I LOVE LEGOS!

Of all the Christmas presents the kids received...and they received a lot (which was not suppose to happen) I must say that I LOVE LEGO'S the most...Why? Because for the first time in a week my children have been playing quietly in their bedroom for 45 minutes - no arguing, no craziness, no "mom, can you do this...mom, I need some help with that..." Thank you LEGO'S

Nail Polish and a four year old...

I couldn't resist posting these photos...Olivia got a nail polish kit from my mom for Christmas...guess who she wanted to paint up first?

That's right...daddy! I must admit...I married a pretty good guy - she painted all ten toes multiple colors and he didn't complain once!

A little inspiration....

Still haven't gone through my Christmas photos...trying to get my house back in order from all the festivities! So in the meantime, here is a little inspiration for the day! Apron, glasses, egg carton(Anthropologie) Photograph (Mandy Lyons on Etsy) Watch (Fossil) Cupcake Shop (found at Oh Hello)

Merry Christmas to all!

Just wanted to wish all my family and friends a wonderful holiday! We've had a busy few days with travel and some sickness all thrown into the mix! I haven't gotten a chance to upload my photos, but I do have some great ones that involve a Nerf gun and a pink guitar! Hope you and yours had a blessed day!

Taking a little break...

Just gonna be taking a little break for a few days...my heart is heavy today as we learned last night that Cole Puryear has gone on to be with his Heavenly Father. While that knowledge brings some comfort - knowing that he has gone home - our hearts hurt for Glen, Cayci, and Cade, his 10 year old brother, and the rest of their extended family. Please pray that God will give them comfort and strength during this time ...thank you to those who prayed this week - I know they truly appreciate it! As you go through this last week before Christmas, be mindful of what we are celebrating...His coming, the reason we have hope in situations like this! Because of His coming, the birth of Jesus, we know that this world is not the end! Hug your kids a little tighter today, thank God for their health, be a little more patient when things start to get crazy because we are never guaranteed tomorrow, so make today count! God bless! Sidenote: If you need mailing address for Glen or Cayci, or service info email me at dhbdesigns@charter.net

An update...

Thank you to everyone who has been praying...thought I would post an update before I head off to bed. They almost lost Cole earlier today...he took a turn for the worse and had swelling on the brain as well as some other complications. I really have no words right now...it has been a heavy day...thinking of our friends and what they are going through. Hope! Hope is what I am hanging on to as I go to sleep tonight. Hope that God is still going to do a miracle...that is what I continue to pray for. Give your kiddos some extra love and kisses tonight!

A simple request....

I have a simple request today...please pray for a little 7 year old boy named Cole Puryear...he had a massive stroke this week and is in Children's Hospital. His dad, Glen, was my husband's college roomate and Cole's mom, Cayci, was my next door neighbor growing up! They are holding fast to God's promises and trusting in him during this time! Cole is expected to go home around New Years but according to the doctors - has a very long recovery ahead of him! But we are praying for a miracle - that God will heal this little boy completely - so please pray with us!!!

Warning! Grandmothers avert your eyes...

Sorry for the lack of posting...like most of you...busy, busy, busy!!! So onto the point of this post...warning to grandmothers, you may want to look away...this is what I did last night I trimmed (okay, I CUT) a few inches off of my four year old's ever growing hair...in my defense it was reaching her lower back and becoming increasingly hard to comb with all the curls! Don't feel sorry for her, she doesn't even know I cut it...we were combing it out after bath time and I pulled it into a low ponytail and snip, snip, snip...while she was talking away!!! I can do that because it is curly and you can't really tell where it all begins and ends :) Anyway, I promise there are curls left, so no worries grandmommies!!! Have a blessed Wednesday!!!

Totally random item...

Okay, it has been a very busy week...lots of stuff going on....so I don't really have anything productive or of great importance to post....so I thought I would post these (just in case my husband decides to read this post, hint, hint...by the way - I wear a 6 1/2)

Reebok Easytone Reinspire in metallic gold...

Snow, gumdrops, and frosting!

Our weekend was really terrific...it was filled with snow, gumdrops, and frosting!!! On Saturday we woke up to snow which was a "shocker" this time of year, can't remember the last time that happened! Sunday afternoon....a gingerbread house! The kids having been driving me crazy for weeks to do this...I kept telling them "we need to pace ourselves" "only one Christmas activity per day" ha! So here are the results!

In the kitchen...

This season everyone is in the kitchen....baking!!! So I thought I would post some of my favorite aprons from FUNKTION...they make the cutest stuff! I found this line while on vacation in Pawleys Island this past summer... a little shop called The Seawife! I wear mine while baking of course, but it is so pretty I wear it to dust and vaccum in too...it makes me feel a little bit better about doing housework :)

the mini BLUEPRINT

So, I finally got the mini BLUEPRINT up and going on my website here... go check it out!

Back to the Blog Awards...

OK...a few days ago I posted about receiving my very first blog award from a sweet girl over at Pink Lace & Cupcakes... So today I am making good on it! Here's the deal...I have to list 10 facts about myself, then name 15 blogs I love and pass the award on to them!

