Christmas catch-up--back online! :)

It's been such a LONG time! For the fourth time since we've been married (which has only been about a year and a half), we moved AGAIN! Haha, this time, however, we plan on staying for at least an entire year--for which I am EXTREMELY happy about. :) 

Anyway, because of our move and financial reasons, we have been without internet since October! I didn't think it would be such a big deal--I mean, I grew up without internet, I don't NEED it, right? However, turns out that these days internet is rather necessary in our lives, and at the very least, it is extremely helpful to have. We have been holding out for free internet from Google Fiber (we see the trucks around town all the time!), but they have yet to make an appearance at our apartment complex, so this past week we re-budgeted and made some changes, and now we're finally online! :)

Okay, so after that long explanation (and partial venting on my part, haha), time for a little look at Christmas this past year!

Having our very own apartment this year, you know I was SUPER excited to decorate! I mean, decorating is at least half the fun of Christmas, right?? ;)

Our lovely little sparkly tree:

The weekend before Christmas my husband got SUPER sick, which is very unusual for him, and had to stay in bed all day. I still had some ornaments to finish from a Relief Society crafting activity I had attended with my mother (and of course I didn't actually finish the projects during the activity--haha, I never do!), so I stayed with him and worked on my ornaments. If not for 12+ hours of nothing else to do, I'm not sure I couldn't have gotten them done--thank goodness for silver linings! ;) 

And, funny story, at the time I bought my Christmas tree several years ago, I also bought several things to put together a matching Christmas wreath. Sadly though, I never got around to making it, and had all but given up on the endeavor. This year, however, I decided it was time--I started working on it early in December, but admittedly didn't finish until just a few days before Christmas--but I did finish! (I'm like Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory, I can't NOT finish things, even if it takes me a few years :P)

Along with our tree and Christmas wreath, we continued our tradition (well, decided it would be our tradition now, haha) of getting a new nativity for our collection. Throughout the years I have collected a few nativities from around the world (we love exploring the different cultures). 

My mini-nativity from Mexico (this one fits in the palm of your hand!):

Olive wood from Israel:

Hand-painted from Mexico:

 Last year my husband and I were pursuing at Deseret Book and fell in love with this strange little Celtic Nativity, as well as an Eskimo Nativity; we couldn't afford to get both, so we drew straws and the Celtic won (remind you of FROZEN?):

But this year I finally got to go back and get the Eskimo one! (I have been waiting all year for this).

And now, last but not least, my FAVORITE Christmas decorations from this past year--stockings that my mother MADE for us! Aren't they so beautiful?? They even have our names embroidered on them--I have the best mom in the world! :)

On Christmas morning, Vera was the first to find her gifts under the Christmas tree--and didn't let them out of her sight the rest of the day!

Happy Birthday Vera!

Three years ago today, I was living it up in London Town--but back home, my sweet little girl was coming into the world--and what would I do without my sweet little companion?! :)

Mama and Baby:

 Since Vera was the only surviving pup (her little brother died that same week), she was afforded a LOT of milk to drink, compliments of a very loving Mama--thus, she was a very healthy, rolly polly puppy! :)

She was SO little:

When I finally got to meet Vera for the first time, she'd grown quite a bit--but was still just as cute as ever! :)

When I got married last year, Vera came with--and my Hubby came to love her just as much as I do! :)

A now she's three years old, and still my bestest little friend and companion ever--Happy Birthday Little Vera Girl! :)

"A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME UNTIL IT HAS A DOG." ~Gerald Durrell

A Castle for the Princess

With the transition into marriage and moving and changing up our world, my little doggie has had some difficulties--particularly at nighttime--so, Kyler decided to make her a bed to help her sleep. I thought he was just going to make her a little kennel, but when I saw the finished product, I couldn't believe my eyes:

It's a CASTLE! Not just a castle--but a TWO-LEVEL castle, completely with a ramp to the top and a draw-bridge door for the entrance.

