Heirloom Ornament

Trim your tree with this beautiful "cheap but chic" ornament.

Pine cones are one of the most versatile crafting mediums in nature. You can turn them into tons of holiday decorations for virtually every season of the year. And the best thing is they're FREE!!! For Christmas they make beautiful sconces, medallions and of course ornaments. Here I'll show you how to make a personalized, simple but elegant heirloom ornament that will give your tree a fantastic sparkle for years top come. Its very easy enough for kids to make too!

What you'll need:

Pinecones

White Glue

Glitter

Thin String or Curling Ribbon

Pretty Organza Ribbon and/or sheer tulle

"Charm" such as a small photo, toy, figurine, or jewelry remnant

Scissors

Hole Punch

Paintbrush

1. First set out all your materials...use a plate to catch falling glitter. For a more modern look you can spray your pinecones first with a metallic spray paint like silver or gold. I like to keep them in their natural state for a more vintage, rustic look. Just make sure they are free of dried pine needles. Try to choose pinecones with attached stems, it makes it easier to tie your ribbons to them.
2. Holding the stem of the pinecone, or the top if there isn't one..."paint" the pinecone with the white glue in a downward motion, this will ensure that the glue collects at the tips of the pinecone scales.
3. Sprinkle the pinecone with your choice of glitter. I like silver and gold together, it gives it an opulent look-Set aside your glitterized pinecone to dry
4. Next make an heirloom "charm" for your pinecone by attaching a small photo or toy to the thin string or curling ribbon. It should be something that reminds you of a family member at a certain time. Use a small hole punch to make a hole in the upper left hand side of the photo. I used a picture of "baby" Chase :)
5. Next tie your charm to the top of your glitterized pinecone...leaving a couple rows of scales free at the top if your pinecone has no stem
6. Last...tie a bow at the very top of the pine cone....If your pinecone has no stem, slip the ribbon under the free row of scales on top and tie.
7. VOILA...attach it to your tree with a wire ornament hook.

When you're taking down the tree, wrap the pinecone ornaments in tissue paper and put them in a cardboard box by themselves. Take care to place the ornaments with the heavier charms on bottom so they won't crush the pinecones-they're very delicate ;)

Enjoy!

The Light of My Life

The many faces of Mason ;)

This past weekend was an emotional one for me. Our family celebrated my son Mason's third birthday, and I have to say the nostalgia surrounding his birth and my subsequent reflection on our mother/son relationship, and the bond we share at present really made me very sentimental. (I love you soooooo much baby =)!!!!)Mason has definitely been a great light in my life. He's just an extraordinary kid with an infectious personality that whomever comes in contact with can't get enough of. He's grown leaps and bounds and amazes me every single day. At 3 years old he's incredibly intelligent, (I'm not just saying that because I'm his proud mommy, trust me... ask anyone who knows him ;) and just a sweet, innocent soul. As he gets older, and as I start to know him more as his own individual, a new life has been breathed into my lungs. When I look at him and I see all the life, innocence, potential, and the raw self-confidence that radiates from his little body, I know that life is just a series of glass ceilings that can always be broken, and for my son, sky is the limit. But, sky is not just the limit for him, but for his greatest benefit, myself as well ;). As parents, we are our childrens primary example. How can we tell our children to chase their dreams, to be their greatest, that they can accomplish anything, if we don't exemplify that through ourselves? Mason has shown me, just by being him, that life is great, and that he along with his brother Chase are my reasons for still chasing my dreams and accomplishing the goals I've always had for myself. I want the best for them, so in turn I want the best for myself. Mason has reignited a motivation within myself that could have died out before. He's given me a reason to want more for me and my family, and a motivation to make his and his brother's lives the best possible. Kids are blessings in so many shapes and forms...they uncover places in your heart and mind that are unexplorable to others...He's made me look at my husband and appreciate him as well. Only Vic and I could make Mason...no other two people in the entire world...without each other, we'd never have our light. Our bond as husband and wife is definitely strengthened by Mason & Chase =)....All this love, and just to think I have another one who's coming into his own and is already shining down a ray of his own into my world...I'm truly blessed to have children as wonderful as mine and I'm especially blessed that God put a child like Mason into my life when he did. I've started to see the world through the eyes of a three year old with the keys to life in his hands, and you know what? Its looking more beautiful then ever... You're one in a million baby.... I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Building Confidence on the Playground

My sons, Mason & Chase at the Mystic Aquarium in Norwalk, CT

Now more than ever, my friends and I are having more conversations about finding yourself and just what it means to be "you." And self -confidence & self esteem always come into play. They defintitely play a big role in finding yourself, knowing who you are, and ultimately being comfortable with that person. As a parent I've come to realize that you have the ability to build up your child's self confidence everyday, in a good way. You of course don't want to drive your child to narcissism, but just make them comfortable enough within his/her own skin that they're not second guessing themselves later on. Reinforce ideas that what makes them THEM is special and that while nobody is like he/she EVERYBODY is different. Take notice of their little interests and encourage activities and excursions related to them. Hone talents they exhibit from an early age and get EXCITED about them. SHOW them that you're proud and TELL them that they're great, and you're happy they like the things they do. Give them something about themselves to be proud of and they'll build their esteem from there. You are each other's biggest fans and there's so much power in just that. Instilling the self-esteem they need while they are most impressionable will give them the ability and confidence to face risks, be happy and true to the individuals they become, and uncover any dreams they may have...what more could a mother ask for?