Homemade Christmas Wreath

I fell in love with this wreath from Pottery Barn ("made of faux pine and studded with sturdy plastic spheres"), but there was no way I was going to pay $79.00 plus shipping and handling for holiday decoration.



I came up with this quick and easy craft that any do-it-yourselfer can pull together.

Supplies:
Wreath
Ornaments (I chose plastic shatter proof ornaments for value and so they would last longer)
Floral Wire
Wire Cutter

Simply cut enough length of wire to string through the ornaments and secure them to the wreath. Secure to door with a wreath hanger.


50% off on wreaths - score!


50% off on tree trimmings - double score!


Almost there but looking a little sparse.


A finished master piece!

Total cost for this craft was about $22.00 and that's only because I had to buy a wire cutter. Without the wire cutter it would have been $16.00!

Little things that make you go aww.

If you ever told my I'd get excited over cloth diaper covers - well I'd be hard pressed to believe you.

But the years progress, times change and priorities alter. Suddenly the prospect of of cloth diapering your baby-to-be becomes something you get really excited about.

I received my first stash of cloth diaper covers today and I was head over heels with excitement.



I ordered 2 different sizes of Thirsties Duo Wraps from Green Mountain Diapers.

Mermaid Cafe

The Mr. and I ate at a new restaurant today for lunch. It's been in Madison for a few years but we've never made it over due to the limited day time hours. To be perfectly honest I was only familiar with it in passing but was very glad he suggested it.

Mermaid Cafe is funky little cafe/coffee shop located on Winnebago St. They have a full coffee and espresso bar, serve breakfast all day and have a nice selection of sandwiches, soups and salads. Be sure to check out their daily specials as well.

The Mr. had the Bahn Mi sandwich - "This french influenced Vietnamese style sandwich has our own daikon radish and carrot slaw, cilantro, cucumber, roast beef, mayo and a dash of soy sauce on a French roll."



I had the O.M.I. - "Scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, avocado and tomato with coconut curry aoli on focaccia bread."



I also had a bowl of the seasonal vegetarian soup - "Winter squash with a balsamic reduction served with a toasted focaccia."



Prices are very reasonable and the serving sizes were great. I ended up taking most of the soup home because I was so full from the sandwich. The service was good and personalized with the sandwiches made to order and brought directly to your table. The food was delicious and we plan on going back again in the future.

Don't forget to try a coffee or espresso drink. The Mr. had his usual double espresso and I had a hot cocoa with whipped cream. I've become a fiend for hot cocoa now that fall is leading into winter (or at least it should be). With the baby on board I've switched to whole milk - it does make a difference in the taste.

The Daydreamer

It's safe to say I'm now obsessed with the owl theme. But how cute is our baby going to be crawling around in this t-shirt?



The Daydreamer by Chelsea Nelson, $18.00

Threadless Kids

Etsy love

Wall art for the baby's nursery.


Owl, 7x8 Print
Sharon Montrose Photographs


Owls, 8x10 Print
Beth Berg

Where The Wild Things Are

Wall art for nursery.





Max & Carol photo still from Where The Wild Things Are movie.

Purchased from urbanoutfitters.com, $48.00.

Crib Set

Silly Owl Crib Bedding Set by Litto Kids





Purchased from www.bunnyburybaby.com

How to make a moss terrarium .

Supplies
-glass container w/lid
-rocks
-spanish moss
-potting soil
-moss
-unique figurines

I found all of my items at a craft store and found the moss while on a walk in the woods.

1) Take yourself on a nice long walk and bring a container and something to dig the moss up with. I used a regular spoon.



2) Wash your glass container with warm water and soap. Dry the container and make sure it's free of all soap.

3) Fill the bottom of your container with a layer of rocks about an inch thick. The rocks will help with drainage and water management. (I read a few places that suggested placing a thin layer of activated charcoal over the rocks to help deter the growth of bacteria which can be important to keep closed terrariums from smelling. I decided to forgo this step.)



4) Cover the rocks with a layer of spanish moss. The spanish moss acts as bedding material and keeps the soil separate from the rocks.



5) Place a thick layer of potting soil over the spanish moss. Do not use fertilized potting soil. Fill the jar to about 1/4 - 1/2 of the way full.

6) Arrange your moss. For bigger containers you can also plant ferns and small plants along with your moss.



7) Decorate your terrarium. I found a cute little corgi figurine for my big terrarium. The small terrarium has a rock in it that the moss was actually growing around outside. Etsy.com has some great ceramic houses, figurines, gnomes, etc. I'm going to make a few more terrariums for friends and family and might buy some items from etsy to make them super cute.

8) Long term care is very easy with closed containers. Do not place in direct sunlight. You only have to water it every 2 - 3 weeks. As long as the terrarium is moist it will continue to self water (the water will pull up from the rocks and form a mist that will then drip down). Water when you notice the soil is drying up.