Well, last year Santa gave us the task of working on his living room design. I think we did a great job. You can see the feed on our instagram from December 2015… This year, we tackled his bedroom which was quite the challenge. It was full of random Christmas items from bygone years (thing #TBT). A bit of overkill if you please. Mrs. Claus was really concerned when we started. “You know, Nicholas really likes to have Christmas all year round. He won’t be happy if you completely take it away.” Then, guiding me out of the room by the elbow, she whispered softly, “But I am a little tired of all the hooplah, if you know what I mean.” She winked. “I wouldn’t mind a little more…glam.” A giggle escaped. She really was looking for a change. Often, as a designer, I encounter times when husband and wife have different ideas about what they are looking for in design, function and budget. It’s like being a home therapist. We have to balance their desires, without making either feel that their opinion is worth less. It’s delicate. But can be, and is often, a part of what makes us […]
I love doing crafts with my kids. And holiday season gives me lots of opportunity. I also find that it helps me my “control freak” a bit of a break. I mean, there is no way 5 year olds are making perfect ornaments with straight lines and pretty lettering. So it’s a free for all with lots of shiny stick on thingys and crazy paint patterns, and some painted shiny stick on thingys. And once we’re all done, the kids get to help me hang them up. What a joy it is to see the pride on their faces. The best part? Well, when company comes over, everyone gets a guided tour of the decorations and who made what. It’s a veritable tourist attraction! I start early, putting my decorations up so they’ve got a month of ‘show time’ before packing them up again. And every year, we make some more. We keep the best of the lot for ourselves (yes, we’re greedy), and then we give them away as little gifts for friends and family. It’s a tradition in our home. We do the same with cookies too (the kinds you can eat). I sort of wish that […]
So I suffer from severe Christmas envy. I grew up with a minister’s daughter for a best friend, and every year, I got to go over and do up the tree and get a present. (Read my last post for more of this mushy stuff) So, as a modern 2014 Jewish mommy, my goal is to make this holiday as fun and festive as Christmas. To start off with, they have this advent thingy. It’s a luscious cardboard box with daily tabs that open up to reveal yummy chocolates. WELL!!! I love chocolate!!!! So, why not make a Hanukkah one? And maybe fill it with not only some Hanukkah Gelt (wrapped chocolates that look like coins), or some little gifty items like lip gloss, or even a yo-yo I picked up for my son! I’ve got hair clips and Kinder Surprises, and all kinds of cute dollar-store-type items that my kids will just love. Imagine getting to open one of these little packages every single day of Hanukkah!! That’s 8 days of fun!! Things you’ll need: Fabric dye in a colour you like A really crappy bowl you don’t care about A few branches Some twine Muslin baggies (I […]
Decorating for the holidays is: Fun? Daunting? Mystifying? Stressful? Got a mixed up family full of: Hanukkah? Christmas? Kwanzaa? Newtonmas? Festivus? Wanting to make it: Classy? Fun? Youthful? Colourful? Taseful? Cheery? Cozy? Oy. My head hurts too. So let’s simplify a little, shall we? I grew up in a Jewish home. Super envious of my bestie down the street, whose dad was a minister and whose Christmas seemed glorious! And, as the years passed, they invited me for tree trimming…I remember all too well having to figure out where the fake limbs went years after their colour coded stickers had fallen off. There was always a little gift for me under that tree. And I even got to go to the church a few times and listen to all the beautiful songs. It was amazing. And at my place? Hanukkah was a bit more, um, chill? Gifts: Check. Doughnuts: Check. Menorah with candles: Check. That’s it. BO-RING! So now that I’m a grown up, with a hubby and some kiddies and my own home, that Hanukkah celebration has reached for the stars!!! And here’s a little of how I get my holiday decorating in order: Your Colour Choice I’ve seen […]