Paper Snow

Hello my friends! How have you been? Are you so excited Christmas is near? I am! What are your favorite things to do this time of year? Do you have family traditions? Have you started your own traditions? I've been thinking a lot about traditions lately, which ones I want to carry over from my childhood and new ones for our little Mason baby. This year we won't really be starting any traditions because we will be gone for about 10 in December, plus we are moving in April.

One thing I will be doing this season is making paper snowflakes. This is one of my favorite things to do (in fact I do it throughout the year, it's very therapeutic). I love that you can fold a piece of paper, make a few cuts, open it and it's a different masterpiece every time!

A few nights ago I got bored so I pulled out scissors and paper and got to work making little snowflakes. Since we won't be around much in December our Christmas decor budget is $0 so I thought it would be cute to sew a bunch of snowflakes together to make a garland, or suspend them at different heights in our front window. I haven't officially decided what to do with them yet, but I think I need a lot more to make an impact!

This one is my favorite! It reminds me of the native looking patterns that are really popular right now.

What do you think I should do with these beauties? Please share your ideas, and I'd love to hear about your Christmas traditions!

Holiday Cards

I just ordered my holiday cards and I am so excited for you to see them. Since it's our last winter in "Iceburg" (that's Rexburg for those of you who have never been to this frozen tundra) we ended up choosing the "warmest wishes" card. We chose a different picture (and name) than the one on the site and I designed a custom back. I've decided to share the custom back with you, so now if you order warmest you can get a little somethin' extra. Check the store to see the new backer. Today I will be designing our return address labels to match the card (maybe I'll share those with you too).

Don't forget about the Cyber sale that ends tonight! Enter "cybersale" at checkout to receive 10% off holiday card orders over $50.

Cyber Monday is Here Early

Head over to the DesignFancy shop to snatch up this awesome deal! Don't miss out, offer ends Monday!

Thankful...

I have so many things to be thankful for today:

• that sweet boy you see above
• my best friend (that would be my husband)
• my faith
• amazing family and friends
• everyone that's supported my new business (thank you!)
• and I'm grateful that my Heavenly Father has a much better plan for my life than I do

What are you grateful for today?

Have an amazing Thanksgiving. Tell someone why you are grateful for them today!

The New Helmet Hair

Did you know my baby has a helmet? I don't think I've mentioned it. Well, he does. Why you ask? (it's ok EVERYONE does) A few months ago we noticed he had a flat spot on his head that wasn't improving so we had him checked and he was diagnosed with plagiocephaly (sounds scary right? it's not). He's just has to wear a helmet for 23 hours a day and keep it on for 3-5 months. We also have to take him in to get it checked and adjusted every 2 weeks.

People ask if it hurts him or bothers him. We hear most babies cry and fuss the first couple weeks they have it on but our little trooper has seemed to never notice. He in fact likes to play with his helmet, it's his favorite toy (kinda strange I know).

Today we had a those check-up and his head is doing amazing. He has made HUGE improvements in only a month and a half. We are so excited and so proud of our little man's head! Woohoo!

No More Pumpkin Pie

Do you like pumpkin? I love pumpkin, but I do not like pumpkin pie (weird I know). I thought I would share some pumpkin recipes that I enjoy making (and are pretty easy) so you have some non pumpkin pie options!

First up is my favorite go to Pumpkin Muffin recipe. A LONG time ago I went to weight watchers and in the meeting before Thanksgiving we were discussing low cal dessert options. Some random lady shared this recipe and I've been making it every since! Best part, it's so easy!

Ingredients:

• 1 Spice Cake Mix
• 1 c pumpkin puree
• 1/2 c water

Mix all the ingredients tother and follow the temperature and times on the back of the cake mix. I will sometimes add chocolate chips or top them off with fat free cool whip.

So easy right? and only a few ingredients. I like to always have pumpkin and spice cake mix on had so I can make them any time.


The next recipe is one I found on skinnytaste.com. You MUST check out this site! It has the best recipes. I probably use a recipe from there twice a week and every one in scrumptious. This pumpkin recipe is no exception! The recipe is for Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Yogurt Cupcakes. I wish I had taken a picture of these because they are beautiful! 


here's what you need:

• 12 reduced fat vanilla wafers
• 8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 6 oz fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt (I used plain and it still tasted great)
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tbsp all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup pumpkin pie filling 

I only had pumpkin puree so I added some brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice to it and it turned out perfect! Make it work!

Preheat your oven to 350°

Line a cupcake pan with liners and place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each one.

Beat together your cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until it's smooth. To that, gradually beat in the egg whites, yogurt and flour. Pour this mixture into the cupcake liners. Make sure to only fill it half way. 

Plop 1 tbsp of pumpkin pie filling into the liners. Take a tooth pick and swirl the pumpkin into the yogurt mixture. Bake for 25 minutes. When finished let them cool, and then chill them.

