Many Miscellaneous Musings (and I need your input on something)
As of this past Friday, we are officially on Christmas break from homeschooling.
(woot!)
It's pretty early, I know, but we are nearly halfway through most of our curriculum (and we're certainly not halfway through the school year date-wise), so I'm feeling fine and dandy about taking our usual three-week Christmas break.
I'm very happy to have a little time off before Christmas to get things squared away and to do some fun things like baking pfeffernusse.
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Because I still regularly fail at making hyperlinks (despite having blogged for six years now. Ahem.), I forgot the http in the Schoola links I gave you in my last post.
I fixed em, but all you email subscribers probably got an email with broken links.
Sorry about that!
Here's a for-real link to Schoola. And when you make a purchase there, use code TFGHOLIDAY to get 30% off through 12/19.
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The calendar I made for Mr. FG's grandma arrived!
I ordered it from AdoramaPix this year, and the print quality is just as marvelous as the AdoramaPix photo books.
The only thing I'd change is that I'd order a more matte paper next time. The gloss is fine on the photo part, but the calendar side of the pages is really glossy too, and I think it would be hard to write on.
Fortunately, Mr. FG's grandma doesn't usually write on the photo calendars I give her...she just hangs them up on her bedroom door and enjoys the pictures each month. So I think it will be fine.
I usually do one photo per month, but I mostly did collages this year so that I could give her more than 12 photos. I think she'll like it (because what grandma doesn't want more photos of her grandchildren??)
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Zoe took her jeans off in a hurry the other day and broke the button.
Bummer.
But remember when I replaced the button on my jeans last year?
Well, the seller mistakenly sent me a package of small buttons first before sending me the correct size. I kept the small ones (the seller didn't want them back!), and they turned out to be perfect for Zoe's jeans.
So, I snapped one on.
Good as new.
(More details about doing this are in my post about how to replace a broken jeans button.)
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Are you guys interested in a felting kit giveaway? The kits are super cute, but are a little more expensive than the ones from regular craft stores (especially if you use a 40% off coupon).
I love to help you all with your Christmas shopping, so I'm totally happy to do a giveaway if you want.
I can go either way...if you all are sick to death of giveaways, let me know! Or if you are dying to win an adorable felting kit, say so. 😉
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Speaking of giveaways, we made Christmas cookies on Sunday, and you know what that means:
The annual guess-the-cookie-artist contest is coming up!
(The cookies in the contest photo are rarely this demure. In fact, they usually have eyeballs. 😉 )
I'll take a photo of six cookies, one made by each person in my family, and the first person to correctly guess the cookie artists will win a $50 electronic Amazon gift card, purchased by me.
(This is harder than it sounds...last year, no one got it completely right, so the closest person won.)
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I think that's all the miscellany I have for the moment. Do weigh in about the felting kits, if you wouldn't mind.
I think the felting kits are wonderful for a giveaway! And who ever ever gets tired of those? I mean it's not like the same people win every single giveaway, so you can't ever get tired of it. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Oooh I'd love to win a felting kit! Something fun to do if we get snow in January or February!
I'd be interested in that give away. I'd also like to know more about the kits.
I love the collage option on photo calendars. I have such a hard time narrowing it down to just 12 pictures per calendar. Sometimes I try to, because I really like the look of one big, nice picture, but in the end I nearly always end up with more than one on a page. Yes, more pictures can be good.
Yes! And the format of the Adorama calendars seemed particularly collage-friendly (they're more square than rectangular).
Hi Kristen. Happy Holidays! I'm so impressed that you take a 3 week homeschooling break for Christmas. What a great time of year to have some extra time. I would love another giveaway - after all only one person can win, and personally, I enjoy reading the comments from so many of your readers. That Woolbuddy kit looks so cute! I think your giveaways are fun!
There's no such thing as too many giveaways in my opinion. 🙂
I would enter that giveaway.
Separately: is there a way to remove buttony doo-dads like Zoe's?
You know, I'm not sure, aside from removing your jeans with excessive enthusiasm. I would assume that with a pliers and enough force, you could remove the buttons.
I've never tried...we've only ever removed them accidentally. Ha.
Your three week home schooling vacation sounds perfect! I've only toyed with the idea of homeschooling, but it's flexibility like this that makes it sound so tempting.
The cookies look so pretty!
The little penguin is also a cutie. I haven't tried a felting project yet, but penguins are big in our house.
Bring on the felting kit, there is no such thing as "too many give aways".
Not into felting, so "no" on this for me. Not sick of giveaways. Really enjoy your blog.
You really got lucky with those jeans buttons! I've never actually broken one, but I did bust a snap on my bike trailer and had to figure out how to replace it. I had to use a "press tool," a hammer, and the world's cutest little anvil.
I would like the woolbuddy felt kit! Would make a great gift for my girl 🙂
I'm going to make peppernuts this year! I have my grandma's recipe which is different than yours (there are no two recipes the same!!!).
I would love the chance to win the felted ornament! Looks like a fun project. 🙂
I think the giveaway is awesome! the penguin is so cute and who in the world would ever tire of giveaways!?!
I think the felting kit would be a great giveaway! I love your giveaways and never get tired of them.
Merry Christmas, and a wonderful 2015 to you as well!
I WOULD LOVE to win the felting giveaway! I am an avid knitter, and began felting when I accidentally felted one of my husbands sweaters in the washing machine. Since he was tired of that years-old sweater, it was a "happy accident" for me, and I love a few hours of felting with my daughters who are now in their 20's.
Please continue the giveaways!
Love the collage calendar as well....I'm sure the kids grandmother appreciates that every single time she sees it during the year. You're a wonderful mother and daughter-in-law!
Again, Merry Christmas!
Giveaways are fun, and if not too much trouble for you, bring on another one!
My husband and I made 3 My Publisher photo books for our children for Christmas. Took hours to do! Can't wait to see them. They are customized for each recipient.
I'm late in completing my husband's calendar. That's a yearly gift.
Enjoy your 3 week vacation. 🙂
I'm kinda meh on the felting kit, but you reminded me I want to make Christmas cookies. This week would be good for that! Also, I sent link to the Schoola post to a friend of mine who happily reported she got a bunch of stuff for her three kids and it was super cheap so THANKS!
Oo, I'd vote "Yes" on the felting kit giveaway idea! Fun! 🙂
P. S. I love guess-the-cookie artist tradition! I'm never close to correct but it is fun & I look forward to it.
I am dying to win an adorable felting kit 😀
Yes to felting. I purposely got an old wool blanket at the cheap store and want to try felting so as to make a cap for myself.
You can be sure , this grandma likes all pictures!
The felting kit is so cute! Yes, please do a giveaway.
As for homeschooling, your break isn't too long. (Especially if you are ahead). Enjoy your December. I also homeschool my children and some years we have taken a long break and it was wonderful. This year we are working on a lighter schedule but are going longer since we have some tough subjects.
Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
I think the calendar is pretty clever idea. Last year, I gave my husband photo album with a lot of pictures of him and the girls since I don't know what else he wants for his birthday and I was so happy he really appreciated it.
Yes, love your giveaways! Merry Christmas!!
Yes to the felting kit giveaway! I'm working on our calendars now for our Christmas gifts.
Yes to the giveaway. It feels like decades since I've won something, and my girls would simply love it!
I'd totally enter a giveaway for a felting kit. I love the giveaways you have on your website. 🙂
Thanks!
Wow.... keep going with the giveaways, just love them. Penguin is sooo sooo cute 🙂