Christmas Recap

I think we made the very most of our time leading up to Christmas. Once school got out, we got busy making these shower bombs to give as gifts, and these amazing chocolate chip cookies, and this fudge. Everything turned out well, but if you're going to try just one of those recipes then make those chocolate chip cookies! They are the best I've ever made.

We sent Koa to the kitty kennel (he has forgiven me!), and spent three nights at my parents' house. Christmas Eve was pretty low-key, but Christmas Day was wonderfully busy.

Here are some glimpses into our Christmas:

Michaela slept in until 7 AM! On Christmas Eve she received a new pair of jammies and a Christmas book. I love her Christmas jammies.

It was pretty much a Disney Princess kind of Christmas. Here she is with her latest "Magic Clip Dolls". 

November/December Stitch Fix Review

Spoiler alert...

(I've always wanted to do that!)

This was the time I sent it all back.

Yep. I did.

Kind of disappointing. But, hey. They're just clothes. And I have to say that it wasn't a terrible, awful fix. It was just okay.

So here we go.

Up first was the Winslette Skinny Jean by Just Black. I had been asking my stylist for a pair of colored denim jeans for at least a couple of months. I liked the color of these, but they were not the right size - they were too small. Oh, well.

Then I tried the Chantrey Cable Knit Sweater by RD Style with the Chloe Houndstooth Infinity Scarf by Look by M. I really liked the charcoal gray color of the sweater, but it didn't feel like it was the best quality. I remember catching my hand on a loose (but not that loose) thread on the inside while trying it on, and that was a red flag to me. It was also a pretty loose knit, so I would have had to wear something underneath it every time.

The scarf was just okay. It looked fine with the sweater.

I kind of liked the next sweater. It's the Corby Pullover Sweater by Skies are Blue. I don't remember the price now, but I think I thought it was too expensive for what it was.

Lastly, I received the Rowen Faux Leather Quilted Vest by Fate. It was too small and so I didn't take a picture of it on me.

However, I got to wear one by the same maker yesterday in the right size (but a different color) that I received in my first Le Tote box. I really liked the way it felt and how it looked. The right size makes all the difference! I do like this navy blue color better than the olive one that I wore yesterday.

So, yeah. I sent them all back. And I decided to take another break from Stitch Fix.

In the meantime I am trying Le Tote. I had been receiving their emails for sometime, and then I saw another blogger wearing a cute sweater she got from Le Tote and I decided to check it out. More on that in another post, perhaps, but basically it's a clothes borrowing service. You get three pieces of clothing and two accessories in a delivery. After wearing them just send them back for another delivery - as many times a month as you can. Since I've had a heck of a time finding sweaters I really like, I thought it would be a great way to try some new labels. Yesterday I wore a really soft and stretchy black crew neck sweater by French Connection, and I layered that vest over it. Today, I packed it all up and sent it back. In a few days I'll get five more things to borrow. Kind of fun!

If you'd like to try Stitch Fix, click here.

If you'd like to try Le Tote, click here.

Those are affiliate links and that means I'll receive a credit on my account should you sign up for one of those services.

Christmastime is Here

The weekend after Thanksgiving, we dove right into the Christmas spirit. Koa joined us the day after Christmas last year and, while I don't recall him getting into anything, I decided that instead of a fresh tree we should play it safe and use the artificial tree instead. I have seen these videos, and I didn't want to live it:




Koa was overly interested in the tree at first, but I chewed him out about it one night and he's stayed away since then. Well, pretty much. There was this little indiscretion:

Merry Christmas to you too, Koa...

I've done my best to plan and do fun things with Michaela throughout the month. We've been to Disneyland, our church's Christmas program, and a local walk-thru nativity program put on by several churches in the neighborhood.

We watched White Christmas.

I hadn't seen that one in a looong time. I tried to get Michaela to watch some of the vintage Christmas animated movies, but she's not interested yet.

We've been making some gifts and baking since school got out. Angela shared her family recipes for sugar cookies and frosting, and we had some sticky, messy fun making those yesterday and today.

No, we're not having a heatwave. It's actually been cool here. But I made her take off her pullover before we started frosting, and I pulled her hair back. You have no idea how messy this child can be...

In the midst of all the busyness, I have tried to enjoy the season. Truth is, it's not always as enjoyable as the photos look.

It's rushed.

There's a lot of pressure. 

I'm sure that's not how it's supposed to be, but that's how I feel a lot of the time. And with my birthday three days before Christmas, I am usually in a funk thinking Is that it? Another year, and that's it? The only years I didn't feel that way were the ones I was married, and probably Michaela's first (and maybe second) Christmas. Something's almost always missing, and it's not going to be under the Christmas tree. KWIM?

I obviously need an attitude adjustment (on an annual basis).

It's not about me.

It's about her.

And it's about Him.

May we all experience the JOY of the Lord this Christmas no matter what is or isn't under the Christmas tree.