Happy New Year 2009!!

Wow, where has the time gone?? I can't believe we are at the end of one year and beginning a new year! Incredible. I look at my kids and wonder why they grow up so fast.

This coming year I pray will be a good one for us all. I pray that our government will do what is right by the people and not by the corporations. I pray for peace and goodwill toward our neighbors...........whether it is next door or across the ocean. I pray for hope and faith................and most of all love.

I usually am not a resolution or goal type person. But this year I thought I'd try something different. I thought I would do both and see what transpires. LOL

I have a couple of things I'd like to accomplish:

• learn more cooking techniques and dishes
  
• learn to play golf
  
• work on adhancing my bookkeeping skills, maybe to a level where I can do some independent work for clients
  
• learn how to operate my new Canon Rebel camera so I can capture everything possible with my family
• walk and exercise for both health and a little weight loss
  

What are your goals and/or resolutions??

I have an awesome giveaway planned for the coming week..............please stop back by to visit!

Merry Christmas!

.........and the kids are all nestled, snuggled in bed! Whew, what a day! The peeps are fast asleep and have been since 7 p.m.! Woo Hoo! I'm totally exhausted but with the little one's asleep and hubby asleep, I wanted to get some computer time and finish working on Shelby's preschool book. :)

The day was great! My parents and Craig's parents came over for the day. We had plenty of food and great company. The weather turned out pretty decent as well!

I hope that everyone had a great day with family and friends!

Poppyseed Chicken, Oranges, and Christmas!

Last night I made a recipe from Kelly's Korner blog of recipes. It's called Poppyseed Chicken. Yummy! I had to laugh because the whole time that I was preparing the meal, the kids were asking what is this mom we haven't seen this stuff before! LOL Then once it was time for dinner, they couldn't get enough. The whole casserole was gone! Easy cleaning for me. ROFL (btw, this picture is from Kelly's blog..........I wasn't able to get a picture of the one I made.)

Here's the recipe from Kelly's blog:

Poppy seed chicken

2 or 3 chicken breasts, boiled and cut in small pieces

1 16 oz sour cream ( I used one carton of fat free unflavored yogurt)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2 tbls of poppyseeds

Ritz crackers

1 stick of butter

Mix the first 4 ingredients and put in a baking dish. Cover with crushed up ritz crackers. Melt a stick of butter and pour on top.

Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350. Serve with white rice.

Today I went out to do a couple returns and errands. It wasn't as bad out as I had thought. I went to Kohl's and was surprised at the sales in the store. I made a decision standing in Kohl's that I want to create a coastal themed tree for next year.......a small tree for the entry way. I'm really excited because I got nearly 10 seashell themed ornaments for less then $10! Now I know I'll be searching for some cute ornaments from any of our coastal visits this year.

On the way to do my errands I also stopped by the orange grove and picked up a bushel of oranges..........only $12 and we have dozens of oranges. Brandon has been busy making orange juice since we got home. :) Yummy fresh orange juice for Christmas morning! That and the hashbrown casserole recipe from Kelly's blog!

In case I don't get back on before Christmas, I hope that you have a fabulous, safe, happy, and healthy Christmas! May God Bless you and your families this season!

BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes 2008

Wow, has it been a year already! I just started blogging last December and my first post was the tour of 2007~ it's hard to believe that we are here a year later! I love BooMama's tour because it is fun to look at all the beautiful homes around the country and to get ideas for decorating!

I love this tour because I love the holiday's and I love to decorate. I have to admit that this year I didn't really feel like decorating for some reason. I scaled down the way that I decorate but it's still pretty festive. I'm actually taking a break from wrapping gifts so that I can join in on the tour. :)

I hope you enjoy the tour of my home. Please leave a comment and say hi........I'm looking forward to visiting your home too.

As you walk into my home this is my foyer table in the entry way. This table is decorated for every season, it's fun to have that festive spirit as you walk in the front door.

This little tidbit is hanging on my wall. The candies are actually placed on velcro and have been eaten one day at a time, but this is how it looked at the beginning of the month.

This is my dining room table centerpiece. The farmer's basket is great for seasonal display's as well. Last year I hung my ornaments on my light piece. But this year I didn't feel like doing that and my daughter started to play with the ornaments and put them in my greenery. I liked the look so I let her finish. Not too bad for a 5 year old, huh!

This is the first year I was able to do a Christmas village. I purchased these pieces after Christmas last year and at the Department 56 store closing event at the mall. I found some pieces on Craigslist at half off that I am considering getting. The problem is storing these boxes. LOL But it is fun to watch the skaters on the rink and the lights flash.

And finally our Christmas tree. I tried something different this year by streaming ribbons down the tree. It looks better in person but I'm not totally into it either. I am thinking about buying some of the Christmas nets to wrap around the tree. The kids like this so I'm not changing it this year.

I hope you enjoyed your tour of my holiday decorations. Please visit BooMama for some more wonderful tours.

May you be blessed with the Glory of God this holiday season and into the coming year!

Polar Express

I'm sorry for being MIA lately. I'm working on a Polar Express themed celebration for my daughter's class on Friday. We have tickets, bells, and coloring sheets already. I need help with themed snacks...........any ideas?

Bloggy Winners from Pillsbury!

Hey there! I almost forgot to post the three winners of the Pillsbury giveaway. My daughter drew the names out of her Littlest Pet Shop house. ;)

1. Ansballin

2. Carolinagirl

3. Linda

Please send me your addresses so I can have Pillsbury mail these to you! :)

Enjoy!!!

Holiday Swap Gift

A couple of weeks ago I posted about a Christmas Swap that I had joined from ClemsonGirl and the Coach. It was a lot of fun to go out and shop for my swap partner. Today I received my swap gift from Margaret at Some Like it Southern. I love it! It's a beautiful pewter ornament tray with three Christmas themed tea towels! So beautiful. I had to take a picture of the wrapping paper with it because it was just as precious! Wrapped in a red and black gingham tissue then wrapped in clear cello wrap and tied with red and green rafia! All tied with a beautiful pewter cross ornament! Just gorgeous!

I love it Margaret! Thank you so much!!

Christmas Meme

Ok so I looked at my blog and couldn't think of anything to write about so I figured I'd do this little meme that was sent to me via email. Feel free to join in and do it on your blog. :)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper and some gift bags.........

2. Real tree or Artificial? – artificial with lights on it already--we once had a real tree and it leaked all over my wood floors, not good!

3. When do you put up the tree? Weekend right after Thanksgiving usually........but this year I was sick all weekend so we are doing it tomorrow afternoon.

4. When do you take the tree down? Weekend after new year

5. Do you like eggnog? YUCK!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? The Barbie cruise ship

7. Hardest person to buy for? my parents..........not much that they need but I really don't like gift cards so I try to find something unique and personalized for them each year.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, usually right after Thanksgiving but with me being sick I am late getting these out too.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ornaments wrapped individually

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Frosty the Snowman

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Between March and May

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yep

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Homemade cookies

16. Lights on the tree? Yes, all white

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night and Tennessee Christmas from Amy Grant

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We had an angel for many years but I switched it up to a rustic star last year

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? The kids get to open one present Christmas Eve which is a box that contains their Christmas PJ's. Then the rest we open on Christmas Morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crowds, I don't like crowds at all!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Santa's.............unique and different!

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? My family’s health, happiness, and prosperity. I also want the same for our country.

Willing to play along???