Elf donuts

Are you kidding me?

These elf-sized donuts made me laugh.  You won't believe how easy they are, either!  

Happy Monday!  May your day be Merry + Bright!

Spotted on Ohdeedoh

Happy December!

Hello, December!  We've been busy little bees over at the Meyer household.  After a delightful Thanksgiving spent with Paul's family, we hit the ground running preparing for a superhero birthday party for our out of this world and soon-to-be FOUR year old!  Here's a peek at his Save the Date, plus one of my favorite Christmas photos to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. Happy tree trimming!

xo,

steph

The Sweetest Superhero

Dylan decided to be an old man for Halloween this year, and to this Mom that means one thing: he isn't going as Spiderman!

While I was mentally celebrating a Superhero-less Halloween, I came across this photo of Paul and my disregard for the superhero movement faltered momentarily.  I'm pretty sure this is the sweetest superman to ever walk the earth.  I'm guessing that one of these days I'll have to come to terms with Dylan dressing up as Spiderman or Batman or the Green Hornet (hopefully before he is seven and not randomly during his thirties).  But if my little guy looks as sweet as his Dad did I may not mind.

To be clear: if Dylan wanted nothing more in the world than to dress like Spidey for Halloween then I would let him.  But I wouldn't have to like it.  These Superheros bug me.   And, as is the case with most things that bug parents, your kid loves it!  Mind-numbing banging?  Kids just can't get enough of it!  Endless whining games?  Their favorite past time!  Bob the Builder's voice?  Music to their ears!

Go figure, right?

Maybe Bob the Builder's creepy voice put me over the edge or maybe this is one of my Debbie Downer Mommy moments but, guess what: I don't like you Spiderman.  Or you either Batman and Ironman.  You guys are weird, you all have lame comebacks and I can make a better costume than all of yours put together.  I've deftly avoided your tacky bedding and annoying toys for almost four years {exception made for last minute Easter basket Spiderman pajama addition} and I'll do my best to make it through the next four without getting to know any of you any better.

For the record: I hold no judgement towards anyone who gives into their child's Superhero love-fest. I'll have you know I blatantly bribe my child to get out of buying said Superhero items so you should probably judge me.  But don't worry, I'm going to get mine soon.  Dylan asked for a Super Spiderman and Batman birthday party the other day.

Go figure.

Happy Valentine's Day!

{adorable heart card by rifle paper co.}

Happy Valentine's Day, lovelies!  Hope you all had a nice weekend.  It looks like my little family is on the edge of approaching some kind of normalcy after two weeks of sickness:  Dylan went back to school today and I'm back at work.  Poor, sweet Paul is fighting off a terrible toothache at the dentist right now so I'm hoping it won't be a serious issue and we'll all be back to our full, healthy selves very soon.

Dylan has a Valentine's Party (including a dance off : / ) at his school this afternoon, so I'm heading out early today.  Yesterday, we made adorable crayon hearts.  Dylan loved breaking the crayons and then watching them melt in the oven.

In honor of this day o' love: Lauren Fleishman's heart-warming photo series of couples married fifty years or more (!) (via Cup of Jo).  Plus, Anthropologie's wedding boutique, BHLDN (Beholden), launched today.  So pretty!  And, cheeky love pillows.

xo,
steph

happy new year.

xo,

steph

{image via tinywhitedaisies}

A Christmas Surprise...

Hello lovelies.  I hope you all had a very merry Christmas.  Can you believe it has come and gone already?   I had to pop in today to brag on my beloved.  My adorable and hugely talented husband.  Who spent an entire night finishing the most exquisite Christmas present I have ever received.  Who endured splinters, cold temperatures and the smell of Bondo in the name of love.  Who always listens to my interests and tirelessly works to create and re-create beauty in everyday things.

On Christmas Eve, the man I love more than anything in the entire world, gave me this work of art.  And, yes, he made it.

Isn't it amazing!?!  Most of the sticks are from our property, which makes this one of a kind starburst mirror even more meaningful.  I love you, Paul Damien.

xo,

steph

The Christmas Bug...

{image via solid frog}

The impossible may have happened.  I may have caught the dreaded Christmas Bug.  My husband may have been born with the Christmas Bug and there are a few other unfortunates I know who have fallen victim to this awful spell...

It's the bah hum BUG.

That's right.  I'm admitting it: Bah Humbug.

I don't know what is happening, but, people, this year Christmas is kicking my ass.  Between work, dealing with a sick household and seemingly a million other "issues" I was barely hanging onto the Christmas spirit.  And then...

