Countdown

A few years ago I bought this advent calendar from Pottery Barn Kids

I was ambitious back then, before I had my youngest, and I bought my 2 girls little treats for each pocket, (Yes, that is 50 presents that I WRAPPED)...then I had my son...and I can't get 75 presents...that would be Freakin' Craziness!

So instead this year I bought a couple gifts but did mostly family activities (i.e. go look at Christmas lights, get doughnuts before school, watch a Christmas movie, stay up late, have a family game night) and printed them on Christmas paper and put them in coin envelopes, some of them say "present"...much easier:)

here are some great calendars that you can make at home today 

(and don't have to wrap and try and fit in mini felt pockets)

Print Your Party

Eighteen 25

Budgetwise Home

Martha Stewart

land of nod

paper nook on etsy

BHG

Country Living

Pottery Barn

 

Have a great weekend and gear up for December (Yikes!)

 from the girls of in your back pocket...



Storing Boards

Now that I have two antique bread boards I think that I'm quite the "collector." My BBH wonders if i'm going to be making my own bread now...funny guy.

Here's some storage/display inspiration...

Barefoot Contessa

ppebble.blogspot

Antiquechase.blogspot

House Beautiful

Common Ground

segrettosecrets.squarespace.com

Katie Denham/ San Francisco Showcase House

Put some "Board Storage" in your back pocket.

Cool Whip "Marshmallows"

Liz, at "Say Yes to Hoboken," always has the best crafts/ideas/recipes.  Here is a great tutorial for DIY sort-of-marshmallows.  Perfect for your hot chocolate.  Check it all out Here.

Say Yes To Hoboken

Hope you survived the weekend...

Put some hot chocolate toppings like this in your back pocket.

Wall Trees

Now wouldn't this be easier???

Here's some little alternatives to tradition.  Kinda fun if you don't have much space...
This one is right up my alley. (How-To Here.)

The Art of Doing Stuff

Shelterness

A Merry Mishap

Byron S Photography

CB2

Down to the Woods

Mi Casa 

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  

Christmas on our minds here at in your back pocket.

Cake Batter Chocolate Bark

O.K., I like the LOOK of bark more than I like to eat it, but this one is so cute, fun, festive and different.  It has a secret ingredient...a spoonful of cake mix.  Check out the recipe from Jessica,
here at How Sweet It Is.

Photo via How Sweet It Is

We attempted our own last weekend.
The special ingredient in this is a tablespoon of cake batter, whisked in the melted white chocolate.

Please notice daughter's snazzy nail polish...

We refrigerated melted dark chocolate for 20 min.  Next we added the white choc/cake batter combo on top.  Spread and sprinkle...place in fridge for about 30 min before taking it out and breaking it up.

and somebody was lurking nearby,  as usual...

We think we could've used a lliiittttllle more cake batter, actually, but we've enjoyed it just the same.
A treat to put in your back pocket.

Crafty Ladies.

Jen has a "parenting" group that still gets together ever since their kids were teeny-tiny.  This month they wanted to do an easy holiday craft, or two.  Something fun, quick, cute, and simpe enough to do while drinking wine!

Jen was co-hosting at her friend Debra's house... Here's the inspiration for a craft they chose from Better Homes and Gardens.

The ladies each had a painted pot (took Jen like 15 seconds to do each), a chunk of floral foam, some loose moss, a skewer, and old books. Side-note: Jen's tree is made from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  I don't know why I think that's funny. BHG suggests sheet music too.

The tutorial says start with pieces cut or ripped to be about a 41/2 inch square.  Jen ripped, other ladies cut.  Personal preference.  

and here's Jen's at home in her kitchen.  

Easy for all ages.  How do you think we should top it off?  Gumdrop? Red buttons? glittered paper star?

Hmmm.

An easy holiday craft to put in your back pocket.

Modern Day Runner

Now,  many people have runners similar to this...

 Unfortunately the staircase is usually attached to the foyer and a part of the first impression...

Here's some extra-funky inspiration to move us into "modern days."

Jennifer Worts Design

Christina Murphy

HB

My obsession with antelope continues above...

Coastal Living

Material Girls Blog

Insom Carprt

HB

Jen and her family always vacation in California at the Carlsbad Inn.  Recently the resort underwent a makeover.

How 'bout that graphic carpet?  (That's what we do... instead of sending photos of our happy family on vacation we send each other pics of interiors and accessories...)

Put a modern day runner in your back pocket.