A Mommy's Musings

It's Monday...

2008-12-15T05:38:00.004-05:00

So, I thought everyone could use a few chuckles! Be forewarned...this post contains a lot of pictures...and they are all funny {unless you're the ones in the pictures or it's happened to you}!

These photos are evidence of why people don't like to move North...

I'm sure they'll learn to close the garage door next time...total bummer!

I didn't realize that nuns could be so cruel!

It's like the parting of the Red Sea...where's Moses?!

Man, that would stink!

Freezer anyone? (Yes...that's someone's front door!)

Wow. That's a massive bummer.

Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Mo! Where's my car?!?

Okay...this might be a tad cruel, but this next one is my personal fave! I would have loved to seen this happen! Ha ha! I mean...as long as the guy wasn't hurt! :) I can't believe someone got a picture of this...ha ha ha!!

Well, everyone! I know it's Monday...but cheer up! Things could be worse! :)

Menu Plan Monday - December 15-21

2008-12-15T01:51:00.004-05:00

It's that time again! Time to make up the weekly menu. Wow...this past week flew by!!

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season so far...we're busy over here...and yes, I still have some shopping to do!!! Ugh...sometime soon {as in REALLY soon}, I'm going to have to suck it up and fight the crowds! I've ordered most of our gifts online this year, but there's some things that I still have to go out and get. Well...anyway - you're here for my menu....so here it is!

Monday: Hamburgers (on the George Foreman Grill) and fries

Tuesday: Chicken Enchilada Pie

Wednesday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, corn and french bread (this was my daughter's request)

Thursday: Soup & Sammies (that's sandwiches, folks)

Friday: Leftover day! (Hey, I have to clean out the fridge sometime!)

Saturday: Baked Seasoned Chicken Breasts, roasted potatoes, and green beans

Sunday: Headin' over to the folks' house to have Chili with the fam!

Oh, and here's a few links (with my own pictures and everything!) to some of the treats I made this past week:

Peppermint Fudge Brownies

Christmas Wreath Treats

And check out the 12 Days of Cookies recipes for some good holiday treat ideas too!

Then...for more menus to browse, head on over to Org Junkie's list of Menu Plan Monday bloggers...click HERE for that! :) And remember, if you participate in Menu Plan Monday - next week is will be the "Family Favorites Edition" in honor of the holidays...so think about some of your holiday family favorites to post!

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Look...Look!!!

2008-12-12T22:22:00.003-05:00

Look what I just won from Sweet 'n Sassy Baby: Cute Christmas Tree Appliques! I'm so excited!

I'm going to make holiday tees for my kids!

You have to go over and check out the Sweet 'n Sassy Baby blog as well as the Sweet 'n Sassy Baby shop on Etsy...the stuff is so adorable! Love it!

Happy Holidays...from our tree to yours...

2008-12-12T16:08:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays!

Well...here's our "little" (it's about 7 feet) Charlie Brown tree! :)

Happy Holidays everyone...from the tree in our family room to yours!

This year, Tip Junkie is hosting it's FIRST Annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest...so head on over there to see what it's all about...click HERE to find out more!

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But...since you're here...I'll share some of my tree decor ideas/tips:

I {love} the color RED, so naturally {and since it's the best Christmas color ever} I deck out my tree in red...with a few silver accents here and there!

Instead of garland, I use decorated silver wire with snowflakes on it.
I adorn our tree with small red ribbons/bows - it makes the tree look put together and keeps it looking "welcoming and warm."
I use white lights! No colored ones here...I think white lights just adds an aura to the room...makes the whole room just feel all warm and cozy.
Instead of a star or an angel on top, I have a HUGE glittery bow ~ this adds such a unique finish and it sparkles so beautifully against the white lights!
For the ornaments...I have an assortment of basic round ball ornaments in red and silver, glittery red snowflakes, silver bells, and a few special ornaments that we've been given or that my daughter has made - it's all red and silver though!
The best tip I have about collecting ornaments is to hit the stores immediately after Christmas - they basically give them away! I have found some of the best {and most inexpensive} ornaments this way!!!
Because I like to keep it all with red and cozy, I don't actually have a "real" tree skirt...I found some shimmery deep red fabric and I drape it underneath the tree (around the base)...it ties everything together...it looks so chic and unique!
I normally start placing gifts under the tree as soon as it's up, but this year...I have an 18 month old little boy...so that's NOT happening!! :) All the gifts are wrapped and "hidden" in our storage closet this year!

