See You Later

"Goodbye" seems so formal, especially since I see most of you fantastic readers either in real life or online other places. So instead I'll say see-you-later. :)

This blog has been a sweet escape and a creative outlet over the last few years. Here are some of the stats:

Years Blogged 6 (2012-2017)
Entries 857
Page views 745,000
Most popular entry Vanilla Ice Cream recipe (51k views)
Vintage Fisher Price Entries 266
Recipes 245

My girls in the beginning. 

My girls now!

Thank you dear readers for coming by to see what recipe, kid story, hot air balloon photo, dog pictures or vintage fisher price toys I had to share.  I appreciated your comments, suggestions and camaraderie.  I will miss my Odds and Ends.

With thanks,

Anne 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  We've had a lovely and full weekend of celebrating. We started off on Saturday the 23rd as our "Presents Day".  We have the fun family tradition of never waiting to open presents until the 25th we always do it early!  The last couple years we've opened late (the 23rd) due to school break starting so late.

Present highlights this year included a real sewing machine (oldest) and a My Friend Becky doll (youngest).  Also books, a Kano computer kit and knock-off Fingerlings. ;) 

This morning the girls opened stockings.  I went ahead and wrapped the little gifts, but I must admit I pretty much phoned it in last night on the wrapping job.  It looked like a blind monkey wrapped them. Fortunately the girls didn't seem to notice. ;)

Today we also had Christmas lunch with my in-laws.  This meant more gifts for the girls and another fun afternoon.

I hope that your Christmas has been merry too!  Just a reminder that my blog is closing down in the new year.  I've got one more week to wrap it up.   

Fisher Price Friday - Merry Christmas

Hoping that you have a Merry "little" Christmas. :)  

2016 (Little People Farm #915)

2015 (Snowmobile #705)

2014 (Play Family A-Frame #909)

2013 (Play Family House #952)

2012 (Play Family Rooms #909)

To get your own Fisher Price Card check out my Etsy Shop.

Sewing Christmas Presents - Not "sew" simple :)

I continue to attempt sewing projects here and there; but am very much still a beginner.  This summer I struggled through making my youngest an easy "20 minute" rubber ducky skirt that actually took hours.  And although it photographed well at her birthday party it was a hot mess if you looked closely. ;) 

Fortunately I have a friend who was willing to help me fix it and she ripped it all apart and I started over again but with step-by-step instructions.

That skirt repair went so well that I decided to try making another skirt, this one with some 1960s fabric that I brought home from my parent's house awhile back.  This distinctive 60s floral fabric was used in bridesmaid dresses back in 1970.  

Check out those lovely dresses; all sewn by hand. 

The skirt turned out pretty fantastic if I do say so myself.  Thanks to my friend's patient instruction and assistance. :)  The pink band is made out of vintage linen fabric.  I made the skirt as a Christmas present for my 10 year old and decided to whip up a doll sized skirt to add to her gift.  She is going to freak!

Not to leave my 6 year old out I made her a ducky skirt to match the previously-hot-mess birthday skirt.  

My Friend doll Mandy looks pretty cute doesn't she?  And it matches her roller skating outfit. 

Is it Christmas yet? :) Only 2 more days until we open presents on the 23rd.  Woot woot!

Memory Necklace

I received the most lovely and thoughtful gift last week.  An engraved necklace that used the pattern of my father's handwriting. A special friend who also knows the pain of a parent with Alzheimer's ordered it for me.

My friend used a photograph of the little note my father gave me decades ago as the pattern.  How marvelous is that?  

This is the first Christmas since my father passed, so this memento is particularly special right now and it is lovely to have his words close to my heart. 

December Adventures

I only have a couple more weeks left in this blog but I've been too busy to write anything.  Good busy mostly, but still busy.  Between my job, parenting and Holiday activities we're booked!  

Here is what we've been up to this month so far: 

• Loosing teeth (2 - Oldest)
• Baking and decorating cookies with Grandma & Grandpa- 10 dozen (!!)
• Sharing those lovely cookies with neighbors and friends
• Christmas light appreciation at Illumination 
• Hiking in the desert, this weather is fantastic!
• Nutcracker with our besties
• Starbucks dates with my beauties.

Not to mention decorating, shopping, wrapping, advent'ing and Christmas carol singing. :)

Man I love Christmastime!

Oh and one more adventure, today is my wedding anniversary.  It really is the most wonderful time of the year. 

