. . . since it’s been forever since I blogged!

Please, don’t hold your breath.

I’ve been incredibly busy, yet I have no idea with what? One of the many joys of motherhood so close to the holidays – I’m sure! This week, I’ve been slowly pulling out Christmas decorations. And I do mean at a snail’s pace.

This is the year that I’m purging. If it doesn’t come out of the closet to be set out somewhere, it is coming out to go in a good-will pile. That is the reason I’m really taking my time with it.

I actually found this cutie years ago. And I do mean a long. long. time ago. It was when TJ Maxx first opened up in our town. Back in the day when I lived in a one room apartment {how I miss that CHEAP RENT!} and drove a car that most would be embarrassed to drive. Okay, so actually it was about 12 years ago – but that is a really long time  ago {in dog years.} I’ve actually kept this joker in the closet for the past couple of years because its metal star broke off. BUT I still had it AND I just JB Weld-ed that joker back on. Somebody tell me why I haven’t repaired it before now?!?!

That stuff kills me.

I think I’m lazy.

Do you remember all the garland I made for the boys’ birthday party?? Well, since I had my friend’s Cricut, I went on and cut some circles to make garland for my Christmas tree. BUT then I had this brilliant idea to make garland for the boys’ Christmas trees that go in their room instead.

Last year, I used some beads. But the kids would pull it off and it would get in a massive ball of a knot! It would drive me NUTS! I hope this will not be so tempting, and if it is, I hope it will not knot up as easily.

I made it the exact same way as the other. I just put two circles together {so the right sides were on both sides} and ran it through the sewing machine. So flippin’ simple!!! If you want to take the time, you can glue stick the circles together and avoid the “separating” effect I have. BUT not knowing how long this stuff will last, I’m not wasting my time. {There are times my kids can be ruthless – especially with paper.}

I did purchase these trees from a Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago, but I noticed they have some very similar ones again this year!

My big {poor} Christmas tree has been stripped {finally} of all her pre-lit lights. We have had her for years and over the past 3, she has slowly started burning out. We changed fuses, checked every bulb, changed bulbs . . . you name it, we did it. I think we could have bought a new tree for what we spent in replacement parts AND “tester” items. Finally, we just decided to clip out all the strands as they burnt out and wrap {tightly} each and every branch {to replicate the original pre-lit look} with new strings of lights. This year, the last strand was dark when we plugged it up – so Lonnie made the executive decision to take them all off and replace them with new LEDs.

Lovely.

I hope they are NOT the ghetto blue-ish looking ones.

No offense to anyone who has those – I just don’t personally like the “cold” look on my tree.

I pulled out my crazy sprays that came from Target last year and was still as giddy as I was when I bought them.

And I hate to brag, but I’m basically finished with my shopping.

Truly amazing.

I had a brilliant idea with that Cricut I was borrowing! I started cutting out the tags you see above! I normally hate tags – and I actually put them on the bottom of the gift because I hate them that bad. THIS YEAR – I wanted to make them part of the package!!! The glitter paper came from Michael’s. The ribbon has been bought throughout the year. The thicker, glitter ribbon and the red snow flake, felt ribbon came from Wal-Mart recently. The red, lattice looking stuff came from an after Christmas sale at Hobby Lobby last year. ALL the wrapping paper came from Hobby Lobby. They have the best wrapping paper ever! Some of these rolls are going on 3 years!! And you can still find the same design this year. There is so much on a roll – when it is on sale for half off, it is totally worth the money!

Well, I’m off to purge some more! And I promise to be back tomorrow! I finished up a painting {actually 5} and will post pictures then.