Who's Ready for a Giveaway? **TIME'S UP!**

The time has come once again for another giveaay - and this one's the best yet! I'm completely in love with this beautiful Catappa two-piece serving set from Hometrends:

So much so, I wanted to share it with you! Check out the giveaway below to enter. You can enter anytime between now and midnight EST on 3/21/13, and the best part? You can come back and enter each and every day!


    a Rafflecopter giveaway


Once chosen, the winner will be announced on my blog, so don't forget to check back and see if you won!



****EDIT**** Be sure that upon completion of each of the above, you choose it from the drop down menu and click the "enter" button to submit your entries! Thanks for participating! :)


TIME'S UP! Congratulations Jennifer P.S.! You're our winner! I'll be contacting you soon so you can claim your beautiful 2-piece serving platter set!

Decadent Chocolate Mug Brownie

In the midst of all the "Mug Brownie" madness on Pinterest, Mackenzie convinced me it was worth a try. I was very skeptical (a real Brownie in less than 2 minutes? Ha!). I'm a Brownie lover through and through, so if this was just a lump of cakey-chocolate disguising its self, I'd be the first one to know. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was really good, a genuine Brownie. It was incredibly rich, and totally busted my Brownie craving - and the best part is, there wasn't an entire pan left to devour taunt me over the next few days. A great alternative for a once-in-awhile treat, and it pretty much rocks with a scoop of ice cream on top. (Personally, I cut the sugar in half when I make it.) Be sure to pin this recipe (below the picture)!

What you'll need:

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar ( I use 1/8 cup)

2 tablespoons cocoa 

pinch of salt 

1 tablespoons chopped nuts (optional)

2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil (do NOT use olive oil as it is too strong)

3 tablespoons water

Preparation:

Add all dry ingredients to mug, then all wet ingredients. Mix well to combine. Microwave for 1 minute 40 seconds. Top with ice cream if desired. Enjoy! 

Antique Heart

Antiques…they have my heart. There’s a deep seeded appreciation within me for those who came before us – and how beautifully their former lives are represented today. Like a window into the past, they remind us of where we came from. They connect us to our roots.

Last week, Dusty and I snuck in a mini-date while Mackenzie was at dance class. We went to one of my all-time favorite places – it’s an old cotton mill in the older part of town that has been transformed into a massive antique emporium, stuffed to the gills with rented vendor spaces, each offering a different part of history. It’s called The Depot at Gibson Mill, and it’s like heaven on earth to a girl like me. It’s also a place that my husband and I have silently declared as “our place”.  Just the two of us, hand in hand in silent comfort, wandering and weaving our way through the maze of aisles that are filled with beauty and wonder that cannot be expressed in words.

It has this magic - almost as if it takes me back in time - I think of my Great Grammy Gram Arlene cooking supper for the family on her mint green stove, circa 1925, with fresh corn picked just steps from their front door. It came from the same cornfield my brother and I picked from years later as children. I remember her sitting in her rocking chair on the porch with us as we shucked the corn and chatted. And I remember how much I’ve missed that since she’s been gone.

I think of my Grampy Gramp, Homer . Such a hard workin’ man he was – a farmer, a craftsman, a creator. I wonder if that’s where I get that part of my soul…or if it’s his way of living on within me, even though he is no longer here. I think of all of the amazing things he invented, many of them long before their time.  I think about the feature he got in the local newspaper when he transformed his water wheel by creating a system that would automatically open a door on the side, allowing for a life size scarecrow-esque man to lean out and wave at those passing by. As children my brother and I lived for running down his huge hill, playing hide and seek in his corn field, and riding on the special swing he built that was shaped like an airplane. I remember the looks on their faces as they watched us laugh and play – they were so proud.

Even though many of the antiques at The Depot came long before my days on this earth began, somehow they still give me that feeling of nostalgia, transporting me back to a time when things seemed much simpler. Less chaotic. More grounded.

As we meander through the aisles, we come upon a vendor space, and immediately the scent of lavender fills my nostrils. It immediately takes me back to our wedding day. The vintage theme, the rustic feel of the decor, the lavender that filled my bouquet and adorned the front doors of the crisp white 1940's antique dairy barn where we exchanged vows. That scent is representative of so many things: our special day, the love we share, and the memories that go along with it. 

