DIY Advent/Christmas Countdown Calendars

I love the Christmas Season and my grandkids are at the perfect ages this year to start this tradition.  :) :)  It just takes a little imagination and about ten dollars and you can have your whole Advent/Christmas Countdown  Calendars made.  For ours I will probably buy a small bag of candy and go to the party store and buy a small bag of misc party favors where I can alternate what is in the little stockings/boxes every day. 

Here are some of my favorite inspirations that I have found on Pinterest this week to get your inspirations flowing!!

This one is probably by far my favorite!!  :)

Christmas Countdown Calendar

I think these little felt stockings are a super cute idea!!

Free Holiday Ornament Pattern

These little red stockings are equally as cute.  I am pretty sure you can go to Hobby Lobby/ Wal Mart or the Dollar Tree and buy a pack of these (I think they come 5 or 10 to a bag) realllly inexpensively.  All that's left is just to number them and hang them up!!

http://thefrugalgirls.com/fun-crafts

Love this idea of making the countdown using paper bags and a printable stapled to it!! 

http://bethproudfoot.blogspot.com/2010/11/countdown-to-christmas.html

The tags can be found at Free Printable Tags

These are just super cute as well!!

Christmas Cones

Here's a page of many many ideas, there is bound to be one you just adore on here as well!! 

http://talkcraftytome.com/category/holidays/christmas-holidays/

Here's an idea to put in your little calendar spots!!

http://kimmccrary.blogspot.com/2010/12/activities-advent.html

This is another cute idea!!  Take 25 of your childs favorite books and wrap them all up!!  Enjoy unwrapping one each night for a bedtime story!! My grandkids get a bedtime story each night so I know they would loooove this idea, and you are only out the cost of the wrapping paper!! 

 http://katherinemariephotography.com/blog/archives/3773

Hope you find the inspiration you are looking for and that you and your children have an absolutely beautiful Christmas/Advent season filled with lots of love and laughter!! 

XOXO

Carol

Today Is A Blank Page!!

I tend to this every year about this time.  I try and find time to spend by myself and reevaluate my life and where everything stands as of this moment.  I start thinking of what I would like to see improve, the sucesses and the failures I've had during the last year, and where I want to see myself headed during the next year, what I want to see myself accomplish.  I certainly don't sit down and make a giant physical list and check each thing off religiously as I go throughout the year, but more or less hold myself accountable in my head LOL!!  I might should make a list, it might motivate me a little more to see these things in print that I want to achieve!!! 

My approach to life is that "Every Day Is A Blank Page".  We all have the ability to start over and change whatever we want each and every day. You are NOT who you were yesterday or last week, or even last year, and only you can change what you don't like in your life or improve upon what is already there that you do like!!  :) 

All my life I have had different role models.  As the years come and go the people I admire and look up to and want my life to be like change.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to emulate those you admire.  Just don't forget that YOU ARE YOU and YOU are UNIQUE AND SPECIAL....it's ok to take someones love for volunteering and look at it and say, hey, I would love to do that, and go and run with it and add your OWN unique touch to what you admire!!  :)  Just remember YOU ARE YOU and don't hold yourself  to trying to BE JUST LIKE SOMEONE ELSE...it's a toxic no win situation!! 

Tomorrow you can look for a new job, take a class in knitting, dye your hair, apologize to a friend or loved one and get it off your chest, adopt a pet, start saving money, start a walking program, play for 30 minutes with your kids, or whatever it is you want to do.  :)

I want to add that it takes 28 days of repetition before something becomes a "habit".  Don't give up on any new adventure after just a few days!!  :)

I have recently figured out that I am so "bombarded" with negativity, it's all over the T.V., I'm subscribed to a few pages on Facebook that bring me news feeds of the kids who have been abused and how their abusers have been arrested (I am such a supporter of anti child abuse missions), but to see it constantly starts to drain your joy. I have had to finally "hide" them for the time being.   This is an issue, when it's hard to see the GOOD things in life.  Sometimes you just have to turn off ALL the negative  and back away from those things that suck the joy out of your life, and surround yourself with the pretty, the good, the happy, the innocent etc....I think it's self preservation.  It's not to deny that the bad exists, but you can't participate fully in life when you yourself are starting to feel worn down from all the weariness of the world.  This is my immediate goal for the month of December.  I am focusing on my family, the things that make me smile, my friends and all the happy times we all have during this Christmas Season!!

We are all ever changing and growing, let's make sure this next year we are growing and changing in the most awesome directions possible!!

Oh, and coming from me, TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOU!!  There is only one YOU!! 

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU!!  :) :)

Hope your day is filled with blessings large and small!! 

Take the time to enjoy your day tomorrow and remember to be thankful in all things!!

Excited to GUEST BLOG!!

