Lorajean's Magazine, BLOG

I made this new top for my daughter this past week and I love how it turned out. I actually used a pattern this time! :) I have always had a hard time figuring them out till now! I feel liberated yippee! I used a thrifted vintage night gown pattern, went for the shorter nighty option and swapped out the matching panties for leggings. Super cute I think!

Here are a few yummies that helped us ring in the new year sweetly! Cider for toasting. Homemade peppermint bark! Homemade Oreo & creme cheese bon bons. Very similar to these but I didn't use that peticular recepie. I used a recepie my mom gave me over the phone. These turned out SO good! And the best taffy EVER!! Its Eggnog flavored! Mmm mmm good! And we can't forget great games played with Trent's family late into the night! what a fun time! Oh and here is a snippet of our new years morning aftermath! Santa was feeling "piratey" this year, he brought dress ups, chocolate gold pieces and more!! Maybe it's because he has a bit of piratey'nes in him already! This is a drawing I did a few years ago. My favorite part is the candy cane hook. :) Yes that's right, Santa comes to our house on New Years Eve. (Read this post for the whole story.) WEll we've had a great holiday and all I can say is, we're ready for our long winters nap.

This is an apron I made a while ago and it was too big for my daughter, so I put it away for a few years. I got it out yesterday and it finally fit her but somehow it had been ripped. I appliqued a felt flower to patch the rip. I think it turned out really cute! I love it so much now that I think I'm going to make matching pants so it can be an apron dress. Happy new year!!

Look what my sister Carianne sent to us! I LOVED every single thing about it, the packaging especially, and it all tasted great!!

We did it! It took lots of taping and cutting, and cutting and stapling, and cutting, but we did it! Buddy the elf would be proud. We feel quite festive when we go in this room.

This year I knew just what I wanted to get my husband as a gift! I am really happy with how it all looks together. (Even though that one painting is crooked.) :) I added the "belly button" to the white pillow for an extra touch!

W e made these book paper, paper chains just today. This is just the beginning I hope to fill the room to over flowing in true Buddy the elf style. B elow is a little story to explain the "Christmas'y" posts that will likely continue for the next week. I was raised in a very christian family where my parents would try hard to create a magical but reverent Christmas. In fact, my mom announced one year when I was young, that Santa was coming on New Years Eve from then on. We all went along with it and even embraced it. For example on Christmas Eve we acted out the nativity story, and on New Years Eve we would put out milk and cookies. We exchanged home made gifts from each other on Christmas. Then on New Years we received presents from Santa, usually store bought from after Christmas sales. Now were grown up and we're still continuing the tradition in one way or another. Now as we're getting ready for New Years we pull out all the stops and go overboard

I have been looking everywhere for wooden die cut beads like this for forever. I finally found some necklaces at a novelty toy store but they were quite expensive. Then lo and behold I found these two adorable bead kits, and at the dollar store of all places! I just love the dollar store for reasons like this.

H ere is a great holiday drink I sort of made up the other morning. It is very yummy! Stephen's Gourmet Hot Cocoa has a lot of flavors and one great one is French Vanilla . I thought I would prefer actual chocolate over this but when peppermint is added it is really delicious. I'm not a big fan of peppermint flavor it's always been a bit too strong for me. But when it's mixed with the creamy French Vanilla it transforms! In fact I am officially addicted!! All you need is hot water and two mini peppermint candy canes. And of course French vanilla hot "cocoa". I added lots and lots of spoonfuls of this because it has sort of a mild flavor. This makes it very creamy! Oh and don't forget marshmallows! When you stir the candy canes in, your yummy creamy colored drink turns PINK! :) Marshmallows add the final touch! And a great extra creamy flavor. I think I'd better go and make myself another cup! Yum yum yum! Hope you try it out it really is lovely! An