My favorite posts of 2012

It's been a pretty amazing year here at Modern Buttercup and it's hard to believe that we're so close to 2013! So much has happened this year, and I have high hopes for the upcoming one. I thought it would be fun to look back on a few of my favorite posts from this year, and showcase them just a bit (and discover some old memories doing so). Sorry if they're a bit out of order by date!

1. Make your own fabric tape DIY
2. Meet my kitten Ella
3. Making Meringues 
4. A new direction
5. What's in my bag?
6. One year bloggiversary
7. One final french macaron monday
8. etsy story
9. Blogging Buddies

I'm so eager for the new year to start! The countdown to the new year starts now...

Friday Favorites

It's hard to believe Christmas was only Tuesday! It seems like such a long time ago that I was putting up the tree, wrapping presents, getting together with family, and then enjoying Christmas day. This week has whizzed by and I honestly feel like I've gotten a lot done here at the blog; getting it back on track with everyday posting. Oh, I know I haven't done a "Friday Favorites'' feature in quite a while (well, not any good ones anyway) so today I hope I can make up for it a bit...

Fancy Grilled Cheese Party
This is one of the best ideas I've found to date! I can't believe I haven't thought of it before. Basically; put out a fun bread selection, different cheeses, and different toppings that would go well with grilled cheese. Amazing right? See how it all came together here. I know what I'm doing next weekend, that's for sure.

Make your own pom-pom bookmark

Pom poms + bookmarks = one of my favorite combos! So cute and just a bit quirky, I truly adore this project. (Sorry if the top image of the bookmarks looks a bit squished-- it's not supposed to look like that --  I don't know why it does) Steps to create the project can be found here.

Rope Necklace
I do love the simplicity of a necklace. Always have, always will. And this is definitely one that's going on my wish list!

I wish I could be there

Doesn't this look so calm and serene? A place where you could enjoy the view, stick your toes in the icy cold water, breathe in the fresh mountain air... 

You don't even know how badly I wish I could jump into that photograph!

Embroidery with leftover thread

What a great way to finish off that unfinished thread hanging on to the end of your needle. And that pattern is so chic! I love how you can use any colors and it still looks great. The full how-to is right here.

xoxo, Nat

Sponsor Modern Buttercup in January!

If you're looking for a way to kick off your blog with a bang in the new year, sponsoring Modern Buttercup is a great way to do it! Promote your blog, shop or business to some of the best readers around, all over the world. You can see my sponsor page for more information if you're interested or email me at: hello@modernbuttercup.com to reserve your spot!

Ad spots are limited, and prices will rise soon -- so snag a spot before it's gone!

xoxo, Nat

Modern Buttercup Reader Survey

Hello there my lovely readers! I'm already planning for Modern Buttercup's upcoming year and would love your help! I've set up a little 10 question reader survey and would be grateful if you could take a minute or two to fill it out.

The survey will be used to shape the content and overall look of Modern Buttercup in 2013 and beyond and to better know my readers. It's completely anonymous and will only be seen by me.

The survey will run for 1 week.

Thanks again!

xoxo, Nat

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all my readers a merry Christmas! I hope you all have a lovely day full of friends, family, warmth, and memories for years to come. Enjoy today and celebrate!

Merry Christmas!

xoxo, Nat

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Christmas Eve has arrived and couldn't look more merry! The cookies are all baked, the tree lit, the cat with her special holiday collar (yes, I bought her a collar for Christmas Eve -- don't judge me). It's pouring outside and it's a great day to be indoors with family and enjoying my favorite holiday of the year.

Have a happy (and safe) holiday!

xoxo, Nat

Ugly Sweaters

I do love a ugly sweater -- who doesn't? But sometimes it's fun to wear one that's not too ugly. Here's a few of my favorite sweaters that fit in with the season, but still nice enough to wear otherwise.

1 // 2

3 // 4

I couldn't resist adding a few cat sweaters! So cute and they match with everything. No kidding!

How to rock an ugly sweater:

- for a more chic look, layer it with a blazer!

- wear a simple outfit with your sweater; plain pants, shoes that match your sweater, minimal jewelry. It'll really help show off your beautiful sweater!

