It's time to pull out the CHRISTMAS calendar!

Do you realize that Christmas is just around the corner?
Have you noticed the "JOLLY-LITTLE-FELLA" over to the right???? YIKES!!!!!

Pull out that calendar people!  We've got some work to do!!!!!!

I have found that one thing for me is to have a holiday calendar available... only my calendar consists of the entire year!  :)  I know that we are about half way through the year - and then some - so hurry and grab a calendar and get ready to get organized and enjoy a STRESS FREE CHRISTMAS!!!!!

My holiday calendar is pretty much the most important part of my holiday planning.  It is really my BRAIN of the season!  (Because if you know me... you know my brain is no longer storing - it just has "auto-delete" anymore!)  There are a lot of software programs available to print out and customize your calendar and I would highly suggest using one if  that works for you, or an online calendar like Google or Outlook calendars, but I also keep a small one in my purse - just in case I'm out and about and need to add something when I get home.... 

One of my favorite sites.... 

(but be careful as well - it can be a bit overwhelming!)

 Just remember, baby steps..... is

Organized Christmas  

Even though I personally love my computer calendars that I can print out - whatever type of calendar you have will work as long as there is space to add your events. Another tip is to use colored pencils and give different activities or people a particular color.

There are five main steps to making your Holiday Calendar. The first step is to write in all birthdays, anniversaries and other dates that are set in stone like when the kids get out of school, any birthdays and anniversaries. These are the dates that never ever change - if you know you always have a get-together at your in-laws the Saturday before Christmas put it down - chances are it is not going to change.


The second step is to evaluate where you are in your Christmas projects. Projects would include things like making handcrafted Christmas gifts, ornaments and other items that require before thought to get them done. You need to schedule time on your calendar to work on these plus mark the “due date” for these projects to be done. Do not forget things like wrapping gifts because that is a big project!  (I am really going to try REALLY super hard this year to wrap as I go.... meaning - I'm wrappin' the day it's purchased.... but don't forget to make your "gift list" and write it down where you have it - just in case you are like "me" and forget where you put them.... I just found a container of gifts a few weeks ago that I couldn't find for the life of me at Christmas last year! I thought I was DREAMING about the purchase of those items... My list is tucked away and just so I don't forget where I put the list - I told my hubby - and his list is located in the lid of that container ... ya gotta be sneaky still! :))


The third step in preparing your Holiday Calendar deals with your activities during the holiday season. Does your family always go to a certain special event every year no matter what? Well go ahead and call now and find out what the date and time is for this year (you might even want to ask them if it is already scheduled for next year too!). Most places have big events scheduled months in advance. Do not worry about seeming silly calling this early - just explain to them you are preparing your Holiday Calendar and they will most likely marvel at how much you have it all together!  TRUST ME! They will!!!!

The fourth step to your Holiday Calendar is marking all your Christmas related items. Make yourself a list of all the things that need to be done during the holiday season and make sure they get a date on your calendar not only to work on it but also for completion. This includes things like decorating your tree, mail Christmas cards, mail Christmas packages, due date for the Angel Tree gifts, getting the kids Christmas clothes bought and pictures scheduled. All these little things creep up on you and will make the holidays seem much more stressful if you have not planned ahead.


The last step in preparing your Holiday Calendar is to look and see what dates are left and plan your parties and get-together’s. Wouldn't your friends be surprised if you called them in October and asked them to mark their calendars for a cookie exchange in December? Of course you will still have to send out formal invitations several weeks before the event (and do not forget to mark on your calendar the date to buy and send those invitations!)

By this time you will know if you will even have the energy during the holiday’s to plan a fun get-together or just accept invitations from others and sit back and relax! (just putting this together is making me feel exhausted... yet excited at the same time - is that possible??) 

Now that I have given you 5 steps to preparing your Holiday Calendar there is one thing you should not over look in order to help your stress during this holiday season - you must actually do what is on your calendar! (This is a lot HARDER than it seems!  Well, for me anyway.... I seem to write it down - and then it leaves my mind.... I have to keep it somewhere where I will look through it each day... that is why the "Outlook" calendar works really well for me - it pops up my reminders of crucial items.... )  Even by accomplishing one or two of your tasks on your calendar will help the stress of the holiday. 

One word of advise....For "ME", I am a big dreamer!  I envision things going smooth and simple and everything perfect - in my MARY-POPPINS world.... In the "reality" world... it just doesn't ALWAYS work that way.  This past December - I had fun things planned for nearly every night during the month - It was exhausting and overwhelming to think about how much I "wanted" to do and how much I "WANTED" everything to go perfect.... it quickly turned to frustration as it seemed that NOTHING was going according to "MY" plan.  I found about one week into the month that I was frustrated, angry, not enjoying the month at all because it wasn't working out like my MARY POPPINS mind had planned.   I then took the rest of the month and started "crossing things off".... that was DEEEE-PRESSSSSSING!!!!!! to say the least! I then found that I had upset my children as well - they were looking forward to the month "I" had planned.... So this year, I've decided to "stretch" it out a little.  We will start in November with a few different things each week rather than trying to "SQUEEZE" it all into one month - I hope it goes better - OH! And... unfortunately I have decided to take out a few things as well.  And it's ok!  I'm OK with it.  One thing that I think will help is rather than placing it on the calendar for my children to see, I'm going to get up each morning and place the "activity" in the "advent calendar" based upon the "outlooks" of the day - so if the weather is going to be CRUMBY then I know not to put Temple Square Lights on that day.... Or if I know that only the youngest will be home because the others are working, we will do something like a Christmas show or make a treat rather than "Night in Bethlehem" when it is something I want/need all the family together for.... I'm hoping that this will help with my "MARY POPPINS" magical month of plans.....
But, do what you think will work for you....
But one thing I would HIGHLY suggest for all....

