Merry Christmas

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  Hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday with your families.  Here is a pic from last year, which will be a yearly tradition in our house!

I've been sooo busy this last week. I have tons of baking and laundry to do today.  I'm trying to organize the boys' drawers.  It's so much fun.  I'm hoping to give them haircuts and take some pictures as well.   I'll post them up as soon as I can.

Merry Christmas!

What in the Hell?

Do any of you ever think about think about Christmas and feel like saying "What in the Hell?"   I mean I love Christmas I do.  It just seems to be a lot of work.  First, you have to dig all of your decorations out of the garage.  While you put them up, the kids will run around, act like animals, and mix up the color coded branches of your Christmas Tree.  Your bad dog, aka puppy, will chase your cat under the tree, and then attempt to get under the tree with the cat!  As an aside, you will come home the next day after decorating to find that the aforementioned dog has, in fact, pulled tons of ornaments off the tree and chewed them in the backyard.

Please note, that while the "bad dog" is sleeping that there is a ton of bareness on the bottom of the tree.  How do you think that happened?

And just for fun, here are some more pics.

Oh, she's asking for forgiveness now.  Jill seems to feel she doesn't deserve it.

Oh, see how smart we are?  We figured out a way to guard the tree.  It's called being adaptive.  

As a side note, we have so much Christmas shopping to do.  I think that we are actually a touch insane. But that's just me. 

Goodnight, Peeps!

30 Days of Thankful

So, I've finally made the base for my 30 Days of Thankful Layout.  I still have to go back and add words and text.  I'm hoping to finish that up sometime in the next few weeks.  I know, I know.  I thought I would share what I have so far, and the cut files as well.  Incase, you are still needing to put your stuff in a layout too.

Here are the links:  30  Days of Thankful  Here is the entire File together in the Silhouette format.  I have no idea what that is.  If you have problems you can contact me, and I will email it to you.  Here is the download. 

I'm hoping to learn more about my Silhouette.  I purchased some classes from Kerri Bradford Studios.  I'm hoping they help, and I'll let you know if they do.  I've watched a couple of videos so far.  They are very basic, but that's okay.  Well, I'm off!

This and That

Hello there!  Hope this finds you all well.  I'm proud to say that I did not stay up all night reading because I have a small ounce of self control.  However, I thought, I would share a few random things.

I have been so busy around here with pictures.  I only have one more shoot this month, so I'm hoping to be able to get caught up on some stuff around here.  This blog is very bare of craftiness.  So sad.  First off, I am not enjoying this weather.  I hate cold weather.  I want my summer back so I can relax at the lake in the boat or on the shore.  I just want to sweat people.  I was contemplating Florida as a great place to live as it's warm year round.  Then I remembered the hurricanes.

Our Real Food diet is going well.  The only problem was this morning, when I was going to make a smoothie.  I had left the blender settings on high from last night when I made ice cream.  Anyhow, I was going to change the settings and I accidentally turned the blender on.  Liquids went flying and I was screaming.  Because I have no common sense, I was deliberating in my head about what I should do.  One thought was to just turn the speed down. Turn the speed down!!!  Am I kidding myself? And during this deliberation, Erik thought I chopped my hands off in the blender, and I felt pressure to answer him.  Why would I stick my hands in a blender?  I am not that stupid.  Those warning labels were not created for me!!  Then, I finally thought, "Just turn the blender off."  So it was a bit messy to say the least.

I bring up the real food diet for two reasons.  One, I found this information about Whole Milk today.  It is from L.A. Times.  A new study found that organic whole milk is very good for you.  Let me just say, I have never jumped on the skim or lowfat milk bandwagon.  I want my milk completely full of fat.  Otherwise, it tastes like water.  I hate that.  We did make the change to organic whole milk.  It's probably reducing my horrible heart health from the nonorganic milk as we speak.  Just kidding.  Here is the article, if you're interested.  I also will tell you that we drink Horizon Milk, we used to drink it for years until the kids and I went through three gallons a week.  We use two gallons a week on average now.  Since, going "RF" we switched back.  It is so rich and creamy.  The color is even different from the regular store bought milk.  I also use the Organic Horizon Butter.

The second reason is that I searched the "Dirty Dozen" of most pesticide exposed fruits and vegetables.  I've had a hard time finding only organic fruits and vegetables.  So, here is a list I found.  It is from Mother Nurture (mothernurture.me).  I just took a screen shot.

Finally, I thought I would leave you with this stupid Ron Burgundy/Robin Thicke version of "Ride Like the Wind"  If you are a Ron Burgundy fan, like me...and a fan of Christopher Cross (like me as well), you will enjoy this.

Ron Burgundy and Robin Thicke cover Christopher Cross

Good evening, Peeps!!

Avoiding Temptation and a Kindle Paperwhite Giveaway.

I'm so excited to be part of the Avoiding Temptation Release Blitz.  I know I've mentioned this series on this blog before.  Here is all of the information, and don't forget to enter a chance for the Kindle Paperwhite filled with the entire Avoiding Series

Synopsis

Two years after walking out of Jack’s wedding, Lexi has finally put her past behind her. She has made up her mind about where her life is headed. This time, she is sticking to her guns, no matter what.

