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!

Good morning to all! Glad to be up and going this morning...feeling much better but still finishing off a round of antibiotics for this cold! Feeling a bit behind this morning...which is always the case after being sick because so many things get left undone...especially if you are a mom! Add to that, the big fundraiser over the weekend for Kingdom Design Ministries and you get my drift on being way behind! But I came across this video as I was sipping my coffee this morning and it gave me a renewed spirit...a reminder that even at my worst, the moments where I feel so inadequate, I just need to remember that I have someone who has already "filled in the gaps" for me...enjoy! Oh, and a big "thank you" to all who wished me good health - I truly appreciate it more than you know!!!

A timeout!

Can I please have a timeout? I am SICK this morning...it has been coming on for a few days and it hit me full force last night... The problem is...I don't really have time for a timeout....so I am dropping Liv off at school and I am headed to the doctor's office(a rare thing for me)! Hope your Thursday is a healthy one!

Christmas wish list...

I love books...here are a few I would like to add to my Christmas Wish List:

All found at Amazon.com

Beautiful things....

Got the FOSSIL catalog in the mail this past week...my husband got me a FOSSIL watch last year for Christmas and I love it....here are a few more things I love from their line: I don't NEED any of this...but they sure are beautiful things to look at!

Yummy!

I made this for lunch today....

It is a TOMATO & MOZZARELLA PANINI with pesto sauce....It is really yummy and I have made it several times, several different ways and here is what I've found:

• The recipe calls for a "french" bread loaf, but I use a multi grain baguette loaf because it is more dense and I find it doesn't get soggy with the pesto sauce sitting on it
• I use pre-made pesto....Classico (lets be real, I don't really have the time nor the yearning to make my own)
• Use the best tomatoes you can find...they need to be ripe!
• Only a fresh ball of Mozzarella will do
• Unless you have a special "panini" maker (which I don't) you HAVE to slab some butter on the bread to get that crispy, crunchy outside...I use my William Sonoma grill pan and just press down with a spatula while cooking...

If you would like the recipe...shoot me an email or leave a comment!

MONDAYS!!!

Another Monday, I am already behind....I have nothing creative to post this morning...so here is what is on my mind...

• How do people "homeschool"? This is amazing to me because I can't seem to keep the attention of my children for 10 minutes let alone and entire day...but I have been reading alot about homeschooling over here and here... NOT that I am homeschooling, but I would like to add some of the great principles and curriculum into our daily routines!
• My house is a wreck...I don't know where to begin in cleaning it up!
• My four year old says she "doesn't feel well" so she needs to eat her Halloween candy all day...
• I just found out there is a problem with a table that I ordered for a client...I hate problems!
• I need to finish making 100+ auction paddles for the KDM Fundraiser which is THIS Saturday....to read more go here!
• Need to work on finalizing my mini BLUEPRINT service for website....if you are curious go here!
• I haven't even begun to think about CHRISTMAS because we have our house on the market and I can't seem to get into 'planning' mode b/c I keep thinking "what if we sell our house?" CHAOS!
• I am thankful for God's mercies...that even though I don't always feel like it, I know He has equipped me to be who He created me to be....so I will think about that as I go about the rest of my day!

Happy MONDAY!

Pass it on!

Happy Friday to all! I know I typically post a "Friday Feature" item, but I wanted to pass this along instead... If you don't know Sheye's story...go here! Then pass this along to all your loved ones!

An ordinary day...

Today is an ordinary day...Braxton goes to school...I drop off Liv at 9am for preschool...back to my home office to TRY to gain some control over the chaos - home and work related! Lately I have been yearning for the simple things...the simple life, simple schedule, simple budget, simple work, simple home....I could go on and on! The more time passes, the more I see those simple things falling away and with them my sense of "measuring up". On most days, I measure myself according to how well behaved my children are (or how they are misbehaving :)), am I spending quality time with my loved ones, the chaos that is my house, have I paid my bills on time, am I getting my client jobs completed, etc...etc... All this leaves me feeling a bit inadequate, but then I read this:

"An ordinary day in the dark challenges my desire to perform perfectly. It demands recognition that who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing. It constantly causes me to affirm my identity in God alone - not in what I can or cannot do. Darkness is benevolent in that way. It is what God uses to keep me acquainted with the liberating truth that I AM WHO HE SAYS I AM, NOT WHAT I LABEL MYSELF."

Written by Jennifer Rothschild, a wife and mother who also happens to be blind! While I am not blind, I connected with this so deeply. There are other issues in my life that "demand recognition" of who I am...I just have to remember to listen to the only voice that matters! Happy Thursday!

Farewell Michael!

Yes, I am one of those...one of those DANCING WITH THE STARS crazy people! I love the show, have watched it over the years, but this year I have enjoyed it for different reasons....I first began watching the show because I love dance...second because the thrill of a live show and you just never know if someone is going to bust it, and third it is one of the very few shows that my husband and I watch together (he might kill me for revealing that little detail)...none the less I have truly enjoyed watching this year because of this guy Michael Irvin...football star extraordinaire (not that I knew that prior to my husband telling me). He is not the best dancer on the floor but he is by far an example of what it means to put people first. If you haven't followed DWTS..the show is about WINNING...it is a competition! You know this guy is all about winning - he is a champion, football Hall of Famer! Yet this guy has been a constant source of support and encouragement for all his fellow competitors - you see clips of him hugging a young Aaron Carter, who at that moment is so down on himself, reassuring him that he is a winner no matter what! You see him smiling through critical judge comments, never making excuses, rallying his team when they were crumbling - he is just one awesome guy! Such a refreshing change from the typical Hollywood egos we often see and a great reminder that people are more important than trophies....so farewell Michael...I will miss you!

An ever growing problem....

Sorry for the lag in posting, but I am having issues with my blog...so we will see how this post turns out! O.k., so I have an ever growing problem at my house and I would love to hear your ideas on how you fix this problem at your house....kids! No, not the actual kids themselves, but the "mess" that comes with the kids! I attempted to wrangle in this problem about a year ago by combining my children's bedrooms - two twin beds in one room - and use the other bedroom for a playroom! I really thought I had outdone myself...I had lofty ideas that magically the "mess" would stay in the playroom where it would magically organize itself and be the room that they stayed in all the time.....well, here we are, over a year later and the "mess" is still all over the house! To beat it all, they don't even go in the playroom most of the time, probably bc it is such a mess! So I have been trying to gather ideas on getting the playroom organized, ideas on making it functional as well as aesthetically pleasing...here are a few of my inspirations...I totally love Kelly Wearstler's idea for a "library" room for her children...I could so use something like this because the books never seem to stay organized on the bookcase...with all the books facing out, it makes it so much easier for little hands to take and put away. I also love the decal wall frames from Land of Nod...too fun... and of course, a chalkboard wall (already got one of those and love it!)

Obviously we need storage...baskets, open storage, etc.....but it needs to be easy to get in and out of! We also have this art easel in our playroom - dry erase on one side and a roll of paper to paint to their hearts desire....so tell me, what are your secrets for keeping it all organized?

All pictures courtesy of Cookie, Land of Nod, and Nesting blog....