I'm enjoying this Christmas season and taking more of a minimalist approach.  While decorating and extravagant gift giving is many people's idea of a great holiday, I'm just not there, it seems like too much effort and isn't really Christmas to me.

I did take some time to put lights on some plants, which I love.

So, other than the plant lights, things were minimal, until today.  For some reason I felt moved to hang stockings.  Maybe it was the need to enjoy some Michigan family traditions since I'm staying in Colorado this Christmas.

My family....what can I say......we are HUGE stocking people.  Over the years Christmas stockings has evolved from filling the actual stockings into stuffing a giant sack (or two) with a Christmas stocking drawn on it.  We all love this.  More fun than I can possibly communicate here....just trust me on this.

At stocking time....usually first thing in the morning still in our jammies.....we find our stockings (giant bags) overflowing with wrapped and amazingly practical and fun gifts.  One might find anything from duct tape to lip balm to scratch lottery tickets.   Who knows, it's really a grab bag and a very special tradition.  I think some of my most favorite gifts have come from the stocking!

So, today I decide it was time to bring out my stocking and the dogs (yes, Emma, Andy and Mikey each have a stocking, shaped like a bone, after all we are dog people!!).  Since I'm planning to be spending Christmas Day with my friend Mack I decided it would be "simple" to make a stocking for him and stuff it Michigan style.  

Here's the problem....I'm not Martha Steward, and I don't even play her on TV.  

It all started out simply....I got a plain stocking and some iron-on transfers.  I had the brilliant idea that I would create iron-on transfers of Mack's dogs and iron them on the stocking, after photo shoping in some little Santa hats and such.  Easy enough, except photo transfers on a red stocking just don't show up...it looks more like a blob.  Ick. 

Ok, hmmm, maybe I have a back up plan....I would print out pictures on photo paper and glue them on, and top things off by writing his name in glitter, held securely by Elmer's glue.  So, back to Michael's for a new stocking.  The back up plan ended up ok....the stocking looks a little grade-school-ish and maybe even tacky, but hey, it's the thought that counts, right?? 

Now, time to hang the stockings.  I ventured upstairs to my disaster area extra room and attempted to find my stocking but to no avail. After a bit of time I decided they must still be in storage!!!  Ick again.

Back to Michael's to get a stocking for me, and three little ones for the dogs.  Bonus, since I was here earlier today mark down's on Christmas stuff has gotten better....from 50% to 60% off!   I got back home and make a stocking for me with my doggies faces, and did my name in glitter too!  

Bummer, somehow I ended up with only two, not three, little stockings for the pooches..... Sounds like I have yet one more trip to Michael's tomorrow.   See, it's not so simple anymore!

And, if you got this far in my post, please wish my AWESOME MOM a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!  Mom, I love you.....