My Favorite Things to Give- Christmas Edition 2014

Last week I wrote about a few of my favorite things that I received as gifts for Christmas. And as promised...here are a few gifts I gave that I absolutely loved!

This necklace stole my heart....mainly because my good friend Jaime is a missionary to Papua New Guinea and it reminded me of what she and her family are spending their lives doing.

I ordered these coasters for the #1 Georgia Tech fan in Alabama. My brother in law had to have these!

Vera Bradley has a line of slippers that I'd like to adopt as church appropriate footware. Bruce sister was the lucky recipient this year. Note to self--- put these on my list for next year.

Mixbooks....like shutterfly is a photobook creator. For the last two years, I've given my brother's wife a photo album of our entire family She doesn't take very many pictures but between what I get while I visit Georgia and what my mom snaps...and what I can steal borrow off Facebook from other family members I've been able to put together something that looks pretty good. It's pretty much fool proof. You can't mess it up. They usually have a big coupon too.

And laugh...but not least (see what I did there?)....I got Bruce compression camo....I'll spare you the pictures...but suffice it to say, he says they are wonderful. He has worn them hunting and says they beat the waffle type long johns. I picked his up at Walmart on a whim....so I'm not sure how long they will last but I'm sure you can find them at all price points.

What's your favorite gift to give at the holidays?

Destination Home

I left Saturday morning at 8:40 to head to Paris, (TX, that is) to finish up some shopping for our ministry fair at church next Sunday. I stopped by McD's to pick up a diet coke, since I had been out till almost 1am at the ladies craft night at church (wait, who am I kidding? I start every day with a diet coke...I'm not gonna lie)....Anyway, with dc in hand and a quick stop to put $20 in the Expedition, I was on my way. I was be-bopping along, listening to the radio, all my favorite songs were playing...and I was thinking the day couldn't get any better.

But, then I found exactly what I was looking for at Hobby Lobby...ON CLEARANCE! So, I snagged them up, took a glance at the yarn, embroidery and scrapbook stuff...and well, pretty much the entire rest of the store. I checked out at the register feeling very proud of myself for the good deals I found.

Then I spotted Belk out of the corner of my eye and thought...maybe I was on a bargain streak and could find a few things to spend some of my birthday money on...so I moved the car over to the other side of the parking lot and entered the store. 15 minutes later I had formulated the opinion that this particular Belk must only cater to women who are nothing like me. But I happened to see many 70% off racks in the junior dept, so like any good mom, i perused the clothing options for Savannah, and within another 20 minutes I was out the door with 9 articles of clothing for 60 dollars. Not too shabby. I was feeling pretty darn good.

And maybe that's where things started going south.

Bruce called....needed to meet someone for lunch, wondered when I'd be home. I let him know I was on my way, talking through a stuffed mouth of nutter butters that I was inhaling because I had not eaten anything with my diet coke. Nutter Butters happened to be one of the few protein (albeit with sugar) items at the register at Hobby Lobby. So, with mouth stuffed, quite pleased with myself, I started the trek home. I thought.

Somewhere between Belk's parking lot and my brain, I took a wrong turn and winded up about 15 miles north of Paris..which is basically Oklahoma...give or take a few steps. When I finally realized I wasn't where I was supposed to be, I panicked...just a bit. But then I remembered that Bruce had plugged our address into our car's GPS so that if I ever got turned around I would always be able to make it home. I think I'll keep him a little bit longer.

So...I peeled, I mean pulled into a little old tire shop on the side of the road, finagled around with the GPS, until I saw...HOME. Without hesitation, I pushed the button, clicked on my address and heard the friendly, yet annoying, GPS lady say those words we all love, RECALCULATING. RECALCULATING.

And without hesitation I followed each turn, each caution that she suggested. And roughly 45 minutes later, I made it home.

Before I had even gotten a mile down the right path, I had already thought of the spiritual implications of this little adventure. God is so patient with us, allowing us the freewill to go down paths that won't get us to our intended destination. He waits and then without hesitation, when we are ready, gives us step by step instruction to HOME. Sometimes we take the wrong path because we aren't paying attention, sometimes because we get bored of the same way all the time, sometimes because we think we know better...but whatever the reason, it never gets us HOME.

