Merry Christmas!

Georgia played Santa last week while we delivered homemade fudge to several of our neighbors. I had to share - it was too cute! Dontcha love our pink feather tree? We were only home for 2 weeks this month, so we didn't go all out and get our normal tree. Georgia had admired the pink feather trees at Michaels, so when they went on sale, we got one. I figure that I will just put it in Georgia's and Olivia's room next year!

Thankful Swap

I recently participated in a Thankful Swap over on Liz's blog and I got the most amazing package from Jamie!
Wowzers! Just let me share...

Preschool Class Christmas Gift

I wanted to share what I did for the kids in Georgia's preschool class for their Christmas party. I wanted to get a little something for each child from Georgia, but didn't want to (couldn't afford to!) spend a lot of money. So, I went to Michael's and bought a craft kit - said it made 36 snowmen crafts. It was on sale for about $5. Then I bought a couple of Martha Stewart's packing kits - also on sale for less than $5 each. So, I was able to put together these little craft kits for the 16 kids in Georgia's class for around $1 each! They turned out totally cute!

Catching Up...

I finally sat down to download pictures off of my camera today. Boy, am I really behind in blogging! I know this because I still have pictures on my camera from October!! Holy Cow! How did I lose the past two months?!
In any case, please forgive me for being tardy with the chronicle of the past couple of months.
Back in October, we went to Beaufort, and while there, Georgia had quite a full social calendar. She was able to visit with Aunt Kelly, Uncle Mike, Madelynne, Amelia, and Emma Kate. We stayed with Alison, Jeff, Avery, and Alex. Georgia and Avery had a really big time together! Georgia was able to visit her old school, spend the night with Abbie, go to a play of Junie B. Jones, and attend a fabulous princess birthday party for Emma Grace!

Georgia and Avery









Georgia and Abbie





Saying goodbye is always sad...



Emma Grace's Princess Tea Birthday Party







Going back a little bit farther... Olivia turned 2 on October 25th and we celebrated, Pooh style!







Going back even a little bit farther... one day I caught Sophia in the hall bathroom. She had discovered the spare roll of toilet paper and decided to see how it tasted. She had a good bit of the roll spread around her too!

Fancy Nancy Birthday Party

I realize that my daughter turned 5 on November 25th, but we are going to be holding her birthday party on January 12th. So, put on your thinking caps - all you uber-creative ladies, and help me put on the most amazing SOIREE (that is fancy for party) ever! Our theme is a Fancy Nancy Posh Pink party and we are inviting the kids in her class, including the boys - so I need activities, games, crafts, etc that will appeal to the dudes as well! I bought a great book at Micheals, so I think I have the food and drink covered, but would love your ideas on decorations, games, activities, crafts, and that sort of thing. We think we will rent the little community center in our neighborhood that has two sections - a kitchen/dining area where the main party will happen, and the garage/storage area and we are going to investigate renting a bouncy and having that in there for the kids to play and jump in - too cold to be outside in January!! So, pretend you are an outrageously expensive event planner, and give me those ideas!!!
For those of you who are not familiar with Fancy Nancy - check it out - it is stinkin' adorable! And there is a sequel - Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. I understand, too, that there is another one being published in February, can't wait for it!!

More Christmas Fun...

I saw this today on one of my favorite blogs - all sorts. What a great activity for the kids to do! Decorate your own gingerbread house online - totally calorie free and no sticky fingerprints all over YOUR house! http://www.jennybharris.com/activities/home/sweethome.htm

Some Christmas Spirit...

I saw this on Kristi's blog and just had to share it here. I absolutely love this! It makes you smile and feel like tapping your toes!

A visit to Santa!

We ventured over to the mall today and the girls visited Santa. As you can see, Olivia was less than thrilled with the experience! Oh well, maybe next year!

Sweet Funky Vintage

Sweet Funky Vintage is almost here! Liz and I have been busily preparing for Market Days, but have also been preparing our spring preview collection too. We have just about finished putting a few peices online on our website. I think they are fabulous! We have even more great things planned for Spring. We have chosen some really yummy fabrics that will arrive soon!

Missing in Action...

I haven't been blogging much. And I have really missed it! We have had back to back to back company lately. My parents were here for 5 days, followed by Chris's parents for 5 days followed by my sister for 6 days. It was great to see everyone and we had such a good time. But, I didn't take much time to blog during those visits. I will try to get caught up soon. This weekend we are going out of town to visit friends, and next week is Thanksgiving, which will be followed by a week of the girls and I visiting my family in Tallahassee, Florida. I will be down there, preparing for Market Days, where my friend, Liz, and I will be exhibiting for our individual design lines, and showing a spring preview of our joint line, SweetFunkyVintage. I am really excited and nervous about showing at Market Days. I hope to have a couple of sneak preview pictures for you in the next day or so!

I wish you enough...

I have seen this before many times, and maybe I have even posted it on my blog before. But, I still like it and want to share it again...