One more House Party

Last weekend I hosted another House Party.  I've been doing House Parties for about 7 years and it had been awhile since my last event.  I love House Party because I get *free* goodies to share with my friends.  What's not to like about that?

This time it was the most expensive Prize Pack yet.  I was hosting a Clarisonic Mia 2 party and the company sent me 3 Clarisonic Mia 2s and a bunch of brush heads.  The Mia 2 costs around $169 and the brushes are $27-35 each so that alone was amazing!

The event said that I would get to keep one Mia 2 and to wait for instructions after the party of what to do with the other two.  I figured I would have to send them back but they ended up telling me to gift them!  Since I already had my own Mia 2 (two years and going strong) I was able to gift all 3 to ladies that came to my party.  Best. Party. Prize Pack. Ever. :)

So very fun!  It will be hard to top this House Party.

Advent Activities and Calendar

Back in 2014 I bought a Starbucks advent calendar with magnetic tins filled with goodies.  The next year I filled the tins with fun Christmas activities/ideas on pieces of paper.  The year after that I was overwhelmed and although I did some of the same activities (make cookies, look at lights, etc) we didn't do the advent calendar.

This year I'm *sort* of on the ball.  I'm doing the tins with activities/ideas and also added a beautiful paper advent calendar by Coley Kuyper.  It has gorgeous designs on one side and verses about the Christmas story on the other.  Love it!

Here are the Advent ideas that I'm using this year with my 6 and 10 year old:

1. Set up paper advent together.
2. Set up the wood nativity.
3. Do a Christmas craft together (foam tree).
4. Take a walk around the neighborhood to see lights.
5. Read a Christmas book together. 
6. Illumination tonight! (local light show)
7. Treat 
8. Make Lego Ornaments.
9. Family Service Project. 
10. Nutcracker!
11. Hot Chocolate & Christmas books.
12. Read a Christmas book together.
13. Do a Christmas craft together (snow globe).
14. Drive around to look at lights.
15. Christmas shopping for family (sister & parents)
16. Draw a picture/write a letter to a family member.
17. Bake Cookies
18. Family game night.
19. Read a Christmas book together.
20. Do a Christmas craft together (bead ornaments).
21. Christmas activity books.
22. Christmas movie night. 
23. Take a walk and look at lights.
24. Set up luminaries. 
25. Christmas!

The beauty of this system is that I can trade out papers if plans change.  I can also sub in items like:

• Wrap presents.
• Decorate gingerbread house.
• Bike rides to look at decorations.

And in a pinch I could put in a "treat" of some sort like a little chocolate. 

I love that we are incorporating the Christmas Bible Verses as well as other fun activities.  I want my kids to grow up having sweet memories of our family holidays together. :)

Christmas Sneak Peak (Fisher Price)

It's beginning to look like Christmas around here!  We've got all five trees up and lights decorating outside.  The kids are making wish-lists and I'm hiding away purchases to wrap for them later. :)

I wanted to give you a sneak peak of the Vintage Fisher Price that will be under the tree this year!  This year I'm giving my youngest (age six) yet another My Friend Doll.  This is the *last* one though as 4 is plenty!  She's been getting one doll the last couple years on her Birthday and Christmas, so it's bittersweet for me that this is the last one.  She is pretty sure she doesn't want the boy My Friend Doll by the way, which is why it won't be 5!

I have been able to purchase all 4 of the My Friend Dolls new in box, which I think is pretty amazing since they are 30-40+ years old!  This last one I found months ago and have been hiding it up in the closet.

 

She is My Friend Becky #218 made between 1980-1984.  She has beautiful ginger hair and freckles.  Cutest! She comes with a white hat, aqua dress and white shoes. 

I've also been looking for more My Friend Doll clothes.  Mostly used but I've found a few new in package too.  A-mazing.  Since she has 4 of these cuties to dress now I have duplicates of some outfits so that they can match. I accidentally bought too many of the "Winter Wear" outfits so if you need one check out my Etsy shop, I'll have one there soon. 

I'm most excited about this nightgown/robe/slippers set.  I found two new in package for her!

I can't wait to wrap these up and put them under the tree.  I know she'll be super excited on our Christmas Present opening day (never the 25th....always a few days before). 

For more on our Fisher Price Dolls:

#209 My Friend Jenny

#204 Baby Ann (a soft doll) 

#206 My Friend Nicky  

#4009 Special Birthday Mandy