HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Friends,                                                                 

Thank you for a great first blogging year!

Have fun this holiday and be safe.

See you next year!

Hugs,

 Jess



Happy Belated Holiday!

I hope everyone had a festive holiday. We have been extremely busy. I haven't forgotten you all, I've just needed to focus my time in other places (momentarily). My vacation starts Friday and I can't wait! My only plan is staying in as much as possible, so you'll see a lot more of me this coming year.

Have a great night!



Candy Village

Every year for the last 5 years, I have made a candy castle. This year the girls were able to make their own. Instead of making a castle, we made a candy village.

I always wanted to make a gingerbread house, but didn't have the time or stamina. My aunt had given me instructions for a candy castle. The directions called for Styrofoam and a bunch of specific candies. The entire thing was expensive (but fabulous). After the first year I got creative and started using house hold items. Things like boxes, toilet paper rolls, ice cream cones and cardboard. I also buy cheap icing in the can, but I usually have to make more (it takes a lot).



One last thing. Use coconut for snow, it hides a lot mistakes.

Have fun!

Donuts

Good morning or good afternoon everyone.

I've been absent quite a bit lately. I think this is the longest I've gone without blogging. Christmas is right around the corner, so I've been working a lot of over-time. When home I'm usually trying to catch-up on everything (which I never do), so I haven't had much time for blogging. Soon I have vacation time in January, so I've got lots of projects planned for then.

Today is Maddie's 5th birthday! We've been busy preparing. Unfortunately we are in the midst of a snow storm, so our guest list maybe short.

Any who...

This morning I got up and made homemade donuts for Maddie's birthday.

Here they are.

Have a restful Sunday and stay warm.

See you soon!

Fresh Snowflakes!

It's official. Winter is here!

Today was the first snow of the season.

The girls couldn't wait to get outside.

I couldn't wait to get back inside with

Sir Edwin.

 Purfect!

The best way to spend a winter day.

Video Message From Santa

Portable North Pole

Someone introduced me to this website today. I love it! If you have a child or big kid (adult) in your life, you can send them a personalized video message from Santa (and it's free). I sent one to Maddie tonight and she thought she was actually communicating with Santa. She was so excited!

Give it a try!

Have a good night.

Mother Blog Giveaway

My mother over at

 Lilly Beffers and Maddie Lumpkin

is having a Christmas giveaway!

Leave a comment and follow.

Have a good evening. 

Giving Thanks

I hope everyone has had a good safe Thanksgiving weekend. Sometimes with the hustle and bustle of life we forget to be thankful for what we have. Over the years as a ER nurse I've seen some pretty horrible things. I thank the Lord daily for my blessings, because life can truly change in an instant. Please be thankful for what you have and count your blessings daily.

Now on another note...

Here is a easy project for you or the kids. My mother made this mitten garland years ago for me. I love it! This is probably one of my very favorite Christmas decorations, even though they are showing some wear.

Mom cut felt mittens out, decorated and attached them to ribbon.

Showing some wear.

Have a restful night.

Win $100 Cash!

Yes, that's right!

Win up to $100!

The boys over at the Barn House are having a great giveaway!

You could win $100 just for posting a comment! They are launching their online store.

Time is running out, you only have until midnight on Nov. 22.

The best part of the whole thing is that you can comment as much as you like. Hurry soon!

One last thing...

Please enter Barn House here!

They are offering a second Grand prize to whoever brings in the most guests.

Say hello to Joe and Jerome!



Things to come...

Coming Soon.

Remember this purse thing from the Labor Day sales?

Sneak peak...



To be continued...

Sidewalk Grey

Before

Here are the results of Walmart's "Sidewalk Grey".

After





Sorry, the pics aren't the best. The kids kept running in front of the camera.

Overall, I'm pretty darn happy with the end result. I guess I'll have to give Walmart this one.

Stay tuned for some more "Sidewalk Grey" in the future.

Paint Addiction Continued...

I think I've told you before that my mother and I are addicted to paint. We probably need to go to painter's anonymous, my mother more so than me. Yesterday, I called to check on the girls while I was at work. Mother informed me that she was on her way to buy paint. She decided she needed a project and no longer could look at my living room furniture. The furniture she just painted turquoise several months prior. Now she has decided that taupe is the way to go. At this point I don't care, just let her do as she wishes.

Well...

She went to Walmart (the store I hate) to buy the paint. Every shade of taupe contained "c7" (I think that's what she called it) in the mix, and Walmart was out of it. How can a store that's supposed to carry everything not have "c7"? Swatch after swatch contained the "c7", and I know my mother wouldn't walk out empty handed. 

Well...

She bought a mis-tint off the clearance shelf. "Side Walk Grey", sounds very chic doesn't it?

Stay tuned tomorrow for the first reveal. I'm finishing-up now.

Before

Have a restful night.

Christmas Already!

When I turned the TV on yesterday I couldn't believe my eyes. Christmas shows were already on! Even 3-day shopping specials at the major department stores. I thought to myself, they must be advertising for the day after Thanksgiving sales. No, it was for this weekend. HSN and QVC were also in the Christmas spirit.

My girls have watched Madeline's x-mas three times now, and have asked to put the Christmas tree up. Am I the only one who thinks this is complete craziness? We just went tricking treating last weekend!

Any who...

I had planned to do several postings this weekend, but obviously that hasn't happened. The girls and I have had a long sickly weekend. We all have had the flu. Mine was mild compared to girls. I have been up and down all night, between drinks of water to Motrin and Tylenol to musical beds. This is one of those times being a single parent can be absolutely exhausting. There's no back-up, it's just you. The only humor about the whole thing is that the girls are scheduled Wednesday for their flu vaccines (and wont those vaccines be so helpful now).

Anyway...

I wanted you to know I haven't forgotten you. I'm sure my cousin Amy is reading this and saying "that's all you've got". My answer is "yes". She always jokes with me about how often I should post. She insists daily. I hope to have that kind time someday.

Have a good night.

And get your flu vaccines asap! 

I Can't Believe it!

I've mentioned about a million times that we grew popcorn this year.

Well...

We picked and dried it.

Next, we pulled it off the cob.

Finally...

We popped it!!!!!!

I can't believe it. It actually popped!