{Friday Favorites} - Eager for Spring!

SPRING is getting closer...I can feel it.  We haven't had much of a winter (though we are supposed to get some snow tonight), but it is still nice to think about Spring and how giddy I get this time of year.

Here are a few things that I love (accompanied by a few pictures from when we were able to go outside the other day and enjoy some fresh air):

The tiny bursts of color

A fresh start...a clean slate

Open windows letting in fresh air!

Pulling toys/bikes/scooters out of the garage and breaking them in

The sound of laughter as the kids ride up and down the sidewalk

Reconnecting with neighbors that we have not seen during the Winter

Talks with my mom about what flowers to plant and where to plant them

Spring cleaning (and the PURGING that comes with it)!

Pulling out the grill for the first time of the season

Having it stay light longer into the evening

Breaking free from the winter coat

Driving with my windows down

Planning our Destin trip (we didn't think we would be able to go this year, but some things fell into place and we are able to make the trip!)

That first visit to the playground

Sunlight shining through my windows to help me take better pictures

 * Overall I feel like Spring is the time to stretch out and dust off the Winter...to breathe in a breath of fresh air :)

Friday Favorites...oh how I have missed you!

Showing Some {Friday Favorite} Blog Love

Hi Friends & Happy Friiiiiday :)

How is December treating you so far?  Are you counting down till Christmas...are you racing around checking off your gift list...are you doing Advent activities?

There are some blogs out there that really get me into the mood of this Wonderful Season and I thought I would share a few of those favorites with you:

~  One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to make my Christmas cards.  I love looking around to come up with a design and I even enjoy staying up late to get them done {one of these years I'll have them done way ahead of time!}.  There are a few blogs that I enjoy reading as I begin my card-making process...

1.  Erin's card-making post.  Erin does a great job at explaining her process when she makes her Christmas cards.  I love the layouts that she uses and I refer back to this post often when I am thinking about what kind of card I want to design.  She even posted a cute idea of what to do with the cards each year...here.

2.  Rach.  She was my inspiration last year to do multiple designs.  I love her style and just love her to pieces overall.  I peeked at her stamping blog today and love the cards that she recently made.

3.  Heidi.  Like Rach, Heidi is another go-to gal for card designs.  I love her simple, cutesy style.  Right now on her stamping blog she is sharing different gift ideas and I have loved each one so far.

~  Another favorite thing to do during this time of year is make cookies.  Recently Mel @ The Larson Lingo hosted a cookie exchange party on her blog...how fun is that?  Now I have a few recipes to try...not just for the Christmas season but all year long.

~  A series that I have been been really enjoying this week is one that Nancy @ The Goat and the Kid is hosting...Christmas Is _______.  Christmas is first about the birth of our Savior, but it also incorporates so much more and this series highlights all of those things.  Today you too can join in on the fun :)

~  I have recently found a fun new blog to read...the tichenor family.  The blogger Meredith has been doing such a great job at documenting the fun things she is doing with her boys during this Christmas Season.  I have gotten a few ideas that I might do next year...like opening and reading a Christmas book each day.

~  One post that gives me the warm and fuzzies is this post from Darby @ Fly Through Our Window.  The first time I saw those videos I was amazed at how well her girls memorized Scripture.  Last year it inspired Jamison and I to do the same...you can see our video here.

~  Lastly, {and this is not related to Christmas blogging} I am SO excited to be able to participate in ten on ten tomorrow!  If you enjoy taking pictures I highly recommend this to you.

Friday {Thanksgiving} Favorites

Hi Friends :)  Do you know that this is my 900th post...crazy!  For my Friday Favorites I thought I would take the time to be thankful for our relaxing Thanksgiving (and a few other things in between).  

~  I am thankful that I was able to provide a meal for our family.  This year we decided to keep Thanksgiving low-key, stay home and have our meal here.  It was a very relaxing day...with yummy food :)

~  I am thankful for Kroger...for providing our delicious turkey.  Anytime I have a large meal with a turkey, for as long as it is offered, I will get my turkey here and let them do all of the work.

~  I am thankful for my laptop.  When I cook or clean the kitchen I like to watch shows or listen to music.  So, I can watch this:

 {Yes, I was catching up on Y&R}

...while I am doing this:

 ~  I am thankful for my new cooking utensils from Pampered Chef...they are bamboo.  I learned that wooden spoons keep a lot of bacteria but bamboo spoons do not.  Or as Rondell says 'I got scared into buying them.'  Maybe I did, but so far I love them.

~  I am thankful for Mrs. Keys (my good friend Melanie's mom) for sharing her dressing recipe with me.  And while I may or may not have added a little too much sage this year, it is by far my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner.  If you want the recipe you can go here.

~  I am thankful that Rondell was brave enough to light our fireplace before dinner.  See, we have lived in this house for over fire years and we have never lit the fireplace...gasp.  I just knew there would be something living in there, but all was OK.  Isn't it pretty?

 ~  I am thankful that the one "craft" that I ended up putting together was a big hit.  I love the everyone got involved.  It was a coloring sheet that I found online (thanks Erin) and there was a space on the side to write the things for which we are thankful.

