Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone out there a Happy Thanksgiving. I wish you the best during this time with your families.

A few holiday thoughts to remember....

1. Enjoy the holiday.

2. Eat Good food.

3. Don't fight with anyone.

4. Be the bigger person, don't be like the one you don't like.

5. Men and children...help out in the kitchen, either preparing or cleaning.

(trust me it goes a long way, it does mean a lot to us)

6. Take care of this year, cause, we don't know what will be next year.

7. SMILE!!!! and

8. LAUGH at the dumb jokes(they're funny, cause they're not funny!!!)

9. Don't "dread" any part of the day(cooking, cleaning, seeing that person)

10. Don't worry so much about someone messing up your stuff while they're visiting...stuff can be gone tomorrow when people are still here.

11. Stay calm, slow down and take a deep breath.

12. Last but not least, no matter what they say or do...

it just doesn't matter!!!

ps...extra...Don't be too busy thruout the day to love, love, love on your spouse and children!! No turkey in your mouth is as good as that!!!

If you need to...refer back to these thoughts thruout the day!!!

On a lighter note....here's a Turkey Treat!!

This Brooklin talking to "Turkey Tom" this is from last year...

Have a wonderful day!!!

Til next Time with T!!!!

Pantry Organization!

One day last week I decided it was time to tackle our pantry. It starts out organized, but over time, if not kept up with can get out of control.

Well, I try to keep up with it however, with 10 other hands in there, it can get a little crazy. So I went in there one day to put something away and well, that's all it took. I forgot to take "before" pictures cause, as I said it was a last minute urge. Those of you that know me, the pictures are no surprise at all, however, those of you that don't really know me....well, I have a freaky thing of organization inside of me...It sometimes can drive me crazy. Lol!!!

Here is the final outcome.... The drawers on the bottom shelf are filled with...pasta mixes/beans/rice/baking mixes/breakfast bars/misc. snacks....like items in the same drawer keeps you from having to search...

I do not like to put my oatmeal in a plastic container, I like the woodsy taste to it from the cardboard container....it's the only item I have noticed that tends to taste of plastic...so it's the "ugly" thing still on the shelf...and of course, the Nesquick that I hardly ever buy...it's almost gone or it would not be on the shelf...

Bags from the grocery store..what doesn't fit in the container get's tossed, no extra's allowed..I will never use that many paper bags at one time anyway...I also have 2 burlap bags from Bentley's Market(standing in between the paper bags and drawers)...I love them...they are heavy duty, stand up alone, and are comfy to carry...I am continually carrying food somewhere.

The drawers have the kids juice boxes and snacks for their lunch. Easy access for little hands is a key to stay organized...
I know you must ask why do you need labels on clear containers when you can see what's in them?Well, of course I have an answer for being able to use that handy, dandy, labeler...I know what everything is, however, for the others in my house that don't it makes life better...

For example...one morning we made french toast for breakfast...Hugo went into the pantry to get the powdered sugar and very quickly after taking a bite and spitting it out, realized it was flour...so there you are!!! Hence everything gets labeled....

A small drawer for each type of plasticware...plastic forks, knives, and spoons...again, easy access, keeps my real forks, knives and spoons from ending up in the lunches, then in the trash...yes, it happens.they disappear like sock in the dryer..I now have only 3 small spoons in my house, out of a set of 12...Thx Brooklin!!!
"Where are my chips for my lunch????" We don't even buy many chips other than bagel chips and pita chips...but we seem to for the kids lunch. AAAhhh!!! My clean and organized pantry. It feels so good. Some of you may be laughing, others jealous cause you're not as freaky as me, some of you think it's just too much to keep up with, some think we have not enough food and some think too much. Well, all I know is that it works for our family and I have found that you have to do what works no matter what other's think.

So have at it!!! Clean out your pantry before the holiday's...maybe that would count for the contest of the 12 day's of Christmas??? I'm sure there will be a lot of Christmas traditions starting now...

