
Monday, November 26, 2012
Christmas Pics and Door Prize Winners

Cyber Monday Stores You Don't Want To Miss

Are you of THE Black Friday shop til you drop kind of cloth? Well, I am NOT.
My sister Bean(aka Gina) is though, and every year when we lived in the same state she would drag my sorry, tired butt out of bed for the tradition of early morning shopping.
The only problem with me and early mornings is that I'm not generally awake until around the decent hour of ... oh say... 10 a.m.
I mean you can see me on a weekly basis up at around 6:30 getting those teens out the door, but don't be deceived. Because although my eyes may be open, my mind is still in slumber.
SO add that kind of droopy- dozy- headed state of being + ATM card in her hand you have a recipe for disaster.
Most Black Friday's with Bean,I would come home, survey the damage and have NO CLUE what I bought or who I bought it for.
But, hey I got it all at Bargain Basement prices.
I'm done with bargain basement- butt-crack-o-dawn shopping.
Bring those deals to comfort of my living room with a hot cup of Joe in my hand and we are in business.
That's why I love Cyber Monday.
If you are like me and you are looking for a store you can shop from the comfort of your living room then,
The next store that should be on your Cyber Monday Shopping list is this one, Lovely Little Whimsy

I just love that color so much. Don't you just love that color?
Now speaking of warm you might want to head over here to Knitted Simplicity


Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Scratch, Itch, Scratch
This week I've been working REAL hard on "counting it ALL joy" even though the "all" involved a whole lotta scratching and itching!

Saturday, November 17, 2012
Blog Baby Shower and Giveaway
Is He not the cutest little man you have ever seen?
And now she is the momma to the Star of This Show sweet Siena.
And now she is the momma to the Star of This Show sweet Siena.
Yes, so as you can see with that lil cute smile up there, and that precious little peanut, she's one busy momma already, as are we all, but never too busy for our blogger buds or for a fellow momma right ladies??
When I thought about the amazing bloggers group that is out there, and that would have surrounded her and encouraged her before this baby got here, if only we lived closer I got a little choked up.
And then I thought, why can't we still do that ?
I want to do that.
Esther's BLOG BABY SHOWER!!
So here's the deal;
If you want to give Esther a gift to your Shop leave the link in the comment section with the details of what you are giving her and I will contact you with her email.
If you want to send her something in the mail leave a comment and I will email you her address.
If all you can do to bless this young momma is become a new reader and follow her blog GFC then
You can do that HERE. Please do, she is amazing trust me you won't be disappointed.
Maybe a lil something, something from
Stephanie, http://www.etsy.com/shop/honeyholden
Hannah , http://www.etsy.com/shop/wifeysinger
Carina ;) http://www.etsy.com/shop/lovelylittlewhimsyStephanie, http://www.etsy.com/shop/honeyholden
Hannah , http://www.etsy.com/shop/wifeysinger
I would have decorated with these.
They are my new favorite at the sewing machine.
They are my new favorite at the sewing machine.
And made her a cake that looked like this.
Ok, well maybe I would have bought a cake that looked like that.
And YOU would have been invited to join in some fun games, great conversation, and coffee (of course there would be coffee).
We would have had egg salad sandwiches, and I would have had those pastel sugary- minty- melt- in- your -mouth candies all over.
We would have prayed a blessing over her and the baby that goes something like this;
Thank you Father God for Esther and for this new life.
Thank you for getting Siena here safely despite the storms of life.
We ask that you would give good health and overflowing joy to them as begin this journey of the mother daughter relationship.
Give Esther and Phil wisdom, trust, and peace in you as they now lead the way for two little ones. We would have prayed a blessing over her and the baby that goes something like this;
Thank you Father God for Esther and for this new life.
Thank you for getting Siena here safely despite the storms of life.
We ask that you would give good health and overflowing joy to them as begin this journey of the mother daughter relationship.
We pray you give this little one ears to hear and eyes to see you at the youngest age possible.
And WE Thank you so much for all your incredible blessings.
In your name Jesus we pray.
Amen.
and
AMEN.
Don't forget to get some cake on your way out ;)
or leave a comment so you can win.
And WE Thank you so much for all your incredible blessings.
In your name Jesus we pray.
Amen.
and
AMEN.
Don't forget to get some cake on your way out ;)
or leave a comment so you can win.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thankful Thursday



Wednesday, November 14, 2012
A New Tattoo
Right, well my son Solomon is also an artist like his dad.
When I asked Mo for a new tattoo with the theme "Smile At The Rain" he said, let's have Sol draw it.
So the drawing above is my 11 year olds version of, Smile At The Rain.
I'd say he's following in those big footsteps wouldn't you?

Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Christmas Photos √
This past weekend we took family pics for Christmas cards.
The photo above is just a teaser, of my oldest and my youngest who spontaneously wanted to take that picture.
Melt my heart.
I have to tell ya, this is not an event that anyone in our family looks forward to. I love the end result, but the getting there, not so much.
Over the years this event(family picture day) has changed quite a bit. I remember when my kids were little I would get all twitter patted over what they would wear, how their hair looked, what My Giant would wear and so on and so forth.
Now, I'm good if we all get out the door with some what of a theme, clean clothes and if we make it through the event with out any major melt downs.
Do you know what I'm saying?
I have to report that this past Saturday was a success. Thanks to our amazing resident photographer Dana, who made the experience much more enjoyable we now have some new photos of us all together.
If you are still preparing for those Christmas photos this year let me give you some tips.
1. Don't sweat the small stuff.
2. Try to have fun because this will be evident in the final product.
3. And hire a great photographer who exudes joy.
Thank YOU Dana, we appreciate and are grateful for you.

Friday, November 09, 2012
Flashback Friday
It brought up all kinds of questions like what would you do if your loved one was dead?
How long would you wait before "moving on" so to speak?
I have always said since the moment Mo and I married that if he ever passed away I wouldn't re-marry. I got hitched when I was only 20 years old so that was quite a shocking thing to say back then, but I always felt like I couldn't imagine my life with any other. Not much has changed between then and now, except that we reproduced. And I'm too old and too tired, my plate is too full and.... Man Alive that Sounds Terrible!!
Mo used to say that he would re-marry when we were younger, (It used to hurt my feelings) but last night I heard him say that now he doesn't think he would. That made me laugh, because I feel I have broken him. I know what he means though, because after all these years of marriage where we have had our fair share of UPs and DOWNs, you realize that a good marriage is hard work, and I think neither one of us are willing to work this hard again, ya know? Anyways, It is such a funny hypothetical conversation to have with your person, and I suggest that if you do decide to have this talk remember that it's not real.
They aren't really cheating on you !!
Moving on...


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Thursday, November 08, 2012
Thankful Thursday
“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
Mother TeresaMy parents are without a doubt my heroes. 42 years married, 5 children, 6 grandchildren, a faith in Christ that is inspiring, those are just some of the reasons I look to them for inspiration. This past summer my dad had some major health issues and so this birthday I was especially grateful for his 71 years of life. Nothing like a little brush with almost death to appreciate the everyday moments.
“you can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.”
― Frederick Buechner
― Frederick Buechner
I got to see this little sweetie, my niece Sophia that I have nicknamed #lastminutebiscuit , because she was born on Dec 31st last year. I can hardly believe that this biscuit is going to be 1 year old soon. She is walking and talking and I was bound and determined to teach her my name while I was there. I kept saying can you say.... Auntie N-o-e-l.... Auntie N-o-e-l? She just smiled at me so sweet and cute like. It melted my heart every time. The good thing about the beginning of my name is that its the start of another word that most lil's learn to say pretty quick(NO!!) so I'm pretty sure my name will beat out her other Auntie's and Uncles. Well, and even if she just goes around saying NO!! I'll take the credit for that too ;)
Are there any words that an Auntie can say to express the joy within that our nieces and nephews bring to us? All I can think of to say is that my nieces, even my oldest niece Kaylanne who I haven't seen in far too long, brings me such joy. When I see a part of my siblings, or my sister-in-love Hillary who is no longer with us, in my nieces it makes my heart swell with joy. They are JOY incarnate to me. There I tried, to express what a niece or nephew can do.
“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.”
― Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
The final above quote is truly what I'm thankful for today because, I realize that my family of origin, is a rare gift. The older I get the more I realize how rare this gift, my family, truly is. I deeply love and admire each and every one of my siblings, and my parents. To have had the health and good fortune that we claim, through the Grace of God, is without words the greatest gift a life could ever behold.
Linking Up Here and Here
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
PNW meet up
This past Saturday I got the immense pleasure of going the PNW blogger meet up in Portland Oregon.
I drove down with Carina from Lovely Little Whimsy and Erika from Rouge and Whimsy.

I loved sharing the road trip time with these "whimsical" ladies who are amazing, talented, smart, beautiful, and amazing.
Yes, I meant to mention their amazing-ness twice. See that's me hoping, wishing, praying that their amazing-ness rubbed off on me in the back seat of Carina's car, on the car ride down.
And that was just the pre-blog meet up events, Now moving on to where the event itself was held. It was held in a store called West Elm. Honestly, I had never heard of this store before this event, and in my silly- over -crowded- with- information- brain, I thought West Elm sounded kinda like a Best "West"ern, and I assumed it was at a hotel.
I drove down with Carina from Lovely Little Whimsy and Erika from Rouge and Whimsy.