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The beautiful blue mason jars remind me of those that adorned the tables at our wedding, filled with daisies and greenery. The soft ambiance of the atmosphere as the candles flickered in the evening Spring air. The night we became a family. 

It's amazing how sentimental all of these little windows of the past have become to me. Antiques...those little treasures that live on regardless of when their era ended. They hold my memories. My hopes. My dreams...and my heart.

Happy Birthday, Life. Family. Love.!

Can you believe it? Yep, my baby is now 1 year old! Geez, that went by fast. Honestly, I never imagined in a million years (or especially just one) that this blog would become not only an integral part of my life, but yours as well. This little baby of mine has blossomed into a beautiful part of my life, one that I look forward to each and every day.  Thank you SO much for coming on this amazing journey with me. Thank you for believing in me and my blog that went from one viewer (me) to over half a million (567,257 to be exact) page views in just 12 months.  Thanks for growing with me, learning with me, and supporting me along the way. Thanks for e-mailing, commenting, conversing, and coming back day after day. You guys are such rock stars! 

Mackenzie's Turkey Pepperoni Bites

My daughter, Mackenzie, absolutely loves to cook and bake. Sister child would be in the kitchen every waking hour of the day if she could. I have no idea where she gets it from. One day while looking for a snack, she made up this recipe and it's been one of her favorites ever since. It's simple, kid friendly, healthy, and quick. We love to eat it with a side of carrots or fruit. P.S. They'll never know it's good for them. ;)

What you'll need:

15 slices turkey pepperoni 

1 laughing cow light cheese wedge, (we like swiss and garden veggie)

Preparation:

Spread a small amount of laughing cow light cheese wedge onto pepperoni. Fold in half and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Nutrition info is based on 1 serving.

Calories: 96      Fat: 6        Protein: 10         Carbs: 1          Fiber: 0          Sugar: 1

*Calories calculated using My Fitness Pal. Nutritional values may vary based on varied brands or amounts. 

Homemade Bisquick

If there's one food item in particular that I'm known for, it's my pancakes. People love them, and I'm pretty sure my husband proposed to me based solely on my pancake preparation skills. ;) I'm always complimented on how thick, fluffy and perfectly round they are. I beam with pride. But I have a secret....there isn't one. I use Bisquick. So what makes my Bisquick pancakes any different than everyone else's? Well, if I told you it wouldn't make mine so special would it? BUT, what I do have for you, my lovely readers, is exactly what you asked for: more frugal living tips. So here ya go: a recipe for Homemade Bisquick! The best part? It measures cup for cup to boxed Bisquick, and since most people don't have a box of Bisquick just sittin' around, I'm going to provide you with the measurements to go along with it. I hope you enjoy!

What you'll need:

10 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups shortening

1/3 cups baking powder

1/4 cups sugar

4 tsp. salt

Preparation:

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except shortening. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Makes 12 1/2 cups. 

Store-bought Bisquick: $6.38

Homemade Bisquick: $2.80

Total Savings: $3.58 or 44%!

Homemade Bisquick Measurements 

Pancakes                                                             Waffles 

2 cups homemade mix                                           2 cups homemade mix

1 cup milk                                                             1 1/3 cups milk

2 eggs                                                                   1 egg

Yield: about 14 pancakes                                      2 tbsp. vegetable oil

                                                                             Yield: About 12 (4-inch) waffles

Bisquick

2 cups homemade mix

1/2 cup milk 

Yield: 10

 Recipe adapted from cooks.com. Measurement info adapted from bisquick.com 

Slimmed Down Cheesy Mexican Rice

Remember awhile back when I posted that absolutely amaaaazing recipe for The Pioneer Woman's Mexican Rice Casserole? It was soooo freakin' good, man. Now that my family and I are making a transition into health, I thought it fitting to create a slimmed down version of this Mexican must-have that is so incredibly delish. Now, you might notice that there's an ingredient in my version of this recipe that seems....well, a little out of place. See, what had happened was, I was cookin' up the rice, jammin' to some tunes, singin' at the top of my lungs when I grabbed for the cumin. I just needed to add a little sprinkle more. I opened it, shook it onto the rice and noticed there was quite a bit more in the pan then I intended. I looked down at the cumin in my hand and realized............it wasn't cumin after all. No, it was an imposter! It was...cinnamon!? My stress level went through the roof as I realized I'd used my very last bag of brown rice....so I had to make a decision. Either dump the whole thing (since the entire batch was covered), or mix it in and hope for the best. I chose the latter, and to my surprise...it was excellent. In fact, it let the other spices shine and really added that extra something to the dish. I can't wait to hear how you like it.

