Gift Ideas

I didn't even try to camouflage the size and shape of the personalized calendars this year...they expect to get it - ha! THEY aka grandparents, great grandparents...and I added a couple more people this year but they don't know it yet - shh!
I have tried a couple other places, but have found I love Walmart calendars the best.


I ordered a few gifts through Magazines.com. With ebates or mrrebates (can't remember which) I was able to get 30% cash back!
I made cards for the people that would be receiving a magazine...
I even re-used some nice wrapping paper a friend gave me last year!...
Old wrapping paper, but still fun...My 'not so fussy' wrapping paper this year...used for men and women...
If you are interested in these sites (ebates and mrrebates), give me email address and I will send you a link - that way if you go through me I can make some extra cash signing on a friend!!! I use these for as much as I can to get cash back - it works!

All Tied Up With Christmas

My father-in-law buys a lot of ties. No, not 'just because', but because in his line of occupation a tie is a must most of the time. (Don't you ever think a preacher looks completely different in jeans since you see them dressed up so much?!) Back to my father-in-law. He rarely pays above $10 for a NICE tie because he always buys clearance.
Getting him a Christmas present is torture - guys are so hard to buy for. Since he loves to shop at JCPenney, we got him a gift card so he can add to his tie collection and not get bored with wearing the same ones over and over.
So...I'll let you take a look at his gift. Remember I told you to come back to see what else could be used with my curtain panel? Take a look.....
I taped it ALL down so when he opens up his gift, it will still look okay...
Such fun!!! It'll get the point across, don't ya think?

Curtain-Turned-Table Runner

Some very special friends, Charles & Kristen (and kiddos) were coming over for an evening meal. I knew in my mind I wanted 4 table runners to go across the width of the table as opposed to just one running down the length of it. Did I say that the right way? (Been seeing this in blog world.) But trying to find a plain red one was not happening. Plus, one table runner is $14 or more - you do the math...So....
I was walking down the curtain aisle (for another reason) and (lightbulb in mind) - it hit me. I was able to make 2 runners out of one panel....total cost $16! Score!
Used no-sew hemming tape (my sewing machine is broken) and managed to run out (imagine that!) Finished with Fabric-Tac....Finished project....
My 4 for $4 green chargers from Target...
My Pottery Barn clearance candle holder...
Wood, candles, fake snow, ornaments...
Recognize my 'homemade' candles from some of my Thanksgiving decor?

Come back soon to see what else I made with leftover curtains!!!!

Landon's Wagon Pulling Adventure

When my family moved to our current location my senior year of high school, Lacy welcomed me into the church/school family. We had around a year of 'friend fun' and then Shawn whisked me away to become his wife. Since that time, I have had a 6, 4, and 2 year old and Lacy has graduated with a nursing degree and works as a nurse. She met someone that made her feel like Cinderella and in planning her 2010 November wedding, asked if Landon could be a part of that day.

Ready to go to rehearsal...
Practicing his part...
Landon (the calm, middle, easy-going child) continues to sit perfectly still while waiting for further instructions - and nobody was left at the front of the platform except him...ha! Ethan and Morgan would have been turning around, etc. but not Mr. Landon...
Showing his brother his 'soon-to-be gift' if he "performs" well....
Some snapshots in the music room before he heads out the door...

Did exactly like they practiced...

I think all the pep talk I gave him gave him a big head because he sure was proud of himself!
Me, Lacy and Tim...
Tim and Lacy got Landon a gift for having a part in their wedding - two guns and accessories. Landon did great sharing with big brother. So well, in fact, that ETHAN commented and said, "Timmy gives the best gifts - ever!"

"Each friend represents a world in us,
a world possibly not born until they arrive,
and it is only by this meeting
that a new world is born." - Anais Nin

Nov. in Dec.

Wanted to show you pictures of our Pastor Appreciation Day. We have a wonderful lady in our church who comes up with the neatest ideas for every event. I don't know how she comes up with different themes for multiple baby showers, get-togethers, etc. If they ask me every 3 years, then yes, I can help! Ha!
The board got in touch with my mother, who was too busy to do the task, so she ever so willingly (humor me, people!) offered my name along with my sister. We ended up having a blast getting to work together....here are some pictures of that day....won't see anything like it for 3 more years....!

Spray painted the $1.00 pumpkins....
Shawn made me these logs a few years ago...since we have a large wooded area behind our home, it's quite accessible and cheap....
Shawn made these candle holders for me a year later....so many holidays you could use these for!...
My children helped gather lots of corn husks from the fields right by our property...for the project below...
The corn-husk idea started while searching for ideas....find here (My sister and I didn't go to all that work. We used fishing wire and then slid the corn-husk around the wire)

Me...the pregnant one on the floor....
These cages are used for wedding cards...but I wanted to use one....made the card tag and attached it with ribbon...Since it was Pastor Appreciation, I made these covers for the candles (also made the candles with cheap candles, mod podge and glitter)
Needed something to entertain the kids, so I found this picture online and set one at each seat for the kids to color...
And ya gotta have dessert....! (Thanks to my dad for writing on the pumpkins for me and Shawn making sure the top pumpkin wouldn't roll off!)