a flat of 16 apples. 

The first apple.... crispy, crunchy, great. 

The second apple.... mush.

So today I decided that instead of just letting these apples take up the bottom half of my refrigerator, I would be domestic and take 'em to town!!!

There's something about baking with apples that just fits with fall.

Ready to make the easiest apple sauce ever?

3 LBS (give or take)  

1/2  cup water

2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice (to prevent browning!)

Sugar to taste(optional)

Add water and lemon juice to a non-reactive pan

Chop up all of your apples in chunks(skin your apples if you are picky about texture)

Turn your pan on medium heat and add apples

Stir occasionally to make sure the lemon juice gets over ever chunk. 

Let simmer for about 10-20 minutes or until your apples are soft

Put apples in a food processor 

If you are adding the sugar, return apples to the pan, pour in sugar and stir until dissolved.

If your not adding sugar, spoon into bowls, or jars, or tupperware... 

I put some in the freezer, and some in fridge.

Some for now, and some for later

 :) 

Quick up-date!

I have taken a little break from blogging...

It's crazy how quickly times go! I have been focusing on my shop a lot lately, the past two weeks have been filled with hunting for goodies.  
24 NEW LISTINGS!!! I have about 10 more items to photograph, and add, but Thankfully, I am ALMOST caught up with everything.

I was really debating giving up my shop, but this past weekend I was really inspired and I decided to jump back in with both feet.

Tick, Tock...

Yesterday I went to a Vintage flea  market with Amb. We had such a good time! After weaving in and out of 20+ aisles of vintage goodies, we both walked away with such great goodies! 

I love looking at all of the old things... I realize how young I am, and how my life has only been a blink long.

It makes me feel small. 

And I love that.

Maybe that's one of the reasons I love older things...

Maybe it's the fact that in the world we live in now, everything is replaced so easily, and through out the years, these are some of the things that have lasted.

Or maybe I just love the look of it all. 

Whatever the reason, I am a huge lover of vintage, mod, retro.......

Like I said in a previous post, I have become obsessed with clocks.

And radios. 

And clock-radios. 

Anyway! These are a few of my finds from yesterday... 

Pink Radio.

 Clock+Automatic Timer.

Bottle Open, and Yellow Travel Clock. 

This little girl is such a beauty.

After work today I was looking at some of my finds, playing with them, cleaning them up a little bit, and I realized that I hadn't tested all of my clocks... 

I lined them up, I wound them all, and let 'em rip!

Most of these are for my etsy, but a few of them are just for me.

To my surprise, they all work. 

:) 

Thrift Thursday!

When I started thrifting in my area I only knew of one shop, it was very large, and over priced and frankly, felt more like a cold warehouse than anything else.  I know now of several others in my area, and have grown to love one in particular.  It's really small, and they have so many goodies that are just... yummy.  It's run by little old ladies that make it feel very homey, and keep it very friendly! They have come to know my face and always make sure to say 'Hi' to me. It makes me realize how nice it is to be recognized, and how amazing it is to have that sense of 'community' that is so hard to find these days.

I found a couple of things today, one of which is just a simple little green vase. A friend of mine had one of these babies, and I have always loved it. 

To my surprise, I found one! 

I also found an old book that is just a handy book for having your own place! I always love these TIME/LIFE books, they are practical, and the cover is really fun :)

Lastly, I found this old GE plug-in clock. It works like a charm, but I haven't decided whether to put it in my shop, or to keep it for myself! 

Lately, I have had this weird infatuation with retro clocks.. 

I can see 6 from where I sit!

I think it's becoming a problem.

I also made an idea book today... I have this massive pile of magazines that I have been holding on to. 

I have been meaning to go through them and take things I liked out of them... 

I have had this thought of making an 'Idea Book'
So I went through a bunch of them, tore out loads of pages, cut them up, pasted them in, and...


VOILA!
I now have a little book full of inspiration, instead of a massive pile of magazines!
I can't wait to fill the rest of its pages!
You should make one too!

          

Proud Momma

Today was crazy. 

It was full of errands and hang out sessions. 

Somewhere in between I found a few moments of silence in the sun in the living room. It felt like it lasted much longer than it really was, but it was just what I needed. Alabama was sleeping on the floor, snoring and dreaming, and being warmed by the sun. 

I realized how much joy she brings to my life. 

She is such a happy little creature, that just lives and breathes to make me happy.

She is loud, and messy, and snores, and can clear a room with her.......gas.

But I wouldn't change anything about this perfect little peanut.

I am one proud momma.

Gone Fishing!

While I was in Southern California, I saw my dad's new house... the last tenants were fishers... not only did they leave an old boat in the garage, but tons of fishing equipment.  I saw some tackle boxes and I started scavenging, I found a ton of little gadgets. I don't have any idea what these things were originally used for, but I thought they were too cool to pass up.
Everything I took home smelled like fish juice, nastiness, and was covered in fishing hooks. I cleaned, sanitized, and de-hooked everything and made some adorable jewelry!!

ps... if anyone has any old Fish tackle boxes collecting dust, please let me know. I would be glad to make you something amazing if you want to do a little trade! 

keysforkelsey@yahoo.com

I also used little pieces from the hooks for clasps.

A weight that looks almost like a whistle, the deer is something I already had.