As we end 2016 and welcome 2017 it is important to reflect on the year. Doing so invites feelings of thankfulness to help us realize how blessed we are. We can also reflect on our goals to see what worked and what didn’t. Lastly, it encourages us to see just how far we have come and pushes us to reach farther in the coming year. If you haven’t yet taken the time to, I encourage you to take the time to reflect on your 2016. If you need some inspiration take a look at my 2016 reflections below.

As we end 2016 and welcome 2017 it is important to reflect on the year. If you haven’t yet, get inspired by taking a look at my 2016 reflections.

[bctt tweet=”As we end 2016 and welcome 2017 it is important to reflect on the year. Check out mine here! #newyears” username=”diyadulation”]

As we end 2016 and welcome 2017 it is important to reflect on the year. If you haven’t yet, get inspired by taking a look at my 2016 reflections.

Personal

In terms of my personal growth, 2016 has been phenomenal. I have begun to step outside of my comfort zone and grow into a stronger, more confident woman. It took getting knocked down a few times to realize just who and where I wanted to be. One of the greatest accomplishments was becoming more outgoing.

If you read How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions then you know that one of my goals was to be more outgoing overall. That was the scariest of all of my resolutions but also one of the most rewarding. I remember many years ago when I took part in a local Christmas choir. They had a meet and greet party after everyone was cast. I was so painfully shy that I wouldn’t even go to the restroom because I didn’t want to walk across the room and draw attention to myself. Crazy, I know, but the sad truth is that I wasn’t much better than that at the beginning of 2016. I am happy to say that I am a lot more confident and outgoing now. I have also made some wonderful new friends as a result.

As we end 2016 and welcome 2017 it is important to reflect on the year. If you haven’t yet, get inspired by taking a look at my 2016 reflections.

Family

The way that your family grows and changes in one little year is simply incredible. It is hard to believe that in a few short years all of my kiddos will be in school! Last month I realized how fast it is all going and made the decision to make spending time together a priority. We are now making family dinners and a weekly family night a priority. We love our game nights the best but we’ve also had movie nights, family outings, and more. I can tell you with absolute certainty that you will never regret spending more time with your kids, even when the night is a complete disaster.

As we end 2016 and welcome 2017 it is important to reflect on the year. If you haven’t yet, get inspired by taking a look at my 2016 reflections.

Business

DIY Adulation has grown leaps and bounds! It is hard to believe I just started this site last year. While I’m not yet earning a full-time income, I am making enough to cover expenses (and seeing steady monthly growth) so that is a huge win in my book.

Unfortunately, as far as building my business, that hasn’t gone far this year. That is one of the areas I will be focusing on for 2017. I am planning on launching 2 big launches later in the year: a course and a second book (you can get a copy of my first book here). These are huge ventures that I am super-excited to undertake!

Materials

Scrap Leather
Leather Cord
Hole Punch
Brad
Scissors
Needle and Thread

Step 1

Trim a piece of scrap leather into a rectangle. It can be any size you like but I recommend no smaller than 12 inches by 5 inches.

Tip:

You can be a precise as you would like but don’t feel like you have to be. Having some irregularities adds a more rustic touch to your organizer.

Step 2

Punch a hole in the center edge of the right side of your rectangle.

Note:

A traditional paper punch may not be strong enough to do this. I used my Crop-A-Dile Big Bite and had no problem. A leather punch would also work well.

Step 3

Fold your leather in half lengthwise and cut notches every two inches with your scissors. Make sure that you have an odd number of notches that are large enough to thread your leather cording through.

Step 4

Unfold your leather and thread your cording through. Start by threading the cord through your punched hole and next continue weaving back and forth through the notches.

Tip:

Only leave enough of the leather cording through the punched hole to secure it to your organizer. The excess cording should be at the opposite end.

Step 5

Push your brad through the punched hole with the prongs coming through the inside of your organizer. Fold out the prongs over the cording to secure them.

Step 6

Place a few stitches through your organizer and cording end at the brad to secure the cording thoroughly. You don’t want it pulling out when you tighten the cord around your chargers.

Step 7

Cut a small square of leather out of a piece that you trimmed off in step 1.

Step 8

Center the leather square over the cording and brad on the inside of your organizer.

Step 9

Secure the leather square into place by sewing a whipstitch around the edges.

Tip:

For a cleaner look, do not stitch all of the way through your organizer. Instead thread about halfway into your organizer leather and pull back up through your leather square. This is so that your stitches are not visible on the outside of your organizer.

Step 10

Lastly, add your charging cords and adapters and tighten your cording.

Step 11

Roll up your DIY leather charging cord organizer and wrap the excess cording around the outside to secure.

