.december books.

It's the end of the year and the last month for me to reach my reading goal of 50 books in 2012. Did I make it? Find out:

Genius Wars: Catherine Jinx  This is the third book within the Genius trilogy. The gang is at it again to find Prosper English and put a stop to him once and for all. Jinx takes us on a suspenseful journey while Cadel fights for the lives of his friends and family as well as his own.

Sadako and One Thousand Paper Cranes: Eleanor Coerr    Did you read this book back in middle school when you were younger? I never did and then someone at work said that it was her favorite kids book  and recommend it.  OH MY GOODNESS!!! This is such a touching little read that left me in tears. I'm not even going to tell you what it's about...all I am going to say is READ it and thank me after!!

Coraline: Neil Gaiman  I loved the movie Coraline when it came out and when I finally found out it was a book , I knew I had to read it.  I feel like all my co-workers LOVE Neil Gaiman, so I needed to read it right away. Unfortunately, I found the book to be good but not great. Gaiman is able to paint a picture with his words which I admire. I didn't even have to compare the book to the movie since he used his words to paint me the exact picture he wanted me to see.

Pippi Longstocking: Astrid Lindgren  I never knew the story about Pippi Longstocking all I knew was she had red hair in pigtails and owned a horse.  I LOVED this book and all the little stories about the crazy and lovable Pippi.  I am now a huge fan of Lindgren and am looking to read more of her books.  If you haven't read Pippi Longstocking you should read it and I recommend it to all young girls to read!

The Little Prince: Antoine de Saint Exupery  Yet another book that everyone should read as well as every little kid. The book only took me about an hour to read, I fell in love with it. I smiled and cried all within a few pages. Again, I'm not going to tell you what the book is about. I'm just going to tell you that you NEED to read it!!!

Was She Pretty?: Leanne Shapton  Quick, real quick book about girlfriends and relationships through the eyes of the guy. It has drawings with it as well...it's a cool little book.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group: Catherine Jinx  I was on a Jinx roll this last month! This book was pretty good, a light, funny read. The book follows a group of Vampires who have taken the oath not to drink human blood. One night one of the group members is killed which sends the other members on the hunt. Follow their adventures to figure out who is after them and all the little incidents that happen along the way.

If You Were Here: Jen Lancaster  This is Lancaster's first venture into fiction. However, she doesn't venture that far out, more like puts a toe into the water instead of doing a cannon ball. The story follows a middle aged Chicago husband and wife who move out of the city into Jake Ryan's house in Sixteen Candles. The house needs total renovation which pushes the couples relationship and finances. The voice of the book is the same as Lancaster using in her memoirs. It's a good book and fans of hers will also enjoy this novel.

Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress: Dai Sijie  This was a beautiful, enchanting book taking place in China during the Cultural Revolution. Two boys being re-educated in the country discover a trunk of banned books in which they steal to escape their reality. One boy who falls in love with the little seamstress also uses these books to teach the seamstress about the world and how to be a city girl. Both boys fall desperately in love with the little seamstress while she falls in love with the world and city from the worlds of the forbidden books.

DRUMMM ROLLL PLEASE......

Total read in 2012 is....

52/50!!!

I'm gonna be honest it was a little touch and go this month. I was nervous about having to read 6 books this month. My co-workers gave great recommendations for young adult and children chapter books to help pull me through to my goal!! One of the many perks of working in a bookstore!! 

Within the next week I will share with you my top 10 favorite books from 2012!

.skol vikings.

Over here in the Roberts household we are big football fans. Every Sunday (that I have off) you will find me donned with my Vikings gear watching the football game, cheering on my team.

Today is a special Sunday because Dave and I BOTH have it off...this has only happened one other time this season! ANNNNNDDDD to add to the sweetness the Vikings are playing the Greenbay Packers.  We are arch rivals. If you are a true Minnesotan you do not like the Packers...AT ALLL!!!!

Dave put Maggie in one of his t-shirts so we all could cheer on the Vikings

Today is a BIG game for the Vikings. If we lose we are done of the season, if we win we get to move on to the playoffs.  So cross your fingers for the Vikings we may need some extra help today!

SKOOOOOOOLLLLL  VIKINGS!!!!!!!

.happy holidays.

Us here at the Roberts household wish you and your family a happy, happy holiday!!! I hope you have a great few days with family and friends. We will be taking some family traditions and creating them in our own little way!!! 

.family tradition.

As a kid every Christmas my mom would bake Christmas Cookies, we would be able to cut out the dough and then decorate the cookies. I always looked forward to sitting at the table filled with bowls of icing and sprinkle containers. These cookies are delicious and we only have them once a year, which makes me look forward to them even more. It's been about 4 years since I have had a Christmas cookie, so I HAD to make them myself this year.

