Dance Party

I take a lot of pictures of my family but I try a little to hard to make them all perfect.

So this year I'm going to try and take more natural pictures of my fam.

It doesn't matter if the background shows off my messy house or reveals that I let my kids wear their jammies until 2 in the afternoon.

I want to have memories of the real moments of my life and focus less on trying to make everything perfect.

So here's a little video that reveals a few little secrets.

1) I let my kids dance on the coffee table.

(Dianne you might not want to watch this video because I know you'll have a heart attack)

2) My Christmas decorations are still on my shelf

3)We didn't leave the house today so Mason is in his jammies and Ava rocked the dress-up all day.

4) This isn't really a secret but gesh I love my kids!

Just A Super Quick Lunch

 I don't know if you're obsessed with Pinterest like I am

but if you are maybe you've seen this genius idea.

I hate fixing lunch.

It's on the list with drying my hair, changing diapers, and being cold

and those things are no where near the top of my fun things to do list.

However, I do like to eat.

Most days it's just me and Mason home for lunch and most days I find myself just making him something and skipping it for myself.

Not anymore people!

Enter ready made salads.

And I mean ready.

Better then the Wendy's open the dressing and put it on ready.

Say hello to Mr. Salad in a jar.

One reason I don't make a lot of salads is because there are so many ingredients.

I mean I can't be opening and closing all kinds of jars

(Sorry for my little Brian Regan reference.  If you haven't heard of him you should look him up. Funny funny stuff)

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is if I can have lunch made in 1 minute then why not do it!

Here's the deal with this.

You put your dressing in the bottom of the jar.

Then add you're other ingredients.

I have red onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, and then lettuce.

It doesn't matter what you put in as long as the dressing and lettuce don't touch.

And if you're going to do croutons you probably don't want them touching the dressing either.

These will last for about 3-4 days.

So I made a few for me and Reed on Saturday and we'll be good to go for a few days.

Mmmm doesn't that look delish.

If you're trying to be a little more healthy in 2012 maybe this could help you out.

Setting Goals

As the new year is approaching I've been thinking a lot about what I want to improve in 2012.

Last year I kinda over did it with my list of things I wanted to accomplish.

So this year I'm going to simplify.

Simplify my goals and my life.

This year I'm going to write down 3 things that I want to do better.

Then I'm going to prioritize them from most important to least important and I'm only going to work on one at a time.

When I become awesome at the first one I will move on to the next.

If it takes me a whole year to finish the first goal I'll be ok with that because it's worth it.

I'm not sure what all 3 goals will be yet but I do know what number 1 is.

I will become more organized!

I am one of the least organized people EVER.

Nothing in my house has a place and things just get piled up everywhere.

It's really hard to admit it but I'm also a mild hoarder.

So this year I will work on making organization a habit.

I will get rid of a lot of junk and I will find a home for everything.

I know that this one goal entails a lot but I also know that becoming more organized will help my family in so many different areas.

So if you start seeing a lot of posts on how to organize this is why.

And if you have any good tips or motivational sayings I would love to hear them!

I'm going to need some motivation to make this happen or at least get started.

Hopefully the results will be enough to keep me going after I start.

Feel free to jump in and take on this challenge with me

or if you're already a pro

let me know what you'll be working on in 2012.



Winner!

And the giveaway winner is

Angie!

Congrats and I will just bring the clips on Sunday.

New Year's Countdown Bags

Since New Year's falls on a Saturday night this year we will be having our party at home and sending the kids to bed around 9.

I still want to make sure we have a good time though.

I don't know if you've seen the countdown bags floating around the blog world but they looked really fun so I decided to do my version.

The first thing I made were some noisemakers.

They are super easy and really awesome because they aren't too loud.

And who wants a headache on New Year's Eve?

So here's what you need to scrounge up.

Scrapbooking paper (optional)

Empty ribbon spools

tape

rice

glue

First tape off the opening on one side of the ribbon spool.

 Then you want to put a little bit of rice in the other opening.

Make sure you don't put too much in or there won't be room for the rice to shake.

Now tape up that opening.

Then trace the spool twice onto scrapbooking paper.

Cut out the circles and a strip to cover where the ribbon would be.

After you've got it all cut out just glue it on.

 Then I took brown lunch sacks and drew clocks on them with the time the kids get to open them.

Here are some of the other surprises the kids will find in their bags.

Sparklers

Stuff to make a memory jar

A interview page

Ava will have one with sparkly nail polish and

 Braeden will have one with a recipe for a yummy treat

 Then it will be time for bed so we don't have a bunch of little grumps for church in the morning.

So do you have any big plans for the big night?

Just A Little Bling Giveaway

I wanted to do a little giveaway on my blog for awhile.

It's just a little something but I hope you like it.

I made some of these for a little girl and while I was making then Ava came over and asked if they were hers.

When I told her no she said "But you are going to make me some, right?"

So I made her some and while I was at it made a set to give away to one of you.

So if you have a little girl who loves a little bling as much as mine does or if you want them all for yourself just leave a comment about anything at all.

The giveaway is open until Dec. 29th at noon and the winner will be announced shortly after.

Just make sure you leave your email or check back to see if you won.

This is open to anyone in the U.S. and I will ship it on the 30th.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas.

We had a wonderful time and I'll be posting some pictures real soon.

Photography Winner!!!

!!!Winner Winner!!!

I'm starting the first of 2 insanely crazy days but I wanted to let you know who won the photography contest.

!!!The Bullock Family!!!

I must say I'm extremely excited to photograph your awesome family Sarah.

But I'm sorry you all couldn't win.

Now I'm off to finish up a few presents but

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!

And don't forget to check back for the hair bow giveaway!