Late last night I was snuggling into bed when Matt came in and said he had to give me my present then. So I got out of bed and tip-toed into the living room to find…
A homemade Ball jar table lamp!!
A bit hard to see in the dark… but it’s gorgeous and so me!
He made it himself out of metal pipes (just like he did my clothing rack from our rental house)
I’ll post some more photos today!
We slept in this morning and then enjoyed Great Harvest pancakes and presents!
3 flavors: pecan, banana and chia, topped with Cookie Butter and Cocoa-Nut
Chestnut – Christmas appropriate!
Dancer + Prancer
During breakfast we opened gifts that our family sent – got lots of fun stuff including socks + Nuttzo and an Organic Butcher gift certificate from Karen (who is in Alabama with Andrew and her family), some nice body wash + lotions, and quite a few checks that made us very happy!
This is my first Christmas ever without my family and we miss them, but luckily we were able to get some live action via Skype last night!
I was worried it wouldn’t feel like Christmas without my parents’ big old house, but I think we’ve done a good job creating our own fun. And tonight we’re having friends over for a fancy dinner!
There won’t be too much relaxing today because we have a LOT of packing to do! We leave on our vacation tomorrow!
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
Yay for being able to connect w family on Skype!
Love the ball jar lamp. Very chic!
Have an awesome day! Where is vaca to?
bitt says
Merry Christmas! Enjoy that vacation.
If you have a chance at some point I’d really love a tutorial for the lamp making because I’d love to make one too! I love DIY.
Khushboo says
Merry Xmas to both you and Matt :)! What a thoughtful gift 🙂
Lynn @ the actor's diet says
Woah! How crafty!!! He should patent that and sell em on open sky!
Susan H. @ the food allergy chronicles says
Merry Christmas! Have a fun filled vacation!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Merry Christmas to you both!
That lamp is amazing; I love it! 🙂
I started my morning with pancakes as well but I did gingerbread – delicious. And since I’m away from my family this Christmas too, the Skype call will be later this afternoon.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
A very thoughtful gift 🙂
Merry Christmas to you, Matt and the family!!!
Jodi @ Jodeexi Writes says
Ah Skype is the best! Glad you got to see your family. And what a cool gift! Maybe a DIY post from Matt?? 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Wow that is SO cool! Nice job Matt!! I love Skype as well and use it regularly to keep in touch with my friends and family overseas. I hope you enjoy the rest of your Christmas day and good luck with that packing!
Karen says
What at an incredibly thoughtful one-of-a-kind gift. Matt always impresses with his artistic talents.
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, and safe travels to your mystery destination.
Mom says
Love the lamp! Skyping was fun….My first!
Ashley @ Coffee, Cake and Cardio says
Beautiful lamp! Merry Christmas!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
The lamp is great and as you said, so YOU! The best gifts are the ones that really fit the recipient and that the recipient will use…and the lamp succeeded on both fronts.
Glad you and the fam had some Skype time, too 🙂
Jennifer says
Wow….that lamp is so unique and beautiful! What a nice thing for Matt to do for you. 🙂 Very sweet.
Hope the rest of your day is wonderful.
Julie says
Where are you going??
KathEats says
It’s a surprise!
Amanda says
What an AWESOME lamp! Such a thoughtful and creative gift.
Good luck with the packing! I always have so much trouble deciding what I should and shouldn’t bring.
Lorin says
Have fun on your vacay!! That ball jar lamp is awesome. What did you end up getting for Matt?
KathEats says
a pizza peel! And books, and a beer cap wreath and ornament and his favorite peanut butter buckeye from Feast
Lorin says
That all sounds awesome. I love buckeyes.
Jen says
What a unique and thoughtful gift – although you may need a bigger table now with the lamp on it lol!! I never thought you and your sister looked much alike before but now I can definitely see the resemblance!
Kathy W. says
That lamp would look amazing on your new porch, too!
Merry Christmas to you & Matt!!