What You'll Need:
2 1/2 cups cooked brown rice (I used minute rice microwaveable bags)
7 1/2 oz petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 small can diced green chiles, undrained
1/4-1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp black pepper
small pinch tumeric (less than 1/8 tsp)
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Preparation:
In a medium skillet over medium heat, mix cooked rice, diced tomatoes, green chiles, and vegetable broth, stirring constantly until all liquid is absorbed. Add black pepper,cumin, garlic powder and cinnamon. Stir to combine. Mix in 1/4 cup of cheese, stirring until melted. Turn heat to low and top with remaining cheese. Cover and let sit until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

*Click below to PRINT this recipe!*
Printable Version

Nutrition information:
Slimmed Down Cheesy Mexican Rice 
(calculations based on 4 servings)
Calories: 189    Fat: 6g    Protein: 9g    Carbs: 24g    Fiber: 2g     Sugar: 13g

Regular Mexican Rice Casserole
(calculations based on 6 servings, as this recipe makes more)
Calories: 265      Fat: 9g      Protein: 11g    Carbs: 37g    Fiber: 2g    Sugar: 6g

*Calories calculated using My Fitness Pal. Nutritional values may vary based on varied brands or amounts.

Tip: This recipe goes great with Slimmed Down Sour Cream Enchiladas!

Slimmed Down Sour Cream Enchiladas

Awhile back, I posted a recipe for one of my all time favorite dishes, Sour Cream Enchiladas.  As much as I love the dish...that's how much my hips don't. So I decided to try a healthier version. I substituted the flour tortillas for whole wheat, the ground beef for lean ground turkey, used low sodium taco seasoning, used less cheese etc. The difference? I couldn't even taste it! It was still oh-so-amazing, which was a very unexpected surprise. I did use regular cheese, because...well, I love regular cheese. It melts better than reduced fat or fat free, but you're more than welcome to substitute if you'd like. The moral of the story? You don't always have to sacrifice taste for health!

What you'll need:

1 pound of 95% lean ground turkey

8 burrito size whole wheat tortillas

1 packet of low sodium taco seasoning, or homemade taco seasoning

1 small onion, chopped

8 oz. light sour cream

1/2-1 small can green chiles (undrained)

1 small can sliced black olives (drained)

1 can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup

1 can 98 % fat free cream of chicken soup

1 cups cheddar cheese (may used reduced fat if your prefer)

Preparation:

In a large skillet, brown ground turkey with onion - drain if needed. Add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Set meat aside. In a medium sauce pan, add sour cream, green chiles, creamed soups and 1/2 cup cheese, melting just until thinned and warm. Evenly cover bottom of a greased 9x13 casserole dish with a thin layer of sauce. Tear four tortillas into quarters. Lay tortilla pieces in bottom of pan, covering all surface area. Evenly spoon half of the taco meat onto the tortilla layer. Pour half of the sauce mixture on top of meat, spreading out evenly. Repeat each layer, beginning with tortillas and ending with sauce. Top with remaining shredded cheddar cheese and black olives. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350° for 30-40 minutes or until enchiladas are bubbly and cheese is melted and golden.

*Click below for a printable version of this recipe!*

Printable Version 

Nutrition Information:

Slimmed Down Sour Cream Enchiladas 

Serves 6-8 (calculations based on 8 servings)

Calories: 306    Fat: 15g      Protein: 21g       Carbs: 33g       Fiber: 4g     Sugar: 4g

Regular Sour Cream Enchiladas

Serves 6-8 (calculations based on 8 servings)

Calories: 418    Fat: 18g      Protein: 22g         Carbs: 36g       Fiber: 4g    Sugar: 4g

*Calories calculated using My Fitness Pal. Nutritional values may vary based on varied brands or amounts.