 

Have a MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS filled with MEMORIES!
(Oh! I'm getting so excited!) 

This couldn't have been said any better!

In an evening class at Stanford, the last lecture was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and disease.  The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among a few other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for HIS health is to be married to a woman... whereas, for a woman, ONE of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends,.  At first, everyone laughed, but he was VERY serious. 

He continued with: "Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences.  Physically, this quality of "girlfriend time" helps women to create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well-being.  Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities.  Women share from their souls with sisters, mothers, and girl friends and evidently that is very GOOD for their health."  He continued to say that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged.  NOT TRUE!  In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking! 

So, every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health!  We are indeed very VERY lucky!  So..... there ya go!  Let's CHEER to our friendship with our girlfriends! Evidently it's VERY good for our HEALTH!

I'm so blessed to have WONDERFUL friends and sisters who have been there for me through out my life!  I KNOW that they have SAVED MY LIFE!!!!  I'm hoping to be VERY Healthy here pretty soon!!! I have so many great and wonderful friends, how could I not be!!! :)  (I surely hope I am as good a FRIEND in return!) 

OH... and just a little CHRISTMAS update....  a few more gifts are done!!! YEAH!!!!! 

How are you all doing???  I promise to get better at this....
 all in good time, my dears ... all in good time!

I'm BaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAccccckkkkkkk!!!!!

Holy cow!  What a whirlwind I've been in the past month!  I have soooooo much running.... RACING through my brain right now!  It is on OVERLOAD!!!! But I have so much I need to UNLOAD share ... I just don't EVEN know where to begin!  This may end up being a "SERIES" of posts..... because there is just SO MUCH!!!!  ..... Where to start...... Let's see.....hmmmm... 

First - CHRISTMAS!!!! OH MY GOSH!!! Can you believe it will be here in nearly 10 months!?!?!?! Honestly! Where does the time go???? Just look at that JOLLY LIL FELLA over to the right... he's just BEAMING with excitement as he reminds me that for me - CHRISTMAS will count in just 8 months and 2 weeks.... (I just felt a TWINGE of anxiety....... briefly....)   BUT! I'm so super excited!  I'm finally feeling like I just might be getting close to on track.... well, at least closer than I was last year.... but I also know that I HAVE to! Life has changed so much in the past month!  It is just beyond crazy - and enforces the "BE PREPARED" so much more....

I apologize for neglecting my "CHRISTMAS COUNT DOWN".... I stress over it!  But then I wonder if there is really anyone out there that really cares right now... or if it is just for myself... either way - it still stresses me out ... I've started something and I feel like I'm failing.... My goal is to get a LOT better!  They may be short and sweet to the point posts - but I've got to get better at it.... 

First... where have I been.... ???? Well, shall we say.... WHERE haven't I been???? HERE!!! (That was much easier to answer... LOL!)  This past month I have had to make some HUGE steps leaps bounds jumps DIVES! CHANGES! Yes, that's it - CHANGES! After working from home for the past 11 years, and working for the same company for the past 8  1/2 years... I had to take a leap of faith and change jobs.  It has been EXHAUSTING to say the least.... I started out looking DILIGENTLY for a new job just prior to Christmas.... Stared interviewing the week after Christmas and after 4 weeks of GROULING interviews with several companies... and feeling as if NOTHING was going to come of any of these interviews....(just a FYI - just because you go on 4, 5, 6 interviews with the same company... it apparently doesn't mean much... except that SOMEONE can't make a decision...SERIOUSLY!  and I learned that that was NOT the job I wanted.... when they finally offered me a job - it was NOT for the position that I had even applied for and interviewed 6 different times for... but they had a different job that they would like me to "INTERVIEW" for.... ARE. YOU. KIDDING!!!!  Go through 6 or more interviews AGAIN.... no thank you. I declined..... I then had 4 other job offers in 3 days!  It was a matter of laying it all out on the line... all the PROS and CONS for each job... It felt good to have the "CHOICE" and not "FEEL" that I HAD to accept the first offer....It was easy to omit 2 jobs... the pay wasn't the best, the location, kinda "scary", and one of them had cats that roamed the office... not that that is good or bad - (my first thought was MICE! ...uhhhh - terrified of mice!) ... but the con was - allergies... and after my 2nd interview I looked like "POP-n-FRESH" Dough-boy's sister.... not a look I felt I could adjust to very easily...  The two I needed to decide between were very close in PROs and CONs ...

.Job 1- GREAT pay, GREAT benefits, CLEAN environment, awesome people (those that I met anyway). Mon-Friday 8-5.... PERFECT!   

Job 2 - Great pay, GREAT AMAZING benefits, awesome people, great "life" experiences, gaining LOTS of knowlegde and KNOW-HOW, Training, and fun people....  

con's for job 2 - hours... they were all over the place.  12 hour shifts, you were required to work so many early am shifts, pm shifts, graveyard shifts, swing shifts, weekends, holiday etc... every month. VERY mentally and emotionally taxing. Down town (about 45 min drive)... 

 Job 1 cons: high rise building, office on top floor,  parking garage, DOWN TOWN, elevators, walking 2 blocks to building alone.... (scary!) ....

So now what!?!?! What to do!?!?!?! I decided that I needed to "REALLY" narrow it down - and it came to... HOURS... shifts.... the rest of it I just had to pull up my britches and be a big girl and just "GET OVER IT!" .... So I took job #1!  AND... it was the best decision ever!  

