Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Holidays!, Home Decor

Throw a little sparkle in that centerpiece, would ya?

Easy DIY Holiday Centerpiece

For full effect, please read this post while listening to Christmas music. It will make it that much better. Trust me. I highly suggest (wait for it….) Hanson’s Christmas Album, Snowed In. Seriously. If you don’t think it could possibly put you in the Christmas spirit, just give it a chance. Here’s a good example. Don’t judge me. Or at the very minimum, don’t judge me until you listen to it.

I refuse to apologize for celebrating Christmas (or for liking Hanson’s Christmas album). It’s my favorite holiday. Next to my birthday, which is an unofficial holiday, but a holiday none-the-less. I am working on making it official. Give me a little time.

I know that Christmas is not celebrated by everyone, and I feel sad for those that don’t get to participate in the joy that is Christmas. I will hope that you at least have another holiday in which you can get overly cheesy and spiced up on sugar while listening to jingling music and dancing around your house while opening gifts. If that doesn’t sound like the time of your life, I don’t know what would.

However, in order to be fair to every one of my readers, I will willingly participate in other December holidays that you celebrate. Just send me the gifts, food, music, etc. and I will go nuts. All out. Holiday spirit can not be turned off. Note: I will also accept money.

Easy Holiday CenterpieceIn order to get the house ready for Christmas, decorating is a MUST. I put this little centerpiece together every year, and I still love it as much as I did a few years ago. I bought a bunch of bulbs, some candles, and a string of silver beads. I also got the sparkly snowflakes from the Dollar Tree one year – perfect addition. Throw it all in a tray and voila. Instant spirit. Instant sparkle.

What’s your favorite Christmas decoration at your house?

P.S.: Are you getting ready for St. Nick Day?!?! Do you even know what St. Nick Day is??? Details to come soon…

Birthday's, DIY

Do You Respect Wood?

DIY Lime Coasters“I respect wood. I revere wood. I’m considerate of wood.” (Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm)

While I was looking forward to being out of work for four days for Thanksgiving break, I had to scramble to find the perfect gift for my friend. My bff turned 31 last week. Thankfully, her before me. It’s okay that we’re getting old though, because it just gives us more excuses to drink our life away. Or at least our birthdays away. So in spirit, I had to send her a margarita basket (you can view her box here), since she likes margaritas more than she likes me. She’d argue that, but I doubt she’s going to read this anyway. Hence why I’m blogging about part of her gift before she even opens it.

Lime Slice DIY Coaster

After putting the basket together, I found these adorable coasters on Pinterest. I had to make them. Instead of giving you the directions, I’ll just recommend you visit the site above. She gives much better instructions than I would anyway (and printable sized pieces).

DIY Lime CoastersThey turned out perfectly unperfect for me. I hand sewed each one, and I loved the end result. I hope she does too. I don’t know that they’ll compare with the bottle of Patron or the Skinny Girl individual servings, but they might come in third place. Third place still gets a trophy. Third place is perfect for me.

DIY, Holidays!

This Year I am Thankful For Cheeseburgers…

Thanksgiving Sweet Treats Party Favors

This week is a time for gratitude, a time of quiet reflection of the things you are thankful for. Since everyone knows I’m the farthest thing from quiet, I will share my gratefulness here:

Things I am Thankful For

Cheeseburgers

Wine

Cheetos Puffs

Wine

Ice Cream

Chipotle

Wine

You get the point.

On a more serious note, I am very grateful this year for many things. My husband, and the house we just bought. Our health, our families health. My parents, their new-found home of the Bahamas (seriously, who doesn’t want to visit their parents when they live on an island?). All of our friends who love us even though we don’t babysit for their children often. Or hardly. Okay at all.

I am also grateful to have a job, especially given that many people do not. I am grateful that I can pay my bills and still have money left over to buy myself nice things. When they’re on sale. Or clearance.  Or when they come in bottles of wine.

