Happy, happy Christmas!!

We just got done traveling for 8 days and are home again! I am gearing up to start enjoying this quiet time over the next week or so. Wishing all of you lovelies a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happy Birthday, sweet Jesus! I love you beyond measure!!

Leon, doing his best Santa impression :)

A sneak peak

Here's a sneak peak of some of the making I've been up to for this Christmas season. This is going to be for E. Ravelry notes are here.

Hooping!!

Even though it's December, we are still hooping up a storm over here. Here are a few pictures of how amazingly easy it is to make your own hoop. The detailed instructions, (and how I learned how to make a hoop,) are found here!!

First you need to buy irrigation tubing. The higher the PSI the heavier the hoop. I get the 160 psi at 3/4" diameter. Grab a few, (or a lot!) of the 3/4" connectors. The connectors look like this:

You'll also need something to cut the tubing. I use a hack saw but I think a pipe cutter would work a lot better. Then measure the tubing so it comes right up to your rib cage. About 42" in diameter is a great beginner size. Cut your tubing then stick one of the ends in some boiling water. This will make it pliable enough to stick the connector in.

Then, stick a connector in that end. Boil the other end for a few seconds and then join the hoop together.

I usually tape that seam with duct tape, just to give it a little bit more security. Now you have a hoop!

You can buy some colored electrical tape and tape that hoop up. Have fun with it! And hoop away!!

Happy hooping!!

Thanksgiving 2011!

For Thanksgiving a few weeks ago, we hosted our first ever vegan Thanksgiving. It was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be and even my dad liked it! (He ate all of the Tofurkey left overs...) My sister, Jennifer, who is also vegan was such a huge help in the kitchen. I love baking and cooking with her. She did the Tofurkey and the green bean casserole. I made a pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole, corn bread muffins, & mashed potatoes. It was all so yummy and cruelty free!! We were all so thankful that we got to spend that time together and just hung out for a few days. In not too long, our little family will be making the trip back to IL to spend a little time before Christmas with my family.
Here are some pictures of all the yummy food!

Now, I think I need to go cook! All those pictures are making me hungry!