Tip: This recipe goes great with Slimmed Down Cheesy Mexican Rice! 

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes....

As you can probably tell from my last post, me and my little family are making some most necessary changes. Say it with me: Ch-ch-ch-changes! This here nearly one-year-old blog (whaaat!?) is going to change right along with us. No worries, it's nothing too major. I'll still be posting tons of delicious recipes, some tips and tricks to make everyday life easier, lots of crafty goodness, and much much more. Since my family and I are transitioning from fat and happy to living a healthier, happier life, it  only makes sense that from now on, I will be including some healthier options along with my usual recipes. Eating healthy is not something that's always easy, but that doesn't mean it can't be delicious! You can also look forward to many more giveaways :)

So, what's your opinion on adding a healthy twist here at Life.Family.Love.? What would YOU like to see featured on the blog? What topics are you most interested in? Check out my poll on the right-hand side of my blog to vote!

The Vigilant Parent: Giving your Child the Present of your Presence

Picture this: you're sitting in a park on a beautiful spring day. Beneath you is a blanket on which your picnic basket sits. The sun is warm and shining.  It's a perfect 75 degrees. Every once in awhile there's a nice cool breeze that blows through your hair. The children are running around in the grass, shoes off with the nice crisp, cool grass in between their sweet little toes.  You breathe in the scent of the fresh air as you glance up at the sky, full of pillow-y cotton ball clouds. Then you glance back down to your iPhone to check your e-mail. You decide to answer a few, just to get it out of the way. Just as you're finished, your phone rings. It's your sister, who just HAS to tell you the latest scoop on her crazy friend's ex-husband's new girlfriend. You laugh as you talk, paying little attention to the time. Life is good.

Now,let me ask you...is there anything in particular that stands out to you in the above situation? I'll give you a hint : it's everything after the word iPhone. In today's world of immediate gratification, our phones goes with us everywhere, and every call/e-mail/text must be answered as rapidly as possible. There's a sense of urgency unknown to previous generations. It's life in the fast lane. Some parents find are not being fully available to their child(ren), during times when they deserves their parents full attention. We notice this and can point it out rather quickly, but do we ever stop to think: am I that parent as well? It's much harder to recognize when its us who's answering the constant e-mails, texts, and phone calls.

Now, it's not that the distractions of life are more important that our dear children, not at all. But put yourself in their shoes. Imagine hearing this from your child: "We went to the park, Daddy! We played tag and swung on the swings.... but mommy was busy on her phone, so she couldn't play tag today or push me on the swings." OR "We went to the park, Daddy! Mommy played tag with us, we flew kites together, and then she pushed us on the swings!". Which scenario would be a better memory for your children? Which one would you be proud of?

I'll admit - I've been guilty of it myself. A few weeks back, I came across an article called Dear Mom on the iPhone. It literally changed my family's life in just a few short weeks. We keep the TV off in the evenings. We color, cook, and play together. We go for walks. It's glorious. I'm starting to be come the mama I've always wanted to be. It's much easier than you would think.

So take a minute, and ask yourself: am I giving my child the present of my presence? Not just our physical presence, but our emotional as well. If not, ask yourself, how can I become more engaged and attentive? What can I change to become the parent my child deserves?

Make a choice today to be a vigilant parent. Stay engaged, and soak up every moment with your kiddos.

God Bless! xoxo

Country Supper

This recipe is another one of my momma's, and is the perfect comfort food for a chilly day. It's long been my best friend Krystal's favorite dish, and she requests it every time she comes down from out of state for a visit. It's a one-skillet meal, easy to prepare and is flexible enough that it has tons of variations (different veggies, using chicken instead of sausage, etc.) I usually prepare mine with broccoli, however I didn't have any tonight so I substituted sugar snap peas instead. It was still delish! I hope you enjoy!

