Happy New Year

I have been spending this last week really putting some thought into my goals for next year both personally and professionally. I'm actually thankful for the snow and cold weather this year believe it or not. There are so many projects and ideas I have and want to do and I know if it were summer right now I would want to be outside enjoying the weather. So this year I have decided to enjoy the winter and accomplish as much as I can before the warm weather hits. Because really what other choice do we have? The cold will be here no matter what.

So tonight, instead of going out, we have decided to have a nice night at home just playing games and watching movies. I'm excited for night at home just the three of us relaxing. It doesn't seem to happen too often between my job and Troy's job. I definitely want to finish up my goal list tonight as well.

Happy New Year!

the fury....

We got a big snow tube for Khloe for Christmas.




She loves riding it around the house.....so of course I couldn't wait to get her outside in all the snow and let her ride around in it. So after about a half hour of putting on layer after layer of clothes (the only thoughts going through my head were of Ralphie's brother in the Christmas Story..... "I can't put my arms down.") we headed outside . Only to put Khloe in her tube and have her start screaming and crying....

picked her up....

put her back in the tube....

more screaming and crying.....

picked her up...

put her back in the tube again...

more screaming and crying...

picked her up....

walked inside....

more screaming and crying because she wants to go back out.

By this point you can about imagine that any patience I had left for this situation had been spent. So Troy being the patient man that he is scooped her back up and headed out to the front yard this time. Which is where I got this picture.....

This was the split second Khloe was in the tube with no tears and no screaming....

and then Troy promptly hit a bump and our little girl fell face first into the snow.

More screaming and crying.

The end.

I must have been good this year......

What a Christmas!!! Well the plans got changed just a little bit this year to accommodate the whooper of a storm that we got (I think around 2 feet total over the whole weekend). We decided to let Khloe open her presents from us on Christmas Eve morning. Just to spread it out a little.


She had a great time and got lots of cute things (they should be....since I bought them.) She loved her makeup bag, purse, and quiet book.

Troy and I always say we are not getting each other anything, but I usually always end up getting him something. Usually he doesn't get me anything.....but only because I tell him not to. The last time he got me something for Christmas I opened up a Carhart Coat (well in his defense I had complained about getting cold outside while I scooped) and....wait for it......wait for it....a square green little machine with a crank on it.....that I had no clue what it was for. Turns out you put de-icer in it and turn the wheel and it spreads it all over your sidewalks. I'm still learning how to use it properly. So you might find it hard to believe, but after that Christmas I told him there was really no need for him to buy me anything.

So imagine my surprise after everyone had opened their presents that there was still a box under the tree. I knew immediatly what it was once I held it....which always ticks Troy off that I ruin the surprise. I opened it up and found a new phone. Now before you start thinking that this is as bad as the previous gifts, this one I actually was excited about.

My mom had gotten us a new phone a couple of years ago as a Christmas present and I swear after about 6 months the phones went bad. So instead of buying new phones....because why would I want to spend my hard earned money on a boring new phone....I am just constantly running around the house switching phones because the batteries die before you can finish a conversation. So this was a great gift for me.

Troy really went all out on this phone. He kept asking me if I liked it....I think he wanted me to say no so he could take it back. It must have been expensive! It has three handsets....because I always lose the two that we have, caller id, call waiting, digital phonebook, speakerphone, hold and it even announces who is calling. That way if you are on the couch and don't want to get up you can wait and hear who is calling....and then decide how important they are! Not that I would ever do that......hmmmm


We did make it out to my parents....just in time. We ended up having to skip Christmas mass this year which was a huge bummer. I think this is probably the first year ever that we have not gone to Christmas Eve mass. But with the ice and snow we just didn't think it was a good idea to have the little ones out on the road after dark.We opened some gifts that night and Khloe, yet again, got some really cute gifts. This was a dollhouse that she got.....I turned around and found Troy playing with it....look where he put the man...just relaxing in the bathtub. He's just lucky I didn't show everyone the next picture of him I took....he realized I was shooting some pictures of him and held up one of his fingers for me. It wasn't his ring finger either! hee hee He knew right where those pictures were going!

Khloe got the cutest little bag from my mom...I really wish I could have taken credit for this one. Maybe next year after I learn how to sew. It is supposed to be their backyard setting....complete with Khloe's swing. LOVE IT!!!!