That is, until a phone call shatters the fragile grasp she has on her new life. Lexi is forced to question everything she thought she knew about what she wanted, and life-changing events push her to reevaluate the very plans she holds so dear. Nevertheless, Lexi has to choose her true path. That might just mean deciding, once and for all, that she doesn’t have to answer to anyone but herself.

In this highly anticipated final installment of the bestselling Avoiding series, follow Lexi as she juggles a new career, a new city, and the burgeoning affections of three very different men.

And here's an excerpt:

“So, are you seeing anyone?” Lexi asked, blowing on her coffee.

He looked at her sideways, assessing her, before answering, “Nothing serious.”

“So, you are seeing someone!  What’s she like?  Is she putting up a fight?” Lexi asked with a giggle. 

She didn’t know why she found this amusing.  She just couldn’t hold it in.

“I’m not seeing anyone,” he told her stiffly.

“But you are or else you wouldn’t be acting like this.”

“I also wouldn’t be here with you, would I?”

Lexi snorted.  “Yes!”

“Well, I know you’re worried, but you can stop.  It’s not serious.  Just something fun,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

“Uh-huh.  So, what is she like?  What does a girl have to do to hold your interest?”

“I’m looking at it,” he said, staring her down.

Lexi’s cheeks heated at the comment, but she pushed forward.  “Are you saying that she’s like me?”

“No, she’s nothing like you.  That’s why it’s not serious.”

About the Author:

K.A. Linde graduated with her Masters in political science from the University of Georgia in 2012. She also has a bachelors in political science and philosophy. She wrote her the Avoiding Series while struggling through advanced statistical modeling and writing her thesis. She enjoys dancing and writing novels that keep you guessing until the very end.

She currently resides in Georgia with her boyfriend and two puppies, Lucy and Riker.

Connect with K.A. Linde

Website  http://www.kalinde.com

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/authorkalinde

Twitter  https://twitter.com/authorkalinde

Goodreads   https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5421050.K_A_Linde

And of course, the purchase and giveaway links!!!!

 Don't forget:

Avoiding Commitment 

Avoiding Responsibility

Here are the links for Avoiding Temptation.  I've already purchased it and downloaded it!!

Amazon
Amazon UK

iBooks
Paperback

Paperwhite filled with the Entire Avoiding Series Giveaway Click Here!!

Real Food Update

Our diet is going well.  We are back on after Thanksgiving.  We weren't technically off of it, but I can't control what other people cook.  I'm not going to demand "all natural" or "organic."  I'm just thankful enough for the food.  I will say that when we got home from Thanksgiving, I only wanted a smoothie.  It just sounded so good.  As we go along here, I want to share with you our difficulties and such.  First, I have found it difficult to keep up with school lunches.  This is for a couple of reasons.  First, the kids are pigs and they EAT EVERYTHING.  That leaves very little for lunches.  The other reason is that I'm packing lunches and they don't eat them.  JoJo is really good about staying inside from recess so he can eat.  The other kids are not.  At our school, Maddie probably has about 10 minutes to eat if he wants to play outside.  I will say it is very unfair that this happens.  I think kids should have ample time to eat.  Since I'm a teacher at his school, I have little voice in the matter, unfortunately.  I have talked to him about staying in and eating, but to no avail.

The next issue is the whole, I'm in Limbo about meal planning.  It's been hard for some reason.  It really shouldn't be, but instead of just planning dinner, now I have to plan all the meals and snacks.  I've had a hard time with this.  I'm now thinking of doing a monthly menu, and not flying by the seat of my pants.

I've made quite a few recipes from 100 Days.  I have to say, none of the recipes are enough for us.  She leaves room in her menu for left overs and I have no idea how this can happen.  I have had to double most of the recipes, and they are still not enough.  Again, I say my kids are pigs.  I do understand this.  However, I guess, I live in a home with three growing boys and a husband that eats a lot.  I will say that a lot of the recipes are very, very good.

We have very little food in the house.  We are really sticking to a tight budget, as circumstances don't allow us to spend a great deal on groceries.  We are spending less, and I'm being much stricter on the budget.  I know we are buying better foods, but it still sucks not to have anything to eat.  The kids eat a lot.  I think it's because they are boys.  I really and truly believe this.  I am allowing snack food items into the home such as, chips:  potato and corn (all natural and organic; the corn chips have three ingredients), popcorn (natural and organic).  We are finishing up our old salsa, but after it's gone, I plan on making it.  Of course, I provide fruits and vegetables, which they eat.  They just seem to be bottomless pits.

Not all is bad on this diet.  I think that we just have to adjust to all of the changes.  I am very happy to continue it.  I know that Dr. Weil would be proud.  We have not allowed artificial ingredients or preservatives, etc. into our home since we started.  We have had to make sacrifices because some items are expensive.  That is fine.  I don't ever want to go back.  I love this diet way of life.   I love the way that I feel.  I know that Erik feels the same way.  I'm trying to figure this out and pass it on to you incase you wish to join in.  In the next posts, I hope to share some recipes with you.

Have a great evening!

Snow Pics

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  Ours was good.  I'm just posting a few pics that I took over the break.  I have more, but alas, editing customer's pics must happen.

 It took Mazzie a bit to get used to the snow.  She kept barking at it, and was afraid to touch it.

And of course, no post would be complete without my brother in his Movember Mustache.  Yes, that's a real bow tie by the way.  That was on Thanksgiving.  It just cracks me up.

Have a great evening!!