Christmas Apothecary Jar

Christmas Time is Here!

I had to set this jar at the end of my table because I had a little farmer playing with all his animals and big red wooden barn in the middle of our table!

So, this Christmas I decided to borrow from Mother Nature! In one of my apothecary jars we filled the bottom portion with found berries on twigs at Blake's preschool. I had the two cutest little helpers too. Blakey and Mimi. I really really like how it turned out! {And for no money!!!}

I love my girl.......and even my stinky Men/Boy folk too

In this house full of men/boys I love that I have my sweet sensitive little girl who is mostly just like her mom! We can escape together to Mom's bathroom and do our nails and chit chat about the "mean girl" at school, her stuffed kitty cat "Puddy 3shoes" (because we left Puddy 2 shoes in St. George at Aunt Christina's house) and all her friends at church and school. We talk about fashion and decorating her room with a whole new look and how she no longer likes Hannah Montana, just Miley Cyrus now. {{sigh}} I look forward to our first mini break (as they say in Bridgette Jones) where we can pop off to some great hotel and spa and spoil ourselves while the men folk are dirtbiking or playing the xbox 360 and making the house stink! {Yep that's what men/boy folk do! Which is of course why I always have a candle at the ready and a can of Lysol Fresh Linen Scent!} Now, please don't get me wrong.....I love our stinky wonderful Men/boy folk....where would we be with out them! :)

The Best Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies Evar!

{{{Are You Ready???}}}

This is such an easy recipe with few ingredients

One box of Devils Food Cake

1 stick butter {at room temperature}

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1-2 cups chocolate chips {depending on how much you need chocolate on the day you make these babies}

All you need to do is.......empty 1/2 the pkg of cake mix with all of the ingredients minus the choc chips. Cream together, it will be thick but that's OK. When it is all mixed add the remaining 1/2 cake mix and mix. Then add the chocolate chips!

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes and voi-la!

These would be incredible as ice cream sandwiches....I'll have to try that next!

Enjoy!

Cute piggies and random stuff!

I guess someone had fun with the camera.....I promise I don't just leave it out in the open. But who can complain when you upload your photos and there are these cute tosies to look at!

Here he is for Halloween...{don't know what happened to the other kids pics...Cami was the sweetest sassiest cat ever in a pettiskirt}

Here Blake is with his preschool teachers and friends

My baby boy took this one of him mama {with my favorite cup}

don't you wonder what you look like with your eyes closed??? LOL Oh those darn camera flashes!

Anyone for a couple of sweet kittens???

Yeah, kittens! Miss Lizzie found a beau the night we moved (she is always curious about those outside cats and what goes on out there!) I guess she was a little too curious??! Well, we have 3 sweet little kitties to show for it. One sadly didn't make it out of the 4.....the kids are learning some life lessons already. I was so sad to loose one.

Below is one of the girls. She is fluffy like here mom. I think these pictures were taken when they were about 8 days old. They are now 4 weeks old and getting fat bellies! Litter training is next.....thought I was done with the potty training!

The nursery

Looking for something to craft?????

Blake and I collected some pine cones today for this project! It is so simple that I think Cami and I can do it together!

{just some hot glue and ribbon....shh no one has to know!}

Check out these sites for some inspiration!

Check out this adorable pumpkin center piece at Reinvented!

Edie {one of my favorite bloggers} is hosting a 12 days of handmade Christmas full of awesome tutorials. I am already making one of the tutorials on there!

Check out Country Living's Holiday decorating ideas here

My latest craft project......

Owl Towel

This is the first time I have made my own applique` and actually sewed it onto something!!! It turned out so cute! (I think it actually looked better in person as I didn't have very good light when I took the photos)

This was a gift for my friend Amy for her baby shower. She is having her 4th boy in two days!!! I always make hooded towels....or hair bows. I love owls for boys. So cute! After she opened the gift, she passed it around the room where it was analyzed and questions were asked like how did you do this etc. I had to explain that it was my first applique and the machine gave me terrible fits all the way through! Why didn't I just get an outfit for him ??? LOL