Comment love, a winner and announcements.

WOWZA peeps -- that was a HUGE response to the Scribble It giveaway. That was FUN! :) The winner (I feel like I need a drumroll for this one!) is...

Kat at Measuring my life in love

Yippee Kat! Please email me and I'll connect you with Cammi.

I have a humongo favor to ask of you all! My son's nursery was featured on Design Dazzle awhile back and has been chosen as a Design Dazzler and one of the top ten posts on Toni's blog. If you haven't seen it before, here is my favorite room in our house: Oh I love it so. :) If you have a few seconds, I would really appreciate your comment here at Design Dazzle. The comments are open through this Friday at 1 p.m. Pacific time and the post with the most comments wins some awesome stuff. (No signing up necessary, you can just comment like you do here.)

If you do comment -- YOU will be entered to win a total of $500 in prizes and gift certificates as well! (Three commenters on all of the nominee posts will share the prize.) You can't beat that! All of this is to celebrate Design Dazzle's first "birthday" -- if you haven't visited this site, you must. It is the place to find fantastic baby and kid room ideas. (Click on the button below to get to Design Dazzle.) There is a huge giveaway going on right now, so check it out!

I'm so pleased to announce my friend Kimba at A Soft Place to Land has created an ebook filled with fantastic Christmas decor ideas!:

You’ll find over 180 photos and 72 pages of detailed, step-by-step instructions for five new Christmas projects for your home and gift giving. Check it out by clicking on the button above to get to Kimba's site. This ebook is good -- I've seen it! :)

And finally, I hope you'll join me for my Second Annual Christmas Tree Party on Monday, December 14th!

The code for this cutie button is on the fritz, we're working on it. I hope to get this going soon, so you'll be able to copy it to your site. If you want to get some inspiration for this year's party, check out the links from last year here. Gorgeous!

Yippee, yippee, I'm so ready to decorate for Christmas now! I was ready weeks ago, then I was OK to hold off a bit, now I'm raring to go! First project I'm tackling -- the dining room table. It's going to be sooooo beauuuutiful! (That's the plan anyway.) Stay tuned!

Twilight and Facebook

First of all...to all my girlfriends who have been harassing encouraging me for months to create a Facebook account...

I seriously hate you.

I had two things I was waiting purposely till after the New Year to start -- Facebook and Twilight. I was going to wait till every trace of Christmas was gone from the house and I could take a breather and just relax. (Buuuwwaaahhhahahhhaaa!! Funny.)

You all might as well just give up on this blog. I am serious. I will not have time to do anything else, ever again, in my entire life, because of this stinkin' site:

Plan for last night:

Put the Bub to bed.

Check blog.

Fold some laundry.

Take tree down.

Pick up.

Take every last bit of Xmas to the basement.

Take a bath.

What that plan turned into:

Put the Bub to bed.

Check e-mail, get another request to "join."

Spend every waking minute till 12:30 a.m. on CRACKBOOK FACEBOOK.

I hate you. I do.

What I hate more is I LOVE THIS SITE.

Gah.

Next, I plan to read this book. Which in turn will make me want to read the next three, IMMEDIATELY, like go-to-Borders-at-10 p.m.-when-I-finish-each-one kind of immediately:

I have heard all about this series and then Sister bought them...and was obsessed. I don't want to get obsessed! I just want to read a good book!

Is there any hope for me? Is there any way that I will really still love my husband after I am done, and not want a vampire to come sweep me away? Really, I love my husband a lot and would like to keep it that way.

So do you Facebook?? Have you read Twilight?? I am making a promise that I will not abandon my home, my projects, and you...I will figure out to make time to do my fun stuff, even it it means I get two hours of sleep a night. It is my pledge to you.

Now, I must go see who has written on my wall. See ya.

OH...I didn't forget the winner you sillies...just playing with you!! The winner of the Santa Rocks carafe is commenter No. 3 -- Jenn!!

And because I am sooooo loving...I had Sister pick another number (I bought an extra carafe to have around) and No. 41, Traci, you are the winner too!! Just e-mail me your addresses ladies!

CONGRATS!!

Year in review

Well chickees...this is my 99th post! Holy crap, I'm not kidding. Interesting, because I started this blog in May, and only had about 20 posts in my first four months. Shows you how into this bloggy stuff I got in about...September or so?

