DIY Duck & Goose

If you have kids, there's a good chance you're familiar with the Duck + Goose board books. They're so cute, and my kids have all loved them as toddlers. Two years ago m3 was completely smitten with Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin - like read it five times a day smitten - and I knew he needed a Duck and Goose-inspired present under the tree!

I started with the Duck and Goose Christmas book, and I thought a set of plush toys would be the perfect pair with it.

So I got to work and whipped up this sweet little set. They are the perfect size for snuggling!

Low-Waste Gift Wrapping Tips

There's nothing like watching the kids open presents on Christmas. I love to see their excitement as they discover the treasures hidden inside each package. But.. have you ever thought about the trash bags full of wrapping paper when Christmas morning is over? It's something that's been in the back of my mind the last few years... but I've never actually done anything about it. In fact, I've already wrapped most of this years presents in traditional wrapping paper. But... I'm ready to do better. To waste less and teach my boys not to waste. It seems like a natural next step after simplifying our Christmas decor and simplifying our gift-buying this year. And now is actually the perfect time to start preparing! 

I just learned that Burtsbrisplease, one of my insta-favorites, saves back little bits and pieces all year to use for her Christmas wrapping. Look at the beautiful gifts she creates with them!

I 100% plan to start my own thrifty gift-hoard immediately. To build-up my stash for next year. Here are a few items I'll be keeping an eye out for:

DIY Fresh Minimalist Wreaths

I've been on team faux-greenery my whole life. It's easy and affordable (even more so since most of mine was handed-down or bought second-hand). But this year, I'm branching out.

We have an abundance of pine trees in our backyard and I guess I just realized I should be taking advantage of that beautiful and free foliage! So this year I ditched the faux wreathes in our upstairs hallway (cheap though they were) and went foraging in my backyard to freshen things up with these simple and beautiful wreaths!

Felt Pirate Map + DIY Stocking Stuffers for Kids

There is something special about giving handmade gifts to our kids. Even when we don't have larger handmade gifts on the Christmas list, I love tucking a little surprise in my boys' stockings. Today I'm going to show you how to make this sweet little pirate map, and then I'll link a few more of our favorite handmade stocking stuffers down at the bottom of the post!  

Supplies:

• felt - for this map you'll need two full sheets of sand-color, a sheet of blue for water, and any other colors you want (I used greens, brown, grays, red, and yellow)
• thread (I used a sewing machine, but you can also stitch by hand)
• 22" long ribbon

You can customize this tutorial to make any design you want! You can make pine trees for a forest map, add a castle for a knight's map, or make an outer-space map for an astronaut! 

For this pirate map, I started by drawing up a basic idea of what I wanted my map to look like:

5 Tips to Simplify Your Christmas Decor

Minimal + Christmas. Two words that may not naturally go together. And while I wouldn't call myself a  true Christmas minimalist, I am finding ways to embrace a style of Christmas decorating that means less clutter, less to store, and less to pack up when the season is over. It's all about making careful decor choices that can make a big impact with minimal effort!

I might just call myself a simple and uncluttered Christmas decorator. In fact, this year I had an entire tote of decor left over from years past that we didn't even put out. And it feels like a huge step toward my Christmas decor goals of less fuss and less clutter. I've always struggled this time of year to strike a happy balance, because I want my home to be warm and festive, and I want to create lifetime memories with my boys. But I also know that I get stressed out when my home feels like chaos. This year, I'm here to find the best of both worlds.

Check out all my Christmas projects and tutorials here.

So today I'm sharing a few of my favorite Christmas decor tips that bring a punch of festive style without totally smothering any already overwhelmed folks like myself. Here's what we'll cover:

1. Greenery
2. Lighting
3. The Color Red
4. Beads
5. Using Your Space Well 

Easy DIY Christmas Decor

It's official. After today, all bets are off for Christmas decorating. But did you know it's only four weeks until Christmas?? So today I just wanted to share some of the best easy DIY Christmas Decor I've come across this year. And I mean easy. Because let's face it, at this point I don't have time for anything more than that! But I still love a cozy, handmade Christmas. So here are some of the best and easiest Christmas decor tutorials I've found. From ornaments to tree skirts, I've got you covered. So let's check out some decor you can truly pull together at the last minute!

Check out all my Christmas projects and tutorials here.

Click on the photos or links below to head to the tutorials! Most link to other blogs because those ladies have already done the hard work. So all we have to do is follow along to make our own Christmas magic. Happy making, friends!

Minimalist Gift Guide for Kids

You guys know how much I love Christmas.