There she is up top! :)

Isn't she so cute? Still trying to figure out how to get back down, haha. ;)

It took her a few nights to get used to it, but now she LOVES it! She goes and takes naps in her castle throughout the day, it's so tender--she's our little princess! :)

What I Wore: Mother's Day Edition

A few years back she went crazy for Christmas, designing and making me SEVERAL beautiful ensembles (all my favorite items in my closet!) So, in honor of my ridiculously amazing mother, I wore one of her creations for Mother's Day:

Perfect for a bright and beautiful Mother's Day! :)

What I Wore: Halloweeeeeeener! ;)

Halfway through November... and I finally got my Halloween pictures to work! (my computer has been rejecting my camera card lately). So, here's to a wonderful What WE Wore--Halloweener Edition! ;)

This year I didn't dress up in costume as in the past; I wanted to keep it a little more simple. I dressed up sporting Halloween colors, and even dressed my little Halloweener puppy up in her orange and black dress and bow (yes, she's cuter than me, but I accept that, haha). The little kids at school kept asking me what I was supposed to be--I was the embodiment of the holiday, duh. :P 

Seriously, I think I love this holiday simply just to dress my little doggie up--isn't she adorable?? :)

Love how she poses like a little model! :)

When I got home from work I decided to do something holiday-ish in the kitchen (it's been a while since I've baked or decorated or anything--marriage sure does through you for a loop!), so I FINALLY made those candy-corn sugar cookies I pinned on Pinterest last Halloween. ;)

They were Delicious, and dang cute to boot. ;)

What I Wore--Red and Green

I've always loved the holidays, but being around 6-year-olds really amplifies this love to a whole new level--I just LOVE Christmas! So, even though we are still a few days away, I've been trying to go with green and red schemes each day--which I find to be somewhat of a challenge, but doable none the less. So, here is one of my various Christmas ensembles:

Complete with a holiday-themed flower ring--it was an early Christmas present I made for myself. :)

What WE Wore--Halloween Part 4--Me and My Babies!

What would Halloween be without my babies? (aka, my puppies) Not nearly as fun as it would be to spend the holiday with them of course! I mean, I don't have little kids of my own to embarrass with suffocating Halloween costumes, so my little puppies got to humor me instead--and besides, they're much cuter than kids anyway. ;)

AND, we of course have to go in a coordinated fashion--RIGHT? Of course. :) Say hello to my little puppy pirate crew!

First in the lineup, Dolly in her skull and crossbones Halloween sweater:

Vera of course, in an adorable skull and crossbones flirty skirt dress:

(complete with rhinestone bows)

And last, but most certainly NOT least--Captain Macgyver!

My favorite part, look at how much my little Vera has grown! Sitting on top of her back is her little dress from last year's Halloween--look at how tiny she was! That was only a year ago--I can't believe what a big girl she is now! (yup, just huge--a whole whopping 6-7lbs)

Happy Halloween!

Sunday Sweets #5--SLEEP

"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together." ~Thomas Dekker

How often we forget the essentials--I'm sick, and I'm HATING it (stupid weather changes!), but being sick almost always reminds me of how important our health really is, and how vital it is that we take care of ourselves. If you don't take care of yourself first, how on earth are you supposed to do virtually anything else? So, remember to get some sleep--that to do list isn't going anywhere, trust me. Besides, I watch how much my little puppy sleeps, and how much dang energy she has when she wakes up--and if sleep is what it takes to have that, I'm going for it. ;)

I Promise She's a Sweetheart

If you only knew my little Vera Queen, you'd understand what a little sweetie she really is! But she does have quite a bit of fire behind her--feisty doesn't even begin to describe--sometimes I worry that visitors get the wrong impressions (although, it continues to baffle the mind at how someone could be so frightened by a little 6 lb Yorkie, I mean SERIOUSLY).

True, some days after working out at the gym (I'm only gone an hour!), I come home to scenes such as these:

But then she gives you that I'm-just-so-adorable-face, and I just can't get mad at her! I mean, come on, isn't this just the most adorable face you've ever seen? ;)

Yup, that's my girl. For sure. <3

What I Wore

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." 

~Henry James

 What I wore:

• Dress: Made by me! End of Summer clearance fabric (nothing beats a flirty sun dress, NOTHING!)
• Shoes: $4, End of summer Payless clearance (salmon--my favorite color!)
• Puppy: My Vera-Queen! Couldn't have a perfect Summer afternoon without her. :)

I Won Something?

You know, with all of these craft blogs and whatnot out there, I'm continually entering amazing giveaways nearly every day (speaking of which, have you checked out my current giveaway??? CHECK IT OUT!)--however, I was completely surprised to discover that I actually WON one of them! That's right, I really did--I won a giveaway over at Simply Cadence, and that sweetheart Jaclyn sent me this lovely patriotic bandana for my dog:

 I know these aren't the best pictures ever, but Vera hasn't been feeling too hot today (hopefully she didn't ingest any more mushrooms--those seem to be her favorite, mushrooms, grass, and poppies...), but in celebration of pioneer day, she got to dress up, even if she did just sleep all day.

 But see how cute it is? Thanks Jaclyn! :)