A Thousand Threads

Six Great DIY Advent Calendars

It’s almost time to count down! Do you do an advent calendar? I have to admit, I always mean to… but it’s rare that I do. Maybe this will be the year!

1 // I’ve had this brilliantly easy advent calendar bookmarked for what seems like forever.
2 // This handwritten-letter-a-day advent is a fun twist.
3 // These little boxes are easy with free printables.
4 // Who doesn’t want to count down with cute little trees?
5 // Essential arts and crafts — bring your toilet paper rolls.
6 // Everything about this geometric diy advent calendar is pretty.

8 Comments | Posted on: November 25, 2013 | Category: DIY, Holidays, Life

Last Chance

This weekend we’re back to our painting, working to get it all done before we’re off to New York.

It’s also possible that I might be making it a priority to catch the new Hunger Games before we go.

… is it wrong to admit just how cheeseball excited I am? (Are you too?)

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than a week away. Any plans for this last big weekend before the holidays really kick off?

(After all… Black Friday is just around the corner.

… do you go to the stores?)

Eye this gorgeous holiday table.

Buy the perfect holiday apron.

Make a pretty fall garland.

Bake a maple pumpkin pie.

I wouldn’t usually be so big on a commercial, but did you see this Google India ad? It made me cry.

All of the things.

The next time you’re feeling sad.

C.S. Lewis reviews The Hobbit.

7 Comments | Posted on: November 22, 2013 | Category: Holidays, Life

When do you put up your Christmas tree?

Have I mentioned how much I love having a tree in the house? The smell, the sight, the constant reminder that Christmas is almost here. I love it so much that as soon as Thanksgiving is gone, I’m chomping at the bit to get one up… and I’d happily leave it until well after the new year if I could.

What about you? Do you jump to put up a tree? Or do you usually wait until you’re a little bit closer to the big day?

Danish butter cookies via.

7 Comments | Posted on: November 21, 2013 | Category: Holidays, Life

Game Time // 5 Random Facts

Before she left for home in Hawaii (jealousy, right here) the lovely Jessica of Coco/Mingo (be sure you check out her beautiful blog if you haven’t been before) tagged me to share five random facts about myself, and I’m happy to comply! Here are five random things about me that you may (or may not) want to know…

1 // Mark says I’m persnickety, and lovingly compares me to a Tasmanian devil. Not so much the Looney Tunes kind, but the real ones… who make little grumbling noises as they wander along.

2 // I believe that a lady should know when and how to use the word “fuck” — and not be afraid to do it.

3 // I ride the train so often and for so long that sometimes I develop intricate conspiracy theories based around my fellow passengers, and I have a long list of things I kind of wish they wouldn’t do.

For example… last night at least three of those things I wish they wouldn’t do were happening at once… someone down the aisle was eating smelly food, the guy behind me was spilling intimate details of his life loudly into his phone, and across the way, someone was tap tap tapping in a rhythm on the floor, *just* loudly enough to hear. (Such is train life that we all annoy each other just by doing regular, everyday things… I’m sure I’ve also driven some folks crazy in my life.)

Then, as if by some terrible twist of commuter fate… something entirely new happened. A woman turned on her phone and booted up an action movie. A very loud, very violent action movie… so loud that the folks in the next car over could probably hear. I thought someone must hate me… until I realized, and I’m entirely convinced of this…

I think she did it to shut up the guy on the phone.

It worked.

4 // I talk to my mom almost every day.

5 // I’ve never been totally sure about kids… but I do know just what I’d name a boy if I had one.

I’m tagging sweet Aileen, Gloria, Lena, Audrey, and Jade.

Join in too! What’s one random fact about you?

11 Comments | Posted on: November 20, 2013 | Category: Life

Our House // In Transition

You know when you finish one project and it creates five more? Welcome to the last year of our life.

First, we moved our main living space downstairs, and suddenly the furniture that fit the space before felt off.

Cue five more projects — sanding and painting and scrubbing and everything else that goes along with salvaging some good-looking furniture we can actually afford (lots more on that later… I have at least one piece that’s almost ready to share).