What You'll Need:
1 Polish Kielbasa sausage, sliced into bite size pieces
1/2 cups chopped onion
2 tbs. olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen sugar snap peas (or other veggie, such as broccoli)
3 cups hot water
1/3 cup milk
1 box Au Gratin Potatoes
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation:
In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage and onion in olive oil. Add the hot water, milk, powdered cheese and potatoes (from Au Gratin box). Cook and stir until boiling. Add chopped carrots, cover and cook 10 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender. Add sugar snap peas, cover, cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Top with cheese, reduce heat and cover to allow cheese to melt.

Click below to download and print this recipe!

Country Supper

Starbucks Giveaway {Winner Announced}

The Starbucks gift card giveaway was a great success! I'm so appreciative to all that entered, and glad to have the chance to get to know all of you. With that being said, I've chosen Random.org to select the (random) lucky winner of the $10 Starbucks gift card!

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

Congratulations, Ashleigh! I'll be contacting you soon so you can claim your gift card!

P.S. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who entered my Starbucks Gift Card giveaway! I love all of my readers, and it is all of YOU that continue to inspire me to write each and every day. YOU'RE THE BEST! That's why you deserve coffee...or lattes...or chocolate chip cookies! Thanks, lovlies!

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Casserole

We had the first of many Christmas get-togethers this weekend, and since we were hosting, we decided to do brunch in place of a traditional Christmas dinner. I tried many new recipes, but this one was the biggest hit by far. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm in love. I'd tell you I've been eating leftovers for breakfast, lunch and dinner ever since, but that may make me sound like a weirdo. ;)

And the best part about this recipe? You make it ahead of time and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. This gives the same affect to the English muffins as it would with a bread pudding, and everything just kind of collides in a beautiful mess of the-best-thing-that-ever-hit-your-taste-buds. Long story short, this recipe is the perfect ratio of fluffy eggs, perfectly seasoned sausage, soft, buttery English muffins,  and melty cheese. YUM!

What you'll need:

3-5 English muffins, split

2 TBS. butter

1 Pound bulk sausage, crumbled, cooked, and drained on paper towels (you can use regular, or half regular and half spicy depending on your taste preference - I used Jimmy Dean Country Mild)

7 oz. can chopped green chiles, drained

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1¼ cups Sour Cream

12 eggs

Spray a 9"x13" casserole dish with cooking spray. Split English muffins in half and butter the inside of each slice. Lay slices buttered side down in casserole dish, covering the bottom of the dish. (Break up an extra English muffin to fill in gaps if need be). 

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until combined. Add sour cream, whisking until combined. There may be some lumps at this point, but after a minute or so of whisking everything should combine just fine. 

On top of English muffins, layer half of the sausage, half of the green chiles and half of the cheese. Pour entire egg mixture evenly over the top. Sprinkle remaining sausage, chiles and cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 

In the morning, remove casserole from refrigerator at least 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Allow to rest for  10-15 minutes before serving. 

Download and print this recipe below!

Sausage, Egg, ad Cheese Breakfast Casserole

It's a Giveaway!

Hey everyone! I've got a giveaway for ya! It's super simple, so today is your lucky day!

Here's how you can enter:

• FOLLOW this blog (3 points)
• LIKE our Facebook page (1 point)
• SHARE this giveaway on Facebook (2 points)
• LEAVE A COMMENT on this post (1 point)
  
  Do any or all of these between today at 5:30 pm EST and Wednesday, December 10, 2012 at midnight (12 am) EST for a chance to win a $10 Starbucks gift card! I'll announce the winner on Thursday.

So, how about a cup o' joe on me? Or some hot chocolate? Or even a cookie? Everybody likes cookies!

Don't forget to come back and tally up your entries below! :)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Super Simple Skillet Lasagna

Can we have a moment of total honesty? Ok, good. I've never...ever... made lasagna before. *gasp* I've never even tried. And let me tell ya - I love me some lasagna. I've always looked up to a woman who can prepare the perfect lasagna, but the process looks long and I just picture myself spending hours preparing a gorgeous lasagna just to have it fall apart into a goopy mess when I cut into it. Lasagna...well, it intimidates me.

