Happy Thanksgiving...Let the Holidays begin!

Hi Sweet Friends,

I hope you had a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING and hope you're enjoying lots of quality time with loved ones and left overs.

It's been such a busy month {hence the neglected blog posts}.  From our 3 week flooded apartment fiasco, to celebrating 3 years of marriage with my handsome groom, traveling to SoCal for a week long worship leader's conference to preparing for and hosting Thanksgiving.  A whirlwind, I tell you!

Here's a little peek of the past month...

{Hubby & I at the CCWL Conference}

{My Thanksgiving table}

{Gluten Free Apple Pie Success!  I was so proud of this!}

{My first turkey ... also successful!  So happy it didn't disappoint.}

{I've been busy busy crocheting gifts for loved ones and decided to restock my Etsy shop with a few items...I'm offering FREE shipping to PPS friends, use code : PPSFREESHIP}

I've so missed blogging, and look forward to pulling together some of my favorite Christmas decor ideas and recipes...happy shopping this weekend.  Be safe!

XO

Cozy Knits

Knits are just cozy - there's no other way to describe yarn woven into perfection.  Who doesn't love it?  

My love for yarn + diy manifests itself in crocheted creations.  It's a vicious cycle, I must admit. 

You see...around this time of year I get the itch to pick up my crochet needles again.  And every year I get a little more gutsy, trying my hand at something more difficult than the year previous {last year it was oversized cowls and coffee cup cozies, this year I'm thinking headbands and boot socks}.  

But it doesn't stop there - once I conquer my challenge, I usually think..."hmm, this would make a fabulous Christmas gift," or the unavoidable {if you're me}, "I could sell these!"  The latter thought launches me into a crocheting frenzy, every spare moment, leading up to Christmas, spent crocheting till my little fingers are numb and my eyes are crossed, and with the last stitch I swear off crocheting "forever."  {aka - next year}

Needless to say - I'm feeling the itch again.  Once I have a free moment, you can bet I'll be headed to my local yarn shop to swoon over my next knit project.  

Until then, check out these handmade beauties...{any of these would make perfect Christmas gifts for those who like to shop early!}

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

While I just adore all of the above, I have to say #2 is one of my absolute favorites!  {And she's offering a 50% discount on anything in her store if you like her on fb...click the #2 link to learn more.}  Maybe I'll attempt a bow scarf this year as well - why not?? 

Are you loving knits this season??

XO

Monday Musings & Weekend Recap

After running errands and spending some time with my mom this afternoon, I was happy to come home to a package with my name on it.  (Don't you love mail? Well, fun mail?  Usually it's just bills and credit card companies after my business, but every once in a while I get fun mail. :)  It was my much anticipated order of tree branch buttons!  Aren't they fun??

I started crocheting these gorgeous cowls last winter for friends as Christmas gifts and totally meant to make myself one, but I was crocheting till March for other people before I even had an opportunity to think of myself.  Needless to say, I wasn't ready to face a needle and yarn till September.  A few weeks ago I finally decided to break out the yarn and make myself one, but it didn't come easily.  I was half way done with MY very own beautiful cowl, when my Blakely (yr old Yorkie) got a hold of it and chewed a nice large hole through the middle of it, washing it down with half of my needle (no worries, he didn't actually swallow it...just chewed it to pieces).  Nothing motivates me more than frustration - I headed straight to JoAnn's the next day, bought a new needle and several spools of yarn and made my little fingers busy.  I was finally able to make the project complete once my buttons arrived today.  A little larger than I anticipated (see below), but I think I like the oversized buttons made from a maple tree branch.  Now I need the weather to accompany it.

{Button on right was the size I was anticipating.}

{Finished Product!}

Here's the pattern if you wish to make yourself one.  I won't lie - it's time consuming.  Oruaka Cowl

Changing the subject - we had a fabulous weekend!  Made a big gfree brunch on Friday, did some painting, had a double date night Saturday with my parents at one of our favorite restaurants on the beach followed by gfree brownies and card games, and enjoyed a beach baptism and picnic with friends and family from our church.  It couldn't have been better!  Here are a few photos from my phone...

{Painting & watching chick-flicks}

{Date Night!}

{G-Free Brunch}

{Candid pic of me and my nephew Sawyer...most precious kid ever!}