OK friends... Just a FYI... I have NOT conquered my "FEAR" of heights... I do NOT walk near the windows (or EVER look down!)  and thank HEAVENS my office is on the INSIDE of the building - not along the outside WINDOW edge!  I take 2 different elevators every day - for a minimum of 4 times a day - (If I go to lunch then it is 6 times! :)) I park in a parking garage - and have only had "ONE" encounter with something that felt the need to "SCARE" me and bang the roof of my car....(stupid pole!)  I walk down a busy (homeless filled at times) street ALONE to get to the office... and have only been asked 3 times so far for $10-$40 .... (HONESTLY! They are so brave now, they ask for dollar amounts!) Been followed ONCE by a man that wanted to know if my hair was "REAL" and mine.... for the love!  It is exhausting this hair of mine.....  and one even asked if she could wear my necklace for a day - (kinda broke my heart - but it was my favorite necklace... I KNOW! I should have just given it to her! ... I'm sure I'll see her again....) I have tripped over some stupid bump in the sidewalk 2 or 3 times with NEVER falling completely - but once got a up close and personal look at the crack in the cement... (that was a bit embarrassing) . AND I was applauded!  So I felt much better about that!  (Yes I am graceful!).... BUT needless to say it has been a HUGE adjustment on all of us!  It is a 2 hour drive every day - IF the traffic is somewhat good and I am exhausted by the time I get home.... I think it is the LONG drive home - puts me to sleep!  I don't feel that I'm being a very good mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter, neighbor.... anything like that.  I feel that my time with my family is so short - the time just goes MUCH too fast.... BUT for now... it is what I have to do. It is what WE have to do. I know that my husband would trade me positions in a HEART BEAT - so I try not to complain.  He didn't CHOOSE this lifestyle, someone else chose it for him and it is really hard at times to know that our future laid in the hands of someone else and the "choices" that they made that day.  BUT, it is what it is - and I'm so SO very grateful that we have been so blessed!  This job truly is a blessing!  We will soon have health insurance, which we have not had for years, I actually have HOLIDAYS off - which will be SO amazing, and the extra that I make now - will help us to get back on our feet... and I feel so TRULY blessed!  I'm so thankful.... 

And... I'm thankful for BLOGGY friends!  Thank you for your notes!  You are AMAZING as well!!!  I hope to get time this weekend to post a few projects and get some direction for this month that is more than HALF over .... but thank you for being so patient... kind... and BLESS YOU ALL!!!! this is to be THE BEST year! RIGHT!!!!! 

Love you all, my friends!  I'll be back... I'm exhausted right now - can barely keep my eyes open... hope my fingers know what they are doing..... .

AMAZING Talent..... I admire!

There is this AMAZINGLY TALENTED lady.... well! There are LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of talented ladies out there really .... and ONE of them is having a FABULOUS give way... but don't bother stopping by... her shop is CROWDED and oh my goodness... just take my word for it ... it's simply CRAZY over there ...SERIOUSLY!  just take my word for it..... SHE IS AMAZING.... you can trust me......

 besides, I am REALLY wanting to win!

OH ALRIGHT.... go ahead take a peak.... leave a comment.... 

BUT if you win.... you will have to share your prize with me! DEAL!?!?!  :)  

Oh... I surely hope I can sleep the next few nights...

I just love these little darlins'... they just melt my heart!

Good luck to you all.... 

You'll need it - because I'm feeling REALLY lucky! :)

The "B" word.... I hate to say it....

BUT.... it is reality! That darn "B" word always comes to play when I start thinking CHRISTMAS... and trust me... I'm thinking CHRISTMAS!  (YES! ALREADY!.... aren't you???)

Anyway... I was going through some of my Christmas notes... and the darn "B" word came up - and I thought... well, I must face that darn "B" sooner or later - may as well tackle it now!  Yes, I'm talking BUDGET!  There I said it!  Does it freak you out as much as it does me????  Well, I may not have CONQUERED the "B" word but I'm getting closer... and I thought I would share a few things I have learned (from the notes I had) and some that I need to learn as well..... are you ready????

I'm sure that all of us are guilty of doing this... at least ONCE - and if you aren't GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! But.... many of us have thrown caution to the wind and just did what we "thought" would make everyone else happy.... and with that we often end up charging our Christmas purchases only to have to deal with the outcome during January... YIKES!!!  I'm here to tell you - THIS IS NOT A GOOD STRATEGY! ... why??? Well, because it only causes us more stress in the months to follow - and honestly, I have enough stress that just "COMES" to me I do NOT need to create more....  How many of us spend blindly?  Well.... NO MORE!!!  From this day forward - committ yourself to becoming the "B" word freindly!  Instead of spending our money blindly, we need to create a BUDGET... tell your money WHERE to go instead of it telling YOU where to go.... in order to do this - you need to decide "REALISTICALLY" what amount of money you can spend on Christmas ... and be sure to note that your CHRISTMAS budget is NOT just the gifts you buy!

Step 1:  REALLY look at what CASH you have on hand to spend for the upcoming Christmas season. If you start soon enough in the year - this is a much easier task to take control of. Be REALISTIC!

Step 2: Get your trusty little note book out and WRITE - yes WRITE down all the different hings you NEED to purchase for the Christmas season - Such as: Baking ingredients, Picture, Cards, Activities, Donations, Clothing, Hostess gifts, Entertaining foods, Decorations, Postage... etc.... Be sure to review your list and make sure that you didn't miss ANYTHING that you would normally purchase SPECIFICALLY for Christmas.

I'm sure you noticed that GIFTS was not listed ... that's because GIFTS need a sheet ALL to themselves!  On your GIFTS page (step 3) break down the types of gifts you give - such as - gifts for the home, gifts for immediate family outside of the home, gifts for extended family, stocking stuffers, friend gifts, teacher gifts etc.... This helps to give you an idea of EVERYONE you would like to give gifts to - plus help you to cross off when money starts to get tight...

