Say Cheese!

I'll be saying that a lot because look what my mom gave me for my birthday!!!! I.am.so.excited. Rondell came home from work yesterday with a Best Buy bag. First he pulled out some batteries, which I thought was strange. Then he pulled out a memory card saying that it would help my Kodak work better. THEN he pulled out the new camera and told me it was from my mom. Apparently she stopped by our house earlier in the day and left money for him to get it while at work. Sneaky!!!

For a long time I thought I wanted the Nikon D40, which is a very nice DSLR, but after talking to my photographer friend Lyndsey I realized that was too much camera for my simple needs. So, I started looking into advanced point and shoots and I came across this camera, the Canon SX20 IS. This camera has the same type of lens as the DSLR, but it doesn't change lenses. It has a lot of other cool features too, great zoom, and a rotating LCD screen!

I can't wait to get snappin. I have already taken some test shots and the pictures are just amazing.

Thanks MOMMY!

Thanking God on Friday

** I am thankful that my mom and dad decided to have a child...me. When they were first married, from what I understand, they were not going to have any children. But my dad talked my mom into it (the theory being that perhaps my grandmother whispered to him that she wanted a grandchild...man, I love that woman!). And well, 33+ years later, here I am!

** I am thankful for my friends at work who brought in yummy food to celebrate the November birthdays. It was a fun day of celebration.

** I am thankful for my husband. He's giving me a birthday party and sent out the cutest Evite with such nice words about me. There's a yellow theme!

** I am thankful for my relationship with God!

Wasting No Time!

So today I got THE package...this package. I can't thank Jaydee enough. You have to stop by her blog if you want to check out some amazing cards. She does an amazing job at explaining what she does for each card.

I couldn't wait to dig right in and check out all of my goodies. Right away I mounted my stamps and gathered all of the goodies to take to my craft area in the basement (an area I really need to organize).

Wanna see some of the things I got...of course you do:

Three wonderful stamp sets, brand new!

Lots of ribbon with matching card stock!

Eyelets...now I can break out my crop-a-dile.

So what's a girl to do with all of this fun stuff...why make a card of course! A magistrate who works on my floor ran for judge and he won! I told a co-worker that I would make a card for everyone to sign as soon as my stamps arrive. So right after dinner I went to my table and made this card for Mark...Judge-elect Hummer:

I used some materials that I already had from a workshop I attended at Lisa's. I used one of the eyelets that I got from Jaydee and the Congratulations stamp from one of the stamps sets that she sent.

Then I stamped 'best wishes' on the inside with my Short & Sweet stamp set.

Now if I can just get my area organized...

Wordless Wednesday - Snaggletooth

Mommy Tips and Tools

My blog friend Kelli tagged me and I'm supposed to share two topics:

My top 5 baby/children tips that work for me are:

1. Routine is key. My kids function so much better when they have an idea of what is coming next. It also helps to make sure that I'm getting everything done for them that needs to be done.

2. Getting down on their level. When I bend down and look my children in the eye to explain something to them or to listen to a story one of them is telling me, it has a bigger impact. Also, when I try and think on their level, to understand their behavior, I can adjust my actions to work through the situation.

3. Read, read, read to them.

4. I try and remember that I don't have to do what other mothers are doing, I need to use God's guidance and raise my children according to their needs.

5. They're only young once...stop and enjoy them.

My top 5 kid products that I couldn't live without are:

1. Wipes. By far wipes are my favorite baby/toddler/big girl product. I carry them wherever I go and I use them for diaper changes, spills, cleaning dirty noses, etc.

2. Our wagon. We use our wagon for so many things and it comes in handy when the kids get tired and no longer want to walk if we're out for long periods of time.

3. Exersaucer/bouncy seat. These two had the same purpose when my kids were younger. It kept them entertained and I was able to do things around the house.

4. Portable DVD player. I know this may go against many views but it comes in handy for us on road trips and for times when we are going to a place where the kids have to be entertained for a bit.

5. Snacks. I know this sounds funny, but snacks have saved us from serious meltdowns. They help when you're stuck at the doctor's office longer than expected, or on long car rides, or when you're sitting on the sidelines of your other child's soccer game.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - November 2, 2009

For today...

