We are bracing ourselves for a big storm here in the midwest and I don’t even know if the lakes are frozen over yet. Wasn’t it 60 on Thanksgiving? My system is a little in shock, so I’ll be staying in and coloring today’s picture: download it here. But I’m sure we’ll be able to skate this weekend as the high temperature will be 1 degree fahrenheit, but I’m guessing we won’t even try to go outside.

As always, buy the coloring book here and show off your work here!

December can’t just be all black and white on the ol’ blog–it is christmas time after all. These beautiful colors came from my local thrift store and were absolutely free. I have always like the childcraft series and had my eye out for the “make and do” volume, but never could find it. The other day I was dropping some stuff at the thrift shop and spotted the whole series in the donation bin. I was tempted to swipe it, but the dude working there was right in front of me and besides stealing from charity is just bad mojo. So I asked him and he said the lady who gave it away was still there and I could ask her. She gave me a thumbs up and I threw all that awesomeness in my trunk.

It’s the 1964 edition and the illustrations are fantastic. The make and do volume is of course my favorite: the projects are super simple and make me feel like I could do them with my children, unlike when I look at Martha and feel like a second rate mom because I can’t deal with glitter.

There might even be some christmas presents in there for the kids to make, or if nothing else they have given me some quiet while the kids l0ok at all 15 of them on the couch, which is a huuuge christmas present for their mama.

Growing up we were a very lazy (and cheap) get your christmas tree on christmas eve kind of family. I won’t even go into the time we didn’t have a tree, but instead clothespinned pine branches onto our fig tree (I thought it was because of my whining, but I think it was the laziness, see above). Needless to say, I am now fully in the christmas tree the day after thanksgiving camp. So ours is up and decorated–by my 2 and 4 year old, but decorated nonetheless. Even if you don’t have a tree yet you can download, color and decorate this lovely one just the way you like.

Show off all your pretty trees here and buy a coloring book for under the tree here!

We’re getting out all the christmas boxes today and doing it up! Though with a two and a four year old I think we’ll skip the cool vintage balls this year.  But these ornaments aren’t breakable! Download today’s coloring page here and show it off here.

And purchase the whole coloring book in my etsy shop.

Download this portly little snowman here and color him for the fifth day of advent. Remember to put out your shoes for St. Nicholas day tomorrow! He might just leave you an advent calendar coloring book of your very own!