Cute gift ideas!

We had friends over last weekend and they brought us this cute "Smore Maker"(pictured on the left) for the kids to make smores. It is so much fun for any age children (including me). You actually toast the marshmallow over a small open flame- Yum. I love toasted marshmallows. I decided to buy one for our new neighbors for Christmas. I found it at Sears Grand for $19.99. Don't tell me if you find it cheaper....

I bought a "Fondue Pot" because I have been wanting to "fondue". I made a great Swiss Cheese fondue recipe that everyone loved. But of course I can't wait to melt chocolate in it -double yum!!

I think both of these would make great little gifts, don't you?

Gobble Gobble Gobble -
Happy Turkey Day!

Got any great gift ideas to share?

Just a little unexpected quiet time

Last year about this time I was posting about all of the things I am so very thankful for and how I am blessed beyond belief and how Life is Good. This year I haven't slowed down enough to ponder God's blessings in my life. I haven't felt that sweet nudge in my heart, you know the one that comes along suddenly and makes you realize how blessed and thankful you are and brings a small tear to your eyes? I suppose I am talking about God's presence and the Holy Spirit.I know God is always with me and I know that I have the Holy Spirit within me - don't misunderstand. And it's not that I don't feel incredibly blessed for all that God has done in mine and my families life - I do - I just need to slow down, relax, and spend some quiet time with Him.

Since I began work my life has been hectic to say the least. A good busy, the kind where you still have all the various details under control. Weekends are usually for slowing down but very rarely this occurs in my home. This weekend is a total blur at the moment. As I am sitting here typing I can hardly even remember what took place this weekend. Seriously, that is not a good sign!

I do remember last night very clearly. As I was on my way home from doing a Pampered Chef demo (the first one that I have done in a year or so) I called my husband to see how baseball practice went. He informed me that there was "an incident". An incident? "Oh, did L perform poorly at practice?" "No", he replied. "Did you and L have a falling out at practice?" "No", he said again. "Okay, well can you talk about it over the phone?" There was quiet on the phone. "Okay, what happened?", I asked impatiently. Finally, Kevin informed me that while doing infield practice the baseball took a bad bounce and hit L in the mouth.

We decided to keep L home from school today. The whole right side of his top and bottom lip are swollen and cut. It is not pretty. He can't talk very clearly or smile. It has been awhile since either of my sons has incurred a sports injury. One time when K was younger he was hit in the face with a baseball so hard that the stich marks from the ball were indented in his cheek. Ouch!

So, because of this I am home today instead of at work and I am able to catch up from the weekend, put all the pieces of this house back together and ponder about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. I am really looking forward to some much need rest and quiet time.

Everyone is blogging about what they are thankful for this holiday season - I am thankful for a few days of r & r with my family (and shopping).

Stayed tuned to hear about my families annual early morning shopping excursion on the busiest shopping day of the year-woohoo!

Live like you are dying!

"Live like you were dying" .... Have you heard the song? I have been doing a lot of radio station flipping lately and have come across this song a couple of time. A good song and a great concept.

Do you live each day like you are dying? In other words, do you live each day like it was your very last one? No tomorrow to do better and be nicer. No tomorrow to get this and that done. No tomorrow to tell that person you are sorry and how much they mean to you. No tomorrow to get it right with God. You get the point, right?

What would your last day be like? I would hope to have about a couple months to prepare. Most people don't have that luxury. In Tim McGraw's song the dying man decides to be a better husband and friend, took the time to go fishing with his dad, read the Bible, analyzed how he could live a better life, went sky diving, mountain climbing ,and loved deeper and spoke sweeter.

I would be making a lot of phone calls and visits or would it just be easier to write everyone a letter saying goodbye and sharing with them how they inspired my life. Of course there are those special people I would just like to see smile one more time - hug one more time - laugh with one more time.

Yes, I would love to go sky diving and explore Germany and Hawaii. I would walk barefoot on the beach and ski in the mountains one more time. I wouldn't be too busy to play ball with my sons or invite friends over for dinner. I wouldn't waste my time in front of the television. And I wouldn't want to be working because I would be too busy getting everything else accomplished.

I would spend every single priceless last second with my husband, children, and family. And, last but definitely not least, I would want to be in constant communication with God and reading His Word.

So again I ask you, "Do you live each day like you are dying?" Is it really possible? I want to spend all my time with God but what about all the daily life distractions? We can strive to better our relationship with Him each day. Is it realistic to see all the special people from my past one last time before I die? I try to keep in touch with most of them by phone or email and hope that I can see them again one day.

Realistically, I think all we can do is strive each day to be the best we can be to everyone we love and to our neighbors on this earth. I think sometimes we just need a reminder that our lives could end sooner than we think.

What would you do?

And the kitchen......

Before:

After:

I am so excited!!!!!!

Those who know me well won't be surprised that "I am excited"! I use to sing that song quite a bit: "I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it." And I am a very exciteable person meaning it doesn't take much to get me there.

As I was driving home from my new job on Friday ,I definitely was very excited. I am thrilled to be working and earning a paycheck. It is good to be doing something different and to have some new responsibilities. The hours are perfect even though my husband continues to tease me about not working 8-5 Monday - Friday. The work is easy and might get a little mundane, but I am not complaining!!!!!

Although my week is going to be insanely busy, it helps me to be a little more organized because I have to be. No time for laziness!

God is good! All the time!
I hope your week is good!

I can't remember the last time I.........

I am starting a part-time temporary job tomorrow at a local accounting firm. I can't remember the last time I worked a "real" job. I have had my own business as a Pampered Chef Consultant going on seven years but I haven't been working very hard at that lately.

I am looking forward to dressing up and going to work tomorrow. It should be very interesting. My boss is really hot! Oh, I mean really nice. So, I will be working a few days a week for awhile. Hopefully I will have some interesting stories to tell (especially about my boss).

I also can't remember the last time I was sick. I never get sick. I just have a small cold but it has been at least two or three years since I have had one. I will survive!

Oh, by the way, my boss is my husband!