I like to spread the holiday cheer around the office (especially when everyone is wishing they would have taken the entire week off instead of just Thanksgiving). If you follow my blog you know that I have a lot of people to make favors for, so keeping them inexpensive is key. Like I just said, if it’s not on sale, it’s staying at the store. If I’m not buying myself  those new things, I’m not buying them for my coworkers. Sorry guys. You’ll have to buy your own wine.

So these little favors will have to do. Personally, I think they’re adorable. But that’s just me. Probably because I made them…but hey, that counts right?

Thanksgiving Sweet Treats Party Favors

Buy some Reese’s Pieces, get little baggies (I used mini ziploc’s from Michaels, and cut off the tops), some twine, and print this adorable little tag. Put them all together, hand out, and put a smile on someone’s face! Or maybe just my face. One face counts, trust me.

DIY, Holidays!, Lifestyle

Coming Attraction: Reuben the Elf

Guess what time it is? It’s Elf on the Shelf time! In other words, in our house, Reuben will soon return! You didn’t think that I would forego this bandwagon did you? Of course not! Reuben is the highlight of our Christmas season. I guess that’s a little pathetic…sigh. And before you ask, the only reason I have a Barbie at my house is to keep Reuben company. He wouldn’t be this cool without friends.

Since we don’t have any “official” children in our house (my husband qualifies occasionally), our elf Reuben can be a little dirty at times. So proceed with caution:

(From Top, Left to Right)

1. Reuben at the Strip Club. And not the kind that serves steaks.

2. Reuben is a Packers fan, so he went hunting Bears before the big game. Clearly he did well, the Bears lost.

3. On December 24th (last day of Elf), Reuben relaxed in a homemade hammock under the Christmas Tree. Don’t worry, that’s milk.

4. B couldn’t find Reuben anywhere, until he put on his PJs. Reuben sewed himself right in.

5. Reuben came in like a Wrecking Ball. Except with clothes on. He has much more common sense than Miley. We’re so proud.

6. Reuben started a bonfire on the stove with all B’s favorite Bears memorabilia. Take Note: He’s roasting marshmallows.

7. Reuben went out to party one night and got locked out. Take note husbands: You leave to party, you get locked out.

8. Reuben came in on a sleigh with 6 ReinBeers. They probably led the way to the party the night before.

My Favorites! The Movie Themes:

Can you guess before I tell you?

1. Silence of the Lambs: Buffalo Bill. “It puts the lotion on its skin.” Reuben even went the extra mile with a woman’s dress and high heels.

2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Uncle Eddy. Emptying the “shitter.” Don’t forget the cigar and white bathrobe!

3. Forrest Gump: Self. “Life is like a box of chocolates.”

4. The Godfather: Jack Woltz. Finds his prized horse’s head in his bed. And yes, that bed is handmade. By me. I had a lot of time on my hands.

5. Titanic: Jack. Notice his suspenders, and Barbie is even wearing the Heart of the Ocean.

6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Leonardo. He likes pizza as much as we do.

7. Castaway: Chuck Noland. On his last day, B found a note that said Reuben was on his way back to the North Pole when his plane went down. No one had heard anything from him since. At least he has Wilson.

8. Edward Scissorhands: Self.  He’s trimming the Christmas tree into animal shapes.

1. Dick in a Box (SNL).  Complete with directions.

2. Reuben wanted a brother or sister. Poking holes in protection!

3. Reuben the voyeur. Barbie was on the patio.

4. Spin the bottle. Hope Reuben swings both ways.

5. Beer pong! I hope he made us proud.

6. Ball and Chain. The year before our wedding. Reuben tried to tell B to get out while he could.

7. Marriage Counselor. If you like your marriage counselor, you can keep your marriage counselor.

8. Reuben was arrested. He’s grounded until next year.

We are very excited to see what Reuben has in store for this year. Which Reuben is your favorite?

Shameless plug: Pin your favorite photo collage! You can find all of these and more on Reuben’s Pinterest page!