Thank You!!

I'm very thankful to family and friends who brought in meals, for a week, and took care of my kids while I was in the hospital....getting my Appendix out! Thank YOU!!

Instead of writing 'Thank You' notes...that wouldn't have been delivered...not to good at ty notes in the past. Anyway..I new I would get them delivered if I used CHOCOLATE! So, here's what I did....

Popped micro-popcorn and spread it out on two cookie sheets. Then I melted CHOCOLATE!;)

CHOCOLATE!!!

POPCORN!!

I put the melted CHOCOLATE into a sandwich bag, after eating some with a spoon!

I let it dry, forever!! I wanted to try it and it was taking a long time to firm up. I filled up several cello bags with popcorn and cinnamon lips with a red ribbon.

I got out my thank you notes...

...and chopped them up into 1 inch cards....

...used a hole puncher to punch holes...that takes TALENT!!...

...wrote my notes on them, no..you can't read what I wrote inside. It's personal!....

....and WAAAA LAAAA....BEAUTIFUL!

Just FYI...don't use Milk Chocolate! The chocolate fell off the popcorn! Next time I use something different! Maybe semi-sweet or molding chocolate....might work better.

Prince Charming!

I know it's Valentine's and all...but I just have to tell my SUPER ROMANTIC Christmas Proposal.

Mr. Man and I had been dating for almost 2 years (we each had 3 young children), when we were invited to tag along with our SIL and BIL, on the Heber Valley Railroad's Polar Express. We were Super excited because we loved the book so much.

When we arrived at the Train Station, it was MAGICAL! We boarded the 'Polar Express', took our seats and waited for the Elves, Mrs. Claus and Santa to join us. As the train started making it's way to the North Pole....two Elves came into our train car....dancing and telling jokes. Then Mrs. Claus handed out freshly baked CHOCOLATE Chip Cookies. Love her. And the Elves served us Hot Cocoa. Love them.

As Santa entered our car, from behind us, our kids got SUPER excited. Santa talked to other children and did a lot of 'Ho, Ho, Ho's'. When he got to us...he talked to our kids for a bit and turned to ME and said, 'I heard you've been a GOOD GIRL'. I just smiled:). He handed Mr. Man a small box. Mr. Man got on one knee and said, 'WILL YOU MARRY ME?'...YES, YES and YES!! INCREDIBLE! Can't put into words how MAGICAL it all was. HUGS and KISSES for Everyone.

I had no idea Mr Man told our kids, they didn't say a thing! And...the whole train station was aware of what was going to happen....LOVE HIM.

Never, in a million years, did I think Prince Charming..really exist!

Nesting Place, A Wreath and The Repentance Bench!

One of my favorite blogs has to be 'Nesting Place'. I love her style and the way she talks, types...you know what I mean. I've gone through several of her posts and have taken notes, Seriously!! These pictures are from two of her posts....One of them is the layout of the pic's with the mirror, you can find it HERE! The other, is the WREATH!! Oh, how I love this Wreath! She shows how to make it out of faux fur and a straw wreath. Brilliant! You can see how HERE!

Did you notice a picture is missing in one of the frames....opps!! Forgot to move the pic's down and put my hubby and I in the top one. I'll do it soon, I hope!?

Oh, and one more thing!!!!....This is our Church Pew I found in the Classifieds. I painted it RED! And...it's been named the "Repentance Bench" haha!! No, Seriously!! That's what we call it.

That's all for today...I'm off to start on NEW project and hopefully finish it by the end of the year!!

Christmas Cookie Swap... Thrifty @ Chic Mom

I love cookies! Well, I actually love to MAKE cookies more than I like to EAT them. But, since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease....I haven't had a real cookie! It's been 3 weeks of pure cravings for something doughy and yummy! So, I made these GLUTEN-FREE Chocolate Chip Cookies. Are you excited? I just used some GF All-Purpose flour, to a CCC recipe, I'll be buying that more often, just not to share with anyone. The 1lb bag is $6! Anyway, go to Thrifty & Chic Mom to post your own cookies.

Here's the recipe:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs,beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl by hand. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. The dough will be very stiff. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans if desired. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown. The centers will be soft. Let cool completely then remove from cookie sheet.

What's on Your To Do List?

{this is me and my hubby...getting away}

I have several lists of things to do. I just can't get them organized in my head. I'm all mushy with so much on my plate. Should I take a much needed bath or keep pushing through? That is the ?. I choose the bath!

Okay, now for a reality check.....here's my list:

Take a road trip with Prince Charming, in a new RED Honda Accord Coupe..ok, ok..I'll stop dreaming!

1. finish buying stocking stuffers
2. buy See's Candy (Gluten-Free, btw) for 'some' people, i can't say who, because they read this blog.
   
3. buy presents for Prince Charming...what to get a Prince who has everything, Me! 'nough said!
4. bake, I don't really want to...but my kids are making me...haha, just kidding. i have a divinity recipe to die for.
5. wash car, can't be seen with a dirty car:)
6. clean house, it's a Christmas tradition.
7. wrap, wrap, wrap...we have seven kids, you do the math;)
8. hire a maid, so i can take that bath!
9. a nanny, too! i really need a bath!
10. enjoy myself and relax

What's on your Holiday List? Do you need a maid also?

Are You Spreading Holiday CHEER?

Last night, Jyl from Mommy Gossip GNO, came over and we put stickers on CANDY CANES to hand out to people who are in need of some, HOLIDAY CHEER! Sounds fun, I know....we are so creative!