 {Wanna know something about that handsome guy in the picture above...he got a new job!!  Talk about thankful :)}

~  I am thankful that we were able to slow down and enjoy one another's company (minus Caleb, who decided to spend Thanksgiving with his grandparents...but how wonderful that he has grandparents who love on him in that way...though he was truly missed).

~  I am thankful for Jamison's love for writing.  She is constantly writing a story or a news report.  Here she is presenting her "I am thankful" presentation:

 {Sorry for the blur}

~  I am thankful that the one new recipe that I tried was a hit:

I followed a recipe from Cooks.com (which I can't seem to find now).

I boiled my yams and then peeled and sliced them, placed them in a 9x13 dish and sprinkled them with cinnamon, nutmeg and some pumpkin pie spice.

I made a simple syrup (I like saying that) using 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of light brown sugar, and about 1/3 cup of water.  I brought it to a boil and stirred until the sugar was dissolved.

I poured the syrup over the yams & then added butter to the top.

I baked them @ 350 for about 30 minutes...basically until they start bubbling around the side.

YUM!

Share your Favorites...come on, it's fun :)

Football Friday Night Favorites

Hello Friends & Happy Friday.  I am here to share some of my favorites...things that I am truly thankful for.

**The pics are from a trip we took to a Friday Night High School football game...me, my friend Marja, and my 3 favorite little people.

I love the smell of Fall candles...I got two new scents from Yankee Candle, Pumpkin Buttercream & Maple Pancakes.  YUM!  I will burn them tonight

Looking forward to Fall traditions...like the Halloween party that my friends Amber and Lyndsey organize every year

Having time to relax and watch DVR'd shows with Rondell (anybody watching Revenge?)

Finally getting on the Modern Family bandwagon...Rondell and I laughed SO hard

Making plans to head down to our favorite Farm Store this weekend

Generous people...like my friend Amy.  Stop over to her blog to see the amazing project that she's supporting.  I will be supporting this too :)

Reading books aloud with my kids...we don't do this often enough

Reading silently with Jamison for 20 minutes...I am reading Breaking Dawn before the movie is released

Chatting with other moms during Jamison's Girl Scouts meeting

Chatting with my mom on Tuesdays

Finding new, inexpensive tennis shoes for Jamison

Getting ingredients together to make sticky buns tomorrow morning for breakfast

Positive school reports for both kids

The amazing grace that my children show ME :)

Ibuprofen because this cold has been a rough one

The weekend...oh how I love weekends

Join here:

Friday {Fall} Favorites

Today I am Daydreaming about my Fall Favorites.  My friend Janna recently listed her 25 favorite things about Fall (and included some gorgeous pictures) and that gave me the idea to list some of my favorites :)

The stunning colors

Crisp air

Open windows to let in the crisp air

The smell of fire places/pits

Apple picking with my family

Making Eating apple crisp

My birthday :)

Savoring the last few weeks of grilling

Blue skies

Sweatpants and long-sleeve T-shirts

Driving to our favorite Farmer's Market on a Sunday afternoon

Warm potato soup

Apple cider from our favorite Farmer's Market

Preparing Halloween costumes and parties

Hay rides

Snuggling under a blanket while watching football

Snacking on yummy appetizers while watching football

Fall TV

What are your favorites?

{Friday Favorites}

It is clear that I am s.l.o.w.l.y. adjusting to this new routine.  I am behind in a lot of different areas, including blogging, catching up on emails AND my walking.

But, I can't focus on being behind...I just need to look ahead, to things for which I am grateful...

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentation 3:22-23

~ I am grateful for this verse

~ Belly laughs while talking to my friend Kristina

~ Watching the Friends marathon on Nick @ Nite...love that show

~ Counting down to the new Fall TV season...I miss my shows

~ PTA meetings (this is my year to start being more involved)

~ Fall soap scents from Bath & Body Works (they have a scent called Pumpkin Caramel Latte that is just yummy)

~ I am excited to be able to participate in the 10 on 10 link party tomorrow since the 10th falls on a Saturday this month

~ Cool temps

~ Opening the windows in my house

~ Chipotle for lunch

~ Making plans to go to the big High School football game tonight

~ Seeing all of the people falling in love with the Erin Condren planner (I will be ordering mine for 2012 soon - in zen gems)

~ Looking forward to another productive, yet relaxing weekend

Happy Friday Friends :)

{Friday Favorites}

Happy Friday Friends!  Here we are in September with the joy of Fall being not to far away...anyone else excited?  For me, this is the time for a fresh start...the start of a new routine, the start of school, the beginning of a new BSF study & airing out the house that has been closed up all summer :)

This week was kind of crazy with trying to figure out our new routine, meetings at school, and an ice cream social last night.  My messy kitchen is proof of the madness (because I do not like a messy kitchen, so if it is messy it's because things are wild!).

