Weekend wrap up...

I had such a busy full weekend that I can't believe what all I was able to accomplish. My daughter and I went shopping at 8:00 Saturday morning and didn't get back home until 8:00 Saturday evening. Our last stop was Jersey Mike's at the University Common to pick up a sub sandwich to take home. As we were leaving, I noticed a glow up ahead and a lot of steam. It was a Christmas Train parked for a Christmas excursion. You rarely see old steam engines any more so I had to stop and get a picture. I just fell in love with this.

When I got home, a Fed Ex box was on the porch. It was from Thirty-One and had the order in it from the last party I held. It was fun to see all the neat things people will be getting for Christmas.

One of the items that was offered was a Mystery Gift. I couldn't decide so I ordered it then my daughter decided to buy it from me. I was excited to see what she was getting. Then when I saw it, I knew she would be thrilled she purchased it. She got a tablet organizer, a lunch tote and a wristlet....all in a pattern she loves. I was very happy for her.

I had purchased the add-on kit that had arrived earlier in the week. I am in love with the new wallet in their new Jewell line. 

Check out all the compartments. This is awesome.

I also got this cute little purse that I can't wait to carry this spring. It has a lot more room in it than I thought it would.

Thirty-One has a new product of pockets that you can hang on your wall to get organized. I love these and can't wait to use them. 

I'm really excited about the new spring line. Because my hostess had such a good party I earned $332.00 in free products. Check out what is being shipped to me for FREE before the end of the year. Thirty-One is so fantastic about allowing us to earn free product. I invested $99 in this career about 3 years ago and it was the best investment every. If I counted up all the free stuff I have earned in the past 3 years it would total more than $3,000 - $4,000. They are that good to us. I have signed up one new recruit under me and have one more possibly signing up in January. My goal in 2015 is to grow my business. I have earned that much for free and have had only about 5 or 6 parties each year. And most of those weren't even parties, I just took up an order from people I knew. Best company ever to work for.

Sunday I went to church with my son and his family. My granddaughter Alexis was in their Christmas play. She did awesome. She played a Mom and did an excellent job. She looked so cute, but unfortunately my phone had died so I didn't get to take a picture. She had her hair in a bun and a house coat on. It was just too cute. I really enjoyed the play. It was awesome.

When I got home, I started right in on my orange cookies. They are made 100% from scratch and so is the icing. At this point, I had already made 32 cookies and look how much batter was left.

They turned out really good and for the most part were pretty uniform in shape and size. Baking them is not the hard part. Putting the icing on was the most time consuming.

Oh, but they are so worth the work. It made 80 cookies this year. But only 78 survived. While I was putting the icing on, a couple of them accidentally fell into my mouth. Yummy!

I also made my son some no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies and I made Reese's peanut butter fudge. But I never did take pictures of them. Keep in mind, I started my baking and cooking at 1:30. Sometime around 5:30, I took a break and fixed me some bacon and eggs for supper. That was the first time I had ever made bacon in the oven. It turned out delicious.

When I got done with all that I started wrapping presents. I had not wrapped a thing yet and the family will be over on Wednesday to unwrap. By 8:30 the baking was done, supper was over and cleaned up, and I had all my presents wrapped. 

I love a day when I feel like I have accomplished something.

Sunday Songs

It's just not Christmas till Bing Crosby sings. Merry Christmas to all my family and friends, far and wide.

A busy day ahead....

It is going to be a busy day today. My daughter and I have some last minute shopping to do. This will be our first "no kids" shopping day in months. We are both very excited. I went over my list and checked it twice...and three times...and four..... I want to make sure I get everything that is still on it. This is not unusual for us as there is always those last minute gifts we need to pick up.



I have several things that I need to find at Target. I've checked the website and the store we are going to has what I need.

We are going to make a dash through the West Town Mall. Several stores in there are good places to find what I'm looking for on two of my items.

