Merry Christmas

I really need to try and update my blog more often! Merry Christmas everyone! I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the festive spirits that the holidays bring!

Things have been busy with us! We started looking at homes in the area a couple months ago, but last week found a great home in foreclosure that was listed at an amazing price! We were really excited! It definitely needed love, but nothing that a little elbow grease and some DIY couldn't cure! We submitted our first offer on Friday night after seeing the inside of the house for the first time. However, come Sunday night we were told we were in a bidding war and needed to submit our final and best offer by Tuesday afternoon.

The house I fell in love with and now must let go. Boooo....

Needless-to-say we didn't get the house. It was between our offer and one other one, and we received the phone call tonight that the other offer was accepted. I was pretty bummed, as was Ian, but I think the difference for me was that I already felt like it was our home and  was decorating and accessorizing in my head day after day. Something felt different about this house and I really thought our offer was a strong one. It's too bad. I could have done some serious awesome to that house!

On a different note, I really need to get my craft on! I started a painting project for my family's "secret Santa" yesterday, but a couple of my canvases didn't quite turn out so I had to run to the store tonight for more spray paint. I will post pictures on those after they are dry tomorrow.

I also started completing a couple accordion albums tonight that I meant to give as gifts to our former neighbors about 3 months ago. Way to go me! I seriously need to get better about crafting and DIYing on a more timely manner. 2013 resolution? Possibly. They are very similar in style and color to the albums I posted some weeks back titled "Challenge Post #3" on my Candid Captures blog. Check it out if you haven't already! I am pretty proud of them!

Lastly, I bought a new sewing machine tonight! I had to get paint at the store anyway, and last time I was at Walmart I saw these Brother sewing machines on sale for $49.95! It's an LS2350 with 20 stitch functions and a starter DVD. I like the Brother brand of machine, but I wasn't sure how this would hold up. There were some really great reviews and some not so great reviews online. Well I did some research and decided to try my luck and see what happens. I have an OLD Singer sewing machine stored in my parents' basement, but I decided I needed something a little more portable and easier to handle. Besides, Singer isn't my favorite! I will have to update later on how I like this little machine!

I hope everyone is looking forward to the holidays! I know I am! Merry Christmas all!