Our tree died.  DIED.  Are you kidding me?  And, yes, it's really dead.  The most dead a tree can be.  I can't tell you how devastating I find this.  As a believer of real Christmas trees, I cringe thinking of all the  households still enjoying the glow of their fake Christmas tree.  And I hang my head in shame with jealously.  Sigh.  Anyway... I spent last night taking down our Christmas ornaments (tear).  By the time we took the lights off there were only about four pine needles left on what was once our {glorious} Christmas tree.

So, I'm trying to find humor in cynicism and find the beauty in the season {like the pretty flowers above}.  I do, after all, love getting together with both sides of the family and eating wonderful food!  I'm hoping my man and I can also snag a movie date to go see Little Fockers for a holiday belly laugh.

And, since it's been 10 days (!) since my last post, I'm guessing you figured out that this holiday season also kicked my little novice blogger butt.  I wasn't nearly organized enough!  So, for my three dedicated readers...sorry!  Maybe next year I'll get my act together.  Although at this point, I'm thinking a Christmas vacation sounds pretty dandy for 2011.

I'm officially signing off until after the holidays...although you never know, maybe I'll pop back in and post a lil' somethin', somethin' {no promises}.

Hope you have a bah humbug free holiday...sending my love to you and yours!

xo,
steph

happy weekend...

{image via Ohdeedoh}

I'm just going to admit blogger defeat and accept the fact that I don't have it in me to post the holiday themed loveliness I had planned on posting this week.  Sorry.  It's Christmastime though, so please forgive me promising you wonderful gift guides and then failing to produce them.

You should check out these awesome modern gingerbread houses though.  And, if you really want to know about stuff I find gift worthy, you can take a peak at my Pintrest gift guide page and see lots more gift ideas from very cool peeps while you're there.

Enjoy!  I know it's not much link love, but I couldn't leave you completely link-less, now could I?

Have a great weekend, chickens.  See you back here on Monday.

xoxoxoxo,
steph

DIY Scandinavian Star Garland

Hi lovelies!  Once again I am on a tight schedule, but I thought I'd post this adorable DIY from Creature Comfort.  What a great gift idea!  Enjoy!


p.s. I'm making myself push the Holiday Gift Guide until next week!  Check back then for some great holiday finds!  p.s. Cup of Jo and Design Sponge have 2010 Gift Guides up now!

DIY Scandinavian Star Garland

via Creature Comforts

This project was inspired by the sweet simplicity of Scandinavian holiday decor and I really love how it turned out. You can hang these vertically, drape them horizontally, or even use them to adorn gifts! 

Supplies needed:

• LaDoll Premier Light Weight Stone Clay - I purchased my clay from a local Michael's craft store, but it is also available online HERE, HERE, and HERE.
• Rolling pin (nonstick) - You can also use your hands to flatten your clay for a less uniform, more handmade look.
• Mini star cookie cutter - I used the insert of a LINZER COOKIE CUTTER for my garland, but you can use any size cookie cutter you'd like. The clay in this project dries very light weight and will lend itself well to a wide variety of sizes.
• Sequins (optional) - available at craft stores.
• Hot glue gun & glue sticks - I used the hot variety, but I recommend the low heat varieties for safety reasons.
• Baker's twine / twine - Baker's twine can be found just about everywhere online these days (a quick google search should give you plenty of options). Alternately you can use embroidery thread, ribbon, twine, or even dental floss.
• Covered work surface - I used the waxed side of butcher paper to roll out my clay and work on.

Step 1: Roll out a small amount of your clay on your covered work surface until it is smooth and the desired thickness is achieved (there is no right or wrong thickness for this project).

Step 2: Using your cookie cutter begin punching out your shapes. Set them aside and allow to dry. This should take anywhere from 8-24 hours depending upon the thickness of your cut shapes.

Step 3: Once your stars are dry, plug your hot glue gun in and let it heat up. Once heated, apply a tiny dot of glue to the back of a star and place your twine through the middle of it.

Step 4: While the glue is still hot carefully set a sequin on top of the glue/twine and press down lightly to adhere. Repeat this process spacing your stars as far apart from one another as you'd like. Be sure to leave a decent length of twine at both ends for hanging. Your garland will tangle easily so I recommend wrapping it gently around a piece of cardboard (cut a notch at the top and bottom of the cardboard for your garland ends to lock onto).

