365 project: December

For my 365 project this year my theme is: Clark and I or us. While November was the month of cold weather, red lipstick, Thanksgiving, New York City, and matching PJs. December was the month of short days, long walks, Christmas themed everything, getting the flu, and traveling home to Washington for the holidays. 

This is my last month of 365 project for 2014 and I can’t believe that I made it through the whole year! Sometimes it was rough to remember but most of the time it was fun to photograph I think it was because I picked a good subject ;) Next week I will be sharing my fav photos from my 2014: 365 project and some thoughts on my project this year. One thing I will say is I am glad that I stuck with in because when I hit July I was pretty burnt out but I pushed through the slump and finished and I am proud of myself for that reason alone. Clark and I are still in WA for a few more days so sorry for the lack of posting. I will be back next week with regular posting! See you soon. 

1. Making silly faces at Mellow Mushroom (see all those pizza pans on the ceiling)

2. Silly faces on the couch.
3. More couch time, watching Bob’s Burgers.
4. Knox, Mom, and Dad all chilling.
5. DQ just because
6. Blurry photo and husband that is singing.
7. Dog park day
8. Going out to eat with friends on a Monday
9. Walking in the afternoon when Clark got off work early.
10. Chilling on the couch... do we do anything else.
11. Comfy sweaters and Christmas movies.
12. Knox look at the camera.
13. Lets wear plaid and go on a date.
14. Taking photos in the car.
15. Knox what are you looking at.
16. The flash gets Knox every time.
17. We celebrated Christmas early. Opened presents and watched Elf
18. Holiday work party.
19. Just drinking out of the new mugs that Santa brought
20. Headed home....sick :(
21. Santa and Mrs. Claus cut outs
22. Sitting on Santa’s lap (my grandma)
23. Comfy hat
24. Christmas Eve at my mom’s house.
25. On Christmas day we wear navy.
26. Party clothes for a family get together.
27. Relaxing
28. Headed to the casino (won $55)
29. Family photo
30. Clark and Carlee wear red.
31. There was a photo but it didn’t fit perfectly #sorrynotsorry

View January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August.  September. October. November.
love, Carlee

Our Christmas photos

I wanted to share some of my favorite Christmas photos with you guys that we took back at the end of November. This is our second Christmas in North Carolina and with Knox and I wanted to make sure to have a proper Christmas photo to send out in my Christmas cards. I think that is one of the fun things about being an adult, is sending out Christmas cards. I sent out about 12 this year mostly to family that lives far away and some friends. I am also giving each of my close family a Christmas card when we go back to WA to see them so I saved a little on postage.

I took these photos with my camera, tripod, and self timer. We are getting pretty good at family photos this way. I used the same method that I did with our anniversary photos. I will say that it is a lot harder to get a dog to look at a camera with no one standing behind it. But I will say we at least got one good one (Christmas card at very end of the post.) I edited the lighting in photoshop a little bit. 

The one of Clark and Knox is really great. I think that was one of the only good ones where Knox is actually looking in the directly of the camera and I am sure that was because I was actually standing behind the camera. I am excited to take photos with my family when I am back in Washington. I know they probably wont be all formal but to at least have some photos of the whole group is really nice. And whenever all our family is together I am usually the one that is counted on to get everyone in at least one photo. And I will proudly take that responsibility haha. I hope everyone is have a Happy Holiday! We are enjoying time with family here in Washington. 

love, Carlee

Lazy Christmas

Yesterday was a great day. Clark got off work early about noon and then we took Knox to the dog park and in the afternoon went over to our friends house for some burgers, soda, and chips. We chatted and watched the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Since we were talking through a lot of it none of us really knew what was going on. But that was okay because it was nice to visit with our friends. We actually hadn’t seen them in a while. We saw them briefly at the holiday party the night before but before that we kept making plans and then things would happen like their daughter got sick or something would come up for us last minute. 

We thought that yesterday was Clark’s last day of work for the week and we were going to get a couple days to ourselves before we head back to WA for Christmas with our familes. But he learned today that he does have to go into work tomorrow. Thankfully I think they will both be half days. And while he is gone I will be busy getting last minute things done like getting the oil change, packaging up the last orders for the year, finishing packing for our trip, get Knox packed up to go to the vet, finish up a last minute gift that I am DIYing, have the Ashley’s Furniture guy come check our box springs for a defect, so yeah. I might be running around a bit today and Friday. But that’s okay because it makes the days fly buy.