Outside my window...another beautiful Fall day. The air is cool and the sky is clear. I love it!

I am thinking...happy thoughts.

I am thankful for...my friend Lyndsey. She came over yesterday to take pictures of us for our Christmas picture. It was so nice of her to take the time to do that for us. The pictures turned out really nice. Thanks Lyndsey!

I am reading...nothing. I need to figure out my next book.

I am hoping...that the sun shines all week!

On my mind...how to make my Christmas cards. I think I'm going to take on the challenge this year.

Pondering these words...Jamison: "Mom, did you know listen and silent are spelled with the same letters?"

From the kitchen...Tacos, macaroni and cheese/burgers, and I want to make some chocolate chip cookies.

Around the house...I need to clean the carpet, put laundry away and organize my craft space.

One of my favorite things...Movie nights with the kids. Last night we watched a new Dora special and had popcorn. I truly enjoy times like that.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Clean (because I'm having a birthday party on Saturday), finalize the menu for the party, have dinner with friends on Thursday, enjoy my party on Saturday and my birthday on Sunday!

Join the daybook here.

All Things Loved in October

October was a really fun month!

1. Pumpkin patches and Farm stores.

2. Apple cider.

3. Apple crisp...I'm actually having this on my birthday instead of cake.

4. Halloween party.

5. Trick or treat.

** Note: This idea was taken from here.

Halloween Partay!

The kids and I went to a Halloween party at my friend Amber's house tonight (I adopted her as my friend from my friend Lyndsey!) It was a really fun time with games and yummy food.

Amber had the table set up with such cute decorations.

Here are the rice crispy treats that I (well, Rondell) made. They turned out so well. The candy corn melted a little so it gave them an orange color too. They were very delicious.

Lyndsey (well, Josh) made these brownies and put these cute toothpicks in them. Lyndsey also made Patti LaBelle's mac and cheese...and it was SO good.

I had this candy corn container so I decided to put the rest of the candy corn in it to have some extra treats on the table...because we needed extra treats, right?

Here are the mummy dogs that I made. I think they turned out pretty well.

The Super Hero and the Rock Star...Jamison and Quinn.

Each kid got a treat bag. And the winner of each game got a Halloween plate.

One of the games that the kids played was pin the nose on the pumpkin. Here's Caleb giving it a try.

Quinn pinned the nose perfectly! Caleb came in second. They also played a neat version of musical chairs. Quinn won that game too (he's a champ!).

Jamison getting ready.

Right before it was time to leave the kids had a scavenger hunt for their goodie bags that Lyndsey made. We turned out most of the lights and the kids had on glow necklaces. Amber made up clues and put them in different places that led to the bags. The kids had a lot of fun with that.

It was a great Halloween!

Thanking God on Friday

** I am thankful for my mom and MIL. They come over every year and help out with trick or treat and I appreciate that so much. The kids love going trick or treating with Maw Maw and my mom and get to chill, talk and see all of the cool costumes.

** I am thankful that Jamison's front tooth finally fell out. It would bother her when she would eat and she was getting a little frustrated. She ran up to me when I got home yesterday to tell me that she pulled it out while she was at school. She's so brave!

** I am thankful for prayer. It works! With the little things...it works. I have been working on praying during the little things that come up and I am thankful for the results.

Here They Come to Save the Day...

This is my 2nd year making the kids' costumes and it has been a lot of fun. I do not know how to sew, so my glue gun has been my friend through this adventure. It all started last year when Jamison told me she wanted to be a Pop Tart. See:

I took an off white pillow case and cut out a place for her arms and head. Then took a piece of white fabric, glued it to the pillow case and covered it with sparkly glitter glue...and ta da, she's a Strawberry Pop Tart (the red jogging suit is the filling). Caleb was a Brown Sugar Pop Tart.

This year Jamison decided that she wanted to be a super hero. So again, I pulled out my glue gun and made a run to Hobby Lobby for some fabric (I made the mistake of going to JoAnn's last year with the crazy line...HL had no line!).

She didn't want to be any specific super hero, which I loved. She told me what color she wanted each piece to be and I went to work. By default we decided that Caleb was also going to be a super hero. About we week ago Caleb kept saying that he was going to be "bigger" for Halloween. So, I decided to put a B on his costume for Bigger.