There are quite a few sparkly (hi Rach) moments that I would like to share with you:

First day of school smiles :)

Morning routines going smoothly

Lunches packed and clothes laid out the night before

My Jamison who was such an encouragement to Caleb on his first day of pre-school

Rondell supporting me as I cried the Oprah ugly cry the night before Caleb's first day of preschool

New shoes

New bookbags

Meeting new friends

Playing I Spy while Jamison and I wait for the bus to arrive

Being able to change my schedule so that I can stay home until Jamison's bus arrives

Making chocolate chip cookies for the kids (and Rondell)

Rondell's excitement to be able to lick the spoon

My chocolate chip cookie helper

The Classic Caleb faces (shown above!)

Having cookies ready so the kids can have a treat after school

Making two card sales from my etsy shop (thanks Viv and Lyn)

A co-worker asking me to make her a card to give to her husband for their 25th anniversary

Rondell teaching Caleb skills about grilling

Participating in the fun 10 Day You Challenge

What are some of your sparklies?

{Friday Favorites}

Another week gone by...still trying to shake this down spirit.  I am
s l o w l y coming out of it as I turn my focus to God and how Good He Is!  I need to be purposeful to see all of the little and Big things that He's doing in my life and in the lives of others.  Take the time to stop and smell the roses sunflowers, if you will.

I adore Rachel for hosting this link up...it is a blessing each week.  So...

Remember this guy:

You know the one with three four fantasy leagues.  This guy took me to see The Help on Monday (and bought me nachos).

I adore that he actually liked the movie

This made me think back to the time when he went with me to the movies, TWICE, to see You've Got Mail

Taking a spontaneous trip to the pool with my kids on Saturday

Checking off the final pool on our pool hop list

Less humid temps so that we can spend more time outside

Chatting with new neighbors

My walks are getting easier...might be time to increase the distance

The meal plan really coming together this week

MY SHOP IS OPEN!  {You can go here to check it out...and I will be adding more this weekend.  Oh and if anyone can tell me how to add a widget of my shop onto my blog I would ever so thankful}

Thankful to my hubby who encouraged me & helped me proof my pages...and even posted about my shop on Facebook :)

All of you friends who have been so supportive of my little shop

Finding a Stamp Club to join...I am excited to get back to stamping with other stampers

Plans to organize my stamping area...you know how I love organizing

My camera...I am really getting to hang of it (like being able to take these flower pictures while I was on my date with Rondell earlier this month)

sweet friday favorites

So thankful right now to compile this list.  For some odd reason I have been rather down the last few days..almost sad.  I can't quite put my finger on the reason.  It is nice to stop, be still and appreciate all of God's goodness...that should make me smile :)

Hugs

My 3 favorite people joining me last night on my walk

Temperatures at 75-85 degrees

Being able to open my windows to let in fresh air due to above-mentioned temps

Isaiah, Chapters 40-41...I have decided that I need to read these daily

Blue skies

Jared Wilson's Gospel Wakefulness Conference I attended last weekend...you can read his blog here

Chocolate Chip cookies (I'm making some this weekend)

Swimming...we would like to squeeze this in one more time before summer is over

A boss who understands that my August is a little crazy and allows my time off

Lunch plans that finally come together after months of planning

The Help coming to theaters...I can't wait to see it

Sitting quietly, making cards for my etsy store...the official Grand Opening will be next week

Friday Favorites - End of Summer Fun!

Ahhhhh, it is FRIDAY!  We have had a long week of Vacation Bible School with a little baseball on the side. The chores are lacking and we are a little tired, but now it is time for the weekend :)

It is also time to reflect on all of the things I am grateful for as we close out this summer season.  Here is what I am loving:

Temperatures being slightly cooler

Being able to enjoy a baseball game on a beautiful summer evening

Seeing my friend Lyndsey at the game

Sharing nachos with Jamison at said baseball game

Jamison memorizing her VBS verses quickly (I think I need to take tips from her)

Kind people who help comfort my Caleb as he cries when I drop him off at VBS

The laugh I had at Caleb as he cried because it was time to leave VBS...that Caleb

Hanging out for dinner at Taco Bell with my mom while the kids were at VBS...just like old times (**growing up there was no Taco Bell near our house and my mom and I would drive 20 minutes for TB and eat there)

Loving the fact that Caleb's first trip to the dentist went smoothly

A report of no cavities for both kids

Dinner plans tonight with my friend Kim

Plans to get together with friends I have not seen in a while next week

Making pool plans...gotta splash around one last time

Excitement about my cousin coming to visit this weekend

Planning out our annual trip to the State Fair

The fact that we only have to pay $2 to get in because it is Printer's Day (and Rondell works for Printing Services at OSU)

Cheese on a Stick

Flip flops and painted toes

Skirts...I adore skirts in the summer

How much this girl loves her Daddy :)

Caleb going with me on my evening walk

Pushing myself to take my evening walk (it has been tough...prayers are welcome)

A fan and a big glass of ice water after my evening walk

Reminiscing about our trip to Destin...here

School supply sales

Checking off the school supply list

Setting up meet-the-teacher appointments (I love meeting the teachers)

The fact that Caleb will have the same preschool teacher as Jamison...familiarity is nice

Taking more pictures so that I am able to capture special moments and share them with you :)  The pictures above are from the Clippers baseball game we attended