Lately, I've been seeing a lot of recipes around for Skillet Lasagna, and they all look so dang good. I figured this would probably be my safest option, so I started scouring the internet for the perfect one. They all looked amazing - but I had this picture in my head of how easy this process needed to be. I didn't want to add eggs to the ricotta, cook the noodles, drain the noodles, add the noodles and still have another 20 minutes 'til meal time.  I'm more of a "one-pot meal" kinda girl. Or maybe you could call me a "dump-everything-in-a-pan-and-pray-it-turns-out-well kinda girl. Either way, I decided to wing it. And folks, it turned out soooo well. It may not *look* as pretty as classic lasagna, but it is every bit as decadent. It's simple, saucy, cheesy, ooey, gooey, and just...well, heavenly. *sigh*

What You'll Need:
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce (I like Ragu Chunky Garden Veggie)
1/2 cup water, divided
5-6 no-boil lasagna noodles, broken in half
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation: 
Season and brown ground beef and onions over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and add 1/4 cup of water and 1/3 of the spaghetti sauce to skillet. Stir to combine. Layer half of the lasagna noodles and top with another 1/3 of spaghetti sauce. Layer the rest of the lasagna noodles. Pour remaining water into spaghetti sauce jar and swirl around, then pour over the top of noodles, being careful to cover all surfaces. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until noodles are cooked. Evenly dollop ricotta cheese and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Cover and continue simmering until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

I'm already looking forward to leftovers for tomorrow's lunch! Download and print this recipe below!
Super Simple Skillet Lasagna

'Tis the Season

We decorated for Christmas last week. Have I mentioned yet that I love Christmas? Well in case you missed it the first time, I love Christmas. By July I'm making a list of everyone I need to buy for, setting a budget, and planning out which goodies we're going to bake. In late September, as the weather starts to get chilly and fall rolls in, I start itching to get my Christmas bins (all twelve of them, heh heh heh) out of storage and start rummaging through them. I manage to hold off, though, because  I like to stop and enjoy each holiday as it comes. I'm not the one who start decorating for Christmas the day before Halloween, but once Thanksgiving comes and goes, it's on.

Like many others, I feel that Christmas has been over-commercialized, over-sold, and the hype around material goods can easily take away from it's magic - but only if you let it. My reasons for loving Christmas don't come from any of those things. I don't go crazy with excitement over receiving and opening presents (although I do love giving them and watching others open). Christmas to me is about Christ, His love, our love for one another - and sharing and celebrating that. 

Christmas-time is very sentimental to me in other ways, too. Dusty and I fell in love over Christmas. During this season of spirit, generosity, and giving, I got one of the greatest gifts - someone who not only loves me so very deeply, but also walks by faith in Christ.

Dusty and I met in October of 2007, at a Halloween party. We had great conversation and lots of laughs, and for the next few weeks we talked on the phone for hours every night. I kept wondering if this guy was ever going to ask me out on a date! So, finally after about three weeks of waiting, I asked him out. Of course he said yes (he was just too shy to ask), but he wanted to plan (and surprise me) with the details of what we would be doing.

By the end of that (amazing) first date, it was like my soul was overcome with a peaceful feeling. Looking back now, I realize that I already knew that this man was going to take me somewhere beautiful in my life. I knew I never wanted to be without him, and from that moment on we were completely inseparable. 

By the time early December rolled around, we were crazy about each other. We would sit and talk for hours, laugh, and just be silly. This gave us an amazing foundation of friendship that is incomparable to any other relationship I've ever experienced. It wasn't about a physical attraction (although it was definitely there!) - we talked about the deep stuff. We had both been through a lot of hardships and pain in the recent years, which gave us a deep understanding of each other and only strengthened our bond. I found out that Dusty had nearly stopped celebrating Christmas all together. He hadn't even put up a tree the past few years because he was in such a dark place. It made me incredibly sad that this  wonderful man, who had so much life and kindness in his heart, had nearly stopped believing in the magic of Christmas altogether. 

Then one evening, as I showed up at his door, he announced with the biggest smile I've ever seen that he had a surprise for me. I didn't know my way around his neck of the woods, so I had no clue where we were going or what we could possibly be doing. After what seemed like forever, we pulled off the road and into a parking lot. I looked at him with curiosity as he pointed behind us. I hadn't been paying attention as we'd passed it, but it was right then that I realized there was a huge billboard that read "Kiser's Christmas Trees". And there they were - there were hundreds of them. 

