Holiday Giveaways

Hey everyone! There's only 12 days until Christmas! 

You know what that means?

Me either.

Well, I would like to point out some GREAT giveaways that are going on right now. 

First is my friend Leslie at Life Told by Leslie.

She is having a 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!

Starting tomorrow she will be giving away a gift a day until Christmas!

She's giving away some really great LOCAL gifts for this holiday season. 

Next up on my list is Kate at The Small Things Blog.

Kate is giving away an awesome Cutting Edge Stencil (up to $50.00)

The winner will be chosen at 7:30am EST on Friday December 16th via random.org. The winner will be notified via e-mail.  So hurry over for your chance to win!


Dave Ramsey (my new favorite debt free teacher) is having a Giveaway a Day!
All you have to do is head over to his website and register daily for his prize of the day. 
Today he's giving away $10,000! Wouldn't that be nice for Christmas?


Last but not least...ME!
I'm doing a giveaway on this very blog!!
Exciting right?!
So here's what you could win, you have a choice of one prize. I realize not everyone that follows my blog lives near me so that's why I'm giving options.


1. A total blog makeover
this includes: 
-background
-header
-title bars
-any pages needed
-gadgets as needed


2. A photo shoot done by yours truly
this includes:
-2 different outfits
-up to 4 people
-location anywhere in Cape Girardeau or Jackson
(preferably outside)
-CD of images


3. One Stationary item of choice
this includes:
-up to 30 stationary cards
-up to 30 envelopes
-all made to your order
-This item could be anything from a birthday invitation, birth announcement, thank you cards, you name it.  

For your 1st chance to win:
All you have to do is tell me what item you would like to win the most and why. Leave your name and e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.
i.e. "I would like to win a photo shoot! My name is Emily Williams my address is joeschmoe@hotmail.com"

For your 2nd chance to win:
Tell your friends and or family member to follow my blog and leave a comment saying that you sent them here. You both will be entered to win one item. They MUST follow my blog and leave a message for both of you to be signed up.
i.e. "Sandy Smith sent me here and I'm now following your blog. My name is Emily Williams my address is joeschmoe@hotmail.com" 


Winner will be announced Friday the 23rd of December at noon!
So let me know what you want to win and don't forget to tell your family and friends.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

As some of you might have remembered we did our 3rd Annual Jingle Bell Walk/Run this past weekend! It was our 2nd year doing it with 4 generations of walkers! 

 Stratton was seriously SO excited for this day to come. I told him that if he ran he could win a prize!

 I love how all walks of life come to run and walk for a good cause!

 We put jingle bells on our shoes. It's something fun to do and Stratton enjoys hearing his feet jingle while he walks.

 

 He looks like such a big boy with his running number on!

 He wanted me to make sure I got a picture of him covering his mouth while he coughs. He's been really good about it lately.

One more big cheesy smile before we go up to start walking.

 Three generations of walkers. Stratton didn't like Santa so he kept looking at him to make sure he stayed away. Haha.

 This little guy RAN the whole mile!

 My sister Casey, my Grandma Marge, and step-Grandpa John. Enjoying the one mile walk. 

 Stratton ran the ENTIRE time!

 We had to make a few pit stops so he could wave to the lifeguard on duty.

 Grandma Kathie finally showed up after getting home at 3am from working. Glad she made it though.

 Sisters! Nothing like a wonderful picture with bed hair and no makeup.

 This little girl was so stinking cute too. She's only a few months younger than but she's so petite! It's adorable!

 Every time Stratton got close she had to make sure she started running again.

 Her little bow and outfit were so dang cute. 

Grandma Kathie and Stratton were having so much fun.

 After the one mile walk Stratton did the Tot Trot.

 This was how far they ran. It was a good 100 yard dash.

 Stratton came in 1st!

 He looks SO grown up with his little metal!

 He thought that it was so cool that he came in first.

 Trying to show that he came in first.

 There we go!

 Great Grandpa John, Great Grandma Marge, Aunt Casey, Grandma Kathie, Stratton, and me!

Here was her outfit from the front. She ran with us last year too.

