10 Days until Christmas!

I cannot believe that it is only 10 days until Christmas! Where has this year gone?? My year has been filled with lots of changes, some heartbreak, lots of joy, a bit of worry and tons and tons of LAUGHTER! I have been so thankful for the people that God has decided to put in my life this year. I have grown old friendships and started new ones. I have even gained a deeper relationship with my husband.

So, getting back to the topic at hand... CHRISTMAS! It is in 10 days! My oldest and I have made a countdown paper chain and every morning he wakes up and takes one link off the chain... we started at the beginning of December and it is getting so short... AH! We also recently made sugar cookie cutouts... which I will never do again because it was the worst experience ever! I dont like it, its not fun for me. However, I am looking for some good cookie recipes so if you have any please feel free to give them to me!

In the next couple of days we will be starting some fun traditions. Baking a cake for Jesus, stuffing out stockings, wrapping presents at night, and doing Christmas Music dance parties before dinner! What are some of your traditions that you enjoy during the Christmas season? Does your family sing and play music around the piano? Do you bake cookies and pass them out to neighbors? Do you wait to decorate the Christmas tree until Christmas eve?

Even with all of the traditions, the holly-jolly-ness and the family gatherings, lets remember what this season is really all about. Its about a tiny baby who was born to save us all. Jesus is the reason for the season!
Isaiah 7:14
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

A DIY Christmas!

Who says that the holidays have to break the bank? I've been talking with some people who like to utilize their creative bone for Christmas! The first idea.. that I thought was really cute was from my friend Liz. She made pine cone elves... but for a resourceful twist she made them into ornaments! Really all you need is a pine cone, some little wooden balls and felt. Very inexpensive but very cute!


Another great idea I found for people who have adults to give gifts to is these home made ice candles. They are gorgeous and look store bought! You can make them into whatever color you want! And make them as tall and skinny or as short and wide as you want. 1 lb of parafin wax is only $3.50.


By far my favorite thing to craft for christmas has been for the little girls in my life. Its a very simple tutu and matching headband. All you need is tulle and elastic for the tutu and stretchy braided ribbon and silk flowers for the headband. In total for the 3 tutu's the cost is $8 and $12 for AT LEAST 10 headbands.


In short, please dont think that becaues you are on a budget that you can't give gorgeous and quality gifts! Just use your imagination and you have no idea what you could create! Please come back because I will be adding more crafty ideas and inexpensive Christmas gifts!

'Tis the Season

There is alot of hussle and bustle right now. Getting ready for Thanksgiving, shopping for Christmas, parties, fun, get togethers. Lots of stuff to do. So why do I not feel like doing any of it? In my last post I talked about how I am out of that slump... and i really believe that slowly but surely I am coming out of it... but its suuuuuch a slow process! Seriously... WHAT GIVES?! Why can't I snap my fingers and be fixed??

Well we got a huuuge blow to our current situation... one that has put us back significantly and we're not sure where to go from here. I personally love November-December 30th. Not at all because of the weather, because I hate the cold, but because of the spirit of the season. Its usually so joyous, filled with love, giving, and celebration. And now, because of this punch in the proverbial face of our life, the holidays have lost their joy.  Trust me I know that Christmas is not about gifts but I can't get past the idea that the more I give materialistically the better I will feel.

::Sigh:: I also want to complain about something that is really pissing me off. EMPLOYERS: Do NOT put up a job posting unless YOU ARE ACTUALLY HIRING FOR THE POSITION. I dont know how many applications I have put in only to get an email or something an hour to a day later saying Oh I'm sorry the position has been filled. Its really frustrating! And its not helping with my feeling of hopelessness! **Ok... I"m off my soap box**

I"m really trying to work on being thankful for all the things I am given and entrusted with. I have 3 beautiful and smart children. I have a husband who loves me (most of the time lol) and I have a roof over my head. Life is NOT that bad... I just need to meditate on that.

What are YOU thankful for?!

Life has many twists and turns...

I haven't updated in a month. I feel like I have been in a bit of a rut. And emotional rut, a spiritual rut, a relational rut, and a nutritional rut. I've gained about 10 lbs, I've been unmotivated, and seemingly really really hungry! It really all comes down to my situation. I wont go completely into my situation right now but just let it be known that we are broke.

