Have you been here?

Have you ever toured a Mayfield Dairy? Well...you should for a few reasons:

1. It's FREE!!!! What's better than that?

2. You get to take great pictures of the kids wearing hair nets--Our kids with their cousins from Wisconsin.

3. You can think back to touring Atlanta Dairy when you were a kid with Rose Bud--even though there are no real cows at the Mayfield tour.

Post-Christmas "Gotta Haves"

Did you go shopping the day after Christmas? We made it to a few stores. Here are some of my "gotta-haves" that I found post-Christmas (or some maybe were really pre-Christmas):

1. Celeste Suede Crocs...found them at Marshall's for $24ish. LOVE them---soooooo comfy. I think I've worn them just about every day since I bought them! I love them so much that I bought them in black and brown.

2. Tanks at Target to wear under other shirts--the ones I bought are Merona brand. I have tanks from Ann Taylor, GAP, etc...but the reason I LOVE these from Target is...they are long...they come down lower and kinda hang out under your other shirt to add some color. LOVE to wear them with a v-neck t-shirt! My favorite color combo is a chocolate tank with a red t-shirt on top! They weren't on sale, but I think they were $7.99.3. Christmas ribbon is 75% off at Garden Ridge. I never go to Garden Ridge...it's not really convenient for me, but we popped in...and found ribbon for 75% off---got cute ribbon for wrapping next year. Also got some great Grinch ornaments for our Grinch Tree for 50% off!

What have you found this post-Christmas season?

Things We Want to Remember

Do you have a Christmas Memories Book? We got ours the year we were married, and I pull it our every year to record special memories. My favorite part of the book is the section titled...Things we want to remember. It's fun to look back at how our lives have evolved from being newlyweds, to getting a dog, to buying our first home, to having one child and then two children. I love this book!!! I think everyone should have one, but just don't forget where you put it for the next year (Amie)!So here it is for this year...Things we want to remember:

1. My mom made all of the food for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. She mentioned that she needed a dessert...so I bought ingredients to make an ice-cream pie and also one of our families favorite--baklava. I bought a whole tray of pre-made baklava...mom would have made it herself probably, but I'm all about store bought! So...I made the pie and took it with the baklava to my parents house around lunch time. I also took our dachshund for them to babysit while we were going to my in-laws. Can you see where this is going??? I left the tray of baklava on the table in the kitchen. After we got the car packed and everyone loaded, we realized that we forgot to take the dog's food to my parents' house. So...we stopped by (my parents weren't home)...my husband ran inside to drop off the dog food, and he was taking forever to come back out. When he finally emerges, he announces...you guessed it...that our dachshund knocked the tray of baklava off the table and devoured all (or almost all) of it!!! Imagine it...a dachshund full of honey and nuts-UGH!!!

#2 My husband and I don't usually swap Christmas gifts. Over the years...we've decided to buy something for our home around the holidays. So this year...he kept saying...I've got a great idea for you (really for both of us) for Christmas...do you want to know what it is? He must have asked me 20 times if I wanted to know what it was! So...I wasn't going to get him a gift b/c he said his idea was for both of us, but on Christmas Eve-Eve...I got to thinking that he would be sad if I had a gift to open and he didn't...so I went shopping. He's been saying that he wishes we had an electric blanket...so I thought...I'll pick up an electric blanket. Well...I went everywhere I could hit to find one-I went to 5 stores. I found one at Bed, Bath, & Beyond for $179--what??? I don't think so! As a last resort, I finally went to Super Wal-Mart (I had to get some groceries anyway--for the pie and the tray of baklava--remember??) Hooray...they had ONE electric blanket left in the size that I needed. After shopping, I get home and think...I better put my jacket over it b/c he'll come out and see it in the car. I park in the garage...get out...start unloading...hubby comes out and starts unloading too...we get inside and he announces he's taking the dog out...the fat one who ate all the nuts/honey...so I peak out in the garage and see him gingerly lying my jacket back over his electric blanket...UGH!!!!!! And there you have Christmas Memory #2!

