Attention! Attention! May I have your attention please?!

Head on over to Scribbit right now for Michelle's biggest giveaway ever!

She's giving away an HP TouchSmart 600-1055 PC. Seriously. Go read all about it because it is awesome. Oh, and don't forget to enter. You've got until 12 am Saturday November 28. Although if you don't enter it might increase my chances of winning. :)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Handmade Stocking Stuffer Ideas

I despise the commercialism that surrounds Christmas. To avoid it as much as we can we make our Christmas as handmade as possible. The hardest part for me is coming up with things to fill the kids' stockings. This year I decided to prepare ahead of time so I wouldn't be running to the store at the last minute to fill their stockings with store-bought goods. There are so many wonderful ideas out there for handmade goodies I thought I'd share what I've found to make for stocking stuffers. If you don't have time to make these I've also provided links to those who sell their handmade products so you can at least support the handmade movement and not Walmart. :)

See ya after the Thanksgiving weekend! (I still have my gratitude posts scheduled to publish throughout the next few days)

Stocking Stuffers for Babies


Hat and Scarf from Sweater
at Skip to My Lou (or buy from Koi'Lili's or Twisted Yarn)



Basic Bib from Nested (or buy from Francesca Baby or Baby Chunk Monk)


Bitty Booties from Heather Bailey (or buy from Franny & June)

Cloth Shoes from stardustshoes (or buy from Wee Pereas)

Soft Baby Shoes by On Pins and Needles (or buy from Bugaloo)



Baby Tie at sei lifestyle (or buy from Little Guy Ties)

Stocking Stuffers for Children

Scrap Paper Memory Game from Creative Chicks (or buy from Burlap & Blue or db by Design)


Fabric Scrap Memory Game from inchmark (buy from New England Quilter)



Sidewalk Chalk from Mad Maggie Designs



Velcro Catch Ball at Craftzine


Felt Mr. Potato Head from Make It and Love It

Mini Coloring Books by Chez Beeper Bebe


Crayon Rolls by me (buy from Happy Bebee & Beeyond)


Just Add Water Paint Cards by inspired ideas


Covered Barrettes from Angry Chicken (buy from LuLuBug Bowtique or MullyBeans)



Car Cozies by My Little Gems (buy from Little Gems)


Little Boy's Tie at the purl bee (buy from the belle and the beau or Apple & Ivy)




Boy's Bow Tie
from 7 Layer Studio (buy from Me & Matilda)

Stocking Stuffers for Teens


iPod case from Bits and Pieces (buy from Egoor England)


iPod Pouch from Made by Petchy (buy from Gadget Armour)


Little Boxy Pouch by three bears (buy from Borsa Bella or Sugarcane)

Reversible Headbands by thelongthread (buy from Precocious or SugarChicBaby)


Corner Bookmark from kootoyoo (buy from Seasonal Delights or Judy's Crafts)

Stocking Stuffers for Moms


Tissue Holder from Skip to My Lou (buy from Crafty Dad or Bobbin Along)



Wild Flower Pincushion by Anna Maria Horner (buy from The Daily Pincushion)



Mini Photo Albums at ShutterSisters (buy from TypeWink or AliDesign)


Body Scrubs (buy from Mad City Soap or Simple Traditions)


Bookplates at My Home Library. Explore this site! It's full of printable bookplates in color and B&W from wonderful illustrators. (buy from Fall into Pink or Montserrat)


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My Gratitude List Day 25

Day 25. Birth days and birthdays. A celebration of new life. A celebration of a long life well lived.

Moments after birth 03 CR

Guelito 01Guelito 02

Guelito 03

Happy 90th Birthday, Guelito! Here's to your laughter, your kindness, your example, your love.

(Thanks to my cousin, Allison, for scanning and taking the photos of Guelito in this post!)

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

My Gratitude List Day 24

Day 24: Sleeping Babies. There something so sweet & innocent about a sleeping baby. Here Hershey is snuggled up with Semisweet. Don't you just want to lean over and smooch that cheek a little? And look! She's got the long eyelashes that every single one of the rest of the children have. Hurrah!

Gratitude Day 24: Sleeping Babies

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Monday, November 23, 2009

My Gratitude List Day 23

Day 23: My Children. I love that they are each unique. Even though they all come from the same gene pool, their talents, abilities, and personalities are different from one another.

Gratitude Day 23: My Children

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

My Gratitude List Day 22

Day 22: Marriage Covenants.

"We. . .solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." ~The Family: A Proclamation to the World~

Gratitude Day 22: Marriage Covenants


I'm not a 'big rock' kind of girl. And I love that Mr. Ferrero Rocher has a very non-traditional ring.
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Saturday, November 21, 2009

My Gratitude List Day 21

Day 21: Work. "Work is an antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility. Whatever our circumstances in life, let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do. Let us set our minds and bodies to the glorious opportunity for work that each new day presents." ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf~

Gratitude Day 21: Work

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Friday, November 20, 2009

A question for my sister, Ness

Fudge & Cookie want to know why Uncle Kevin is singing in a grocery store. Not only singing but hugging and kissing someone other than Aunt Vanessa! Did you know your husband is famous?



Full story: I was watching this video the other day when Fudge & Cookie came running up to my laptop to see who was singing. After a few seconds Fudge asked why Uncle Kevin was singing in a grocery store. I started laughing so couldn't answer right away. While I was still laughing Cookie asked in a shocked tone of voice, "And why is he hugging that lady??!!" Sorry, Ness. I just laughed uncontrollably for a few minutes before I could explain it wasn't Uncle Kevin.


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{My Family}

Me and my guy

Me(Cocoa) & Mr. Ferrero Rocher

Eve cropped

Bon Bon (14)

Marie Cropped

Semisweet (12)

Sara Cropped

Brownie (10)

Abby cropped

Truffle (9)

Deb cropped

Fudge (7)

Laura cropped

Cookie (5)

Ira Cropped

Special Dark (3)

Julia

Hershey (1 month)

{Creative Outlet}

{Followers}

{Visitors}

since 10/5/07