Soooooo, what are YOU going to DO, to spread HOLIDAY CHEER?

Mommy Gossips GNO Random Acts of Kindness

Mommy Gossip has challenged everyone to do a Random Act of Kindness this week, so we did it! We baked cookies and delivered them to an elderly neighbor. I wish I would have grabbed a picture or two, but since I can't eat them....I wanted them out of the house FAST! My kids had so much fun and it made a HUGE difference to our neighbor.
Thanks Mommy Gossip for the CHALLENGE!

25 Days Until Christmas

Can you believe there's ONLY 25 days until Christmas. I'm really in SHOCK! I usually have ALL my shopping done by October and here it is December 1st. What have I been doing with ALL my spare time, you ask? Well, I've been going to the SPA and getting my NAILS done. A few trips to the mall and a BRUNCH or two, or three...maybe four...okay, FIVE! Anyway, I just haven't had time to go shopping for anyone else but ME! And now it's almost Christmas.....there's only one thing to do! STOP WHINING and THINK OF OTHERS! I couldn't have said it better myself.

So here's the plan:

1. Have Brunch with Mommy Gossip and Pulsiper Predilections and talk about SERVICE projects we can do. I know, another brunch....but this one was to plan fun ways to help others. Are you so PROUD of me? These two gals were so much fun and..have you seen their blogs? You really need to click on over and check out their blogs. I was a little intimadated. But so excited to talk with adults and eat FOOD! By the way, we made plans for some great SERVICE PROJECTS! Christmas spirit, here I come.

2. Make cookies for FHE and drop them off at a neighbors house....after we ring the doorbell and run off. That's not considered doorbell ditching, is it? I don't think so. I mean....how could it be, we're giving YUMMY cookies to them, right?

3. Go shopping for my LITTLE PEOPLE. I have such great ideas for them. To bad my ideas aren't the same as what's on their list.

4. Spend time with my WONDERFUL HUBBY! He's the best, ya know!

5. HAVE FUN!!!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas {by Heather}

One of our Thanksgiving Traditions each year is helping my mother-in-law decorate for Christmas. I love doing this! It's gets me SO excited to decorate my own house! There's nothing like Christmas decorations to get you in the mood for the holidays. :)

Mom has a lot of collections and each year group them together:


Santas in the kitchen


Reindeer in the dining room


Nativities in the living room


And snowmen in the family room.

We also had fun dressing up the rest of the house. Here are some pretty simple ways to create a festive feeling.


Fill a pretty bowl or vase with ornaments and surround it with greenery.


Pretty beads, greenery, and a cardinal dress up this pretty candle stand.

No matter what you do to dress up your house for Christmas, make sure you surround yourself with beautiful decor and, of course, the people you love!

{Heather}

Happy Thanksgiving to YOU, YOU and YOU!

{oh, happy thanksgiving....i'm so glad you're HERE!}

Doesn't this CANDY look Fan'TAB'ulous? That's a new word for Me! DO YOU LIKE IT? Today is one of my Favorite Days. The whole day is dedicated to being THANKFUL....and spending time with family, friends and eating yummy food. What could be better?

I have a lot to be Thankful for.....my family is Amazing! We have a roof over our heads, job, clothes, shoes, food and millions of other things to be GRATEFUL for. I'm so thankful to have this day to remember how WONDERFUL everything is. How BLESSED we are, not only to have family and great food, but that we live in a world where we can HELP each other. Reach out to one another and lift others UP with a simple HELLO! How wonderful is that?!

{Another reason to be THANKFUL}

I promised an update about my health. You can read about some of it HERE!

The procedure on Monday went well. There is some concern about Celiac though. I had a biopsy done and we should find out Monday if I have Celiac Disease or not. I'm hoping for NO, but it looks like it's a possibility. I'll have another blood test to see for sure. One of the symptoms of this disease is UNEXPLAINED ANEMIA. And, I have that, for SURE! I have to look at the Bright Side, ya know!

All I can say about my HEALTH is.....I will have FAITH!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Oh So Cute....Wreath!

Everyone needs a new WREATH this time of year, right? Well, I found one for you, and you, and you! And the BEST part about it.....YOU can make it YOURSELF! Emily over at the LITTLE WINDOW SHOPPE will show you how to make this pretty little thing.....it's really easy.

Making New Christmas Stockings

I'm making NEW STOCKINGS for my family this weekend. Here's some ideas from Martha Stewart that I LOVE! You can get ALL the instructions for these Great stockings on her website.
Hmmmm, I don't know which style I'll decide on....I have to make NINE so it will have to be SIMPLE. On Monday I'll post the NEW Christmas stockings, or at least ONE.

I know theses are not stockings, they just looked really GOOD!

For more great Holiday IDEAS, visit THE INSPIRED ROOM!

Great Christmas Present - Stroller Bag

Looking for a Great Christmas Present? This is great for anyone with kids, grandkids, etc.

I designed this bag for diapers, wipes, and other personal items. I wanted a cute diaper bag I could hook to my stroller. I didn't want it to look like a diaper bag but on the other hand I wanted it to hold what I needed.

A long 15" strap(hook included) clips to the zipper for a wristlet look and making it easy to attach to a stroller. You can use this for a variety of things.

Measurements:
11"(at botton) 8" (at top)
$26 plus shipping

You can find more of my products at The Sassy Shoppe