our wall of fame

this is my favorite wall in the house.  our wall of fame.  all a lot of our heros' pictures and letters hang here.  all the people we love and admire.  friends & family- that's what life is all about!  Christmas cards are the best!  thank you to all those who sent us theirs!  we almost didn't get ours out this year- some of you may still be receiving them.  i ordered them up and they got lost somewhere in transit.  better late than never i guess!

YEEE there's nothing better than seeing their little surprised faces Christmas morning!  santa did pretty well i'd say!  all things that move apparently was the theme this year :)  lucky for them it was dry outside.  i still missed the snow.  this year has been the driest december in utah history.  crazy!

a fresh new calendar for a fresh new year!  i'm so excited to start filling it in!  does anyone else besides me and my seester get that pumped up about a clean new calendar?  thanks kates for your gift!

wow!  every year it's always so hard to believe how fast Christmas comes and goes.  i think i'm going to miss the hustle and bustle a little.  let's get real, there's always hustle and bustle around here!   my #1 goal for 2012 is to be better at planning out my days & following through with a schedule.   i better get on that!  what's your #1 resolution?

i hope you enjoy your last few days of december!  i know we will!  the kids are still home and we're savoring all the free time we have :)

happy new year!!!

©2011 brightsides, all rights reserved.

Merry Christmas!

this Christmas village strongly resembles our house right now-  a little messy and crazy, but we're havin' fun!  


final preparations are in the works all while i battle vertigo :(  
i don't know what is going on with me.  it could be the lack of sleep i've had these last couple of weeks, or i may be getting sick.  crap!  
don't ya think the word vertigo is kinda cool?  it sounds all psychedelic.  i feel a little psychedelic.  i don't like it.  not one bit.  it's like i've just stepped off a merry-go-round all day... 'cause i've kinda been on one non-stop!  i'm going ballistic!  so i'm taking a little break and sitting here for a minute.  typing.  


i'd like to wish you all a 
VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
i hope you all have an amazing holiday!
now back to wrapping :)


xo

©2011 brightsides, all rights reserved.

are you ready?

it's getting down to the wire!  are you ready for Christmas? 

ahhh, i have a lot to do still!  i haven't wrapped one present yet!  so today i plan to tackle that task.

however, i am going to sneak one more print run in later this afternoon if any one is interested in ordering any last minute Christmas gift prints and picking them up at my house tomorrow.  

if so, message me and i'll give you the 411 on how to order and skip shipping costs :)

last night i decided to play around with a couple new hip & bold colors to add to the shop.  turquoise & chartreuse have joined the "small homes" series!

hopefully they'll be well received and give a bit more variety!

i also offer custom color creation for an additional $5 if anyone is wanting a certain color.

©2011 brightsides, all rights reserved.

blown away!

i can't even begin to express the immense gratitude i have for my friends out in the blogging community right now!

my cute cousin stacy from not just a housewife has been hosting my first giveaway!  

a $50 credit to my shop which will be closing this evening- so if you haven't entered, be sure to go comment :)

*don't forget: today is the last day for orders if you'd like your prints by Christmas

and how about darling ashely from the handmade home included one of my prints in this to die for living room board!!!

  and the house of smith's star shelley wrote a super complimentary post about me too!  your support means the world!  thank you so much friends!!

i'm so overcome with flattery right now i don't even know what to do with myself!  i've had an overwhelming response in orders and it's been all because of you :)  i'm tickled red!

ashley's board:

here's what shell bell (i can call you that, right?) had to say:

have a most excellent weekend everybody!

etsy shop giveaway!

today not just a housewife  is hosting my first etsy shop giveaway!  i'm offering a $50 credit to one lucky reader!  head over and enter!!  best of luck!

Inspired by my darling friend who would always talk about how "small homes" create the closest relationships... and while there isn't room to hide from each other, families are forced to interact, play & learn together! I LOVE THAT and agree with her whole heartedly!

this quaint print can be personalized and is offered in two different colors, slate and putty printed on premium photo paper perfect for framing.

(framed 8x10" personalized putty shown)

i just now added this house print with emily dickinson's quote, "Where thou art, that is home" to the shop this morning! available in putty & slate but not personalized. 

don't forget, you have today and tomorrow to order if you'd like to receive them by Christmas!

*note: i cannot not guarantee international deliveries by Christmas.  sorry :(

go here to order!

©2011 brightsides, all rights reserved.

friends who drink diet coke together, stay together!

good afternoon friends!  have you taken a minute to check out my new ETSY shop?  if not, please do!  i think you'll like it!  it's not to late for Christmas orders!

you've gotta know someone special that sips this junk with ya...  i know i do!

this funny little 3x5" tag is available as a 99¢ download in my etsy shop!  just print, cut & attach to your gifts!  
remove a few flowers from a pretty festive arrangement like i did and place in some cans for a unique twist on flowers!

or you can have a gift lickety-split for right around $2!  right now most stores have two liters on sale for 99¢!

happy holidays!

©2011 brightsides, all rights reserved.

the etsy shop is open!

yee haw!  it's about dang time!  holy mother of Abraham Lincoln, brightsides designs is finally up for business!  

oh yes it's business time!

i'm so excited for you to take a little gander!

i know i haven't given much time to place orders for Christmas, but it's still possible and oh so fun! 

These prices listed are all my grand opening sweet deals from now until the Christmas deadline (thursday, 12/16 at midnight MST).

fill your carts up because each additional item after the first is $0 to ship!

our favorite sugar cookies

the bright sun rays beaming through the windows warms my shivering body this morning.  it's been frigid!  

lol, annie is my default model around here.  i'm always asking her to pose for my posts.  hopefully these pictures were pretty easy peasy for her as she also adores these red & green sprinkled trees.

annie turns four this week!  she is sweeter than any cookie could ever hope to be! annie is our little Christmas Angel. from the time she arrived on a cold, snowy night and everyday thereafter (give or take a few) she has been the happiest, sweetest little thing ever!  she's my little sidekick, my snuggle buddy and big helper.

i love you more than you'll ever know little sis!

it's been a long time since we've rolled out dough and cut out cookies!  for the last few years i've tried to be good and not make them... knowing all too well that i'd be the one snarfing down most of them.

  this year i decided to heck with it!  i like to think my kids will have fond memories of making them with mom :) and they're also my favorite!

so, santa's in good chubby company, but we'll be jolly & filled with loads holiday cheer!

here's our favorite sugar cookie recipe:

Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 325º

2/3 C crisco

1 C sugar

2 eggs

Combine these first three ingredients well, then add the rest

3 C flour

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1/2 t vanilla

1/2 c sour cream

Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are barely golden

Favorite Frosting

1/3 C butter, softened

4 C powdered sugar

1/4 C milk

1/2 t vanilla

pinch of salt

*1/2 t almond extract, optional (I usually don't add this)

Slowly blend butter and powdered sugar until incorporated.  Slowly add a steady stream of milk.  Add the vanilla, salt and *almond extract.  Blend well and add more milk if needed for frosting spreading consistency.

before you run off and start baking, shopping or cleaning, take a few minutes and check out this spirit of Christmas!  my heart loves!

©2011 brightsides, all rights reserved.