I hope everyone is having a blast decorating for Christmas...it's my favorite holiday...especially when it comes to decorating!

And remember...head on over to Tip Junkie to see more Christmas trees and helpful tree decorating tips from other bloggers!

Happy Holidays!

More Holiday Treats!

2008-12-12T15:31:00.004-05:00

Last night, Emma and I got this crazy idea to make more holiday treats! Yes...more! I figured that since we both like to be in the kitchen and making yummy holiday treats is a great way to get in our special mommy-daughter bonding time...why not! I can always send the ever flowing abundance of the goodies to work with my husband...I'm sure his fellow employees will gobble 'em right up! So...last night's choice was to make Christmas Wreath Treats - you know...the ones that are made with cornflakes. Well...here's the recipe...a picture...and a few helpful hints if you decided to make them too. And believe me...they're yummy! (I had to at least try one...since we made them and all!!!)

These goodies are sure to be a hit at any holiday party...or better yet, if you're hosting a party for your child's classroom...kids LOVE these things!

Now...here's a small disclaimer before you go on...we decided to fore go the actual "wreath shape" with ours last night...mainly because Emma was adding sprinkles before I could even get the things down on the wax paper!! Ha ha....oh well though...they still look somewhat festive (thanks to the bright and cheery colors) and we had fun making them...which, in our case, was all that mattered! :)

The Recipe:

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

4 cups marshmallows
1 tsp. green food coloring
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups cornflakes
Jumbo red nonpareils

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, once melted add in the marshmallows. Allow this to all melt together making a creamy smooth mixture. Remove from heat, then add in the green food color, almond extract and vanilla extract. Add in the cornflakes and stir until all the cornflakes are coated. Form wreath shaped "treats" (circles with a whole in them) on wax paper and top with jumbo red nonpareils to make "berries." Let cool and set completely. Store in an airtight container...or gobble 'em right up...it's your choice.

HELPFUL TIPS:

When forming the wreaths, either wear greased/buttered kitchen gloves (like the thin dispossable ones that the old lunch ladies used when you were a kid) or butter your fingers before attempting this - this stuff is STICKY!!
Many people use Red Hot candies instead of using the giant nonpareils for the berries...I just kept this recipe more "kid friendly" by keeping the "heat" out!

When adding the green food coloring...I'd start out with 1/2 of what the recipe calls for...I just dumped the whole teaspoon in and, boy were these babies GREEN! So green that they actually dyed our tongues a tad (see picture below)! So, while they are vibrant and festive, I think I'd cut back on the food coloring just a little next time.

(Also notice the huge bruise on Landen's forehead...I'm convinced that it's impossible for him not to have one located somewhere on his head at all times. Ugh. Boys!)

Have fun making your delicious holiday goodies this year! hopefully we all won't be the size of houses when it's all said and done!!

Happy Holidays!

It's Wednesday!

2008-12-10T15:37:00.005-05:00

Well, I made it. We're half way through the week! Sorry I haven't made a post in about a day or so...I've been super busy here at home! I've got a few little "under the weather" kiddos and a lot of Christmas cards to get out in the mail!! Not to mention...now that it's Christmas break time for all of the colleges around the country...I've been enjoying a little extra time with my siblings who are back at home (love you guys...glad you're out of school for a little while). I've been enjoying my "blog jogs" this week - there's so many new and exciting things happening in the bloggy world! I'll have to post about all of the fun things that I've won (from giveaways) and discovered in a later post. For now...I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

It's Official...