Sunday night we had the pleasure of eating all together with a young man that was granted the scholarship that is in memory of my Uncle Mark. My Uncle Mark passed away at a young age due to a virus that settle in his heart. It was nice to get to see the scholarship go to such a good guy. His name was Michael, he was very nice to talk to and he seems to have a good head on his shoulders. I'm glad that my Uncles Scholarship can help him with his studies.

 

Welcome Baby Jackson!!!

Welcome to the Family Baby Jackson!

Born: 12/11/11
Weight: 7lbs 10oz
Congratulations Ashley and Justin! You all made a BEAUTIFUL baby boy!

Proverbs 31

A couple weeks ago the Victoria's Secret Runway Show 2011 was on T.V.
I recorded it and watched it the next day because I've been going to bed SUPER early lately. (it was on at like 9:00pm and I didn't want to stay up until 10. Yes, I know I'm turning into an old hag as my coworker likes to call me). Hah. Anyway, I was oohing and ahhing over all the super skinny, uber sexy, awesomely good looking models and the super cute bra's and panties they were wearing...

and then I started to feel bad about myself. I started comparing myself to these women, one of which had a child 4 months prior (yep that's her in the picture) and STILL looked better than I do post pregnancy by 3 years! I'm not gonna lie, it kind of bummed me out. It took all the fun out of enjoying the cute bra's and panties and made me self conscious. Now let me just say that I know by no means am I overweight. I started to pray about God either helping me have the time/energy to change the way I looked and felt about myself or give me the serenity to accept the fact that I have had a baby and my body is good enough for my husband. (which he tells me all the time I look beautiful and that I don't need to go on any diets).

Well this morning God answered my prayers.

I stumbled on this this morning on Pinterest. 

 

Wow...

God really knows how to answer prayers doesn't he...

Proverbs 31

 ¹The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
 ²What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
 ³Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
 ⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
 ⁵Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
 ⁶Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
 ⁷Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
 ⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
 ⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
 ¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
 ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
 ¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
 ¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
 ¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
 ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
 ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
 ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
 ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
 ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
 ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
 ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
 ²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
 ²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
 ²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
 ²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
 ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
 ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
 ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
 ²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
 ³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
 ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Friday Confessions

I confess that it was WAY more fun than I thought surprising everyone yesterday with our expecting news. Haha

I confess I am SO ready for Christmas. I just need to wrap everyone's presents. I found a really cool way to wrap presents and now I can't wait to try it out!

I confess I am really more excited about seeing all my family then I am getting presents. (They mean more to me at least)

I confess I bought a plant yesterday and I'm already scared I'm going to kill it.

I confess I am VERY ready for the weekend at this point. We have so many fun plans. I can't wait!

I confess I can't wait to show you all my pottery from this semester. It actually turned out pretty good!

I confess I wish I had a kiln at home so I could make my own pottery.

I confess I can't wait to spend some time with my dad tonight. We're going to go look at dryers! Yay!

I confess I've hated doing laundry lately because it takes three cycles to dry one load of laundry. It's a never ending battle.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

I have some great news!!!!

 I'm expecting!!!

Expecting to be debt free in 1 year or less that is.

We have 5 credit cards and one of them is already paid off!

From least to greatest we have:
Victoria's Secret - 0 balance
Macy's - $100.00
Cabelas - $300
Best Buy - $1500
Discover - $4000
(the numbers aren't really what our cards are at but just for explanation purposes they are close enough)

Recently Derek and I have been at each others throats because of "money issues."
I hate it. I've been listening to a lot of Dave Ramsey lately and Derek and I have come up with a plan for how to get out of debt. We're working with the "Snowball Method."  That is where you pay off your smallest debit card or loan first. Ours happens to be our Macy's card. We will pay that one off this month and then be DONE with the Macy's card. (I might keep it so I can use the coupons.) But I will definitely not use it unless I can turn right around and pay it off at the counter.

Next on our list after that is our Cabelas card. We will take what we were paying on the Macy's card and add it to the Cabela's card. That will then be paid off in about 2 months. Next on our list is the Best Buy card. We will take what we paid on both the Cabelas card and the Macy's card and pay off the best buy card in about 5 months. All the while we are paying the minimum (plus a little because I just like to make sure if we have a little extra it's going on there) on the Discover card (the ugly red headed step child that lurks in our wallet).