When preparing to decorate the cookies....I found something out that shocked me. Dave has NEVER EVER decorated cookies before!!! I couldn't believe it so I told him to pull up a chair cause he was gonna decorate some cookies!

We had a great time sitting at the table, chatting away while expressing our artistic abilities on Christmas cookies. Dave, he LOOOOOVVVEEED decorating cookies, he was putting sprinkles upon sprinkles upon sprinkles on his cookies. We decided that this was going to be a tradition that we continue as a family. I look forward to years ahead when my own kids will sit down and decorate Christmas cookies with us. 

What is a tradition you have during the holiday season?

WIW: wedding dress shopping

One of my best friends is getting married and I have privilege of being her matron of honor!!  (I am soooo excited about this!!!)  When she was going dress shopping with her mom she asked me to come along and give my opinion.  Since I watch a lot of wedding based shows, and one being  Say Yes To The Dress ,  I was prepared and ready to go.

So this is what I wore when my friend found THE DRESS (eeeepppppp):

The last WIW (What I Wore) also featured these green pants, what can I say...I love them! 

This leopard top is one of my favorite tops in my wardrobe. It's a top that I can dress up or down, it doesn't cling but isn't baggy...its just perfect. ANNNNDDD let's all admit it, it looks good with green pants! I thought I loved it before but I love it now even more with my green grandma pants!

.the details.

top & cardigan: Old Navy

pants: Marshalls

shoes: Target

and one silly picture....

.apartment holiday decorations.

Since I have done a few posts on diy holiday decorations, I thought I would share a few pictures of the rest of our decorations. We don't have to many decorations, since we have a small apartment and not to many areas to decorate.

One of our main areas of decorations is our entertainment center. The theme for our holiday decorations is more rustic/natural decorations with the color scheme in white, reds, and grays. The newest editions to these decorations are the reindeer and bird ornaments! Aren't they darling? I got them at Target for $3 each...a bit pricey for me, but I do love them and will use them for years to come.  I also LOVE the cardboard "R" that I made this year! I have wanted to make a cardboard letter for so long and finally got around to it! *post on it will be around soon!*

An easy way to decorate is by using old Christmas cards sent to you from friends an family as decorations. All you need to do is frame and ta da...cute decoration! These ones above we have had for a few years.The little bird one is the last Christmas card we got from Dave's Dad before he passed away, I'm soooo happy we kept it. Now it will always be part of our decorations! 

During the holiday season you may receive lots of cards and pictures wishing you a merry season. It's always a great idea to display these items to see all the people who love you and are thinking of you during this time. A simple way is to hang some twine/rope and hang the cards with clothespins.  This way it's a cute display adding color to your home and not some cluttered pile on your kitchen table. 

Also around the few rooms in our apartment we have our families old decorations from our childhood. It's always nice to see a little something that makes you smile and think about Christmas when you were a kid. I'm very happy to be able to keep this items and share them with our future children. 

What are some ways you are decorating this year?

  

.diy holiday wreath.

I'm gonna admit it, I love a good holiday wreath. I never have had a wreath before but I have admired hundreds upon hundreds of them. They truly make me feel more like in the holiday spirit. So this holiday I knew I was going to try and make a wreath of my own for our little home. I searched pintrest for a wreath that was cute and simple to make...more on the simple part and then crossing my fingers it would be cute!  I found one that I loved, a marshmallow wreath!!! (i have always had a love for marshmallows)

This wreath was super simple to make. All you need is: a wreath form, a ribbon, marshmallows, and a hot glue gun.  I glued three sizes of marshmallows to the form. Starting with the JUMBO size in random places, then filled in the form with medium sized, and finished with filling all the little spaces with mini marshmallows. I cut the jumbo size ones in half and placed around the sides of the wreath to insure it was completely covered. After I was done I put it in the fridge for 30 min. to set the marshmallows. I love how the marshmallows give the wreath depth and dimension!

When making the wreath I kept sneaking marshmallows for myself. I think I got a little sick from eating so many! After making my wreath I found another (maybe easier) way to make a marshmallow wreath. All you need to do is put about 100 or so toothpicks in the form and then place the marshmallows on the toothpicks! Finally ending with letting it set in the fridge..ta da done.  Either way takes about 30 min. it all depends on what you want to do.

Now this yummy, pretty wreath sits on our door to welcome in the holiday season. I love this wreath and I think I'm going to keep it up during all winter since it also reminds me of snow. Plus the winter here lasts SOOOOO much longer than the holiday season and I really don't want to take it down. haa haaaa.