A few Christmas photos from our house to yours...

Here are a few snapshots of our little Christmas.  Vivi wore her cute sweater dress to Christmas Eve mass at Christ the King.  Then we had baked fontina, lobster bisque, and caesar salad at our house.  It was delicious and I can't believe I didn't take any food pictures!  That is so unlike me!  Vivi was very excited Christmas morning.  She got a pretend cell phone from her babysitter and she loves it.  Her little American  Girl Itty Bitty doll was a birthday gift last month, but she is so fascinated with it...especially the eyes that close.  She had an i-chat with her family in Tennessee.  Then we went to Grandma's house and she loved playing on her i-pad.  She's one tech-savy little girl.  By the way, she's wearing her jammies at Grandma's house because she had a blow out on the ten minute drive there and ruined her cute Christmas outfit.  Oh well...the best laid plans....

Vivi's New Nook

Here's a little project I've been working on this Christmas break.  You have to be creative when you live in a small house.   For only being in this world for one year, this baby sure has accumulated a lot of stuff and we have no where to put it all!  For my baby shower from my students last year, they filled up a wicker basket with tons of presents.  That wicker basket is now Vivi's toy chest.  The toy chest was practically filled with the various stuffed animals she's received.  When you take out the stuffed animals, there's actually room for her bazillion toys.  So, thanks again to Pinterest, I used a garden basket screwed onto the wall for her stuffies.  Vivi LOVES her stuffies too...she plays with them a lot and gives them hugs and kisses all the time.  If she didn't love them so much, I'd probably just stuff (no pun intended) them into a closet somewhere. :)  So this space was just a tiny corner in her room behind her crib.  I put her basket of stuffies where she can reach them, her toy chest, and a low hung bookshelf.  It's tiny but just big enough for Vivi and she LOVES it!  Mission accomplished!

Merry Christmas to all.....

And to all, a good night.  Stay tuned for Christmas pictures soon!  It was a great holiday!  XOXO.

Frank's Christmas Present

We had some family photos taken around Vivi's birthday and this is one of my favorites!  I had this made into a canvas and I'm giving it to Frank for Christmas.  Isn't it just the cutest thing?! :)

Ditch the Diaper Bag???

Source: target.com via Caryn on Pinterest

Source: target.com via Caryn on Pinterest

Source: bananarepublic.gap.com via Caryn on Pinterest

Source: coach.com via Caryn on Pinterest

I feel like I'm at a crossroads.  I LOVE my Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag.  It's been good to me.  It's extremely functional and I always get tons of compliments when I'm out and about.  I have to say, though, that I think I'm ready for just a normal shoulder bag.  For short trips I have found that I'm only taking my wristlet.  I have a big ziploc bag in each car with two diapers and a small case of wipes just in case.  Really, the only time I take the big bag now is when we're going somewhere for a long time and/or Vivi has to eat.  I now feel like I just need a bag big enough for one diaper/wipes, a sippy cup, a bag of snacks, and my phone/wallet or wristlet.  I started looking around.  These are some that I like.  They range from $17 to $358....quite a jump, but they're all cute.  We'll see what I end up with!

Feast of the Seven Fishes

Source: the-dogs-breakfast.com via Caryn on Pinterest

So I think we're having Christmas Eve dinner at our house this year.  It will only be five of us, and that includes Vivi, so we can all comfortably fit in our snug and cozy (i.e. - small) home.  It is Italian tradition to eat seven different fishes on Christmas Eve.  It is called La Viglia di Natale or the Feast of the Seven Fishes.  Italian families gather together for the Christmas vigil and fish is on the menu instead of meat.  My big Italian family does partake in this tradition.  I have a vivid image of my grandpa eating a sea urchin...ewe!  Now, I'm not planning on making seven fishes for just us, but I am going to prepare a seafood dinner.  I'm thinking a nice lobster bisque will be on the menu.  I'm currently researching some other yummy ideas.  If you have one, please let me know!

Money as a gift!

Look what I just did!  I'm pretty proud of myself right now.  What is the perfect gift for a college kid?  Why, money, of course!  This is what I did for Frank's nephew for Christmas.  We rolled up another bill and put it inside the box.  Brilliant! :)  Again, I found the idea on Pinterest. (Thanks again, Pinterest!)  I didn't follow the directions exactly, but it was close enough.  If you'd also like to do this, see the link below!

Folded Money Gift Box

A day in the life...

This is just a normal day for me....you know....reading my mail........working with my fridge letters.......doing laundry.  All in a days work!