Top Ten Tuesday - Snow Day

We got hit with a winter storm today here in Georgia. The whole town virtually shut down. All the schools, government, malls, and pretty much every other business was shut down today and looks like will be tomorrow, too.

So since I was snowed in, here are ten things I got done today:

1. Finished my Christmas scrap book page for this year.

Each year, I make one page out of a scrap book and make a little pocket on the page. In the pocket, I put all the cards I got that year. Since most all of the cards I get are photo cards, I like being able to go back through them and see how everyone's changed over the years.

2. Folded and put away laundry.
Ugh...I HATE doing that.

3. Finished watching the movies I had rented.

When the predictions came about the snow coming in, I stocked up on some movies. I wasn't too impressed with any of them.

4. Made eggplant parmesan.

The actual recipe I used was given to me by a friend, but here's one that's very similar from Once a Month Mom.

5. Made snow cream for the first time.
I used this recipe from Family Fun. I'm thinking it would probably be better with whole milk or heavy cream.

6. Did a little decorating.

I bought these little wall art flowers for my college roommates for christmas. I also got myself one so that when I saw it, it would bring them to mind. I miss them so much!

7. Did some reading.

One of my friends at work lent me "A Bend In the Road" by Nicholas Sparks. I'm only on chapter 4 but I'm liking it so far!

8. Did a little home improvement.

I took advantage of Ikea's winter clearance sale. I have one of these little baggie holders in my kitchen and love it. So I got one for my bathroom because I use Target bags for my trash can in my bathroom. They're the perfect size!

9. Played in the snow...by myself.

10. ...and finally I wrote this post :)

For more Top Ten Tuesdays, visit Oh Amanda.

I want to be a guitar pick

Photo courtesy of Sleipner Gtr

I love it when God speaks to me through children's church. We started a new series today and our main point was that "only God is worthy of my worship".

In our video, one of the characters made a very interesting point that was so simple but really drove home the point.

See, we all worship something. The question is what/who do we worship. Worship is whatever we put our value on. As Christians, I think it's safe to say that we all want to worship Jesus. That's the Sunday School answer we've been taught, right?

And while that may be our ultimate goal, we (and I'm including myself here) typically fall short. Our intentions are good, but then life gets in the way. We plan on waking up early to spend time in God's word, but when our alarm clock doesn't go off and we're racing out the door trying to beat the school bus so we don't get stuck behind that bus going 20 miles an hour to work, God gets pushed to the end of the day and then we're exhausted.

So what does all this have to do with a guitar pick?

[I know, I can get off track easily!]

Back to our video in children's church. He talked about when we hear a guitar being played with it's catchy chords and head nodding beat, we rarely (if ever) say "Man, that guitar pick really did a good job!"

But when you think about it, it really IS the guitar pick that picks the strings to make the sounds that we love. However, we get so caught up in the music, that we don't focus on the pick.

When we make God first, we draw people's attention off of us and on to Him. THAT'S worship. Making God the priority in our life.

So, yes, my prayer is for God to make me a guitar pick. That I would be used by God to point people to Him.

Looking Ahead

The first Monday of the new year should bring some profound new insight...

...but not so.

It should bring a list of goals or resolutions...

...not so much.

I am working on some goals I have for myself and my blog but one reason I don't have those up and ready to go today is because of my biggest flaw...

PROCRASTINATION.

The bane of my existence.  Truly.  I am one of the best procrastinators I know.  Oh, I'll always get it done or pull it together, but it's the lack of thought or the ideas I had to dismiss because of the procrastination.

When I came across Amy's post on her word for the year, it hit me square between the eyes.

INTENTIONAL

That's what I want!  I want everything I do to be intentional and not thrown together at the last minute, because before I know it, it'll be December again and I'll have a list of things that didn't get done.

2010 Bloggy Recap

Jo-Lynne is hosting her annual Blog Recap Carnival.  Follow with me, if you will, as I recap my year according to my blog!

January

It's back to work for me today in a new year!

{and sadly enough it's back to work in a few days again}

February

Wow...what a weekend!

{aren't you dying to know what i did that weekend?  go ahead...click it!}

March

In the age of email, twitter, blogging, and some other social media that's yet to be invented it seems like snail mail is a lost art.

