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!