honored.

Did I ever tell you Kristin Rogers included our animals in a shoot she did for one of my favorite products?

Yup, Greg's sweetest handmade animals are in a spread Kristin did for BlaBla dolls, my most coveted children's toy.
I'm glad Greg's blocks are so greatly loved, he gets such joy out of making them ♥
You can see the rest of Kristin's photos for BlaBla here.
Hey, its almsot Friday!
xoxo j

ps. Greg is taking is currently taking custom orders for christmas, if you're interested feel free to contact him!
jessandgreghandmade[at]gmail[dot]com

DIY: Advent Pocket Calendar

Hiii! I miss you guys! I do not know why I cannot quite get back into my blogging rhythm, I am just so invested in the current moment of life that I forget to visit with you here.
We have been so super busy I am now three days behind posting our this years advent!
Last year I made this DIY advent calendar, and this weekend I made a new one when my littles came over to play for the day.

We are loving decorating for our first christmas together. Our home already looks magical even though we dont have much thats truly deemed "christmas decor'. We are being inventive and creative and our home is filled with so much comfort and joy for the season.

If you want to make your own advent calendar Greggy made templates for you!
Just print these out, fold, and glue the flaps. Fill your pockets with goodies and special date nights and have fun counting down to christmas!

[click to enlarge]

More holiday happiness in the coming weeks.

xoxo j

our sweet slice of pie.

We've been keeping a secret... 6 weeks ago we bought a puppy. 

This is Avery, the absolute love of our life.

We've been patiently (or not so) waiting for her to be old enough to bring home and although we have only had her a week, it feels like she has been part of our little family forever.

Hope you had a great start to the week!

xo j

aka mama bird

DIY: Give Thanks Banner

Helllllo!
I hope you all had an absolutely peachy Monday! I wanted to write all weekend but it was quite possibly our last burst of sunshine in upstate New York. Before the long we will be enduring the long winter so we had to get outside and enjoy to air.
When the sun goes down Greg and I retreat into our little home to spend our evenings snuggling, laughing, dreaming, and creating new things.
We were out recently I found I little banner I so badly wanted to buy. Greg assured me he could recreate it at home, he did. It was so darling I had to share it with you.

 1. cardstock 2. ribbon 3. hot glue gun 4. scissors

1. Cut out all your triangles

2. Measure out your ribbon and crease over your letters

3. All you need is a thin line of glue

4. Don't forget to turn it over and glue down the back!

 Hang it it somewhere in your home for the season!
Did you notice how many more leaves are on our Thankful Tree in just a week?! I love it!
Also my sweet husband is so kind, he made printable banner letters so you can truly make this at home!

[click images to enlarge & print]

I have been trying to take the time to go through our wedding photos so I can share them with you. I promise to get a least one post within the week.
Thanks always for your love and support.
Happy Homemaking:)
xo j

DIY: Thankful Tree

Well, were home from the deep south and my brother now has a wife, *sigh*.
And I couldn't believe with our return came the first of November.
This happens to be one of my favorite months. The further and further we get into autumn and the leading up to winter always just makes me the happiest. There's just something about this time each year that makes my insides warm and makes me oh so thankful. Its possibly the nearing end of the year which makes me reflect and recollect all my memories of the past eleven months. All the joy, all the overcoming, and all that we have endured.
Thats why in November I like to make a Thankfulness Tree.
It can be something small like having hot coffee each morning or big like having a committed spouse.
Either way its something new for each day in the month of November that leaves you blessed.
I did this last year with my nanny kids and this year I thought I would share it with all of you.
Super simple and good for the soul, it will help leave even your worst days better because you are focusing on gratitude.

You will need:
1. pretty paper 2. branches 3. mason jar 4. yarn 5. hole punch 6. pen

1. Cut out your leaves and punch the holes (I promise you do them ALL ahead of time, if you think you'll have time cut one everyday you probably wont)

2. Hole punch the bottom of each leaf, thread yarn and tie

3. Put all your branches in a mason jar 

4. Start writing your thanks! We left our extra leaves and a pen near our tree so we remember to do it each day.

At the end of the month you will have a beautiful tree, full of love and blessings and an appreciation of both. I hope you challenge yourself this month, be happy, be thankful.

xoxo j