Take the category's that you have and divide up the amount of money you have to spend on Christmas and BUDGET each section....

Now.... here is just a fun little exercise to do... IF ... remember I said IF you should decide that you need to CHARGE your Christmas... just do this little exercise - and I'm pretty sure you will change your mind about the "CHARGING" Christmas....

Scroll all the way to the bottom of my page - you will find a "CREDIT CARD CALCULATOR" - it's pretty simple to use - but guaranteed to give you a stomach ache.... so use with caution.. :) 

Let's just say for fun - you decide to charge $1000.00 for your Christmas, your interest rate is 24.0% and your minimum payment is $40.00 - GUESS WHAT.... It will take you 35 months to pay off (nearly 3 years!)  is your stomach hurting yet??? if not... this just might do it..... AND the $1000.00 you just charged will now cost you $1400.00.... Do you want to just throw away $400.00 ??? If you do, I'm here to tell you - I'll give you my account number and feel free to just deposit it into my account...  I won't mind at all! :)  besides, it will save you $1000.00 :)  Go ahead - give it a try - if you have a credit card now - and would like to know how much you would have to pay to be debt free in a certain amount of months - you can do that too!  For instance, if you want to be out of debt on that $1000.00 with 24% interest in 12 months, you would need to pay approx. $94.56 a month ... SO.... if you feel that is what you need to spend on your Christmas, then, you should put $94.56 away each month - and your will have a NICE Christmas budget just waiting for you and growing....

I mean - which plan would you prefer to do? I personally - hate CREDIT cards!  So, I have set my budget, and put in how many months I have to purchase my stuff and that tells me how much I can spend for Christmas. I prefer that way MUCH MUCH MORE!

Good luck - Let me know how your budget planning is goin....

Next up....Baking for the holidays - and stretching that BUDGET!

I'm not going to get offended.....

I'm going to chalk it up as ....

EVERYONE IS JUST TOO STINKIN' BUSY :)...

I understand! I get it....

BUT.... we had a giveaway... and that is what I wanna do... 

GIVEAWAY!!!! 

SO.....

Giveaway #5 Winners ..... 

Thanks to those that posted comments!  I know that everyone is BUSY so I REALLY THANK YOU for taking time to do so! 

I need addresses for YOU and the person that you feel could use a "EXTRA HUG" ... 

You all win!!!!  

I was so touched by each of your thoughts and caring hearts!  You are amazing!  The "HUG RECIEVERS" are truly inspirational too!  I really WISH that I could meet you all in person!  My heart has been so touched by you and through you!  It surely puts a better perspective on the day to day life.... how blessed each of us really are - despite our trials.... things could always be worse. What a great reminder to enjoy the little things... take time to tell those we love.. that we love them.... make sure they know that we love them... making the best of every minute we can is really so simple... yet so difficult too ....  

I'm just so touched..... (I think I've mentioned that a time or two.... ) 

Thank you so much for sharing! 

My prayers are going out for you and your "HUG RECEIVER"... may you all be blessed and comforted everyday.... may you feel the peace and love of our Savior wrap around you, especially at this time of year.  Bless you all!  Merry Christmas to all of you! 

Karan - (Karan' Holidays Corner)  I just have to say ... BLESS YOU AND YOUR SWEET FAMILY MEMBERS! I just can't even imagine.. imagine having to face that at any time... let alone this time of year... SO SO HARD..... I have been praying for them since I read your message... It surely has impacted my life.... on a daily basis....  Please let me know if there is anything that I can do for them (or you) from here....in the mean time....  I'll keep praying! 

Diane -(Lavender Dreamer)  BLESS YOU and your SWEET friend! I'm always so inspired for those that just keep on going... keep on giving... even when they seem to have every reason to just sit back and receive... they do deserve it - but they just keep on doing.... BLESS HER!!!! 

Diane - (Tablescapes) - I'm so HAPPY you joined us!!!!  What a SWEET HEART you are!!!!   I'm surely sure you have someone who would love to receive a HUG!  Let me know - because I'd LOVE to send them one in behalf of you!  :) and you one too!!!  

Tricia - (Hillcresthome Primes) - I hope you received your winning package from last giveaway!!!  I think we were having issues communicating via this lovely thing we call "internet service providers" lol!...  BUT guess what!! You win again!!!! And I just KNOW you have some one that would LOVE a HUG!!!  So... let me know who... and why... because I would LOVE to get their HUG (and your's) in the mail! 

Send me addresses ladies.... That would be FABULOUS!!! 

May you all be BLESSED with all the comfort, healing hands and peace you so desire! 

I went and did the unexpected...

I know that this will come as a MIGHTY BIG shock to you all.....

ESPECIALLY after this post.... you know... the one where I was admitting my OCD-ness with the tree and ornaments...  WELL... I did just what ever other OCD-Ornament crasher would do.... I signed up to do a ORNAMENT exchange.... (GASP - BIG GASP! I heard it!!!!)  I know... I know.... WHAT WAS I THINKING?????  Well, I will TELL you what I was thinking.... 

I was thinking..... 

This will be REALLY fun.... 

I'll get some ornaments from some VERY talented people! 

...and I LOVE seeing and sharing the talents of others!!!!  

(it kinda makes me jealous too... but someday I hope to have TALENT and what a better way to GRASP some.. then to RECEIVE some ... RIGHT!?!?!) 

.... honestly... that's about all I was thinking at the time...  I didn't think about "what I would do with them..."
  

But HAVE NO FEAR!!! I found something to do with them!!!! It will follow in another post.... but for now... Let me share some TALENTS with you!!!! 

I had NO IDEA that I would absolutely FALL in love with EVERY... STINKIN' (meant in a LOVING CUTE way!) .... ORNAMENT! 

