To: Landon's Teacher

I found this cute idea in a Simple Scrapbooks magazine and thought I'd share it with you. It's a keepsake box for your childs' teacher.

materials:

5½ x 3½ x 5½ wooden box (or any wooden box with a hinged lid)

coordinating patterned papers (those shown are FoofaLa)

acrylic paint to match papers

rub-ons

letter rub-ons

ribbon

chalk

pencils

project by Elizabeth Dillow, Mountain House, CA

Instructions

1. Open the lid of the wooden box, and paint the edges of the lid and box. Let dry.

2. Measure the inside of the lid and the interior sides of the box; then cut patterned paper to fit. Adhere in place. (Elizabeth used a Xyron machine to cover her paper with adhesive. With cardstock, try something stronger, like PVA or Yes! Glue.)

3. Measure the exterior sides of the lid and the box; then cut patterned paper to fit. Adhere in place.

4. Embellish the lid of your box using theme rub-ons, letter rub-ons, and other appropriate accents. (Elizabeth used a box with a faux chalkboard top, adding two short pencils and a piece of chalk tied up with a ribbon.)

No guarantees that Mrs. Grubbs will be getting one this year. But it's the thought that counts right?

I love this one....

Last year, I went back to work for about two seconds. Ok, it was more like 6 months. Not because we needed the money. It was because I thought I needed it for sanity. Turns out, adding a job into the mix just created more INsanity. So, I'm back home now. But, the extra cash flow was super nice. Of course, it was only about $500 per month because I was only working part time and still had to pay for a babysitter, but still....
And, it was the holidays for the first two months of it! I have wanted this Willow Tree nativity for a long time. It is absolutely gorgeous. But, it does cost a few pennies, so I have never been able to go for it. I bought the main pieces before I started working last year thinking I would just

buy one set per year until the whole set was complete. (It comes in at least 5 boxes, which you have to buy seperately) And so Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, a donkey and a couple sheep sat on my table for a while. And honestly, they are truly beautiful all on their own. But I wasn't satisfied. So, I bought all the other sets except for the Creche (Stable) when I started working. I couldn't help myself! My mom was a dear and bought the Creche for me for Christmas last year to complete my set.

At least I thought it was complete until I took the pieces out of their boxes yesterday. I need an angel! There is no angel! So, I think I might have to trek down to Crowleys and buy myself a little angel on a stand. They do have one that matches the Creche. I remembered that. So, off I must go!

Anyway....this is my favorite Christmas decoration. The true meaning of Christmas. And cause for a great discussion about it at the dinner table last night. The creator of these pieces did such a beautiful job. The pieces are so simple, which is exactly the type of circumstances that He was born into. Nothing fancy, just simple.
Merry Christmas!

What is your dessert IQ?

I found this link while browsing for new recipes on foodnetwork.com and had a little fun with my dessert iq. I got 8 out of 10 right. Do you think you can beat it?

Craft of the Week!

It's Christmastime! You probably already knew that though. We all have those people that we don't know what to get for Christmas. And gift cards, or i-Tunes cards are very popular right now. I realize they sell gift card holders (I have purchased some really cute ones!), but where most of us a pretty crafty people....why not make our own? I found this really cute idea at giftmakermagazine.com and thought...cute, fun, homemade.....you can't go wrong! They look pretty simple too! Now, I'm not a sewer on my scrapbook projects...so I would just use a really strong adhesive on the edges to glue to sides together and then ink and distress like crazy! (Because that's what I do) So, have fun with this one and let me know how it turns out!

Christmas Jars

Needing some help getting into the TRUE spirit of Christmas? Or maybe you are looking for a new tradition to start in your family? READ THIS BOOK! My grandma gave me this book a week ago, and though it is a short read...I just barely got to reading it on Saturday. I finished it up last night with some serious warm fuzzies. My grandma also gave me a jar to go with my book...so we've got some serious work to do here! I'm excited to get Landon involved though. To help him understand what Christmas is really all about. Not what we GET, but what we can give with our hearts. ;0)

Merry Christmas!