I could hardly contain my excitement as we walked hand in hand looking for the perfect tree. We found one, loaded it up and headed back to his house to set it up. It was short, stout, and extremely cock-eyed, but it was ours, and it was perfect. We strung the one strand of lights we had, but we didn't have any ornaments. I took the Christmas tree tag, wrote our names and the year, and hung it by it's twist tie onto our tree. It was our only ornament, but  I remember so vividly as we stood together and looked at our tree exactly how full my heart was that night. We sat by the tree, a fire in the fireplace, just talking. He kissed my forehead, and all at once I knew what this meant to him - it meant Christmas was worth celebrating again. I also knew what it meant for me - I was in love with this amazing man. 

To this day, we still have that tree tag, and it is proudly displayed on our tree every single year. This is why I look forward to Christmas. Christ's love is amazing. It brought me a beautiful daughter, and then to the man who is my forever and is the best Daddy to our daughter. 

Decorating the tree has become such a wonderful way to not only celebrate Christ's love for us, but also our love as husband and wife and our love as a family. 

Here's a picture of our family tree, compete with Kenzie's many hand made ornaments, both mine and Mackenzie's "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments, and yes, that beloved tree tag.

Mine - 1984                                                 Kenzie - 2002

We also have a decorative tree in our living room, which has more "grown up" ornaments and a rustic theme.

I hope this Christmas fills you with the spirit of the season this year just as it has me. Merry Christmas.

50 Cheerful Christmas Crafts

It's that time of year again! Time for CHRISTMAS! Christmas crafts, Christmas decorating, Christmas baking....I love it all. I look forward to (and plan for) it all year - it's like a crafter's paradise. Here's some Christmas crafts to get your holiday cheer juices flowing. I think I just died of cute and went to crafter's heaven.

                                                1. Baby Sock Advent Calendar          2. Candy Cane Mice         

                                                3. Christmas Cookies in a Jar            4.  Button Snowman Cards               

                                                5. Card Garland                               6. Christmas Flower Gift

                     

                                                7. Citrus Slice Ornaments                 8. Cookie Cutter Ornaments

                                                     9.  Cozy Tea Holder               10. Doorknob Stockings

                                                    11. Embellished Tea Towel      12. Felt Christmas Theme Ornaments
                                                    13. Felt Holly Corsage             14. Felt Purse

                                                    15. Festive Envelopes              16. Framed Inspirational Sentiment

                                                17. Garland Trick                      18. Gift Monograms
                               
                                                19. Gumdrop Pops                    20. Handmade Santa Pillow     
                       
                                                21. Holly Leaf Place Cards         22. Holiday Cookie Mailing Tubes

                                                23. Holiday Coffee Sleeves         24. Holly Napkin Holders

                     
                                            25. Joyful Banner                        26. Mitten Clips

                                            27. Paper Plate Angels                 28. Monogrammed Candle

                                            29. No-sew Holiday Apron           30. Paper Snowflakes 

                                            31. Paper Stars                           32. Peppermint Ornaments

                                         33. Pinup Wreath                                34. Photo Frame Calendar 

                                         35. Poinsettia Blanket                          36.  Pretty Paperweights

                                         37. Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes              38. Pipe Cleaner Snowflake Ornament

                                                39. Snowflake Lights               40. Pretty Pincushion 

                                                41. Snow Globes                     42. Snowflake Tea Towel

                                                43. Sparkling Towels               43. Stamped Sachets

                                       45. Thoughtful Note Card Gift              46. Typewritten Gift Tags

                                       47. Tin Box Organizer                          48. Tinsel Stars

                                       49. Toy Ornaments                             50. Winter Wonderland Candle Trio

                       

There ya have it! I'm totally in love with the No-Sew Holiday Apron, Felt Christmas Theme Ornaments and the Snowflake Lights.Which ones are your favorite?

24 Days of Christmas Surprises

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it was super cute, so I knew I had to try it out my own version this season. I'm nearly done Christmas shopping, but I have to say this simple and inexpensive 24 Days of Christmas Countdown is the thing I've been most excited about so far this season. I can't wait for Kenzie to get home from school and not only see all of the little gifts under the tree, but to see her face when she finds out they're ALL for her is going to be priceless. Who doesn't love to watch their child's eyes light up as they open something special? Now imagine how excited they would be that they get to open something new every day until Christmas!