For my 100th post I have a very cute (but small) giveaway to give to one of you. Can't wait to show you. It's not really a big deal, just fun. :)

What's with me just DYING to take down Christmas early this year? I usually wait till the 1st or after but I have been chomping at the BIT to get it down this year. What's the deal? I can barely wait to get it up and LOVE it during the season. There is just something about this time of year though too -- the clean, fresh house. I swear I fall it love with our home all over again right after the holidays. It's so cleared out and simple.

So Jules over at The Roost is having a fun New Year's Party that I thought would be fun to join. I put a different spin on it though, and picked the top ten commented posts to highlight here for your pleasure. (Or to help you take a nap, whatever works.)

Heeeeeeeere we GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

No. 10: My favorite, easy, cheap window treatments.

No. 9: My chocolate powder room.

No 8: My BFF Goodwill.

No. 7: My millions of projects.

No. 6: My spray painted laundry room.

No. 5: The Christmas Tree Party.

No. 4: Big Fat Honkin' Monogram.

No. 3: The Favorite Things Party.

No. 2: One of my favorite before and afters.

No. 1: HoHoHo transformation.

Well there you go ladies! A year -- well, eight months, in review. I hope you have enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing and sharing. Here's to another year of fun ideas and tons o' comments!

Happy New Year!!

The Aftermath

First of all, YES! the tree is still standing!! Yahoo!! I usually leave it up through New Year's but wanted to take it down early this year. It is stressing me out. But Hubby thinks it will be fine so up it stays. I really do love it...as long as it stays put. :)

Secondly, before I show you how Christmas blew up in our house, check out the GORG wreath I got today at Tar-jay!

My girlfriend bought one this year and it was GORG on her door. I got it this morning for only $17! But I'm thrifty, so it took some convincing from Sister for me to get it. I am SO glad I did:

Sheesh it's purdy. So did anyone get up before dawn this morning? I've only gotten up that early on purpose maybe four times since my son was born. Two of those times were from the two previous December 26ths! I have to do it though, I must be first to get the deals. BUT it was dead around here this morning -- I could have slept in, darn it!

OK, now onto the PIT that has been our house for the past two days (you can't walk in this room and it looks worse now):

(And much of it had already been thrown away!)

Let's just say we have a VERY lucky and happy two-year-old on our hands. My stepdaughter wanted small expensive things...he got HUGE monstrous toys, like TENTS:

What the heck was I thinking? I was thinking fun-unfinished-basement-play-area. But failed to remember that is is freakin' freezing cold down there right now so not one of us will brave it. The heating company is coming this week because I can stand about one more day of this and then everything needs to find a home. :)

But we had a WONDERFUL few days, and I wouldn't change the mess, the toys, the pile of trash for the world. We are blessed.

Hope you had a great holiday! I'm going keep taking some time to check in with many of your sites and will be back soon. And I am ITCHIN' to get back to my molding projects -- I'm going through withdrawal! I have a few projects in mind I cannot wait to get started on.

Oh, and remember to keep in mind how you organize things in your home so you can share them with us on the 12th!! We are going to DECLUTTER and ORGANIZE ladies!!

The winner is...and holiday stress

The winner of the Favorite Things giveaway is Erinn at The Pack Crew!! I loved her favorites too, so this is perfect. (My sister picked the number, so it was totally unbiased. And I added all of you in who don't have blogs too!) And if I haven't visited you yet, I will!

Sooo, are you done with your decorations yet? I'm almost there. Today, I swear, I'm done. (I've been saying that for a week now.) I want every single bin and random fluff of greenery back in the basement by midnight tonight.

Then, I can just relax for the next three weeks...work on some fun Christmas crafts, eat candy cane Hershey kisses by the fireplace with my feet up. Ahhh, bliss.

But WAIT.

I still have to:

take our holiday picture

address the cards

mail the cards

finish the advent calendar

wrap a trillion gifts

BUY a trillion gifts

bake a trillion cookies for an exchange

secure babysitters

make gifts

plan the Bub's b-day party

wrap the Bub's gifts

finish the Bub's gifts

throw the Bub's b-day party

take a nap

and THEN I can relax...

Tis the season, right? Do you do what I do every year? You SWEAR you'll be better organized and start earlier and blah blah blah...

Last year we were here over the Thanksgiving week:



(That would be FANTASTIC, beautiful, relaxing, Honolulu. I snorkled here in this bay. DO IT if you ever get the chance.)