Your garland (or modified versions of this project) can be used to embellish special holiday gifts too (you can even write or paint on this clay once it has dried)! Experiment with other cookie cutter shapes to make unique gift tags and embellishments...or even ornaments for your tree!

xo,

steph

Party-mania

Sorry for being MIA ever since Thanksgiving.  After waking up from my deep food coma, I've been running around like a mad woman preparing for Dylan's birthday party this weekend.  AH!  I'm really excited.  Last year we just had a 'little' family + close friends get together, but this year I actually got my act together and invited Dylan's entire class.  I can't wait to see how much fun he will have with his friends!

Plus, what could be more fun than an art party?  Here is a shot of the invitation I made for the party.  I had meant to order them off of minted., but ran out of time so I just did it myself.  I can't wait to share the rest of the party with you!

So, hang with me and forgive my sporadic posts.  I'm hoping to get a little holiday gift guide up this week, but don't hold it against me if it takes me until next week.  In the meantime, there are TONS of fun holiday ideas out there right now.  Check out my favorites!

Design Mom's great finds for the men in your life.  (Plus tons more!)

DIY pom-pom garland.  I just love pom-poms, don't you?

Pintrest gift guides!  I just joined pintrest and I'm pretty much obsessed.

Oh Joy! gift guides just started.  Check out the first two posts here and here.

The sweetest Advent Calendar ideas.

A yummy 10-minute meal for those crazy holiday evenings after those crazy holiday days.

There is lots out there to share.  I'll be sure to post some more link love when I can!  For now, I hope this made up for my absence.

xoxo!
steph

A Childress Thanksgiving

My grandmother was an amazing woman.  To begin with, her name was Laveda Texanna Childress.  She was smart, beautiful, funny, loving, compassionate, wise and an incredible cook.  I'm not sure where my family's love of cooking came from, but I like to think it began with her or her mother.  I learned to make my grandma's Chocolate Meringue Pie when I was eight years old.  And, to this day,  my cooking goal is to roll a pie crust like my grandmother did.  She would make the dough without seeming to touch it and then roll it up on the pin and lay it, perfectly, in the pie dish.  I still have no idea how she did it.

I miss her terribly.  Especially during the holidays.  But, I am thankful that the tradition of making her Sweet Potato Casserole, her ah-mazing stuffing, her Cranberry Freeze and her countless pie recipes carries her presence into my mom's sweet smelling kitchen and keeps us warm.

Sorry, this post didn't get up yesterday.  By now these recipes probably won't make it in your Thanksgiving arsenal.  But, they'll be here for you and I hope one day, when you make one, you'll think of sweet Laveda Texanna and how good cooking can keep memories alive!

Sweet Potato Casserole

6-8 baked sweet potatoes

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup canned milk

2 eggs

3/4 of a stick of butter

1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

Topping

3/4 sticks of butter

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

3/4 cups of cornflake crumbles

Cook sweet potatoes in 400 degree oven until tender.  Cool.  Mix meat of sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, and butter in a large mixing bowl and beat at medium speed until well blended.  Add milk, nutmeg and cinnamon, mix well.  Pour into baking dish and bake 35-45 minutes at 300 degrees.  Casserole should be set. (We sometimes make the casserole up to this point and then cover and freeze until Thanksgiving).

Topping

Melt butter, combine with brown sugar, chopped pecans and cornflake crumbs.  Spread on top of casserole  May be refrigerated at this point.

When ready to serve, bring to room temperature and bake, 10-20 minutes or until hot, at 350 degrees.

Cranberry Freeze

3 cups of cranberries (1 bag)

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1 small can (2/3 cup) of crushed pineapple, well drained

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1  8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1 cup heavy cream, whipped

Combine cranberries and sugar in food processor.  Blend well.  Add pineapple, chopped pecans and cream cheese.  Blend well.  Fold into whipped cream.  Pour into a 6 1/2 cup ring mold.  Freeze.  Unmold on pretty platter.  Serve frozen.  

Grandmother's Pie Crust

1 stick of margarine (make sure it's cold)

1 cup of flour

3 tablespoons cold water

Cut the margarine and the flour together until mixture is the size of small peas.  Try not to overwork the dough.  Add the water and form into a ball.  If the dough gets too warm, wrap in saran and put into refrigerator until cool.  Roll out onto a piece of wax paper, sprinkled with flour into a circle; adding more flour as needed.  When the dough is the size of a pie plate inver the paper over the pie plate and gently peel of the dough.  Gently fit the dough down in the plate and crimp the edges.

