December 17, 2014

LET'S NOT LET CHRISTMAS PASS US BY

December 17, 2014/ Laura Liira

8 sleeps until Christmas. Eiiggggghhhhttttttt!!!! Our apartment is in shambles. Half packed boxes, messy kitchen, don't even get me started on the bedroom....We got possession of OUR HOME on Monday and now James is working crazy hard to get the walls and floors done before we move in at the end of the month. I'm freaking out a little bit.

And if I'm not careful, Christmas may pass me by.

Can anyone else relate to this? Swamped with exams....Christmas party after Christmas party...insane work season...never ending shopping list... Isn't it ironic that perhaps all the activities that are supposed to make you enjoy the season, are actually doing the opposite? Does it seem like Christmas is passing you by?

Almost every Christmas, I've had a real tree. Not some little Charlie Brown excuse of a tree, but a big, bustling, at least 7 foot tall sucker. This year because of the move, we didn't get one. It would have been crazy to take out our Christmas box and move a tree two days after Christmas.

But on Saturday, I couldn't take it anymore. I knew our home needed something. I couldn't stand not having any decorations up. So I grabbed some washi tape and made a makeshift Christmas tree, wrapped some presents and placed them on a sheepskin. I was determined to not let Christmas pass me by.

Christmas is not meant to merely pass by us. Christmas is meant to be soaked in. To be pondered. To be reflected upon. To be sipped slowly like a steaming hot peppermint mocha on a cold day.

I can't help but think of Mary in this season. Mary, the brave young woman who birthed God's gift to us, Jesus Christ. Things were craaazy for her. Visited by an Angel, travelling on a donkey at 9 months pregnant, birthing Christ in a barn, shepherds coming to see baby Jesus full of glorious stories of chorus' of angels telling them of the Messiah's birth. Now that is a lot to handle. But I love what it says about Mary in Luke 2:19...

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

She took it all in. Among the bustle, she let all the beauty, the thrill, the magnificence sink deep into her heart.

I'm so inspired by Mary. I'm determined to not let Christmas pass me by. Amidst the insanity, I'm challenged to be still. To ponder and reflect on the beauty, thrill, magnificence of Christmas... Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. Let's soak it in this Christmas.

Who's with me?

Love you to the moon & back,

s.s.♥︎.

P.S. HUGE thank you to all of you who filled out the Reader Survey from Monday. I love hearing your feedback! If you haven't had time to do it, I'll still be receiving responses. It means so much to me that you would take the time out of your hectic day to help improve this site, thank you xo

December 15, 2014

S.S. HEART READER SURVEY // I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

December 15, 2014/ Laura Liira

Hello friends! First of all, I want to thank you so much for following along on the S.S. Heart journey. I've been blogging at S.S.Heart since 2009 (2009-2013 were sporadic posts on my old tumblr blog) but stepped up my game (moved to squarespace, re-launched ssheart) and actually started blogging seriously this past January.

I love blogging. I love writing about the beautiful (and sometimes, not so beautiful) parts of life. I love designing. I love being challenged to improve my photography. I love being inspired to create new recipes. I love it all! And it absolutely makes my heart sparkle that you take time out of your busy life to come to this space.

So it would thrill me if you would take a couple more minutes out of your day to fill out the survey below. I want to improve this space and I would love your feedback on what you want to read! The survey is completely anonymous, so please be honest! (Constructive criticism welcome...but please no unnecessary negativity!)

Thank you so much guys :)

Thank you for helping improve S.S.Heart!

xoxo,

s.s.♥︎.

December 12, 2014

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE // STOCKING STUFFERS

December 12, 2014/ Laura Liira

1. Cat Hand Mirror // 2. Heart Water Bottle // 3. Glitter Confetti iPhone Case // 4. Mega Babe Keychain // 5. Nest Rollerball // 6. Gold Dot Back Up Battery // 7. Nail Polish

Past Holiday Gift Guides:

Finished your Christmas shopping yet? I, surprisingly, am almost done! Usually I finish mine on Christmas Eve but this year I got a bit of a head start. Just have to find a couple stocking stuffers for James and a few gifts for family members but other than that I am done!

Got any fun weekend plans? My sisters and sister-in-law are having a baking date Saturday afternoon and then it's a good friend's 30th birthday..yahoo!..Other than that, I'll be PACKING PACKING PACKING!!!

Happy Friday!

s.s.♥︎.

December 11, 2014

WARDROBE // 9

December 11, 2014/ Laura Liira

Oh, the beloved blanket scarf. The queen of multipurpose.

Scarf? Check. Blanket? Check. Table cloth? Check.

Sign me right up.

Things round here have been major cray. On Monday we signed a bajillion papers at the lawyers and right after, I iced a bajillion (6 dozen!) cookies for a cookie exchange. Let's just say...we're not bored at all.

We did manage to squeeze in a quick style shoot on Saturday though...again I'm so thankful that James supports my blogging dreams :)

Her-

Scarf- Zara (couldn't find it on the website but I bought it in November, here's something similar) // Bag // Leather Jacket- similar // Chambray // Jeans // Nail Polish // Lipstick // Boots

Him-

Jacket- Vintage // Beanie // Shirt // Jeans // Shoes

Past Wardrobes- 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

And right before we snapped those photos, our realtor snapped this one of us....!!!!!!!!!!

MONDAY MONDAY MONDAY!!!!!!! (We get possession on MONDAY!)

Hope you have a fabulous Thursday :)

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

December 08, 2014

FREE PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS

December 08, 2014/ Laura Liira

Have you started wrapping your Christmas presents yet? I did some shopping this weekend and wrapped a few gifts up. I am OBSESSED with wrapping presents....I blame the obsession on my many years of working the fragrance counter at Christmas time. I wrapped soooo many bottles of perfume. So if you need some help wrapping prezzies this year, I'm your girl.