Keeping it together through the holidays...

      How do you do it? I have not been able to find a balance between doing everything and keeping it together this holiday season. I have been seriously neglecting this blog, and I feel so badly for that. But if I had not, then I do not think hazel's sweet attitude {or my sanity} -for that matter- would not have remained intact. Thus said, we have been up to some fantastic projects this season.

We have been doing several versions of the advent this year.. one is a little flag banner that I made a few years back, but hazel hasn't been old enough to really use it until this year. We have been having fun checking what the elves bring her everyday.

The other advent that we do is 25 days of Christmas books. Hazel gets to unwrap one each day, and she ADORES it. We got the idea from the amazing Ellen (from elle keeps moving) you can check out her blog and more information on the 25 days of Christmas books here!

 We have also been busy painting Christmas cards, making Christmas trees, and check out this garland that my mom is working on from one of my favorite craft books, Scandinavian Needlecraft.

 We also made this awesome Gingerbread house, thank you TRADER JOE'S for finally making it to our state!!

We have been keeping busy trying to make all of our Christmas gifts this year, and so we made a billion bath bombs {bath fizzy's} as well as some bath salt for our friends. We used this recipe from the coterie blog. I got the beautiful jars at west elm, and the spoons are from Sur la Table.

our busy life

Well, here we are right in the middle of the holidays.  The Pearsons have been busy the past few weeks.  First, I finished up a project with my friend Meta.  I'm so excited to share it - soon!  Afterwards we were hit with a bout of the stomach flu.  We weren't so excited about that.  Thankfully, we were able to recover in time to spend Thanksgiving celebrating the marriage of our two good friends.  I have to say, it was kind of nice not being in charge of Thanksgiving dinner this year.  Now we are spending our days decorating for and dreaming about the upcoming Christmas holiday. 

We have some gift guides in the works.  Here are some links to other great gift guides to tide you over:

Maja's holiday wish list
A holiday gift guide for baby M
Design Sponge Gift Guides: Ornaments + Trimming

Free Download Thanksgiving Card!

Download the printable thanksgiving card here!

     I have so many things to be grateful for this holiday season, but the best thing I have got going for me is getting to be this little girl's moma. There aren't words to explain the sweet feel of her chubby little hands pressed against my face in the morning, her whispering 'mama, I wuve you" Nothing could make me more grateful. Having a child is like nothing else, you get to experience all of the joys of life again and again! I can not wait for another little baby to make me laugh, cry, and smile every day.
    I also want to say thank you -to you- for sticking with us with the start up of our blog! We love you readers, and will be posting much more soon! xo

a very handmade holiday

...its happening again. I have my holiday slippers on, I'm sporting my oversized snugly knit sweater, I have been sipping hot chai and YES I am listening to the Mindy Smith Holiday mix on Pandora. I am SOO happy to be heading into the happiest time of the year! I have rounded up a few of my favorite tutorials for your holiday crafting needs. This year I am trying to stick to 100% hand made (except for whatever insanity I come up with for hazel)

felt wreath  -  bow belt  -  tea cup candles

bird nest necklace  -  bread  -  boxwood wreath

lace pottery  -  bias necklace  -  bath bombs

Great Gift Guide For 3-5 year old

a) wooden bead kit {$24.95)/ b) pattern blocks and boards {$19.99}/ c) camera {$44.95}/ d) hand bells {$34.99}/ e) feel and find kit {$29.95}/ f) sneaky, snacky squirrel game {$16.00}/ g) cash register {$26.41}

     I had a little panic attack this weekend when I realized how close we are getting to the holidays! Yikes, I have not been prepping like I usually do.. I threw this little gift guide together for the rough age group of 3-5 years old. I am trying to think outside the box this year for hazels gifts, and here are some of our top favorites.