TWOC: O Christmas Tree

Well, I said I wasn't going to decorate this year. But it was just too depressing so I broke down and put up a tree. It's pretty simple, using a tree we had stored at my grannys from our wedding and the ornaments that we used as part of the centerpieces last year. So here it is, lit and unlit

I have seen a lot of trees though that are sparking some inspiration for next year! My family has always been a multiple-tree family so next year I plan to have a few. I have never really gotten into the colored trees (white, pink, blue, etc) but I have been seeing more and more that I really like, so I may have to have at least one next year... even if it's just a miniature table top one. So here's some inspiration I found...

How fun is this tree?!

I love when a tree has one main color. These are all gorgeous, LOVE that pink one though.

I love that the lights have a purple-ish glow to them.

Anything with feathers steals my heart. I love this and the simplicity of just a few gold ornaments in a little gold pot.

Here's some fun alternatives to your traditional tree. Click to make larger.

Just for a giggle (=

all images via google image search.

My previous TWOC posts:

Shopping

Food

Memories

List

Dessert, Jules Style.

I'm not very handy in the kitchen. Rarely will you find a gourmet meal on my table or a fancy shmancy recipe in my collection. But I do get in there and put some stuff together. And usually it isn't half bad!

I love simple. I love deliciousness. I love simple. Did I say that already? Hmm... I love simple!

These are my favorite holiday snacks. We make them for pretty much every event and they're always a hit. And what's even better? They're soooo easy. And you probably already have the ingredients in your cabinet, which is definitely a plus!

All you need is a box of these

 

Spread some of this in between two wafers. (Like a sandwich)

 

Then dip it in some of this. (melted of course)

 

Easy enough? I thought so! 

We also mix it up sometimes. This just happens to be MY favorite combination. Sometimes we use RITZ crackers instead of wafers (but be careful because they have a tendency to be crumbly). You can use crunchy PB if you prefer like my grandpa (but it doesn't spread as easily so ya know...) And you can use white or milk or dark chocolate, just whatever you prefer.... or whatever you already have in your cabinet.

The Day Has Come

He's a Gator.

She's a Nole.

They won't be speaking by the end of the night.

We agreed that we would cheer for each others team except for ONE Saturday a year... and that Saturday is here. We can pretty much guess who will win BUT I will never stop hoping ;)

ps- this is my 100th post! Nutty...

Ode to Samples

I love samples. I'm not real savy when it comes to make-up and stuff of the sort. (in fact, I don't even wear makeup unless we're going out or something) I hate spending money on something that I'm not sure about or just based off someone elses reviews. And I really hate ordering colors online because well, lets face it, my computer monitor isn't the best indicator of the actual color. This is where samples come in. I ordered my sisters Christmas gift from Sephora and used a promo code I had to get a bag full of samples, PLUS you get to pick 3 free samples with every order. So I got stocked up!

First let me just say... I am OBSESSED with this Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. I don't have a picture of the sample because as soon as I got my shipment, I used it. I had been hearing such great things about it, I couldn't wait to try it out. I L-O-V-E it. Ya hear me? Love! I will be ordering a full size product, for sure.

This stuff I wasn't so sure about. And honestly, I'm still not. I love the smell, and it left my skin feeling really soft and everything that it's advertised to do. But that's the problem.... this stuff really does smell like a birthday cake! I'm fighting cravings to lick my fingers LOL So I'm not sure if I could handle the torture of wearing it that often.

Dylan's Candy Bar Re-Treat Smoothie Body Lotion Birthday Cake.

I wear Britney Spears perfume. Have ever since she started the line. I love the Fantasy collections & Circus. Greg has always loved them too... until he smelled THIS. And by popular demand, I see this making it's way into my basket too. Smells SO good. And it's not too strong, but it lasts all day!

Lolita Lempicka

This is the bag it all came in. Usually these bags gets donated or just trashed. But I really like this one. I can't decide if I want to keep it or if it would make the perfect gift for my cousin that just hit Middle School and is trying to be a little bit more grown.

Bag & all products can be found at Sephora.

What are some of your new finds, or long time favorites? Any suggestions for me?

Flyin' Above

I'm working on this one. With the new year comes a new town, a new job, a new home, new friends, a totally fresh start. My only new years resolution this year is going to be to let go of the hate, grudges, sadness and pain that we (mostly I) have been carrying around the last year or so. I refuse to let it carry over into our new life. So say a little prayer for me and send over any advice you have! I'm turning a new positive thinking, peaceful leaf! I'm gunna "fly above all the haters" because well ya know, "it's beneath me" haha (love me some RHOA)

Like birds, let's leave behind

what we don't need to carry:

Grudges.

Sadness.

Fear.

Pain.

Regrets.

Fly light, life is too beautiful!

 

 

 

Ps- I'm at 60 followers! Yayy. When I reach 100 there will be a giveaway, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

3 Years!

Nope, not 3 years blogging. Not 3 years married. My niece is 3! I haven't gotten the pictures back from her birthday last weekend yet, but I just couldn't resist posting some pictures of miss thang I had on my phone! I have only been her aunt for a little over a year, but I love this little princess SO much and my heart just melts when she runs and wraps her AJ and Uncle Greg in hugs!

This one was at her birthday. Greg was operating the Pinata and she insisted on helping!

I took this one in the car on our way to her doctors appt yesterday.

She may be little, but she always makes sure to stretch both them short little arms around us!

Umm a peek into the teen years?

Ha perfect size!

My Husband, the Super Star!

