Enjoying the Tree Lighting from Home

I would love to dive head first into the throngs of people squished together trying to see the Christmas Tree Lighting in New York City. I did it once. When I was 16. And I was one a side street with no view. Still, I was so excited to go and just be there freezing my butt off with some great friends.

I wish I could bottle that excitement and open it every year right about now. So many people around me are too busy to enjoy it or would rather ignore it completely. Before I would just go with the flow, slightly disappointed with the lack of merriment from everyone. But I have two little girls now and their excitement is all I need to get everyone involved. I am thrilled!

Since tonight is the Tree Lighting in Rockefellar Plaza, I've decided to make a small night of it and start the festivities early. Here are my ideas for tonight and some extra ones you might enjoy:

Decorate the house: Use up all your left over ornaments. I've put all of mine in baskets and vow to use all of them tonight and finish decorating so I can relax for the rest month and enjoy the view from my living room. I'll post some pictures of how I used up the ornaments that didn't make it to the tree.

Have a holiday drink: I haven't made the coquito yet, but I recently snagged my favorite peppermint mocha coffee creamer that reminds me of the much more expensive Peppermint Mocha Latte from Starbucks. Something about a fresh pot of coffee with that peppermint taste makes me feel like it's Christmas.

Make some smart ass sugar cookies:  I have some sugar cookie dough waiting for me in my freezer and tonight feels like the night to break it out. Check back tomorrow to see my inspiration for the smart ass cookies and hopefully my finished product!

Hopefully tonight will be nice and relaxing! Enjoy the tree lighting!

Dollar Store Holiday

I was browsing the Dollar Tree for some DIY projects and look what I found! Modern, cute napkins- perfect for the holiday party I swear I am having this year!

DIY Gift Packaging - Newspaper

If you're in a serious jam and need some gift wrapping an hour ago, don't over look the newspaper. At first, I wasn't too keen on the idea of using newspaper, but after I actually pulled it out and started searching, I found some ideas that made me a little happier about it.

1. If you're going to use newspaper, look for an article the person reveling the gift would like. Not that they're going to read it, but I like an article that uses words that might be relevant rather than a depressing article on a cheery gift.

2. If your gift is small enough, find a great image to wrap it in. This idea is my favorite because it probably looks the best.

3. Add a bow! The more elaborate the better, but any bow will do. It adds a nice touch to an otherwise simple wrapping.

Here are some of my wrappings:

What is Sweet This Week (11/4/11)

With the crazy week I had, I am surprised I was able to get anything done! I have proven to myself that I am getting better at multitasking or maybe that I've finally learned how to accomplish what I want (babysitter for the kids - check!). Either way, the end of this week I found myself with time to browse for eco-friendly, upcycled gift packaging.

It was all the bows I had seen in one day that really had my attention. Everywhere I looked there were bows, and they were just too cute! From the beautiful bow studs that Jennifer Lopez wore to the DIY up-cycled bows made from magazines and newspapers, my addiction for the day lead me to some simple bow jewelry.

So I came out with bow dangle earrings, bow stud earrings (my favorite), and the gift bow necklace. I think everyone will be getting one of these for the holidays!

What's sweet this week! 10/28/11

I love the smell of fall. Pumpkins, apples, it all smells so good to me. After stocking up like a crazy woman on pumpkin spice, apple pie and creme brûlée candles (all that have been put to great use!) I was left with these great tins. As a collected of jars and avid repurposer, I automatically started reusing them as storage for my supplies. But it wasn't until I packed some jewelry for a craft show that I realized these would make great trinket and gift boxes. And so begins another project. I spent a good portion of the end of this week playing with ideas and trying out different designs. The biggest obstacle so far has been getting the height of the cupcake using only repurposed materials. Instead of using a styrofoam top, which is neither Eco friendly or sturdy enough to withstand the poking fingers of my girls, I opted for shaping a page from an old magazine to create the base. It definitely has its own obstacles, but I was able to make it work! What do you think of these trinket tins? Is there a design you would like to see?