Jolly by Golly Chirstmas books

Last night my sister and I took a class at one of the local scrap booking store. We created a little chubby gingerbread house album that we can fill with our favorite Christmas memories. It inexpensive and very fun!

This little album can make a great gift or keep it for yourself to show off your favorite Christmas memories. It was very simple and for someone who isn’t that creative, or as creative as I would like to be, I recommend trying this at home… For more information check out Erin's blog, (she taught the class) and if you have any questions, let me know.

This was our final product

Newsletter Help Needed

For the past 6 years or so, I have done a Holiday Newsletter. It is the one thing each year, I really "prepare" for. However, it seems this year I am in a rut! I cannot seem to the ideas needed to put this together...so, I need your help. If you have any good ideas or inspiration for me, PLEASE comment. I really should be nearly finished with it and to be honest, at the rate I am going... I am worried.

Again, any ideas you want to add please comment below!

MY SONG... At this moment in my life!

If you know anything about me, you know my obsession with music and words. I have always had a certain song for a certain period in my life. It is just my thing... Well, on Monday night Jason and I went to LA for the David Gray concert. When he played, "This Years Love" I sat there and thought to myself the words to this song pretty much sums up where I am in my life RIGHT NOW. WOW!

The thing I love about music is that it says the words I usually cant. I tend to really listen to words and when I am too afraid to say something to someone, I will just send a song. I know for me I am so very scared to fall in love. Having been hurt in the past, I tend to run whenever I feel like I might possibly care about someone more then they care about me. At this point in my life I don't want to waste time on someone who cannot love me back and so I am SURE that is why I can so relate to this song. I have been waiting for the right person in my life. The person I will fall madly in love with... I wonder if its THIS YEARS LOVE?

This years love had better last
Heaven knows it's high time
And I've been waiting on my own too long
But when you hold me like you do
It feels so right
I start to forget
How my heart gets torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Feeling like you can't go on

Turning circles when time again
It cuts like a knife oh yeah
If you love me got to know for sure
Cos it takes something more this time
Than sweet sweet lies
Before I open up my arms and fall
Losing all control
Every dream inside my soul
And when you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain't this life so sweet

This years love had better last
This years love had better last

So whose to worry
If our hearts get torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Don't you know this life goes on
And won't you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain't this life so sweet

This years love had better last
This years love had better last
This years love had better last
This years love had better last

Another GREAT Giveaway!!!

I love giveaways!!! I mean really... who does not love free stuff?  

One of the blogs I follow is having a "Surprise" giveaway (and who doesn't love surprises too) for having 100 followers. So, check out Ashley's blog and hopefully... I will win hehe!

Thankful Thursday

As I was taking a shower this morning I started thinking about all the wonderful blessings I have in my life. It is so easy to take for granted even the simplest things in life, but when we really stop and look at all we have, we get to see just how lucky we are!!! So, here is just a few of the blessings in my life:

My beautiful daughters.

They bring me joy and love everyday. When I am feeling like everything around me is falling apart, all I need to do is look that those innocent faces and know that God gave me more than I deserved! I am so thankful that in spite of being a single mom and being hard on myself, my girls see how much I love them and that they are my everything.

 

My Amazing Mom

I have no idea where I would be in life if not for the unconditional love of my mom. Although we have had our "differences" in the past, she is my rock and my best friend. I cannot imagine a day without her and I am so blessed to have someone who pushes me to the next level. She sees the strength in me that I never seem to think I have and makes me what to be a better person.

My sister and her family 

Ever since we were little my sister has been hero and source of great inspiration for me. She has always been such a strong and happy person who I can never tell enough how much I love and appreciate. Her family has also been such an amazing edition to our family. I am so blessed with a wonderful brother in law, and 2 adorable nieces and nephews.

My Job

Even though I have days that I wish I could stay home and work in my girls classrooms or just be there when they get home from school, I am so very thankful for having a job that I actually enjoy! Having a job you like is a huge blessing because trust me, I have had a few awful ones in the past. I am thankful that my job allows me to provide for my family and also is flexible enough so that I can do things with the girls. And, I am so thankful for having a wonderful boss who brightens everyday for me. 