I was actually successful in stumping my dad this year for Christmas. Every gift he gets he always knows what it is (probably because we get him the same stuff every year). So this year I decided to put his Ebay gift certificate in a box and I dumped in a handful of M&M's. He just couldn't figure it out! HA HA

Khloe lucked out Christmas morning and Santa was able to make it through the storm to Grandmas house. She got a little salon chair for her babies along with too many other toys.

As for me.....I must have been exceptionally good this year because I think I got just about everything on my list that I gave this year. There was one gift that I was really wanting and after we arrived at my parents I went to the tree and thought I scoped it out hiding in the back (good try mom). Yes, I am still like a little kid at Christmas, shaking all the boxes. Usually I don't have tons of pictures of myself at Christmas. But when it came time for this box to come around I handed Troy the camera and told him to start shooting. I got my Wacom Bamboo Craft Tablet and was I excited! These are 3 of the 32 pictures Troy took of me. I can't wait to try it out! I also got a tripod for my camera, a remote for my camera, a new camera strap and TONS of other stuff. I think mom forgot she had told us she was cutting back this year.

We got stranded at my parents until the day after Christmas.....and we only live 10 miles away and I really love my own shower and bed....if that tells you how bad the storm was. Their electricity went out on Christmas Day around 11:00 so the ham didn't get cooked and all we could do was eat of the platter of cookies and treats....oh darn. Lucky for us they have a generator and within a few hours we were up and running with some electricity. Not that it mattered...besides the heat of course....we had a great time.

Dad made a ping pong table so we had a few little tournaments...I must add, I didn't do too bad.

All in all it was a good Christmas....but it is always good to be back home. I actually started taking some of the Christmas decorations down today. I get almost excited about putting up my winter decorations because I love all of the silver glittery stuff.

Well if you are still reading this....congratulations....you made it through one of the longest posts I think I will ever have! Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas......

........from our house to yours!

shhhhhhh.....

I have been working on making Khloe a "quiet book" for Christmas. The idea originated as a birthday gift for her....but her birthday came and went. At the rate I'm going I'm lucky I finished it before Christmas. It turned out to be more of an "interactive book" than a "quiet book" simply because I ended up using velcro on almost everything...which doesn't make it very quiet.

This was definitely a project that was thrown together. As I was coming to the end of it I kept thinking I should have done this, I should have done that. So I made some notes in a notebook that I keep for gift ideas and I will tackle a bigger and better book next year if she likes it this year. I would like to include some snaps, zippers, more writing, etc. But being the non-sewer that I am I didn't think these were things I should try to tackle at the last minute.

My goal during this next year is to learn how to somewhat sew. I did do some sewing back in junior high for 4-H. You know how that goes...mom stands behind you and puts her hands on top of yours on the fabric and moves them for you. While all you can think about is how much more fun you would be having at the swimming pool with your friends. That of course was not my experience....just what I have heard from others. Needless to say when I was in junior high my top priority was not learning how to sew. Now, however, I wish I had paid a little bit more attention to it.

So everything in the book is attached by velcro so that Khloe can pull it out and move it around. The clock has movable arms for her to learn how to tell time. Can't all 2 year olds tell time? Ok...so maybe I was getting ahead of myself a little bit with the clock, but I thought it was a neat idea. I'm sure she will have fun just sitting swinging the hands around until they break off.

She is loving animals, buttons, and shapes right now so those were a no brainer to include. I made a little lift the flap that says "Count the buttons" under it.

I did go a little bit out of my box and hand cut and hand stitch some little clothes to hang on a clothesline. For no other reason then I thought it was a cute idea. The clothes also have velcro on them so she is able to take them off and lose them in the bottom of her toy box. This also marks one of the first times I have used stickers on a "scrapbooking" project in about 2 years. Khloe loves cats so I thought I would put a couple down in the grass playing under the clothes....just like at Grandma's house!

So this is my finished product. I would like to get a couple bigger rings to bind it with. These were just a little tight. But that can be done after Christmas.

what a neat idea

Is this not one of the coolest wreaths you have seen? I came across this awhile ago and had wanted to make it before Christmas, but didn't get around to it. I thought I would pass it along though because I think it would look good all year round in the house. I had wanted to do one and ink the edges of the book red for Christmas, but maybe next year!

If anyone decides to make it please email me and let me know how it turns out! I would love to see some variations of it!