 {this was a great idea...but an utter failure.  hey, i'm still game for it!}

April

One of my New Year's resolutions is to clean...er...ORGANIZE my pantry!

 {ahhh, those new year's resolutions.  didn't quite follow through here}

May

This weekend, I helped my sister with her neighborhood garage sale.

{i'm sharing my wealth of knowledge of garage sales with you}

June

This pretty much sums up my week.

 {this was a good thing!}

July

Here's what I stumbled this week.

 {some good stumbled posts}

August

Dating is not easy.

 {oh my...tales from my dating adventures}

September

It always seems that most of the posts I stumble tend to be food! 

 {some more stumbled posts...all about food!}

October

Back in February, I got to attend the Blissdom blogging conference.

 {one of the perks of going to blissdom!}

November

One of the things I hate about being single and not having kids is I don't get to send out photo Christmas cards until a couple of years ago.

 {thank you shutterfly, for providing my christmas cards!}

December

Welcome to my home!

 {this is what my home looked like...until i just took them all down tonight.  so sad}

 

Top Ten Tuesday - My favorite posts

For this last Top Ten Tuesday of 2010, I wanted to share with you my favorite posts of the year. (AKA - the lazy blogger's answer to a new TTT post :)

1. Rhythm. Not Balance
Always a great reminder that instead of trying to balance everything in our life, we need to get in the right rhythm.

2. Gander's Generosity
When horrors were happening in the USA on September 11, a wealth of generosity was happening in Gander, Canada. This will revive your hope in humanity.

3. Teacher Gifts
Bookmark this post! As a teacher of almost 10 years, these are tried and true!

4. Alternative Easter Egg Hunts
Another one you'll want to bookmark for Easter in a few months. Use my ideas (and leave me some ideas in the comments!) to spice up your traditional egg hunts.

5. Jesus is on His way
Great reminder that whatever you may be waiting on, Jesus hasn't forgotten about you.

6. Garage Sale Tips
I can't even think about garage sales yet as we have snow in Atlanta! But this is another one you may want to bookmark for when the weather warms up and you're wanting to get rid of some "treasures".

7. Dating Diaries
One of my many tales from the dating world.

8. Fractured Fairy Tales
If you're life hasn't been the fairy tale you've hoped it would be, I hope this offers you some encouragement.

9. Mail
This was one of my favorite ideas, but it flopped. I'd still be happy to do it if anyone's interested. Who doesn't love getting mail?!

10. Saving for Christmas
Please, do this starting now! It will save you so much headache and worry when it comes around to Christmas next year. This has been one of the smartest things I've ever done!

For more Top Ten Tuesdays, visit Oh Amanda.

THE gift

 

In our children's church Christmas Eve service, one of the activities was a version of Memory.  You know the game, right?  You have all the tiles face down and turn them over one at a time trying to make a match.

This version, though, had an extra tile that didn't have a match.  It was Jesus.  The point was that Jesus is the "unmatched gift".  There is nothing like Him and Christmas is all about Him.

I know I will more than likely get caught up in all of the gifts today, but I pray that in that moment I'll be reminded that Jesus is THE gift, the unmatched gift this Christmas.  There is nothing, no one like Him.  He and He alone is the only reason to celebrate not just in today, but every day.

Merry Christmas!

What It's All About

I can't decide which is better about being a teacher this time of year...

These?

This?

or this?

I'm thinking THIS is what it's all about.

Saturday Stumbles

The majority of what I stumbled this week is food.

Go figure.

But these are all Christmas sweets! Prepare to salivate:

Red Velvet Cheesecake from Beantown Baker
Brown family prepare yourself, because this one WILL be making an appearance at Christmas dinner this year!

Peppermint Sugar from Pip & Ebby
What a super clever idea! If you like peppermint flavoring, then this is for you!

Photo from Pip & Ebby

Homemade marshmallows from Denver Bargains
As an avid hot chocolate drinker, this has always been on my to-do list but hasn't quite made it over to the "done" list.

Simple Christmas Treats from Polwig
What a cheap, easy Christmas gift! Put them on a cute plate and you've got a simple Christmas gift.