2008-12-08T12:41:00.003-05:00

Well, I've hemmed and hawed about whether or not to post about this, but I'm just so excited and I figured it wouldn't hurt to put a little pressure on myself to get this thing launched!

But here it goes...

Well, {hopefully} in January/February 2009, I'll be listing items for sale in my newly created Etsy Shop ~

Lil Boo & Co.

All the items in my shop will be handcrafted by none other than your truly! It's going to take a lot of work, but it's something that I've wanted to do for a while...so I'm finally taking the plunge!

To get all the latest updates about the shop...including special events, new item listings, sales and giveaways once the shop launches...go to the Lil Boo & Co. Blog and become a follower!

Baking Together

2008-12-08T11:33:00.003-05:00

Last night, my daughter Emma and I decided to make some delicious holiday treats! We scouted out a few yummy recipes and went to work in the kitchen ~ Emma even wore her little apron! Too cute! Here's what we were baking:

Peppermint Fudge Brownies

(Emma said that these are for daddy...he has a brownie weakness)

What you'll need ~

For the Brownies:

2 sticks (1 cup) butter

12 oz bag semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cups flour

For the Frosting:

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 TB butter

1 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

Decorations: Red and White Starlight Mints, crushed (for topping)

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 13 x 9-in. baking pan with foil, letting foil extend above pan at both ends.

2. Brownies: Melt butter in a covered 3-qt microwave-safe bowl on high or in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add chocolate chips; microwave, stirring every 15 seconds, or cook, stirring occasionally, until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; stir briskly until blended. Stir in flour. Pour into prepared pan; spread evenly.

3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a pick inserted in center comes out clean (don’t over bake). Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

4. Frosting: Clean bowl or saucepan, add chocolate and butter and melt in microwave on high, or stir over low heat (mixture may look dried and grainy). Remove from heat. Add sugar, sour cream and vanilla; beat with mixer on low speed until smooth. Spread evenly over brownie; garnish with candy. For easier cutting refrigerate 30 minutes.

5. Lift foil by ends to cutting board. Cut crosswise in twelve 1-in.-wide strips. Cut diagonally into diamonds.

**NOTE: I added one SMALL drop of peppermint extract to the frosting...it just added a little more "minty" flavor.

**ANOTHER NOTE: Instead of using the starlight mints, I sprinkled Andes Candies Crunch Peppermint Chips on the top (I found them in the baking aisle by the other chocolate chips...they're scrumptious!)

We also made Irresistable Peanut Butter Cookies. Click HERE for that recipe.

Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday - December 8-14

2008-12-08T10:08:00.003-05:00

Wow! It's the getting closer and closer to the end of the year...I just can't believe it!

(Just a random little thought there...that was free.)

Well, I TOTALLY blew it last week. I mean, I cooked almost everyday...I just didn't really stick to my posted menu at all!! Oops. I changed things up and tried to use what I had in the house - I didn't want to end up tossing things out instead of using them. I'm sure all of you understand how that goes! Well...some parts of my menu this week may look the same as last week's (it's because we didn't actually have those things yet!) I know you'll be kind and understanding! Ha ha ha! I've included some linked recipes as a bonus...enjoy!

MONDAY: Lasagna, Green Beans & Garlic Bread

TUESDAY: Tuna Melts (I make them on fresh bagels...yum!) & Chips

WEDNESDAY: Homemade Stramboli, Fresh Veggies and Fruit Salad

THURSDAY: Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo...Mmmmm! :)

FRIDAY: Hot Dogs or Pigs'n a Blanket, Mac'n Cheese

SATURDAY: Tatertot Casserole, Rolls

SUNDAY: Chinese Food...also yum!

Remember to check out to see what everyone else over at Org Junkie is cookin' up this week...click HERE to see!

Happy Holidays~

Yay for Today!