My good friend Gina asked me to come on over to her blog and write a "guest blog" on any topic I would like!  I chose to do one over DIY Christmas Present Ideas!!  Head on over and check it out!! 

Old School Savings

Here's just one of the ideas!!

Make a "no sew" dog bed for your favorite pet!!

Laughter, It's The Best Thing Ever!!

This has to be one of the funniest segments EVER on the Jay Leno show.  My husband and I watched one of these segments the other night and by the time it was over we were just rolling laughing.  :D

If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times LAUGHTER is an essential part of any relationship or marriage!! 

I say this because today my husband and I went to the grocery store.  We decided to check out through the self checkout lane.  We scanned our first item and started laughing because the voice on the self checkout register SOUNDED JUST LIKE the one on the PHOTO BOOTH.  My husband started laughing and said..."IS THIS YOUR HUSBAND"...."SAY YES"....."NOW SMILE"...."ARE YOU GOING TO EAT ALL OF THOSE COOKIES YOURSELF?" and by that time both he and I were laughing hysterically in the checkout lane.....I know the Manager and other checkers working were wondering what was so darn funny over there......

If I have learned anything being married this long it's too laugh at yourself and to laugh at the craziness of life even when you really want to get mad.  Of course some times things are only funny after the event.  When we were driving home we went over a big bump and it reminded me of a time back when the hubs and I were dating MANY moons ago.  We had stopped at a Dairy Queen and we were in the parking lot sitting in his truck.  I had put my drink on the dash...and it wasn't just any drink....it was the BIGGEST drink they had.  He had a standard, and when he took off and let out on the clutch, the drink fell straight off into my lap.  It's hilarious now to us but I seem to recall not thinking it was very funny then. 

Choose to look back on things with humor, find the humor in even the darkest situations, and PURPOSELY bring some humor into your life!!  You will thank me later!! 

Have a wonderful Sunday!!

It's a DATE!!

I saw this idea in a magazine ohhhh about SEVEN years ago and am just now getting around to doing it!!  :o)

Have I ever mentioned that I am a compulsive reader....and because of that I tend to save magazines for articles I like and recipes I may cook and DIY projects that I know I will do SOME DAY!! 

Anywhooo, I saw this idea, and I love it, and I am going to do it, and SHARE IT WITH Y'ALL!!

This couple made something called the

MAJIK DATE BOX

(yes, I know this is NOT how you spell Magic, however, this is how it was spelled in the article so I am carrying on the name here)

They just used an old Kleenex box....I'm sure you could use any box....and even decorate it if you wish....and

IN THAT BOX

they had each written on tiny slips of paper

IDEAS FOR DATES OR RESTAURANTS TO GO TO FOR A DATE

They made a point to go out on a date once in a while....which those of us who have been married for a long time sometimes put on the back burner.......and they had so much fun pulling out the slip that told them what they were doing or where they were going for that date!!  They made it a point to put in places they have never been!!  :)

I think my husband would get a kick out of this idea!!

The article was pretty funny since the hubby had put HOOTERS in as a place to go eat.  He said he had to eat the whole meal only looking at the table and not at the waitresses!!  He said his wife got to pull out the idea for their next date while they were there and it was for the most expensive place in town!!  HA!! 

Hope you enjoy your time spent with your spouse/signifcant other!!  :)

Free Thanksgiving Card

Soooo much to blog about yet so little time to get it all done, so I'm keeping it simple today!!

One of my favorite Facebook sites that I follow shared a link to get a

FREE

THANKSGIVING CARD

valid today

 ONLY

I ordered one, and you are able to add photos of kiddos, pets, whatever and really personalize it for that one lucky person!!  I am sending one to my Stepmother!!  :) 

Here's the link!!

Free Personalized Thanksgiving Card from TinyPrints

*Go to the website

*Personalize your card

*Use Tiny Prints Promo Code FREETHX11

*Choose Ship To Me for free shipping or pay the .44 and have it sent to someone else

This offer ends at Midnight PST!!

I ordered the one on the left!!

THANK YOU

http://www.mamacheaps.com/

for sharing this link with us!!  :)

11-11-11 at 11:11 A.M.

Day 10

(I know, I wrote two in one day haha but since I skipped yesterday and well a few more days what the heck....)

I couldn't help but want to do something fun and special to document the once in a lifetime date yesterday!!  I got my dry erase calendar down and of course had to write these things!!

Adleigh Claire and MiMi

11-11-11

at

11:11

A.M.

and in this moment life is Perfection!!

We went outside at about 11:08, and I think we took about 30 shots before we came back in...haha so technically it was about 11:35 when we finished....but I was out there with my sweet little granddaughter sitting in my lap at 11:11, on 11-11-11

and that my friend is

PERFECTION!!

Here are the photos I was the most happy with

I have never been able to do the whole "hold your arms out and take a pic" thing.....so this one I got me and half of Adleigh :)

Got me grinning and Adleigh laughing...she thought it was funny

Finally both of us together :) 

Love this sweet little granddaughter of mine!!