This post is linked to Saturday Stumbles at It's Come to This.

Ice Day

It's 10:40 a.m. on a Thursday...and I'm at home.

Not because I'm sick.

Not because I have something else to do.

But because we have ICE, BABY!

So, on any given day at this time, I would be in 4th period teaching earth science to my 6th graders.  I would also be telling A to get back to his seat, R to stop talking, and trying my hardest to not lose my patience with K.  I would also be getting ready to go to lunch...yep, I eat lunch at 10:50 a.m.

I hear my stomach calling!!

Christmas Tour

Welcome to my home!

I absolutely love decorating, but decorating for Christmas is a whole 'nother level! Here are my some of my favorite decorating touches:

1. My tree
Fake and pre-lit all the way...and I don't even feel guilty about it! I love my tree! This year, I went with red and silver.

2. Tea light holder
This normally holds tea lights, so I took them out and hung some plain Christmas ornaments.  It's just a cute little touch.

3. Vintage Christmas cards
Growing up, my mom threw away everything.  My dad used to joke that if it wasn't nailed down, it wouldn't stay around long.  But for some reason, she has saved every single Christmas, Easter, Birthday, Halloween, etc. cards.  I guess that comes with being the first born and all.  In looking back through these cards, it's clear that they just "don't make 'em like that anymore" and I wanted to display them in some way.  So here's what I came up with.

4. Wreath
I got several of these plain little wreaths at Target after Christmas last year.  All I did was put the red ribbon around it and tacked it behind the mirror.  Simple but cute.

5. Christmas Card Scrapbook
One of my favorite things about Christmas is all the Christmas cards!  I hated, though, that they just sit in a box year after year, so I've decided to make a page for each year that holds that year's cards.  All I did was attach a rectangular piece at the bottom to be a pocket.  It's fun to look back and see how all my friends (and their kids!) have changed.

6. Willow Tree Nativity
I have wanted this set for as long as I can remember...and now I have it!  It's taken me several years and waiting on coupons, getting them as gifts from mom and dad, getting them from complete strangers (!) to collect the set, but I just love it!  It's one of the things I look forward to most when I put up my decorations.

7. My Christmas Duvet cover
Yep, I even decorate my bedroom!  I couldn't resist this duvet cover from Crate & Barrell that I got a couple years ago after Christmas.  It was such a good deal, I couldn't pass it up.  I just love the way it looks against my green walls, too!  (I realize I could've [should've] made up my bed, but wanted to be real with you...it normally looks like this!)

8. My bedroom tree
Oh yeah...there's a tree in my room!  Another after Christmas find from Jo-Ann's.

9. Kitchen table
Glass vases are so versatile and deserve a post all their own.  I have filled my with pillow stuffing (don't know what the technical name is!) and put a few ornaments on top.

10. Little books

These little Christmas books were just too much to pass up. 

This post is linked to Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday & Kelly's Korner Christmas Tour of Homes.

Top Ten Tuesday - Black Friday Tips

It gets bigger and bigger every year!   While I COULD be referring to my rear end, I'm talking about Black Friday!

Yes, I am one of those nuts that shop all night after Thanksgiving dinner.  My first year was quite an induction into midnight shopping.  Last year, I went with my friend Becky and we hit up the outlet malls, Kohls, Target, Walmart...and I can't think of where all else we went!  They kind of all ran together.

In all honesty, it's not really about the incredible deals, although there definitely are some, it's more about the experience and spending time with friends.

So I am looking forward to it again this year too, but today I want to share with you my top ten tips for a successful Black Friday experience:

1. Make a list

This is NOT the time to leisurely browse in the stores. You need to have an idea of what you're looking for.

2. Dress in layers

This is especially true if you'll be going in and out of stores. What I found is that it may be cold(or downright freezing!) outside, but most stores had the heat blasting inside. You'll be glad you can peel off those layers!

3. Bring a water bottle

[See above about the heat]

4. Bring snacks

You will no doubt be standing in a long line at some point. That long line could just be waiting to get into the store! Regardless, that turkey dinner will not last as you're hustling and bustling around town. You'll want a little something to snack on.