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.



Thanks Tami!

Thinking about...

Sermon in church today was interesting. It was basically the sermon on the mount and spoke about money - Matthew 6:24-34. No big surprise to hear that money is the #1 cause of worry according to a recent consumer survey. I was familiar with the biblical reference to the love of money being the root of all evil, as well as familiar with the reference to "no one can serve two masters... you cannot serve God and money." We all know that money has power. The pastor outlined the power of money as follows: money *)provides security *)determines status *)destorys marriages (found this interesting - hadn't ever thought about this before - it has to do with having enough, what to spend it on, who makes the decisions about what to spend it on - he/she who controls the money has power in the marriage) *) influences emotions (envy, guilt, regret, worth)

The pastor then talked about where to turn for financial advice -
1. Get God's counsel - Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
2. Learn contentment - Isn't this a biggie? - Phillipians 4:11 - I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Contentment is an internal disposition, not an external reality.
3. Make a Commitment - Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

This verse really hit home for me today...

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Now, ain't that the truth?

Halloween - Looking Back...

Oct 2003 - Georgia's first halloween - a hydrangea.


Oct 2004 - Georgia's second halloween - Tinkerbelle.


Oct 2005 - Georgia's third halloween - a Ballerina.

Oct 2006 - Georgia's fourth halloween - Little Bo Peep.
Olivia's first halloween - a Sheep.


Oct 2007 - Georgia's fifth halloween. Olivia's second halloween, Sophia's first halloween - the three little pigs!

Pumpkin Patch

We have been to the pumpkin patch! We took the girls on Friday afternoon. They had such a good time! It was a beautiful day, sunny, but not too warm, with the high at about 65 degrees. The girls played, dug in the sand mountain, went on a hayride, and went down the slides over and over again. Even Chris got in on the fun!



Whoops!

Another Youtube find...

I got this one from Marcia and Lori. Pretty good!

What's Cooking...

I have made a couple of yummy recipes this week and I thought I would share them with you!

Broccoli-Sausage Pasta

2 Tbsp Olive oil
1 large onion, sliced thin
3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled
8 oz white mushrooms, cleaned, stems removed, sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 can (28oz) diced tomatoes
3 Tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 bunch broccoli, cut into small florets
1/2 c half and half

1. heat oil in large pot. Add onions and cook 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, sausage and mushrooms; cook 10 more minutes, stirring ocasionally.
2. Add wine; cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, paste, salt, oregano, nutmeg, pepper. Bring to boil. Lower heat to low and cook, covered, for 25 minutes, stirring ocasionally. Add broccoli during the last 5 minutes.
3. Add in half and half and simmer, covered, for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Serve over pasta and sprinkle with parmesan.

Brie and Caramelized Onion Stuffed Chicken Breasts

1 tsp olive oil, divided
1 1/2 c sliced onion
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2/3 c dry white wine, divided
2 ounces Brie or Camembert cheese, rind removed and cut into small pieces (about 2 Tbsp)
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
4 (4oz) skinned, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tbsp minced onion
1 tbsp chopped fresh or 3/4 tsp dried sage
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (10 1/2 oz) can low salt chicken broth

1. heat 1/2 tsp oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion, saute 30 minutes or until golden brown. Add sliced garlic; saute 5 minutes. Stir in 1/3 c wine; cook minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Spoon onion mixture into a bowl; let cool. Stir in brie, salt and pepper.
2. Cut a horizontal slit through the thickest portion of each chicken breast half to form a pocket. Stuff about 1 1/2 tbsp of the onion mixture into each pocket.
3. heat 1/2 tsp oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken; saute 6 minutes on each side or until chicken is doen. Remove chicken from skillet. Set aside; keep warm.
4. Add 1/3 c wine, minced onion, sage, and minced garlic to skillet. Cook over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Stir in broth. Bring to a boil, and cook 7 minutes or until reduced to 3/4 c. Return chicken to skillet; cover and simmer 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve sauce with chicken.

Something fun to check out!

Visit this blog and comment so we can both win!

Food doesn't have to be boring!

You know me - I love to do little fun things to jazz up food for the girls.
Recently, we made a couple of cute critters.
Ladybugs!

G was pretty tickled to open her lunchbox at school and find this surprise for snacktime.
To make:
2 ritz crackers
smidgen of cream cheese
licorice
gel icing
- spread some cream cheese on one side of one cracker. Carefully cut the other cracker in half. Cut small pieces of the licorice for antenna and place those in the cream cheese. Position the cut cracker on top at an angle to form wings. Pipe 3 small dots of gel icing on the dimples on each cracker wing.

Kitty Cat Pancakes!

Daddy makes pancakes or waffles with the girls for breakfast each weekend. G had seen a picture of a kitty cat face on a pancake in her new magazine, so we created one like it using some strawberries, grapes, bananas, apple, and coconut.