Life in Pictures.

Happy New Year!!!

A little last minute inspiration.  I always decide to throw little get togethers at the last minute.  Grab some goblets, number stickers, left over ornaments, a cake plate, and gather your clocks from around the house.  PARTY!!!

 

Happy New Year!!

-t

The last of 2008

With so much happening at Christmas I often take a million pictures and do tons of things and then neglect posting them.  I thought I would try and do a little better this year and give you a glimplse of a few Mitchell family holiday activities this last week or so. :)

There was cookie decorating...

 

 

 

and eating...

 

 

 

disney trips...

 

and santa visits...

 

time spent with friends...

 

time spent with family...

letter writing...

 

 

 

 

 

and present opening...

 

 

it has been a whirlwind month and year!!  We've had a lot of fun, a lot of craziness and been so blessed this year!  I am looking forward to a much more normal and relaxed 2009! :)

have a great day!

-t

Orange Bowl Party!!!

We are big college football fans around here.  Especially at this time of year!!  We love to grab some grub and watch all the bowl games that happen this time of year.  Go USC!!! ;)  I realize that not EVERYONE is as big of a fan as we are..but that doesn't mean you can't use it as an excuse toget together.  If you make it a fun enough party even the non-football fans won't mind coming and hanging out! :)

SO...here's my version of an Orange Bowl party that will hopefully spark some ideas...I mean just think of the bowl names and you've got a party!!  Sugar bowl...table full of sugary goodies, rose bowl...red color scheme with roses everywhere...get creative!!

The theme is easy...just think everything orange!  For a little added color mixing in this fun blue is nice.  Orange lanterns, orange Izze, orange cupcakes, orange florals...you get the idea! :)

 

The orange chargers I picked up at Party City for about $1.50 each.  The orange glasses are from pottery barn years ago on clearance (I LOVE to shop celarance for party supplies!! )

 

The little candy jars with candy orange slices in them are from IKEA.  The felt flowers all over the table are from the scrapbook store.

 

Party favors and other decorations are clementines...in season this time of year and yummy!!  Fill a few various glass jars with them for your table and orange take out boxes (from Michaels $.79 ea) with a few for guests to take home. :)

 

Are you suddenly wanting to watch some football?? ;)

Have a great day!

-t

Memory

 The other day Ash and I did something simple.  We played a game.  Nothing fancy.  Nothing terribly messy or time consuming.  Just spending time together with no other distractions.  As I go back over these pictures I can't help but feel a little sad.  I look at these moments frozen in time.  Her perfect little toes.  The sweet curls framing her face.  All of this time is slipping away so quickly.  I let WAY too many of these moments pass without taking the time to enjoy them.  As a mom I often feel "bothered" when asked to stop and play.  "In a minute"..."not right now"..."I'm busy"...are too often my reply.  Before I know it she's going to be 15 and feeding ME these lines when I ask to spend time with her. 

So, I'm making a new years resolution.  to play a little more.  be less busy.  make the most of these moments.  i want lots of these moments to remember.  but for now here are a few to help serve my memory in the years to come. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

i love you ash.

have a great day!

-t

It's a little late for this year...

but I found this the other day and I'm TOTALLY making it next year.  Seriously...how cute is this???

 

LOVE this.  Start gathering up your little trinkets..cards, tags, bottlecaps, dominoes, scrabble pieces etc NOW so you can have them ready to create this next Oct/Nov!!!  :)  (not to freak you out or anything, but it will be here before you know it!!! ;)

Have a great day!

-t

Merry Christmas!!!

Warmest holiday wishes for a year of happiness from our family to yours!! :)

 

have a merry day!

-t

A few more ideas...

here are the last of the holiday ideas from the contest. These are idea boards I submitted simply from gathering images from a few of my favorite places and compiling them together. :)   The top one is my favorite.  Very "homespun."  Love the vintage buttons in the top entry.  I'll for sure be hunting some of these down in 2009!! :)

 

The colors in this one could be carried from Thanksgiving all the way through Christmas giving you an excuse to put your decorations up early next year! ;)

 

Love, Love, Love this one. 

 

Now go finish wrapping!!  Only a few hours left!!! :)

Gingerbread Party

I love to make cookies and gingerbread houses with the kids every year.  They get SO messy and have so much fun it's totally worth the work!!  :)  It's even more fun if you invite friends over to get messy with you! :) 

Here's a little idea for a gingerbread party.  The colors in this are just so fun...who wouldn't want to participate!!?

 

You can buy these gingerbread house and gingerbread men kits at Costco and Michaels and other places.  Then you don't have to spend the time in the kitchen actually MAKING the gingerbread which is WAY easier!!! :)

 

Apple green kraft paper makes for a colorful table cover.  It also makes for easy clean up!!  :)  A colorful piece of scrapbook paper defines each place setting and adds to the fun vibe of the party.

 

 

This gingerbread flavored Jones cola is too fun!!  Not that the kids need more sugar after this tooth decay fest..but I couldn't resist!! :)

   

Gather the neigborhood kids together and make a mess!!  It makes for a great photo op!! :)

Have a great day!!

-t

California Christmas

This was one of my favorite submissions for the holiday decorating contest...I just pulled together a few things from the house and wa-la!!  Totally goes with the "theme" of our decorations this year. :)

 

Th plates are my normal everyday wear.  The "chargers" are actually silver cardoboard pieces from th party supply store.  They have a scalloped edge and I thought they mimicked a shell pretty well.  They are cheap too...only like 1.00 each.  The large ornaments are from homegoods...surprise surprise ;), the shells and starfish you can find all over including walmart.  Just throw a few around your table. :) 

 

 

Favors are just wrapped in plain kraft paper (which I LOVE) and brown satin ribbon.  Put some greenery and a starfish on each plate and you're done! :)

 

Have a great day!

-t

My Favorite Things #16-- French Ribbon Roses and Antique Tags

I think these are gorgeous!!  Imagie these on the tea stained tags topping off your holiday gifts...WOW!!! 

 

You can find them at one of my favorite online shops....Faded Plains, or if you're feeling adventurous, because they are rather expensive,  you can try to make your own.   I searched high and low and found a tutorial on how to make them.  I haven't actually tried this yself yet...but I want to once the holidays are over.  If you try it, let me know how they turn out!

French Ribbon Rose Tutorial

Have a great day!
-t