I've already lost my challenge... Which sucks, but what can you do? Life gets in the way sometimes. I'm a little sickly, so I'm keeping it short. I hope everyone had a fantastic day with their Valentine's. I know I did.

so this is Christmas

there's four loaves of homemade Amish friendship bread cooling on my server...  there's a giant bowl filled to the brim with Chex mix... another loaf of homemade apple bread... & over 50 peanut butter balls in the fridge awaiting a dip of chocolate in the morning.

lists are piled up on the dining room table... with notes like 'grab pj pants for mom & stepdad ...' 'hot chocolate!' ... 'stickers!' ... & numerous other scribblings, all to be completed by week's end.

there's a pile of boxes in the corner of the dining room - out of B's reach... boxes dropped off by delivery men in the last week that i just can't find the motivation to wrap ... guess they'll be birthday presents now...

there's random gifts hidden throughout our house, because if the huz knew they existed, he'd have guessed what they are by now.

my all time favorite Christmas cd has been re-synced on to numerous iPhone/iPod devices & is played at least once a day.  shout out to Alabama Christmas... no joke. i've been listening to it since the 80's.  nothing says Christmas to me like "Candle in the Window".

there was a trek to the grocery store today, buried under another 1/2 foot or so of snow... shoppers were rushing about or not. filling their carts with snacks & drinks ... & baking ingredients, like me.

the plans are all made.  most of the gifts are all wrapped.  there's more baking to do's on yet another list.  a dinner to be dropped by the neighbors, in celebration of their brand new baby boy.

there's a cookie exchange tomorrow night with girlfriends (while the other halves play poker & eat that Chex mix), a bedtime drive to see synchronized Christmas lights on Wednesday, a dinner out on Thursday to celebrate a very special lady in our family who will be beginning her 79th year of life, a Christmas Eve dinner with family on Friday... all leading up to the 'grand finale' on Saturday.

B's excited for Santa - exclaiming "Ho Ho!" & "Oh Goodness!" (his favorite new saying... & mine too, because it is truly the most adorable thing you've ever heard in your life)...  He calls our lights 'prise!" & "aweshum" ... & he's constantly sneaking a present from under the tree, trying to open it before we catch him.  He's infatuated with my snow globes- saying "shake it!" & then watching in awe as the snow falls - in the globe & out our window...

it's Christmas here ... & we're taking in & loving every moment.

(Not really a) Wordless Wednesday: Festival of Trees

We recently went to the Festival of Trees here in the Quad Cities... scoped out all of the trees, wreaths & more.  B's favorite part was this massive train display.

He looks cranky- this is only because we turned away from the trains to take the shot. 

He also wanted a 'coffee party' - seriously, he said coffee. We're definitely coffee people around here. 

Horse! Yay!

All in all, definitely worth it :)

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas out there! May your day be full of fun & blessings! 

I'm spending the day with my own mama & my little man (of course, my wonderful, amazing husband as well!) Look for the recap soon! 


And if you're not already an avid reader of this fabulous blog, I urge you to check out today's post.  It's beautiful, as always.

Holiday Public Service Announcement

Need some extra cash for the holidays? 

Need some inexpensive, yet gorgeous gifts for the holidays?

Need some profits for a fundraiser? 

Whatever your need, I can be there for you... well, me & Cookie Lee, that is!

What's Cookie Lee? It's this fabulous jewelry company that allows me to work when I feel like it, from where I feel like it, however I feel like it.  Want to check it out?

Cookie Lee website

View the Cookie Lee Catalog here!

A little fineprint for you:  I would love to send you a catalog, book a catalog show for you or give you more information about Cookie Lee. Our shows are a blast because there is no presentation -- just pure shopping with beautiful jewelry at great prices. We also have fantastic rewards for hostesses, including free jewelry and items at 50% off. If you already know you love the jewelry and want to purchase the jewelry 50% off ALL the time, becoming a Consultant might be the perfect choice for you!  Whatever your level of interest in Cookie Lee, I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Do you do direct sales? Let's support each other! Leave me a comment telling me what you sell & what you love or don't love about it!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my family to yours!

carving pumpkins on Friday night

Trick or Treating with some friends!

Our family

minus the real life puppy (check out those jack o lanterns!)