The move also left an empty room that I’m hoping will someday become an office.

… but that means more painting, more diy… more time. And our first go-round with color on the office walls, as great as it looks, is currently a little too dark for all of the shooting we do in the room.

Cue five more.

12 Comments | Posted on: November 19, 2013 | Category: Decor

Fall Table Ideas

Even though we won’t be home for Thanksgiving, I can’t help dreaming all about the pretty fall table we could create if we were here.

Do you know what you’re doing for Thanksgiving? Do you have big plans for your table?

1 // A day at Terrain with Aran Goyoaga.
2 // Fall ideas from Once Wed.
3 // Aaron Hartselle’s autumnal affair in Rue.
4 // Sunday Suppers celebrates with Kinfolk.
5 // Love, gathered.
6 // Style Me Pretty’s best ever guide to Thanksgiving.

9 Comments | Posted on: November 18, 2013 | Category: Gatherings, Holidays

Happy Weekend!

Happy Saturday! I hope everyone had a good week. Mine started out fast and didn’t stop… but all good things, so I really can’t complain.

What are you up to this weekend? Christmas or Hanukkah shopping, Thanksgiving prep, maybe just taking it easy before the holidays start to ramp up? We just came back from the paint store… so it looks like it’s going to be a busy day.

Eye these great prints (now I want one too!).

Buy these adorable letterpress tags.

Make this amazing braided trivet.

Bake these brown butter vanilla bean rice krispie treats (I think someone is trying to tell me I need to make a giant batch of rice krispie treats in every different flavor…).

This pretty food photography.

Dean Street Society’s happy hour blog tour. (Such great advice and stories from bloggers so far.)

These adorable custom portraits.

Everything about Batkid.

5 Comments | Posted on: November 16, 2013 | Category: Life, Link Love

Edible Gifts // White Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti

When it comes to holiday hostess gifts, you really can’t go wrong with biscotti.

Add some good coffee beans to the mix and I don’t know about you, but you’ve definitely made my day.

… and with chewy red cranberries and creamy white chocolate, this particular recipe fits the occasion just right!

What are some of your favorite holiday hostess gifts to give? I always love to give food, but we fall back on wine a lot too.

5 Comments | Posted on: November 14, 2013 | Category: Holidays, Recipes

How to wear wedge sneakers

First of all, thank you for all of your well wishes these past few days! We had an amazing anniversary and I think my test went well. So far I know my scores for math and verbal. Verbal went well… and as for the math, let’s just say I’m never going to be a whiz with the numbers… but I’m okay with the results. I’m still waiting on the writing, though… and as a political science major, that’s the big one. So keep your fingers crossed! I’ll be working on my crazy-intense applications while I wait.

Our anniversary, on the other hand, was pretty close to perfect, with a relaxing day and a nice dinner at our favorite restaurant. Plus freezer-burned (as my mom, who is flabbergasted as to how and why we would ever eat year-old cake) cake and a 17-year-old bottle of wine that was Mark’s first fancy bottle he ever bought, all the way back in college. The night called for something special, and I think we can safely say we did it right. I really am not sure how I ended up so lucky, but I’m grateful every day for that guy of mine who makes my life a better place.

But enough of all that, let’s talk about shoes!

What do we think of the wedge sneakers?

I’ll be honest, they’re a trend I’ve taken some time to warm up to… but I find myself loving them more and more. Especially the really retro pairs. I mean really, I love myself a good sneaker. And any excuse to add a little height to this 5’2″ monster-tall frame is more than welcome.

I’m starting to wonder why it took me this long…

18 Comments | Posted on: November 13, 2013 | Category: Style

Prepping for Holiday Parties

Muzio asked me to share a little something for the holidays in their magazine this month, and Mark, Austin and I had a ton of fun wandering around town to find just the right things to include.

Follow along and find the hostess gift I created here.

… and check back, because I’ll be sharing the recipe later this week!

P.S. Wish me luck, I’m off to take my GRE!

8 Comments | Posted on: November 12, 2013 | Category: DIY, Gatherings, Holidays

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