DIY Unicorn and Elsa Pumpkins

I saw a precious tutorial video online about how to make a Unicorn pumpkin and just knew I needed to replicate for Stella!  I figured if she could make a unicorn, we could attempt to make an "Elsa" for Chloé.  I couldn't find any tutorials online for Elsa, so we kind of made her up but I think she turned out cute! 

SUPPLIES:
- spray paint
- jewels
- glue gun
- crown (for Elsa)
- black + glittery stock paper (find this on the scrapbook aisle)
- felt
- "fur" for the unicorn // you can typically find this by the felt
- 2 pumpkins

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Go outside and spray your pumpkins whatever base color you have decided.
2. While they are drying, come inside and cut out eye lashes for your unicorn and Elsa with the black stock paper.
3.  Use the glitter cardstock paper to cut out the unicorn horn, inside of unicorn ears, and lips for Elsa.  (The horn is a triangle with a rounded base that you roll and then use the glue gun to secure)
4. Use the felt to create the outer part of the unicorn ears.

After the pumpkins dry...

FOR ELSA
1.  Use the hot glue gun to secure the crown, eye lashes, and lips.  Use jewels to "bedazzle" accordingly. We created a "hairline" and did a nose and cheeks.

FOR UNICORN
1. Use the hot glue gun to secure the horn first.  Then wrap the "fur" around the stem and secure with a hot glue gun.
2. Glue the glitter cardstock ears to the bigger felt ears and then attach to the pumpkin/ fur. It may help to make a tiny 1/2 inch vertical cut at the base of the ears and bend them slightly forward to make them a bit rounded.
3. Glue the eyelashes on and use the jewels to create the nostrils and anything else you want to sparkle.  My daughter added "earrings" a smile and bedazzled the horn.

This would be a GREAT Fall craft for a birthday or Halloween party or sleepover! I definitely think this will be an annual tradition of ours.  I hope you enjoy making them as much as we did!

No, I will not be coming to your holiday party...

When you have plans every single night of December and all you are is stressed, tired, and worn out.... Is the holiday season even FUN???? 

A few years ago, I asked myself this very question.... I used to LOVE a calendar full of squares filled up with fun plans but in the past few years (probably since having kids) these types of months/ weeks completely wear me out and I almost need a "vacation" to recover from my weekends.  (I love those of you who do Advent calendars but the thought of them gives me major anxiety for this very reason!) 

Although I have an extroverted personality, I definitely recharge my batteries by being home and not having plans.  If I spend too much time "busy" I don't have much left in my tank to pour into my people.  I find myself irritable, grumpy, and dragging instead of excited, joyful and energetic! 

So especially around the holidays when there is SO much going on (all really fun things) I really pick and choose what we commit to.  We make plans to have NO PLANS on many of our nights so that we can spend spontaneous time driving around looking at lights or having a family movie night complete with hot chocolate and popcorn.  We may not get to do everything on the "Dallas Christmas To Do" list but I am okay with that because I have more energy to enjoy the things we DO commit to and we can always catch the rest another year! 

So if you are wired anything like me, I would challenge you to make an effort to de-clutter your schedule over the holidays.  You don't have to say YES to everything.  I can assure you that you will enjoy your holiday season much more! You will be rested up and excited for the nights that you do have plans and enjoy your quiet evenings at home enjoying the warm fire and twinkle of lights on your tree.  

My Holiday Gift Guides: For HER. For HIM. For THEM.

I LOVE gift giving. I know it sounds cheesy but at Christmas I really do get more joy out of watching people OPEN their gifts, than receiving them.  This year I thought I would put together some of my favorite gifts for HER, HIM and THEM.  I hope you get some good ideas!

1. Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker // Guys I bought this for myself this year and my husband has basically stolen it. He takes it in with him while he showers,  does the dishes and bathes the girls...to name a few.  It is compact and comes in a variety of colors! (I chose the Mint because... duh! But the black may be a bit more manly.) 

2.  Yeti Stainless Steel Tumbler// This is my husband's newest obsession.  It will keep your coffee hot and ice in tact for HOURS.  Example: Go to church, return to your car, and your coffee is STILL hot! We've done it. 

3. Ugg Men's Slippers// This year Ugg released these cute slippers for MEN! If your man is anything like mine, he walks in the door and immediately go put on sweats and comfy clothes. These are perfect for lounging around the house and taking the trash out early in the morning. 

4.  New Balance Men's Sneakers // I have always loved New Balance shoes and I have to admit, these look really cute under guys jeans. Logan wears his all the time but I love all the new color schemes they come out with each season. 

5. Roku Express // You need this guys.  It is the same concept as Apple TV but a heck of a lot cheaper! If you have multiple TVs in your house, this is a great way to stream all your shows in every room of the house! 

1. Instant Pot // THE GIFT of the year! This is a pressure cooker that basically does an 8 hour crockpot job in under 20 minutes! INSANE and awesome! Definitely on my list. :) 

2. Lash Boost // Guys. TRUST ME.  This is a must-have product for your wife that will have her eyelashes looking fuller, darker, AND longer. Say no to fake lashes! These are ALL natural. 

3. Kendra Scott Gold Earrings // I bought these earlier this year and they go with EVERYTHING. They retail at a very reasonable price and have the BRAND Name that will make your wife smile. 

4.  The Magnolia Story // If you are anything like us, you love the show Fixer Upper. I also happen to love to read, so I have added this book to my wish list! 

5. Volcano Holiday Candle // These big candles are always a splurge but they smell amazing (like an Anthropologie store) and will last months. I love that they have them in holiday red and green this year!

1. Noodle & Boo Lotion // I bought this at Neimans back in the day and I still lather my baby in it.  It is by far the BEST SMELLING lotion for your kids on the market. Great baby shower gift as well. 

2. Kidkraft Kitchen // We got this for our girls last year and although it took forever to put it together, it was a HIT! My girls play with it all the time and it comes in a ton of different colors.  I went back and forth between the pink and the turquoise! 

3. Fire Kids Edition Tablet // We are getting this for Stella this year... shhh! It is cheaper than an iPad and comes with a 2 year warranty in the "off" chance your kiddo breaks it ;) No more shows on my phone taking up a ton of memory. 

4. Floral Headphones // You will need headphones to go along with your tablets and these are just precious and so adorable.  The ear buds don't stay in Stella's ears, so I think these will work much better and she will look super cute. 

5. Kidkraft Teepee //  This was our Christmas gift 2 years ago and it is still standing! We LOVE our teepee and we have been able to wash it several times so it still looks like new. I love all the color combos that KidKraft has for these. 

I hope this was helpful in giving you some ideas for your Christmas shopping! I am partial to Amazon because... #FREESHIPPING and #NOMALLSWITHCHILDREN 

Ha! Hope you are having a wonderful December so far! 

Our October.

October.  Why are you SO MAGICAL every single year? 

Painting Pumpkins. 

Dressing up for Open Gym.

Taking WAY too many pictures in WAY too many pumpkin patches. 

The Famous Arboretum Pumpkin Patch. 

Picking out "Family Member" pumpkins at the nursery. 

Pumpkin-spiced Lattes. 

Decorating for the season. 

Pumpkin Pie scented candles. 

Cooler temperatures. 

Park weather. 

Wagon & walk weather. 

I am so thankful.  What a beautiful season this is.... Literally. Emotionally. Physically. Spiritually. 

A Few Snaps from Easter

Easter 2016: Church. Egg Hunt. Lunch. Lunch Part 2. Egg Hunt with Cousins. Sugar Rush. Candy Crash.

It was a beautiful weekend! Thankful for our Risen Savior!
Abby