A Glimpse of What's to Come...

The next 7 weeks are the absolute busiest time of the year...and I LOVE them...I love the hustle and bustle...the tons and tons of shopping bags spread out around me as I try frantically to get everything wrapped before "the big day." I love Black Friday (a couple of years ago I got to Jo-Ann at 5:00 am and  immediately went to the fabric cutting counter to get a number...I drew #143...they were on #12...no joke), I love the food and decorations and warm winter clothing...I LOVE how our church decorates the sanctuary with dozens upon dozens of trees with millions of little white lights...I love how the kids bring home too many construction paper crafts...and I love making handmade gifts.

This year I'm going to try (try, I say), to make it a handmade Christmas for everyone we give gifts to...my new-found love of crochet & Pinterest will help with that (hopefully).

Here are a couple of links I've found that will help, too...

Not all of these ideas are handmade...but they are all fairly inexpensive...

The next few weeks will also be filled with some wonderful celebrations hosted by some of my very favorite bloggers...I will be participating in each of these parties, so I hope you swing on by to see me and everyone else featured!

Nikki from Everything Under the Moon is hosting a truly inspirational week starting next Monday...Random Acts of Kindness Week...this is something we should all think about participating in...

Need some kindness inspiration? Nikki has this wonderful link on her blog...

Rachel from Lines Across My Face has gathered some super-awesome bloggers for this craft-filled party...13 different, super-fun Christmas crafts...this party has already started and will continue through November 23...here's the lineup...

Monday, November 7 Happy Hour ProjectsTuesday, November 8 The Letter 4
Wednesday, November 9 How to Nest for Less
Thursday, November 10 My Life and Kids
Friday, November 11 My Decoupaged Life
Monday, November 14 Southern Lovely
Tuesday, November 15 I Heart Crafty Things
Wednesday, November 16 The Small Things Blog
Thursday, November 17 Family Ever After
Friday, November 18 A Step in the Journey
Monday, November 21 Midwestern Sewing Girl (yay! That's me!!!)
Tuesday, November 22 PB and J Stories
Wednesday, November 23 The Kurtz Corner

Who doesn't love a good printable? No one...that's who. My girl, Kristin, from A Simply Klassic Home is hosting "12 Days of Christmas Printables" - including a linky party & giveaways! Yay!!!

Here's who will be offering up the goods...

Adrianna at Quaintly Amusing and Baby Makes Three

Becca at From Gardners 2 Bergers 

Jodi from Moo & Puppy 

Maggie at Midwestern Sewing Girl

Rhonda at home.made.

Nikki is also hosting this super-fun celebration from December 10-22...a holiday linky party will follow! Yay!

Here are the participants...

Alex from Lush in Flats/The "Good" Hair Blog

Amy from One Artsy Mama

Bethany from Pitter and Glink

Brandy from With a Shot of Brandy

Briana, Brittany, Bridget and Brooke from Babblings and More

Danielle from Blissful and Domestic

Jaime from Crafty, Scrappy, Happy

Jamie, Jade, Julianna, and Janae from The Letter 4

Kelley from The Grant Life

Kelli from The Turquoise Piano

Lacey from Lacey in Love

Lauren from Throwup and Theology

Maggie from Midwestern Sewing Girl

Rach from Family Ever After

Sherika from Passionately Perfect

Sherry from Oh So Lovely

Sibylle from Funkytime

Tasha from Frugalicious Me

Aaaand...this one is still in the works, but I got the OK to announce it here...

Katie from Sew Woodsy is planning a Handmade Ornament Party to be held the first week of December! Woo hoo! More on this later...

And, if that's not enough, there are a few more things happenin' behind the scenes that will be announced soon...FUN!!!

Get excited! Get excited!!! And have a really wonderful Wednesday...