KathEats says
We hope to move it out there in the summer!
Roxanne says
So creative of Matt. He sure “knows” you….
Roxanne says
oh, and homemade is the BEST!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Cute present! Merry CHristmas 😀
Dani says
Yay! Comment 26 😉 Merry Christmas to you and Matt. Has sure been fun watching your businesses grow this past year. Have a wonderful vacation!
Cait's Plate says
Good luck getting ready for the vacation – and ENJOY IT! I’m so excited for you – you absolutely deserve it 🙂 Merry, merry Christmas!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Very, very, very cool lamp!! Matt is very talented in the arts. 😀
Merry Christmas! Enjoy your day.
Becky @ Taste of Healthy Goodness says
Gorgeous lamp! Such a talented couple 🙂
Kristi @ Hiding in Honduras says
This is our first Christmas away from family, too! But I always enjoy reading your blog b/c I’m a fellow NC girl and your posts remind me of home 🙂
Hope you have a great vacation and can’t wait to see where you’re headed!
robin says
Vacation, what vacation? Youre still gonna post i hope:)
Army Amy* says
That Skype picture of everybody is so cute!*
J @ ... semplicemente ... j says
We too are away from my family … Skype actually really helps … incredible all the things that have changed our world.
It was a beautiful Christmas … family was missed … but it was truly beautiful.
Have a great vacation.
Natalie Monson says
I love the lamp!! What a sweet and creative gift to give!! Hope you guys have a merry Christmas with your family! Lots of love form our house to yours 😀
Kelly @ Foodie Fiasco says
It’s my first Christmas without my family, too, but it’s nice to still be able to talk to them. 😉 Merry Christmas!
Amykinz @ Foodie 4 Healing says
I LOVE that lamp! And the fact that Matt made it himself makes it even better. 🙂 And I can’t believe how much your family looks like you!
Jenn says
yum…what ans where is cookie butter? sounds fun.
enjoy your vacation. jamie and me are thinking about an impromptu vacation to our wedding site this week. disappointed i missed the bread email notification. we have been with lots of family the last few days. i just realized my phone is still in the car. oops. guess, i’m not taking calls either ;P
pinch…yep, human.
KathEats says
It’s Cookie Butter from Trader Joe’s! AKA Biscoff.
Hope to see you soon!
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles says
Very cool lamp & pancakes! =)
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
What an awesome lamp! That was so thoughtful of Matt!
I’m sorry you didn’t get to spend Christmas with your family – thank goodness for Skype though. 😀 We used it to “spend” Thanksgiving with my sister since she couldn’t make it home then. I love how it’s almost like being with the other person!
Lisa says
I follow, but don’t comment very often…
Three words: best husband ever!
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
The lamp is adorable! What a clever idea!
Lindsay says
Great job for making it a special Christmas with you two:) we thought it’d be weird in Korea too, but we really loved our day~ and the new holiday tradition of kimchi on Christmas Eve:)
Lexi @ A Spoonful of Sunshine says
Lovelovelove the lamp. Matt is quite the Santa Claus 😉
Jenn says
Love that a Trader’s Joes is coming to town soon. I will make a mental note of this.
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
LOVE the lamp 🙂
Katie says
What a perfect lamp for you! Can you change the jars for another color if you want? My husband made me a beautiful cedar chest and I gave him a home beer brewing kit. We got it going yesterday so we’ll have to see how it turns out.
Angel7 says
Oh Kath… That table lamp that Matt made you is awesome!!! Please tell him he did a great job!
He should make you a chandelier like that for over your dining room table — kind of the same concept as the one I liked on the Web site of all the lamps you told us about 🙂 It would be so your taste, and his handiwork combined. What do you think of that ideat? Plus, it would not cost you that much 🙂
It would be hard for me not to be with my family on Christmas as well!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Allison says
WOW, the lamp is so creative and stunning!!! Presents that are homemade always are super special… P.S. Your pancakes and set-up are fabulous- great looking food and a festive setting!