Tuesday, November 30, 2010

It's Almost Here....



~The Christmas Giveaway Event~
starts tomorrow December 1st.

Make sure you grab this button for some extra entries for some awesome giveaways. Whoooo Hooo !! I can't wait!!



Blog Hopping 11.302010

Join me in some blog hopping tonite. Be sure to come back and check my Holiday Giveaway Event December 1-5!!


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Finding My Life In Faith



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Sunday, November 28, 2010

A Wreath Redo

I found Faith Works: Pier 1 redo and thought this would be a cool teacher gift!! This is a picture of the wreath from Pier 1 for $75!! Wow!! Stephanie over at Faith Works thought she could do a better redo for cheaper, so I thought I would join her and try it too!!



John and the kids starting the project together.
We got all our supplies from the Dollar Tree. Supplies needed: Small straw wreath (they had no bigger ones in stock), 2 9 ft garland (we used one whole garland for the small wreath), a variety of sized red bulbs (we used 2 small and 2 medium with some left over), glue gun and glue sticks and some pretty ribbon. Total from dollar tree about: $10 for about 2 wreaths.

You start with wrapping the garland around your straw wreath and gluing to secure in place every so often. Once, you finish the garland then glue your bulbs, placing different sizes all around the wreath until finished. Then place a pretty bow in place. I love it!


I think it turned out beautiful! I tried to steal this one, but my daughter is taking this one for her teacher.

Wow!! $10 vs $75, I think we did a better job and it cost us less. Thanks Stephanie for the idea.



How To Make An Advent Wreath

Today at church we learned about the meaning of the Advent Wreath. I thought it would be cool to make our own Advent Wreath at home. I found a site that not only tells you how to make the wreath but the meaning behind the Advent Wreath. There is also prayers and verses for each week of the candle lighting. Here is the link on How to make and use an Advent Wreath.


My husband made this himself with some branches from our tree in the backyard and some berries from another tree. I found some candles at the dollar store and had the big one hanging around the house. I think it turned out pretty good. I can't wait to light our first candle tonite. I hope you too can make your own Advent Wreath and celebrate the birth of our Savior!! Jesus is the Reason for the Season!!



Join me in some blog hopping today. Be sure to come back and check my Holiday Giveaway Event December 1-5!!


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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Santa Claus Parade 11.26.2010

Friday night my friend and I and 4 kiddos went to the Santa Claus Parade in our little downtown. It was cold about 32 degrees. This parade has a few floats and the annual tree lighting in the center of town. It was fun for the kids to see and they received some treats from the floats.

Shane freezing at the parade. He doesn't like to listen to his mom when I tell him to dress warm.


Brady getting a good view of the parade on momma's shoulders. She was so cute, waving to everyone as they walked by.
My clearest picture. The kids really liked this float and Brady said " angels."



The girls waiting for the Christmas tree lighting.



The Christmas Tree is lit.



Brady waiting for the start of the parade.


We had a good time and it was very cold. Hope you all are having an awesome holiday weekend.
God Bless.



Friday, November 26, 2010

My First Black Friday Adventure

After having a yummy Thanksgiving feast at my friend Lianne's house, we sent all the kids and hubby's to the family room. Then Lianne and I got to work planning "The Attack" on Black Friday. We looked at in-store maps, ads and compared prices of all our items. We made our schedule. We left at 11:00pm to hit Wal-Mart for their 12:01 am sale.

Lianne scoping the ads.

We arrive at Wal-Mart, and to my horror, the parking lot is full. I mean full! There is not a spot left. We parked over in the neighboring Meijer's parking lot. I was scared! Where did all these people come from? We enter the doors. Are you kidding me, there are people everywhere. So many people and no room to move anywhere, much less maneuver a cart through it.

Lianne gives me the job of pushing the cart and parades me through the chaos of Wal-Mart. We stop at the jeans area that are on sale. She parks me across the way and starts hurling jeans at me from across the aisle!! Then she starts guiding me with the cart and says "Hurry!!". There is like people everywhere blocking me as I try to get through with a cart.




Lianne looking for the jeans. See the feisty red head bent over through the yellow police tape!!??

We then proceed to the other side of the store to find some other items on our list. She parks me again and leaves me to fend for myself. I felt like a child being left behind by a parent on the first day of school. People everywhere, bumping into you and rushing to the next deal.
She comes back with only one of two items on our list. Lianne then leads me to the Shop vac area where I am instructed to wait in front of the palette of shopvacs until 12:01. She leaves again to collect other sale items. Bobbing and weaving in and out of the crowd, she loved the chaos!! I stand with other people waiting to get their shop vac. They are shrink wrapped on a palette and not to be unleashed until 12:01. Well, that didn't go over well! People had taken some already! But we were instructed to wait. I waited and I got my shop vac for $15, whoo hoo!

Waiting with the shop vac peeps until 12:01.

It took us 1 1/2 hours to get through to the checkouts. That was just sheer ridiculousness!! I came away with : 1 Oster griddle $9.97, 1 shop vac $15, 2 character pjs size 6/7 $4each, Toy Story DVD $10, and Diet Coke $1,48 (We got thirsty in line), and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy $1.96 x 3

Next was Target sales. We got in line at 2 am and the store opened at 4am. It was very cold standing out there for 2 long hours!! Once we got in the store, it was even more chaos!! People and carts everywhere! I was looking for my Sunbeam Stand Mixer for $24.99. I had asked ahead of time where they were in the store, so I went right away as soon as the doors opened. Then I saw 2 sale associates and asked them, they pointed to the right direction. I saw it! I scooped it up and put it in the cart! I got it! I won!! Then on to the $1.49 bath towels. I didn't get the $1.33 bath towels at Wal-Mart, so I was glad to get to them first at Target. I scored 11 bath towels!!

I finally find Lianne, after she came back empty handed. We finally make it to checkouts, and he rings up my mixer and I can't wait to see the $24.99 price ring up. But, all I see is $69.99!! What? I grabbed the wrong mixer. In all the chaos and confusion, I grabbed the wrong mixer!!! Grr. So, I leave Target, after standing in line for 2 hours out in the stinking cold, and in the checkouts for forever with 11 towels. Great!

I went home finally at 5 am to my bed frustrated and tired. I think next time I will just stay home and order my items online, Hmmmm. Sounds good to me.

I hope everyone had a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone did better than I on Black Friday :)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving 11.25.2010

Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!!


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

CSN Review

CSN has everything from contemporary coffee tables to fitness equipment to awesome cookware!! They have some of the nicest coffee tables I have seen. I have my eye on a few different styles of coffee tables.


This seriously is the site for your one stop shopping. You can get gifts for everyone on your list and maybe a little something extra for yourself!! I am really looking forward to getting a new waffle maker. Mine is on its last leg and this one looks like it will make a great addition to my kitchen.

There are toys galore at CSN, just in time for Christmas! They have alot of neat and unique toys for the hard to buy for kiddo.
Head on over to CSN and check it out and I am sure you will find something you'll love!!

Blog Hopping 11.23.2010

Join me in some blog hopping tonite. Be sure to come back and check my Holiday Giveaway Event December 1-5!!


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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Our Photo Shoot 11.20.2010

Today I ventured out with the kids to the Pine River Nature Center for an impromptu photo session in the woods. I needed a few pics for the Christmas card and Shane's 6 yr old picture. Here are a few of my favorites.