If I were Oprah

. . . and I could give away my favorite things.

This is what I would give you!

I love my new 180's. My friend Melissa introduced them to me on the youth fall retreat. They are warm & soft & not bulky. They have them at Marshall's for only $7.99. I have them in brown & black. Well now just brown b/c I did give them away to my mama.

One of my favorite NON homemade yummy treat is the tasty White Fudged Gingerbread Men from Trader Joes. Have you tasted them? Go grab a box while they still have them!

Also recently introduced to me is some fabulous Lip Gloss by Maybelline. I'm not a huge lip color fan but I love "Touch of Toffee".

Have you seen the Sharpie Pens? I love the way they write. They come in fun colors too.

The Eucerin lip creme has been especially helpful with Ben's chapped skin. It's been bad ~ raw, red, sore. We apply some of the creme and in a short time it's remarkably better. We just need to remember to reapply especially before going outside. We also use similar stuff on Jacob's hands. We were very smart when playing in the snow and put it on every time before he put his gloves on. His hands have not gotten to rough & raw this winter. It's a tad pricey but worth it!

I know this was a totally random post. I was just thinking (while we waited & waited for car inspections) about all these simple pleasures. Some of them are on our shopping list as we need to restock.

Thinking on These Words

The words to this song just stuck out to me yesterday in church.

I'm still thinking on them today.

Lord Help me to see what I can't see.
Help me to love with purity.

Give me the heart to follow you.

Lord help me to hear what I can't hear;

the whisper of God I long to feel.

Give me the heart to follow you.
Derek Webster

More Ornaments

When I saw these on Elisa Lou's Blog, I couldn't wait to have our boys make them. (She has a great tutorial) Ben has had the most fun with them. He's made quite a few. I also had these for the 8th grade girls that gathered at our house Monday night. I think they enjoyed them as well.

We also had fun making these featured on Kristin's Write it Down

Both of these were great as they provided a break from all the arguing. That was until they started competing on who was faster and closer to finishing.

Fun stuff!

Instead of blogging, I really should be wrapping presents as I still haven't wrapped the first one!

Merry Christmas Friends!

I WON

Kristin over at wRIteiTDOwn hosted a fun 12 days of ornament making ideas. I loved many of the various bloggers creations. Then she offered a give-away of 4 of those ornaments . . . any 4 of the ideas that she recreated! I was so excited to get an email today that I won. I absolutely love the ornaments from Becca at Blue Cricket Designs and have really been wanting to make my own. I haven't had the time but now I'll get a set! I chose 4 of the same ornament.

Thanks again Kristin!

Santa Claus?

John Mark just sent me this article and he titled it "Maybe it's a Good Thing Jacob doesn't Believe in Santa". We've been really laid back about the entire Santa thing. We've never taken the boys to sit on Santa's lap. His name is discussed every year but we always have simply left it up to the boys' thoughts.

I like this article and it makes me even happier that we've never "pushed" Santa (nor have we discouraged it).

Homemade Christmas Gifts

I love to make ornaments w/ the boys

and as long as they'll cooperate, I'll continue!

When I saw this idea online,

I just had to make some as well.

They are especially cute for the grandparents.

So

granny

poppy

memaw

papaw

stop

reading

now!

MOM ~ I MEAN IT!

You'll need some ornaments

(that 40% off Michaels would come in handy)

some white paint

paint pens

and ribbon for hanging

(or string if you aren't the ribbon type)

Simply paint the top part of your child's hand white

along with their 4 fingers.

Allow to dry.

Then add the snowman features with your pens.

Of course I had to adorn with some funky ribbons.

Cast Pictures & Interviews

Tonight the boys were in our Christmas Play at church.

Ben sang in a few songs and Jacob was in the crew.

Aligning the hallway were all the members

of the cast & crews' pictures and mini interview questions & answers.

Ours are as follows

Ben

age 6

Favorite color: Turquoise

What is your favorite activity when you are not at school?

Play basketball at home.

Who is your favorite Bible character? Why?

Goliath, because he fights the other guy.

What does it mean when we say Jesus is a gift?

He's happy.

If you could GIVE any gift in the world, what would it be?

Basketball

And finally . . . what was your favorite Christmas present ever?

Little dinosaurs

Jacob

Age 8

Favorite color: Teal

What is your favorite activity when you are not at school?

Legos

Who is your favorite Bible character?

Samson, becuase he was so strong.

What does it mean when we say Jesus is a gift?

Because God gave Him to us

If you could GIVE any gift in the world, what would it be?

World Peace

And finally . . . what was your favorite Christmas present ever?

My Wii.

I just love their answers.

Some of them I would have answered the same way

and others surprised me.

They are so different yet similar in many ways.

I love our boys!

Addy Grace is 1!

Addy Grace has a blog.

I'm still praying!

Will you join me?!

vitamin d

This is a great reminder for us. I do so well making sure we are doing these things for a while and then I slip and start forgetting how important ALL of these things are to do. Hope it's a great reminder for you too!

Enjoy reading and go get your vitamin d, kombucha, & cinnamon!

Homemade Christmas Gifts

I was so excited when a random lady in Wal-Mart

described this adorable gift idea to me.

First you simply purchase a cake/cupcake carrier.

This one is from Ben Franklin.

They have a gazillion of them for only 9.99.
It carries cakes, cupcakes, or mini cupcakes/muffins.

Then you decorate it.

I used my cricut & some vinyl.

(I hope "you" were able to get your Cricut

the day after Thanksgiving

for the lowest price I've EVER seen it.

$65!! whoa!)

And what really makes this a "homemade" gift

is the TREAT you place inside!

The "H" one will have a birthday cake for a special friend.

She doesn't do blogs so it's safe in posting it!

Happy Creating!