Do you have any fun, memorable events from this Christmas season?

"I lost my mind, and I'm trying to find it!"

Yesterday...I was out shopping with my 4-year-old daughter. We were looking at Christmas decor, and she says to me..."I lost my mind, and I'm trying to find it!" What???? That's really the exact words she said!!!
This photo is not from our shopping trip, but can't you just see her saying that phrase while in this pose? In this pic, she was really telling an animated story while standing up on a rock.

Out of Order

So here's the timeline...
About 2 weeks ago, I spent the night in the hospital with chest pains. I'd been having them for a couple of weeks, but then the pain spread down my left arm and in my back--that's when I decided to go to the ER (with coaxing from my sister-who happens to be in the medical field). So...they keep me overnight for observation and I have a stress test in the morning.
Side Note: Have you ever had a stress test--the one on the treadmill with the "dye?" You start walking...then they increase the intensity and the incline over time...then while you're still on the treadmill...they come to inject the 2nd dose of "dye"...while you're still on the treadmill...did I mention that already--then they increase the intensity and incline to a run/jog--all the while telling you--"keep looking ahead down the road" (there's a framed print of a tree-lined road hanging on the wall). OK...now here's the funny part...while all that's going on...I'm thinking "I can't do anymore." then I say, "I don't think I can go any faster...so the guy holds on to my belt loop on the back of my jeans--a sight to see I'm sure!! I wish I had a video of it just for when I need a good laugh!
Now...fast forward to tonight...I was in the floor showing our 5-year old son the proper way to do a push-up (that's a whole 'nother story). So...he starts doing them semi-correctly and then stops saying, "I can't do it anymore...this arm is out-of-order."
Eureka--it's my medical diagnosis: The tests/labs cleared my heart from any concerns...so I think my son diagnosed me...I simply needed a break...I was temporarily out-of-order!
Another Side Note: I haven't had any chest pain the past week or more! :)

You know it's a good party when...

You know it's a good party when: #1 Something gets broken and #2 Somebody has on an outfit that makes you do a double-take.

Something broken:

It's a centerpiece with floating candles--the glass must have gotten too hot and it exploded while we were all sitting around the table!

The outfit that makes you do a double-take:


Our hostess--did you do a double-take? Thanks Christy for the fun, fun party!

OK...so now you KNOW I'm a wife, mother, and Kindergarten teacher--this is about as exciting as the partying gets these days! Have you been to any good parties this Christmas season?

Visit with the Big Man

Hooray--this is the 1st year that our daughter actually sat on Santa's lap! She had a program at her school, and they had breakfast with Santa before the program. Here's some pics of the milestone event:

The kids with the big man-our son asked for a puppy (NO!!!) and a Play Station (NO!!!)-our daughter asked for a cupcake maker (I think he can handle that request).


She's on his lap, but check out the look on her face and her hands when he starts talking to her---"I'm not so sure about this."


Here she is at the program-part of the morning--she saw all of us in the audience, and this is the look we got!


And then a wave:


This pic is my fav of her from the day! I love the lighting.

Favorite Things

I'm so excited about "Thrifty Decor Chick's" give away! I've been posting my favorite products on my blog...now you can look at her blog too for lots of favorites from lots of people--fun, fun, fun!!! I love to get great ideas from others!! So...here are my some of my favorite products-some I've previously posted and some are new:
1. Bath and Body Sweetest Socks--sooooooooo great! Get some!


2. Aveeno hand cream--great--got to have it!






3. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer (shade: Rhubarb)

4. Mint Chocolate M&Ms


5. Sweet Stripes soft peppermints (bought a huge container of them at Sam's Club)


6. Initial polka-dot Christmas ornaments--here's where I found some CUTE ornaments: https://www.serendipity2004.com/

Now...wrap up some of your favorites and give them as a gift!! I found cute square, silver trays at the local dollar store!! Also bought the cute green snowflake there in a package of about 6. Add fun ribbon...and there you go!