- wear it confidently with a smile

Happy Holidays!

xoxo, Nat

It's the best time of the year... a giveaway

It's a special time of year and I have a something exquisite to share with you all! In honor of the holidays, today there's a little treat for you all -- a giveaway! For all my lovely readers from my amazing sponsors. Take a look at the pretty items you could win:

Studio Mason
This lovely etsy shop sells beautiful vintage items and today they are offering 12 doilies and handkerchiefs! Perfect for sprucing up a table or to use yourself.

... shop ... blog ... facebook ...

Bapsi Crafts

Another etsy shop with lots of talent! Custom cowls, hats, scarves, and more are available. And today you could win a custom knit headband from the shop!

... shop ... blog ...

1 large ad space on Modern Buttercup

You could win a large ad space here on the blog for the month of January! A perfect way to showcase your shop, blog or business.

How can you win all these amazing prizes?

Mandatory: Leave a comment below with your favorite holiday tradition! You must be a follower of Modern Buttercup to enter. Make sure to leave 1 comment per entry please! 

Extra ways to enter:

+ Favorite or follow each shop or blog

+ Tweet / fb / blog about this giveaway (2 entries)

+ Pin this giveaway

This giveaway ends December 30th. Good luck!

xoxo, Nat

3 little ways you can enjoy the holiday season

The holiday season is truly my favorite time of the year, and with it, the chaos of the holidays. Here's a few simple tips I have to best enjoy the season:

 1. Appreciate the little things 
It's amazing what joy you can find in the smallest things! That warm cup of cocoa, decorating the tree, watching the lights twinkle outside. The little things are the ones that count and you remember most.

 2. Take your time and don't take on too much 
During the holidays, it's practically natural instinct to take on more than you can handle, all so it can be the best it can be. But that can hurt you in the long run if you can't complete it all! Only take on what you think matters most (making cookies, wrapping presents with paper made by you, etc.) Focus and put your time into what's top priority to you and don't rush from thing to thing. 

 3. Create new traditions
While I love old traditions, it can be just as fun to create new ones! Decorate gingerbread houses with friends and family? Do something a bit different this time around: have a decorating contest, decorate a gingerbread Christmas village, make the gingerbread house from scratch. Make sure to take photos of the new memories made!

xoxo, Nat

Oh Christmas tree...

The Christmas tree has finally arrived! Yes, it is a bit late to get a Christmas tree -- but this year, it was decided to get a mail-order tree. So basically, you order your tree, they chop it down for you, and it's delivered at your house within 2 days of being axed. Which insures you get the freshest tree possible, so you don't end up with this dead tree by Christmas day. Does it cost more? Yes. Is it worth it? YES. One of the reasons the mail-order tree was purchased was because of an awesome deal Groupon that was snagged ASAP. Normally it's about $150, which in my opinion is way too much for a tree that sits in your living room for only a month. But Christmas is that one time of year you can really splurge on the little things -- even an awesome little big tree.

P.S. Don't you love December's post titles? This year, I've decided to make most (if not all) my post titles Christmas lyrics.

Deck the halls...

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, falalalalalalalala...

The house wasn't decked with boughs of holly this time around, but it was decked out in holiday spirit, that's for sure! Here's a little peek at it all:

What better way to end it all with a cute little photo of my Ella bean? She always has to take a good look at the camera, as if saying "why me?"

Happy Holidays!

December {the last month of the year}

This year has flown by so fast. With flying colors. At this time last year, I think the holiday decor had just been put up, the tree already decorated, and my nails nearly all bitten off from worrying about 2012 being a "doomsday year". This year? Drastically different: the of the holiday decor is mostly up, the tree hasn't been picked out yet (more on that later), and my nails are nice and long- spared of any worry about the day the world will end (I've moved beyond that 2012 prediction months ago).

I'm very excited about this month (it's my favorite one of the year), and have set a goal for myself I know I'm going to follow -- posting more. I feel I really slacked off in November, and things just kind of "died". Not this month! I've even put together a little posting schedule for myself ahead of time. I'm going to pick this little blog up and put it back on it's feet :)