My jumping bean can't sit still for two minutes to watch anything on TV usually, but she adores Rapunzel. So this is how I found her this afternoon... Absolutely precious!

Vanilla is Ready!

The vanilla is ready!! I waited patiently and now it's time to give my gifts away! I was super excited to bottle it up and will share it with my Bible Study gals this week. I don't know if any of you have done this, but it was pretty cool! I deviated a bit from the bottling instructions. After spending all the $$ on the vanilla beans, I just couldn't throw them in the trash without scraping the seeds from inside and adding back to the extract. I cook with vanilla paste and love seeing the seeds in my baked goods. So I added it to my formula. I was happy with how it turned out and have even used it in a recipe or two.

If your a friend of mine on FB, check out the sweet comment made by my sister in law regarding her vanilla that arrived in the mail earlier this week!!

More photos...

These are some of my other favorites from our "Christmas Card Photo Shoot"...

This one looks like he is kissing her, but he's not... sweet anyway!

Her "rockin" shoes!!
My little mommy!! She loves this baby so much!!

This is a true representation of Finn's personality... he gets really excited about things sometimes and makes this super silly face!
And he always has a question!!

She's such a cheeser too!!

My handsome dude!!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is fast approaching. I am happy to say that I have successfully sent out the Christmas cards, shopped and wrapped all of the gifts before the 10th of the month!! I even mailed all of the gifts for our out of town family before the last day! I am right on schedule... at least for the moment. Now, I just need to host a luncheon for my Bible Study gals, visit Finnegan's school program and pack for our trip to Grandma's house!

Anywho- I wanted to share a couple of photos with you! The first is our make shift card for this year. I had sticker shock this year with Christmas cards and decided to not order so many this year, but rather print a nice picture and "picnik" it to say "Merry Christmas"! (If you haven't ever used picnik.com, you really should.) But these are a few photos from our photo session with a new friend in town. He hasn't taken a ton of photos like this, but it was worth a shot, and I think they came out beautifully... but hey, they are my kids, so of course I'm gonna think that!! :)

Hope you enjoy them!! I'll post a few more tomorrow for you to view!!

Christmas is Upon Us!

Christmas is getting so close. I can hardly believe that the month seems like it's flying by! It is already the 7th and this weekend is FULL of parties and activities, and next week we make the trek up to Michigan for our Christmas celebration. I am quickly starting and finishing projects that I thought I had weeks to finish. But, really, no time at all.

So, as we get close to christmas, let me just say that it is the 7th, and I am DONE Christmas shopping. And almost done wrapping. My kids gifts were bought before the month had even started. For the past couple of years, my husband has been on me to "tone it down" with the gifts. Each year I have the best of intentions, and instead of sticking to a gift limit, I keep to a budget, which with lower prices each year, I find a way to get them TONS of stuff within our budget. So, this year, we decided to stick to a gift limit for our kids. We decided initially that we would give 3 gifts from Santa, and 1 from us. Then it was lowered to 2 gifts from Santa and one from us, and now it has turned into 3 gifts from us (plus a stocking with candies and a couple small trinket toys). Nothing "officially" from Santa except a stocking of small things.

Our kids have so much and get SO much from other people (you'd think our family was gigantic with the amount of things they come home with), and it really isn't neccessary for them to have stuff just to have stuff. And to be perfectly honest, I really wasn't impressed with the toy offering and sales out there this year. There wasn't a list of toys our kids wanted and I just didn't feel like I needed to spend tons of money to get them everything I thought they might like. I am so excited for Christmas this year... for our kids to open the 2 gifts we are taking with us (1 large gift will be left home due to space in the car) and give them time to open them and play with them. It will be so nice.

I recently have seen several people post on FB the 4 gift guideline... 1 gift they want, 1 gift they need, 1 gift they wear and 1 gift they read. I think that is a great rule of thumb. And I think ours follow that guideline... sort of like "name that tune"... I can follow that guideline in 3 gifts! :) HAHA!

Have you noticed a significant difference in the way you give gifts in the last year or two?

I heart Pinterest

I love Pinterest. If you are crafty, a foodie, love decorating, parties, gift giving, photography, or simply love to see other peoples ideas, than Pinterest is for you! In the past months, I have tried more new recipes, with many successes, and new crafting ideas, gift ideas and found some great encouragement. Today, I even made a new wreath for Christmas out of plastic ornaments... Really something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and just haven't.

So if your crafty, or want to be, check it out. I'm sure you'll find something that will inspire you!

Marinade...

Let the marinating begin!

I received my vanilla beans, bought 1 gallon of vodka and a clear glass jar at my local Walmart (where I was panhandled INSIDE the store -- but that's a different story for anothere time) and went to work! And now my lovely concoction is marinating in a dark kitchen cabinet until it is turned into baking goodness! Yum!