I wore this outfit to hang out with our friends yesterday. It was a perfect lazy hanging with friends outfit and seemed just right with the Christmas colors. I actually don’t ever wear forest green and red (not a huge fan of the color combination in general) but around Christmas time I don’t mind it. It must be that holiday spirit that is getting to me. We also opening our Christmas presents from each other last night and it was so fun. We ate donuts and drank hot cocoa. Clark got me an awesome tank from Culture Flock with a sloth on it (perfect for me) and a new purse I have been wanting. I have had my current purse for like 2 years (I am a one purse kind of gal, but I finally have a new one.) I am sure you’ll be seeing my new one soon. I am excited to be home right at Christmas and celebrate a more tradition Christmas like when I was a kid. Obviously it’ll be a little different but still better than last year, it’s nice to be with family this time of year. 

Leggings & Bag: Target

Jacket: Marshalls

Shirt: American Eagle

Plaid Shirt: JCPennys

Socks: old

Boots: Famous Footwear (bearpaw)

Holiday Snapshots

I love these holiday photos and I didn’t want the season to pass by without me sharing them and besides I didn’t have another post planned for today so here are some of my favorite snapshots from our Christmas so far, we are actually opening up our presents from each other tonight and Knox will get to open his presents. I hope to wear our matching pjs, drink cocoa, and eat holiday donuts. I might be sharing some photos from that later (we’ll see.) 

-Clark and I with Santa at Clark’s holiday work party. 
-Looks like Clark is trying to make up to santa for being naughty this year (don’t worry one of his friends was Santa)
-Finally some presents under the Christmas tree. 
-Clark doing work on our gingerbread house. Seriously he is so into it. And does a really good job. 
-The finished gingerbread house. 
-Our Christmas tree. I zoomed out while taking the photo (Saw it on iFunny)
- Knox with our Christmas tree is the background. 
-Knox’s silhouette with the Christmas tree lights. 
-And this evening and tomorrow will be the last days to buy from the shop before I put the shop on vacation for the rest of 2015. So if you want something now is the time to get it. Also use code HOLIDAYSEASON to get 20% off your purchase of $10. 

Aren’t the holiday great?!!? 
love, Carlee  

Wood bauble ornament DIY

This is actually a ornament that I DIYed last year and never shared. I only made one last year and since I still had left over supplies I decided to make another one this year and show y’all how I did it. My inspiration for this DIY was 100% this Etsy shop, her stuff is so RAD. Anyways I wanted to make some wood ornaments like this one.

You’ll need
- Real thin wood (I got mine from Michaels for $20
-Super Glue
-Gold hooks
-String/ribbon
-Scissors

So this DIY is actually pretty easy.
1. First I measured the wood so I could cut strips the same size. About an inch.
2. I crossed them all at the center and super glued them together and let it dry completely.
3. Then two at a time I brought the ended together forming a sphere and super glued them together.
4. Hold in your figured until the glue is dry and strong enough to hold on it’s own.
5. Do step 3 until all the pieces are glued together at the top and forming a ball.
6. It was actually really tricky to get the gold hook in the wood. So I screwed it in slighting and then super glued it in place. (Obviously not the most effective/classy way to do it) But it works for me.
7. Let everything dry completely.
8. Try a ribbon/sting to the hook and hang on your Christmas tree.

This is one of my favorite ornaments. I think I will try and get the gold hook into the ornament better and I think the ornaments would look a lot cooler with fishing line. But I didn’t have any so this will have to do for this year. I love DIY Christmas ornaments. If you need to fill your tree up with ornaments I think DIY is definitely the way to go. Since last year was the first time we had our own Christmas tree, I made a lot of the ornaments and they are back on the tree again this year. And I think they will be on my trees years and years to come.
love, Carlee

Christmas in the Park

Last Saturday we went to Arnette Park to enjoy an annual event put on my the parks department of Fayetteville NC called Christmas in the Park. We didn’t go last year and our friends did and said it was pretty cool so we made sure to check it out. Since it was Saturday there was quite a few people there and long lines for all the things like Santa and the train. If I had children I would make sure to go on a weekday when it was far less crowed but since Clark and I don’t have children we just walked around and enjoyed ourselves. It was $10 per vehicle, the past years it has been two dollars a person so we made more than the past years but it was alright. It’s always nice to get out and do something festive this time of year. 

It is a pretty display and it is open everyday from 6pm-9pm from Dec 5th to Dec 21st (I think dates vary by year but thats what it was this year). There were vendors selling food, Christmas music playing, and even a Christmas movie playing on a projector. Also you could pay $1 to roast marshmallow. 

I hope everyone has a good Monday. 