2008-12-06T23:52:00.008-05:00

First of all, I was SO excited when the mail was delivered today because I got our Christmas photo cards!!! Yay...they will be mailed to everyone on time! ;) They look great too (thanks Krisi)! So...then my next big task was to update the "mailing list" for our holiday cards - get family updates, move updates, marriage updates...you know...so that each card gets to the right person! Boy, it seems like the list grows longer and longer each and every year! That's okay though...we love ya'll! I'm still in the process of getting all of the addresses together, but I think I have the list almost complete {NOTE: if you think that I may not have your address {or new address} and I should...send it to me!!! Ahem...you know who you are}. Then...on to the final task to get these babies off in the mail as soon as possible: return address labels! Yep...that's right...I take the "label" way out! Ha ha ha! It's truly not because of laziness...I promise! I just love the way our holiday cards look with that special "professional" touch. Plus, I don't mind writing in everyone else's addresses, but for the return address...writing our name and address over and over again gets so tediously boring...I know...pathetic excuse right?! For the last few years, I've just been making my own return address labels, but I decided that I'm only so blandly talented. So this year I took on the adventure of finding someone else to do the labels...without spending a ton of money. I wanted to keep it practical...afterall...I got a steal of a deal on the photo cards themselves (again...thanks Krisi)...so why ruin that by splurging on cute labels?! Well...I am so excited that I found some {smashingly fabulous} labels at an outrageously awesome price! I was so thrilled when I stumbled into

Bohtieque

It's a shop on Etsy that specializes in all things {labels}.

I was drooling over this shop's cute designs & all of the fun and funky labels! This shop has labels for anyone's liking...from simple to whimsical to super sophisticated. And all the labels are customizable, of course. This shop also offers gift certificates. (Santa, are you reading this? I've been a very good girl this year.)

I will definitely frequent this shop! I'm a total sticker & label addict. They somehow make me feel more organized or something. I ordered some stinkin' cute return address labels for our Christmas cards!! Yay! {It's the little things in life that make me happy.} You must visit this cute shop! I'm just so excited I found it...woo hoo!

Ahhh...Saturday Mornings!

2008-12-06T14:30:00.003-05:00

I {love} Saturday mornings!

I always have...there's just something about them, you know?! And there's even something a little more special about wintry Saturday mornings. Everyone wakes up all bundled up in cuddly pajamas...Christmas themed cartoons are all over every television channel {or Christmas tunes are BLARING from your neighbor's house before 8 a.m....yes...I love my neighbors}...and the yummy smells of breakfast and freshly brewed coffee just seem to linger a little longer. And every once in a while, there's even freshly fallen snow right outside the window to gaze at! Usually, our Saturdays start out with daddy (my hubby) making pancakes, eggs and bacon. Mmmm...there's nothing like daddy's breakfasts! Why is it that all dads are perfect pancake makers?! Have you ever noticed that? It must be a special gift the God bestows on them when they have children! Saturday is usually our day to relax...shop...or do whatever we feel like doing - you know... it's just our day to have fun as a family! My kids love Saturdays too because they know that daddy doesn't have to work {poor guy gets smothered all day by two little kids that have been dyin' to have a wrestling match and build a blanket fort with their dad all week...I don't think he minds one bit though}.

Saturdays are just plain ol' fun!

This morning, as I was picking up around the house (the never ending chore of all moms), I saw my kids playing in one of our suitcases that I had just unpacked from a recent trip...sometimes the simplest little things they do just put a huge smile on my face {and in my heart}.

I love these kids!

Have a very Happy Saturday Everyone!!

What Makes This Mommy Happy...

2008-12-05T14:21:00.012-05:00

I LOVE organization...I mean, anything to make my life easier and less chaotic gets my vote! I'm sure most, if not all, mommies would have to agree! And if I can get a product that helps me become more organized, and it looks cute, well...then...it's a NO BRAINER for me! That's why I was SO excited to stumble upon this : It's a {car organizer}!! The Craft Apple sells the pattern so you can make your own! I'm gonna have to order that thing right away!! The Craft Apple has a ton of other really cute and practical patterns as well...I really love that site!

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You want to know what else really puts a smile on my face? These "new" wall quotes that everyone has in their homes! I am absolutely in love with them!!!