Here are the results:

I think he's pretty happy about it!

My heroes! Jamison said that her favorite shape is a triangle so she wanted a triangle behind her J.

Here are their capes. I glued their letters to the back and attached the capes to their shirts with Velcro so they wouldn't have anything around their necks (I knew that would drive them crazy).

Posing with Maw Maw, the witch. She comes every year for trick or treat (and brings her own bag to get candy...gotta love her).

Jamison and the mad pumpkin...she designed it herself and then Daddy cut it out.

Close up of the symbol. I free handed the J and used a straight edge to make the triangle.

The grandmothers...the angel (with the crooked halo and if you knew my mom you'd be laughing because this is so her) and the witch. My mom and I stay at my house each year and pass out candy. We love watching all of the people and the fun costumes.

Even Big Daddy joined in on the fun. He's such a trooper.

We had such a fun night and we can't wait to do it all again next year. Maybe by then I'll learn how to sew.

Treats, Only Treats!

The kids and I are going to my friend Amber's house with my friend Lyndsey and her kids for a Halloween party. We're going to have snacks, games and maybe a craft. I made goodie bags for the kids and I'm really excited about how they turned out. Here's my tutorial:

I got the idea to make little pumpkins from a workshop I went to at Lisa's. For the pumpkins we made there we used Stampin Up!'s wide oval punch. I didn't want my pumpkins that big and I don't have any oval punches so I used my Cricut and cut out a bunch of 1 inch ovals out of orange card stock. I took three and layered them to give the pumpkin look. Can you tell? I have one in the middle and then used adhesive to adhere one on each side. After they were done I took an orange marker and outlined the edges...you'll be able to see that better in another picture.

Then I took a piece of white card stock, 4 inches by 3 1/4 inches, and scored it at 2 inches.

I attached my pumpkin (see the outlines I did?) and drew on a stem with a green marker. Then I used a stamp that I borrowed from my friend Tonya (from a set I plan on ordering soon, Teeny Tiny Wishes) and stamped Happy Halloween.

I put a fun size bag of candy inside a baggie (one of those jewelry baggies) and adhered the card stock to the bag and ta da...a treat bag. I'm not a huge fan of all of the white space, but it's simple and cute.

What do you think? Did you make goodie bags?

I am Beyond Excited!

First, my friend Angie was having a fun giveaway...for a Target gift card. She had a picture of her adorable little guy who had something mysterious on his ear. She asked each of us to guess what the object was (it was a blueberry, I guessed right!) and then she'd randomly pick from all of the comments. So, her wonderful assistant (I just love that Layla) picked ME! I can't wait to have an excuse to go to Target...thanks Angie.

THEN...

Today I got word that I won a wonderful giveaway...and not just any giveaway...a stamping giveaway!!!!!

I discovered this blog a while ago and was immediately hooked. The cards that Jaydee makes are amazing. Some are complicated and others are very simple. Well, one day while surfing her blog I realized she was having a giveaway. I entered, not even thinking that I would win but secretly wishing I would.

Today I saw that she left a comment on one of my posts telling me to check out her blog and then saying congratulations. I immediately clicked over and realized it was true, my name was in print and I had one this HUGE package of Stampin Up! goodies. You have to head on over to her blog to check out what I won.

Wordless Wednesday - BOO!

Baby Shower Card

I wanted to show you the card I made for a baby shower that I went to on Sunday. My friend and her husband don't know what they are having so I decided to make a neutral card. It is a 3x3 card and I used both of my stamp sets (I only have two, but I'm working on that). I used my Hello Again set for stamp the hearts for the background and one of my tag stamps (I don't know the name of the set) for the tag and used my tag punch for the shape (I love this punch!). I stamped another heart on the inside of the card where I wrote the message.

I'm proud of my second made-it-all-on-my-own card (I forgot to take a picture of the first one, sorry).

I Have to Make These!

I was stalking blogs this morning and I came across this recipe. I can't for the life of me think of what blog I was on...I even commented and everything. Anyways, I'm going to make these for a little Halloween party I'm going to on Saturday. You should try them too!