I am so ready...

...to get baking!

I was just making a last minute check of all my ingredients I will be needing for baking today. Can you believe I still need to go back to the store?? I realized I was out of meringue powder for my cookie icing, bakers chocolate, and I need red and green food coloring. Ugh! One thing i didn't want to do: go to the store.

On my baking to-do list today:

  • Cheesecake squares
  • Sugar Cookies (decorated various ways, including "melted snowmen")
  • Chocolate Sugar cookies
  • Peanut Butter blossom cookies
  • Peppermint Blossom cookies
  • Lemon Bars
  • Hello Dolly Bars
  • Rice Crispies
  • Chocolate dipped oreos
  • Dipped Marshmallows
  • Cupcakes
  • and a Birthday Cake for my Grandma!

A Pretty Christmas Card Display


Usually I just tape the cards I receive for Christmas to the wall or the back of the door.

I have this message board in my living room, it has bills, schedules, monthly calendars, reminders, etc. This board is on the same side that my Christmas tree and most of my decorations is on and it looked really ugly.

Before:

After:

All  you need is some tissue paper, two sided tape, and ribbon.

This is only temporary, after Christmas it will turn back into my message center. Next year I will probably buy another board and make a -much nicer- permanent one. 

Christmas Blog Swap


As I said in yesterday's post, I joined a bunch of Christmas swaps this month.

My partner for this swap was Hillary @ Our Hopeful Life. She has a wonderful blog and three amazingly adorable little boys.


Earlier this month I posted my Christmas Wishlist and she managed to tick off three of those items for me. I am so unbelievably pleased with my package. :)

Thank you so much Hillary! And special thanks to the hosts of this blog swap as well!

5 for Five

PartyOfOne

Check out how I did with my goals this week.  
Green = Success. Red = Failure


1) No soda!
This one was an accident. My BF asked me to get him a soda and opened it and took a sip without even thinking about it. :(

2) Wake up before 12 everyday!
Failed. Again. I was sick this week and all I wanted to do was hibernate.

3) Go to the gym at least 3 times.
It is impossible to hibernate and go to the gym. See Goal #2

4) Send out Christmas Cards.
Check! Got this one done.

5) Complete and mail out all swaps this week.
Fun stuff! :)

****
Here are my new goals for the week ahead...
****

1) No Soda.
For the third week in a row. Maybe I will get it right this time, lol.

2) Wake up before 12 everyday.
Time is ticking down, I have got to get my sleep under control before school starts.

3) Go to the Gym at least 3 times.
...and actually do it this week maybe?

4) Bake something for neighbor gifts.
My neighbors always give gifts to my kids so I want to bake something for them this year.

5) Finish wrapping all the gifts.
I still have a few items that need to be wrapped.

What are your goals for this week? Leave a comment and join the Blog Hop over at Party of One.

Also, be sure to check out this awesome giveaway from Call Me MRS. Blog
Call Me Mrs. New Year Giveaway

Sick & Swapping

I have been making cards and gift tags all week. This is my mess...

Ugh! I feel horrible. Early in the week my boyfriend got sick. Now I am sick. All I want to do is crawl into a dark place and hibernate.

I manged to get all my orders and swaps finished, I just need to take them to the post office on Monday. I signed up for so many swaps this year. I think I sent out a total of 20 something handmade cards (swaps, not family and friends) an ornament, and two packages. A few of them were international. One of the packages was sent to the Philippines, and I had cards sent to Belgium, Australia, and Germany.

So far I have received only one card, but I am waiting patiently for the others.

I have a few more swaps coming up but those don't need to be sent out until the end of next week. Three lip balm swaps, and a winter package swap.

While I prefer swaps that are hosted by blogs that I follow, I have found a website that is only for swaps and I love it! You can search for the type of swaps you want to join or -after completing 5 swaps- you can make your own.

Just click on the image above an join. 
My username is Jesslynne, you can view my profile here: http://www.swap-bot.com/user:jesslynne 

Do you have a blog that is hosting swaps? I would love to know about it!

I plan on hosting a Valentines Card & Treat Swap next month, so look out for that!

5 for Five

PartyOfOne

Check out how I did with my goals this week.  
Green = Success. Red = Failure

1) Go to the Gym at least 3 times this week.
I went two days last week. I got a nasty blister on my foot from running, it hurts. I really need to buy a pair of running shoes. :(

2) Finish Decorating the house for Christmas.
Yay! All my decorations are up. I might still add a few more things though.

