Seriously ya'll, can you believe that another year has come and gone?!  How did that happen?  Where did 2011 go?  What on earth will 2012 bring?  I'm so excited to find out! As I've been thinking back on this past year, I find a sense of accomplishment of doing something I've never been much good at doing...keeping a journal.  I mean, I still don't do the whole "dear diary" … [Read more...]

This is a post I wrote a couple of months ago....prematurely really, since it's actually the perfect thing to serve for New Years...but it was just so so good that I couldn't wait.  So...you're getting it again.  It's good enough to share again.  I promise! I must confess that headed into this recipe I was skeptical. I'm a good Southern girl, but that doesn't mean that I have … [Read more...]

Yesterday was "one of those days" with my kids.  Or more particularly with my 5 year-old. Granted, we've been kinda cooped up lately, and since he is a boy who is ALL BOY, we run into some behavioral issues when he gets too bored or cooped up.  So I have tried to stave off at least the boredom with things like making sugar cookies, working together to un-decorate from … [Read more...]

I SOOO wish I could claim this recipe as my own...but I can't, so I won't.  Got to give credit where credit is due, so thanks a million to my friend Heidi, who I met on an airplane and liked so much we've kept in touch.  She made this MOST amazing pimento cheese recipe to bring to our Christmas party, and I was so so excited when there was some leftover...until I ate the … [Read more...]

I don't know much about astronomy.  I can find the big and little dippers, and Orion in a clear night sky, but that's about it.  Beyond that, I don't much know what I'm looking at aside from a dark blanket of twinkling beauty. This morning, I found myself wanting to read through the Christmas story again.  I've read the story a lot over the years, but today for some reason … [Read more...]

Here we come a-wassailing Among the leaves so green; Here we come a-wand'ring So fair to be seen. REFRAIN: Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too; And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year And God send you a Happy New Year. My dear friend Wikipedia taught me that the old English wassail song refers to 'wassailing', or singing carols door to door wishing … [Read more...]

My little sister is having her first baby in February. I am SO excited! I'm throwing a shower for her with some other girls, and since she's my sister, and since I think that an invitation sets the tone for well, anything... I wanted to do them. You all know enough about me by now to guess that I just had to make them.  After all...it is for my sister. I have to tell you … [Read more...]

I am woefully behind on all of the things I have to get done in the next couple of days.  Thankfully tomorrow is Saturday and I'll have my Hubs around to help.  Laundry is still not caught up, my bedroom is an absolute mess, I'm not done with my sister's baby shower invitations, and then our Christmas cards arrived in the mail yesterday (they turned out so great, I'm tickled to … [Read more...]

I realized as I've been editing all of the pictures of my home decorated for Christmas that I am gonna have to break it all down into parts because there are SO many things to show you.  Today, I noticed that some other blogs I enjoy are hosting mantel  decor parties, and since my mantels are probably among my favorite things to decorate for Christmas...I figured we'd start … [Read more...]

I woke up really early this morning kinda stressed over the Christmas party I've been planning.  When I originally planned it, in my mind I was having it on a Friday night.  When I sent the invitations, I was in such a tizzy to get it done amidst the other million things I've had on my plate lately, I sent the invitation dated for Saturday.  And right after I sent it, I … [Read more...]

I have a confession.  I think I've been kind of a jerk.  And, well...in my heart I've been a total jerk several times lately. The Lord pricked my heart on something this morning that I think is a great thing to consider particularly during the Holiday season... Hospitality....to our families You all know I love a good party.  Whether it's hosting one like I did for Lily … [Read more...]

I'm sorry I'm just now getting this post up with the Lily Pottery Giveaway winner from yesterday!  I'm so tired!  I think all of the adrenaline from the days prior that I needed to get my house decorated and cleaned for the show last night must have gone straight out the door with Lily as she left last night.  Yes friends...the adrenaline rush is over and the low has definitely … [Read more...]

I hope all of you had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend wherever you were.  We headed up to the mountains (where I got to enjoy my favorite kind of coffee several times) with my parents, sister and brother in-law.  My actual brother is still on the aircraft carrier, and thankfully he's finally headed homeward after 8 long months.  I cannot wait to see him!  My brood headed home … [Read more...]