My Sweet Taylor

I am so thankful for this kid and all the love she brought me. It was not until she was born did I realize the joy of being an Aunt. We have an amazing bond that I know God planned. I am so thankful for her sweet spirit and that I can spoil her rotten and then give her back to her mom.

  

Great Friends

There are so many times I wonder what I would do without great friends. They are my life line and have helped me through so many things that have come up in my life. I am so thankful for friends like Kimber, Sara, Jody, Susan, Heidi... who have my back in spite of myself. Who love me when I am not lovable and believe in me. I am thankful that at any point in my day I can pick up the phone or send a text message and instantly feel better.

 

The "Boy"

I am so thankful that Jason is not only my non-boyfriend, boyfriend, but my best friend. He has allowed me to open up a side of my heart that has been closed off for a long time. He has helped me see that good guys do exist and I am lucky enough to have one! I thank God that he is patient with me and doesn't hold things against me. I am thankful that I have someone that my family adores & that I know I can count on! 

My extended family

I have the best Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. I am so thankful that I come from such a strong and close family. Through the years they have stood behind me and loved me and I know that not everyone has a family like that, so I know not to take it for granted.

Last but not least... God's amazing grace

I have no idea where I would be if not for the love and forgiveness of my heavenly father. When I think that he loved me enough to look past my faults and see that I am worthy of his love, it seriously humbles me. I cannot put into words how much I have and it is all because the Lord loves me that much. I am one lucky girl!

I love the CAKE BOSS!

Over the weekend, I discovered a show on TLC... The Cake Boss. I come from a family of very talented peoples. In-fact my Grandmother was a baker and a wonderful cake decorator for years. My mom and sis are wonderful cooks and my sister has a talent for party planning and cake decorating like I have never seen. I have been trying to get her to start her own business because she is THAT good. Then there is me... The Domestically Challenged one of the family! However, I am obsessed with shows like Cake Boss, Top Chef, and the naked Chef. Kind of ironic if you ask me. 

Cake Boss is on Monday nights at 10 p.m. (PST) on TLC. Although there are times I get a bit annoyed with Buddy, the guy is very talented and what he can do with cake batter, fondant and his imagination is awesome. If I ever make it to Hoboken, NJ I can assure you I am going to Carlos Bakery. Just check out his website and watch the show. It is really is a favorite of mine now!

Music Monday

I have decided that every Monday I would do a post on either an artist or a band I love. If you know me then you know I am obsessed with music. Every since I can remember I have been been singing and playing music, so for me music is my life.

Several months ago I came across this amazing song. I had never heard the song before but the lyrics totally got to me. The song is "Come on get Higher", and the Artist is Matt Nathanson. I can assure that it is not everyday I come across a singer song writer who can affect me like Matt's songs do. He is not only amazingly talented vocally, but his lyrically writing ability is very rare in our music world today. His latest album Some Mad Hope is on my I-pod, in my car, and on my computer at work. I absolutely love his voice and songs. If you have some free time you should really listen to a song or two. 

Here are the lyrics to my favorite Matt Nathanson song, "Suspended" which I have personally dedicated to the boy in my life. They say it all. Enjoy!

When you lead me
And fit around my tongue
It's so easy, to forget that I'm lost
Spent all of my life
Waiting for something
To lift me, to numb me, to define it all

Sunshine, I'm beginning to like this

Cause all I want to be is the minute that you hold me in
When you pretend that I'm all that you waited for
Time slips to nothing and I'm better than I've ever been
I'm suspended

With your breathing, filling up my lungs
I can almost believe that I'm almost enough
Spent all of my life emptied of anthems
And bracing for something that never did come

Sunshine, I'm beginning to like this
Sunshine, I'm beginning to like it

Cause all I want to be is the minute that you hold me in
When you pretend that I'm all that you waited for
Time slips to nothing and I'm better than I've ever been
I'm suspended

It's not enough to stay surrounded
It's not enough to stay awake, torn, braced, cornered
And not feel alive