Valentime's Day

Yes, I still refer to it as Valentime's Day. Old habits die hard, y'all! Well, I haven't got much for you in the way of Valentine's decorations but I'll show you what I have. This is actually the most I've ever done so you should be proud of me!

Sorry for the lack of posting - things have been a little hectic around here. I've been subbing a lot and Chris has been working as usual. We headed home to Habersham last weekend and had a great time visiting our families. However, Chris got sick over the weekend and is just getting over it. He is never sick so it always really bothers me. I'll try to find some more interesting things to blog about soon!

If you can't tell I have a serious love for candy hearts. If you missed my candy hearts wreath tutorial, check it out and make one for yourself! I love it so much!

I was having so much fun hot gluing candy to make my wreath I decided to glue hearts to this frame I don't use anymore! I like how it turned out!

Our 2013 Memory Jar - such a cute and fun idea!

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Candy Hearts Wreath

I am not a big fan of January. I love Fall and Christmas so much that I always find myself feeling a little gloomy and depressed when the New Year rolls around. This January is no exception, especially because it has been even more dreary and cold than usual. Seriously, y'all - there was literally no sunlight in Dalton for over a week. It was awful! I already have spring fever, and I have it bad.

On the bright side, I'm already getting excited about Valentine's Day. I've had the same Valentine for nine years now but I still think the holiday is a little ridiculous. We should tell everyone how much they mean to us every day, right? Anyway, I'm still a nut for any holiday because I love to decorate and Valentine's Day is just the same. I love color so Valentine's Day is so much fun because it's acceptable to make my house look like a rainbow threw up everywhere. 

I've had a styrofoam wreath form that I've been itching to use for over a year. This weekend I finally made my mind up and decided to make a wreath out of candy hearts for Valentine's Day. It was definitely time consuming but so worth it! I couldn't be happier with the result!

What you'll need:

Styrofoam wreath form

White satin ribbon - 1.5in for the wreath and .5 inch for the hanger

Hot glue gun - I use a mini glue gun

Hot glue sticks - About 5 mini sticks

Candy Hearts - I used 2 large bags of the Sweethearts brand

• First wrap the wreath with the wide ribbon to cover any uneven spots and make a nice under layer for any areas that show through. I glued the ribbon as I went to keep it as tight and even as possible.
• I glued my hearts in one row around the front of the wreath at a time - like an "O." I wanted the hearts to be as evenly spaced as possible. I would leave a teeny tiny bit of space between the first row of hearts to make spacing the following rows a little bit easier. I didn't have a specific pattern, I just made sure I didn't put any one color twice in a row. If you want a specific pattern, buy an extra bag. There are not even amounts of each color in a bag.
• Only put enough glue for about 3 hearts at a time - if you put more the hearts aren't able to set as well and may fall off. Slow and steady wins the race, y'all!
• I tried my best to "window" the following rows of hearts but it didn't always work that way. As long as you glue them as straight and evenly as you can, they will turn out just fine.
• I did about six rows deep because I wanted the wreath the lay flush against the door and not knock the candy hearts off.
• For the hanger - wrap one piece of the white ribbon around the "top" of the wreath. Glue the two ends together and glue the ribbon to the back of the wreath where there are no candy hearts. 
• I like simplicity so I tied a simple white bow and glued the knot to keep it from coming undone. I then glued it to the front of the white ribbon hanger at the very top. 
• I made a little loop with the .5in ribbon so I could hang it on the command hook on my front door. 
• If you can't tell, I chose to glue my hearts with the word side down. I like the clean look of the plain hearts. I think it would be just as cute to space out a few with the words side up.

There you have it! It took me about two hours and $10-$15 total. I absolutely love how it turned out so I encourage you to make one for yourself!

Dear 2012

Dear 2012,

Wow, what a year you have been! You were a year I had been anticipating for so long in so many ways. There were big life changes made this year and I can't believe I actually made it through alive and well. Now you are almost over and I can't help but reflect on how blessed I have been this last year.

I spent my first true semester in a classroom and fell in love with a group of kids I never imagined myself teaching, even in my wildest dreams. It's amazing how things work out, isn't it? Little did I know I was hand picked for that group of kids. God knew exactly what he was doing when he placed me in that classroom. Those kids were perfect for me and I can say in confidence that I was perfect for them. We got to dive deep into slavery, war, and civil rights together but I know I learned more from them than they learned from me. It was exhausting, irritating, frustrating, and perfect in every way. I was forced to take a good, hard, look at myself and am a better person and teacher because of it.

After four seemingly short years I graduated from the University of Georgia with my degree in Middle Grades Education. Every year at UGA passed more quickly than the one before it and I wasn't ready for it to end. I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am for the opportunity to start and finish at such a wonderful institution. My dad has always been quick to remind Haley and I not to take our education for granted. We know there are so many people who would have loved to attend UGA but couldn't for different reasons. My education is one thing I will always be thankful for. Athens and UGA will always hold the most special place in my heart.

