Christmas 2012 Re-Cap

Christmas has come and gone. I absolutely love this time of year, this year went by way to fast. I feel like since we had a baby 9 days before Christmas that it really has been all a blur. Thank goodness for pictures to help me remember it all. :)

Here's a little run down re-cap of our Christmas holiday in pictures. We were so blessed to have my Mom come into town on the 13th and stay till the end of the month with us. She was a big help to have here, my step Dad came a couple days before Christmas and spent the week with us as well. So blessed to have my parents here for the holidays with us.

Halls were decked.

Cookies were made.

A family picture was attempted. Trying to get a good family pic of the 4 of us with one squirmy toddler and a fresh newborn was interesting.

Is there nothing cuter than siblings in matchy Christmas shirts? I think not.

Merry Christmas! Hope you all had a blessed Christmas as well. 

{Year in Review} Top 10 Projects of 2012

Happy New Year's Eve friends! Today I'm doing a re-cap of my 10 favorite projects that I enjoyed making and creating this past year. Maybe some of your faves made the list, or maybe you're looking for some fun things to tackle in 2013, either way here's my faves for the year!

I can't wait to keep creating more things in the new year. I'll be sharing my first house project with you lovlies in the new year!

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Andrea on Pinterest

{Year in Review} Top 10 Posts of 2012

Today I'm back sharing a little run down of my favorite posts from 2012. These are posts that aren't necessarily the ones that got the most reads or comments, but they are my 10 faves that I enjoyed writing this past year. 

Read on, or maybe read them for the first time. 

Moving, a New Home & A Dream Come True

Miracles & Blessings

things I don't want to forget

Modern Mom Magazine Feature

Ava's Special Announcement

Things I'm Afraid to Tell You

Ava's Second Birthday Party

For A Season

4 Years of writing and sharing 

JOY

Thank you for taking this journey with me this year. Next up tomorrow I'm doing a re-cap of my fave projects for the year. 

{Year in Review} Top 10 New Blogs of 2012

In keeping with my year end tradition I started a couple years ago today I'm sharing with you the Top 10 new blogs I've found this year! I know you may be saying to yourself, "I don't need another blog to add to my reader."

But, trust me you do!

In no particular order these are my top fave new blogs I've enjoyed reading and finding over this last year. I hope they inspire you as much as they have me! So grab you cup of coffee and sit back and start reading.

A Small Snippet

Emily Ley

It's Overflowing

Naptime Diaries

What do you think? Did some of your faves you're already reading make the list? What are some of your fave new blogs you've found in 2012? I'd love to check them out, leave their links in the comments below. 

Baked Potato Soup

Hi Friends! Are you all still enjoying your Christmas week with family and friends?! We are.

Today I wanted to share with you one of my fave quick soups. I whip up a batch of this whenever I've got a craving, but this is especially a favorite on a cold day. Perfect for this time of year. 

What You'll Need: (Serves 4)

5 lg baking potatoes, washed and cubed

6 cups milk

6 stalks green onions (cute both the white and green parts and then divide the two)

Sour Cream

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

Salt & Pepper to taste

What You'll Do:

In a large stock pan add the potatoes, white onion parts and milk and bring to a boil. Stirring frequently so the milk does not stick and burn to your pan. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Reduce heat to med-low. Using a potato masher coarsely mash the potatoes. Your soup should be chunky. Heat through. Your soup should be thicker, more of a cross between soup and stew. 

Once everything is mashed and heated through spoon into bowls and top with bacon, sour cream and cheese. Top with green onion as shown. 

Enjoy! 

Our 2012 Christmas Card

Wow! I can't believe that it's already Christmas Eve! I wanted to share with you today our Christmas cards we sent out to family and friends this year. Each year this is something that I look forward to. We don't send gifts to everyone we know, but I like to think of our Christmas cards as a small gift we send to family and friends and let them know they are in our hearts this season.

Sending out the yearly Christmas card is something I start thinking about at the end of the Summer. It usually begins with our family photos and scheduling those. This year I went for something totally different in our card. I knew I wanted family photos before the baby arrived, and I debated long about sending them out after the baby was born since he was coming middle of December 10 days before Christmas. But in the long run, I decided this would be our last card as a family of three and didn't want to feel pressed to get cards out before December ended and have a baby.

This year's card is full of bright colors in our clothing, the style of the card is something totally different than what I've normally done and I really love how it turned out.

I always go through my address book before ordering my cards and get an exact number of people that I'll send our card to. Last year I just guessed and ended up ordering way to many cards and we had about 40 leftover. This year I wanted to order the number we needed exactly, plus about 10 extras just in case there was a family I forgot. I love my Erin Conderen address book. Plenty of space for addresses, birthdays/anniversaries, and phone numbers for each family. Plus extra pockets in the back for return labels and stamps.

I ordered the matching return labels this year, as we had just moved and I knew it would be a great way to include our new address. I also added our new address to the back of our card, letting people know that we'd just moved. 

Also for an extra touch I used two different patterns of washi tape to seal my envelopes.

So what does our 2012 Christmas card look like? 

I'm so pleased with the way it turned out. I ordered our cards from Shutterfly again this year. 

If you haven't sent out your cards yet, don't fret! Sending out a New Year's card is always an awesome option. Don't get overwhelmed, have fun with these. I love getting these in the mail from all of our family and friends. I really look forward all month long and well into the new year reading all them come in our mail box! 

Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!

Welcome to the World Baby Zane!

Last Sunday we welcomed our little baby boy into the world! Baby Zane is here!

Zane Everett Worley

Born Sunday December 16, 2012

7 pounds 13 ounces

20 and a half inches long

We're all doing well, I can't wait to share more with you soon. But first I'm going to enjoy our new family of four, and having family in town for Christmas!

Happy Sunday friends!

Stocking Stuffers for Babies & Toddlers

Continuing today with some fun stocking stuffer ideas for babies and toddlers, they don't need much but once again the stocking is a great way to slip fun small gifts into their Christmas gifts you're already giving.

Small toys and food items I really love for babies. Like the Happy Baby Organic puffs are good, and the Wubba Nub paci bubby is one of my faves as well. And you can't forget Sophie, I don't know why babies love her but they do, and I like her too!

Stocking Stuffers for Babies & Toddlers by worleyhouse on Polyvore

For toddlers I love new sippy cups, and this Cookie Monster MP3 player was a big hit with Ava last year. It plays three different songs from Sesame Street Characters. There's nothing you actually download or anything they are already on their recorded, your toddler just chooses the song and plays it!

What are some of your favorite ideas for babies and toddlers? I'd love to hear them, leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Last up some gift ideas for older kids & teens. Happy Stocking stuffing friends!

Stocking Stuffers for Him

Happy Monday! There's just a few more days till Christmas morning! I'm back today sharing with you my picks for stocking stuffers for the men in your life. For my husband there's a few things I always like to include in his stocking, one simple thing is his favorite candy. I usually buy a few of his fave candy bars and slip them inside. Guys love food, and this is really simple and easy to get your hands on. If your guy isn't a sweets person think maybe his fave gum or soft drink and slip that inside.

Stocking Stuffers for Him by worleyhouse featuring a beat dr dre

I love to include things like small electronics such as travel chargers or head phones. Cologne in his favorite scent is also a great stocking stuffer. Small clothing items such as a new pair of winter gloves, or socks are also good ideas.

What are you stuffing your Husband's stocking with this year? What are your fave items to give to the brothers, Dads and other men in your life? Tell me in the comments below.