That I would just HAVE to find the PERFECT spot for all these new ornaments.... 

Wanna peak?????   I know you do....

First of all... I have to say.... I just admire ALL of these WONDERFUL TALENTED people! .... AND.... especially people that can do this! 

I can NOT!  I know.... CRAZY!!!  My mom has tried for YEARS to help me.... I'm pretty much useless!   My hand goes soooooo numb... and then the EYES go BuGgggGGY.... and THEN.... it gets a little free AIR SAILIN ride.... (I know... I'm pretty patient :))  Aren't they so cute!  Now I just need to find some little pictures of my little people! Then they will be SET!

 

 She must have known my LOVE for OWLS!!!  He will have a place in my office... 

ALL .... YEAR....... LONG!!!!!!

 Aren't these soooo cute!  

I really love the "HAT".... makes me want to find a little someone to put it on... :)

 And this little guy.... Don't ya just wanna SQUEEZE him???? 

SO STINKIN' CLEVER!!! And WAY WAY CUTE!

 I placed this on a blue block... because it wasn't showing up... and darn it all... with all the FRAGILE stamps on the package... wouldn't you know it ... it was broken... but I did my best by trying to "HOT GLUE IT"....because remember my motto... "If it ain't hot glued... I don't do!!!"  I would love to learn to make these! It is absolutely beautiful!

 

And oh my!  Isn't this just adorable???? 

Seriously.... how do people THINK of these things????  

LOVE IT!

 

 And then.... MELT MY HEART!!! 

I have a SNOWMAN fettish! BAD! 

(I seem to have a LOT of fettish's... hmmmm) 

Anyway.... How can you NOT love a SNOWMAN??

 And she even sent cards.... 

She was one BUSY gal!  OH MY!!! CUTENESS!!!

 I just LOVE how the snowman grows when he gets opened...

And pull the "HAT" out for a message.... HEART BE STILL!!!!

 And then....

Can I just tell you I ENVY such people! ALL OF THEM... 

But this little CLAY Peacock.... 

(I have tried and TRIED to make sculpty clay things.... They ain't so adorable... even the garbage can runs from them....  Sad! I know...)

ADMIRE!!!!  TALENTED!!! OH MY for SURE!

I have to protect him from the little ones... 

They just want to pack him around and love on him.... 

Can't say I blame them... he is just TOO CUTE!!! 

 ADORABLE!!!! 

I'm so very impressed! 

And... How can I POSSIBLY stick them in a ORNAMENT SAFE BOX???? 

I CAN'T!!! 

I had to find something to do with them....

AND I DID!!! 

I'm so proud of myself! :) 

I'll post about it later... 

BECAUSE.... I've gotta get some SHUT EYE! 

I think I heard a FLUFFY WHITE thing calling me....

But I wanted to share!

It's time to vote!!!!

HEY EVERYONE.... 

Just wanna take a minute if I can... and ask for ALL your LOVELY support.... once again.... :)  Because I KNOW that I have the BEST BLOGGY FRIENDS ever!!!! 

I did a crazy thing ... AGAIN.... (sheesh, I'm just full of CRAZY-ness this month!!!)  Anyway, an amazing BLOGGY Friend was doing a "Christmas Tree Contest" ... So.... I entered... NOW I need YOU!! to vote for ME!!!! :)  (See how that works... LOL!)  

So... If you can just take a MINUTE (or even just a few seconds) and ZIP over to A WHIMSICAL CHRISTMAS  and VOTE for MY tree.... I know... It's kinda crazy... but it will surely help my "self esteem" on doing a BLUE tree this year.... :)  So... if you could... HURRY!  Zip over! Just click my name and then click VOTE on the side bar!!!  Prety simple!!! Let's just see how this goes.... shall we :) 

Thanks friends!!! 

OH! And don't forget to take a few minutes and ENTER in MY final giveaway for 2011!!! There will be 6 winners total... and there are very few comments at this point and time... SO!!! Whatcha  waitin' for!?!?! HURRY UP!!!! Help a gal out.... and WIN the giveaway for you and a VERY SPECIAL friend !!!!  

Go here to enter the  

GIVEAWAY - it ends SUNDAY Dec. 11 at 11 pm!!!!! 

SO HURRY!!!!!

Giveaway #5.... and your gift....

Every year I purchase a new book to add to our Christmas collection.  The books are boxed up with all the Christmas decorations and then when we bring them out they sit in a bucket under the Christmas tree... a new book is added  and every night we read a book (or a chapter or two) depending on the book.  Tonight we started our new book, "SANTA'S SECRET" by Christy Hardman with Phil Porter.  Can I just tell you... we only got half way through chapter 2 and I CAN NOT WAIT until TOMORROW night!!  I'm HOOKED!!!! (I need to get me some specs though I'm afraid... I have a horrendous headache from reading tonight... getting OLD sure has some STINKY perks! That is what they are called isn't it?.... perks????.... LOL!) Anywhoo....

I was hooked from the very first page.... and I just KNEW this was the answer I was looking for, for over a week now.... I KNEW what I wanted to do my giveaway on tonight... but I just couldn't find a way to "KICK" it off ...until now! I'm so happy that we started this book tonight!  It was a answer to my prayer!

Santa's Secret Wish 

by Betty Worth Westrope 

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes

Looked deep into Santa's, to Santa's surprise,

And said as he sat on Santa's broad knee,

"I want your secret. Tell it to me.

I want to know how, as you travel about,

Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.

How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys

You have plenty for all of the world's girls and boys?

Your bag is all bulging, it fills up the sleigh

Stays full, never empites, as you make your way

From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,

From nation to nation, reaching them all?" 