There was such a peace and comfort when I remembered that Bruce had plugged our home address into the system. I knew I could get back there...back to where I felt safe, if I just followed those directions. The same is true when we follow the directions found in God's Word. When I follow His Words, there is peace. No, I may not always be comfortable but we will be safe, because He is our shield and defense, a present help in time of need.

Complete Cupcake Foolishness

Today was Bruce's 42 birthday. I had decided that regardless of whether or not he asked for a particular  type of cake flavor I was making cake. He deserves to celebrate. Right? He deserved a special treat. Right? He and the kids love cupcakes. Right? Mom wanted to use her fancy smancy cupcake cups. Right? Oh wait.

It's true. Right after Christmas I hit the motherload of cupcakery clearance sales at T J Maxx. Savannah and I had gone to Rockwall in search of a new dresser for Tucker. We ended up browsing through the shelves at the Maxx and I spotted these:

Because I'm going to go into the cupcake business....Right?

 Why is Valerie Bertinelli designing cupcake liners while on Jenny Craig?

Because big taste comes in mini cupcakes ...

like what I'm making for our ladies Taste of Home Night on Thursday!

 And I couldn't pass up the cuteness of these...butterfly, boots, floral and watering can toothpicks! 

All this goodness marked down to $2 and $3 a package...

and that's what caused me to go into complete cupcake foolishness.

So...I asked Bruce chocolate or vanilla? He said chocolate and here's what he got

Happy Birthday Bruce! 

SPLURGE!

I rarely splurge on anything. I am a tight wad, bargain shopping, sometimes coupon clipping, clearance shopping, deal searching, second hand and garage sale perusing momma. But, sometimes a girl's gotta splurge....or support her husbands need to splurge!

Here's how it went down.

Bruce makes an annual QVC Shopping Network purchase. It happens every year about this time. He doesn't set out to do it, it's not on the calendar....it just happens. He will be watching late night TV and channel surf to QVC and there will be some remarkable Today's Special Value and because they are normally sold out by the time he gets around to watching it....I'm safe. There was the exception of Henrietta Hen (I wonder why this little treasure wasn't sold out at 10pm????) but for the most part I've been safe from these late night purchases. But.....last week was different.

We were sitting in the living room when Bruce stops on QVC. The convo went a little like this:

BRUCE: See that?
ME: What....the Keurig?
BRUCE: Yes....what do you think about it?
ME: I think we don't drink coffee.
BRUCE: I'm thinking I might get into coffee?
ME: Like golf or running?
BRUCE: No, I think I might really like it.
ME: Don't you think you would know by now? Is this a midlife crisis?
BRUCE: Do you remember our QVC account #?
ME: I've never ordered from QVC
BRUCE: Hello, Customer Service....this is Bruce Stinson, I'd like to order Today's Special Value....on 5 Easy payments of .......

There you have it. UPS delivered our little box of midlife crisis to the door yesterday...along with 48 of its finest flavors. I sampled one today...and boy was it yummy. Who knows....maybe we are growing up after all! This is one QVC purchase I won't be complaining about!

Looking for Perfect

For about a month now I have been looking for the perfect purse. Ladies....you know what I mean....Men...you might as well go read another blog 'cause I'm gonna camp here for a minute.

I discovered etsy.com a while back but didn't fully enjoy its online shopping pleasure until I was sick a few weeks ago and bored out of my mind. I happened to be looking for some cute little poppies and hopped on over there to see what I could find. It was there I discovered the PURSE category. If you know me you know I don't really accessorize all that much so the fact that I spent several hours browsing purses should impress you! I also realized during the shopping adventure that I have a slight obsession with birds. All the purses I really loved had birds on them. So for the last few weeks I have enjoyed browsing the 18, 345 different purses that are listed at etsy....and more get listed everyday! I have a little money is reserve for a new purse for the fall, so last week,  I thought I would find the perfect purse for me on etsy and order it.

The search began....no, not big enough, no, that one's too big, that one is the wrong color, that strap isn't long enough.....are you following me? So after searching through thousands (no I am not exaggerating) I still haven't found the perfect purse. Poor me.

This fiasco got me to thinking about other areas of my life that I am looking for perfect. The perfect husband, the perfect kids, the perfect house, the perfect outfit, the perfect church, the perfect friend. Boy...perfect sure is hard to find. It's my opinion that there is really only one thing that is "perfect" for me ....Jesus. His everything is perfect. He never disappoints. He's the perfect size, shape, color....and He lasts forever...through whatever life brings.

