What Sam Needs….

There is a wonderful and funny post over at Atlanta Mothers. All you have to do is do a search on what you need on Google. For example Sam needs…
1. Sam needs to make a cake and some cookies.  Now that is a good one…I could do that.
2. Sam needs a job! Well, no, not really. I am a homeschooling stay at home mom and that is a job in itself.
3. Sam needs jeans. Yes, most definately I do. My favorite jeans has a hole…well a few holes…small ones but in not so good areas!
4. Sam needs time. Always…I always need more time. :)
5. Sam needs a shower! LOL Ok that one is just funny!
6. Sam needs a playful and loving home. This I have already!
7. Sam needs a holiday in Spain. Oh yes please that sounds lovely.
8. Sam needs to tone her aggressive tone. YIKES! ;)
9. Sam needs your number’s. Well, ok…if you really want me to have them.
10. Sam needs to get to work. Enough already with the work and the job thing! Jeez!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of friends, family and laughter.

I am thankful for…

my wonderful family, our health, my children’s laughter, smiles and hugs, a warm home, food on the table, a bed to sleep in, comfort, love and life. So many things we take for granted in life. Look through the eyes of a child this year and see all the precious things life has to offer.

Christmas Advent Calendar Give-a-way!

Have you been over at Tatertots and Jello?? She has an adorable give-a-way going on right now. Take a look at this advent calendar.

She made this herself!!! Is it not the cutest thing ever??? I love polka dots and this would be PERFECT in my house! I have to win this. If you want a shot at winning click here. Of course if you win...you must send it to me! :) She also has a couple for sale.

I need one!!

Favorite Things

I am linking up to 320* Sycamore's Favorite Things! I am a day late but I am sure this one will be going on for a long time. What a wonderful idea to get more holiday gift ideas!!

My favorite things:

1. My Keurig Coffee Pot! http://www.keurig.com/ This is one of the best things. No more wasted coffee left in the pot and it tastes delicious. They have so many different coffees to choose from.

2. Painting! I love to hand paint personalized items for friends and family. These will be personalized with names and initials. So much fun!

3. Monogrammed or Personalized Magnetic Dry Erase Boards. I found this one by Monkeyseeboutique on Etsy and I LOVE it! I do not know her but she has some adorable stuff!!!! Great for Christmas!

4. Hand made pillows - found this one by LilacAve on Etsy. How cute is this????

5. Yankee Candles! I have one for every season and love the way they smell. Such a homey feeling when we have these burning. My favorite for fall is Pumpkin Spice or Harvest.

Good-bye to an old friend

Today we said good-bye to Tucker. It was a very peaceful good-bye and we were able to do it at home. I love our vet! She is wonderful, sweet, caring, compassionate and truly loves her job.

The kids said their good-byes which was terribly heartbreaking to watch. Then they went upstairs to play with grandma. My husband and I sat with Tucker right in his “spot” next to our couch. He was always at my feet. A little heartbeat at my feet no matter where I was. :) So that was the best and most comfortable spot for him.

Putting a dog to sleep is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. Thank you for all your kind words. I am going to feel the loss for a very long time. He was full of life and made a big impact on our house.

We are animal lovers in a big way. I once volunteered with a sheltie rescue group (I had 4 shelties and now 3). A little over a year ago I volunteered as a foster mom for an animal rescue group and now we have 3 cats too. I admit I am softie and end up falling in love with the animals.

Rest in peace Tucker Mans…you will forever be in my heart.

Heartbroken

We are having to say good-bye to one of our fur-babies. Our dog Tucker has been sick for a long time now but hanging in there. He has many issues but most having to do with his thyroid and seizures he has.  He is only 10 years old.

This is Tucker last year. Look at that sweet face. He is the most loyal dog I have ever know.

Tucker chose me when he was a puppy. I had gone to look at the sheltie puppies with an “ideal” look in my mind. Tucker had an almost all white face as a puppy and was adorable but not what I had pictured. So after lovin on all the puppies and watching their little personalities this little dog kept coming over to me and sitting right  on top of my feet. Every time I would stop walking there he was perched there looking up at me.

He knew.

He knew I was his person. Finally I laughed and said, “I think this little guy picked me!” and I was right. Tucker has been such a joy to have in my life. He LOVED to run in the sprinkler just like a little kid. He would run and jump through it barking and enjoying life to the fullest. He LOVED tennis balls and would always have one in his mouth. Tucker would play ball until your arm just could not throw it any more. He was sweet and gentle when I had my children. Content to take a backseat for awhile and let me be a mommy. Then when the kids were old enough…he had playmates and loved them with all his heart.