[bctt tweet=”Need a gift for your guy? This DIY Leather Charging Cord Organizer is perfect! #diy #giftidea” username=”diyadulation”]

This is such an easy and inexpensive way to organize all of your chargers in one place. You can change the look to fit your style by using a different color of leather for your organizer or cording. A DIY leather charging cord organizer is also a perfect DIY gift for the guys in your life. It is handsome and practical to delight even the most difficult men to shop for. If you want to make one for everyone on your gift list, opt for buying a yard of leather instead of using a scrap piece. Then you can cut all of your organizers at once and have enough to make them in bulk! I’d love to hear who you would make yours for. Let me know in the comments!

See where I’m linking up!

As you read in Unique DIY Advent Mailboxes, I love to weave activities into our Advent gifts. I also love to create beautiful packages to delight the kiddos no matter what’s inside. This is easier than you might think. Get awesome ideas to create memories with your Advent gifts or feel free to steal our exacting gifting schedule this season!

[bctt tweet=”Find out how to make memories with your Advent gifts this year! #ad @OrientalTrading #advent” username=”diyadulation”]

Advent Packages Materials

Christmas 12×12 Paper Pack
Stocking Stuffer Assortment
Hershey’s Miniatures
Double-Sided Tape
Green Curling Ribbon
Scissors
Hole Punch
Bronze Sharpie Marker

Step 1

Organize your gifts from the stocking stuffer pack by type. This will allow you to determine how many of each item you have and decide which ones you want to use as gifts.

Step 2

Write it down. Number a sheet of paper from 1-24 and determine what gifts and activities will be given on specific dates.

Tip:

Be sure when choosing gifts to check that they fit in your Advent mailboxes.

Step 3

Create pouches for the gifts using your scrapbook paper. To do this, measure the gifts on the paper. Cut a strip that is an inch wider than the gift.

Step 4

Next, fold the strip of paper in half.

Step 5

Unfold the paper and add double-sided tape to the edges of your pouch.

Step 6

Fold your paper back up and press on the taped edges to seal.

Step 7

Once your pouch is sealed, fold your top down and punch 2 holes in the top center of your pouch. See picture for reference.

Step 8

Next add your gift to the pouch and fold the flap back down.

Step 9

Cut a length of curling ribbon and thread it through the punched holes.

Step 10

Lastly, tie the ribbon in a bow to secure.

Step 11

Before putting your gift in a basket to store, number it with the appropriate date with your bronze Sharpie.

Step 12

Continue steps 3-11 until all of your gifts are wrapped and labeled.

Advent Activities

For these gifts I simply write the activity on a strip of paper and attach a piece of candy with a piece of double-sided tape. The exception to this is the “Minivan Express” which is our family’s favorite Christmas tradition. You can read more about it at the link above and also get free printable tickets there. She provides you with multiple ideas for your Minivan express night. Our family goes to look at Christmas lights in our area each year. I also choose to make our tickets because it is something I enjoy. You do not have to take the time to do this. However, if you would like to make your own this year I’ve made it super easy:

Step 1

Cut a red piece of 12×12 paper from your Christmas pack into 3 even strips.

Note:

This will make 3 tickets. If you have more children, you will need to cut an additional sheet.

Step 2

Fold each strip of paper in half and place double-sided tape on the white sides (or use a glue runner). Press firmly to secure.

Step 3

Color the edges of your tickets with your bronze Sharpie.

Tip:

Get crisp, even lines by folding a scrap piece of paper over the ticket leaving only the edge you want to color exposed.

Step 4

Next, write, “Minivan Express: Good for 1 Round-Trip” in the center of each ticket also with your bronze Sharpie.

Step 5 (Optional)

Because of the surprise element of the Minivan Express (we hide the tickets under the pillows for them to find at bedtime on the pre-determined night), the Advent gift for this day is the kaleidoscopes. Christmas lights look really cool when you look at them through the kaleidoscopes so this gift will be fun when your kids open it and then extra fun on the Minivan Express.

As promised, before you go, here is our exact Advent schedule this year. Feel free to steal ideas from it for your own family.

Coloring Set
Christmas Family Game Night
Bracelets
Candy
Make Ornaments
Card Games
Punch Balloon
Festival of Lights
Kick Sack
Candy
Mazes
Make Gingerbread Houses
Rubber Ducks
Puzzles
Christmas Movie Night
Candy
Kaleidoscopes (Minivan Express)
Candy
Yo-yo’s
Christmas Campout
Coloring Books
Christmas Photo Booth Night
Candy
Read The Night Before Christmas

Now that you are ready to create memories with your Advent gifts I want to hear from you. What is your favorite Advent activity? Let me hear about your traditions in the comments and don’t forget to check out Oriental Trading for all of your Christmas needs this year!

Looking for a deal at Oriental Trading? Visit their coupon page for the latest in sales.

See where I’m linking up!

2016 Reflections: A Year in Review

Personal

Family

Business

Top Posts of 2016

DIY Leather Charging Cord Organizer

Materials

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Create Memories with Your Advent Gifts

Advent Packages Materials

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Advent Activities

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Step 5 (Optional)