Christmas & other things are in full swing at Cobb Cottage.......

I know, I know, it's been a while since I've posted...... I must say that things have been quite busy/crazy around the cottage since my last post..... I have a really good excuse though - I'M EXPECTING!!!!! I just found out about a month ago, I'm 9 weeks and counting.

I've been pretty much out of commission the last few weeks with sinus stuff and then nausea on top of that but I've finally gotten decorated for Christmas. Thank goodness my Mom kept Addie for me or it would have been total chaos......Sometimes I feel like a big 'ole scrooge, but at her age, I just like to decorate my tree without her little helping hands. This is my first Christmas with my hardwood floors too and I could already foresee a lot of breakage going on. I did save some things for her to put on that were non breakable and she seemed happy with that :) She was also tickled to death to see Santa (an almost life size one that sings and dances), so that made up for it too. She gave him a great big hug when she saw him.

I changed my Christmas tree "theme" a couple of years ago, costing me a small fortune but I think I'll enjoy it for many years to come. I basically had to start over since none of my old stuff matched (that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!) It's lime green and red and I mix in a lot of polka dots and other whimsical things like these big peppermint candies that I made.

They are real simple to make and fun too - I've posted the instructions on how to make them down below..... I've always considered myself pretty crafty and used to do several craft shows a year but I noticed after I had Addie that I felt so much more creative & imaginative than ever before when it comes to decorating or creating things. I feel like now, I want to decorate more whimsical and child like. Do you think that having a child just brings out the inner child in yourself? Or maybe it's just because when you have a child, it's like seeing things through their eyes? Have any of you experienced this?

Here's what you'll need to make the peppermint candies:

round, flat styrofoam discs

red fabric paint

glitter (optional, but aren't all things better with glitter :) )

cellophane

ribbon to tie ends

peppermint swirl pattern

You might have to enlarge/reduce the template a little to get it to the correct size of your styrofoam disc. Place template over the styrofoam disc and trace the pattern onto the styrofoam with an ink pen - making sure to press down so the marks are on the styrofoam. I used red fabric paint in a bottle and followed the lines and filled in with the red making sure to alternate the red with the white from the styrofoam to give it the peppermint effect. I also came down the sides with the paint. Optional - you can sprinkle glitter in the wet paint. Depending on how you are going to use them, you might also want to paint the backside as well. You have to play around with the placement of the template so that the two sides match up. Once the paint is dry, cut clear cellophane and leave enough on the ends to "tie" like candy.

Some of mine, I made to look like lollipops by sticking a wooden dowel in one end. For the red stripe on the dowel, I used red shiny curling ribbon and glued it to the dowel.

Have fun and enjoy!!!