Cozy Christmas Bedding

Seeing Christmas bedding reminds me of being a kid when I had Christmas flannel sheets on my bed. I love how cozy all of these bedrooms look and plus who can resist the beautiful four post bed?

images via pinterest

Wednesday Words...

via here

Gift Guide for the little ones

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that your week is off to a good start.

I have started my Christmas shopping and I only have a few gifts left to purchase. I am a normally a black Friday shopper but this year I didn't meander out until 5:00am.

Since, it has been a lot of fun picking out gifts for the little loves in my life I thought I would share with all of you some of my favorite gift ideas.

Splish Splash Bath time jar

Squirties, floaties, alphabet letters, and a suction storage bag is included

Tower of Blocks

{Fun for parent and child}

Plush Stripe Elephant

I'm Not Bored Anymore Art Jar

{I bought this last year for my niece and she LOVED it!}

Here Knitty Knitty Knit Kit

{Adorable!}

Snowman in a Sack Kit

{perfect gift for those who get to enjoy a white Christmas}

and the best thing is all of these gift ideas are $30 or less!

For more adorable gift ideas check out Land of Nod!

It is truly one of my favorite sites to visit when I am in need of a present.

Happy Thanksgiving

via somewhat simple

Free Thanksgiving Printables

Here are some cute, last minute Thanksgiving decor printables that I wanted to share with all of you.

Thanksgiving table note cards via crafts & such

Saying thanks with a fun chevron print via Eye Candy Event Details.

click here to download print

and my favorite are these adorable toothpick flags via Somewhat Simple.

What a fun way to decorate beverage straws and slices of pumpkin pie!

click here to download

Friday's Party: Children's Thanksgiving Fun

Thanksgiving weekend is my favorite weekend of the year and I can't wait to spend it with my little family of three.

I came across these adorable turkey cupcakes via the party dress and seeing this super cute, kid friendly table makes me want to relive sitting at the kid's table like I did growing up.

T is for Tutu and DIY Instructions

I think I have found a new calling.... making Tutu's. I can't even tell you how simple yet how fun it was to make Miss E a tutu for her birthday photo shoot next month.

I went to my local ribbon store where I purchased all the materials. It took me about an hour to make and now I simply can't wait to make more!

Tutu Instructions:

Supplies Needed:

3 bolts of tulle

{ I found the bolts of tulle to be much easier to work with as the width is already cut for you vs buying it off the shelf at Joanns.}

Elastic- Non Slip 3/4 " to 1"

Ribbon is optional

{I did not use ribbon on mine}

Instructions:

Measure child's waist and cut elastic 2-3"inches shorter than waist

Either sew the elastic together or hot glue

{ I hot glued my elastic and had no problem}

Cut the tulle into 27" pieces. You will do this for each bolt.

{Very Important to note.. your tutu's length will be end up being half of what you originally cut!

I made this mistake and had to go back and trim off tulle due to it being too long for my child.}

For Infant I suggest cutting your tulle into 12"-14" lengths.

Older girls I suggest cutting your tulle into 18-27" lengths.

{Your length will vary due to how tall the child is and if you prefer shorter or longer tutu's}

Tie each piece of tulle separately into a double knot around the elastic band.

{some might find it to be easier to tie the tulle by placing your band of elastic around a paper towel holder or a tall round canister}

Pull tightly and place pieces of tulle close to one another. Your tutu will fill in nicely and yes, you will use all three bolts.

If you are using ribbon cut your ribbon pieces to the same length of your tulle pieces. If you cut your tulle to be 14 inches then you cut your ribbon to be 14 inches.

Place ribbon around the elastic in between the tulle evenly.

You can make your tutus with a variety of colors mixed in, add embleshiments such as a bow or flowers, or simply wear plain.

Tutu's also look adorable with baby leg crawlers.

Wednesday Words...

via here

Caramel Apple Pie

With Thanksgiving a mere two weeks away I figured it is time to start planning our menu. First thing to plan is the dessert. I am not a fan of pumpkin pie so I always am looking for an apple dessert. I am pretty sure this caramel apple pie is this years winner and it will be enjoyed by being served in my grandmother's apple pie plate.

Friday's Party: Ladybug 1st Birthday

My friend Katie, from college recently celebrated her daughter's one year birthday with ladybugs.

What an adorable theme for the little lady!

{adorable cake and smash cake!}

{how adorable is the bug juice?!}

{ladybug appetizers!}

{party favors}

Wednesday Words...

Oh man what a week... I ran my first half marathon and it was so much fun! I can't wait to run another half! Thank you again for those who left me encouraging words.

My baby girl is sick. Double ear infection. Not fun.

Garage door is broken. Ugh..

One more week of teaching parenting classes. Working till 7:30 pm is not ideal.

So glad I hardly ever have to work that late.

Looking forward to having a date night tomorrow night.

Friday I get to spend the whole day with my baby girl!

image via pinterest

Friday's Party: Fairy Ballerina Party

Isn't this party just darling?

When I saw Shelley from The House of Smith's had posted her daughter's birthday I immediately fell in love. The beautiful details and inspiration of this party gives me inspiration as I put the final touches together for Miss E's birthday party next month.

