CYBER MONDAY

i have never participated in CYBER Monday before.
i did today.
i felt like a thief.
i mean....i am sure the prices are already jacked up.
but.
i save some major cash'ola!
which makes this mama
HAPPY
HAPPY
HAPPY
and TheMan is HAPPY too!!!

we are almost completely done with our Christmas shopping.
we still have...
stockings.
and
family gifts

but....
mostly D-O-N-E!!!

Hurray for the (usual) Procrastinator!

*Would you like to know what ALL i got?
i started out with FREE twine from Pick.YOUR.Plum (i just paid shipping)

i ordered an AWESOME planner from Paper Coterie (50% OFF)

i ordered a floor length mirror and wall mirror and candle sticks from Kirkland's (free shipping and 50% off or 30% off)

buy ONE get ONE free was the deal at Kohl's on some Husky jeans for JackJack

Canvas People 80% off BIG canvas...score

AMAZON...50% off a tool bench i have had my eye on for JD and FREE shipping thanks to AmazonPrime
and
a few other miscellaneous things on SALE for Christmas and just because

3 blouses/Sweaters and 2 pairs of socks for me from AnnTaylor LOFT all 50%OFF!!!!

and my final score was at Office Max...
i have been needing a printer since the fire
and
i have had my eye on one...normal $150.
Today on Sale for $89. plus Free Shipping...
then in my LV wallet i found an O.M. card. it had $100 on it...
yup...

i got it for FREE and still have a $11 balance for next time!!!

i have to say i am pleased with my deals.
i saved a TON of money.
very thankful.

did you shop this CYBER Monday?

celebrate

Today...
we celebrated this guy turning 8.

Tons of pictures
about
his
duck hunting
party
coming
next
week!!!

Thanksgiving.2012

Let us give THANKS for what we have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17-22

The Message (MSG)

^16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

i am thankful for my family.
not just my kiddos...
but.
my amaZing husband. 

Cooking our Feast

Today.
The Day Before Thanksgiving.
I have been prepping
and
preparing
And
cooking our feast.

I am in charge of the
Dressing (my grandma's recipe)
Corn casserole
Green bean casserole
Yeast rolls
Peach cobbler
Blueberry cobbler
And
Pumpkin Pie

I am ahead of schedule.
And
happy to help prepare our feast
And
Enjoy the blessings I have been given.

I am going to bed tonight with a THANKFUL HEART.

Also...
You'll never guess where Mr. Turkey was found...
Yup...on the peach cobbler.
:)

Elf on the Shelf

My son has been begging for an Elf on the Shelf for two years now.
I am finally giving in.
It's the BIG thing now, RIGHT?

To me it is a major faux pa to put ANY Christmas decor up prior to Thanksgiving!!!

With that said..
I needed a gift for Jack Jack to open on his actual birthday.
(Aka. Black Friday this Year)
It maybe kinda weird.
But...
That's how we roll.
Yup.
He is getting his Elf on the Shelf for his birthday.

HE is going to be super SUPER ExCiTeD!!!

So.
My Question For YOU!

Do you
or
Are you doing Elf on the Shelf with your kiddos?
If so...
What is your elf/you excited about getting into?

I have seen some ideas on Pinterest but curious what your favorites are.

Honestly.
I am excited to finally have an Elf on the Shelf, too.

Meet our Elf.
He is "nameless" for the moment.
More Elf pictures to come after 12.1.12!

SeRioUsLY

I should have known that today was not going to be an ordinary day.
I woke up to the sound of TheMan's shaving mirror shattering on the tile.

This is the second time this has happen in less than 4 months.

I made the boys some French Toast and Bacon for breakfast.
Yumm-o
I rocked out to Adele on Pandora.
Made our grocery list.

Then JD and I were off to go grocery shopping.
We went today to get all our needed supplies for Thanksgiving in hopes to beat the craziness later during the week.

Then it happened.
I got JD out of the car.
Shut the door.
Then.
I knew it.
I knew it just right then.
My keys.
My keys are in the car.
My keys are in my locked car.
My phone.
My phone is in the locked car too!

This is the second time this has happened in less than 4 months.

SERIOUSLY!!!

I thought....
Maybe...
Just maybe...
They had fallen in the diaper bag.
I looked.
I looked a hundred times.
But no.
They were in the car.

I went into the store.
Borrowed the phone.
Called TheMan.
Left a message stating how I needed him.

He couldn't find the spare.
So he watches JD while I ran in and did my shopping.
As soon as I was done.
My keys and phone were rescued!

I am thankful.

I think I want a slim Jim for Christmas.
Or
Maybe I will just go make a couple copies of my key.
One for TheMan
And
One for the house.

Now...
it's time for a Sonic break.
Then clean the house time.

My Style

I don't like to admit it...
But...
I am in my 30's.
I don't feel 3_!
Nor do I feel like I have birthed three kids.
Well...
Some Days i do'
My hips do.
And many more things do.

I have struggled with finding my style.
I am still looking for it.
But, I think i am getting closer.
Closer to finding the me I want to portray.

I use to dress up everyday.
This was about 8 years ago when I was working at the funeral home.
NOW.
I am a casual gal.
I love color and polka dots.
And I love black and GRAY's!!!
(And Grey's too)

I love jeans. A t-shirt. A cardigan.
And
A pair of Toms.

That's ME.
That's my Style. (I think)

I do like boho chic with a little earthy momma intertwined.
My style is a work in progress and probably always will be.
And. I am fine with that.

Here is how I treated myself today...
two new pairs!
(Because my gray ones finally have a hole... It's sad...I loved those shoes.)

Girls Craft Night

Girls Craft Night was a Success.

This is the fourth or fifth Girls Craft Event i have hosted. 

i pick 3-4 crafts.

i get all the needed crafty materials. 

i post the event  on Facebook and invite my friends.

