If this all looks familiar...it is because I forgot to re-date it as a new post. Sorry! I hate that Blogger won't date the article on the day you post it!
Holly at 504Main gave us the "You Give Bloggers A Good Name" award.
Pass this award on to ONE blogger
that you think is truly outstanding,
in both their writing/posting,
and their treatment of fans, commenters,
and fellow bloggers.
These 4 awards came to us from Lynn at Midday Escapades. Holy Macaroni Lynn! That's some bloggy love like I have never seen before. Almost feel like I should smoke a cigarette after that!
Alisa at Faith Imagined gave us this great award. I've always thought it would be fun to be a rocker for a day. Of course I'm not interested in the drugs, alcohol, or affairs...so I would officially be the most boring rocker on the planet. For that reason I'm glad that at least our blog rocks! Thanks Alisa. This lovely award comes to us from 5thsister.
Do you still have that "impossible to buy for" person on your list? I'm a big fan of creating gifts from the heart. I'm not crafty, but I'm good with words. I know that all of you are too! So here are a few of my favorite ideas from years past that were a big hit with teachers, grandparents, and friends.
This was a simple project I did for my sons class last year. I bought a bag of cinnamon pine cones, ribbon, a frame, and a decorative tin at our local arts and crafts store. I e-mailed all of the parents in the class and asked them to send me a short phrase of appreciation about their teacher. I typed up the phrases and framed them. In the Christmas tree tin is a Visa gift card.
Here is a close view of the sentiments the kids expressed.
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Last year my son's Kindergarten teacher said she would like the kids to do a service project for the community as her holiday gift. We used some of the class funds to buy rice and beans for a local food bank. The kids helped by bagging the items into smaller family sized portions. I took this picture of them, framed it, and asked them why they loved their teacher. Those statements were typed, and then I used a glue stick to put them on the matting.
A simple bow around the frame and we were ready for the holiday party at school.
My daughter used that same idea and made a beautiful gift last Christmas for her Granddaddy. She also made one for her brother.
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With little ones you can have them draw a couple of pictures, write down their thoughts and feelings, and bind them together in a book at your local copy store with the title page saying something like..."Why I Love You!"
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You can also put your sentiments on a pillow case, a t-shirt, an apron, or a soft fleece blanket. Use fabric markers or puff paint, and consider adding hand prints, or foot prints if you have a baby.
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All of my mom's children and grandchildren have decided to surprise her this Christmas with a memory box. Everyone has written her something special to say what she means to them. On Christmas morning she will open a gift filled with heartfelt admiration for all that she has done for each of us. Just in case this inspires you to write something heartfelt for someone you love; I've decided to post what she will open from me on December 25th.
"I Remember"
I remember…
all of the amazing meals, family dinners together, big Saturday breakfasts.
I remember…
the piles of presents you purchased at Christmas time and lovingly wrapped.
I remember…
laying my head on your lap and feeling your hands rub over my forehead and hair. It is still my most comforting moments of childhood.
I remember…
sleeping in bed with you feeling so safe and secure.
I remember…
talks in the dark while we were in bed, asking questions that were too hard to ask in the daylight.
I remember…
sitting on the barstool and listening to you sing every song in the hymnal while you cooked.
I remember…
the hours you drove me here and there to get to all of the events.
I remember…
watching you enjoy life, throwing your head back in uproarious laughter, grabbing me to dance in the middle of the mall.
I remember…
you telling me over and over how pretty, and smart, and wonderful I was. I just soaked all of those words into my soul.
I remember…
our beautifully cared for home that was always so inviting and warm.
I remember…
hours of storytelling. Hearing about your childhood that was so amazingly different from my own. Never getting enough of that.
I remember…
watching you make friends with anyone we came across during the day, the waitress, the gas attendant, the man walking down the street. It taught me to love people and reach out to the world with open arms.
I remember…
looking at your hands as they did chores around the house or as you held my hand. Your beautiful nails always done to perfection. I still wish I had your nails.
I remember…
thinking how I wanted to grow up to be just as pretty as you are.
your stern finger, your head tilted to the side and your lips tight, snapping fingers, the swat on my knee in the backseat of the car. The combination of the fun and the serious sides of you taught me boundaries and respect and order.