5. Go with a group

As mentioned before, there are lots of long lines. (And you thought your local amusement park was bad!) Here's a little trick that works well if the lines are extremely long. When you enter the store, have one member in your party immediately go stand in line. Then you can go do your shopping. This will maximize your time. Instead of spending time shopping THEN time waiting in line, you'll be ready to pay once you've done your shopping!

6. Don't take kids

The number of people that had kids with them was disturbing! I can kind of see having a small infant. I mean, they sleep most of the time and wake up every couple of hours. It was the toddlers and older kids that bothered me. One-kids should be in bed at 3 A.M.!!! Two-they're gonna see the gifts you're buying for them! Please, please, please...leave the kids at home!

7. Downsize

If you're like me, you carry a large purse. This is NOT the time you want to be lugging around your giant purse. Take the bare necessities and choose a smaller purse or small back pack. But please, no fanny packs!

8. Bring your patience

This one should go without saying. Not everyone is in it for the pure experience of it and some of those people take it seriously! A little too serious if you ask me. Just don't get too involved in the drama.

9. Do your research

Scope out your circular ads about the stores around you and what times they'll be open. Plan your route so you can maximize your shopping time. Some of the major department stores (Kohls is one I know for sure) offer an online personalized shopping list where you can click and drag your items to a shopping list that you can print off and bring with you. Most of them also have store maps. Handy dandy convenience!

10. Pre plan your Friday.

When you're done with your midnight shopping and are coming home Friday morning, the first thing you want to do is crash. You will kick yourself if you have activities planned or kids to deal with Friday. While the rest of the world has been sleeping, you've been shopping like mad. Plan to do nothing (if you have that luxury) or something very low key that day. Don't plan to put up Christmas decorations...you'll be too tired. Pawn the kids off on grandma and grandpa...you'll
thank yourself. Pre planning will ensure that you'll want to do it again next year!!

...and one extra tip...

11. Stockpile

Pick up super cheap items to use as gifts throughout the year or to giveaway to charities. Our school adopted families through the North Fulton Community Charities organization. I was able to pick up a crockpot for our family for $3! This is a great time to help out others!

What are your Black Friday tips?? I'd love to hear what works (or doesn't work!) for you!

For more Top Ten Tuesdays, go visit Oh Amanda!

Ugh, blah, arghh...

...that's what I feel like when it comes to this here ole blog.



Today's date is November 16 (well, it was when I wrote this).  The date of the post just below this one is November 1.

That's what "ughs" me!! 



Even writing this "I-don't-have-anything-to-blog-about-post" is blah!

I'm pathetic..I know.

This is where a boyfriend, a husband, some kids, or a stellar hobby would come in handy with some material.



So I will draw this captivating post to a close.  I really just wanted to update my blog...for better or worse!



(and I think this definitely borders on WORSE)

Top Ten Christmas Cards

One of the things I hate about being single and not having kids is I don't get to send out photo Christmas cards...

...until a couple of years ago.

Just because I don't have a husband and 2.5 kids doesn't mean my friends and family don't want to know what's going on in my life. [Well, that's what I told myself anyways]

So I used myself and my precious nieces and nephews! Whether people liked it or not, I had so much fun putting it together and I love looking back over the years and seeing how much the kids have changed and grown.

And I've enjoyed getting them every year from Shutterfly. They are so easy to use and I've always been happy with the outcome.

2008

2009

 2010

?

Imagine my delight when Shutterfly offered 50 free cards to bloggers to blog about their Christmas cards.  I was going to use them anyways, so getting 50 of them free...just for bragging about them?! I jumped at the chance!

Not only can you get your Christmas cards from Shutterfly, but you can also go some of your Christmas shopping!  

How about using your favorite pictures to make a wall calendar, gift tags, or invitations to your Christmas party?

Here are the TOP TEN CHRISTMAS CARDS I'm considering for this year:

 Christmas Letter

 

 Many Memories Tree

 Just Merry

 Love 2010

 Mod Snowflake Flurries

 Sweet & Merry Christmas

 Top Ten Moments

 Funky Christmas Wishes

 Vintage Merry

 With Glee

 Aren't those super cute?  So now RUN, don't walk to your nearest computer and get your Christmas cards from Shutterfly right now!