Oh and be sure and check out her house decorated for Christmas. She has some great decorating ideas!

I have been working on a project for the last few days and had planned to post it today, but it isn't quite finished. Hopefully I will have it up tomorrow. It is a Christmas present I am making for Khloe.

nothing like waiting till the last minute.....

I've had this great idea for quite some time to make Khloe a "quiet/interactive book." I thought it would be something really great to give her for her birthday. Well, her birthday came and went so I aimed for Christmas. So finally this weekend I thought I would start working on it. I wanted to do a few different things with it, but time is just running out. So I went for the quick option. I figured if she liked it then next year I can make one with some snaps, zippers, etc.

She loves animals, shapes, and buttons right now so I knew those would go in there for sure. Then I decided to make a clock for one of the pages that she could move the arms to change what time it is. I know she is only two and is a long way from being able to tell time....but she can grow with it this way. Then I decided to sew some clothes and hang them from the clothesline. For no other reason than I thought it would look neat. So all of the animals, shapes, clothes, and buttons have velcro behind them so she can pull them all out and stick them back on in the right places.

I had wanted to put colored paper on the backgrounds and do a little more writing in there, but like I said...time just ran out. So, better luck next year! I think I will start working on Christmas projects in January this next year! :)

Christmas madness

Of course she has to test the first one out of the oven

Don't worry...I'm sure there were only one or two of her hairs that actually touched the cookies....she got to eat that one afterwards! :)

Khloe's new little rolling pin that I gave her for Christmas....well a little early....got a lot of use! We were busy the other night making cookies. I think the whole process only took us about 6 hours and I'm not even kidding. When we were done and I was looking around our kitchen that looked like a tornado hit it I was wondering if it was all worth it. But Khloe seemed to have fun and the cookies tasted good so we will probably get crazy and do it again next year!

Below is the finished product!

I think the trees could have used a few ornaments....but I was out of energy by the end! Whew, good think Christmas only comes once a year!

I also wanted to post the other box that I finished. I decided to make a new jewelry box. I couldn't find one that I liked without spending a lot of money so I just decided to make my own. Here is the end result...I'll probably paint the box once I decide what color. Yes, it could probably take up to a year for me to decide! ha ha

I keep all of my jewelry in the drawers....along with my cute little flower clip that I made. It works out pretty good for being able to sort through and find what I want.

I hope everyone has a fun weekend planned! I finally get to go see "New Moon." I'm soooo excited! Troy has been refusing to see it after I made him sit through "Twilight" (though I like to think he secretly liked it and won't admit to it). Finally today I found someone who hasn't seen it yet and wants to go, which means I don't have to go sit at the theater by myself...although I was willing to do it to see this movie!

too tired to think.....

I just wanted to post these pictures of my box from Ikea. A few of you have already seen this, but I wanted to post this before I post my new one tomorrow! I love love love these boxes. They are the handiest little things. I put all of my little pieces in them on my scrapbooking table. Buttons, metal letters, jump rings, chipboard, jewels...you name it and it can go in there. Right now I have two on my desk and a third one that is for something else....you will see that one tomorrow. I also have 2 new ones sitting on the floor that have yet to be put together. Putting them together is quite a process...I'll show you tomorrow how it comes from the store. I usually put Troy at the task of putting them together. He loves it! ;) I hear NO complaining at all! HA

Anyways, I kept looking at it thinking it needed something, so after a year or so of much deliberation I finally added a rub on to it! I know....really a tough decision, right? These rub-ons came from Fancy Pants Designs. I have a whole sheet of them and I use them all the time on little things.

I am really pumped to show you my new one tomorrow! Just another example of what they can be used for. So if you are headed to an Ikea be sure and pick yourself up 4 or 5 of these....I always get home and wish I had just one more!

Be sure you or someone who really loves you is good with a hammer and nails before buying it!


I had to add a picture of Khloe. She came home the other day from daycare with a Rudolph hat! This is one of the many reasons we are lucky to have her in the daycare we do. They do fun projects all the time! I thought this would be a good December 15th entry for my December Daily.

Well to be honest it is about 7:30 PM and I think I'm going to go get ready for bed and crawl in with Khloe when she goes. I got up at 4 AM this morning to go last minute Christmas shopping....aughhh I am beat! I was on the road by 4:45 which turned out to be a good thing because man did it get busy later! I'm just glad to be done. Now onto the wrapping.....

