12/1/14

Weekend Wrap Up


I was very excited when I got gas last Wednesday so I would be ready to roll on Friday. Only paid $2.34 a gallon. Considering not too long ago we were at $3.49 that is not a bad way to start a four day weekend. 


We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the family. Lots of fun and lots of food. I was so wrapped up in visiting and spending time with everybody, that I failed to get any pictures. I was so mad at myself, but it was worth it not be distracted from visiting. 

My first stop on Black Friday was to Kmart. My daughter had to work but she wanted to get Shelby some new boots. The deal was buy any pair of shoes for regular price and get the second pair for $1.00. I picked out the brown for $19.99 and got the black for $1.00. She was very thrilled.


While I was out an about, I started checking out fireplaces. We want one of the media fireplaces to help on the heating bill. We like the bedrooms cool. One of these will be very cost efficient to heat the living room and kitchen, keeping our electric bill down this winter. I liked this one but it isn't really what I wanted and it was more than we want to pay.


In my scouting around, I found a new book to add to my Christmas wish list. It sounds so good. It is about a lawyer who takes that puts her world of coal mining in Virginia, where laws are often broken, rules are ignored, communities are divided, and the land itself is under attack from Big Coal. Violence is always just around the corner, and within weeks Samantha finds herself engulfed in litigation that turns deadly. Since I am from Appalachia originally, my family worked in the coal mines and I work for an attorney, I knew I had to read this book. Santa better not forget it.


When I came home on Friday, I had a package waiting for me. Thirty-One is branching out and carry a new line starting in January. It is called Jewell by Thirty-One and will include a variety of wallets, purses and accessories. The first of the new line to be a monthly special is going to be the All About the Benjamins wallet. So I ordered one to check it out. I fell in love. I want to get one in a different color while it is on sale in January. 


I took it shopping over the weekend and have fallen in love with how much room is in it and how easy it is to get your cash in and out of it.


My daughter had ordered a couple of their products as well. These were just too cute for spring.


One of my bargains was this little tree for just $3.88.


I picked up some baubles, bows and beads at Walmart for it.


I also fell in love with these little birds at K-mart for 1/2 off.


...as well as this little owl wreath. Loving the herringbone.



I used it all to decorate a little shelf in my home office. I am very happy with it. Didn't have any little boxes to wrap for under the tree, so I wrapped my business cards and some scrap pieces of plastic canvas.


Sunday, Hubby and I went on the great fireplace hunt for ideas. We went everywhere we could think of that would carry them. We are going to get one next week. As of right now, this is the one we decided on. The little door on the front top comes off, it is fake. My cable box and DVD will go in the little shelf behind the door. If you touch the sides, there are hidden shelves in both sides for DVD or book storage. I think this may be the one we get. 



On the way home from our window shopping expedition, we stopped by Kirby Plants and picked out our Christmas tree. The unveiling will be posted in a few days once we let the branches warm up and settle and get all the decorations on it. 


The bottom limbs were too low and we knew we would have to cut them off. So we had them just go ahead and come them before we left. And I asked for them so I can fix up something crafting using the real branches. I don't have a clue what to do with the so I am sure it will be Pinterest time this evening to get some ideas. 


Well, that is my weekend wrap up. 




11/30/14

Sunday Songs



Tomorrow is the first day of December. I thought it would be appropriate to pick Christmas songs for my Sunday Songs this week. I picked a few of my favorites. Hope you enjoy.







11/29/14

Some cool ideas to share....


I was looking for ideas on my favorite site...Pinterest and found some things I thought I would share with you.I showed this twig tree before. Well a similar one. I tried the one I saw before and it didn't work out. I am going to try this one. 


How cute is this little tree made from cup cake wrappers. 


What an adorable pillow. 


I wonder if I could do my door like this. I really like it. 


This is too cute for words. A need way to count off the 25 days of Christmas. The round pieces are magnetic sheets cut in circles. 


Very simple and very elegant at the same time. 


This would make a great Christmas gift for Hubby. I really think I will do this. He is retiring in November and just working part time, so we will be able to spend more time together. I can't wait.


11/28/14

Looking ahead...


As we go from Thanksgiving into Christmas, I need to change my blog template. I think this is the one I am going to use. I will probably do it tonight or in the morning. Today is Black Friday and I am heading out soon to do some shopping.

Free Holiday Christmas Blog Template for Blogger

While I am out, I will be stopping at some Christmas tree lots to check out what is available. I love a real tree.


I hope Walmart has wreaths and small poinsettias on sale again this year. I used to pay $20 for my real wreath at Christmas. Picking one up for $4.48 makes me a lot happier. I need to get me 3 or 4 of these little poinsettias so I hope they have the .88 cent ones like they normally have. 


We are considering the possibility of an electric fireplace this year. Our house is a little drafty and we currently just use a space heater in the living room, but I would much prefer to have one of these beauties. I am going to compare prices and then we will decide.

Sumner Corner Media Fireplace, Brown

One thing I know we are getting is a new TV for the living room. One with a DVD player. We found one we liked at Sam's. Another one of those "we will decide later" items. 



Well, I will be heading out today for some major shopping and lunch with my daughter-in-law. Tomorrow will be more shopping with my daughter. I save up for this weekend and try to get as much done as possible. Whether you are a shopaholic or just prefer to veg out all day, I hope you have an awesome weekend.





11/27/14

Happy Thanksgiving!


I wrote this earlier in the week so it would post today. I'm not blogging today because I am going to enjoy some much needed family time.





11/26/14

The day before...


I don't know how much prep work you all do the day before Thanksgiving, but I usually bake all my chocolate goodies today and fix the eggs, noodles and potatoes for our potato salad and macaroni salad. I envision a lot of happy Pyrex time later today.


Hubby likes to use this bowl to mix his potato and macaroni salads in. It promises to be a Town & Country Pyrex holiday.


I still have some more last minute cleaning to do, but it shouldn't take that long. I can't wait for time with my family tomorrow and the enjoyment of my favorite meal of the year. 



11/25/14

I'm all about the desserts...


We have a wide variety of desserts for Thanksgiving. There is plenty to choose from, plenty to send home with the kids, and plenty of leftovers for the weekend. Hubby makes the pies and I make the rest. (These pics are from last year). I always make a Duncan Hines Swiss chocolate cake with my Mamaw Eden's homemade chocolate icing recipe. It's a big hit. 


And I wouldn't dare have a holiday without making the chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies that have been in my family for generations. My son usually gets a bunch of these to take hunting with him the next day. 


I make brownies but make them as cookies so they are easy for a grab and go snack.


That is all completed on Wednesday evening after I get home from work or first thing Thursday before hubby puts the turkey on. But every Thanksgiving, right after I run out and get the paper, I make the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls for breakfast with a cup of ice cold milk. It is my favorite way to start the day. I am funny, I won't touch the dessert before the family arrives.


I sample a little bit of everything on my dessert plate after dinner. But then when the day is done, I have a snack with a piece of graham cracker pie as I look over the Black Friday ads one last time. 


Then Friday morning, I get up at 4:00 and have me a few of the cookies with a cup of cold milk before I start my day. Don't judge me too harshly ... they do contain oats and I am drinking milk so I just consider it my bowl of oatmeal before starting my busy day. 


Well, that has all made me hungry. Have a great day.