Tucker is a good soul.

Tomorrow I will have to put Tucker to sleep and I am hurting. I always told the vet that if he was in pain and did not have a quality life left to let me know…even if I was in denial. Well, last night Tucker had a really hard night. He has had them before but then always seems to get “better”. Today he has not. The vet gave me some valium to ease his pain a bit and make him more comfortable through the night.

I am spending the day with my furry little guy and letting him know how much he has brought to my life.

Holidays with Paula Dean

I LOVE Paula Dean so I was super excited when I found this FREE download of her Holiday Guide. It is WONDERFUL!

Is that her kitchen?? Seriously…who would not love to have a kitchen like that!

This is beautiful! This would look great on our table this Thanksgiving.

And then for Christmas….

I think one of the reasons I picked this is because of my love for polka dots and checks. Anyone know how to find those plates?? I love the white with the little bubble ridge around it.

Apple Squares - YUMMY

My children and I love to bake. Every fall I make Apple Squares. I made a batch a couple weeks ago and they disappeared all too quickly soooo we made some more today.

 

My little girl loves to help Mommy in the kitchen!

She snuck a few apples to eat as we were peeling them….so cute!

This is what is in my oven right now and I cannot wait to eat one. They smell wonderful!

Here is the recipe:

Apple Squares

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

8-9 apples peeled and sliced

1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon

(Mix apples with sugar and cinnamon and set aside)

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time. Sift in dry ingredients. Press half of dough into the bottom or a 9 X 13 greased pan. Spread apple mixture on top. Make patches with remaining dough and place on top of apples, overlapping.

Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 mins.

Freezes well

This only makes one pan of them and I have found that is not enough! :) I love these and love to share them with friends.

Let me know if you make them and how they turned out!! :)

Technorati Tags: cooking

Thanksgiving Kids Table Ideas

Over at Alpha Mom, Cindy posted some adorable Thanksgiving ideas for the kids table. I will definately be using these this Thanksgiving. She included free downloads for us to print! A crayon holder, placemat, napkin rings and center piece. Wonderful ideas to keep them busy while everyone is coming in and saying hello. Being part of the holiday decorating always makes my kids feel special. They love it! :)

Drop Cloth Curtains

I am sure you have seen these by now. They seem to be everywhere. I LOVE them!! They are made with painters drop cloths. The have the look of linen and remind me of the curtains in Pottery Barn. I bought mine at Home Depot. Painters drop cloths are all different so you have to look at them.
I washed mine several times and dried them with dryer sheets to make them softer. They also have a terrible smell to them when you first take them out of the package so you have to wash them.
I already had the black curtain rods so all I needed to purchase was the black curtain rings.  I am so happy with them!

Craft Room

Over on the Martha Stewart site she has posted a "Show Us Your Crafts Room".  I am jealous of all these craft room photos that people have posted! One I like the most has slat board on the walls with all her items held up there with clips. This is a great idea! You are able to see everything you want to use. My one problem finding the time to scrap / craft / make cards is having to get everything out in order to use it. I spend more time setting up! My dream room would have all my "stuff" neatly organized, a long work table and room for friends to come over and work along with me. Do you have a craft room in your home?

 

Holiday Gift Ideas

What do you do with all your Halloween candy?? My kiddos have so much loot that there is no way they are going to eat it all. People do not give only one piece of candy these days. The kids were getting 2-3 pieces per house. Crazy!

Now that Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is quickly approaching...it is time to think about holiday gifts this year.  I love homemade, from the heart gifts and with money being tight for everyone this year they are even better! So I am looking for some great ideas!

Last year I made these of the kids for the grandparents and a very special aunt.

Everyones set was different in some way. I tried to match their personality or their house style with the frames and background. These are in our house and I LOVE them. Pretty, thoughtful and cheap!

Interested in making some of your own?

I took a profile picture of each child and enlarged them. I carefully cut around each profile and traced the cut out on black cardstock. I used nice cardstock - non fading, acid free, etc. Then very very carefully I cut out the profile on the black cardstock.

Using scrapbook tape I adhered them to scrapbook paper and framed them. Easy! :) My mom actually teared up when she opened them. That was thank-you enough.

Please share your posts of any holiday ideas you may have. Please post in your blogs and direct some more friends over here. Hopefully we will get some wonderful ideas!

Give-a-way!

Melissa over at Melissa’s Heart and Home is celebrating her one year of blogging! She is having a wonderful give-a-way for her readers. You have to go take a peek and enter (even though I hope to win!).