Quick Crochet Project {Baby Blanket}

A friend of mine from church had a her 4th child this past month and it was the perfect opportunity to get my crochet on! I have been contemplating over things to make and patterns and styles. So when I saw a mega granny square blanket, it was perfect! A great size for strollers/car seats. Baby friendly because of the holes. And, the yarn I found was GREAT!!

 Isn't it fabulous?! And it is SO soft! Bonus: it was super easy and quick to make. 

Here is the pattern I used: Hopscotch Lane - More Yellow

I can't wait to make a few more of these for my other mama friends this year!

What projects are you working on? I wonder what I should get done next...

Merry Thanksmas in Augusta

Did that title confuse you? Or have you been following long enough to know my mom and I? ;)

After Jason's family moved out-of-state from where my parents are, we had to split up the holidays. One year it's there, another year it's somewhere else. This year, we had Thanksgiving in Augusta - but also celebrated Christmas since we won't be seeing his family next month. My mom came up with that term "Thanksmas" last year. Isn't she hilarious!? I love it. So it's sticking.

Anyway, I did manage to grab a few pictures here and there. We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, too! Or, if you're like us - a very Merry Thanksmas!

 Alex and Andrew loved these Snowmen matryoshkas - they are pretty cute!!

Also, sadly, this is the ONLY picture I got of them on Thanksgiving Day with their turkey shirts...grr... I thought with mom brain that was a given that I would make them sit and smile together in matching shirts...ugh...I guess next year, right? These shirts were made by the fabulous, Chi, from our church! So cute, right?!

 Opening up some Christmas gifts! Thanks, Nana and Papa, for all the fabulous things!

 Andrew cooking us a feast with his cookware (this is going with a certain item from Mommy and Daddy they will both find on Christmas morning! YAY!)

 Speaking of feasts...yum :) I'd like to point out to all my brothers...haha! I got a leg this year, boys! They - meaning whichever two steal them first - never let me get one. Stinkers. Love you, guys!

 Being with family is great. Many of my mornings looked like this. Sip, sip, ahhhhh. 

 And many of our evenings looked like this - CATAN!!! 

If you have never played this game - 1st, what is the matter with you? And 2nd, put this game on your Christmas list. It is awesome. It is the ONLY strategy game I LOVE. 

This was my Thanksgiving card to my hubby. He cracked up with this one :) 

I don't usually do Thanksgiving cards, but this was PERFECT for him. He LOVES my mom's Candied Yams - that I have tweaked, which makes him ask for them all the time during this season. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with their families! Time to get those decorations up now!!

DIY I Spy Bottle

You know you have seen them around Pinterest, within other blogs, or even in the stores. I Spy Bottles. Super cool idea, right? Well, it is even super easy to make!

Thanks to the nifty tutorial from Meet the Dubiens, I got this project done for both boys earlier this afternoon. It is so cute!! I made theirs Christmas themed with snowflakes, Santa, an elf, etc.

Here's how I made mine:

 2 clean plastic containers - 

Mine are from Target (of course) that held Christmas candy corn. 

I wish I took an after picture. Basically, I used nail polish remover and hot water/soap to remove the sticker residue. Ick!

An assortment of trinkets - 

All from Hobby Lobby. These are those little scrapbook/button embellishments. The ones with the button hole on the back I just clipped off. Also, to reduce (hopefully) chaos, Andrew has a blue light and a snowman with a blue scarf. Alex has green. We will see... :)

You will also need some plain white rice to hide those little stinkers, like Mr. Elf here. Isn't he cute?

Finally, we don't need any extra messes to clean up, so grab a glue gun or some crazy glue for extra protection from the toddlers. 

And there you have it! A Christmas I Spy Bottle!

**Linked up with**
Lil Luna - All Things Good
The NY Melrose Family
Southern Lovely
Smart! School {House} 
Miss Information 
Diana Rambles
Skip to my Lou 
Mercy {Ink} 
Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk 
Lil Luna - All Things Good

Simple Things

This week's simple thing:

Getting the mail. More specifically, the newest toy catalog. :)  

Creative Exchange

Wanna know what I have been up to?? Other than planning for a yard sale (post on that coming up soon), I have "met" a pretty cool person out there in bloggy land!

The Creative Exchange was put on by three terrific blogs - The Grant Life, Covered in Mod Podge, and Covered in Grace.It's basically like a craft pen pal-ish type of fun. You are paired up with someone and you create something special for them.

Kathryn is pretty amazing! I had TWO boxes waiting at my front door yesterday. And check out what was inside:

Wood Car/Road Set!

How cute is that?! LOVE IT!! And the boys loved it, too! They love getting mail, but this was a pretty cool gift/ They played with it all day and added more stuff to it. It is just so cute. Thanks, girl!!

