~ tis the season ~

Sunday night I finally got an opportunity to decorate for Christmas a little.

My husband brought me home a gorgeous tree after work on Friday and there it sat...

till Sunday when I finally felt like I had the decorations I wanted and I had a hour to myself to decorate till my hearts content.

 My week and weekend was pretty busy as I was trying to recover from our trip to Washington with laundry and trying to get back in the groove during the week

and

my weekend - I was blessed to have both of my sisters here this weekend.

I got to feed them and love them up - all of us together. It was sublime!

 It's amazing how much I enjoy playing hostess.

I love planning and shopping -

cooking and cleaning -

waiting for them to arrive -

meeting them at the door with hugs and kisses...

All of thee above!

 We enjoyed lots of laughs.

I got to squeeze on my niece and nephew some more

and they helped me with the tree -

which made me nervous and happy all at the same time. LOL!

 We all went to my Aunt Louise's and Uncle Brad's

for dinner one night.

Family and Aunt Louise's peach cobbler and garlic fried potatoes - Life. Was. Good!

 Pauly spent the weekend with his Granny so I/we could have a break and he could visit them as he hadn't seen them for a while- so having some quiet (er) time was awesome.

 This week I'm going to work on more Christmas decorations, gifts, and my Stocking Swap gift!

More information on that later...

 I hope you all have a very blessed week...

 and are able to soak in some of that good ole Holiday cheer!

Toodles!



informal introduction.

CrAFtINg iN tHE raIn

(Yes that title is to be sung to the tune of "singing in the rain" IF you're wondering. :)

It's a raining day here in Idaho!

&

I.

Am.

Loving it!!!!

I've confessed before that Fall is my favorite season.

In the Fal,l there are those sunny days when it is gorgeous out and

you can't wait to get outside and

play in those crunchy leaves!

Then there are other days that you are excited to stay in all day and

light a nice pumpkin scented candle,

put on a pot of yummy soup and set the kiddo up with his paints

and craft your little heart away all afternoon.

But before I get out all that stuff -

I've got to introduce...

Annikke!

Annikke is the mom to 3 adorable kiddos - Spirit, Lefty and lil Lady Bug

and wifey to Mr. Man!

She is super mom!

She has a super cute blog called:

Mom is in the Fishbowl

(Don't you just love the name? Fits me on a daily basis!)

She works and keeps the three kids, hubby

and the house

right.

on.

track.

I adore reading her

Friday Recipe

like

here and here,

along with her

Meal Planning

like

this one and this one .

She shares her lessons learned about raising kids,

funny stories about her kids and things they say and do

& the challenges with being a working mama.

All the while, it is all super entertaining!

In the spring she did a fabulous Flip Flop Swap

(that honestly it was so genius my husband was like - too bad that wasn't your idea - need to thump him more often)

and I loved her

letter to

the man who borrowed her pen.

I died.

Hilarious!

The whole time I was picturing her face looking at his items and then glancing to him and then her pen...

thinking, Dear Lord - please don't let him try and give that pen back to me...

Too funny!

So onward to good times Miss Annikke!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to our "home".

So glad you were able to come and join me today.

First,

before we start crafting -

I was thinking you and I should go and do some

twirlin' in the rain!

I don't care if you are only wearing your flip-flops!

DO IT!

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Okay! Back in the house!

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

So. First we definitely need something warm to drink...

Want some tea?

I happen to adore! Chai Tea.

Wanna try some?

Perfect.

I hope you'll love it.

Since I'm on a diet and have been trying to avoid sugar -

I actually drink my chai tea just plain.

I love the spicy deliciousness of it.

It tastes like Christmas.