While in this rut I stopped caring about a lot of things. I'm really embarassed by the pile of dirty clothes that have yet to get washed, the dust bunnies that are crawling out from under my bed, my husbands facial hair (no matter how many times I ask him to clean it up) that is littering the bathroom sink, and the paperwork that has piled up. Its embarassing! Do I want it to be that way? No! Do I need to get off my A** and do it?! YES! So now I begin the upward struggle of plugging away at it, one task at a time, because I know that if I try to too much at one time I will get overwhelmed and dig my rut again.

There are a couple of things I've learned while in this rut of mine. Number 1. I AM NOT IN CONTROL! Nor should I be. I have a very very mighty savior that wants me to let him be in control of my life. Number 2. IT'S GOING TO BE OK! I dont need to worry about whether or not we will be OK. We will never starve, we will have a roof over our heads, its fine! Number 3. I DONT NEED IT ALL! I can't believe how much I thought I needed when I had money. I needed everything, the new clothes, the nails, makeup, whatever. I neeeeeeded it. No I dont! There are 3 things that are needed: food, shelter and clothing. It doesn't need to be the newest or the best or whatever. 

In closing, I've learned this last month or so that minimalism is extremely liberating. I have become extremely resourceful. I have learned new hobbies and talents that I had no idea that I had. Was this month very emotionally trying for me? Abso-fricken-lutely. But I wouldn't trade it for a thing because it has taught me so much and I am coming out of this rut ahead! And althought I cannot say that I will never get into another rut again, I can promise that I will never let another rut pass without being educated by it.

For the Sake of Sanity

Mothers have a very difficult job. Often times they are the first ones awake, and the last ones to sleep. We cook every meal, clean every mess, match every sock, and mend every boo-boo. It is extremely taxing sometimes to not have a break. Its like a person with a full time job; they truly embrace the weekend as a break from their "work life" and usually do things that make them happy. Every mother needs this little break as well! For the sake of her sanity!!! I was extremely blessed to have been given a break like this last night. I was able to go to my friends house, drink wine, play games, and hang out with a bunch of women that I really look up to! And guess what... instead of being tired or hung over or whatever this morning... I was REJUVINATED!! I got up, got breakfast, dressed my kids and we went to the park... all before 9:30am! So... that just proves to me that a "break" is the best way to make a happier, more efficient mama!

A YUMMY Way to Save Money for Bdays!

I figured out a way to make my own cake with fondant... I'm pretty proud of myself. Being that it was my first time ever doing it, it didn't come out perfect... but it was WAY better than I expected... now that I know how to do this I plan on practicing a lot. Who knows, maybe I could start up another new business!?

Moms Just CANT get Sick!

I've been so overwhelmed with pain over the last couple of days! Here is the story: I have very very bad pain in my back and abdomin on my left side... they thought it was a cyst... which it kinda was... it had already collapsed and was mostly absorbed so it shouldn't have caused me so much pain... so then the doctor told me, "Ok go to the ER and have them do a CT scan on your kidneys... did that... nothing... now the doctor is saying "Well.. your uterus is enlarged SOOO you need to see a gynocologist." It really is one thing after another and my husband is being so great, but my kids still want their mommy! I can barely get off the couch at all. Mommy's are just not allowed to get sick!

Welcome to MY world!!

Well... I just kinda want to give you a little bit of a look into my world! My day starts at around 7am. I am greeted by one... sometimes 2 blond haired children. They are smiling and asking what they are going to have for breakfast. I ofcourse, yearning for one more hour of sleep, put them in front of the TV. Then I hear the chattering of a baby in his crib... Its 8am, Mason is awake and wants to nurse. I then stumble downstairs with baby in tow to feed the other two... if I"m lucky my husband has already done so (he rocks!). I then try to figure out what in the world to do that day! Alot of my day depends on what my bff is doing with her kids, how much sleep we all got last night, what attitudes are being thrown around and the weather. By the time I figure out what I actually want to do that day, its usually time for my 11 mth olds nap time... ugh... 2 hours killed. He wakes up, Madison goes down... 2 more hours killed... She wakes up... Mason goes back down... really??? two more hours that are unavailable! Admist all of this is my desire to make sure that my family is eating healthy. My hubs has been so gracias with me deciding to go all organic and whole... (again... he rocks). The battle is just getting them all to eat it!

All in all, I label myself a young, semi-crunchy mommy to 3. A delayed vaxing, extended breast feeding, organic eatting, earth loving mama who also loves tv, forward faces at 1, and believes in spanking!