I'm projecting to be debt free in 7-9 months! Isn't that awesome!

I'm really hoping that we can stick to this and be debt free so we can start saving for things like:
a car for Stratton when he turns 16
college for Stratton after he graduates high school
home improvements
a new dryer
a new fridge
retirement
stocks

I'm really excited about this and if anyone has any helpful hints as to other ways to save please let me know. I've already gotten on the band wagon for the budgeting and having the money saving envelopes. Derek and I are working on the whole budget thing now. The blow money and the months bills are what is so hard right now. We will get this down pact though! I have confidence.

Elf on the Shelf

Oh the Elf on the Shelf. Stratton's newest enemy.
Most kids that are introduced to the Elf love him and his magical ways. Not my kid. He's terrified of him. I sat him down and read him the book about how the elf.
 

 We asked him what he wanted to name his new magical friend and all he could say was "Elf." Derek and I made him at least put a -y on the end of it so he is now known as "Elfy." He was seriously terrified that this thing was now going to be living in our house and watching him. We put him on the tree and every time Stratton would walk by the tree he would stare at it like it was going to jump off the tree and bite him.

The next day we moved him like the book says to do and we hid him in the kitchen. The morning went by and Stratton was too tired to notice that he had moved but when we got home he remember and finally found him. Right before bedtime came around I told Stratton he had to take a bath. Not a good thing because recently he's hated getting in the bathtub. He loves it once he's in there but he hates the initial "lets get in the bath right now." I told him that "Elfy was watching him and Santa wouldn't bring him the skateboard play set that he's been wanting if he didn't listen to Mommy." Immediately he broke down in tears and said he didn't need another skateboard set because he already had one and he didn't need two. This seriously broke my heart. I don't have the heart to tell him lies like that. He's getting the skateboard set. I already have it bought. He's so scared of the dang thing that we put him back in his box and put him in the closet. See ya later Elfy. I'm hoping that just telling him that Santa is watching him is good enough. Poor kid is already scared of monsters and ghosts. We don't need to throw another creepy elf into the mixture.

Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow! I have TWO crafts to post about AND Friday Confessions!

Good intentions...

I have seriously had good intentions to post all the fun new exciting things that we have been doing lately but I have seriously been swamped! Finals are next week and I have a HUGE project that is due on Wednesday. I fully intend to put all the awesome pictures and fun things that I have been doing lately up...sooner or later.

Here is some pictures from last weekend. My sister-in-law Steph and my nephew Payne let me and Stratton join them for some fun at the Christmas Tree Farm! It was so much fun. It was a little windy which made it kind of chilly but it was still really fun. I know Stratton really enjoyed his time there.

This here friends, is the epitome of a horrible picture. Haha. Steph has her eyes closed, Payne is crying and Stratton isn't even looking at the camera. Good job all! Awkward Family Photos here we come!

 They had sheep! We passed by them on the way up to see all the pretty trees.

 Aren't those little ones just the cutest? I think next year we might have to get a real tree...maybe.

 We just missed getting to ride on the wagon that was being pulled by mules. I just think they are so pretty.

 Aren't the just so neat? I love their color.

 Payne and Stratton were enjoying goldfish on the way up to see all the trees.

 Stratton was having so much fun on the wagon ride. Payne had to be bribed with goldfish before he could really enjoy it. Poor little guy. He had fun after he got used to it.

 This picture is for my dad. It looks like something he would take a picture of and post as his profile picture on facebook.

 Payne loved the horses. They were so good!

 Stratton liked them too but he hated getting his picture taken.

 Not once did he look at the camera.

 I love the little thank you sign painted on the back side of the barn.

 Finally a good picture of Stratton.  This is so cool. Hopefully we can come back for years to come and see how he's grown.

Stay tuned for our ever so creepy new family tradition of "Elf on the Shelf." No wonder my kid won't sleep in his bed anymore. He's scared this thing is watching him.

It very well may be the first and last year of this lovely family tradition.