But every Christmas brings a great balancing act. We want to create a magical time for our kids, but we don't want to be wasteful of our time, money, or space. I find myself drawn more and more towards minimalism, and I'm still learning how to balance that in a house full of small kids. I have to be careful or things get out of control reeeeally quickly. Especially around the holidays. So today I'm sharing a shopping guide just for those of you who are in the same boat and struggling to strike that minimalist balance.

But first, here's the best tip I can give you: JUST BUY LESS. It's okay. You don't need a ton of gifts, or expensive gifts. You'll save money and save that precious space in your home if you just don't buy that stuff in the first place. What a win! One thing that helps us with this is doing the "four gifts" list:

1. Something they want.
2. Something they need.
3. Something to wear. 
4. Something to read.

Four gifts = instantly less junk and clutter. But you can even takes steps to make sure those four gifts fit the lifestyle and habits you want to build for your children! Let's take a look at a few thoughtful, minimalist gift ideas for each category:

No-Sew Felt Garland

There's something about Christmas that brings up nostalgia in all of us. We look to our traditions and savor the memories of each Christmas treasure as we pull them from their boxes. And there's something even more special about the handmade Christmas things! So today I'm sharing a project that will bring out the very best parts of Christmas . You'll be making your own Christmas treasure that your family will treasure year after year. It's a cozy handmade felt garland, and it's so easy you can even make with the kids!

My sister taught me to make these garlands last summer on our family vacation and now I can't-stop-won't-stop. They are so easy easy to make because they require absolutely no sewing!

Here's all you need to get started on your own:

• felt
• yarn
• fabric scissors

Seriously, that's it. I used mostly reds and whites to make Christmas garland, but you can use any colors you like! Ready for the super easy steps?

Christmas Budget Printable

Every year we set a Christmas budget.
Every year we go in with good intentions.
And every year we blow it. 

Our track record is pretty abysmal. But not this year. With Dave Ramsey in our back pocket, we've set a budget that's lower than ever. And we are fighting tooth and nail to stick to it. We've talked to family about switching to a secret Santa system so everyone can spend less. We're limiting ourselves to the "Four Gifts" for our own kids (something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read). And we are so excited to say goodbye to both excess spending and excess stuff.

So I made this handy budget printable to help me keep track of what we have, what we need, what we've spent, and how much is left. And I'm sharing it as a free download today so you guys can join us in kicking Christmas debt to the curb! I also have a few budgeting tips to share, plus a video to walk you through exactly how we use each sheet.

Download Christmas Budget Printable Here

Easiest DIY Pillow Covers

Today we're going to look at a super quick and easy way to refresh a space... that also happens to be a great way to increase your holiday cheer factor. I'm talking about swapping out your pillow covers! And today I'll even show you the easiest way to make your own.

Pillow covers are one of my favorite ways to refresh a room, but did you know they're also one of the best secret weapons in seasonal decor?

• They take minimal effort to switch out, but make a huge impact.
• They take almost no space to store in the off-season.
• They are easy and affordable to make!

Cross-Stitch Family Portrait Tutorial

It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally putting together a tutorial for the cross stitch family portrait I shared on Instagram! If you've never tried cross stitch before, you're in luck. It's just about the easiest needlecraft out there. Seriously, my 8-year-old can do it. It's a perfect way to snuggle up and relax on a chilly evening, and make something beautiful at the same time.

These family portraits are easy to make and easy to customize for your own family! And they are officially the first post in my 2019 Christmas Series because they make such amazing gifts for friends and family. (I just saw a cross-stitch house and I'm planning to give that a try next that would also make a great gift!).

You only need a few simple supplies to get started with cross stitch, so it's a great hobby if you have limited storage space. Here's all you need (all from the same aisle at your fave craft store):

• an embroidery hoop (The size depends on the size of your project. I used a 6" hoop for this portrait but could have gone smaller.)
• cross-stitch fabric (I buy the rolls and cut it up for multiple projects)
• an embroidery needle (larger than a standard sewing needle)
• embroidery thread (whatever colors you need for your project)
• a pattern (you can download my family portrait patterns, buy patterns in-store or on etsy, find free patterns on pinterest, or draw your own!)

Winter Bucket List 2019

Hey peeps! There's a chill in the air and I wanted to go ahead and get you this printable bucket list so you're ready to go whenever winter actually hits your area. Just print it out, hang it on the fridge, and make the most of this cozy holiday season! And let me know in the comments - what's your favorite winter tradition?

Click here to download the Winter Bucket List PDF

You can find the rest of my 2019 Holiday posts here, and check out my full holiday archive here!