By Gabrielle. Hello, Friends! Just checking in for a bit from our hotel. Yesterday was sunny (but cold!) and we packed in as much sightseeing as we could, because we knew today’s forecast was rain, rain, rain. Today, we were less ambitious. We pulled on our wellies, bought 3 cheapie umbrellas, and visited the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Then spent the afternoon keeping warm and dry in our hotel — we had a junk food picnic and watched a movie while June napped. : ) Tomorrow, we’re hoping to visit some of the Lagoon islands. Mostly, we keep marveling at how often we gasp when we turn a corner. Venice is spectacular in any kind of weather. How is January treating you so far? P.S. — I’m taking lots of photos on instagram (like the shot above) if you’d like to follow along.

By Carter. This illustrated gift from Emily McDowell swelled up a giant lump in my throat. It’s been a week of sadness in the midst of a season of expectation, and these words ring especially true. Do you remember this moment in A Christmas Carol? A fragile Tiny Tim exclaims this with gusto and thanks for the smallest of things. That seed of love was planted in the heart of a man, where only coldness and sorrow occupied it before. Beautiful, right? It’s a plea and a hope for all of us this year. P.S. — This series — illustrated quotes from children’s books — is a collaboration between Emily McDowell and myself. You can find the whole series here.

By Jordan of Polkadot Press Edited by Amy Christie These balsa wood gift tags are a quick way to jazz up your Christmas gifts. An added bonus is they’re simple enough for little hands to help with. If your children are anything like my 4-year-old, they’ll love stamping and punching holes in the balsa wood! You’ll probably have everything you need on hand except the Balsa wood, which is easy to come by and quite inexpensive. I bought one length from a craft store and I will have enough for all my tags! Grab those wrapped gifts and let’s get started. …

DIY: Balsa Wood Gift TagsRead More »

By Lindsey Johnson. If you’ve ever stood in the cheese section in any grocery store, you’re well aware that cheese board ideas can be super intimidating. There are literally thousands of cheeses from all over the world! And apparently, some of the very best ones smell awful! How do you narrow it down? What cheeses go well together? How in the world does one pronounce Gruyère? I might not be able to help you with your French accent, but I’m here with some great cheese board ideas as well as a guide to creating a cheese plate extraordinaire. I promise it won’t be so intimidating once we cover a few basics. …

Living Well: 7 Secrets for Beautiful Cheese Board IdeasRead More »

Charming images of Dutch architecture always feel Christmas-y to me. They make me want to create a little holiday village with twinkle lights, and a vintage matchbox car riding through town with a tiny tree tied on top. The holiday village won’t be happening this year, but I did make this Dutch House garland and I love how it turned out! If you have access to a Cricut, this is a fun and easy project that you can do while you’re in front of the TV. (I’ll assume your watching Elf or It’s a Wonderful Life.) Grab some cardstock and the Folk Art Festival cartridge — and a bowl of something to snack on — and you’ll put this together in a snap. In plenty of time for your holiday parties this weekend! Do you want to see how it works? …

DIY: Dutch House Christmas GarlandRead More »

By Gabrielle. When I browsed through Andrea‘s home tour for the first time, I was in a bit of a rush. Deadlines were clamoring for my attention, and I was just about to listen. Until time seemed to stop, and I found myself in a little spot where books were as big as afternoon ideas. The view outside the windows seemed to go on forever, which is probably the best thing for daydreams. And whatever this family who lived here wanted to make? I bet they had everything they needed to make it. It was just one of those spaces that spoke to me. And I think it asked me to stay awhile. So let’s do that right now. Please enjoy Andrea’s home, Friends! Q: Tell us all about the cute Canadian family who lives here! A: We are five. Glenn, my wonderful husband, is a natural gas inspector. I’m Andrea. I was in watershed management but became a stay-at-home mom who raises some livestock and dabbles in art. Our first child is Katie, a five year old, old soul who giggles, loves reading Charlotte’s Web, and is best mates with her brother Jack. He’s four years old and loves grand storytelling with elaborate details, twisting plots, and implausible scenarios. Madeleine is an eight month old babbling, standing, into-it-all firecracker who has the loveliest smile. Eyes on that one at all times! Molly, scruffy dog one, and Clyde, scruffy dog two, come in to lie by the fire. In our electric blue chicken coop (by the by, never pick paint colors while pregnant!), we’ve some dear old laying hens. And past the garden is our grass-fed herd of Dexter cows who help to keep Trixie, old pony extraordinaire, company. …