Greg's 15 minutes of fame just got an extra boost ;)

I posted a while back about a commercial they did that aired locally. Wednesday, the company Greg works for was in the paper for their help with a local food drive. Here's a clip from the article:

A.M.W.A.T Moving & Warehousing delivered 884 pounds of food for the Thanksgiving holiday to America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend on Tuesday. In addition to A.M.W.A.T and Gandy Printing's food contribution, A.M.W.A.T picked up food from ProBank and several law firms via the Legal Administrators Association of Tallahassee. (Glenn Beil/Democrat)

(that's my man doing all the work while everyone else stands around watching)

Click here for the online version of the article. Good things happening.

Wordless Wednesday

Head on over to Pink Coffee for the rest (=

and leave Lyndsay a comment letting her know how much she rocks!

I feel so silly. Y'all have probably gotten an idea before about some of the troubles with Greg's family. It seems most of our good memories are tainted by some drama or stress surrounding it. But the fair is one of our few pure memories. I knew I'd like our pictures, but I surprised myself when I started getting teary eyed. I love that I look at these pictures and only good memories are related- no drama, no hate, no anger, no jealousy, no competition. Just happiness and love. These pictures already mean so much more to me than I anticipated and I (we) can't wait to cover our little home with them! (so much for Wordless huh?)

Our Timing is Perfect

... not!

Last year, we got married the week before Christmas and spent Christmas week moving into our new home. We decided it would be more work than it was worth to try to decorate so we skipped the holiay decor. Fast forward to this year and I'm sooo excited to get to celebrate our "first Christmas" (technically 2nd, but I wasn't going to count last year) with decorations and desserts and cuddling and candles! Well, wouldn't ya know... Greg got a new job.

So instead of enjoying this...

We are going to be moving to this...

That's right! Greg got a job in Panama City and starts this Friday! I will be staying here until our lease is up though in December. So, while I'm very excited for Greg's new job and the amazing opportunity we have been given. And getting the heck away from my in-laws. I am at the same time really bummed that we will spend the holiday season apart. I will see him on Thanksgiving day and Christmas Eve/Day but that's it. We definitely won't be cuddling in our cute little decorated apartment testing recipes and burning yummy candles. I guess this is a textbook example of "bitter sweet". So, I guess I can wait until after Christmas, get all the decorations on sale and put the fear of God into Greg hope we don't move next year ;)

Pink Coffee at the Fair!

Well, I told you guys in a Wordless Wednesday that I was getting excited about our Fair photo session with Lyndsay. Well, today she tweeted a little teeny tiny sneak peak and so I thought I would share with you if you don't follow me on twitter.

The Battles Within

I love it when my daily devotions seem to speak directly to what is going on in my life at the time. I thought I would share this one.


"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" James 4:1 (NIV)

Our verse for today gets to the root of why my husband and I get in arguments: the desires that battle within me. Desires I wish weren't there. Desires that are ugly and selfish and petty. Desires that motivate me to seek my own way. Desires that battle within me, then spill over into my actions.

There is a battle raging within each of us. It is a battle between flesh and Spirit, between reaching out and focusing inward, between living for Christ and living for ourselves. How can we find victory in these battles without claiming more casualties? I have found there are several ways:

Praying: James 4:2 goes on to say, "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God." James is telling us how to avoid fights. Take our unmet needs, desires, expectations and complaints to God. We don't need to expect our husbands, children, neighbors, co-workers or friends to fulfill our every need.

Walking in truth: It's easy to believe the lies of the enemy or our flesh: If you were only married to someone else, you'd have a better life. If he would clean up after himself, you wouldn't have so much work to do. No one around here appreciates you. The lies escalate the battles. We spiral quickly into feelings of self-pity and anger. Instead we can learn to recognize those lies and refocus on Truth—God's Truth. We can go to His Word and read what He has to say about the people we love and the position we are in. Psalm 26:2-3 says, "Test me, O Lord, and try m e, examine my heart and my mind, for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."

Taking each thought captive: 2 Corinthians 10:5b tells us that we are to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." There are two action verbs in this statement: take and make. These are strong words that indicate effort. It's not something we can sit back and hope will happen. It's something we have to be intentional and insistent about. When our thoughts start wandering down those dangerous "if only" paths, we can instead find a fork in the road and change direction, remembering who Christ is and how He lived His life on earth—as a loving, humble servant.

Being silent: I have often regretted my speech. In the heat of battles, I've found it is almost always better to walk away and pray. If I feel I have been wronged then I need to ask my Father to defend me. If I feel that battle still waging inside me th en I know it's time to ask Him to quiet my heart. Being silent is hard work! But I know that my silence is not as likely as my angry words to hurt the people I care about. Proverbs 17:28 says, "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

When the battles rage within us, we can change the results and stop the arguments that ensue. It's up to us to pause and choose a different reaction. I hope these things will help us today as we rise to the challenge!
Dear Lord, please help me to remember to pray, to walk in truth, to take each thought captive and to be silent. Help me honor You when the battles rage inside me. I don't want to fight with the people I love and I need You to help me with that. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Saturday Is The Day!

I saw this post on Natalie's blog yesterday and loved it so much I wanted to share!

Shameless Jam

Seriously, I welcome the weekend, but man I wish it was a summer weekend with songs like this! Loving it either way though.

Is Red the New Blonde?

Now, I love my blonde hair. But I'm totally digging the red I keep seeing everywhere. I have alot of redheads in my family - including my mom and sister - so my hair has red tendencies sometimes. I have always fought it though. But last night on the CMA's 2 of my favorite blondes were rocking some red locks.

Kellie Pickler went all the way:

Miranda Lambert added some chunks:

I'm thinking at my next appointment in December, I'm going to go the Miranda Lambert route (to avoid the panic attack when I look in the mirror) and then see how I like it.

Thoughts?

sidenote... doesn't ML kinda look like an Olsen twin in that picture? Weird...

It is the soldier

It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag. - Rev Denis O’Brien, USMC

Thank a veteran today.