Barbie ~ A Classic

Day 9

 Today as I was cleaning out a closet, I came across all of the Barbies and Barbie suitcases, accessories, clothes, shoes, and everything else Barbie I ever had as a child, and that my girls have played with since I was a kid, and that I had passed on to them.

It was such a nostalgic time for me!!

I took down each and every box and opened them and looked in them.

A lot of the outfits I remember as a child, and I remember my mother making me tiny little blankets so that my Barbie's could have little beds etc...

Some of the Barbies now of course are missing heads, legs, arms....and I now have a one armed Ken doll!!

It is time to pass our Love Affair and Legacy of playing with Barbies on to my granddaughter.

She is 2 1/2, I may just have to let her play with a few at a time, and make sure she doesn't rip all of their heads off or cut their hair!!

I think she is ready for

BARBIE TIME!!

Of course I had to take some photos of the collection !!

 I've had these Barbie cases since I was a tiny little girl!!  Some of the Barbies I have are equally as old!!  I got really tickled looking at all of the "retro clothes" in there

 I had a lot of fun looking at all of these tiny little food items....especially the TURKEY

The cute little tennis rackets

Barbie Hangers, I know one of my cases has a tiny little closet in it

Have to have tiny little brushes and hats!!

Loved this little suitcase

One of the Ken retro shirts

retro skirt

 

The shoes that were actually still together as a pair

Looove this jacket!!  Kinda wish I had one like it now!!

The little yellow Jacket was always my favorite!!

Rows and Rows of Barbie Clothes!! 

I have totally enjoyed my trip back in time tonight!!

Just let me stay *outside*

Day 8

One of my most favorite places to be is

OUTSIDE!!

So

of course

I

have to share

One of my favorite Pinterest boards for

OUTDOOR INSPIRATION!!

I will start with a photo of my

DREAM infinity pool!!

ok, so the beach is an added extra

These photos are in totally random order, kind of fits me well LOL....this next one is of a swing that would be super easy to make for the kiddos....not that I don't love store bought swingsets....but this one just seems to "belong" in a yard!!

I looove this porch!!

Can I just have this behind my house lol??

A link to DIY outdoor lighting

DIY LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

The meditterranean style is TOTALLY my thing....now if I just had a house to match this fabulous patio

I actually think we could put something like this behind the house.....but this needs lots more landscape with it

Our biggest project coming up is to install a "rock walkway" from where we park the cars to the front door......I'm sure I will have to write a blog over it!!  :)

Enjoy your Wednesdays and THANKS for stopping by!!  :) :)

Rollin Rollin Rollin

Day 7

Ok, so I know I am a few days behind on the "blog a day" :)

I am writing about something near and dear to my heart,

CAR MAINTENANCE!!

or more importantly

CAR MAINTENANCE FOR LADIES

When is the last time you checked the tread wear on your tires? 

Do you know how to check it?

Place a penny upside down with Lincoln's head facing down into the tread of the tire.  If some of his head is covered, you have enough tread, if not,

BUY NEW TIRES

Also, start your car, turn your wheel all the way to the left and get out and look at the "insides" (the part of the tire that faces the underside of your car) of your front drivers side tire.  If you can see any metal showing, you need new tires.

Get back in and turn your wheel all the way to the right and check your passenger side front tire for any metal showing. 

IF YOU HAVE ANY METAL SHOWING YOU ARE IN DANGER OF HAVING A BLOWOUT. 

Make sure to check your tires air pressure from time to time as well.  Now that cooler weather is coming in, tires tend to lose a little air.  If they run with less air in them than what is required, they will wear faster. 

The best time to check your tire pressure is at your house before you leave to go somewhere. 

The correct tire pressure for your car is written on the inside of your car door on the drivers side.

You can buy a nifty air pressure gauge like this

Takes all the guess work out on exactly how much is in there!!

If you can't find the recommended number, 32 psi is always a great number to make sure your tires are inflated at. 

I want you to do these things because I care and I don't want you stranded on the side of the highway with a flat or a blowout, dependent on a strangers help.  While there are nice people out there, there are also not so nice people.

It is so much better to be safe than sorry!!  

If you can't afford NEW TIRES call around to your local tire shops and see if they sell USED tires.  Give them your tire size, which is written on the outside of your current tires. 

They are often times half or a quarter of the price of new tires and are still in great shape.  Back when we were first married and had way less money than what we do now, we did this a lot.  It's a great way to stay within your budget and stay safe on the road. 

Don't be scared to take ownership of some of the "mechanical" side of car maintenance. 

I hope these small tips help one of you my sweet readers!! 

Have a beautiful Tuesday...

and don't forget

CHECK YOUR TIRES

BECAUSE