I'm a true animal lover, and over the years, from childhood to parenthood, I've been a mother to many. Pets in all shapes and sizes from dogs and cats, hamsters, rabbits to hermit crabs, frogs, turtles, fish and one parakeet named Tweety. Who's last on that list for a reason. You see in real life, I'm not a fan of birds. Well, close up anyway. They just creep me out. Maybe it's thanks to Alfred Hitchcock and my history with his terrifying movie . Or perhaps it's because they're not soft and cuddly like the others. Honestly though, I think it all goes back to Tweety.

Happy (almost) New Year, folks! Just one more day to go and we're off and running into 2026. Don't you just love flipping the page on a brand new calendar? A clean slate, a fresh start, so many possibilities and ways to fill those little numbered boxes. How exciting. Like many of you, during this week between Christmas and New Year's Day, I find myself contemplating exactly what I'd like the next few months to look like.

For over a decade now, as the year draws to a close, I like to revisit the crafts, DIYs and tales that were most popular over the last 12 months. And reshare them. I tell myself that perhaps you missed one, or it wasn't relevant at the time. Or maybe you weren't a follower in January or February...or July. But to be honest, this annual round up is secretly for me. It's my chance look back, take stock and see what I accomplished over the last 12 months, because to be honest, sometimes I forget what I wrote about. I know it sounds silly, but it's true. I also find it incredibly fascinating to see what posts received the most visits and interaction. I always try to guess what topics will end up on the short list. And 99% of the time, I'm way off.

Ho-Ho-Ho friends and Merry Christmas! I hope you're all having a wonder filled December and are ready for the festivities. We're just a few days away now and I'm getting really excited. To be honest, it's been a very different kind of December around here. I guess the best way to describe it, is to say it's been a slow month.

Trends are not my thing. I guess I've just never been a follower. I believe in doing my own thing. Filling my house - and my life - with stuff that makes me smile. Regardless of what the magazines or celebrity influencers share. And I've been saying that, in print and online, for over a decade.

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite holiday traditions was curling up on the couch with my family to watch the animated Christmas specials. I remember burying my head in my father's chest when the Abominable Snow Monster of the North roared at Rudolph's shiny nose. I remember jumping off that sofa, to dance and sing along with Snow Miser and Heat Miser. I can recall Charlie Brown's little tree, the Burgermeister's terrible laws and of course, Frosty's magic hat. And, like many of you, now, decades later, I can still recite every line from these show.  Verbatim.

It's no secret that crafting, especially with thrift store finds, is my passion. And there's no better time to do that than during the holidays. Of course, I gather ideas for Christmas crafts all year long...but thrift shopping can tricky. You can never be quite sure you'll find what you're looking for, when you're looking for it. So when I see things I think I might use in December, I grab them. Regardless of what the calendar says.