1. I am a VERY observant person...I can usually measure a person or situation up in no time flat....it's true, ask my husband!
2. My favorite food is french fries...especially the crinkle cut kind!
3. I eat ketchup with everything...
4. I love horses and horseback riding...a trait I seem to have passed on to my four year old!
5. My dad called me "Doolittle" as a child...still does sometimes!
6. I secretly long to perform in a Broadway musical - sing, dance, etc...except I don't really sing all that well and I have terrible stage fright!
7. I am a very emotional person...I cry at the drop of a hat - I tell my sister I could never do her work as a Nurse Practitioner bc I would be a sobbing mess all the time...
8. I have green eyes...
9. I have been married to my college sweet heart for almost 13 years now!
10. I accepted Christ as my savior at 8 years of age...

So there you have it...10 facts about me! Enjoy! Now here are blogs I am passing along the award to:

Walk with Whittemores

Haven & Home

Plush Palate

Chic Coles

Haute Whimsy

Delight by Design

Smitten Design

Two Ellie

Pink Wallpaper

From the Right Bank to the Left Coast

The Lylah Blog - Simple Home Living

Be Still

Life in Grace

Blueprint Bliss

and back at

Pink Lace & Cupcakes (so you can read her 10 facts)

Holiday sparkle...

Just a little holiday sparkle... The glittery birds I picked up last year at Target after Christmas...they now adorn some branches sitting on our dining room table! Our family went to select the tree yesterday...it is now sitting in our family room with lights - making the whole house smell wonderful!!! I have just begun putting up decorations...although we did get the kid's tree up in their room, strung with multi-color lights and all the ornaments they have made over the years...we also added the first Advent ornament of the season...it is beautiful!

What a day!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of food, family, and friends - I know I did! Yesterday I decided to join my mom, sister, and sisternlaw for a day of Christmas shopping - yes, on Black Friday! I had a very short list so for me it was more of a "socializing" trip than shopping trip, but what a day! We met up at 7:30am at the SUPER Target and it was unbelievable...the checkout lines, about 20 of them, were backed up to the back of the store itself...yes, from the checkout counters, it wrapped all the way around the store and to the back! Luckily by the time we were all ready to check out, the lines were much shorter...Anyway, we enjoyed a great morning, had brunch, then went our separate ways! I came home to an extremely messy house so today, this morning, we (the whole family) will be cleaning up and getting ready to do holiday decorations tomorrow! I wish I had some of these lovely products to try out...

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so very many things to be thankful for today...too many to list...but I wanted to take this opportunity to wish anyone who graciously reads my ramblings a "Happy Thanksgiving"! I will be honest, this year has been a struggle for me, my family - in more ways than one...It has tested our faith in God's provision and reminded us that He alone provides! It has also brought a clarity of what is truly important and for that I am very thankful! If this year has been a struggle for you, perhaps you are finding it hard to be thankful for anything today, take heart, there is always hope! "Be joyful always, pray continually; give THANKS in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thes 5:18

You like me, you really like me!

I just got my first blog award...this sweet as can be lady over at Pink Lace & Cupcakes sent it to me! I have to list 10 facts about myself....then pass the award on to 15 other blogs that I really love...so I will be pondering these "facts" today as I bake with my kiddos! I hope you all have really wonderful Thanksgiving!!! Facts and blog picks coming soon!!!

Lovely things...

Here are some random lovely things floating on my computer...enjoy!

Earrings are Etsy, Labels Etsy Papereclectique, Room photo unknown, Recipe cards unknown (sorry) if you know, please pass it along :)

A new tradition...

We have begun a new tradition in our family thanks to this post...I have been looking for a way to bring the true meaning of Christmas back in our celebration and this just seemed to fit! Celebrating Advent this year will be a new tradition for my family - one we are all looking forward to...the kids did a great job of making the ornaments SPARKLY!!! Advent is a season of preparation before Christmas. The word itself means "coming" and refers to the coming of Jesus. A "Jesse Tree" (derived from Isaiah 11:1) is a simple tree or branch decorated with the symbols portraying the spiritual heritage of Jesus. There are many ways to make a "Jesse Tree" but the book by Raymond and Georgene Anderson is really great...go take a look at Ellie's blog for more details! Happy Monday!

Think about this...

I know I missed Friday Feature, but instead of promoting the "buy, buy, buy" of the season, I want you to think about this... http://

Pretty in Pink

Today was a successful day...I got several things checked off my list for a client...even got a few Christmas presents done, unexpectedly - love it when that happens! Home Goods rocks...if you don't have one close by, my apologies! Also found this....

It will be going in my office to replace this....

Shameful, I know! This is my mail center, cord holder, cell phone, calculator, stapler, etc....area on my desk - so when I found this 'pretty in pink' box, I had to have it! Here's to $19.99 worth of organization - or atleast a hidden mess!

I'm dreaming....

I'm dreaming of Christmas decorations...I know we haven't even gotten to Thanksgiving yet, but here are some images that are inspiring me...

Images Canadian House & Home, Gift Tags and Star Etsy Paper Eclectiques

Just look at them!

These two make me smile...these two make me very thankful...these two help me keep it real!!! I took these a couple of weeks ago at my parents house, just before all the leaves were gone!