The crust is ready to bake until golden brown in a 350 degree oven.

Pecan Pie

1 stick of butter

1 cup of light karo

1 cup of sugar

3 large eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 dash of salt

1 cup of chopped pecans or you can arrange whole pecans on top of the pie in a decorative pattern

9 inch unbaked pie crust

Melt butter in a small sauce pan until it is golden brown, do not burn.  Set aside and let cool.  In a large mixing bowl, add ingredients in order listed.  Stir.  Blend in browned butter.  Pour into the unbaked pie shell and bak at 425 for 10 minutes, then lower the temperature to 325 and bake for 40 minutes.

enjoy!

xo,

steph

Turkey plans

Although this is not our feathered friend of the season, I thought this photo was simply lovely.  

How you  today?  I hope you are gearing up for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast this week.  I was telling my friend about our family's Cranberry Freeze recipe and became so giddy with excitement that I'm not sure I can wait a whole day to eat it.  It is so good.

I will say though, that every Thanksgiving I experience a strange phenomenon:  I usually spend the day cooking greatness with my mom and, by the time I sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, I'm not hungry!  And no, it can't be explained by my eating throughout the day.  Because I've made a conscious effort to not snack while preparing Thanksgiving goodness and my hunger strike still hits.

Don't worry though, it usually wears off 2-4 hours after the Thanksgiving meal.  With me around you won't have very many leftovers.  That's when I usually pig out.

Have a fantastic Tuesday.  Tomorrow I'll be posting a few family recipes and our Thanksgiving place settings! Can't wait!

xo,

steph

happy weekend

{image via the cherry blossom girl}

Lovelies,  I am always ready for the weekend, but after this week, I am especially happy.  It was one of those weeks where you demand the universe tell you, 'what is going on!' and I am glad to bid it adieu.

What will you be up to this weekend?  We have a f.u.l.l. schedule which includes shopping for a new car and franticly preparing for Dylan's birthday party.  I am really excited about my little man's 3rd birthday festivities, but didn't realize that I would only have one weekend to plan it when I set the party date for December 4th.  Whoops!  Darn December birthdays...there really isn't an easy way of doing one.  But, I can't wait to share the party details with you!

Some link love...

It's my sister, Katie's, birthday today.  She was going to amputate a patient's leg on her birthday, but that got cancelled.  So she did fat injections to the buttocks of another patient instead.  WOW. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!  You are truly a special duck.

If you think the feathery purse above is gorgeous...wait until you see the wedding.  Oui! Oui!

Beautiful polaroids.

Oh, wouldn't it be amazing to spend a day here.  I don't know if I'd ever leave.

A pretty Thanksgiving paper-chain. Free template download + instructions!

More pretty Thanksgiving decor!

This is my kind of library.

The pesky coat closet organization solved.  At least, it's something to think about doing.

Speaking of coat closets...check out this glam entry way.

How to properly warm up.

The perfect striped shirt. 

A gorgeous calendar.

xo,
steph

Ruffle Necklace DIY

Lately, I've been brain-storming different series to incorporate into Meyer on the Wire.  I always love stumbling across another blog's series and being able to read multiple installments of something I find interesting.  I have several ideas in my head, but still need to sort through the specifics of them.  One thing I do think everyone loves though is a good DIY project.

So, here it is: the very first DIY project on Meyer on the Wire.  Lucky for me and you, the holidays are right around the corner so these DIY projects can be used as gift giving inspiration!  And, yes, you can give yourself a gift.

Ez, of Creature Comforts, has one of the most amazing DIY + Project libraries I've found.  I was smitten with this sweet, quirky necklace that jewelry designer Rebekah put together.  Here are is the how-to. You can find even more inspiration at Creature Comforts.

p.s. Wouldn't this be so adorable with a tulle fabric?

 Ruffle Necklace DIY

via Creature Comforts

Supplies needed:

• a strip of three and a half inch wide fabric
• sewing machine
• 20 gauge wire
• chain jump rings and clasp for the closure
• any buttons, ribbon, brooches to embellish your piece
• needle and thread

Directions:

1. First you need to cut a strip of fabric approx. 3" wide, the length will vary depending on the weight and how "full" you want your ruffle to be. I usually just trim the strip down as I go.

2. Iron your strip in half with the right side facing out.

3. next your are going to sew a 1/4" straight stitch along the folded end of your fabric.