3) Blog More
I did 3 posts last week, which is more than I've done in months!

4) Cut out the soda! 
I made it all the way until Saturday, It was my niece's birthday part and all they had was soda and beer. I refuse to drink tap water.

5) Wake up (and stay up) before 12 everyday!
I only managed this 2 days. Shame on me. The other days I over slept by about an hour.

****
Here are my new goals for the week ahead...
****

1) No soda!
Same as before, I need to cut the addiction to my favorite fizzy drink.

2) Wake up before 12 everyday!
I failed last week, let's see if I can get it together this week!

3) Go to the gym at least 3 times.
Again, I need to get off my butt!

4) Send out Christmas Cards.
Last year I waited too long to do this and no one got theirs before Christmas.

5) Complete and mail out all swaps this week.
I signed up for a few different Christmas card swaps and gift exchanges. I want to get everything together and sent out this week,

What are your goals for this week? Leave a comment and join the Blog Hop over at Party of One.

Flirty Apron

I don't own a single apron! At least, I didn't own one before I made this one...

I made this cute apron from some fabric I had leftover from my daughters baby bag (that I never finished).

I followed "The Flirty Apron" tutorial from The Dating Divas.

I have never done ruffles before and a made numerous mistakes. Thankfully I now know what those mistakes were and how to avoid them next time! It wasn't too hard to make and only took about two hours. It would have only been about an hour if I hadn't made a HUGE mistake and didn't have to pick an entire section of stitching.

DO NOT sew the bottom ruffles on like this...

Or you will end up wasting time doing this...

5 for Five

PartyOfOne

1) Go to the Gym at least 3 times this week

Before my family's trip to New York (in August!) I was going to the gym 4-5 times a week! Since then, I think I have gone maybe twice a month. All the weight I had lost, I have since gained back (and then some!). I need to get myself back on track!

2) Finish Decorating the house for Christmas

We got the tree up and that is it. I really need to finish the rest or it will be Christmas day before I even know it!

3) Blog More!

I have really been neglecting my blog.

4) Cut out the soda!

I am an addict. I know a big part of my weight gain is directly linked to the amount of soda I consume. It needs to stop.

5)Wake up (and stay up) before 12 everyday!

I have sleep issues. I stay up too late and don't get up until after 2 pm on most days. I start school next month and I really need to get my sleep pattern under control now.

What are your goals for this week? Leave a comment and join the Blog Hop over at Party of One.

My Christmas Wishlist

Christmas isn't too far off now... These are just a few things I would LOVE to get...


1) Fa la la la Felt
I am very much into felt lately!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600596150/

2) Excuse our mess wood sign
I love a bunch of these wood signs from Timblecrafts, but this one is my favorite.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/94144375/excuse-our-mess-the-children-are-making?

3) Keep Calm and Make Cupcakes
CherryCute's bottle cap magnets are so cute <3
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63058355/pink-keep-calm-and-make-cupcakes-bottle

4)Lindt Dark Chocolate Chili
Sweet and spicy <3

5) Opi Nail Polish - Nothin' Mousie 'bout it
I'm in love with this nail polish.

6) Liplicious Lip Gloss - Mango Tango
From Bath and Body Works

7) Black Penguin PocketBac Holder
Isnt this cute?! From Bath and Body Works

8) Sweet Pea Shower Gel
My Absolute favorite body wash! From Bath and Body Works!

9)Nike Shox Turbo
I really need a good pair of running shoes

10) Embroidery Machine
Doesn't have to be that machine. I don't really have a preference as to the make and model.

It is highly unlikely that I will end up getting any of this (am I on Santa's "Naughty" list?)

Advent Calendar


See that? I made that. Both child and the advent calendar!

It took me about 3 days to complete. I wanted to do a larger (and much nicer) one, but I waited to long to start making it. My local Joann's didn't have any shade of green felt by the yard so I had to buy the 9x12 sheets and sewed 4 of them together. The pockets are about 2x2 inches. The numbers, pockets, star, and tree were all stiched by hand.

Christopher was all excited when I put this up this morning. His favorite part is the star, not sure how I feel about that.


Day 1 on our Advent Calendar: Decorate the Christmas tree!

We decided to do the "Elf on the Shelf" this year. I've seen other people who have done it with their kids and I absolutely love the idea. 

This little guy appeared in our tree while watching the movie "Elf." He brought a special book, candy cane, and a note from Santa with him. After we read the story about the Elf on the Shelf, Christopher named him "Rocky." 

Christopher munching on his candy cane from "Rocky"



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