Oh yeah and the cookies got done...I'll post some pics of those tomorrow too...they turned out pretty cute I think! Khloe seemed to have fun helping with them.

last minute shopping....

Here are a few more Etsy finds....for some last minute shopping if you are like me and still needing to find just a few more things!

For all of you Twilight lovers....this bag is actually used by Bella in both "Twilight" and "New Moon." Well not this exact one...but the same lady made this bag and the one that is in the movies. Take a look at the description on her site...she tells all about it. Pretty exciting for her!

I thought these aprons were pretty cute. She also makes them in kid sizes!

Since I am on my laptop all the time...I thought it would be fun to dress it up a little!

What a cute baby gift! Who doesn't need some cute silverware!

This is actually the exact bag I got for Khloe for Christmas. She LOVES to play in my makeup so I thought she could have her very own makeup bag! (I know the link says sold, but I think she might have more in her shop!)

For the garden lover! She is even upgrading shipping so you are sure to get it before Christmas! She has lots of cool stuff in her shop...look around!

Cute, cute, cute....if Khloe were just a little bit older she probably would have gotten one of these this year! (I know her shop says Christmas orders are over...but you can always print the picture off and give it as a gift certificate...just an idea!)

I thought I would save one of my favorites for last....isn't this cute?!?!?! Yes, I know it's a little spendy, but keep in mind that these people on Etsy are making these handmade....not in a factory so they take a little more time and are a little more expensive....but no two are alike! That's worth something, right? :)

I hope everyone has their shopping almost done and has found that perfect gift for everyone. I still have one more day left if this weather would cooperate!

illumination....

Here is a little peek into our house at Christmas this year. If only we had a fireplace I think the decorations would be complete!

This is probably the last year that I will decorate the tree in our living room with ornaments from when we were kids. I remember being at home when I was younger and my mom always wanted to do a "theme" tree. We would never let her because we always liked seeing the ornaments that we picked out on the tree. So I thought before Khloe gets too much older and gets attached to the tree being this way, like we did when we were kids, I am going to get her a tree for her room next year when she is a little bit older and let her put whatever ornaments she wants on it. Maybe I can snag a good deal on a tree after Christmas. Then I can do a "theme" tree in our livingroom next year.

I had seen a stocking holder similair to the one that is shown above on Etsy last year and it was selling for an enormous price...much more than I was willing to spend. Luckily for me, my dad can do some amazing woodworking things and I unwrapped that as a gift last Christmas. I was soooo excited this year to get it out and put my finishing touches of a little bit of paint and a small picture of Khloe in it. I think it turned out better than I imagined...and much better than the one on Etsy. Thanks, Dad...I love it! You couldn't build me a fireplace this year to sit it on could you?

I love laying in our livingroom at night just looking at the tree....I'm dreading the fact that there is only about another 2 weeks of this left. Tomorrow we are baking sugar cookies so hopefully I will have some fun pictures to post!

Getting organized in 2010

One of my BIGGEST goals for 2010 is to get my office/scrapbook room organized. This is probably my favorite room in the house and it is also the messiest place in the house. There are a few of you select individuals who have been unfortunate enough to walk the small path that exists to and from my desk....and for that I'm sorry! I have taken pictures and whenever I get the "After" finished I will be brave and show the "Before."

The thing that really bothers me is that I used to be the most organized person. That was before I had a kid. Khloe came along and not only stole my memory bank but also must have sucked my organizational skills right out of me too. At this point I'm not real sure which is worse.

So my plan is to take baby steps up until about March of 2010. At that point (Troy...just quit reading right now because you are not going to like what you read) I'm going to remove EVERYTHING, except maybe the treadmill (yes it is also my workout room and no it is not a large room) because that thing is a hog, and start from scratch. The room is getting a fresh coat of paint that has not been done since we moved in, carpets cleaned, and hopefully by then a new desk in place. I'm eying this one in all white, just because of the size and storage it offers.

