We worked on a painted family portrait, and we each painted ourselves. Actually, I drew papi, and Brave drew mommy. At first, we painted the giant canvas white and gray. Next, we layered over it with different shades of pink and white. Then, we painted ourselves like a shadow in pink. Finally, we painted our faces and our bodies in black. Glow made herself happy! We thought it was so exciting to paint a family portrait. Everybody ended up looking a little funny! – True

I’m usually done with all my Christmas shopping by now, but I haven’t even started. On the bright side, we have our Christmas tree up already!

Let’s start with the tree base … Ben drilled a hole into an old tree stump to use. We inserted the center pole into the tree stump instead of using the base that it came with. Last year, I used a crocheted bedspread as the skirt, now I don’t even need one because we have a pretty tree stump. We used it before here, but since this tree is much larger, we had to drill a larger hole to fit this 7.5 foot tall tree.

I wanted to go a little bit fancier this year with our tree, so I picked up a bunch of sparkly and glittery ornaments. Once we got them up, it didn’t feel right. It was too much for us. We simplified everything back down to our wooden and straw ornaments. Though, we did pick up more wooden ornaments to add on. To finish it off, we added some tapered candles onto the tree. Now, it feels just right. This is my “holidays” Pinterest board, and from that you can tell we prefer simpler decorating for Christmas.

Supplies for this project were provided as part of the Michaels Makers Series. From now until November 14, you can get FREE shipping on all Christmas trees that are 6ft or taller on Michaels.com! You can also check out some of Michaels’ ornament projects and tutorials available here.

This past Saturday, some of the ladies from our church family came over for a hang out. We do a ladies hang out once a month, and someone hosts and teaches something. Last month, we learned how to make delicious fresh salsa. This month was my turn and I taught them the beginnings of weaving. It was a fun night of chatting and laughing as we shared funny stories about life, marriage, and kids. While everyone was listening and chatting away, everyone’s eyes were still zoomed in on their weaving, and they were definitely concentrating on each step as they weaved their way up the loom. I made some handmade looms (thanks to the weaving tutorials on CreativeBug) for everyone to borrow, and one friend bought in a giant box of vintage yarn (the price tag said $1.77 from Penney’s!).

I had some cheese, crackers, and sun dried tomato pasta for guests to fill their tummies with. Lemonade, mint water, and rose were nearby to quench thirsts. When you only have a couple hours, you don’t get very far in your weaving (especially on your first try), but everyone took yarn with them, and were planning to continue it at home. I can’t wait to see everyone’s finished product! I highly recommend getting friends together for a craft night; it’s definitely good bonding time.

I had a couple vintage iron-on patches that the girls loved, so I ordered more (from here) so that we could use them to decorate some clothes. It was a quick project that we all loved doing together. They even got a kick out of doing the ironing themselves (with my supervision of course). We chose to put it on Brave’s denim flares, this denim dress, and this  striped dress. True’s dress is a buffalo plaid, and the patches looked too busy on it, so we didn’t iron anything on to hers.

There was one patch that was really old, so it didn’t stay on. I will have to hand-sew that one back on, and I plan on securing the rest as well. It was a simple and fun way to add some quirk to some of their clothes. We have plenty more to use for some other things.

Glow got the patch that said “MOM” because she always needs to be next to me. We joke that she is obsessed with mommy. When it’s family movie night, everyone is cuddling in bed, and I’m usually the last to join … typically, she can be found sitting by herself far away from everyone and saving me a spot. Once I get in, she snuggles right up to me, and she does not like to share mommy with anyone else. I guess that’s what happens when you’re the baby.

on true: buffalo plaid dress and sweater cape c/o old navy. boots, gap (similar here). on brave: striped tee, flares, and trucker hat, c/o old navy. docs, shoes.com (similar here). on soul: denim dress, c/o old navy. clogs, lotta from stockholm. on glow: striped dress & cat shoes, c/o old navy.

This post is sponsored by Old Navy. Thank you for your continuous support of this space and the brands I partner with.

The girls worked on a giant canvas we started a couple months ago. We finally got back to it this week and the whole thing is all them (I did give direction on color and direction of paintbrush strokes). As they were working, I was a little nervous and unsure of the outcome. Letting kids go to town on a giant canvas is a real good lesson in learning how to release control and just let them be. They are much more talented than me, and the rawness that comes out in the artwork of children is just beautiful and unique. Thus, I figured it’s better to let them paint something than try my hand at it. They have to finish up a few things, but we will make sure Ben hangs it this weekend.

This week has been all about art projects for our home (the furniture shopping we did last Saturday got me in a decorating mood). Next up, finish Halloween costumes; fingers crossed that I finish them today!

We had a day off from school on Monday, so the girls played, and I worked on a fun little project that popped into my head Sunday night. Thus, Monday was spent with lots of colorful thread, and I finished it in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Yippee! Now, I just need Ben’s help to hang it. I will be sure to show you once it is up!

When I get an idea stuck in my head, or start on a new project, I can’t really rest until the idea or project is completed. I get obsessed. I’m motivated and working hard to complete it, but sometimes I drop the ball on other things. Anyone else the same way?