Christmas tastes good!

~~~~~~~~~~

Here we go.

I got an idea when I opened that scatter brained tea drawer...

MAN! It needs organized! Let's see - I have this old tin - coincidentally it is an old Christmas tin.

Ha!

I think I will totally paint it up cute and put my tea in it!

What'cha think?

Cool!

Let's do it!

First, I'm going to spray paint it white...

Okay.

While that dries let's eat tomato on toast.... yummmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

These are tomatoes from the garden. Even though I am on a diet, not usually eating wheat or fats for that matter - you gotta get in at least one of these... right?

thank goodness it is nap time -Now,

I think I'll use a pencil for a little designage...

(yes, I just made-up that word)

now paint time...

and

I think I will give it some bumps and bruises to make it look "aged", cover it in a clear coating. organize, and

Walah! tea for two...me & you.

Well - the monster is awake.

Annikke,

I just wanted to say that I appreciated you coming to visit me today

and every time you get a chance.

I love your blog

& I love hearing from you - you have the sweetest comments and great feedback.

I believe we could be

kindred spirits.

&

if you ever make it to

Idaho

- let me know...

I think we could probably find some trouble to get into.

Especially if we bring Misty!

*wink*

God Bless you and yours.

♥Hearts♥

P.S. Thanks to all of you for dropping by today

& don't forget

Wednesdays are "informal introduction day"

and the only way for me to pick you is if I know you are out there -

So leave me a comment - I'd love to know who is stopping by.

x0x0

an informal introduction.

i have been thinking for a while about all of you.

you who come by my little ole blog and read about our daily events.

you put up with my crazy attempt to take "good" photos of my kids.

y'all listen to me ramble on and on about caterpillars wearing tulle

and my huge obsession for Grey's Anatomy and Gilmore Girls.

Let it be known that

you make my heart

so this is the post where i invite one of my dedicated blog readers to have coffee with me.

so without any further ado...

will Carolyn, please come down!

you're the next contestant (and first!) on

an informal introduction!

(this is where Carolyn puts her hands over her mouth and jumps up excited! as she didn't even know that I knew... she existed)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

hi Carolyn!

come on in!

((hug))

i'm so glad you could make it today...

these are for you.
aren't they gorgeous? i just love how sunflowers encourage autumn so beautifully.

i'm sure they will look fabulous in your home.

Now,

don't mind daphnie, she's friendly

pauly and william... say hello to Carolyn ~

boys.

you two play nice over there while we visit

-k-

i'm sorry that Ben is going to miss you - he is at work, of course.

maybe you two will meet some other day...

Carolyn, please take a seat here with me...

now, would you like some coffee?

i actually can whip up some tea in just seconds if you prefer.

okay...

great.

cream? sugar?

and how about a blueberry scone?

source

let me get us a couple of plates, here.

okay, now.

let's visit.

~

OF COURSE I know you exist!

The Lady knows all *wink*

(I have a very dependable source consisting of sweet sister and all but shhhhhh... I won't tell Carolyn if you won't!!)

I know that you are so sweet to take a few minutes out of your day.

each day.

to come here and visit me.

I know that I am insanely jealous that you live so close to my sister -

I know! She is a doll.

I love her so.

I know that you, Carolyn, have made my sister and her family feel more at home than

just about anything or anyone since they've moved so far away from all of us.

and I

thank you,

from the bottom of my heart.

I know that you have a beautiful home.

impeccable taste.

you love your family

and they love you right back.


you ♥love♥ twink lights.

oooh! let me show you mine, my hubster put them up on my back patio for me.

dreamy, huh.

well, I wanted to send home something with you for Ed and the boys...

hope they enjoy them :)

(do you think they'll understand that they aren't real? ahhhh...Men! they're so serious when it comes to food :)

and this,

my dear,

is all.

for.

you.

Enjoy! & Thanks again, so much for coming today.

I hope we can get together again real soon. *wink

God Bless you and yours.
x♥x♥ ~ The Lady of the House

P.S. ~ Stay tuned all my love-bug-readers!

You might be my date next time on

an informal introduction.

~~~~~~~~
Psssst! (but really the only way for me to know that you're out there... is to leave me a comment... so don't forget, now!)

Glitter, Glass and Nummy Ga Ga

Last night... was perfect.

I watched a lovely episode of Anthony Bordain - love him.

While I made these glittery Bible verse pretties for my Mamas' Group.

Read a little of this... love it...

while I watched Gilmore Girls - love them too.

This morning I made these brownies for my Mama guests.

It makes me happy to find a yummy recipe,

have it turn out and

get to put it in my glass pedestal... bliss.

Love these brownies!

...and you will too.

Happy Day!