The other box was my gift. Check it out!

Ribbon Tray!

Love! Not sure if you can see the ribbon color - it is navy blue. I'm thinking that I may put it on my kitchen table. Or I may use it in out room. I've been playing with it here and there. It is really great! Trays are always a great thing to have! Thanks, again!!

So, want to see what I made her? Well, you can't see the exact one...goofy me, didn't take a picture of it before putting in the mail.... Luckily, I got a picture of another one that I made. I hope you can't see the mistakes in the stitches. I just got back into crocheting again. Here's what I sent to Kathryn:

Crocheted Basket! 

Nifty, huh?  It is the same color. I bought waaaay more yarn than I needed. I clearly have been out of it for a while, right? I am definitely going to get back into this. 

This little project/event was a lot of fun to do and I got to "meet" a great person out it, too! I think I may do this little adventure again :D 

Easter Baskets - Part 1: Getting It Together

Thought I would share this year's Easter baskets with everyone :)

Things are getting crazy at the House since the birthday party is coming up fast and Easter starts us off running into party mode.

I am making the boy's easter baskets this year. I really HATE Easter grass. That plastic crap that sticks to EVERYTHING and you find it months later in the weirdest places. I also don't want to deal with all the gross candy that comes in those Easter baskets at the store. Plus, Andrew's got that allergy to high fructose corn syrup. And, Andrew and Alex like M&Ms anyway. So that is taken care of - no problem. I don't want the rest. And those overly obnoxious baskets...ugh...

So, this year, they are homemade-ish. :) It's a word... Well, it is now.

I took 2 baskets that I had from the kitchen. I got them at Hobby Lobby a long time ago and I think they are about $3 or $4 each.I headed back there last week (shocker, right? since I can't go Target yet lol) and grabbed 2 small spray paint cans that Andrew and Alex picked. I asked Andrew what his favorite color was. He said, "blue." Then continued to tell me that Alex's was green. Cool beans, I don't have to stand in front of a hundred colors trying to figure out what Alex's favorite color may or may not be. Thanks, Andy!

Cute, right? And, no annoying Easter grass! There are so many things that are going in these baskets, too.

So far this is what I have collected:

Andrew's basket - 
Max the Rabbit from the books/show "Ruby and Max" (Books-a-Million)
Bug catching kit (Dollar Tree)
Insect guide (a score from a Sonic kid's meal!)
M&Ms Easter egg (CVS)
Sidewalk chalk eggs (Dollar Tree)

Alex's basket -
Another Pat the Bunny :) It's different from the one my mom gave him. It's like a mini blanket. Very cute.  (Books-a-Million)
Bunny book (Dollar Tree)
M&Ms Easter egg (CVS)
Sidewalk chalk eggs (Dollar Tree)

I also bought them each their first Rosary! Ok, technically, for Andrew this will be his 2nd one. He has one from his Baptism cake hanging up. I never got around to getting Alex's one :( But, they both have one that they can hold and "play" with while Andrew learns a prayer over the summer, while we are at Mass, or at the Children's Eucharistic Adoration. I bought them from Catholic Child :)

 I am also adding in some Easter eggs filled with cheddar bunnies from Annie's Homegrown. Fun! I got those on Amazon. I usually find the best prices with them for this brand.

So, now that the Easter baskets are pretty much taken care of, I can focus on the birthday party again.

What's going in your child's Easter basket? Do you have any traditions?

Presents for EVERYONE - INCLUDING myself #CleverBeauty #spon

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.walgreens.com/beauty.

If you are in need of some more last minute gift ideas (hurry, people! Christmas is SUNDAY!), then head over to Walgreens for a quick, no-fuss trip. They have some great stuff for everyone one on your list (even me!) And somehow, me and my husband are the last ones on the list. Anyone else have that issue, too?

The Conair Infiniti Pro Spin Air Hair Brush is definitely on my wish list! And, we (girls, that is) know that it is so much fun to get a new shade of eye shadow or that awesome new curling mascara that makes your lash grow longer and fuller and blacker and whatever else. It is just fun. 

NAIL POLISH! I am currently obsessed with the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. Let me tell you. If you are a mom, you are ALWAYS digging in a baby bag, purse, under car seats, under the fridge, etc..that doesn't help your nail polish stay looking great does it? The box says that the nail strips will stay on for about 2 weeks. I was still going strong at 3 weeks. LOVE IT! Make this a stocking stuffer for all the girls in the family. They will love you. ;)

Don't forget those men! Have they been good this year? Hmmm...we will see what Santa brings ;) Walgreens has a bunch of great stuff for them, too. My hubby is an Old Spice man - LOVE! I'm not sure what it is about Old Spice, but it has a wonderful smell to it, doesn't it? Yum.

