custom hand knit beanie

I love beanies, but I am super picky. It takes just the right beanie with just the right fit to have me sold.

But when I saw these custom beanies hand knit by the talented Kelly Ann Gleason, I knew I had to have one!

They are the perfect amount of slouchy yet fitted, hipster yet chic.

For only $25 they are the perfect gift for Christmas - or for any of you other Christmas babies out there! My birthday is tomorrow... so naturally I bought myself one. Happy birthday to me from me :)

This winter, may your head be warm and your wallet cool. Merry Christmas!

crafty Christmas cards

Need a last minute Christmas gift? Have some leftover ribbon?

These DIY Christmas cards are a thrifty, efficient, and let's be honest - adorable - alternative to store-bought cards!

What you need:

- blank greeting cards (I found some on sale at Michael's - 50 for only $5!)

- leftover ribbon

- yellow construction paper (or any color of your choice)

- hot glue gun

- scissors

- pencil

- paper bag (or other protective surface cover for the hot glue gun)

All you do:

cut scraps of ribbon and arrange them like so.

cut a star from construction paper.

(helpful tip: use a pencil to draw a star, cut around it, and just flip it over so the "non-pencil" side is face up)

glue pieces from the bottom up.

(helpful tip: use a very small dot of hot glue on each of the four "corners" of ribbon. it also helps to use wire-edged ribbon - that way you can glue it down without having to really touch the corners and deal with a hot glue mess on your fingers.)

Once the glue is dry, gently remove any stringy hot glue leftovers, and voila! A handmade greeting card made with love.

Merry Christmas. And a crafty New Year.

the songs I sing

I was sitting at Shredtown ranch over Thanksgiving, enjoying my last few minutes before I had to head back to the Dallas. So, I grabbed my guitar and started playing through the songs I've written.

About halfway through my mom quietly ventured out onto the back porch to join me, just listening. When I was finished, she offered some encouraging words.

And as we chatted about future possibilities, I soaked up the beauty around me... The trees all around, the midday sun shining, fall leaves floating gracefully to the ground. And, of course, the Christmas greenery hanging on the mantle of the outdoor fireplace. 

Christmastime makes me happy. Shredtown ranch makes me happy. Christmastime at Shredtown ranch? Well, that's just perfection. 

I don't know about you and your family though, but as for me and mine, sometimes the holidays can get hectic... and sometimes "perfection" is just about the last descriptive adjective on the mind.

I'm back in LA now, and I was listening to this song by Needtobreathe this morning. I ventured outside to take a refreshing walk after being cooped up inside with a cold for the last three days.

It's amazing the appreciation you have for the simplest of things when you've been sick. I thought about the privilege of just being able to take a walk as the sun is rising over the palm trees. 

I thought about the privilege we have of freedom. And the privilege we have of words. And of songs. And of singing. And of glorifying God in all we do each moment of our day.

In their song Garden, Needtobreathe sings so beautifully:

"Let the songs I sing bring joy to you; let the words I say profess my love. Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune, and Father let my heart be after you."  

This Christmas season, let's try to slow down, let's remember the true meaning of Christmas - the reason we are bustling about, baking, and buying gifts - the privilege of receiving the gift that is Jesus Christ and the privilege of being able to worship Him.

And let's watch our words. Let's embrace the privilege we have to build others up with them. 

"Words can build us up. Words can tear us down. Start a fire in our hearts, or put it out... Let my words be life. Let my words be truth." - Hawk Nelson, Words

Instead of getting overwhelmed by "first world problems" this Christmas season, what if, instead, we kept things into perspective? What if we all encouraged one another, lent one another a hand, and offered a kind word - to strangers and our mothers alike. 

Because we have much to be grateful for, we have much to sing about, and much reason to love... 

"We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19 

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

"So teach my song to rise to You..." - Matt Maher, Lord, I Need You

pine cone ornaments

Last year my mom told me how she made her own pine cone ornaments at our lakehouse in Texas and suggested I do the same. I was all, "Where am I going to find pine cones lying around LA?" 

Well, turns out there are pine cones lying around LA... about two blocks from where I live to be exact. Tons of them. An entire street lined with perfect pine cones that have freshly fallen from the trees above.

So this year, I made... 

pine cone ornaments

The best part about them? They are virtually free! (If you don't have pine trees closeby, of course you could always purchase some... but take a walk around your neighborhood before you jump to any rash conclusions about a lack of pine trees... just sayin'...)

All you need:

- pine cones

- red ribbon 

- scissors

All you do:

take a pine cone

string ribbon under first layer of... what are those called? Just looked it up; they're called "scales."

cross the ribbon

and bring it back around the first layer of scales, but only halfway this time

tie into a bow (it helps to tie a knot first)

trim

adorn

And voila! A hint of country in your Christmas. You can take the girl out of Texas...

holiday coffee table decor

So, true confession: I may or may not have already decorated for Christmas. Whoops.

Normally, I wait until after Thanksgiving to do so. But I just couldn't help myself; Christmas is my favorite time of the year. It truly brings warm fuzzies to my soul.

I went on a retreat with my church last weekend, and it was all about anxiety, stress, and "fear of missing out." It was truly amazing and just what I needed to hear. I felt the Lord telling me I need to take my Sabbaths more seriously. 

So after church on Sunday, I turned on some Christmas music, cranked up the fire, and decorated for Christmas, naturally.

I wanted some decor for my coffee table that didn't break the bank. (I'd rather spend money on gifts for my family!) I literally had everything pictured here already:

- pine cones

- corks

- twigs

- glitter spray
- vase/bowl

Last year I made these homemade wine bottle vases. They were great, but the "snow" on the bottles didn't hold up so well in storage. So I just took the twigs from those, put them in a vase, and filled the rest of the space with some corks.

All you have to do for the twigs if you haven't prepared those already is lay them on some newspaper outside, spray them with a layer of glitter spray, and let them dry!

And I literally just picked up the pine cones on a walk one morning...

Simple, sparkly, seasonal... and to be fair, I think this decor is appropriate for Thanksgiving as well (minus the Christmas coffee table book!)

recycled wine bottle christmas decor

This is the first Christmas season I have had with my own place. It's great in a sense that I can decorate for Christmas. It's not so great in a sense that I have no Christmas decorations.

In an effort to not go broke, I decided to look to Pinterest for some inspiration for making my own Christmas decorations! This is one of my favorite ideas that I have seen:

recycled wine bottle vases