And Santa smiles kindly and said to the boy

"Don't ask me hard questions.  Don't you want a toy?" 

But the child shook his head, and Santa could see

That he needed the answer, "Now listen to me," 

He told that small boy with the light in his eyes, 

"My secret will make you sadder and yet wise.

The truth is that my sack is magic. Inside

It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.

But although I do visit each girl and boy 

I don't always leave them a gaily wrapped toy. 

Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,

Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.

Some homes are broken, and the children there grieve,

Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?

My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,

But for the homes where despair lives, toys aren't enough.

So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,

And I pray with them that they'll be given the joy 

Of the Spirit of Christmas, the Spirit that lives 

In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.

If only God hears me and answers my prayer,

When I visit next year, what I will find there 

Are homes filled with peace, and with giving and love

And boys and girls gifted with light from above. 

It's a very hard task, my smart little brother,

To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others.

But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,

For God has a way of meeting each need.

That's part of the answer.  The rest, my dear youth,

Is that my sack is magic.  And that is the truth.

In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day 

More love than a Santa could e'er give away.

The sack never empties of love, or of joys 

'Cause inside it are prayers, and hope, not just toys.

The more that I give, the fuller it seems,

Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.

And do you know something? You've got a sack too.

It's as magic as mine, and it's inside of you.

It never gets empty, it's full from the start

It's the center of lights and love.  It's your heart.

And if on this Christmas you want to hlep me,

Don't be so concerned with the gifts 'neath your tree.

Open that sack called your heart, and share

Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care." 

The light in the small boy's eyes was glowing,

"Thanks for your secret.  I've got to be going." 

"Wait, little boy," said Santa, "don't go.

Will you share?  Will you help?  Will you use what you know?"

And just for a moment the small boy stood still,

Touched his heart with his small hand, and whispered,
"I will."

OH MY!!! Isn't that just PERFECT!?!?! What more can I say.... I'm back on track... with the Christmas Spirit.... a heart full of love.... So, how does this work with this GIVEAWAY you ask... here is your task... (sorry... too much rhyming going on just now!!! LOL!)

ENTRY 1

I'm sure that we all know someone who could use a extra "HUG" and "PRAYER"  this time of year... 

WHO would you give that hug and prayer to and why? 

(You do not have to give names unless you want... but here is where it gets really fun!) 

If you win... so will your EXTRA HUG receiver! 

3 winners by entry ... 3 "unknown" winners because of your entry!

(I know, I know... that's 6 winners.. it should be 5 - but it just wasn't fair!) 

You can enter as many HUG & PRAYER receivers as you would like... 

Just make sure they are all in a separate entry.

Extra Entries: 

1-Become a FOLLOWER of this blog (or if you already are... let me know you are!) 

2-Post about this giveaway on your blog 

3-Post the "TIS THE SEASON" button on your blog 

This giveaway will end on Sunday Nov. 11 at 10:00 pm MST

And we have some WINNERS!!!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE......

We have 4 - YES 4! winners.... YAHOO!!!! 

WINNER #1 

True Random Number Generator Min:1   Max:12  Result: 9

CONGRATS TO MRS. PRINCE!  

WINNER #2

True Random Number Generator Min:1   Max:12  Result: 6

CONGRATS TO HILLCRESTHOME PRIMS

WINNER #3

True Random Number Generator Min:1   Max:12  Result: 4

CONGRATS TO JCWEGA27

 

WINNER #4

True Random Number Generator Min:1   Max:12  Result: 11

CONGRATS TO STEPH

WOW!!! That's a LOT of winners!!!!!  SO EXCITED for all of you!!! 

And... THANKS to ALL of you for participating!!!! 

REMEMBER.... see you tomorrow  I mean TODAY for GIVEAWAY #5!!!!  

JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!!

.... I've got something up my sleeve!!!!   :)  

OH!! I need addresses ladies!!! 

Email your addresses to me!!!!
ladybugs4bry at yahoo dot com

OH MY CRAFTY-NESS!!!

Just a little BUZZ here.... You may want to venture over and take a PEEK at some amazing people and their CRAFTI-NESS!!!! So! FUN!!!!!   OH MY CRAFTY!

And... Don't forget.... Giveaway #4 is ending soon..... 

Congrats again to GIVEAWAY #3 Winners!!! 

Their prizes should be arriving soon....

There were 3 WINNERS!!! 

Wanna take a guess at how many winners there will be in Giveaway #4!!!! :) hee hee hee!!!! 

Its a SURPRISE!!! Hurry over there too and play along in GIVEAWAY #4!!!!

Feeling kinda ... blue.......And.... a GIVEAWAY!

 Well... the tree situation is under control. 

If you know me well... or even just a little... you will know that

BLUE is my most least FAVORITE color.... 

But strange things happen every now and again.... 

Last year, the day after Christmas... I just HAPPENED to be in a store that was doing "CLEARANCE" on Christmas stuff... (WHO can pass that up???) ... So, I meandered over and found some GREAT bargains!  

I was so super excited... 

I had such BIG dreams! 

HIGH hopes! 

And an AMAZING imagination..... 

I was just going WILDLY-CRAZY!!! 

I had a WILD HAIR.... 

(yes my Mr. HATES it when I get a WILD hair! LOL!) 

I needed a change for the upcoming year and this sale was PERFECT timing! 

My vision..... 

3 BIG trees....

1- 7' in the front room

1-12-15' in the family room-upstairs

1- 9' in the family room downstairs

THEN...

While I was dreaming.... 

I decided that each of my kids should have trees in their bedrooms as well.... 

oh... and the guest room and MY room....

And it worked out PERFECT too... I found 2' and 3' trees for $2.00 for the set of 2!  STEAL!!! I was so super happy!!!!!  I just couldn't wait until next Christmas....

only 364 days to go!!!! YEAH!!!! 

