Office Ideas

One of my friends is trying to create an office/craft room in her home. I got to looking online today and found some really cute ideas on Pepper Design Blog.

Which one is your favorite?

I think this last one is my favorite.

Looking Ahead

After discovering this Christmas that my little girl is a girly girl and loves make up and getting beautified, I keep looking at teen rooms and some ideas for her room when we get a house.

I saw this today and thought...that would be perfect.

I love this idea in a small home for a computer area too. If I was in this small condo any longer I might have used this in my dining room to hide my computer area.

Christmas Ornaments

I am working on making some Christmas Ornaments for some very
special Grandparents in our lives.

Can you say procrastination?!?
I am only to this point....

Now to embellish the $1 frames, spray paint them,
add a ribbon and polish them off.

I think I might make myself some fun projects with these silhouettes.

Menu Planning Monday

Wow, this is the week of Parties. I only have to cook three times this week because we will be gone all of the other days at holiday parties. This is going to be a great week.

Monday - Dinner at the Jazz game for Eric's Work Christmas Party

Tuesday - Dinner for BYU Coaches with Elder Holland (Lucky Me)

Wednesday - Dinner for my BYU Department Party

Thursday - Chicken Enchiladas

Friday - Dinner at our Friends Party

Saturday - Homemade Pizza

Sunday - Crockpot Chicken and Rice

Keeping Christ in Christmas...

I love Christmas.

Not for the presents or superficial reasons, but I love the spirit of the season.

I love how people are generally more kind, loving, giving, etc.

Sometimes I find it hard to de-emphasize the presents and worldly aspect of Christmas and teach my children the real meaning. They know why we celebrate Christmas, but I think for a little child it is easy to forget with all the other things going on around them.

I also like advent calendars and have been searching for a meaningful one to make for my family. I found this one that sahm3.

I love it!

I am going to make one when I get the chance. Hopefully soon.

While my to-do list grows, I hope you are all enjoying your holiday season.

All the Stockings Were Hung....

I really wish that I had a fireplace this time of year. Not just for the warmth, but for the Christmas decorating possibilities.

I wanted to create a wall of stockings this year. I really wish that I had a vinyl cutter, but I don't, so this was all done by hand and paint.

The kids helped me make it on Saturday night and then we hung a shelf and hung the stockings.

I love my little Christmas shelf. It even got the approval of my husband.

2010 Thanksgiving,Christmas, New Years Card

I have to start my post with an apology.

When I made my Christmas Cards, I ordered 20. Come to find out, I probably should have ordered 30-40. I did not have enough to send to all of the people that I wanted.

Trying to keep on budget I am not going to order anymore, so hopefully those of you who didn't receive one will accept my apology and enjoy what you can of it here on the blog.

This is what it looks like:

(Front)

(inside)

Now, since you probably can't read that small print inside the card, here is the text that was included:

Top 10 Things we are thankful for after 2010:

10.) Being an American. It may not be a perfect country with perfect leaders, but we sure are grateful for the freedom that we have to worship the way that we choose.

9.) Jobs. Not only are Eric and I both blessed to have jobs in this economy, but we both have jobs that we enjoy. Eric put it best when he said…’It is nice to have a job where it doesn’t matter if it is Monday or Friday.’

8.) Amazing Teachers. As our children get older, we are so thankful for all for all of the amazing teachers that our children know and learn from. Especially those who teach our children at church, they are heroes in our home.

7.) Good Health. Knock on Wood. After a scare with Marcus this year and a long visit to Primary Children’s Hospital, we are grateful for healthy bodies and amazing doctors.

6.) The Little Things. The success of a child’s prayer, comforting a child by making their ‘blanky flat’ at bed time, the blowing of kisses from Emma on her first day of school. Each of us have little things to appreciate this year.

5.) Family History. We have learned about so many of our ancestors stories this year and the examples that they have set. Eric and I are excited to take our first family names to the temple.

4.) The hard times. Because they've made us stronger and wiser, and the good times even better.

3.) Memories. From a trip to Sea World with the kids to the first alone trip for Tamber and Eric. There are so many wonderful memories that our family will cherish from 2010.

2.) Being able to laugh. Eric and I find ourselves laughing over the little things that our children do, whether it be Marcus trying out new phrases, scaling the fridge or Emma learning to pronounce new words or talking about her first ‘crush’. Our family loves to laugh and make each other laugh.

1.) All of You! This year would not have been so cherished without your influence in our family member’s lives. We have so many amazing family and friends that we could not have lived without in 2010. Thank You for everything you have done for us.