The one pictured above can be found at Quote the Walls. This online shop has tons of designs to choose from, including personalized wall decor and vinyl car quotes/decals. My personal favorite is this one:

It would look perfect in our family room with pictures around it! And Quote the Walls is super affordable...their wall quotes are high quality without the huge price tag.

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Guess what?

You can have a chance to win items from these shops {and many others} as part of the

Deck the Halls Holiday Blog Carnival by Three Peas in a Pod

Click the link above to see what it's all about!

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And...last, but not least ~ do you want to know something else that make me super happy?

HAIR BOWS!!!!

I know...I'm a grown woman, right?! That's okay though, because the Good Lord above has blessed me with the a gorgeous little girl of my own...so I can live out my girly ways through her. Thankfully at the age of four, she's not protesting that fact...yet!

Well...I found this adorable bow shop on Etsy called

J4BowsnClips

and they have some of the most darling little hair bows and clippies I've ever seen!

This shop also has super cute hair bow holders like this one below... Click HERE to check out this shop. And visit now because they have DEALS...DEALS...DEALS!

FREE SHIPPING!!!
Buy 3, get 1 free + 10 % off!

Perfect for shocking up for your own little girl or for Christmas gift shopping. These cute bows would make perfect stocking stuffers for any little girl on your list this year!

Chicken Noodle "Stoup" with Homemade Dumplings

2008-12-04T23:31:00.005-05:00

Since it's getting a little chillier outside, I love to eat warm homemade soups! Mmmm. Nothing says winter like a steaming hot bowl of, well...anything! Yesterday, I made my mom's delicious Chicken Noodle Soup. I guess I like to think of it as more of a "stoup" - a concoction somewhere between a soup and a stew. You see, I make homemade dumplings to drop in the soup and I also use Kluski noodles as well, so eventually the dumplings and noodles kind of soak up most of the broth - but, it's still absolutely delicious! I guess I could just add more broth, but for our family -- we love it just the way it is! Also, many people like to make Chicken Noodle Soup with what's leftover from cooking a whole chicken and that's completely fine too, but I prefer to just use chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins. I don't technically have a formal "recipe" for making this soup, but here's how it usually goes...and obviously, please feel free to take the freedom of adding or subtracting ingredients to fit your family's liking!

Chicken Noodle Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Ingredients Needed:

5-6 whole chicken breasts/7-10 chicken tenderloins, cooked (I usually boil them)

2 carrots sticks, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

1/2 TB butter or so (for sauteing the carrots and celery)

10-12 chicken bouillon cubes

1 package of Mrs. Grass's Chicken Noodle Soup Mix

1 package of Kluski Noodles (Amish noodles)

For the Dumplings:

1 c. flour

3/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 egg

1/3 c. milk

***Sift the first 3 ingredients together in a bowl, then add the egg and milk...you can mix this together by hand. It'll make a wet dough.

Directions:

Boil the chicken if you haven't done so already. Start sauteing the chopped carrots and celery in a pan with the butter until they are slightly tender - remember not to cook them too "soft," they'll soften more once they're in the soup. After boiling the chicken, cut it into pieces (how ever big you'd like them...I usually cut it into about 1 inch "cubes" or so). In a decent sized stock pot, start boiling about 10-12 cups of water. Once it's boiling add the bouillon cubes (add 10-12 of them, one for every cup of water you used). You can go ahead and add the chicken, carrots and celery to this boiling broth now as well. Add the Mrs. Grass's Chicken Noodle Soup package. At this time, I usually make the dumplings (directions above). Once the bouillon cubes and ingredients from the Mrs. Grass's soup package are completely dissolved, then add the package of kluski noodles. Let them cook in the broth for about 6-8 minutes...remember to stir it occasionally, then drop in the dumplings. For this, I use a teaspoon to scoop up the dough and drop it right into the broth, one teaspoon at a time. The dumplings are going to double or even triple in size as they cook in the broth, so keep that in mind as you drop the spoonfuls of dough in - you don't want them to be large spoonfuls. I keep the stove on Medium-High (not boiling) all the way until it's done. Once all the dumplings are added...cover the pot with a lid...and walk away for 10 minutes! Don't lift the lid until after 10 minutes has passed - this allows the dumplings to set. Now it's ready to enjoy!!! :) This makes yummy leftovers too! It's usually a little thicker the next day...that's where the "stoup" comes from...the dumplings soak up the broth.

