The Not-So-Merry Christmas Market

My friend Christy and I decided to meet up a couple of Saturdays ago and shop a little Boutique Christmas Market that was being held in one of the new alumni buildings of the local college.

Christy's husband was home so he was forced to he had the priviledge of staying home with their kids. T was lucky enough to dodge that bullet and go to work. I had to take Natalie and Michaela Byrd with me.

I should have known it would be "one of those mornings" when the girls threw a fit in the car when I went into Starbucks to get an order for Christy and myself. But I stupidly remained hopeful, and we headed up the hill to the boutique.

After we donated some money for a local children's charity (Natalie is placing an ornament with our name on the tree below), any goodwill on earth and peace that may have been with my oldest evaporated.

I had just payed for my ticket and walked in the door when she started in with the whining, lagging, and overall nuisanceness. Some bloggers give you a look at life with children with rose-colored glasses. There will be none of that today.

I had just enough time to snap some pictures of cute gift ideas that I bet any of us could make on our own before I dragged my kids back outside. I thought I'd share them with you today:

I am sure you could paint your own wine glasses for much less than $8.00 a pop.

Fun fabric headbands for a little girl:

I can't do jewelry, but I did love the little birdie jewelry tree at this booth:

Cute reusable totes in girlie colors!!

Don't you just love these hand towels?

I could use a pretty luggage tag that is not a paper one from the airlines.

Natalie threw a real fit over these personalized Playtex (!) straw cups, but I refused to buy one from her after the scene she caused.

No-sew fleece blankets!

"Tag Blankies" for babies. Michaela Byrd had one when she was itty bitty and loved it.

This picture frame is to die for gorgeous. Completely fab!

I had about 10 minutes of oohing and aahing with Christy before I couldn't take the whining and fussing from my oldest child. In order to save sanity for all of us, I took my kids outside for an impromptu photo shoot.

But not until after I spilled my Starbucks all over the stroller seat (thank goodness Michaela Byrd wasn't in it!)

The college's alumni building is up on a hill that overlooks the "Olde Towne." The church steeple in the distance has been there since before the Civil War.

The one in pigtails doesn't look like a child who thought she might die if she didn't get out of the sale, does she?

There are more pictures of Michaela Byrd because she is more compliant and seems to like having her picture taken.

Sometimes, she'll just pose randomly and say "cheese!" whether I'm taking her photo or not.

We came across a bunny tea party under the holly tree.

Hope you found some gift ideas today. If I can get my act together, I might try my hand at a few!