I loved sharing the road trip time with these "whimsical" ladies who are amazing, talented, smart, beautiful, and amazing.
Yes, I meant to mention their amazing-ness twice. See that's me hoping, wishing, praying that their amazing-ness rubbed off on me in the back seat of Carina's car, on the car ride down.
The road trip from Seattle to Portland this time of year was beautiful. I have made this trip from Seattle to Portland countless times, but it never ceases to amaze me the beauty that is right outside my front door. There was a point in our trip when a train was coming down the tracks, and the backdrop was a breath taking, beautiful Fall foliage, and I am pretty sure my heart skipped a beat.
When we arrived in Portland, even though I had packed us all snack bags, our bellies were rumbling so laid before us was the difficult task of choosing a place to eat in a town that has a plethora of "Foodie" food LOVER options.
We chose to eat( pretty unanimously, and without even a doubt) at a McMenamins.
Sidenote- If you have never been to a McMenamins in Oregon do yourself a favor and hop on that train.
It's a good one.
This was my view from the table where we sat outside and soaked up the good conversation, great food, and even better...
A Ruby.
Beer lovers take note-
McMenamins+ Ruby= Good Times.
The description of this wonderful delight can be seen below.
Ruby

"One of our most popular standards, we still make Ruby with the same aims we had when brewing the first batch back in March 1986: To create an ale light, crisp and refreshingly fruity. Great Western Premium 2-row and 42 pounds of Oregon-grown and processed raspberry puree is used to craft every colorful batch. Simple but delicious. Taste the original!"
Just in case you haven't heard of West Elm either, it is NOT a hotel, and SO NOT a Best Western ;)
West Elm was a beautiful venue to have this really beautiful event. It is packed full of gorgeous
furniture, and owl mugs. Yes, I was eye balling these beauties for only 8.00 all night long.
Did I mention they gave away a $50 gift card to go shopping that night? I didn't get it, but if I had, I think I would have bought one of these cuties in every color.
furniture, and owl mugs. Yes, I was eye balling these beauties for only 8.00 all night long.
Did I mention they gave away a $50 gift card to go shopping that night? I didn't get it, but if I had, I think I would have bought one of these cuties in every color.
Yes to me, West Elm was like a land flowing with "Milk and Honey" or at least it was flowing with Wine and Cute Little Pumpkin cakes with carmel sauce drizzled on top provided all free of charge by Whole Foods.Thank you West Elm and Whole Foods.
Now onto the nitty gritty, the actual Meet Up. As I stood in line to get my swag bag and name tag I started to realize what an awesome, but uniquely strange event this meet up really was.
Meeting people that you feel you already know because you have read about their lives online is weird.
There I said it.
It really is weird.
It's weird in a good way.
But none the less weird.
It's weird because you talk about life from an angle that is very contrived.
I'm not saying that blogs or bloggers are contrived. Not at all, it's just that until you really stand face to face in front of a person, and ask questions and get answers that you don't have time to think about and then respond to, your relationship is fragmented at best.
Does that make sense?
You can't really know whether you would really be great face to face friends until... you are face to face.
Online persona plays a huge part.
The courage that one might feel behind a computer screen is very different than what you feel when you are actually in a room full of virtual strangers. And I use the term virtual strangers quite literally.
But, here's where the weird part occurs, you realize you are all in the same boat.
The Life boat,
AND
The blogger boat.
It's a boat I like.
Going to this meet up was me stepping out of the boat of "just" blogger friends, into the waters of face to face friends. These are friends indeed, and I'm extremely grateful for each and every new friend I made that night.
I had so much fun meeting these incredible women and ONE man.
Yes there was ONE male blogger there.
I like this world.
I like these amazing people who have taken blogging to a whole new level.
And I'm ready for some more "meetin' up!"
When's the next one?
Friday, November 02, 2012
Flashback Friday
I came to the conclusion that blondes don't have more fun after that season of excruciatingly painful hair dying episodes. Maybe, the natural blonde has a bit more fun since she doesn't have to burn her scalp to get it, but this brunette well she's sticking with brown from here on out.
Seriously, My scalp hurt so bad that if I even scratched my head I was in such pain.
Ok, so that was only for the first few days but still, by the time the pain went away my roots were already showing and I was like, Ugh....No thank you!


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