Only one problem... well two.... I only had one BIG tree - the 7' that we had been using for several years... so I still needed to find a 9' and 12/15'.... no problem... I have 330 days or so to find them...

Yeah right...Bigger TASK than I even imagined!

  Here we are.... 11 months later and I still have not found either tree... I'll keep looking though..... THEN our NORMAL tree - decided to bite the dust as well..... but we got that issue under control (as you know) and it was time to move on.... so..... I pulled out the NEW decorations..... 

Now... just for the record -

(confession time) 

YES! I am OCD! 

(about a lot of things - but we are just talking TREES today!) 

So, from here on out - (well, all along actually) my intent is NOT to offend anyone!  

It is just I....

ME... 

it is MY problem... 

and yes- I know some are offended by it... 

but I in know way mean to offend anyone.... EVER!  

(Are we clear on that??? :)) Please...keep that in mind....

Each of my trees has a "THEME" 

Family Room - (downstairs) - "FAMILY FUN"  

Which consists of a tree made of "events" that have happened through the year 

(so each year new ones are added) 

Colors: Red, Gold and Black 

(yes, the ornaments are the same... homemade - but the same!)

Family Room - (upstairs) - "SWEET SHOP" 

Which consists of gingerbread boys and girls and sweet treats... 

Colors: Red & White 

(again, homemade - yet all the same..) 

Front Room - "WINTER WONDERLAND"  

Which consists of snowflakes, icicles and bells. 

Colors: White, Silver & Blue... 

(struggling with this tree....) 

WAIT!!! HOLD THAT THOUGHT..... 

Did I just say BLUE!?!?! I must be feeling under the weather for sure.... 

(The funny part about this.... as I was "decorating" the tree (alone... by myself... as usual.... because someone is OCD about their tree.... please don't ask why ;)) every single family member... and I mean EVERY... SINGLE... ONE.... one by one would walk in to "CHECK" the status of the tree and they would say

"MOM! You do know that is blue, don't you?"  

or

  "MOM! I thought you hated blue"  

or

"MOM! are you feeling ok? I thought you hated blue... 

but you just did our entire tree in BLUE!?!?" 

or

"WOW.... do you like it mom?".... 

OK EVERYONE!!! 

I see that this is BLUE... 

YES I feel fine.... 

YES I still am not a fan of blue.... 

YES I KNOW it is different..... 

and hmmmmm I'm not so sure I LIKE it just yet...

I'll have to let it sit on me for a while.....

BUT I have now officially decided that I am NOT taking it apart to re-decorate!  

So.... YEP! I'm feeling a bit BLUE...

 

But... here ya go! 

I'm still "tweaking" it a bit 

I removed my draperies (because they were brown - and that SO DID NOT GO! I tried putting some "tulle" along the window - then hung some snowflakes... not sure it's quite what I'm looking for... so still working on that as well.... 

 And then... there is this tree.... 

The tree my kids are REALLY missing this year... the SWEET SHOP tree!

(and I think I'm missing it too!)

I was ready for a "CHANGE" (or I thought I was) but apparently my "BLUE" has really affected everyone.... oops! LOL!   I am still frantically trying to make a "small" tree out of the "broken" trees to put the SWEET SHOP tree together.... But until then.... we're just feeling BLUE around here :) 

Which.... leads me to GIVEAWAY #4!!!! 

HALLELUJAH!  

(I know that is what you are thinking right.... :)) 

Here is my problem... I told you I'm OCD about my trees.... (and I honestly do NOT know why!) I love seeing how people decorate their trees... and they always look so FABULOUS!! I just love the "primitive, country, whimsical trees.... BUT.... Then... I come home ... and I just can't do it! (and I curse.... I mean thank my dad for passing along his "perfectionist" gift to me...) I drive myself CRaZy most of the time with it - so I KNOW I annoy others..... 

Anyway... PROBLEM:

ALL the ornaments that the kido's make... 

at school... 

at church functions...

on their own time ... 

What is a MOM with OCD-ness (otherwise known as "perfectionalism" of the tree) to do with all the "said" ornaments?  It is heart breaking... it really is.... I LOVE them with all my heart! (the kids and their ornaments, just to clarify)... BUT I just can NOT bring myself to putting them on "THE" tree! I know... that makes me a horrible mom....I know this!  It really breaks my heart.... I've tried... I truly have... But I just can't.... I drives me UP THE WALL, CRAZY, NUTS... it stresses me!!!   I even decided one year... well in advance... I needed to allow the kids to decorate "THE" tree with their ornaments... I talked to myself daily about it... repeating "I can do this....I can do this... it is ok... life will be fine.... it's for the kids.... they will love it.... You can do this... you really can..."  I even decided that if I went and purchased "MULTI-COLORED" lights for the tree it would be better... with the "disarray-meant" of colored lights (no uniform structure) and the "MULTI-ORNAMENTS", it would be just fine.... we put up the tree.... it lasted... (I hate to say this...) less than 18 hours... while the kids were at school I undressed the tree and redressed it with the "SWEET SHOP".... funny thing was... my kids didn't even notice... SHEW!  I was safe.... until.... this year... my 9 year old said as she was "unloading" each Christmas bin... "Oh mom! Look! Here is the box full of all the ornaments that all of the children have made for you... are you going to put them on the tree this year....(long pause, because I was desperately searching for the "correct" answer ... the one that would not hurt her feelings...) she continued "or are you just going to leave them in this box so that my nieces don't ruin them".... AWE!!! Good thought Bry~ that is it... "Yep... I think it will be best if we keep them safe in the special box marked "Made with love from my favorite little people" don't you agree?"  "Yeah mom, I think that is a good idea this year....(long pause again) but, if I don't have any new nieces or nephews next year, do you think that we could put them on the tree?"  My reply... "Oh, I'm sure we can figure out something".... ... and inside... I'm praying for ONE of the married kids to announce a new family member will be joining us.... (OH I AM A BAD, SELFISH MOM!) 