Hairspray

Okay...so I saw this movie over the Thanksgiving holiday and honestly...I wasn't that impressed. I love musicals....if they have catchy songs with catchy lyrics. Moulin Rouge comes to mind. (One of my favorites) Anyway...I probably could have gotten past this but I was appalled at the use of all of the little inuendos that were thrown into the movie. I have seen the original, though it has seriously been some years. So I don't remember if these inuendos were in the first movie or if they were added in just for us now, but nonetheless....half of them weren't even necessary. Their singing songs and in the middle of it throw in, "Looks like you could use a stiff one!" I realize the movie is called Hairspray...which makes hair stiff....but you get what I'm pointing out here right? It's not necessary. The movie could have just been a warm fuzzy movie about the changing times then with integration, and about not conforming to people's ideas of the "right" way to look. I'm assuming that was the message they were trying to get across. ;0)

It wasn't horrible....but I did find myself disappointed. I do love the last song they sing in the movie..."You Can't Stop the Beat". It's catchy. ;0)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving! Eat lots of yummy food! I know I will! I hear there's a Prime Rib waiting for me! I know...not your conventional Turkey Day dinner...though there will be turkey there as well. Jaysen's mom is going all out this year I guess. I'll let you know just how many calories I consumed later! ;0) I'm just kidding. I don't want to know. There's no counting today! Today is a free day! So, stuff yourselves silly. ;0)

Let It Snow?

We got our first "official" snow last night. It wasn't much, but snow did fall from the sky and it's frozen to my car as we speak. (Still not able to park in the garage due to the hoardes of unopened boxes in there.)
Honestly, I'm not a big fan of snow. I know we need it for the moisture and all. But if God could just let it strategically fall onto the fields for the farmers and even up on the mountains...that would be perfect! Not on the roads please! I hate driving in the snow. It's miserable. I drive like an old lady with white knuckles on the steering wheel. It's not my driving I'm concerned about...it's all the other lunatics out there in their SUVs who think that because their car is massive and they have 4 wheel drive that they can still drive fast. Now, don't get me wrong....we own an SUV. We're just not lunatics. ;0) 4 wheel drive does not creat a protective bubble around your vehicle. And what's worse, the bigger the SUV seems to get, the crazier the driver seems to be. (No offense mom....you are not one of these I am speaking about!) So, they drive fast, crash into another car.....and because they are driving their massive cars they crush those they crash into. Their SUV retains minimal damage, but those of us driving safely....have to go without our cars because we were ran over by a Hummer. Sigh.
On the bright side here....the kids were truly excited about the snowfall last night and were hoping for more so that they could build a snowman today. So, they were highly disappointed this morning to see that there was nothing out there for them. I think if I was actually able to pick up each individual piece of snow on the grass in my backyard I could make ONE snowball. And not a very big one. ;0)
So, do you think we'll have a white Christmas? At the rate we're going it's not very likely. And though I complain...it's honestly not Christmas without snow. Big fluffy white snow. After Christmas it can all melt....

Addictions

65%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Oakland Dating

See...it's not as bad as you might think! ;0) I have way worse addictions than this one!

I'm Trying.

To be healthy that is...

Of course, it is the week of Thanksgiving and I can guarantee you that I will have gained several pounds by the time this week is over. BUT! I do try to pick healthy things on a normal day to day basis to eat. Although I do usually end up blowing it with my after dinner sweets. Sigh. A girl can only give up so much!

Anyway...found this cereal


and LOVE it! It's called Oat Flakes & Wild Blueberry Clusters. It's one of Kashi's Heart to Heart cereals. And not that I have high cholesterol or blood pressure or anything of that sort...but it never hurts to eat a little whole grain now and then! ;0) And blueberries...I just love. And...did you know that blueberries are among the fruits with the highest antioxidant activity? Antioxidants can help protect the body against the aging process. So, it tastes yummy and helps me have that youthful glow. ;0) You can't go wrong with this one!

Why Blog?