I remember…
your love for my aunts and uncles. Listening to you recall events from long ago, singing your childhood songs in harmony, longing to be together, never allowing a grudge to exist between you.
I remember…
when I was about 10 you asked me to do the dishes. I did a terrible job but you didn’t get mad. You filled the sink again and put them back in. Then you told me that there would always be things in life I wouldn’t want to do, but I could do them as a gift for God. With each chore I could thank Him for life, for toys, for family. I still do that today when I’m tired, when I don’t feel appreciated. What an amazing perspective on life that you so lovingly taught me that day.
I remember…
how you packed us up and moved us to Minnesota because one of your children was having a baby and felt alone and afraid and needed MOM. I realize now what an enormous undertaking that must have been. What a beautiful picture that is of your heart.
I remember…
coming home really late one night after a boy broke up with me in high school. I was crushed as I walked in the door and your arms were wrapped around me without even a question about the time.
I remember…
the boo boos you prayed for, the tuck-ins at night, the books read, the snuggles on the couch, and so much more.
My dream some day is that my children will remember. Their memories will all be preciously linked to the heritage of love you tended to so carefully in my life.
I remember…and I love you too!
Click here on The Blind Side if you joined our Movie Club and wanted to see our vlog.
That's all folks until Sunday when we will post to give out Awards.
Grab a delicious hot beverage, pull up a chair, and get ready for our first Movie Club meeting! It's time to re-live the great moments of "The Blind Side". Tell us what you thought of it and how it impacted you.
Leave a comment & tell a friend about us. Thanks for coming by!
A wonderful scent can bring back cherished memories, create an atmosphere of celebration, or transport me to a place of tranquility. Here are a few of my favorites for the holidays.
This is a Cinnamon Broom that I found at Trader Joes for $3.50. The fibers are knitted together into this beautiful, rustic broom and soaked in cinnamon. Now our entire family room smells amazing!I was thinking I might pick up one today to put in the trunk of our minivan!!
We have a Yankee Candle store in our local mall. We smelled every holiday scent they had until we all agreed that Autumn Leaves was the best. Not too sweet...a little woodsy...with spicy cinnamon undertones. PERFECT!
All year long I plug in my favorite scents of the season. This Christmas we are using Harvest Spice, and Apple Cinnamon Medley in our home.
Don't forget to find a yummy smelling soap to put by each sink. My choice this year is Cinnamon Spice made by EO and purchased at Whole Foods.
Adding a scent to your home is an easy way to create a warm, welcoming environment. Hope this inspires you to find the things that makes home a wonderful place to be.
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A super easy dinner for a busy holiday month! 10 minutes of preparation...35 minutes to bake. I forgot to take a picture of mine, but it looked something like this...
TAMALE PIE
1 lb. of ground beef or ground turkey 1 packet of taco seasoning mix 1 cup of corn (canned or frozen) 1 box of your favorite cornbread 2 cups of mild salsa
Preheat oven to 350. Brown beef and add taco seasoning packet. Add all of the salsa and the corn to the beef and stir well. Put beef into a 9x9 pan. In a bowl mix together the cornbread batter. Pour cornbread batter over the beef. Bake for 35 minutes or until the cornbread is firm. I served it with fresh veggies, salsa & guacamole.
Will easily serve a family of 5 plus leftovers. Enjoy
Holly at 504Main gave us the "You Give Bloggers A Good Name" award.
Pass this award on to ONE blogger
that you think is truly outstanding,
in both their writing/posting,
and their treatment of fans, commenters,
and fellow bloggers.
These 4 awards came to us from Lynn at Midday Escapades. Holy Macaroni Lynn! That's some bloggy love like I have never seen before. Almost feel like I should smoke a cigarette after that!
Alisa at Faith Imagined gave us this great award. I've always thought it would be fun to be a rocker for a day. Of course I'm not interested in the drugs, alcohol, or affairs...so I would officially be the most boring rocker on the planet. For that reason I'm glad that at least our blog rocks! Thanks Alisa. This lovely award comes to us from 5thsister.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Tune in to hear some the crazy diets we have tried. Believe it or not, this is the short list! What crazy diet have you tried?
