Well, it's that time of year! People are officially busting out the Christmas lights and Christmas trees. Last weekend Danay and I decorated Christmas ornaments and stockings. This was more of the 'get in touch with you inner child' project. Not to mention, it's a little hard to be motivated when it's 80 degrees outside. Okay, okay.. all jokes aside this is my favorite time of year! And with house hunting in mind-- here are some of my favorite festive decorations that maybe my house will look like this next year??

But for now... this is our happy home

Images {1, 2, 3, 4]

Have a wonderful day!
-Sophee

Perfectly Plaid

Nothing says Christmas time like a plaid print. Plaids make me think of lumberjacks, Brad from the Rachel Zoe Project, and Brawy paper towels. 

It seems like everyone has a plaid shirt or scarf, so here a few ways to mix your plaids up and play up that oh so chic lumberjack look. 

Have a glorious Tuesday!!!

Its official

We are indeed moving to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We will basically live in a hotel. Im not complaining. Im leaving my new house and my precious baby dogs behind.

LET THE THE LISTS BEGIN!

BOOKS TO READ:
-Poisonwood Bible
-A Prayer for Owen Meany
-One Thousand White Women
- The Education of the Little Tree
-The happiness project
-A widow for one year
-HOME
-Little Bee
(please comment to tell me your must reads!)

FOOD:
Learn to cook native dishes
Vegetarian for a year
No Alcohol for a year ( Im terrified of getting migraines over there)

WORK:
Make and Sell Invites consistently
Volunteer time doing something

RELIGION:
Learn the intent of Gods sending us there
Understand the person of Christ within this culture
Understand the hidden christian persecution
Learn about Islam
pray. a lot.

LIFE GOALS:
Write an article and get it published.... maybe Relevant? Remember that guy?
Write/start a children's book
---"Lola the HUNGRY wiener dog" ??

GENERALITIES:
Hang out with Monkeys
I want to say get tan but get tan = more wrinkles on my face.
Buy awesome earrings for Cari
Daily Skype with Lola

TRAVEL:
Go to Bali and rent a cheap house cause Elizabeth Gilbert did
Go to Thailand lantern festival (#8 on this list)
Meet Austin friends in Australia
Make Courtney come see me/ Go see her in Ireland

If you know anything that needs to be added please let me know!

A Very Felted Christmas

I have been up to my nose in weddings the last few months. It's been a pleasant surprise to have so much unplanned business, but I'm soooooo ready to have downtime, get off my computer, and just breathe in the Holidays.

Speaking of Holidays... I did make a Bourbon Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving.
It went from this:

To this:

To this:

A happy pie, is a demolished pie!

Thanksgiving was lovely! We had all of my husband's family over to our house for good food and quality time. Aaaaaand we all took naps. Naps are one of the best indicators of a holiday, in my mind. Even the puppies napped, while I finished off my Felt Ball Garland. Rudolph dog! 

I felted all the wool several weeks ago, following this tutorial but hadn't had the time to string it. After a big meal and some chitchat on Turkey Day, I decided I was ready to see what the final product would look like. I used red & white baker's twine, and a completely random order for the different colors, and I'm in love with the result. Often I finish a Pinterest-inspired or a DIY craft project, and I hate it and want to trash it. This one, however, was lots of fun, and the final product was something I will enjoy getting out every year at Christmas for many years to come. 

After Thanksgiving was over, the hubs and I spontaneously decided to go get our tree. I've always wanted a "Charlie Brown" tree - one that was sorta scrawny and needing some love. This year I got my wish. We found the perfect little CBtree at the neighborhood tree farm.

This holiday has me very much infatuated with homemade-looking ornaments, and particularly felted creations. It's the Swedish craze.... Does anyone spot a certain polar bear ornament in there? In fact, there are several that I mentioned featured on my tree.

The best thing of all was this tree took me less than fifteen minutes to decorate (can't you tell), and I will probably change it multiple times before Christmas even arrives. But I love it.

Hope you're counting the days, right along with me!

As always, you can find me the other days of the week at alittleWhitenoise.

34 weeks and counting...

3rd trimester means... a growing belly (I mean it is getting hard to put shoes on big), sharp back pains, a baby kicking my rib and making it sore for over a month, swelling feet and a heightened sense of anticipation and readiness for our baby to enter this world! I have 6 more weeks to go and I know everyone keeps telling me how time will fly, but the days seem to creep by slowly at this point as we wait for him.

I was blessed by a wonderful shower by my dear friends the weekend before Thanksgiving (I hope to share pics next week). Graeme is already so loved and he definitely will want for nothing as these people took the term shower and turned it literal with gifts. I have another shower next weekend and so these are the fun things that keep my mind occupied at the moment. I am trying to relish in every moment. The hubby and I went to 2 movies last week because we hadn't been in ages. I am trying to soak in the last few moments of being a family of 2 (with 2 more furry friends).

Here are some things about my 34th week:

Baby Greame is the size of a pineapple (he feels about as prickly as one too!) But he is definitely way cuter than one. Look at those sweet cheeks and little nose :)

Biggest cravings - sweets, which is perfect for this time of year!

Things I miss the most - sleeping on my back and running

What I love most about pregnancy - feeling our little guy move around. It is an awesome feeling and definitely a gift from God.

Happy Thursday Friends,

Danielle R.