To read more about this adorable party and to view more photos make sure you stop by

The House of Smith's.

Friday's Party: Thanksgiving al fresco settings

I am so excited to be bringing in a guest party feature post for all of you today! Please welcome Jenn, as she has some beautiful Thanksgiving al fresco settings that are full of inspiration! 

Hi everyone! My name is Jenn and I write for Arcadian Lighting, a website and blog that profiles top lighting trends from across the globe. Every day I get to write about home decor and interior design, and one of my favourite things to read about are light fixtures - I love chandeliers, modern lighting, and more. I also love stumbling upon inspiring blogs like Cherry Blossoms - I've had it bookmarked forever and was so excited to find out I'd get to write a guest blog for Heidi. Thanks for having me - enjoy!  The holidays are upon us once again, and there's no better place to give thanks than outdoor among the beauty of Mother Nature. With pretty seasonal decor and a few outdoor lights to set the mood, enjoying Thanksgiving al fresco, beneath the trees or stars, is a cozy and intimate way of sharing a meal with loved ones. Here are eight sensational Thanksgiving al fresco settings. 
 A table dressed in beiges and browns is in keeping with the outdoors, while herb centrepieces provide both natural beauty and fresh seasonings to the meal. 
 Vibrant hanging ceiling lights illuminate this Thanksgiving alfresco dinner table, which also features a bevy of blooms and antique plates with a floral motif. 
 Give thanks for outdoor wicker that resembles indoor chairs, lanterns that cast a soft glow, and lavender that looks pretty and smells fragrant. 
 One of the best things about Thanksgiving alfresco dining is the playfulness that lighting can create, like this pergola with a string of round bulbs and an elegant hanging lantern - it's time to celebrate early evenings! 
 Alfresco table settings should draw on the natural beauty around them, like this Thanksgiving table, which is accented in lavender to match the surrounding blossoms. 
 Take advantage of the bounties of autumn by incorporating pumpkins, gourds, and other fall-friendly accoutrements. Add a touch of sophistication to the setting by placing such items on pretty cake stands. 
 What Thanksgiving alfresco setting would be complete without the picturesque foliage of autumn as the backdrop? No light fixture needed here - just the setting sun and a few pillar candles. 
 This table setting strays from the conventional orange pumpkins and instead opts for orange clementines and floral arrangements, which keep things fresh and still really beautiful.  Autumn is one of the most gorgeous seasons, and what better way to enjoy it than dining outdoors? If you find these Thanksgiving tables inspiring, check out Arcadian Lighting's website for more design ideas and a wide selection of light fixtures to choose from to brighten your outdoor festivities this season! (Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Running Tips

Today I bring you a special guest, my dear friend Lisa from Lisa's Yarns. Lisa and I have been friends for over 10 years as we were sorority sisters and since then have remained close to one another. Lisa has been running for several years where she has completed two marathons and several half marathons. She is someone who has inspired me to try running. This Sunday, I will be running my first half marathon. Lisa has been my distance coach during the past 13 weeks of training and I have asked her to share some running advice for any newbies out there that might be thinking of trying out a half marathon or any race for that matter.

In Lisa's Words:

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 5 years since I ran my first half marathon. I still vividly remember making the decision to sign up. The longest race I had done at that point of my life was a leisurely 5k run so the jump from 3.1 miles to 13.1 miles seemed awfully daunting. But I was ready for a new goal and a new challenge, so I forged ahead (and talked a co-worker into doing it with me).

I’ve learned a lot in the last five years and am a much smarter runner than I was back in 2006. That said, I miss the wonder and amazement I felt after completing that first half marathon. I miss the excitement I felt at the starting line of my first half, back in June of 2006. So in addition to the list of advice that will follow, my biggest tip is to enjoy the experience and to appreciate what your body is able to do on race day. Instead of focusing on your time, focus on how far you have come since the first day you started your half marathon training program! And enjoy the race and finish with a big smile on your face!

Here some other tips…

1. Resist the urge to start too fast. There is a lot of nervous energy at the beginning of a race and it is easy to get caught up in what others are doing. You know your body and what it is capable – force yourself to maintain a pace that is sustainable for the whole race. It’s better to have excess energy at the end so you can pick up the pace in those final miles!

2. Hydrate! In the days leading up to the race, drink lots and lots of water. Avoid carbonated beverages. Don’t consume alcohol. Avoid anything that could cause you to feel dehydrated on race day!

3. Find your inspiration. Put together a fun playlist for your iPod or think of a mantra to repeat when you are feeling the pain of those miles. When I ran my marathons, I wrote down a family member or friend’s name next to each mile on the pace bracelet – and I then dedicated each mile to that person.

4. Your goal is to finish. When you are racing at a new distance, your goal should be to finish. As tempting as it is, do no compare yourself to others! This is not easy to do. Regardless of what the clock says when you finish - be proud of the fact that you finished!

I wish you the best of luck, my friend! I will be cheering for you from afar!

Thank you so much Lisa for sharing these tips!

If any one else has a running tip or a good song they enjoy running to please let me know!

Red and Black Children's Holiday Collection Wear

If you are starting to look for Holiday outfits for the little one's here is a sneak peek of what is currently available at Old Navy.

I am in love with these adorable pieces.