So while my search for the perfect purse continues. My search for so many other things...peace, real joy, contentment, love and acceptance has been fulfilled....in Jesus!

Walmart's Got You Covered

In an endeavor to work on my tan....or more honestly just go hang out with my kids and friends at the pool I attempted to find my packed-away-in-a-box bathing suit today. I believed it to be in the top of my closet where I tend to put things that I do not wear very often....and yes, even though I live in Texas where the heat index was 110 today, I do not have that many opportunities to wear the lovely tankini set I bought last year. So, as I climbed on the chair to rescue said bathing suit from the dust mites and cobwebs of the top of my closet, I was a little surprised to only find the top of the tankini set. There she was ....navy blue with teal green and purple dots....so cute. Where had I put the bottoms? I remembered that I had put a bathing suit in my dresser a few weeks ago when unpacked my summer clothes so I mozied on over to the dresser to discover the bottoms of a bathing suit....a different bathing suit....the red and gold and brown tapestry patterned bathing suit. UGH.....this wasn't going as planned. So, I searched and search....but found nothing.

So, reluctantly I psyched myself up for the after church trip to Wal-mart to find another suit....or at least some shorts to match the blue one. The trip wasn't a total waste. I needed a few things for our cookout tomorrow night for our late Father's Day celebration with Bruce's dad. Luckily, for all your bun needs....Walmart's got you covered! (I'm sorry....I just couldn't help myself) I emerged later with HB buns and 2 pair of board shorts w/tanks.....Now if I can just remember where I put them.....

Black Friday Shopping

 This week's entry for The 12 Week's of Christmas over at Keelie's blog is about shopping. After LAST YEAR'S SHOPPING ADVENTURE I have to wonder what this year will be like. I was so excited when I found out the church office would be closed on Black Friday because Bruce and I love shopping together on this day.

A few things I like about shopping on Black Friday:

1. The energy you feel shopping with all the other crazies!
2. The Christmas music filling the air.
3. Early Bird Specials
4. Fighting for  sharing shopping carts.
5. Looking for the perfect gift
6. Choosing coordinating wrapping papers for all my gifts
7. Drinking coffee/hot chocolate/ diet coke/energy drinks...whatever it takes to stay awake
8. Saying "Merry Christmas" to every cashier
9. Picking out a few new ornaments for our trees
10. Spending time with Bruce

Need Help with Dinner?

On Thursday I was talking with Sharon Autry of Mom and Loving It! and she mentioned this wonderful website called e-mealz.com .

For $5 a month you get access to a great website full of impressive ideas and meal plans. They do all the work for you....create menus, shopping list and even give you the list for your favorite store. They include price checks and keep everything on a budget of around $70 a week.

Check it out at http://e-mealz.com/ and see what you think.

Shopping...

Today was an excrutiatingly painful day. Shopping...which is normally a very fun adventure- became a chore. A few questions for the fashion industry;

1. Why do you assume that because someone is a little on the fluffy side that they are also 7 feet tall. I searched 6 hours for a pair of brown pants and still...no brown pants.

2. Why would a girl who is (again) on the fluffy side, want to wear horizonal stripes on any part of her body?

3. Why do stores not sell leggings or footless tights in fluffy sizes if they are going to sell short dresses. I dare say...no one wants to see "that" if I need to bend over.

4. When did fluffy women stop wearing colors other than black and brown?

5. Burmuda, capri, cropped, bootcut, straightleg, flared? Decisions...decisions...decisions.

6. Why do stores not sell fluffy sized work out clothes? After all...isn't that the type person that needs to be exercizing?

7. Do fluffy girls really need padding in any type of undergarment?

8. Why do I want a purse that can hold 2/3 of the food in my refrigerator when I already have a tough time keeping up with my keys and phone?

9. Why were there shoulderpads in the jacket I tried on today? Do the early 90's not bring back horrid fashion memories for anyone but me?

Just overwhelmed by the large task of trying to pack for a 7 day trip out of town...with money to spend on clothing- so that I can look like a professional instead of a sweat pant wearing, slipper donning, koolaid stained SAHM!...oh well I am what I am!