Til next Time with T!!!!

November Layout!!

Well, here is my layout for the store for the month of November. The picture is not the best one because I forgot to take a picture before I dropped it off, so I had to take the picture after it was hanging in the store in the plastic sleeve. Yes, there is a little glare, but I think you can still see the design. Some of this patterned paper is not something that I would necessarily select for myself however, I did like it once I started playing with it.

Here it is...."The Story of Just The Girls"....

Left hand page.... Right hand page layout....

This month completes my term as a design team member, however, I have completly enjoyed being on the team. I have used products that I love but would probably not notice on the shelf, so it has definitely taken me out of my creative box. There is another design team challenge coming up, so I am sure I will take a stab at it...in fact, I will have to work on my design team submission while I'm in Tennesee for Christmas, so I can get it turned in on time....Darn!!! I guess we will have to have some scrap days while we're there.

Til next Time with T!!!!

Amazing Christmas Surprise!!!

Ok...so with the new look of my Holidayish blog and my children listening to Christmas music in the car already, (really Kameron requested me to put a CD in, 2 months ago), and the kids ready to decorate, those are not the only things getting me in the Christmas spirit...our family has already received the best Christmas surprise. That is really "pushed" us into the Christmas spirit...here's the scoop....

We are so blessed to have a very special and generous family that has made it possible for us to spend Christmas with our entire family....

We were blessed with 5 plane tickets for our family to have a Tennesee Christmas this year with our very close family!!!!!

Can you believe it??? I couldn't at first..it took quite a bit for it to sink in.

When we shared with the kids what God had done for us...they all screamed and ran thru the house dancing, rolling around on the floor, yelling..."We're going to TN for Christmas...we get to see everyone". They couldn't contain themselves, it was such a blessing for me to see them so happy, it made me cry.

Don't get me wrong I am blessed with a happy family, however, since our family has left, they just miss them greatly.

My family is making plans already...places to go, things to do...our annual gingerbread house construction, baking, eating, decorating, shopping, spending the best day of the whole year together, me getting to open the present that Unle Rick buys for me...haha!!! Rick did you hear that!!!! It's a big en!!!

We can't say enough to this special family and how much this means to us...our children are so excited and we are too, especially Unle Rick...

I had really just planned on not spending Christmas with my family this year...with a family of 5...it's not the easiest thing to make happen.

Then I prayed too God, not asking for Him to make a way for us...but, I made a promise to God that I would be a good steward of this Christmas for my children, I have a lot to be thankful for and that is where I was going to focus my attention. They needed me to be strong and happy, as this would not be easy for them. There are so many people that would give anything to have their family together like mine. So I was choosing not to complain, pout or be angry. I believe God honored that and gave me the desires of my heart without me asking. I mean really it's not like he doesn't know what's in my heart. Think about it!!!

One last thing...we didn't tell our children who it was that God used to bless us, not because they are not important but we wanted them to know that it was given from God and to protect the privacy of their hearts. The only reason I am sharing here is for it to inspire someone else in any similar situations.

God is a good God!!!!

So on to my story...So one day on the way to school, Kameron prayed as we normally do, however, today was different, this was his prayer....

"Father, I thank you that we get to go to Aunt Sheri's for Christmas,

Father, I thank you that there is snow at Christmas,

and I thank you that Christmas comes fast,

and I thank you for the people that gave us the money for our plane tickets,

and Father, I thank you that you put a blessing on their home."

Ok, so I lost it and started to cry...what an amazing prayer. I love it!! I am so proud of Kameron's praying, he does an amazing job.

Thank you again to this special family for your obedience. I agree with Kameron...may God bless your life and home.

So Tennessee...HERE WE COME!!!

Unle Rick here we come!!!!

Til Next Time with T!!!!

My Sister is the Best!

I just wanted to say how much I love my sister! She is such a blessing to me and she is absolutely the best sister. I know she loves me and my family so much! I really miss her. Sis, you're the best!