December Daily Days 8-13

Well I pretty much knew once my vacation was over and I returned back to work I would fall behind with this project, even if I was doing my best to keep it super simple! Then once I got a bit of a good start catching up, it was almost Christmas and I decided I'd rather enjoy every moment of the season before it was over and not spend too much time pushing pretty papers around only to miss something spectacular!! I'm so glad I gave myself that freedom to fall behind!! I am happy to report however, that I spent some time last night printing photos for the remaining days and I'm hopeful to have this project done and completed before the new year!! I did want to jump on here and share a few more days and I think I'll break up what's left to share into two separate posts.

This is very much a photo heavy post so I hope you're prepared!!

Day 8: It was as dreary, rainy day and I wanted to go to the UPS store to ship all of our gifts for my family out but because there were to many gifts for me to carry alone, we went over to the UPS store after my husband got done working. During the day, I curled up under the blankets and watched some of my favorite holiday movies! Loved that this is how I spent my last day of vacation. Used the Gossamer Blue numbers for day 8 and 9 outside of the page protector then just carefully stitched through everything so they're nice and secure!

Day 9: It's a two page spread to showcase our annual ornaments this year. Usually we just get one from Disney, either personalized for us or one they've already personalized that we like enough to buy.

This year, however, on a trip into Starbucks we happened to spot ONE "you are here mug" Christmas ornament and had to get it!! I love having these ornaments on the tree as well. Love the stories behind them. This one is totally us and totally showcases our love for coffee (specifically Starbucks) and that we are currently living in Florida!! I love pulling out ornaments and remembering the stories behind them!!

Our annual Disney ornament is one that we found on the personalized rack on a trip last Spring!! We usually try to get our annual ornament early in the year so if we need to get it personalized it doesn't take more than an hour or so. Sometime we find one on the rack that the artists have already personalized, which is the case this year. We found this one of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland and couldn't resist. It was perfect since we've got some mischievous cats ourselves!! 

Day 10: Highlighting our Advent calendar for this year with one of our Santa's and our basket for cards received (they started arriving shortly after taking this photo). I had wanted to get an advent calendar from Starbucks, but by the time I decided on that they were sold out. So old German Advent calendar for the WIN!!! Just pulled it out and set it up on the easel. Super easy and NO chocolate to tempt anyone!!

Day 11: Super simple selfie for this day. Wanted to make sure we both go into the album and since we take lots of selfies...this was a no brainer!! The tag in the middle is one I've had. It came pre-printed with Merry in the middle. Just added it to the top of the protector with a little adhesive, adhered a similar on to the back (which you'll see on day 12 below), and stitched through both at the same time to keep them secured. And can I just add how much I LOVE that gold star vellum!!!

Day 12: Decided I wanted to use some of the 3x4 cards from the 25 days class so I altered a page protector with my sewing machine to make that happen. I used a tag that I had in my stash that had twelve on it to denote the day! This day was my husband's 41st birthday and we celebrated just like we always do. Cake and candles (41 for the year he's turning). We're completely crazy and I do not recommend doing this, but it's become sort of a tradition!! We both light candles and we do NOT sing while they're lit. They get lit, a quick photo gets taken, then he blows them out!! We have a fire extinguisher on standby and NOTHING in the area of the cake AT ALL!!! So while I fully recognize we're insane doing this, and we will need a bigger cake next year, it is fun and we do everything within our control to be as safe as possible!!!

I always get a picture of the cake, then one with the cake and the candles. You can see how crazy it looked when all lit up and then an action shot of him blowing out the candles. I did get a number 4 and a number 1, but he wanted to go for 41 again...so I went long with it!!

Loved that card with all the presents. Thought it would be a perfect fit for his birthday!!

Day 13: National Hot Cocoa Day...nuff said!!

Loved the Merry Everything card and since my hot cocoa mug is an older Starbucks holiday mug, not to mention that hot cocoa is one of my favorite drinks during the holiday season, I figured it fit this day really well!!! I embossed a stamp from an older Ali Edwards stamp set. It fit perfectly behind the twelve tag from the previous day. I stitched then down to the page protector for stability and to keep them secure.

 

Super simple banner with a "13" tag from last year's December Daily kit. I keep collecting numbers from these kits over the years and I love the variety of daily markers throughout the album!!

 

And that's my December Daily so far. I've got the next few days completed and hoping to share them tomorrow!! I'm also starting to plan out my blog schedule for 2015. So looking forward to next year and the promises of wonder it holds!! I've got big plans both personally and professionally...and I've got big plans for the blog too!! I don't want it to come too fast, but I can't wait to turn the page on a new year!! Happy Friday to you!! Hope to catch you back here tomorrow!! Until then...thanks for stopping by!!
deb