FROM ME TO YOU {+ GIVEAWAY!-CLOSED}

 This morning we woke up to not only being alive still - but snow!

Less than an inch of snow, but it's snow and that's all that matters.

This girl right here wants a very white Christmas, so I'm pretty happy we have at least a little bit.

We are supposed to get up to 2 inches today - supposed being the key word there.

Let's see if that actually happens.

Last night we got most of our wrapping done.

Well, Billy got our wrapping done and I just supplied the wine, bows and gift tags.

I did wrap Billy gifts though, of course.

Rocky was in charge of the ribbon and he did a damn good job.

I am the worlds worst wrapper. 

If there was a contest, I would win that title.

However, I did find some brown packing paper that makes my life a bit easier when wrapping

since it's a bit thicker and therefore doesn't rip at the tiniest of movements.

 

Anyways, what I'm really trying to get at {this post is all over the place! sorry) today is that

 this Christmas I hope your hearts and your homes are filled with so much love. 

I hope you have plenty of laughs and memories made with your loved ones.

I hope you hug them and tell them how much they mean to you.

And I hope you eat a lot of cookies.

Lots of them.

 

I also want to get semi sentimental for a moment and say thank you for reading my blog.

This blog has been such a blessing to me and I truly value all of you who I've "met" (some literally)

through here. It brings me so much happiness everyday!

This weekend we are having our Christmas celebration with my parents on Saturday

then heading to Cleveland to be with Billy's family on Sunday, and will be there throughout Christmas.

I'm incredibly thankful for both sets of parents.

They are truly huge blessings in our life!

Also, Billy's brother just bought his very own first place and 

we can't wait to congratulate him and see it!

His side of the family always has a big party on Christmas Eve and this year 

it's held at Billy's parents house, so we are really looking forward to that. 

 

{our street two years ago-can we please get more snow? I want this beautiful scenery}

I'm not sure when I will get back to blogging as I want to soak up every minute

 of this holiday season, but if you're missing me (which I know you all will, right? Right? :silence:)

 you can keep up with me on instagram: @katiewkrysh.

Before I go, I have a pretty awesome giveaway you guys should enter.

 It's the holiday season, and Sweet Fashion Deals thinks you guys could use some cute jewelry.

I'm all for that.  

 

 

The winner will win both sets of earrings featured above.

Sweet Fashion Deals is a Facebook page that sells trendy and affordable jewelry!

Everything is $30 and under.

Every Tuesday and Thursday they host sales events that last one hour.

To buy, all you have to do is comment on what you like and want with SOLD.

I love all the ways you can shop nowadays, don't you?

To ENTER:

All you have to do is....

+"Like" Sweet Fashion Deals on Facebook and let me know you did in a comment below.

Extra Entries:

+"Pin" one of their jewelry photos to one of your albums on Pinterest

+Leave me a comment telling me one of your favorite Christmas traditions! 

+Follow Keep Calm and Carry On on Facebook

Good luck, loves!

And I wish you all a Merry Christmas :)

PS: Steph and Beau-HAPPY MOVING DAY!

 I know how much today means to you and we wish we could be there to celebrate, 

or even move boxes, with you. 

We can't wait to see our new room soon and drink beers on that front porch! 

I personally can't wait to wear these pants again. 

We love you and congratulations!

 

 

SAW IT. PINNED IT. DID IT: DIY WINDOW PANE DECOR

Woo woo, we have made it to Thursday! Attention, we've made it to Thursday!
Last real work day for me before Christmas since we have a luncheon tomorrow, so it's safe to say I'm pretty excited that today is here. Also excited because Thursday means another round of what items can I find to craft in my house  Saw It. Pinned It. Did It.

Now, I know what you're thinking.

You've seen the window pane crafts before.

Is it any consolation that I tried switching it up and combining a few elements into mine?

Yes? Maybe....?

Well, I went to a thrift store with a girlfriend over the summer and this window pane has been sitting

in our garage collecting dust since then. It was only $10 (or less, I can't remember), but I kept going back and forth on what to do with it. Blow up one big picture for it? Paint it ivory and put multiple pictures in it? Do a quote? The options for this project are endless. 

In the end, I decided to use some pictures and add burlap (you can't be that surprised by this point) 

with some writing. I like the combo of the two, but who knows how long I will keep it like this. I know that I will change the pictures because I couldn't find a lot of our professional wedding pictures before posting these pictures, but these work for now.

Let's get down to business.

To Make Your Own:

-1 windowpane (thrift stores are the best for this, imo)

-Spraypaint, I used Krylon (in the sea mist color)

-Burlap, cut into squares to fit in the windowpane

-Stencils and 1 tube of black acrylic paint (if you want writing)

How I Did It:

-Clean your window pane with water and paper towels.
I forgot to take a true "before" picture of mine, but it was a light cream color with dust, dirt, and spider webs all over it. I spared you a not so pretty image, trust me.
 Here's one after I cleaned it.

-Once it's clean and dry, either take out the glass from the window or cover it up with towels
 so that the spray paint doesn't get on the mirror.
I used towels because I couldn't take mine out and didn't want to break it.

{this picture makes it look a bit brighter than the color really is...}

-Go to town and spray paint the window.
I went back and forth if I wanted to do a bold color, or just do white or ivory.
I'm really glad I did the color though..it's really pretty!
Make sure you get the window pane divider and cover all areas.
I did 2 coats of spray paint.