Then...we ALL get together and get our craft on! 

this time we created...

glitter canvas silhouttes

burlap door hangers (pumpkins)

magnet board and magnets

and mini wood bunting

 

i love seeing paint brushes in dirty water.

it says....creativity has happen.  

first a peek at the glitter silhouettes...

this is the one i created (inspired from Pinterest)

 

 

i love this grey and black chevron with the razorback.

 

my fabulous little sister did  this turkey... 

 

look in the back ground. 

Christi found inspiration in my studio.  

 

loving the teal/green background makes the manger scene really pop.

 

Go Hogs Go!  

Christi's Mon made this A-MAZ-ING manger. 

it really turned out spectacular. 

 

 

 

Savannah did her initial on her pumpkin door hanger.  

 

cousin love.

they had to be different with their door hangers.

actually.

my little sis had to use scraps.

and with that she made this adorable snowman.

i see a snowman like this on my door soon. 

 

my Neighbor...who is ALWAYS there when I need an egg or a cup of sugar.

polka dot cuteness....   

 

the magnetic boards with magnets... 

 

 

 

a few of the other girls showing off their wonderful creations.  

 

 

girls craft night was truly a wonderful time.

i love hanging out with these girls.

helping them be creative and make art.

i can't wait for the next one. 

WW

a photo which conveys a message that speaks for itself without using words.

Soon to be EIGHT!

My eldest child will be turning EIGHT next week.
He is my Thanksgiving baby.
I know all parents say this....but I can't believe he is going to be 8 already!

This past week I have been brain storming ideas for his party.

He wants a duck hunting party!

Not to be confused with the new craze Duck Commander.
We do enjoy that show.
But, he simply likes duck hunting and so does his dad!

They both love love love to blow on their duck calls.
Honestly, it gets annoying after about 5 minutes.
That's when I say, "boys....take it out side," and they usually stop.
but not always.

Planning a duck hunting party is not an easy task.
There is nothing.
I repeat nothing....that I could find besides some cake ideas and a few invitation ideas on the Internet/Pinterest.

Finally, my creativity kicked in and I made a plan with some awesome ideas.
I could not fine the brown/tan duck hunting camouflage for party decor.
But I did find some green subdue camouflage plates and stuff.

I don't think he will notice.
I do know The Man will notice.

I am excited to see how it ALL comes together.
As long as there is cake and ice cream I know Jack Jack will LOVE IT!!!

BBB

I am a sucker for Banana Bread.
But NOT just any type of Banana Bread.

I LOVE Blueberry Banana Bread!!!!

Every Year (for the past 6 years or so) the kiddos and I pick blueberries at a local farm.
I usually try to get 2 gallons.
I always bring a belt and strap a bucket to each hip.
I become a crazy blueberry picking woman.
My goal is to pick as many as quick as I can...because my kids have a small window of happiness.
I seem to always have one too small to walk around and explore so I am pushing a stroller as well.
anyway.
I pick, wash, sort, dry and then freeze the berries in baggies.
I freeze 2 cups of berries in each bag, so that I don't really have to measure when baking!

Yesterday, I had some ripe bananas and decided to use them the best way I know how....
BLUEBERRY BANANA BREAD!!!

It turned out fabulous as always...except that one time when I forgot the baking powder and it was flat as flat could be.
Like a brick.
flat.
I think I cried because of the waisted blueberries.

Since, I have raved about the BBB, I will share the recipe with YOU.

Blueberry Banana Bread
1 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2-3 ripe bananas, mashed
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten
3 Tbsp. milk
1 cup blueberries

I don't separate the dry and wet.
I simply through everything in a large mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. Adding the blueberries last, after the batter is mixed well.
Grease a loaf Pan.
Bake @ 350* for 50-60 minutes.
It usually takes the whole 60 minutes to pass the toothpick test!
and
I love eating it warm with butter and a good cup of coffee!

ENJOY!!!

(Recipes was found from "Supper's on the Table, Come Home" cookbook by Rachel Masters)

WW

Wordless Wednesday.

a photo which conveys a message that speaks for itself without using words.

Thankfulness

November has officially arrived!

The time change did not and is not settling very well with the little one.
I am not used to getting up for a couple hours in the middle of the night to "play"!!!
But, I am thankful I have him.
Even though I am super tired I find JOY in his early morning smiles and giggles.

For the past 3-4 years we have made a thankfulness tree!
Every year it is different.
This year Jack and I cut out leaves with my Silhouette Cameo.
Then, the man, jack and I made a list of 7 things each of us were thankful for.
Next, we used letter stamps and stamped on our words!
Lastly, I jumped (climbed) over the fence in our backyard into the field and found a branch.

Placed it in a Mason jar with burlap.
Punched holes in the leaves.
Strung them on jute twine and draped it around the branch.

Here is some pictures of our final product!

Girls Craft Day

just two weekends away and i will be hosting another Girls Craft Day.
i usually have them in the morning all day long.
i get all the materials and crafts together for the girls.
then, they show up at my house and get their craft on!!!

it is fun crafting all day long but this time i am trying something different.
we are doing a girls craft evening for only 4 hours.
the girls usually bring a finger food or snack.
this time we will also be serving wine (since it will be in the afternoon). 
i am also making the pioneer woman's yummy sangria for an added treat.
yumm-o

we will be doing 4 crafts (in 4 hours) this time.
a glitter silhoutte canvas
a round magnetic board & magnets
mini wood bunting
and
a pumpkin burlap door hanger

i have almost everything purchased and ready to go.
the more i go upstairs into my studio/craft room and look at the stuff the more excited i get!

i will post pictures of the girls and what all we create afterwards.

for now here is a glimpse inside my studio...which is still a work in progress!