1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both! I love pretty paper and gift bags for the unwrappable )… but not for the kids, they are too nosey to not look in the bags!

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial this year, usually real.

3. When do you put up the tree? the week after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? Day after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? ICK no!!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? baby alive

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, several. Matt likes them. It’s hard to find places to put them out though… too much Christmas stuff.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad (found the PERFECT gift for him this year though!)

9. Easiest person to buy for? Emelia. She loves everything from dolls to clothes, from makeup to music.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? batteries. I begged and begged to open one little present before Christmas when I was little, my mom finally relented and I opened a package of batteries!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Grinch and Elf

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sweets of any kind!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear. period.

17. Favorite Christmas song? I’m enjoying “wintersong” album by Sarah McLachlan tonight

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? dasher dancer comet cupid donner blitzen prancer vixon rudolf ???

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Bear (boyd’s bear angel)

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Crazy rushing around and rude people.

23. What I love most about Christmas? Seeing everyone, giving fun gifts, the pretty decorations …

Aren’t these bridal shower invitations cute? I love the look of the little purse for a wedding shower invitation. I still remember my own bridal shower over eighteen years ago (yikes)!

These invitations are so cute too, I love the bride and groom on the cards. You can choose the colors you want for your invitations to go with the season or the colors of the wedding. I am a little embarrassed to admit my wedding was teal(ish) and rose colors with ivory. Very 80’s!

I also think these shower invitations are adorable. I love mocha and blue right now! Such a neat color combination. I love pink & brown together too!

1.What scares you? Dogs! After being bit by a dog years ago they terrify me!

2. Coke or Pepsi (Diet counts)? I ♥ coke! I grew up drinking pepsi, but have made the switch. (sonic ice is necessary too)
3. I would love to try… sailing, skiing, anything new!
And now for a bonus question…
4. Spiritually speaking, do you have a Quiet Time? If so, where, when, and how long have you had one? If not, what is stopping you from having a Quiet time? (Quiet time is defined as time alone with God. It can consist of praying, reading God’s word, and worship among many other things) I do have quiet time. I fall asleep praying and when I wake up I talk to God… when I am driving I talk to God… when I’m in the shower I talk to God. I grab every little minute of quiet to spend time with Him. I read my bible usually before getting out of bed. Sometimes I have to wait until the kids (minus Izzy) get to school. I also spend time in the car listening to teachings and worship music.

Thanks “To Know Him” for hosting this fun new meme!

Ever thought of getting a Hair Transplant??? I haven’t I must admit. I remember one of my in junior high one of my bff’s dad got one. It was a little odd, but I think he was happy with it. Matt has a full head of hair. He always worried about being bald as a child because one side of his family had shortish bald men while the other side had enormously tall full hair headed men. I think he landed in the middle at about 6′1″ and full head of prematurely gray hair… hey, I don’t mind if people think he’s my daddy.

Dr. Shapiro does hair transplants for men & women in Florida. He’s unique in that he’ll arrange for you to talk any of his clients about their experience. He’s also got info on his website about what to beware of when getting a transplant, and a video of client experiences.

So, if you need some hair… check it out.

2.5 lb. boneless pork shoulder roast
1 can rotel
3 T tomato paste
1 T honey
3 cloves pressed garlic
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
1 t. salt
12 flour tortillas
toppings… cheddar, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, olives.

1. put pork in crock pot
2. mix all other ingredients (down to tortillas) and pour over roast.
3. cook on low 8-10 hours.
4. shred with two forks
5. serve with tortillas and toppings.

Visit Sandra for more slow cooked meal ideas.

Thirteen things to do today!!!

1. Call bear for Izzy’s appointment time.
2. Put all the tubs and boxes that held Christmas decorations back in the attic.
3. Run to Office Depot.
4. Go to Target and see if they have sold out of a particular toy for Emelia (can’t list because she reads this sometimes ) they had it, I got it!
5. Change and wash bedding.
6. Go to Michaels and look at the potted lighted outdoor trees. sold out!
7. Do my daily bible reading. I’m almost finished with Psalms now. (Remember we started reading ten pages a day to finish in 90 days?)
8. Order gift sacks for teacher presents.
9. Visit bloggy friends and see what’s going on with them.
10. Catch up on email!
11. GET DRESSED lol (in something other than flannel pj’s)
12. Take Izzy to school (she’s much better!, thanks for the prayers)
13. Rake leaves

We have been reorganizing and redecorating Emelia’s room the past few weeks. Her room is the biggest bedroom in the house, but because she is the only one to share her room (with Izzy) it justifies the size, although Izzy doesn’t really sleep in that room.  She does have her armoire and other things in the room which take up space.  

We are looking at new bedding for her room.  Childrens Bedding is sometimes hard to choose.  You don’t want something that is too juvenile, but you do want something very pretty and comfortable.  Emelia loves butterflies and this website has bedding created from digital pictures of many different things including but not limited to butterflies.  

Christmas has exploded in my home, it’s official! Well, it didn’t help that I unloaded all ten boxes of Christmas decorations from the attic at once… but, the tree is up and trimmed, the den and dining room windows are dressed, and the light fixture is festive! I would say that I am about 1/3 finished. I am hoping to increase that percentage to at least 1/2 by the end of today. I always kinda dread unloading the Christmas stuff, but once it is out it sure is pretty! Don’t Christmas lights just make you feel cozy? They do me! I rearranged the furniture in the den and then arranged things many times before deciding how to keep the tree. I usually set it up in the corner of the den but Izzy’s stuff is busting out of that area and I am running out of places to tuck things. Especially BIG things like standers and walkers and strollers (0h my!). I guess I could clutter up the front room aka therapy room, but it is the first room you see when visiting my home so I like to keep it clutter free.

I’m hoping to have picture posting capabilities before long and I’ll post pics of the tree and stuff! (I’m still planning to post pics of robot baby).

Izzy has been a little gunky this week. She is stuffy and coughing. I am hoping she will feel like going to school today!

LED sting lights are perfect for wedding lights.  I love lights in the trees and it’s not just for holidays anymore.  I notice lights at restaurants and stores year round.  Little twinkly lights just give you that festive feeling like nothing else.  There are many reasons to look at purchasing LED lights…
90% less energy
50,000 hour bulb life
UL and Energy Star Approved
Safer – cool to the touch
Durable 1 piece construction
Lifetime warranty
30 Day No Questions Asked Return Policy
When my friend Mendy got married we all took our Christmas lights out so we could decorate the whole area with lights.  It was so pretty, I’ll never forget that night.  I doubt she will either.

This post is sponsored by holidayleds.com.

I love Christmas decorations!  I always dread Dec. 26 when it is time to put them back in their boxes… I have some missing items this year which is annoying.  My hall bathroom is all white.  White double sinks, White big triangle tub/shower and the walls are the beaded board.  I decorate that bathroom to match the seasons and cannot find the box with all the Christmas stuff for in there.  Oh well, another excuse to run to Target? or Kohls?  I’ll let you know what I come up with.