-Once dry, cut your burlap to fit the areas where you want to use it.
I wanted burlap on three sections, so I laid them out to visualize it.

-If you want writing like I did, just take the stencils and paint on the burlap.
Make sure to this on magazines or something because it will leak through.

-Once dry, I just use double sided tape to secure the burlap to the window and re-attach the window divider. Put your pictures in the other areas (also with double-sided tape) and voila!
You're done.

 Right now, as you can see, I have it sitting above our bed waiting to be hung.

Hear that hubby? ;)

The toughest part of this project was measuring the burlap to fit the sections in the window perfectly. 

Othen than that, it was pretty easy! I finished it in one night while watching Home Alone. 

Success? I think so.

It's also easy to change by adding new pictures, or eventually when I get around to adding a blown up wedding picture, I could do that.

Have you tried the whole old window pane as decor before?

*Alright, it's your turn to link-up your new favorite project, recipe, or outfit!
Also, just wanted to say thank you to those of you who have been linking up with us every week. It is so much fun to see what everyone is doing and I encourage all of you to blog hop and visit eachother's blogs. :)

Please remember to:

Link up using the linky tool below so everyone else can see what you've created!

Link back to Steph and I's blogs in your post so other people can know about the link up!

Include the button below by pasting the HTML into your post. Pwetty please?

5 CRAPPY THOUGHTS I'LL MOST LIKELY HAVE TODAY

1. I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

 Wah, wah, wah.
The classic line for when I feel stressed. 

I can't tell you how often I think this. 

I need more hours in the day!

 My list is so long. I'm going to be up so late.

2. I'M TIRED.

Typically thought the moment my alarm goes off in the morning,
 or around the 3 o'clock stretch during the week at work.

Where's Starbucks delivery service when I need one?

3. I WANT HER WARDROBE.

That top is so cute. She has the best shoes. I want those pants.

That bag? I think I need it. Not sure if I have one like it.

4. DO I HAVE TO GO WORKOUT?

Yes, you do actually.

5. I MISS MY MOM.

Our time was cut short.
 I wonder what my life would be like if she was still alive?
It's just not fair. 
Why my Mom?
Thoughts I'm sure I will have daily forever.

None of these thoughts ever stay for that long, but they show up from time to time.
The more I think about them, the more they take control of my day
 so I really try and think as positively as I can.
You didn't think I'd leave ya hanging with just my 5 of my daily crappy thoughts, did you?
Of course not! {or this would be a pretty depressing post and that isn't what this day is about. I mean, tomorrow is the last day of work before Christmas and that's something to be excited about...}

So...how do you change these into positive thoughts?

1. I feel blessed to have a job that keeps me busy-I'm thankful I have so many friends and family in my life to buy Christmas presents for-I'm lucky that every day is a new day and a chance to cross more things off my to-do list.

2. You're living! and having fun everyday with people you love. Who doesn't get tired? Suck it up. Stop whining.

3. These are just material items. I'm fortunate to have as many clothes that I do (even some with price tags still on them...gasp!) Chances are almost every other girl feels this way about someone else. Don't compare!

4. You're healthy enough to have the opportunity to work out -some people can't! Remember when you had knee problems and you couldn't work out or run for months and how GOOD it felt when you were finally able to? Never forget that. You'll feel great when it's over and it's time you make just for yourself!

5. You're not alone! You got 15 wonderful years with her. She has shaped you into the person you were meant to be and has made you stronger than you ever thought you were.

Can you relate to any of these thoughts?
How do you focus on the positive?


Well, my moral of the story is this-
Be thankful for everyday.
Be positive.
Every single day.

**If you need a little bit more to get your day going, this should give you a good laugh.
I present to you the Howard/Krysh Elf Dance
ft. Rock Dizzle.


thank you Steph for producing the next big hit video.
We're sure to be discovered soon.


Post inspired by The Shine Project
{seen a while ago and loved the idea, but forgot about it until now}

Be back tomorrow for some awesomeness, aka Saw It, Pinned It, Did It with my love Steph!
Can't wait to share this project with you ;)

PS: I'm over at Lindsay's blog sharing one of my favorite Christmas crafts...
head on over to check it out and say hi to her!

SANDY HOOK IN OUR HEARTS

Remembering and honoring: 

Charlotte Bacon, 6

Rachel D'Avino, 29

Olivia Engel, 6

Dylan Hockley, 6

Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47

Jesse Lewis, 6

Ana Marquez-Greene, 6

Grace McDonnell, 7

Anne Marie Murphy, 52

Emilie Parker, 6

Noah Pozner, 6

Jessica Rekos, 6

Mary Sherlach, 56

Lauren Rousseau, 30

Victoria Soto, 27

Daniel Barden, 7

Josephine Gay, 7

Madeleine Hsu, 6

Catherine Hubbard, 6

Chase Kowalski, 7

James Mattioli, 6

Jack Pinto, 6

Caroline Previdi, 6

Avielle Richman, 6

Benjamin Wheeler, 6

Allison Wyatt, 6.

**If you would like to offer something more than silence, check out what Lynzy from Sparking Footsteps (who is from CT) is doing for the children of Sandy Hook Elementary: here**

hint hint..cute friendship bracelets. :)