ENJOY!

Art That Says What You're Thinking...

2008-12-04T13:39:00.003-05:00

Need a special touch to a holiday gift?

articulations

may have just what you're looking for!

This Etsy shop has all kinds of paper goods that can make your Christmas gifts stand out as they lay under the tree this year!

Check out this shop for all things {Merry and Bright}...

Like these gift tags (set of 12) or mini cards (set 0f 6)

Send these holiday greeting cards out this year as a special way to say "Happy Holidays" to your friends & family

And, for for my personal favorite...these mini scrapbooks make some of the best and most unique gifts for anyone on your list! My mom has a few of these...she uses as bragbooks for the grandkid's pictures...it's a great and different way to show off your family photos!
Click HERE to visit Articulations on Etsy.

Take Note

2008-12-04T13:05:00.004-05:00

This Etsy shop is your place for all things personalized! Take a peek at their super cute personalized note cards {envelopes included}.

The personalized cards come in sets of 12.

Want a nice way to say "thank you" for a nice gift you received this Christmas?

Send these Thank You cards:

Take Note is having a Christmas special now as well: Buy 3 note card sets, get a 4th set free!

What a perfect touch to a holiday gift!

Any of these paper good would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone on your list this year.

Click HERE to visit Take Note.

Looking for a Personalized Gift?

2008-12-04T12:44:00.004-05:00

{Inkspot Workshop}

is just the place to find really special personalized gifts this holiday season.

This Etsy shop is full of handcrafted paper goodies that make you smile!

I just love the holiday gift tags ~ They'd be a perfect touch to Christmas packages!

And the personalized teacher notecards in all different designs and colors ~ what a unique gift!

I also love the mini cards ~ these would also be a perfect addition to any gift!

And I just LOVE the personalized Christmas cards!

What fun stuff!

You can also order gift certificates for this shop!

Click HERE to visit Inkspot Workshop.

Paper Treasures

2008-12-04T12:25:00.003-05:00

I love unique little gifts that you can get loved ones for Christmas!

PAPER TREASURES 4 U

has perfect gifts to meet my expectations in that department! Paper Treasures 4 U is a cute Etsy shop that has tons of fun paper goods...something I {LOVE}! One of my very favorite things that they have is the Scrapbook Calendar - you can add your own family photos to this to make it a super special personalized calendar!

I can't think of anyone who wouldn't love it! Wouldn't grandma love a gift like this for Christmas? Just imagine her face when she gets to see her little grandchildren's photos each month hanging up on her calendar!

This shop also has a variety of handcrafted greeting cards and personalized paper products.

Click HERE to visit Paper Treasures 4 U.

Jar Mix Goodies

2008-12-04T12:10:00.003-05:00

Meg's Creations

is a super fun Etsy shop that has a ton of jar mix goodies!

These jar mixes make a perfect holiday gift for just about anyone on your list. Give one to grandma and have her bake a yummy treat with the grandkids. Give one to your child's teacher as a way to thank her for being a great influence in your child's life. They're a creative way to say thanks and happy holidays!

Click HERE to visit Meg's Creations.

Double Dip Delight!

2008-12-04T11:39:00.004-05:00

Could it possibly get any better than an apple dipped in delicious caramel? Oh yes it can! Over at

Double Dipped Sweets

they're taking the caramel apple to a whole new level!

This Etsy shop has any kind of dipped apple and treat you could imagine!

Your mouth will water for these treats...

Double Dipped Sweets also has deliciously flavored popcorn, special candies and scrumptious cookie treats! You have to check them out!

Click HERE to visit Double Dipped Sweets.

Also...click HERE to learn about their contests to win some of these yummy treats!

Perfect Sweets!