Living With Kids: Andrea GordaRead More »

By Gabrielle. Hello, Friends. How are you holding up? No doubt, you are probably trying to wrap your head around the horrible news of yesterday, and at the same time attempting to enjoy a holiday weekend with your little ones. I find my attempts to do both absolutely brain bending. Word of the shootings came to me yesterday (Friday) as I was writing this exact A Few Things post. Of course, as soon as I heard the news, all work ceased. I couldn’t form another thought, and certainly not a sentence. And I know I’m not alone — my inbox pretty much dried up yesterday, when normally it would be very busy on a December Friday. I don’t know that my brain is any further along at comprehending what happened yesterday, but I woke up today to my kids feeling festive and talking about Christmas and wanting to visit the local creche exhibit and I feel compelled to at least attempt some normalcy, so I’m writing this post and hoping it will bring some needed distraction, and possibly even cheer, to anyone who’s feeling overwhelmed. I’m going to write the list in my typical, cheerful-with-lots-of-exclamation-points tone — please forgive me if it feels out of place. They are typed with a heavy heart. Here are a few things I’ve been wanting to share with you: – Hah! It’s French, but I think you’ll follow along. Thanks, Monique. – The anatomy of a holiday card. – Family project: Recycling a canvas. – I oohed and aahed through every photograph. Thanks, Danni. – Maintain Your Joy. – Benchwarmer has his day in the spotlight. Happy, happy! – For my LDS friends, I just heard about this yesterday (apparently my 12 member branch was the last to know : ). I love my church and I will definitely be wearing pants. – You’ve seen this before but it never fails to bring a smile. And here are my posts on Babble this week: – How do you display your stockings? Click through for tons of fun ideas! – Cookie exchange this weekend? Here you go: 20 ideas and recipes. – More details on my last-minute grocery store gift picks. What would you add? I hope you are having a good weekend. I hope you’re able to find a hopeful or lovely thought and cling to it until the cloud lifts. And if you’re compelled to take action, I hope you’re able to find something fruitful and satisfying to do. I will meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already. kisses, Gabrielle P.S. — The image at top is the holly swag on my front door. See more on my Instagram stream. —— [ Update: Looking for the comments on this post? Click on the title of the post and they’ll show up. ]

By Gabrielle. I made another video for my Celebrations Series! Would you like to see it? It features a collection of 9 cool products you can pick up at any grocery store as last-minute hostess gifts. Stylish items that make great gifts and won’t look last-minute at all. (You can read more about why I picked each item in my Babble slideshow notes.) Let me know what you think. And tell me what you’d add to my list! In the mood for something beyond my 9 suggestions? Here are my tips for Grocery Store Gift Buying: 1) If you really want to be a pro at last-minute gifts, you’ll need to keep 4 specific items in your glovebox: cellophane bags, a spool of ribbon, gift tags and a small pair of scissors. Those 4 things will transform the most ordinary items into Fabulous Gifts. 2) Avoid anything that’s actually intended to be a gift. No cheese and pepperoni sets. No boxed chocolates with a bow printed across the front. 3) Avoid anything holiday-ish. No red and green candy. No christmas tree shaped packages. These tend to feel generic and last-minute. And once January comes around they feel expired. 4) Avoid anything that’s considered a luxury item. No perfumes or lotions or candles. The options at a grocery store never feel very luxurious. Happy Holidays! Here’s to being stylish — even at the last-minute.