We normally do Steak-n-Shake on our Christmas shopping trips, but with the busy day we have planned I think it may be a drive-thru in our future for lunch today.



Well, my list is ready and I'm looking forward to the day. Hope you have an awesome Saturday.

The Christmas Corsage.....

If you were around in the 1950's and early 1960's, chances are you know what I am talking about when I say Christmas corsage. 

We would get a new one each year and it was always so exciting when Mom would pin them on our coat to wear to church on Sunday mornings during December. I wondered if I could find a picture of one and lo and behold I found a ton. I always liked the ones that had some silver foil in them and some red or silver Christmas ornaments. Here are my top 10 favorites that I found online. They bring back very sweet memories.

That crazy elf...

Where has December gone? I can't believe we are just one week away from Christmas. Usually by this time I can mark off several items from my list. But this year...I haven't even MADE my list yet. Do I have everything bought for gifts?  No, I don't. Do I have my baking started? No, I haven't even started thinking about what to bake. I didn't get my tree finished until December 7th, which is so NOT like me at all. But as I was unpacking my garland, who did I find? Edgar the Elf. I had looked everywhere for him and I am still not sure how he got in the garland. 

He's been pretty quiet...until last night. When I came home and found him riding my reindeer and visiting with Santa I knew trouble was a brewin'.

I was going through my bedroom and caught him sliding down the wrapping paper like he was on a jungle gym.

When he got done, he tried some type of gymnastic move to get out of the box. 

Somehow he took a tumble and ended up right smack in the middle of a bag of gifts I need to wrap.

Next thing I knew, he was snooping to see if anything was in there for him. I had to take him in the other room to keep him from getting himself into trouble. 

Hubby and I were going over our list of what I need to bake for the holidays. I went to get my recipe box and that pesky elf had already been investigating and was pulling out the orange cookie recipe I make every Christmas. Guess I know what I will make first. 

While I was making my list and checking my baking supplies, he got out my Gooseberry Christmas recipe book (not to mention he borrowed MY reading glasses) and started looking for some fudge recipes.

I had wrapped a present for Hubby to take to his work and Edgar finally rested and leaned up against it to see what I was doing. 

I turned around and he was gone. He had stopped by to see his old friend Ms. Ginger Breadman.

I thought he would stay there for awhile and calm down some. But he spotted my Christmas Pyrex and was off like a flash to check it out. I caught him using Pyrex for a bathtub last years so I scolded him and told him to get down.

He was finally getting tired so he went into the living room to relax in front of a roaring fire. I was hoping that meant he was ready for bed.

I sat down to read and watch some TV and next thing I know he was trying to drink my Pepsi. At least it was caffeine free. He was wired enough as it was. 

But when he started getting in my Junior Mints, I knew it was bedtime. You don't mess with my Junior Mints. 

At least he got me motivated to start wrapping presents and baking some goodies.

My Sister's Christmas pretties...

I wish I had the same flair for decorating as my sister, Rachel, does. She is very talented. Check out some of her Christmas decor. She takes simple things from around the house and creates a whole new look. For example, she simply added a dear and tossed cookie cutters into her cookie jar.

I have this same cookbook and stocking. Cookbook is on the shelf and stocking hanging on wall. I like this idea a lot better.

Just put some balls in a bowl, candy canes in a cup and filled the pitcher with pinecones and holly. She put a book up there to add to the Christmas feel. I love this.

I love her countdown snowman.

This is just too cute. What a great way to display Pyrex Christmas.

One of her many trees.

The little no sew runner I made her.

Love her primitive living room and this tree fits right in with the rest of the decor.

Odd and end Christmas setting around.

She bought place mats at Dollar General and ripped the end seam out to make these cute little pillows. She made the snowman on the blanket as well. 

Her little window. Too cute.

I love this. Christmas balls in a red Pyrex bowl. 

One of her other trees.

Another tree. Very basic, very cute.

I may have to try to remember some of these next year.