From now till March I'm planning to just get little things ready...ie the "Inspire" vinyl rub-on, desk picked out, paint picked out, bulletin boards made, filing cabinets painted, and more. Today I worked on these "Incoming" and "Outgoing" letter holders. I have been desperatly needing a place to put bills because I'm lucky if I don't lose them on the way from the mailbox to my office. I love love love this letter holder, but just wasn't real excited about spending $29 + shipping for something like this right now. So I made a couple of my own and I think they turned out pretty well for not really having a plan. I just painted some cheap 4x6 picture frames from Ikea and glued paper to them with the tops tilting out a bit so I can really shove a lot of bills in there! :) Then I just painted some grungeboard and glued them on and there you have it! I don't think both of them together cost me more than $1.00 or $1.50. Not bad!

For right now all this stuff will lay in another pile in my office....but the end is now in sight!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Thanks to the three of you who left me a comment! Lucky for you no one else wanted to leave one! A couple of thoughts before I announce the winner....

Cami....I love love love instrumental Christmas music. If you are looking for another good one check on David Osborne "Home for the Holidays." It is FANTASTIC!!!

Jessica....I just added some Faith Hill to my playlist on my blog...by the way...you should add a playlist to your blog! I love "Where are you Christmas."

Erin....Thanks for the nice comments...those are always welcome! :) Funny enough, my favorite Christmas song of ALL time is "Tennessee Christmas" by Amy Grant. I think the original release date was 1983! ha ha

So I wish I had a gift for all three of you...but keep checking back cause I plan to do more giveaways!

And the lucky winner is..........

CAMI

Congrats! Shoot me an email tomorrow with the color you would like the "Inspire" in so that I can get it ordered for you! They have just about every color!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

I just wanted to share my December Daily entry for today. This storm has really put me in the Christmas mood! Hope everyone is staying warm!

Be sure and enter to win the "Inspire" vinyl phrase on the post below! Don't be shy! :) Comments close on Thursday night!

Oh and by the way if you now want to listen to some Christmas tunes while you look around the blog scroll to the bottom and my playlist will activate!

The perfect Christmas gift....and a giveaway

Since you all know how much I love Etsy I thought it was only appropriate that the first giveaway comes from there!

Lola Decor specializes in vinyl designs. Jamie has the CUTEST designs and they are so reasonably priced! If you are like me, I could have these things all over my house! What a perfect gift for someone who is hard to buy for!

I have been working with her on creating one for my niece for Christmas. I also recently purchased the "Inspire" one shown above. I thought it would look great in my office/scrapbooking room once I get it completed.

Actually, I purchased two of these! Whoever wins this giveaway is getting one (sorry candles and pillows not included)! You even get to pick your color!

Here is what I need from you.....Every year I look for a new holiday cd. So all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me your favorite holiday cd. You know, the one that you can't wait to put in once Christmas finally rolls around.

Pretty simple, right? I'm giving you an easy one to get started with! :)

The comments will close Thursday night at 10 PM CST. I will put all of the names in a hat and draw one out and the winner will be announced on Friday. The giveaway is open to anyone....well except my family....it would probably look like I cheated if I drew one of their names! Sorry guys! :)

Comments are now closed!

Happy 2nd Birthday Little Peanut

I am not even kidding when I say this is what Khloe put on today to wear to her birthday party. I was downstairs getting ready and she came down in this gettup! I told her we needed to rethink the party clothes!

A big sucker from Aunt Heather....she knew just what Khloe liked!

Ben was nice enough to give Khloe a ride in the laundry basket for her birthday...one of her favorite activities! Thanks Ben!!!

My mom made the monkey cake! Didn't she do a great job? It was tasty!

Today was Khloe's 2nd birthday! I can't believe how fast the time has gone! It seriously feels like we were just having a party for her 1st birthday!

She has grown up so much....it seems like everyday Troy and I are saying "You'll never guess what Khloe did today!" There are new things everyday. She recently has learned to crinkle her eyebrows at us and loves to get a reaction out of us when she does it.

She must have had tons of fun today and got pretty wore out because she crawled up on my lap at 5 PM and I don't think her head even hit my shoulder before she was asleep. I hate when she falls asleep that late in the day....what do you do? We couldn't decide if we should let her sleep or wake her up....we decided to try and let her sleep. Cross your fingers for us that she sleeps through the night!

I'm pretty tired myself so I thought I would do my posting a little early tonight and then head for the couch. There is NOTHING better than laying on the couch with all the Christmas lights on and watching a good Hallmark Christmas movie....especially since it is snowing outside now! Oohh and we have hot apple cider still going in the pot! This is sounding better and better!