oh christmas tree...

oh christmas tree from Courtney Brooke on Vimeo.

decided to make a video of me decorating our christmas tree.

video camera died in the middle of filming.

two days in a row.

gave up.

could have been a thousand times cuter... but this is what i got.

hope everyone had a fun christmas and new years!

cute crates

a fun little redo for you:

scored two cute crates at goodwill last week for $2 each!
i really wanted to distress them, and make them look a little more old & worn.


and i made it work!
all i had to use was silver car window paint, and a cotton ball to use as a paint brush.
it was a funny process, but i am so in love with the way it turned out!


went to ikea and got a few of my favorite plants ever... succulents!
they were about $2-3 each, and the silver tins we 75 cents. love me my ikea.
and then i placed them in my kitchen windowsill, they make me so happy!

a little tour.

welcome to my cozy apartment....
here are a few pics of my
"how to decorate for christmas with little money"

metal wreath frame: $2
yarn: about $6 with plenty left over
felt for flowers: $2.50 and still have enough left over to make 100 more!
ornaments: $.99 for a package of 4!

banner: $.99
2 tree ornaments: $.99

beaded garland: $.99
ornaments: $.99
already had cotton balls and string

left: front window display
beaded garland: $.99
already had snowflakes and paper for the paper chain
right: poinsettias
poinsettias: $.99 each - bought 3
milk glass vase: already had

my table centerpiece

top left: package of ornaments: $.99
top right: candlesticks: 2 for $.99 bought 6
bottom left: bird in glass: $2 from marshall's
(was supposed to be an ornament, but was broken)
bottom right: cotton balls: already had
glass jars: already had

right: vintage angel: $1.99

my christmas tree!
used all my leftover ornaments, cotton balls, and garland!

ta da!
and all of this for less than $30!
thank you 99 cent store and goodwill.
so worth it, and makes it feel a little more like christmas in this warm weather.

a playdate!

today i spent the morning with my niece, navi.
we crafted. played hide and go seek. sang christmas songs. and danced around my apt.
i feel so lucky i get to live so close to my niece, being an auntie really is the best!


painted a rocking horse ornament, and made a gingerbread man.


she kept knocking off the puff balls, and would say "oh, sorry gingerbread. i'm so sorry"
so stinkin cute!


monkey cheese for lunch.


helped her make this cute necklace.







she kept saying... "courty, don't takey picture!"
like that would stop me.
until next playdate...

did ya know?

i moved!
yep, no more blow up mattress bed.
no more sleeping in navi's room.
(i do miss her though)

i found a steal of a deal and snatched it up quick.
i moved in a few days before i headed out to utah for 2 weeks.
i have two roomies, one which i share a room with.
my place is adorable, maybe one day i'll post pictures.
but the thing i love most is finally having my own space,
and being able to decorate for holidays!
haven't been able to do this in a few years, and it's been killing me.

i've already started decorating, & i'll put pictures up when i'm finished.
but here is a little peek!


spent my night making paper chains, love it.


this is my table centerpiece. i might be a tad obsessed.

i promise to post more soon, once i figure out how to hang things. my cheap tape from the 99 cent store is not holding things up. i may have shattered a few ornaments. oops.