************* Remember our movie club? We will be posting our "Blind Side" video in the coming week. So grab a friend and go out to see it. The movie is truly fabulous! You won't want to miss it!! ************* Now it is time to hand out a few awards...
LMJ at I've Been Thinking gave us the Happy 101 Award. We love her honesty about her life, and her adorable little baby girl. Thanks LMJ!
We got this lovely award from iwonderwye. She is the real deal too. I love people that have some hardship under their belt, and from those experiences have gained a positive perspective on what life is really about. She lives from that place and is truly thankful. We love you and thank you!
So as I mentioned last week...in the name of holiday giving...we are offering the following blogs a shopping spree. Pick one of the awards you would most like to have above as a gift from us!
We appreciate all of our readers so much. We realize you could spend your time on a thousand other things...so thank you for choosing to hang out with us. Have a terrific weekend!
The reindeer and the wreath will be the first to greet you...
You've seen the tree...
In the kitchen we are always ready to bake...
We have many nativity scenes in our home. This is the only one the kids are not allowed to play with. Although, I found Andy trying to hang the baby Jesus from the Angel at the top. I nearly had a heart attack!
A close friend gave us this wooden set for a wedding gift. It was carved in Bethlehem. I'd tell you his name, but then I'd have to kill you since he is an FBI agent. tee hee:)
This one makes me happy, so it stays up all year long.
Many of the people and animals are missing body parts from years of play. Cracks me up that the kids still love it...
The Christmas cards go in this blue snowman bowl...
Found these little trees at target last year in the after Christmas sales. Bought a set for our family room, and one set for each of the kid's rooms. They love using it as their night light.
This built in nook was hard to photograph, but this is where I put all of the years of Santa photos.
On the dining room table are these festive contemporary trees, and a couple of adorable poinsettias sprinkled with glitter.
In the family room is Santa and his sleigh holding our stockings for the big day.
One of our first purchases as a couple was this funny woven deer we found in Lake Tahoe. At Christmas time he becomes Rudolph.
Here it is all pulled together.
In the living room more Christmas cheer...
These are our Advent trees filled with yummy goodies to help count down the days until Christmas.
A basket of Christmas books by the fireplace. Just add a warm blanket, a cup of cider, and a soft lap.
Elf On The Shelf is one of our favorite Christmas traditions. Every night he disappears to report to Santa our Christmas wishes, as well as, who was naughty and nice. Then he magically returns to our home and hides in a new location. The kids can't wait to get up each morning to see where he might be hiding!
Couldn't resist introducing you to our "living Christmas tree." Andy has a lot of Christmas spirit and spent the morning drawing, cutting, and taping ornaments to his carefully picked outfit of green and brown. Then we took our pup for a walk and he imagined he was in a parade and waved at all of the people driving by.
Is there anything more wonderful than seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child?
Make a hot cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and hang out with your two new girlfriends! Some things we've learned through many years of marriage and parenting, but most of what we share is just raw, uncensored life as we have experienced it. No psychology degrees, far from perfect, but all honest and vulnerable...and of course much of it is funny! Because if you can't laugh at life...it will probably make you cry. So why not choose to Laugh with us! We get together once a week and videotape our conversations. A true reality show! Our kids interrupt us, the phone rings, and we talk about life, laugh through the struggles, and share a latte together. We also enjoy writing short articles about friendship, family, faith, things we love and things that make us laugh. If we review a book or favorite item we will have it for sale in our online Amazon store. Thanks for stopping by...there's nothing we like more than making a new friend! If you enjoy our blog please tell a friend.
Holly at 504Main gave us the "You Give Bloggers A Good Name" award.
These 4 awards came to us from Lynn at Midday Escapades. Holy Macaroni Lynn! That's some bloggy love like I have never seen before. Almost feel like I should smoke a cigarette after that!
Alisa at Faith Imagined gave us this great award. I've always thought it would be fun to be a rocker for a day. Of course I'm not interested in the drugs, alcohol, or affairs...so I would officially be the most boring rocker on the planet. For that reason I'm glad that at least our blog rocks! Thanks Alisa.
This lovely award comes to us from 5thsister.