By Amy Christie I’m so pleased with this little project! I collaborated with Jordan of Polkadot Prints to design a darling house-shaped gift box that is as easy as pie to put together. You’ll want to make one for neighbors, postal workers, teachers — pretty much everyone you know! Simply print off the free template, cut it out and double-side tape it together. Fill your house gift boxes with a few small treats and your gift-giving list is done in a flash! …

The Perfect Gift: House Gift BoxesRead More »

By Gabrielle. Another East Coast tour! This time, we’re visiting Danielle, a graphic designer and soon-to-be blogger whose aesthetic includes both new and well-collected with an extra smudge of humor. Handmade hung proudly at eye level, no matter how tall you may be. Nooks equipped with papers and inks and colors and glue, all within grabbing reach. Bright pillows upon which to land at the end of a somersault or until the end of a book. Exactly the sort of space dreams can grow up wonderfully. Friends, welcome to Danielle’s home. Q: Please tell us about your family. A: My husband Andrew and I live in Melrose, Massachusetts just north of Boston, with our sons Wesley and Chandler and a shaggy terrier named Penny. When the boys are in school, I work in my home studio as a freelance graphic designer and art director. Andrew works in IT at the Museum of Fine Arts. Our house is usually a fun, creative place with music playing, the boys running around, and the occasional moment of quiet. After moving many times in our marriage, including four years and three apartments while living overseas in London, we finally feel settled and happy. Our town is close to the city and yet has a quaint vibe that suits our lifestyle. We walk everywhere: the coffee shop, library, schools, supermarket, and gym. In my free time, I take utter, obsessive joy in organizing and decorating. I have been known to ignore dirty dishes piled in the sink while I sort and label craft supplies and create a color-coded dinner menu for the week. The designer in me wants things to look nice, but truthfully I get a kick out of rearranging something so it functions better for our family. Q: How did this house become your own? …

Living With Kids: Danielle RobertsonRead More »

We worked with Wii U to host a family party and I have lots photos to share. I thought the Wii U looked cool, but I wasn’t sure it would be much different than the Wii. But friends, we LOVE it. It’s perfect for groups and families! And it’s perfect for a busy house.

During the party we played NintendoLand — which is the launch game for the Wii U. So of course, it really takes advantage of what the Wii U can do. NintendoLand comes with 3 types of games. There are Team Up games, where everyone works together. There are Battle It Out games, where one person uses the Gamepad Controller and plays against up to 4 more players who share the TV screen. There are also Solo Games, if you’re playing on your own.

During our party, the Battle it Out games definitely got the biggest reaction. Olive might be on the Gamepad Controller, while Ralph, Maude, Betty & Oscar played with traditional controllers. Or Ben Blair might take the Gamepad Controller and do a grownups against the kids round. It made for lots of happy shouting, excitement and laughs!

…

Family Game Night: Wii U Party Pics!Read More »

