Chocolate Peppermint cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting
It’s late (read 9:05 pm) and so many thoughts are running through my head. I need time to finally, finally get clear and process 2014 before I can begin 2015. Each year, I spend the time between Christmas and New Year’s settling down to take stock and press the reset button. I’m collecting and working through bits and pieces of leftover projects and unfinished ideas, trying to make sense of a year that’s flown by too quickly. But this year, it seems like I have a little less time to sift and process…
Decorating cupcakes is unbelievably satisfying. It’s such silly simple fun, squeezing the pastry bag to make little flowers.
Holiday party #4 of 6
We celebrated Christmas Day with my in-laws and a feast of seafood hot pot at our house. My side of the family didn’t get a chance to get together for Christmas dinner until the 26th, so I spent Friday baking and frosting cupcakes while we cleaned the house from top to bottom. The evening of the 26th, we had our traditional turkey dinner at my parents’ house along with the requisite (and delicious) lasagne and mac & cheese.
My husband and I hosted 28 people at our house for a full roast turkey lunch on the 27th… That’s 13 adults and 15 kids, including a 10-day-old newborn baby. Miraculously, I managed to get up at 6:30 am to prep the turkey and get it in the oven while making scalloped potatoes, kale and brussell sprout salad, pull-apart pizza bread, hot apple cider, and a DIY hot cocoa bar… and never once freaking out or getting completely overwhelmed. I guess, I’ve had practice juggling things this year! Twelve hours later, after enjoying the precious squeals of laughter from the army of toddlers running up and down our stairs and after exchanging our White Elephant gifts, my husband and I finished cleaning the house and put our sniffly 13-month old to bed so that we could prepare to host a couple more friends for French toast brunch the next morning. It’s been a busy week.
Baby Russell in his Christmas pajamas with his Uncle L, discovering the piano for the first time
Perhaps it’s also because I feel like there’s more to process. More to consider. More to reflect upon. It sounds clichรฉ but since having the baby, things are vastly different. Time is just not what it used to be. Where I used to ask “How do you find time for crafting?”, I’m now asking, “How the @#*$& do you find time for crafting?!?“.
Cutting mini charms from my growing stash of Winter’s Lane fabric by Kate & Birdie. Stealing time from sleep.
I’ve been obsessed, nay, compelled to keep crafting despite this crazy hectic holiday season. Unable to sleep because I’m surfing quilt patterns on Pinterest and trying to configure a granny square quilt out of my Winter’s Lane stash… cutting hundreds of tiny 2.5″ squares and stealing time from sleep… it’s out of control. But I can’t seem to quiet the restless part of my brain that wants to make new things. Perhaps I should put a few more projects to bed before I start a bunch more for 2015.
Still a couple days of reflecting and planning to do. I hope your Christmas holiday was warm and full of family. See you in a few.
I think it’s important to respect those crafting urges, which always seem to strike when we have the least amount of time for them. However, it’s probably because of the lack of ‘me-time’ that the urge gets strongest. I say it’s ok to give in and sacrifice a little sleep if it keeps you sane in the long run.
Totally agree. I seem to always have the unbearable urge to make things or start new hobbies right when life is craziest. Maybe it’s just what’s needed :)
I think it’s important to respect those crafting urges, which always seem to strike when we have the least amount of time for them. However, it’s probably because of the lack of ‘me-time’ that the urge gets strongest. I say it’s ok to give in and sacrifice a little sleep if it keeps you sane in the long run.
Totally agree. I seem to always have the unbearable urge to make things or start new hobbies right when life is craziest. Maybe it’s just what’s needed :)
All of your feasts look amazing! I’m also struggling to craft these days – but because of a wrist injury instead of a lack of time. Either way, I totally get how frustrating it is to have the crafting urges and not be able to full satisfy them. Hoping there’s even a smidge more time for you in the new year!
I feel you. Around 8 months pregnant, I got swollen wrists and carpal tunnel syndrome and was so frustrated that I couldn’t knit more than a few stitches at a time. It was super painful, I could barely hold a toothbrush, so that’s part of the reason why I picked up sewing again… I could feed fabric through the machine without it hurting my wrists too much. I hope your wrist heals quickly and that you get to satisfy the crafty cravings soon!!
All of your feasts look amazing! I’m also struggling to craft these days – but because of a wrist injury instead of a lack of time. Either way, I totally get how frustrating it is to have the crafting urges and not be able to full satisfy them. Hoping there’s even a smidge more time for you in the new year!
I feel you. Around 8 months pregnant, I got swollen wrists and carpal tunnel syndrome and was so frustrated that I couldn’t knit more than a few stitches at a time. It was super painful, I could barely hold a toothbrush, so that’s part of the reason why I picked up sewing again… I could feed fabric through the machine without it hurting my wrists too much. I hope your wrist heals quickly and that you get to satisfy the crafty cravings soon!!