Now, I know what you're thinking: 24 days of presents? There's no way that's budget-friendly. But it totally is! You could also do this with multiple children very easily - just pick things that are share-able and stick to activities everyone can do together.

Here's how I did it:

About half of my little surprises were things that we usually do at Christmas anyway, and the rest were free or of little cost. I made a list of as many fun Christmas themed activities I could, with some of the ideas coming from the original blog poster for this idea. Some of the things I chose were making fireplace s'mores, putting on a Christmas play for Mom and Dad, and baking gingerbread cookies for Santa. You could do as many or as few free activities as you'd like depending on your budget, but I did about half and half. I looked up cute clip-art to go along with each activity then printed them out on card stock and put each in an envelope I decorated with leftover wrapping paper.

Christmas activities:

• Create a Christmas scripture chain (here is the link to the Google Doc, by The Things I Love Most)
• Write a letter to Santa
• Put on a Christmas Play for Mom & Dad
• Go shopping for your Secret Santa 
• Make Christmas playdough (homemade in red & green)
• Sip hot apple cider by the fire
• Create snowflake cutouts and decorate the house
• Homemade hot chocolate  & toast before bed
• Make fireplace S'mores
• Go look at Christmas lights
• Make homemade ornaments (salt dough)
• Bake Gingerbread cookies for Santa

As for the gifts, here's what I came up with:

• Mug decorating "kit" (white $ store mugs, Sharpies)
• 2 Christmas movies (found these in the $5 bin at Wal-Mart)
• 3 $1 Christmas crafts - (I got mine from A.C. Moore)
• Red & Green Nail Polish ($1.38 each at Wal-Mart)
• Gingerbread House (we do this every year, so why not wrap it up? it was on sale for $7)
• Phineus & Ferb Jell-o Mold & Cherry Jell-O (also on sale at Wal-Mart)
• Christmas slipper socks ($2.88 at Wal-Mart)
• Christmas themed Fun Dip ($1)
• Mini Santa shaped chocolates ($1)

I was so excited to get wrapping that I got dumb and forgot to take pictures of all of it unwrapped! Oops. Once I had everything laid out, I numbered each item 1-24. We're a busy family so I even went an extra step and looked at a calendar to make sure the more time-consuming things fall on a weekend if it's before Winter Break for school (such as decorating the ginger bread house). I used the activity  "make a Christmas scripture chain" for Dec. 1, since there are 25 bible verses, one for each day leading up to Christmas.

Can you find the number on the penguin package? 

For the Christmas activities, I simply cut them from the printed card stock and stuck them in some envelopes I'd decorated and numbered with leftover wrapping paper. Some of the gifts I wrapped and others are in bags. The gift bags I got at A.C. Moore 3/$1 and the lunch-sack type bags I got for $0.25/each at Wal-Mart. The numbers are just extra wrapping paper taped to the bags/gifts with a square of card stock that I decorated and numbered. Once I was finished, I put the gifts under the tree and nestled the envelopes within the branches.

One of the things I love most about this project is that you can be as creative or a simple as you'd like. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I did, and I hope your kiddos love it, too!

P.S. Click below to download and print the Christmas activities list. :)
Christmas Fun

Goodbye is Never Easy

Today we said goodbye to our sweet Dixie. She gave Dusty 15 wonderful years of love and loyalty, and we couldn't have asked for a better furbaby to love. My heart will forever have a space reserved just for her. We love you so much sweet girl. ♥

“The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief. But the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared with the pain of never risking love.” - Hilary Stanton Zunin

Dixie-girl, you were well worth the risk. 

Thirty Days of Thanks - Day Six

Today, on Election day, I'm thankful for our freedom as a country. I'm thankful for those who have fought, those who are still fighting, and those who have died for that freedom. I'm thankful that as I woman I have a say in this country's future with a right to vote. I'm honored to call the United States of America my home, and that we are "One nation, under God, indivisible - with liberty and justice for all."

Check out all of the entries in the Thirty Days of Thanks series:

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