By Carter. I love the eager anticipation in December, don’t you? Hustle, bustle, lights, and bells. All of it! I also love quiet moments in front of the tree, curled up with a good book and a hot cup of tea. Do you need some new favorite picture books this holiday season? I think you will love these! 1) The Birds of Bethlehem by Tomie dePaola Tomie dePaola is one of only five authors and illustrators to receive both Newbery and Caldecott accolades! His books have a timeless quality that invite re-readings, and re-readings, and re-readings. (I remember checking out Strega Nona from the library over and over again!) The Birds of Bethlehem is a beautiful and warm new book for the Christmas canon. Told from the perspective of birds watching from above, this book quite simply tells the story of the magnitude of that night. 2) The 12 Days of Christmas by Rachel Isadora A familiar refrain framed by bold new art and a unique style of storytelling, this version of The 12 Days of Christmas is a must have! I adore the cover – see that subtle Christmas tree? The inside is just as fun to look at. Set in Africa, and influenced by the art and culture, each gift and each day is set in a a separate tile. As the song continues and repeats, you can follow (or sing!) along, guided by the art. 3) Babar and Father Christmas by Jean de Brunhoff Originally published in 1940, this dear elephant is absolutely a classic, no? And how special is this – it was the last book written by Jean de Brunhoff before he died, and his twelve year old son helped to finish some of the illustrations before its publication. A book about the love of a father for his son, finished by the love of a son for his father. 4) Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko I drove to three libraries to get my hands on this book, brand new for the 2012 holiday season. When it wasn’t on the shelf where it should have been, I asked the librarian and she sheepishly pulled it from under the counter. She loved it so much that she had been treasuring it herself! I promised her I wouldn’t keep it long. And I won’t – so other families can enjoy it! It’s a beautiful portrait of a family celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah, where traditions and stories and love flow seamlessly between religions. Echoing that sentiment are the illustrations themselves – layered, textured, and rich. And at the end, don’t miss the recipes for Cranberry Kugel and Dressing! 5) The Trees Of The Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco Leave it to Patricia Polacco to capture the wonder and magic of the holiday season, regardless of your faith. This gem tells the story of Trisha, a young Jewish girl, and the Christian families in her village, who are battling a terrible case of Scarlet Fever. What unfolds is a gift, not just to the families that benefit from Trisha’s heart, but also to you, the reader. …

10 Great Books for the HolidaysRead More »

By Jennifer Samuelson of Anise Press. Edited by Amy Christie It’s the beginning of December, which is the time of year that I start to fret about things like finding the perfect gift for Grandma, mailing holiday cards to loved ones, and helping my kids decide upon hand-made gifts for their siblings. You too? Time for both of us to take a deep, calming breath, because this block printing tutorial will take care of all our problems. Block printing looks a little intimidating at first glance, but trust me, it’s very intuitive. It’s a great way to get children and adults involved in creating art that can be produced in multiple originals. Though younger children won’t be able to cut their own blocks, they can create artwork and print with a little assistance. Older children (from about nine and up, depending on coordination and hand skills) will be able to complete a project alone, with some supervision. Your children can use these block printing techniques to design holiday greeting cards for friends and family, stationery sets as a gift for a teacher, or personalized thank-you notes. Are you ready to get started? …

The Perfect Gift: Block Printed CardsRead More »

By Gabrielle. We’ve kept a fire in the fireplace almost daily since the temperature dropped. We ordered wood in late October and our stash is over half gone! 11-year-old Olive has become our fire-building expert and she takes pride in getting a really good blaze going. I was thinking about the wood, and remembered these photos I shot in Switzerland. I feel like they’re a wonderful reflection of how ordered and precise the whole country seems to be. The wood stacks are carefully covered and protected — and every piece is the same length! As we hiked, we stopped at a mountain home to buy cheese. They invited us in and my jaw dropped when I saw their wall of uniformly cut kindling. I loved the look of the wood stacks and snapped way too many photos — I swear I couldn’t help myself! Since we’ve been married, this is actually the first house we’ve lived in that has a real, working fireplace. How about you? Fireplace? Gas logs? Wood-burning stove? Or none-of-the-above?

By Carter. Well. Isn’t that the truth? I adore this sage advice from a rather plucky heroine. Anne sparkles. She burst into my soul once upon a time and settled there, always with a reminder to lift my chin and see things simply. And simply cheery. I think you can trust a girl with freckles and an unwavering belief in kindred spirits, don’t you? Wouldn’t this print be a perfect addition to any young (or older!) girl’s bedroom? Or that sprawling closet we all dream of? You can find it in Emily’s shop right here. While I am considering what fashionable choices to make today, I’m loving the conversation on this stylish post! P.S. — This series — illustrated quotes from children’s books — is a collaboration between Emily McDowell and myself. You can find the whole series here.

