Some Holly-day ideas from (Real Simple)...

Make your pictures pretty, and turn your Mac into a cozy fire! So clever.
AHH! I love this. Now, who's mittens can I theft???
This might be a bad one for those of you with cats (or an Elliott)...
Foam snow-flakes.
Make lots of little branch trees...
I don't know about you guys, but I'm seriously looking for cheap ways to decorate this year. I'm hoping to be really festive, and maybe that will make me feel jolly all December long. I have to go to stupid traffic school tomorrow night, and I have a busy week. Hopefully though, after that, it will be smooth sailing til' Christmas!

Arley Golightly the Christmas tree...

It doesn't get any cuter than this. No, no, I'm so sorry. You are wrong. I am right. He just wins.
A morning in downtown Franklin is like the very middle of a cinnamon roll. It warmed my heart this morning, when it was feeling chilly. I think tonight we will decorate our little place. And, on a whole other subject... my son has freakish-ly big hands for a one year old. He just does. Are you feeling merry?

Thanksgiving was pretty, and I helped Karyn decorate the tree. I miss my camera, and I'm dreaming of things that will never be...

That's just the way she is...

My dear friend Lola decided to take the "Nugget" out today on a holiday date. So she picked him up from school after his nap, and so began their adventure. Let's just throw in the fact that Elliott has this lovely little "tude" lately. He must think he's big stuff or something. He likes to shake his head "NO", and throw himself on the floor like a limp noodle when things don't go his way. Yeah, who can say "fun times"?

So anyway, as if that isn't enough fun on it's own, Lauren (Lo) decided to break my camera. Yes, she broke it. The pictures below are the last images that flashed before my precious camera's eyes before she slammed it in the car door. I did say the car door. A moment of peace please. It is a sad day people, a very sad day...

RIP camera. I loved you.

However, Lola The Great is still a wonderful-abulous friend.

Enjoy these photos of E-Rock's first trip to Fido and the Village...


Seth is a little concerned that he likes this princess-y stuff. I don't think it's a big deal right?
Just being E...
Sweet E and Auntie Lo.
Rockin' the streets and raps...
Having (Lauren's) lunch at Fido...

Pieces of Christmas...

So, we took Elliott to the mall tonight. I don't know why, but we just didn't feel like being at home. We wanted him to see Santa, but there was no way he was going to wait in that line... just no way. Maybe later. Anyway, oddly enough, his favorite place at Cool Springs Galleria, is the Yankee Candle store. Seriously, he just couldn't handle his excitement, and need to pick up every flavor, scent, and color (of) candle that existed within the four walls. The lady who was working this evening, thankfully found him adorable and hilarious, as he chewed on an unscented white candle, and carried around two tiny boxes that housed candle sharpeners. I'm telling you... our kid is a nut-case times 2. He was so happy though, just soaking up every bit of the magical holiday-goodness that effortlessly seeps into the hearts of children. It made me nostalgic for the days when "Old Saint Nick" didn't need a bursting bank account (just millions of splendid little elves), and eggnog or boiled custard didn't make me want to gag, when the days would only creep away, and every-one on Earth must of course be happy, well, and content. I am afraid my dears, that these things fade away, and no matter how hard we scrub... reality sticks to our lives like tar.

This is why I'm glad that I get to live the Holidays through my child's eyes this year...

I'm listening to music of the "season" right now, and working on my book. I really can't wait to share it with you all... :)

Love to you EACH.

I must say...

Sometimes life feels as unnatural as a bird in a cage, or the meat you find on a fast-food burger...

Elliott loves scarves that belong to Lauren...

cute and buttons...

something sweet, there must be...

I love this baby and his daddy. So precious they are to me...

"And we'll fill in the missing colors
In each others paint-by-number dreams..."

From Seth's Blog...

This is what Seth wrote on his blog today...


"Going to the grocery store is WAY more fun when you let your kid out of his seat. True, he mostly destroys everything everywhere, but occasionally he'll remind you what stuff is just plain cool that you've gotten used to. Like this crazy Sobe Amped lightning thing."

-Seth Worley

Elliott has a great, cute, sweet, amazing, hilarious daddy :)

At school the children have been writing picture stories non-stop. One of my students just never fails to deliver the funniest things ever... This story says: "This is a snuffle-bunny school. They speak Spanish on the playground."
What's a "snuffle bunny"???????

Hi people!

I hope you all had a fabulous day!

I am planning on giving mostly all hand-made gifts for Christmas this year. We don't have millions of dollars to spend for one thing, but also, it's much more fun and exciting for me to do it that way. Last year, Seth and I kept going out and spending lots of money to try and make the season feel more like it did when we were growing up... and I don't know about you, but it seems that the "magical holiday feeling" just kind of grows up and away with us? So this year, I am arranging lots of fun-filled events for friends and family. I think and hope and pray that time together is where the real "warm-cookie-dough" feeling of Christmas comes from... well, "that" and baby Jesus :)

However, if you are the cash-loaded-friend, obsessive shopper, or just not creative... here are some things I find wonderful (for any-body on a shopper's list)!!!

• Anything and everything from this lovely place!
  
• Also, electric tea-kettles are amazing for people who work, and obsessively drink tea, hot coco, or cider! We have one in our classroom at school, and it's amazing!
• Art supplies! Seriously, even if you don't like art. It's really good therapy. You should always encourage creativity in every-one you know :)
• STARBUCKS cards. They seem obvious, but I always end up with way less than I'd hoped for. They are just a Christmas essential people.
• If your name is Arley... then you really want an amazing new camera for Christmas... hmm.
• Blankets. I'm not kidding. I just can never have enough of them. They make my house and life so cozy.
• And PLEASE! if you are looking for anything cute, clever, organic, original, made-to-order, interesting, or hand-made... go HERE! It's one of my favorite obsessions. Support all the artists :)
  

How about you all... what is on YOUR lists???????

And I'll leave you with this sweet little nut-case...

Star-butt...

Finally... BATH HAIR!!!!!!!

Mr. Cutes...


Love,

Arley.

OK, so Elliott is sick today. i don't get why he is always sick... it sucks. i just don't want him to feel bad. any-who, i can't stand the way this page looks right now. i hate the colors, and the everything. just thought you would all want to know. i have lots to do. literally. i have lots of stuff to do...

who came up with this idea? that we all should be eternally busy with no end in sight or existence??? they are not my friend.

if i can get the sick-o to bed early, i will share some photos, and the christmas-y wishes with you :)

toodles.

Well...

This is weird. I kinda miss my old blog...
Oh well, we are moving on with the new. Hopefully I can make it feel like mine eventually. It literally feels like I moved away...

Any-who, tomorrow I hope to post the infamous Christmas List! I am not hoping to receive piles of stuff, but I just thought I would throw out some Holiday wishes, and neat things I've been dreaming of...

How is everyone?

Something new...

Hey friends!

This is the new residence of "Me and E". We just needed something new. We'll see how this works out...