There you have it, 2 delicious options for your Thanksgiving feast. Let me know how yours turn out!

Are You Ready?

Have you heard about those people that go shopping at like 2am the day after Thanksgiving just to get cheap stuff? Crazy right? I'm totally one of those people! I live for Black Friday! I am so anxious for Friday, I cannot sit still, my adrenalin is already pumping. I've been looking at the ads for weeks now checking for who has the best deals. I've planned my attack route, created a list of who gets what from where... the list goes on. I am a serious Black Friday shopper, I would even dare to say competitive. This is not my fault, in fact it runs in my family. I won't be with them this year, but every year the whole family goes out together to face the crowds and awesome deals. When I was in high school all of the girls on my mom's side of the family (mom, sisters, grandma, cousins, aunts) would meet at the mall before the sun came up, these are some of my favorite memories.

This year I'm braving the cold and crowds with a friend who is a Black Friday virgin. I've told her I get a little crazy on Black Friday but I don't think she believes me (my husband is worried we won't be friends after).

Being the Black Friday expert that I am, I've created a little survival guide for you because I would hate  to hear that any of you got trampled!


There are several places online where you can find Black Friday ads available for you to view. I use www.theblackfriday.com. They seem to always have the ads first. The research is very important to your Black Friday experience. Don't think you can go out at midnight having no idea what the stores even have, you have to go with a purpose, with specific items in mind. Sure you'll find other stuff along the way, but knowing what you are looking for will help you to shop quicker and get out of one store and onto the next much faster. You may also want to call which ever store you are going to to make sure they have a certain item and how many of that item they will have. This could be a game changer, so be prepared.

If you are wanting a TV or other popular items you need to get to the store EARLY. To get there early you need to find out when the stores open. Be careful not to get trampled. I've never tried to get a big ticket item so I like to show up about a 1/2 hour after the doors open because the store still isn't too crowded or picked over and I don't get trampled (nor do I assist in the trampling).

Unless there are two of you you will have to prioritize your shopping list, unfortunately you can't be two places at once. Let's say there is a really good deal on a gift you've been eying for your mom at Target, BUT there is an unbeatable deal at Kohls on a toy that your kid has been asking for for months, AND they open at the same time. Where do you go first. It's a tough call to make. I usually go to Kohls first and get all my shopping done at one time, but this year Old Navy is bringing some good deals so I don't know where to go first! Keep in mind that they might not have a large quantity of hot ticket items like TVs.

If you haven't already make lists. I make a list of people I need to buy for and what I'm buying for them according to store, That way I know exactly what I'm shopping for and I don't forget about anyone in the rush. I also have back up gifts planned so if plan A is gone, I can just go to plan B or C without getting flustered. If I'm not sure what exactly I want to get them I at least make a list of ideas, so if there is a good deal on one of those ideas I can go with that.

One thing I've learned from experience is dress smart. You want to dress in layers that you can remove so you don't get overheated, but also think about trying things on. If you are planning on trying some things on yourself, wear things that can easily be taken off and on, and maybe even thin t-shirts so you can try things on over your clothes and not wait in dressing room lines (always a little embarrassing, but no one there will remember you!). Also if you don't want to deal with the crowds there is always Cyber Monday!

I hope this guide is helpful for you! Don't get hurt out there!

Original image found here

Winners

Congrats to the winners of our Facebook giveaway! Later today on the Facebook page there will be a poll happening so go check it out and participate.

Have an amazing weekend, and I'll meet you back here on Monday my fancy friends!

Holiday Entertaining Part 3

Thanksgiving is one week away, are you ready? If you are looking for a little somethin' to impress your guests, look no further! Last Thanksgiving I made these fun, and super easy, little cornucopias for each guest's plate. They were a HUGE hit! I cannot remember where I saw the idea, and I searched for it but have not been able to find it (sorry, I'll let you know when I find the source). Below are the instructions to create an ice cream cone cornucopia.

You will need:

• sugar cones (ice cream cones with a point)
• a pot of boiling water with lid
• vegetable steamer (I just used a colander)
• tongs are helpful

Directions:

Bring some water to a boil. While the water is boiling, place steamer (or colander) on top of the pot (this shouldn't touch the water). Put 1 ice cream cone in the steamer and put the lid on the pot. When I did it with my colander the lid didn't fit perfectly on top so I just made sure it covered the cone. Leave the cone in to steam for 7-10 seconds (this may take a little experimenting). The ice cream cone will be extremely hot so with the tongs, take the ice cream cone out of the steamer and quickly bend the back (pointy) end of the cone until you get the perfect cornucopia shape. Make sure to hold it till it cools off a little so it will hold it's shape). Follow these same steps for each cone and then fill them with whatever goodies you prefer (candy, fruit, etc.).

