Gaudy 2013

Happy Monday!

Man, the Holidays really do busy things up, don't they?

I've been hard at work on lots of custom orders (planning on sharing a few tomorrow!)

and then of course I had one of my favorite events this weekend as well,

GAUDY CHRISTMAS.

10 years ago, my girlfriends and I decided to start dressing like Christmas imbeciles,

and crusing the streets bars of Chicago.

This has grown beyond just the ugly Christmas sweater party

and is always the perfect gathering of most of my favorite people!

Here's the few snapshots I got this year:



My friend Claire & I glammed ourselves up and met everyone out...


Prizes went to those that participated best

A Pack of mustaches with a tag, "You mustache people to step their games up - looking good!"

A mini- bottle of Cinnamon Schnapps that said, "HOT DAMN! That is one good looking ensemble"

A mini- bottle of Peppermint Schnapps that said, "Oh Schapp!  Gaudy looks good on you!"

Some Atomic Fireball candies wrapped with a tag, "HOTTIE MCHOTTSON!  Way to spice it up, Fireball!"

Everyone was in their Gaudy best.

Glitter & Red Lipstick galore!

Love me some Holiday festiveness!

What did you all do this weekend?

Deck the Halls

Hi again!

Sorry for the sparse posting at the end of last week.

Things have been crazy (good.)

What did we all do this weekend?

Our schedule was pretty free so I took advantage

and spruced the place up a bit.

Want to see?

at one point I had a runner I made from wrapping paper on our table...

all it took was one meal for that to be destroyed.

I'll have to work on this a bit.

What about you?

Do you have all your decor up yet?

Is it a work in progress like mine?

Let me see!

xo

A Get Well Gift

Okay, so this is SLIGHTY off track 

from the Christmas spirit posts...

BUT it's too cute not to share,

and I figured maybe it could be spun into cute stocking stuffers

or Christmas gifts?

anyway...

My little cousin recently got extensive back surgery!

Can you believe

this:

and this:

are the same human!?

She's a trooper for sure.

In an effort to cheer her up during her 6 MONTH recovery,

I sent her a little package of goodies :)

I picked up a few pun-worthy candies and designed some little tags

that I printed on brightly colored papers:

Here's what I came up with...

then, just for a little extra unwrapping fun

(and to make sure it all got opened in order)

I put each one it's own little numbered bag!

into the box they went...

a silly little card to seal the deal...

and there you have it!

Happiness in a box!

I mean, seriously, who would be mad if this showed up for them?

Ever sent a get well soon gift?

Ever received one?

Ever had extensive back surgery?

LOVE YOU KELLY!!!

xo

DIY Advent Calendar

There were WAY too many 

cute advent calendars floating around

Pinterest.

I couldn't help myself. I had to make one!

Want to see what I did?

(Okay, I know I always apologize for my cell phone pics,

but this time I mean it. The screen of my phone is SHATTERED

and the new one hasn't come in yet...so...)

perf!

Well I first grabbed a big stick from outside (perks of being in the sticks)

and spray painted it with metallic gold & silver (mostly because I ran out of gold)

Then I layed it on my work surface and estimated where all the gifties would hang

Each gift got individually wrapped and assigned a number

(Keep in mind these are all like dollar store finds. No more than $2.00 - actually thats kind of pushing it...)

and then I just started tying...

until I got something that looked like this!

I'm not sure how well it will stay up throughout the month,

or how many times I'll curse Porkchop's name 

as she sniffs out the goodies that are for her

but it was a fun little project to get me amped for Christmas :)

Do you guys have an advent?

Do you like mine?

Re-Cap!

Hey dudes! 

Hope you all had a fabulous LONG weekend!

It was so nice to be able to see so many of my family & friends!

Hopefully you all got a peak at this little gem?

I know they look like they hate me, and they might, but I swear we 

spoil them with treats whenever I get a little photo-shoot going :)

Besides the photo shoot, I made sure I had all my treats ready to go

before we left...

Got to spend a little time with my sisty

Marvel at the bird

and participate in my sister's husband & son's latest trick they call

"Taxidermy"

Ah, the little things, right?

On top of all that, I did a little Black Friday shopping, 

swung by my 10 year high school reunion (I'm old),

started some Christmas decorating,

and I'm still alive! (Barely)

What were you up to?

Does your family use babies as amusement too?

xo