just a little something to make your eyes oooooh and ahhhhh.

photo: the kandall family

wrap up: {balloon} {color} {family} {hot air} {inspiration}

Whether for your own mother or for a growing family in your life, this pretty keepsake ornament is a thoughtful handmade holiday gift. Inside the glass bulb are the names of each member of the family (pets included!) written or printed on little paper banners. The holiday and year are also included on a banner – a festive way to mark and remember this holiday season.

Materials

1 clear glass bulb ornament with hook

as many paper banners as needed, in complimentary colors

a fine-tipped pen

Directions

Measure the opening of the bulb to make sure paper banners will fit inside without crumpling. Cut out as many paper banners as needed for each name. I also included one banner to mark the year, and another banner I left blank for decoration.

Gently fold the banner in half and lightly pinch the crease – just enough so that that banner stays shut, but not so much that it is permanently creased shut.

Re-open the banner and write the name of a family member. Repeat for each family member. Write the holiday and year on one banner if you desire, and leave another blank. I included one glittering bronze banner to leave blank.

Gently, partially fold the banners again, and drop inside the ornament. Once all paper banners are inside, replace the cap of the ornament.

Shake gently to release banners from each other’s folds if needed, and package in a protective box for gift-giving.

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {ashley pahl} {christmas} {diy} {family} {keepsake} {ornament}

{tiarella}

today i will walk to my grandmother’s house for a visit. she’ll be turning 89 this october and she is so exuberantly full of life. her favorite color is blue and she will undoubtedly be wearing several different shades of it today. we will spend the afternoon together with the air cut off, the curtains drawn and the windows open. we will talk about family, the past and also the future. she will show me around all of her house plants (some 97 and counting), some dating back to 50 years old or more. she will share with me some lemons from her lemon tree that she ever so carefully moves inside and out each season, self pollinating it with a paint brush every year. she will show me her ever so fragile tomato seedlings that she’s started on the heat bed that my grandfather built her some ten years ago before he passed away. we will almost certainly play a game of skip-bo and sip on a can of dr. pepper through a salvaged straw she’s saved from eating out. this will be the only soda i drink until we meet again. we will talk about life, love and prayer. though she’s in excellent health, not being around her is one of the hardest things about not living here anymore. i can’t bare to think that i’m missing out on the simple joys of her life like the ones above. but that’s what makes days like this so special.

wrap up: {family} {flowers} {grandmother} {plants}

hello friends! haphaphappy new year!  before we get to any resolutions, i must share with you our white christmas! it’s true, though we have had no snow yet in colorado, my hometown in north carolina got more than i’ve seen in years. it started snowing around 6 am christmas morning and didn’t stop for at least 48 hours. we got 16 inches! i couldn’t believe it, and though i wasn’t sure our christmas could get any better, the snow just made it magical.

we had so much fun with our families and feel so blessed to be so close with each of them. christmas morning started with a roaring fire and pumpkin waffles at david’s parent’s house and then ended up with homemade hot chocolate and yummy mac and cheese at my parent’s house- plus lots of gift giving at each. we return today feeling incredibly blessed and thankful.

how was your christmas? was it white?

wrap up: {christmas} {family} {snow} {white}

thanksgiving is over and the leftovers are gone. today, most of us will return to our normal schedules and see that the hype of the holidays is upon us.  before the busyness sets back in, i want to take a moment to give thanks.  there are so very many things that i am thankful for, and i know i don’t say thank you enough. today and always, i am thankful for:

my husband, my light, my love and my life entertainment

my mom and dad, for the selfless love they give

my sister and how she makes me laugh

my grandma, and all the times we spend in the kitchen

my mom, dad & sister-in law for the inspiration and laughter they spread

great food and a family that loves to cook

toaster, and his willingness to snuggle

our jobs, and the way they fulfill us

safe travels, for the many miles we drive

great tasting coffee on cold mornings

having a deeper desire within me to do better and be a better person

for you, and your faithfulness- and how you make me smile!

for every blessing in our lives, that too often get overlooked.

what are you thankful for this thanksgiving?

wrap up: {family} {food} {holidays} {thanks} {thanksgiving}