https://vimeo.com/54823392 By Gabrielle. In episode 15, inspired by last year’s family photo shoot, the whole bundle of Blair kids go on a hunt for the loveliest Christmas tree they can find. Consider it a little video greeting card just for you. : ) Happy Holidays from All of Us at Olive Us! For those who are curious about the clothing sources, most items were sourced from our own closets or here in our village, but if you like Oscar’s handsome outfit (see it in full after the jump), you’re in luck! It’s from Tea Collection — sweater, pants, boots. P.S. — You’ll have to read this post for some funny behind-the-scenes info about the trees. : )  …

Olive Us: Episode 15: Christmas Tree HuntRead More »

By Gabrielle. As I mentioned, I’ve had two grandmothers pass away in the last few months. And my aunts and uncles have bravely taken on the always challenging task of sorting through cupboards and boxes and deciding what should be kept and what should be donated (or just plain tossed). When going through my Grandma Lucille’s things, my aunts and uncles realized that she’d planned for this task. In each carefully packed box, she left a little something to entertain them! A little figurine or random Christmas ornament. Anything she thought might make them laugh. Isn’t that fantastic? I can picture her giggling as she packed things up. It makes me hope for two things: One, that I have a long life with enough winding-down years that I can prep my belongings for my kids. And two, that I’ll remember to leave happy surprises any time I have an opportunity. What’s your take — does the story make you smile, or is the idea of thinking about one’s own mortality too morbid? P.S. — It didn’t occur to me until I saw this photo, but I bet I got my curls from Grandma Lucille.

By Gabrielle. Jane Rhodes is the best kind of blogger; she knows how to transform blah into brilliant, turn an average ho-hum day into an event to be remembered, and lots of other lovely-life-making tricks that cause you to slap your forehead and say “Of course!” Even better? She shares everything she knows with the rest of us. Happily and whole-heartedly. I wasn’t surprised at all to learn that she loves entertaining: the old-school dinner party, specifically. I imagine it’s like everything else in her life: a gift she can give to others. Friends, please meet Jane and her sweet family. Q: Tell us about the family who lives here. A: I’m sometimes Jane, sometimes Franny. Confused? You should be. A friendly battle of wits about what I was to be named left me unsure of my real name. But, despite any uncertainties, I am sure of this: I love art and design in all forms. I’m a wife, mother, blogger, stylist, graphic and interior designer. Anything that begs for beauty. And I love yoga and good food…and those may or may not be in order of preference. The kids. There are four kids. Kiana, our 14-year-old fashionista, is about to launch her own style blog. So exciting! Like most modern teens, she surrounds herself with friends and fun, and we swear that tearing her iPhone from her would be like tearing off an arm. But luckily she’s wildly creative, intelligent, and happily busy, so we overlook her hours spent texting and watching The Kardashians. It’s all about balance, right? Right? …

Living With Kids: Jane RhodesRead More »

By Marisa of Omiyage. Photos by Alexis Edghill. Edited by Amy Christie.  I love making things all year round, but there’s something extra-special about crafting for the holidays, don’t you think? Last year, we made these felt monogram ornaments and they were definitely a hit! We sent them out instead of Christmas cards, tied them onto gifts and placed them on our own tree. Everyone, young and old, loves receiving personalized items. But the best part of these ornaments (besides the fact they’re simple to make) is that you can customize them with any colour combination or font style you please! You can even choose to sew them by hand or by machine — whichever you’re more comfortable with. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure in one little ornament! So, let’s get started! …

The Perfect Gift: Felt Monogram OrnamentsRead More »

Created by Jane from See Jane Blog. Edited by Amy Christie. The holiday madness is upon us. Are you ready? This year I decorated the house with a mix of textures: sparkle and shine along with cozy and natural. For the cozy and natural, I whipped up a pom pom garland using the same pom poms in these adorable bookmarks. While browsing the yarn section at the craft store I fell in love with this tan/grey/earthy mix. It just screamed ‘use me!’ and I couldn’t resist. This has been the perfect compliment to the other items I’m using to decorate. So, if you have a fireplace (or wish you did!), choose some yarn, get cozy by the fire, and enjoy this simple craft. Let’s begin. …

DIY: Pom Pom GarlandRead More »