my new favorite website(s)

So many cool recipes and fun projects, just click HERE to see for yourself!

The Pioneer Woman - she has a little bit of EVERYTHING, including photography. Click HERE to get lost for hours. I'm totally serious.

I plan to wear more dresses in 2010. Why? Because of THIS FABULOUS WEBSITE:

Not only do the have gorgeous dresses for women, they have a them for girls and preteens as well! Know what's even better? Shabby Apple is offering 20% off all orders placed by January 28, 2010.

Have fun browsing! Perhaps we'll bump into one each other tonight...

her [one little word] tradition

Ali Edwards has been hosting this little tradition for a few years. Click HERE for her most recent post. I'd really love to see my word on THIS or THIS... perhaps this will be the year :)

love ♡ this

I've been listening to a few of my old albums today and it's shaking all sorts of things loose. Found this oldie but goodie online:

Brings back fun memories with Jan.

And I wonder why I haven't gotten any work done :)

when old is new again

In addition to his beef jerky and a new bunch of rules, my dad added something else to Christmas Eve BINGO this year.

His LP collection. Inside of a box he'd made as a boy...

...to house his roller skates.

a few of my favorite things...

I really love this heart wreath from Williams-Sonoma, along with these sweet Pocket Pie Molds.

I have my eyes on these adorable wrist warmers by The Yarnival (this mother-daughter duo offers an amazing selection):

Too, I love old windows and was an instant fan of this creation by the Shabby Chic Cottage:

Gina shares how she transformed this old window into a chalkboard HERE. What a great idea!

I found some beautiful aprons on Etsy as well... BOOJIBOO is the name of the shop.

Last but not least, I've had my eye on a couple of cute coffee sleeves at Red Velvet Art. When I stopped by today, they were on sale!! I ordered this one:

So many fun treats :) Here's one more:

It's a journal created by recycling a vintage book. I found this one at Renegade Handmade and ran across a few at Wet Paint last summer. You'll also find a huge selection HERE.

Happy looking!

his name is Gingerbread Fred

And he is spending the holiday break with us. Gingerbread Fred came home from school with Ren on Wednesday, along with an adventure journal and small "suitcase" of momentos. (Apparently, he's gone home with other classmates over the course of the last several weeks.) Fred traveled with us on Christmas Day and was able to meet Grandma Lita. (Afterwards, Ren mentioned that Fred was "quite disturbed" because everyone was eating gingerbread men cookies.)

My youngest nephew ended up in the hospital Christmas morning. Thankfully, he is home now but sadly missed out on the gingerbread consumption festivities. We were able to spend a little time with my hubby's cousin (Cindy), which is good because it's been AGES since our last visit:

She promised to get together with Stacey and I very soon... I'm holding her to it. Here are a few more shots from our day:

It was a wonderful afternoon, despite the fact we were all sleep-deprived and hopped up on sugar. For the second year in a row, Meeley dubbed it "the best Christmas ever" (which is good because both follow "the worst Christmas ever" in 2007 when the boys asked only for rare and impossible-to-find items).

So glad we're past that ;) My hubby and boys are off the entire next week. I plan to hang out in my jammies most of that time. We'll be having lots of Movie Nights, game time, and a fondue in there somewhere. A great way to end the year.

BTW, my mother-in-law has gotten me hooked on a new treat: Regina's Candies Peanut Brittle. (Just click on the orange link to find out how to score your own... it's only available through January!!)

Enjoy the afternoon...

Christmas Eve was full of surprises

It's no wonder my kids actually enjoy church. Live animals were part of our Christmas Eve service this year; it was quite the hoot listening to a "baa-baa" here and a "baa-baa" there. There were sheep, camels, and geese in addition to a goat, donkey, and cow.

It was quite a sight. We made our way to my folks' house after the service where we came upon another suprise. Auntie Stacey decided to spice up Christmas BINGO with a fish.

Yes, a fish. Needless to say, the children were ecstatic. My niece and nephew... because they'd never owned a pet, and mine... because their cousins were so focused on the fish, they knew the rest of the prizes would be up for grabs!

And prizes there were:

Grandpa Don kept things in check with a whole bunch of rules this year. It was serious business. I had to laugh when I saw them because they were SO my dad:

Of course, there was lots of snacking with Dad's homemade beef jerky, Stacey's cookies, and Grandma's fruit cake (not to mention the meatballs, little wienies, Mom's cheese dip, taco dip, my super yummy Sesame Chicken Dip, and more). A snack feast.

Here are few more shots from our evening:

We missed my youngest niece and nephew. I haven't seen either since August and can only image how much they've grown. Family traditions are so meaningful, I pray we'll be able to celebrate with them next year.

Next year... we're already working on ways to improve BINGO. First things first, I vote no live critters!!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 8-20

and snow it begins...

They say there's a storm brewing. The hubby and I returned from lunch this afternoon just as the sleet was beginning to fall. (I have yet to hear a full weather forecast and at this point, am in a state of denial.) Apparently, we'll be facing mountains of snow within the next few days.

The only mountains concerning me at the moment are these:

Stacey made a visit this week and I'm on Round 2 of coconut ball rolling.

Speaking of lunch, the hubby and I went to Pardon My French. In addition to having a wonderful meal, I picked up a few sweet treats for breakfast. (They have an extravagent selection of bread, pastries, and cookies.) If I remember correctly, kids even eat free on Sundays and Mondays... definitely worth checking out!

Now, back to my coconut balls...