Homemade Holiday Gifts: Yogi Eye Pillows

Posted on December 22nd, 2011 by Tonia 2 Comments

We’re down to the wire, folks! Christmas is right around the corner. If you’re still struggling to think of a good gift for a friend or relative, here’s another quick and simple project that you can accomplish in about a half hour and will delight your yoga-practicing pals {or anyone who enjoys some quiet time to themselves in the bath, in bed, or in the hammock once in a while}: eye pillows!

My mom is a yoga instructor and she made an eye pillow for each of her students a couple years ago. She used a beautiful silky fabric that was just heavenly. This project uses very little fabric, so it’s a perfect way to use up scraps or maybe re-purpose an old shirt {soft, worn-in fabric would feel so lovely over the eyes.}

I found two great tutorials. The first one is very simple and the second one is a bit more complicated. Personally, I am a little sensitive to lavender, so I will be filling mine with other lovely scents. It’s a highly personalize-able project, which makes it really fun. Have at it!

Christmas Come Early

Posted on December 20th, 2011 by Tonia 5 Comments

Our Christmas weekend with Mike’s family was wonderful and relaxing, complete with delicious food, good conversation, an adorable baby niece to entertain us, and huge cozy chairs to doze in.

We made our niece a rocking horse and gave it to her on “Christmas morning” with a red ribbon tied around its neck. She loved it, and wanted to sit on it to open her other presents.

Uncle Mike read her a story…

…Giving Mom a nice break.

Besides a disappointing Packers game {13-1}, it was a perfect weekend. But who can be upset about football when there is this much cuteness happening? Amelia rocking on her horsey {with her blanket, “Keekoo”}:

Now we’re off to my family’s house to do Christmas again. Gosh I love this time of year.

Merry + Green Christmas!

Posted on December 16th, 2011 by Tonia No Comments

xmas8
We’re heading off to the cabin in the woods with Mike’s side of the family this weekend. There will be games, gifts, food, laughter, football, and lots and lots of kissing/playing with our sweet niece. Pret-ty excited!

Please excuse the quietness of the blog lately…the holidays have officially taken over our lives for the time being. I’m sure, and I hope, that you’re busy with your own holiday celebrations, so you don’t need me distracting you anyway. ;)

Until we meet again, here are a couple posts I did last year regarding eco-friendly and homemade holiday decorations:

Green Christmas Decor
Green Christmas Decor II

And more homemade decor ideas that will transform your home into a cozy holiday scene without a lot of plastic crap that will sit in a landfill for eternity after you’re done with it:

Ice lanterns {we’re going to do this for our New Years Eve party! You can buy an ice mold -or- you can cut the top off a milk jug and fill it with water!}
Plaid-shirt ornaments {I’d try to use something other than styrofoam for the inside, though…}
Paper-bag flowers {to go with your coffee-filter poufs, of course!}
Yarn balls {would make a beautiful centerpiece for the table, piled in a bowl. Make them smaller and with Christmas-colored yarn, perhaps.}

Happy Holidays, all you wonderful readers!

Homemade Holiday Gifts: Headbands

Posted on December 15th, 2011 by Tonia 5 Comments

It has been a regular ol’ Santa’s workshop around here lately! I am crafting up a storm. Yesterday I made six of these puppies:

Here’s the tutorial I followed. I wear a headband like this almost every day. It’s probably my favorite accessory and is especially handy when my bangs are in the annoying growing-out stage, or when I’m camping and haven’t washed my hair for days. I am so glad I learned how to make this kind of headband and I hope that my girlfriends who receive them will find them as handy and as cute as I do.

Hope your gift-making is going well! We’re getting down to the wire!