I'm sure some of you think I'm crazy. Three blogs? Does she have no life? Shouldn't she be doing something better with her time?
And the answers are as follows...my life is very busy. Not for things pertaining specifically to me, but to my kids and hubby and church, etc. I'm always busy. Sometimes a little bit too much.
And sure, I could be doing the dishes instead of blogging. Or vacuuming. That would be responsible.
The thing is...blogging is something that I get to do for ME. I get to speak and have people....well at least a couple of you!....listen! Even if all I'm talking about it dumb stuff. The random things that pop into my head. Kids don't get that, and Jaysen sure doesn't want to hear me blather on about some of these things, just like I get bored listening to him talk about golf. ;0)
So, I blog! I get to tell you all about the cute things my kids did today. Or if I'm annoyed about something. Or about my new favorite song. Or even about this new recipe I found that is too yummy not to pass on. It's like having a little chit chat with friends, except that I get to do it in my pajamas drinking hot chocolate. What could be better?
The best part is when you....my friends and family....leave me little comments to let me know what you think. It's like an actual conversation. We've shared a moment. ;0) So, if you're not leaving me comments...what's wrong with you? Do you not have anything to say to me? LOL
So, there you have it. This is why I blog. For sanity. For sanity in my world of soccer, gymnastics, piano lessons, Primary and PTA.
The End.

Curl Up With A Good Book

So, I thought I'd pass on some good reading for all you book lovers out there! I LOVE to read. If I have found a good book, I will stay up till the wee hours of the night reading it. I won't be able to put it down. And I love how books can do that to you. How they pull you into the story so much you feel like you truly know the characters. You get to feel what they feel. It's truly amazing. Only the good authors can do that. Here are a few that I have stayed up till the wee hours of the night for....

~Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

~The Kingdom and the Crown Series by Gerlad N. Lund

~Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

~Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares

~In The Garden Series by Nora Roberts

~The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Notice that most of these are done in a series. They can't contain the story into just one novel. I love that. I don't love having to wait for the next installment though. I like my stories to start and end...not be left hanging wide open. Sigh. Patience is not one of my better qualities. Oh well. And I know you're probably thinking, "Sisterhood the Traveling Pants?" The movie seriously did not give the books justice and it only covered book 1. They actually came out with #4 not too long ago and though I purchased the book, I have not had time to read it yet. I got into the Stephanie Meyer books instead and haven't gotten back to the Pants yet. The Pants book are just warm and fuzzy girls growing up trying to figure themselves out books. I cried. yep. I did. Warm. Fuzzy. Good stuff. And the Garden Series is a nice change from the norm as well. Three books done in a series, but each one is done from a different persons perspective. No, you don't go back and relive the same events from another characters eyes. It is a continuation of the same story, just from another persons perspective. And, if you like the whole fantasy type aspect of the Stephanie Meyer books, you'll like these too because it's a ghost story. ;0) The Thirteenth Tale starts out kind of slow, but don't let it trick you. Such a good story! It's kind of a mystery, but not really. ;0) And the Kingdom Series is one that everyone needs to read. It is the story of the life of a family living in the time of Jesus and their experiences with him. Obviously not true to life, but the main parts of the Bible describing the miracles of Jesus and his resurrection are depicted in such a way that it makes it quite a bit more personal for you. It also helps you to understand what the times were like and their ways of life and why it was so hard for the believers then. I bawled in each book. How could you not?

Anyway...as you can see I don't have a specific author that I stick to, nor do I stick to a specific genre. If it's a good book....I'll read it! Let me know if you've read any of these or if I've missed some on my list of good reads!

Sew Simple!

Whoever made that phrase up really doesn't know anything! I am attempting to learn to sew. My very patient mother is teaching me. Together we found a "Fast and Easy" pattern of a cute jumper and matching hat for Mackenzee and bought the fabric and everything necessary to make it. She showed me how to cut out the pattern using the instructions and I KNEW I could do that part by myself.

Little side note here: Buy GOOD scissors! If you don't have ultra sharp, good scissors...you cut crooked. Which makes it hard to sew a straight line later on. Just so you know!

So, I cut the pattern out and had my mom come over yesterday to help me sew this EASY dress together. Several hours later, it's still not done. Sewing is NOT easy. It's not horrible. It will just take practice like anything else does. And I'm not giving up. There are too many cute things you can make out there! But, it's not what I was expecting. And it's kind of stressful when you know the stitch line will be showing for the world to see and you know you can't sew a straight line yet to save your life!
It will get better. And I WILL finish the dress by Christmas. All that's left is the hem line and edge work around the neck and arm holes. Just the hardest part. ;0) Not so sure about the matching hat, though I do have it all cut out. We'll just have to see how it goes.
Wish me luck!