Next week is sure to be hectic with last minute preparations so, you could make these this weekend and then just pull them out on the big day (be careful not to crack them). These will definitely impress guests of all ages! ENJOY!

Next week I'll be sharing my favorite pumpkin treats that aren't pie and a black friday guide.

Holiday Entertaining Part 2

As I told you last post, I love to entertain, partly because it gives me an excuse to decorate (who doesn't love an excuse to decorate?). I also enjoy creating an experience for my guests with little treats on their plates, or fun place cards. Today I'm sharing some printables that match the Thanksgiving Feast Invitation to help you to give your guests a little something different this Thanksgiving. It's called the Give Thanks Party Pack. Click the link below to download.

GIVE THANKS PARTY PACK DOWNLOAD

In the party pack are a few fun little details to add to your Thanksgiving Feast, including place cards.

Also included in the pack are gift tags. Wouldn't it be so to find a mini loaf of pumpkin bread on your plate? You could also use the place cards as gift tags.

When you download the party pack you will also muffin/ dessert toppers. You could stick these in any dessert, (everyone's slice of pie maybe? so cute!)

I hope you enjoy the free party pack download, I know your guests will.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing another place setting idea that I used last year for our family Thanksgiving. Tomorrow is the last day to enter the giveaway, so be sure to hop on over to the Facebook page and enter to win some holiday cards.

Holiday Entertaining

Thank you to everyone who has entered the holiday card giveaway (if you haven't, there is still time). It's so fun to see which your comments about holiday cards are you favorite.

I think one thing people probably don't know about me is that I love to entertain. I'm always trying to come up with some reason to have people over or to throw a party, especially if it involves designing an invitation for the event. I think every great party needs a great invitation to start with, so that's why today I've created a little Thanksgiving Feast invitation for you to download. (click below)

Thanksgiving Feast Invitation Download

There are 2 per page on a white background so you can print on whatever color paper you like (I think mine will be on cream, or a white shimmer).

I hope you'll use it for your up coming feast, and I hope you'll come back tomorrow for some place setting ideas and to see what other goodies I've got up my sleeve!

The Thanksgiving Feast invitation is for personal use only and may not be redistributed or sold. For other uses please ask for permission. I would love to be featured on other blogs but, if you mention the invitation in a blog or other forms, please link back to this post.

Recent Work

So remember a LONG time ago (like April) when I shared with you an invite I was working on? Well the two love birds got married last month so I can finally share with you the finished invitation. Are you ready? TA-DAH!

I love how it turned out! It's simple and refined, but not too formal for their hawaiian themed wedding. I was able to see the couple's wedding video and Katherine looked beautiful! Her dress was so simple and timeless (I wish I had seen it when I was getting married)! Congrats you two!

Holiday Giveaway

Today we're having a giveaway on the designfancy facbook page. This is the first ever giveaway for designfancy and I am pretty darn excited (I don't even get to win anything!) If you haven't seen them already, last week holiday photo cards went up for sale in the design fancy shop and they have received a really positive response. Because I'm so excited about these cards I've decided to share the love! I'm giving away a set of 25 double sided holiday cards AND a set of 50 double sided holiday cards over on the facebook page! That means you could receive gorgeous holiday cards to send to 50 of your closest friends on me!  Plus there are 2 ways to enter! Are you excited now?

Check out a few of the designs here on the blog and the rest in the shop (more cards have been added TODAY)! Scroll to the bottom of the post to find out how to enter.

Cute right? Here's how to get your 2 enteries:

• Head on over to the our Facebook Page and become a fan. Click the big “Like” button on top of the page. Then click the “Share” button on the giveaway post. Make sure to leave a comment on the giveaway post and say Holiday Card you would choose. (already a fan? Just share the post and leave a comment about which card you'd like)
• Become a follower of this Blog. Leave a comment on the Facebook Post telling me that you became a follower (if you are already a follower just leave a comment on the giveaway post on the Facebook page letting me know) The comment is what counts as your entry.

You may only enter each way once before Thursday (11/17) at 12am MST. The winner will be announced Friday (11/18).

Don't miss out on some cute (and free) Holiday cards.

'Tis the Season

Why hello there friends! Did you have a wonderful Halloween? Did you trick-or-treat? What did you dress up as? How much candy did you get? Did you know, according to The Biggest Loser last week Americans eat an average of 24lbs or candy per person, per year. I went trick-or-treating for the first time in a LONG time (like since middle school) with my "little monster" of course! We didn't bring home 24 lbs, but it was a pretty good load for a first timer (too bad he doesn't get to eat it).

So have you taken family photo's yet for your holiday cards? Get them ready because 6 photo cards just opened up in the design fancy shop last night! I'm so excited to have them up for you to purchase! Which one will you choose? I haven't decided which one I want to send out for my family yet! I kind of love this one in orange though.