When we got back it was a whirlwind to prepare for everything. I SWORE this year I'd be better. Nope. But you know what? I still love it, I still love the season. And when I stop for a second, count to three and breathe, and then look at the tree all lit up, the magic comes back.

Take a second, breathe, and remember the magic.



P.S. I had so much fun with this favorite things thing that I think I'm going to do a Christmas tree party. Sound like fun? It will be super easy, no stress, since many of you have already posted your trees! I'll do it later this week, I'll let you know when.

Evil, I tell you.

Keep linking here chicks!!

Alrighty, at least two of you evil sweet ladies posted about THESE:

All I have to say is I hold you personally responsible for the FIVE SEVEN pounds I'm going to gain this week from eating these.

And I don't like candy canes. But I. love. these.

EVIL.

Tiny bit of mint, whole lotta chocolate, little bit of crunch = HEAVEN.

I've even been passing them out to random people to share the lusciousness. Sweet right?

But then it hit me. GAH!! What am I doing? I need them all for me, me, ME!!! I went to Target to get more today and they. are. gone. Is everyone in my town reading this blog?? I think not. Give them BACK!

Hubby, they are hidden from you as of tonight.
Sister -- BACK OFF.

Bub, well you don't even eat candy, you're cool.

Ladies who posted these, I will hunt you down and sit on you and you will be sorry (after this week...I need to wait for the extra seven pounds so it really squishes you.)

That is all.

P.S. Just for now that is... I'll be back later tonight with more!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We slept in till 9, are watching the parade, and are about to start the pancakes. Does it get any better? I don't think so!

Couldn't let the day go by without saying Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Enjoy, stuff yourself, enjoy your families, and try to relax at some point. I am very thankful for all of you. (Sniff.)

Oh, and give my "pet" turkey a pet. :)

Do you follow?

OK, I've been going back and forth on this for months...the new followers thing on Blogger has created love/hate feelings for me. Love it because when I get a new "follower" (HATE that term), I practically squeal with glee I'm so excited!! Hate it because when I used to see them on blogs, I was so turned off by it, like I was in high school again and it was a weird popularity contest.

I know, I know, I read WAY too far into stuff. I'm deep you know. Anyhoo...I've kinda changed my mind lately. Just today I added my first few blogs to my own followers list and WHOA, this is SO MUCH EASIER than bookmarking every page and clicking through all the sites every time I get online...AND we have two computers in our house (sucky one and kinda sucky one) and I bookmark different blogs on different computers.

Soooo, my question is, do you mind when people show their followers on the blogs? I'm thinking I'm going to do it, because now it seems kind of fun. I know this is really not a big deal...but if you have any thoughts about it, let me know.

And stay tuned because I have some fuuuuun stuff to show you later tonight! YAY.

**Edited to say I went ahead and added them to the side...more for YOU than anything. I'm finding this is a very easy way to find new fun sites, so go check them out! Please keep commenting about this if you want!!

Where I got it and how much it costs.

I've received a ton of questions on where I've purchased items in my posts, so I thought I'd list where I got everything and how much I paid. (If there's no price it just means I can't remember!) I hope this helps out -- I'll try to keep this up on future posts. Let me know if you have any more questions!


Fall is here? It's 84 degrees outside!
Door décor:
Hanging flower containter, Southern Living at Home
Flowers, Hobby Lobby

Kitchen centerpiece:
Tray, Southern Living at Home
Pumpkin, Pier One
Potpourri, Z Gallerie

Mantel:
Candles on mantel, $3.50 Hobby Lobby
Berry garland, $6, Michaels
Candle holder, scrap wood

Bell Jar:
Fall picks, $1, Hobby Lobby
Large fall plate, $6, Pier One
Crystals/acorns, Pier One
Ribbon, $3.50, Hobby Lobby

Table vignette:
Frames, $3 each, JoAnn, Etc.
Leaves, taken off a vine, Hobby Lobby

Candle on counter:
Garland, Hobby Lobby
Small fall plate, $5, Pier One


Lampshade tutorial:
Lamp, $20.00, Lowes
Fabric, $6, Hobby Lobby
Trim, $7/yard, Hobby Lobby


Bwwuuaahaaahaaaaaa!!
Wooden pumpkin, $2, Hobby Lobby
Black scrapbook paper, $2, Hobby Lobby


More Halloween treats!
Scrapbook paper, $.50 and $.25, Hobby Lobby
Frame, $1, Deals
Stickers/bats, Hobby Lobby


I love nap time.
Tombstones, $1, Deals
Spooky glitter sign, $2, Hobby Lobby


I spent $50 to save $12! Wait...
Beware glitter sign, $2, Hobby Lobby
Fall picks, $1, Hobby Lobby
Tiny pumpkins, $1.50, Target
Black pumpkins, $1.75, Hobby Lobby



Go forth and shop thrifty!!