Walgreens wants to share some special savings with you from their Holiday Shopping Guide (pdf link) with over $25 of coupons. Feel free to feature any of the products if you think they'd make a good present.

Need a Last Minute Gift?

Just check your pantry and grab a jar!

Here's what I found in my pantry:

Peanuts...yum 

Salted jumbo cashews...YUM

Christmas M&Ms...YUM

wait for it

Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds...MAJOR YUM!

That's right.

Dark. Chocolate. Covered. Almonds.

1 cup per each (or whatever to make it evenly mixed) and hand out to whoever you needed a gift for!

Linking up with:

A Bowl Full of Lemons

Today's Creative Blog

Home Stories A to Z

Tip Junkie

Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!

We headed out for early Mass this morning so we could get to a party afterwards. A birthday party! A birthday party for Baby Jesus. How cute! I love that our church does this. During the 8:30 Mass, we have the Children's Liturgy. If you aren't familiar with this idea, it is a great program for children of all ages (typically beginning around 3 or 4 years old and to about 2nd grade). After the opening prayers, just before the first reading begins, the priest calls all children up to the Altar, then the children head out together to the Vestibule to listen to their version of the readings, do a craft, ask questions, etc. It is great! We have not had Andy start this just yet, but maybe next year. We will see.

Anyway, this week, after Mass the children who attend this program (and other Sunday school programs within the church, I believe) put on a Nativity play. It was so cute! I wish I had gotten a picture of the little "sheep" - they were so cute! The children playing the sheep wore all black and a white tee that had cotton balls all over it! Love it!

Now, you are probably wondering where the "birthday party" comes into play here... Well, remember Day 17 of Advent? Well, it turns out that Andy did pick out a lovie and a blanket (sort of) for the baby. See, at the birthday party, the gifts that were brought were all donated to Her Choice - a women's center to help those with unplanned pregnancies (like Mary) who refuse abortion. The table of gifts was overflowing! I wish I gotten a pic of this, too! It was wonderful to see! Every child/family that came in had a gift in hand.


Here is what Andy picked out to give to Baby Jesus - the duck is from him and the wearable blanket is from Alex he said :)

Just a few words before closing this post... 

Please, please. If you (or someone you know) are pregnant and are thinking about an abortion, please know and understand the consequences. Abortion is WRONG! There are so many families out there who are unable to have children. Families who pray and plead and beg for a child. Being a mother is hard, but I would not trade it for anything. 

Her Choice Birmingham

2120 7th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: (205) 252-0706 






Disclaimer:  This post is not sponsored or affiliated in anyway with Her Choice. The thoughts and feelings expressed about abortion are my own.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

Bible Verse:

God put a special star in the sky. Some Wise Men who studied the stars knew what this meant: A new king had been born. They traveled a long way, following the star of Bethlehem. "We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 

Matthew 2:1-2

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Help me to be wise and believe in you, just as the Wise Men did. Amen.

Today's Activity:

What gift can you give Jesus?

This coming weekend after Mass, our church will be hold a birthday party for Jesus. I love this idea because it really involved the children of the church much more. Yes, we have many programs for the kids, but I love the extras, too. So, all the kids are invited to come. They are asked to bring a gift for a baby. These gifts will be donated to the local women's clinic. Isn't that a sweet idea? Sometime this week, Andy and Alex (with his big brother's help) will pick out a gift for Baby Jesus.

We have been reading many books about Baby Jesus in the past week, and Andy has become rather concerned about the baby not having any babies (like he has Tusker and Alex has Baby Bunny) or a blanket. How sweet!! It is funny though because that was always my issue when I was little: where is that child's blanket?! I mean, I guess I don't know what the weather in like in Bethlehem, but the desert does get cold at night... So, maybe they will pick out a baby and a blanket... We will see - come back and find out what they chose for Baby Jesus!

image via Pinterest

I Can Cook Like Paula!

This is a tad bit over due. But, my fabulous parents gave me a super awesome Christmas present! Paula Deen's cookware! YES! WOOT!! Look at the fabulousness of it all!

Hello! Now I can really gourmet it up. I was just pretending before ;)  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this cookware. NOTHING sticks. It heats up so much faster than my old pots and pans. It is just so pretty! I am in the kitchen much more than before. And, I don't dread having to scrub a pan.

It. 

Is. 

Awesome. 

My parents rock! Thank you, Mom and Dad! Jason is loving all the meals that I cook up, too, so a "thanks" from him, as well! :)

By the way, how CUTE is this little pot? Need to melt some butter? Pppssh! I gotta pot for that y'all! :)