And while you're at it, help me decide which one I should get!!

For more Top Ten Tuesday, go visit Oh Amanda.

Saturday Stumbles

 

Need a last minute Halloween or Fall treat? Check out these yummy autumn goodies:

Pumpkin Empanadas

Homemade hand dipped caramel apples

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

Apple Butter

Pumpkin Butter

...and because this is just super cute

 this unique competitive piggy bank.

For more Saturday Stumbles, head on over to It's Come to This.

eCookbook GIVEAWAY!

I love to cook.  And cooking at the holidays is more fun than ever.  But sometimes, it can become a real pain...especially at the holidays!

Well, have I got the answer to all your troubles!

FREEZER COOKING!

I've written before about my love for freezer cooking. Not having to worry about what's for dinner is a great feeling.  But imagine what it would feel like to know that your WHOLE Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner is already done!

My friend Tricia, the one and only Once a Month Mom, has created her first eCookbook for cooking your Thanksgiving or Christmas meals.  Here are the recipes found in the eCookbook:

• Veggie Pizza
• Pumpkin Cheeseball
• Scalloped Corn
• Freezer Mashed Potatoes
• Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes**
• Slow Cooker Stuffing**
• Make Ahead Butterhorn Rolls
• Turkey Baste**
• Cranberry Mustard Ham Glaze**
• Pumpkin Pie
• Caramel Apple Pie Trifle

**Indicates newly created recipes

Ok, so if those aren't delicious enough, Tricia also takes care of all the details!  And when I say "details", she thinks of it all.  Look at all of the other features in the eCookbook:

• A choice of preparing an 8 serving or 16 serving dinner.
• Step-By-Step instructions for cooking your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners ahead and freezing the items.
• Grocery lists for the 8 serving or 16 serving dinner.
• Customized labels for each of your prepared items.
• Recipe cards containing photographs and some step-by-step photos as well.

You can win a copy of the eCookbook!  Just leave me a comment telling me your favorite holiday food.  Contest ends on Friday night.

For extra entries, tweet this giveaway or facebook it but just link back to this post.  Leave me a separate entry for each saying you did so.

 

If you don't win, you can buy your own eCookbook for $9.99. BUT, through November 1st it is 40% off ($5.99) when you use the code OAMM40.

Disclosure:  eBook link is an Affiliate Link

Top Ten Tuesday - What I'll Be Doing October 23!

Here are the top ten things I'll be doing on Saturday, October 23.  Read to the end because I'm inviting YOU to be there with ME!
1.  Sleeping in.  Nuff said.
2. Preparing breakfast for my houseguests: Christine and Jill. Any suggestions girls? Or do we want to go get brunch somewhere?
3. Putting last minute touches on some cupcakes for #10.
4. Wishing I could also be at Bakerella's book signing.
5. Probably exchanging lots of texts and phone calls from Mandi and Becky in preparation for #10.
6. No texts or calls from Amanda because her phone is dead!  Boo!
7. Figuring out what I want to wear to #10.  This is going to be quite a feat in and of itself.
8. Getting all dolled up...
9. ...putting the final touches on myself for...

what I'm SO excited to be doing on Saturday, October 23... 

10. Attending the OAMM Tweet Up!  What?  You don't know what it is?  Well, it combines 2 of my favorite things: FRIENDS and FOOD!  And if you're anywhere near the Atlanta area on that Saturday, then YOU need to make plans to attend too!  It's absolutely free...you just need to get a ticket.  Read more about it here and here and here and here and here and here and here from some of the cool people that will be there!
So will you join me at the Tweet Up?!  I'd love to meet you!
For more Top Ten Tuesdays, go visit Oh Amanda.

Top Ten Tuesday - Shower Hostess Gifts

A friend of mine messaged me the other day asking for some advice on what to get for some girls that are throwing her a shower.  She needed something cheap because she has 8 to get.  As I was thinking of some ideas, I realized my message back to her was turning into a blog post!
So now, I wanted to share those ideas with you!
 *PINS: I LOVE the Posie Pins from The Pleated Poppy.