Mission: Declutter and Organize

I love to organize. Most days you wouldn't know it from the state of our home, but I blame that on the two-year-old, Hurricane Bub. I have a sickness with it, like this, but this sickness I haven't really shown you here yet.

This year was the Year of Declutter in our house. I decided last December that I would scour every. single. crevice of this house and get rid of anything we didn't need and organize everything else. It's taken all year long, but I've (almost) done it! It is the BEST feeling! My favorite transformation is our unfinished basement -- the change is amazing and I'll share it soon.

So with the new year approaching us, I figured we should share some inspiration and get organized in 2009. On January 12, I'll ask you to share the ways you organize your home (I'm going to use that cool Mr. Linky thing!! Yay!). I've seen some really cute ideas on various blogs and I know there are so many fun ideas that out there that we need to share.

Yes, it is October and I'm talking about January. Planner, much? I told you I have problems. So get ready, and think about those fun, easy or cheap ways you organize so you can inspire us!

P.S. Any respectable organizer MUST have the Dymo label maker, used above. Ahhh, you'll label everything! Your kids, your cats, your husband!!

**Edited to say I moved the date for this back a bit, so we could all get Christmas put away, the house de-garlanded and could breath for just a bit before jumping into another party.

Apples, Pumpkins and Marching Band

That is what fall means to me. Apples because I can't get enough apple pie, cider, crisp, whatever, during the season. Pumpkins because of the pie (see a trend?) and, come on, they are pumpkins! And marching band because my hubby is a marching band director and for the past 16 years of my life (including when I was in the band), each fall has meant a competition every weekend.

I love all of it. Today, I schmushed all my loves for the season into one day. My Band Widow friend (our husband's work together) and I took our combined four boys (Yes, four boys!) to an orchard for an apple picking, horse riding, maze playing, pumpkin finding, hay riding, and spending-way-too-much-money day.

My Bub and I ended the day with a trip to watch the marching band, something he already enjoys (thank God!) and can't get enough of. It was a perfect, beautiful fall day and we had a blast.

In my opinion, the perfect end to a perfect day is homemade (kind of -- hey, I cut up the apples alright?) apple crisp and cider:

I'd love to hear what your favorites of the season are. Enjoy your weekend!

P.S. My Boy is on the right, on the left is one of his "older brothers." Cutie PATOOTS!

This Thrifty Chick wants you to spend $20.

Go to Lowes on your way home tonight, pick out an American flag and fly it proudly tomorrow, the 7th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

God Bless America!!

Falling in love.

I love our home. I know everyone has affection for their homes, but I am IN LOVE with our home, like it's a part of our family. It's not surprising, as I have quite literally put my blood, sweat and tears into it. I hear about families who lose their homes to floods, fire and other natural disasters and my heart absolutely breaks for them.

Your home should be where you feel completely comfortable, where you can play with your children (and not be devastated if something breaks!), and where you can totally relax. When we walk into our home, it feels like a big hug. That's totally goofy, I know, but it's true. I wish that feeling on everyone and that's why I share ways to make your home YOURS.

As I work on updating different rooms in our house, I fall in love with it even more. The latest is our master bedroom. They say the master is always the last to get the decorating attention and that's true even of me. I have paid more attention to the master closet than the bedroom! But just by finishing up the paint, moving some things around and getting new bedding...I am falling in love. Now as soon as we walk in there, it feels so warm and cozy and US.

A little goes a long way. So far I've paid $36 for bedding from Ebay (although I'm still not sure if it's staying yet) and $20 on canvases for art above the fireplace. Everything else I rearranged or pulled from other rooms. I can't believe the difference.

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- it doesn't take much to put your personal touch on your home. Don't hesitate -- you won't be sorry, I promise. Your house will give you a big hug for it. ;)