I finally got to walk down the aisle and marry my best friend after seven and a half years together. The date had been set for nearly four years but when it finally arrived it felt like it couldn't be here already. We aren't old enough for this, are we? We worked day and night for over a year to make sure everything was perfect for our day. It felt funny to sit back and have everything done for us that weekend, but that's exactly what we wanted. We wanted to enjoy our time with our friends and family and enjoy we did! The week we spent in Jekyll will always be the best week of my life. It's been six months and it still feels like yesterday. Is that how it will always be? I can only hope it is because I never want to forget that feeling.

Now, here's where I'll be honest. This is one change I wasn't happy about in 2012. Getting through the wedding was my main focus and I didn't let myself think about what would happen after it was over. I didn't want to think about leaving Athens. Somehow I kept pushing that to the back of my mind and pretending we could find a way to stay. Like so many others, I love Athens. Like, serious love. As in, it took me two months to move my things after the wedding... And, if I'm being totally honest, it's only because my sister had to find a roommate. If that hadn't happened I can guarantee you that my room would still be the same. I didn't want to leave Athens, UGA, Hilsman, my friends, and especially my sister. I don't do well with change; I am a creature of habit to the extreme. Moving to a totally new place didn't sit well with me, but over time I have adjusted and am learning to love my new home. Marriage isn't all fun and games! Especially when a certain someone gets a fantastic job they love and drag you away from everything you've ever known! But, in this scary time I couldn't be more thankful for my husband and his job. We're getting there!

Along with moving to a totally new place came working in a school system I knew nothing about. I started substituting in Dalton so I could get a feel for the area and the schools. I am so thankful for the work and to be back with the kids. I spend most of my time in the same Elementary school and I absolutely adore it. Never in a million years did I think I would love those kids so much. I have learned that I can teach something other than middle school and that feels pretty darn good. I hope to be more settled next year and find a teaching job, but only time will tell!

We've got some exciting plans I can't wait to share with you when the time comes. This has been the best year yet but life just keeps getting better! The best is yet to come!

2012 - You have been so good to me and I am looking forward to what 2013 holds!


Love,

Merry Christmas!

I seriously underestimated how many Christmas cards we needed to order this year so I didn't get to send as many as I would have liked. Next year I am going to double my order to make sure we get one to everyone. If you didn't get one this year then enjoy a virtual card! 

This is probably my last post until after Christmas so I want to wish everyone a safe, happy, and blessed Christmas! I think we can all agree that we have so much to be thankful for!

Front

Back

Christmas card display!

Much love to you and yours!

Tis the season to be jolly!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Watts-Savage household! Here's a peek at the few decorations we have put up. We bought a new tree instead of opting for a real one this year since we will be gone a week at a time over the holidays. We will save that tradition for next time :) There's nothing better than the glow of a Christmas tree, is there?

I'd be happy if it was Christmas all year long - I never tire of the decorations or especially the music! When I worked at the jail Haley used to make so much fun of me because everyone (even the inmates) referred to me as "That girl who listens to Christmas music." Hey, when you're holed up in a little room with thousands of records, you've got to brighten it up somehow!

That being said, it doesn't feel like it's truly Christmas until we've been to the Christmas Parade in Gatlinburg. I've mentioned it many times so I'll spare you the details but we are heading out tomorrow morning and I am so excited! Since our beloved Midtown Lodge was demolished we are staying at a new place and I hope we like it. Be on the look out for a post next week with plenty of pictures! I'm headed out the door to run some errands and do a little Christmas shopping! Have a great weekend, y'all!

Halloweentown

I've already dedicated several blog posts to the various fall decorations around our humble little home. I'm more than excited about Halloween so I added a few things to the existing fall decor! As you already know I'm a Christmas fanatic so none of the other holidays get me quite as excited, but I think I'm still more excited than the average person! Chris on the other hand loves Halloween. I think maybe it's a boy thing? Who knows, but I'll take any excuse to go buy some holiday stuff! Most of this I already had from the past couple of years but I had forgotten about it! It was like Christmas going through all my things getting ready to decorate! The "trick or treat" sign, "boo to you" sign, and "Halloween" witch sign were bought at Hobby Lobby last year after Halloween. They were marked between $8-$10 each but I got all three for under $7. Pretty good, right? The plan was to hang them in my classroom but that will have to wait another year :) Enjoy some photos from our humble abode!

On the shelf

Hanging in the kitchen!

New fall tablecloth courtesy of TJ Maxx

Bought this wreath at a craft show in Myrtle Beach!

Out front!

Wedding lanterns turned Halloween!

Crazy looking witch

Spotted this perfect pumpkin along the road and had to have it!

The trick or treat bowl/Chris's candy bowl!

Are you as excited for Halloween as I am? Let's be honest, I'm mostly excited for ABC Family's "13 days til Halloween!" I'm itching to watch Hocus Pocus! Happy Haunting!