 

*MIRRORS: These little mirrors would be cute paired with a lip gloss.

 

*COFFEE CUP KOOZIE: (not as trashy as it sounds!!) These are cute and would be fun paired with a $5 Starbucks gift card. There's lots of different patterns, too.

*ORNAMENT: Depending on when your showers are, a Christmas ornament (not a Santa head or anything!) would be nice because then when they hang it up every year, they'll think of you :)

*FRAME: I know frames can be overrated sometimes, but a cute frame with a handwritten note from you would be so sweet.

*When I did my sister's baby shower, she got me and the other girls a magazine subscription. There are some websites that have cheap magazine subscriptions. She gave us a list beforehand to let us pick which one we wanted. Every month when that magazine came, it reminded me of who gave it to me.

*Anything from Crate & Barrell!! I love how they have a lot of plain, white stuff because it's so easy to dress it up...plus it's cheap!
       -containers: These would be cute with a little ribbon around it and maybe some matching colored candy inside.

      -or these little bowls. they come in different colors.

*VERA BRADLEY - They're sale stuff is pretty cheap. Here's some cute things under $10. (None of the pictures would copy...sorry!)
    -Zip ID Case  -Clip Zip ID  -Charmed Pouch   -Coin Purse

*CHARMING CHARLIE - Please tell me you have a Charming Charlie!  It's an accessory store on overload.  I have to admit that it's overstimulating the first time you walk in, but after that...it's just plain addicting!  The bonus is that most of their stuff is very reasonably priced.


*And...well...I could only think of 9.  What would YOU suggest??



For more Top Ten Tuesdays, go visit Oh Amanda.

Once A Month Mom Tweet Up

Back in February, I got to attend the Blissdom blogging conference.  Not only did I learn TONS about blogging (although you can't really tell by the content of my blog!) but my favorite part was meeting all these cool people!





One of them was Tricia from Once a Month Mom.   She is the expert (in my humble opinion) on freezer cooking.  If you haven't checked out her October menu, there's some good stuff there!  And there's no better feeling at the end of a long day than knowing you've got dinner already made!



You can read about my freezer cooking experiences.



Ok, so back to the point of this post.  Tricia is coming to Atlanta this month for a Once a Month Mom Tweet Up!




So if you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area (or anywhere within driving distance) please consider joining us on October 23, from 6-9 pm. (No worries to those of you who can't get to the actual location, more information about how to participate online will come out later). Also in attendance will be a majority of the lovely and talented #sisterchicks. Most of these girls I also met at Blissdom as well while some are lifelong friends.  Perhaps you know and want to meet one of them as well. Here is the list of confirmed #sisterchicks traveling in for the party!

• Mandi of It's Come 2 This (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Amanda of Oh Amanda and Impress Your Kids (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Becky of The Violet Fig (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Jessica of Vanderbilt Wife (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
• Christine Satterfield of I Dream of Clean (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Jill of The Diaper Diaries (Grand Rapids, Michigan) - YES! She is flying in for this! Woot!
• (and prayerfully) Jen of 4tunate (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Tickets go on "sale" (it is a FREE event but space is limited) on Thursday, October 6th at 7 pm EST - don't miss out, they may go fast! Her last event sold out in 1 hour!

Here are a few of the great sponsors of this years event:

The Bread Beckers is more than a Kitchen Store. It is everything you need to make fresh bread at home grinding your own fresh wheat flour and more! They sell grain mills, mixers, grains, beans, baking supplies and ingredients, bake ware, bulk food co-ops/buying clubs, and cooking classes. What is more perfect for an OAMM function than a store that sells in BULK!!! They also have a BEAUTIFUL kitchen/classroom that we will be using for the event. You are going to be so excited when you see this venue! They are located in Woodstock, Georgia.




CUTCO
Cutlery is the largest manufacturer and marketer of high-quality kitchen cutlery and accessories in the United States and Canada. Vector Marketing is the exclusive marketer of CUTCO products, which are sold throughout the U.S. and Canada by authorized sales representatives. Both CUTCO Cutlery and Vector Marketing are subsidiaries of CUTCO Corporation.