4. Make sure you sew along the folded side, you are creating a sleeve for the wire.

5. Now you need to get our your wire and cut a piece approx. 12" in length. You will need to make a wire wrapped loop with one end of the wire. If you do not know how to make a wire wrapped loop check out my friend Lindsay's amazing tutorial HERE on the Fusion Beads website.

6. after you have wire wrapped one end of your wire, begin feeding the other end into the sleeve of the strip of fabric you have created.

7. continue until you have reached the desired rufflyness trimming off any excess fabric.

8. wire wrap the second end of the wire.

9. your pendant is now complete! At this point go ahead and add any chain, beads or ribbon that you want for the closure.

10. On my pendant I added a 3" piece of red velvet ribbon and a cameo button to make it festive.

11. fold the ribbon in half and with your needle and thread sew it onto your ruffle pendant.

12. when you are finished sewing on the ribbon, add your button...and voila!

♥ ♥ ♥

I hope you like this DIY! Be sure to check out Creature Comforts for more DIY goodness and other wonderful, beautiful things.  And, you should also visit Rebekah's blog, she just had the most adorable little girl.

xo,

steph

so pretty...

{msw via wit + delight}

Isn't this chignon beautiful?  Perfect for daytime and a holiday soiree.  Visit Wit + Delight and find a link for diy instructions.

xo,
steph

Lanvin at H&M. I die.

Seriously, h&m...you are killing me!  I need one of the following:

1. The ability to buy these clothes online...immediately
2. A store in a 50 mile radius...immediately
3. A plane ticket to a store...immediately

I mean...you even came out with great men's clothing.  Having a hot husband and a little boy, I appreciate the fashionable man's plight.  And, I assure you, it is even harder to find good men's clothes in the south.  Please open a store here.  Please. now.

I love you.

images via styleite

gifted

{image via creature comforts}

Have you seen the new Gifted Magazine yet?  It made my holiday heart flutter!  Gift guides, free templates and wrapping ideas, oh my!

xo,
steph

happy halloween!

love,

the littlest {sweetest} monster

happy *spooky* weekend...

For reasons beyond my control, but mostly because I am a fearless procrastinator, I was up until 3:30 last night finishing Dylan's monster costume.  But, in my insane defense, I also made these cute Halloween wrappers to give to his teachers.  Didn't they turn out great!  I saw something like it in a store here and thought, 'I could do that'.  This is one of the very few times I've actually followed through on that thought.  I'm really happy with them though.

I am heading out early to go to Dylan's school's Parade of Costumes and I couldn't be happier!  The weather here is perfect: cool, crisp and breezy with sunny skies.  I hope you enjoy your weekend and have a very happy, frightfully delightful Halloween.

a little link love...

You must look at this house.

Pretty hangers.

A great fall tote.

Thx. Thx. Thx.

I'd love to make my grocery list on this cute little pad o' paper.

Do you watch Modern Family?  This week's episode made me laugh.  So funny.

Go see Jeana Sohn's series of Closet Visits.

xo,
steph

hello again.

{image via nectar + light}

Sometimes a little break is good for the soul.  And sometimes you don't realize it until after you've neglected said somethings for a week.  Just like I did to my sad little blog.  But, I am back.  Hello.  Although I wish I could say I return to you all well-rested after hours of divine pampering.  And confess {brag} that I now have a terrifically clean house and an entire week of gourmet meals prepared.  I'm guessing you would know I was lying and you'd probably also guess that I spent the entire weekend working on Dylan's Halloween costume and that my house is still covered in feathers and felt remnants and I have a crick in my neck from slouching in front of the sewing machine.

You know me so well.

A few questions:

1. Has anyone else broken three (or more!!) iPhones?  Or is it just me?

2.  Have you gotten your mums yet?

3. Ok, so this isn't a question, but I can't resist.  

I shamelessly present to you, the cutest monster costume. Ever.  {Tail and Hat to follow}

4. Can someone please buy me this fabric? 

{image via design*sponge}

5.  Have you visited P is for Party yet?  My friend, Christi, just unveiled her new blog design and it is fabuloso!  Congrats Christi!

{image via P is for Party via Kiki La Ru}

Hope you are having a wonderful day, even if it is a Monday and you have a cracked cell phone.  Did you know that those screen protectors keep the glass shards out of the side of your face?  At least, mine has so far.  

It's my mom's birthday today.  Happy, happy birthday Mom. I love you and am so thankful for you!

xo,

steph

p.s. I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow like this.  What do you think?