Scarf: Forever 21

Jacket: Marshalls

Christmas keepsake ornaments DIY

I am here today just sharing the 3 keepsake ornaments I made this year for Christmas 2014. The first one I made was the wood transfer DIY ornament. I bought the wood slice from Michaels for $2.99 and I had everything else on hand. This wood transfer turned out a lot fainter than ones I have done in the past and I am not sure why. I still love it though and I hope it holds up over the years. I used this DIY from Jess for the wood transfer ornament. 

For the 2 clay ornaments I used this DIY that I did last year. Although you could just follow the directions on the back of the Sculpey box. One is the key for our first apartment and the other is Knox’s foot print (there are even a few little dog hairs stuck in the clay which I LOVE!). Both things I wanted to remember and I hope these ornaments last and last over the years and someday my grandchildren will be able to look at ornaments of Grandma and Grandpa’s first dog, 2nd christmas, and first apartment. Happy Holidays!

love, Carlee

Winter Intentions '14-'15

Ice Skating in Winthrop, WA in 2012. Sparklers on New Years Eve 2012, Christmas 2013 in NC. Christmas lights. Knox during the first snow in NC. Skiing in WA 2011. 

Hey guys, so we are already a week into December! And almost done with 2014 all together which is just crazy. I started sharing my seasonal goals/intentions back in the summer and I am going to continue this season. I almost didn’t write them down and share because I figured I would just do them but then I remember the last to seasons and how I would reference my list every now and then to remember what I wanted to do at the beginning on the season. Sometimes you get wrapped up in the day to day stuff or wish the weather would cool down/ warm up and you forget about those awesome things that you were once excited to do (and by you, I mean me). View my intentions for summer and autumn.

1. Go skiing (12.30.14)
2. Get a Christmas tree and decorate (11.29.14)
3. Go home to Washington for Christmas (12.20.14)
4. Make Christmas candy and cookies with my mom (12. 23.14)
5. Eat my mom’s homemade cinnamon rolls (12.25.14)
6. Go ice skating
7. Celebrate my birthday in February (do something special, maybe a trip to the coast.)
8. Watch my favorite Christmas movies. (So far: The Holiday, Love Actually, Christmas with the Kranks, Elf, the Grinch, Santa Claus is coming to town) (DECEMBER)
9. Go to Christmas in the Park at Arnette Park here in Fayetteville, NC. (12.15.14)
10. Go sledding in WA if there is snow on the ground. (No snow on ground) 

love, Carlee

Christmas Shopping

Clark and I headed to the mall and then around town for some Christmas shopping this past Saturday. We do a lot of Christmas shopping online and during the week I usually can head to a few places around town if I know of a gift I want to give Clark. But since Clark works everyday from 6am-5pm the weekends are his free time so we ran to the mall, Target, and Barnes and Noble to do some light Christmas shopping for each other (separate of course) and for our families. There is one more thing I want to get for Clark and I think I will be set on Christmas gifts.

I usually start thinking about Christmas shopping really early. This year the first Christmas gift we bought for someone was back in June and I am glad I finally get to wrap it up and give it this month. Thats just the type of person I am. Thinking about what people would like or not like when I am out and about. I have a few other gifts to get for people back home and I also have to do some much needed Christmas shopping for Knox. Because what is Christmas if your dog doesn’t get a new bone. I love giving gifts. I actually do, I love thinking about what stuff people will like and being really thoughtful. I pride myself on my gift giving ability. (knock on wood)

So Happy Monday. I am working on getting cards and mugs shipped out this morning. I am also hoping for my supplies to get here soon so I can list the fox, walrus, and giraffe mugs back in the shop before the Christmas deadline. Hope you have a good day. 
love, Carlee

Cardigan: Forever 21

Scarf: Marshalls

Shirt & Sunglasses: American Eagle

Jeans: Old Navy

Boots: Cathy Jean

Purse: Target

At home in December

Just here sharing some snapshots of our home in December. I wanted to do this back in November before we put up our Christmas tree and decorations. But I didn’t get around to it so now I am sharing some photos of our home in December. Here are some of my favorite decorations and our tree and of course Knox.

These aren’t the cleanest photos of my home and I am even sharing a photo of our mattress on the floor next to the dog kennel. I am sharing these photos because I want to remember what our home looked like in December 2014. I want to remember that we had to sleep with our mattress on the floor next to the dog kennel because our box springs have a defect and make noise every time we move. And it is going to take 15 days to get someone out here to look at it. Sleep is important. I got to say that I have been sleeping better now that the mattress is on the floor.

I want to remember the second Christmas we spent in NC and how big our tree was and where I hung the decorations. And yeah, it’s not the most fabulous well decorated apartment, it’s not the cleanest, but it’s ours this December 2014. 

love, Carlee