SO... here is the GIVEAWAY comment this week.....

Leave me a comment... answering this question.... 

1- Are you a OCD "Tree Snob", (as a new blogging friend deemed us) or are you perfectly content with perfect traditional tree? (1 entry)

2-What do YOU do with all those ornaments made by the little people in your life?
I wanna know.... and I know there are other OCD TREE HOGS  that wanna know too...

Extra entries:

1-Become a follower - or if you are already - just let me know

2-Grab my TIS THE SEASON TO SHARE button over to the right - and post it either on your side bar or in a blog post - and come back and tell me you did

3-Write about this giveaway on your blog - come back and let me know you did (be sure to "link" your posting back to my blog) 

Pretty SIMPLE.... 

You'll never guess what the prize is for this GIVEAWAY!!! 

HEE HEE HEE!!!!! 

Giveaway ends SUNDAY DEC. 4, 2011,  8:00 pm

 

Oh Christmas tree.... Oh Christmas tree.....

CAN YOU NOT JUST CO-OPERATE!?!?!?! 

We set out last night to decorate the tree.... only to discover that we have 4 pieces to our 3 piece tree..... 1 piece to our 3 part tree and no CENTER for our 1000 + piece tree!!!!  SERIOUSLY!!!! and of course not ONE of them will WORK with the other!!! Come on TREES! Have you ever heard of CO-OPERATION!!!!!  This is a VERY crucial matter!!!! We have a 9 year old that is in tears!  CO-OPERATE with me PLEASE!!!!! 

(I'm thinking we may just have to do something like this...)

But.. to no avail.... Not ONE would work with the other!  (Needless to say, my 9 year old went to bed in tears.... she was SO disappointed! She was being SO VERY PATIENT all day long WAITING for me to get my ORGANIZATION done so we could decorate... only to discover that there would be NO tree to decorate right now...)  I came in and started looking on line for trees.... We just don't have extra money for tree right now... even at 50% off... (why are they so EXPENSIVE????)  So I turned to the classifieds... sent out a few emails (because it was 11pm and didn't think that they would want a call from a FRANTIC mom inquiring about their TREE...) I woke this morning at 6 tossing and turning... and in hopes that there was a reply to my emails... even just ONE .... but there were NONE!!!!  Then it dawned on me ... probably because it is 6 AM and most people are still SLEEPING!!!!  HELLO!!!!!!  So, here I sit....waiting for a reply on a tree... silly huh? 

So..... until a reply..... I'll go get Santa's shop up and working again!  

SO..... MUCH.....TO..... DO!!!!!!

It has been one HECK of a CrAZy month to say the least... BUT I'm getting use to it!!!  (I think....) 

The past several weeks I've been busy cutting wood, painting, re-thinking my plan...cleaning up... pulling it out again.... cleaning up..... pulling it back out..... sleeping with saw dust in my ear.... my eyes....my nose... my hair... even my teeth! Every fiber of my being.....covered in saw dust!  And still... I feel as if I'm getting no-where NEAR being done!  And... Dec. 1st is just ... RIGHT... THERE!!! It is in hands reach... and I so desperately need to PUSH it out a tad!  :)   ....I'm really thinking that my December 1 deadline is going to be booted :( but I certainly am NOT going to go down without a FIGHT.... and a TEAR or TWO of my own.... I'm sure!!!!  

Well... until the TREE situation is resolved... guess I better get back to the shop.... here is just a SNEAK PEEK of what is going on around here...... 

 For December....

Meet the TALL Sno-FAMILY! 

 

I just LOVE the sleigh and reindeer... but I just realized...

I need to get them "TIED" up!!!  Missing the reins!!!!

I found the pattern and instructions here... what a TALENTED lady! 

Of course hers looks MUCH better than mine..

but I'm not giving the receiver a picture of what it SHOULD look like... 

so they will NEVER know... RIGHT???!

And for OCTOBER.....

A friend of mine had some of these... so I just "COPIED" them... and then.... I discovered they too were from this TALENTED lady.... again... hers are much better... I was just flying by the seat of my britches! 

I am now VERY tempted to just PURCHASE from her ETSY shop!!! and save me the HEADACHE!

 These are my BLOCK HEAD family!

 Well... that leaves 10 months to go!!! 

I better get on the stick!!! 

Making 4 sets of EVERYTHING is just a WEE BIT.....

OUT - OF - CONTROL!!!! 

(so, now you will no longer need to wonder WHY my house looks like a tornado, hurricane, tsunami and a whirlwind have touched down...they really have!) 

My girls are at the "newly-wed-rather poor" stage of life.... well, poor in the aspect of "no money to decorate the house" .... so I've decided to help them out - by doing a bit of monthly decorations for them... I'm so super excited .... but feeling a "BIT" overwhelmed .... because as usual.... these projects go MUCH MUCH MUCH faster in my head!! LOL!!! they are so TIME consuming in "reality" world!!!!  

Why is it that my outer body can not work as FAST as my INNER body!!! (the brain!) :)  

Well.... off I go.... hoping to hear back on a tree or two and to the shop I go... 

IT IS FREEZZZZZZING out there!!!!! 

OH!!! Don't forget!!! 

GIVEAWAY #3(enter here!)  is coming to a end!!!! 

AND.... there are 3 prizes!!!!! 

and about the same number of entries.....

I wonder WHO will win.... LOL!!!!!!