2008-12-04T11:21:00.004-05:00

Are you longing to have those perfectly decorated sugar cookies at your holiday party this year? I know they're always one of my kids' favorite things at the goody table! I try and try to get my sugar cookies to look perfect, to look professional, but I fail every time! Ha ha! So...this year I'm leaving it to the professionals!

Check out the sweetly decorated cookies from CAKEBOX COOKIES, a cute and unique little Etsy shop chocked full of these perfectly decorated goodies!

And all the treats come perfectly packaged and are ready to give as gifts for the holidays!

Click HERE to visit Cakebox Cookies on Etsy.

I Have a Date...

2008-12-04T11:04:00.005-05:00

With this {Brownie Sampler} from

A Sugar Affair

I know. Wow!

If this thing doesn't solve your issues with chocolate cravings, then you should probably just give up the fight! This scrumptious Etsy shop has oodles of edible goodies just waiting to be devoured! I mean, if you're gonna add on pounds this holiday season anyway...add them by eating something THIS delectable! These yummy treats can be shipped to your favorite people for a special holiday surprise too!

Click HERE to visit A Sugar Affair.

Plus for the whole month of December, A Sugar Affair is offering 10% off on all purchases!

Know A Coffee Lover?

2008-12-04T10:31:00.008-05:00

I don't know about you, but I have plenty of coffee lovers in my life - basically everyone in my family loves their cup 'o joe! Well, if you're looking to get them a little something special this Christmas then head over to a little Etsy shop called

Maggie Sue Designs!

They have the most perfect coffee accessory: The Cup Cozy Aren't these little coffee cup holders just the cutest thing you've ever seen?! And any coffee lover would flip for one of them! So, why not get a Starbuck's gift card and one of these Cup Cozy holders for the coffee lover in your life this Christmas? It's on my list this year.

And the Cup Cozy isn't the only cute thing that this shop has - check out the handmade key fobs and super stylish handbags and pouches! This shop gets my praise!

Click HERE to visit Maggie Sue Designs.

Oh, and if you're in the Leesburg, VA area this weekend (December 6-7) then check out Maggie Sue Designs at the Annual Holiday and Hometown Arts & Crafts Show at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center.

Reviews Like Crazy...

2008-12-03T16:24:00.003-05:00

I know that I haven't really been posting about anything in our lives lately {sorry to those of you who check this blog to see what's going on with us}...but I really wanted to share some of the best shops on Etsy with you! Since it's about the time we're all serching for great holiday gifts for all of our loved ones, I hope you'll find my reviews helpful. Remember, one of the greatest things about Etsy is that all the things are handmade...and high quality...the items featured in Etsy shops are the kinds of items that you'd find at some of the finest boutiques! And most of the stuff is made by moms just like you and me...I love scouring out the best Etsy shops!

And one more thing...all of the shops I'm reviewing and featuring on my blog are a part of

AN ETSY CHRISTMAS CONTEST

on Busy Mom's blog. So, click HERE to see what that's all about too!

I have a few more reviews to post about in the next couple of days, and then it'll be back to "bloggy normality" once again! I hope everyone is enjoying their December...I know it's always a very busy time of the year. So...grab a cup of coffee, relax and browse through some of the Esty shops I've been reviewing and featuring.

Happy Holidays!

Dazzle Me!

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Dazzle Dott

is another super cute Etsy shop dedicated to bringing you the finest {and super delicious looking} bath and body products! I am SO in love with these Whipped Body Creams:

Don't they just look downright delish?! Spoon please.

And Dazzle Dott also has some of the funkiest soaps in town...check these masterpieces out:

If these soaps don't make you want a nice relaxing bubble bath...then I'm not sure what will!!!

Click HERE to visit Dazzle Dott's shop over at Etsy.

Delicious...Candles!

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Take a peek at these scrumptuous looking creations!

These candles...yes, CANDLES...are only a few of the delicious looking bath and body creations over at

KOKO CANDLES

Don't miss out on these smashingly fabulous and fun stocking stuffers this Christmas!!!

Click HERE to vist Koko Candles.