Category Archives: Things I like

Our 2017 Holiday Playlist

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Nothings sets the Mood, for a festive Holiday, like the appropriate music.  I am normally the person who can not wait until Thanksgiving  to put on Christmas Music.  But, this year after having to spend more than I wanted to on car repairs.  I simply was not feeling the Christmas spirit, or at least I should say it was delayed.  But, while sitting in my car Soul Holiday came on and that was all that it took to spring board me into the season.  Every year I try to pull together a list of some of my favorite Christmas songs and covers.  I get entirely too much joy from hearing different artist remake the classics.  Of course, only when it’s done right.

Looking for some tunes to share with your family this season.  Check Out Our 2017 Holiday Playlist.

  • Soul Holiday, Sounds of Blackness
  • Last Christmas, Braxton Family Christmas
  • I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, Gayla Peevey
  • Christmas Everyday, Fred Hammond
  • Please Come Home for Christmas, Bon Jovi
  • Baby It’s Cold Outside, Brett Eldredge featuring Meghan Trainor
  • Please Come Home for Christmas Leslie Odom Jr.
  • Say All I Want for Christmas, Nick Jonas featuring Shania Twain
  • Deck The Halls, Pentatonix
  • Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, DMX
  • The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole
  • Cool Yule Louis Armstrong
  • It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, Michael Buble’
  • Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Frank Sinatra
  • The Christmas Song, Celine Dion
  • White Christmas, Bing Crosby
  • Winter Wonderland, Jason Mraz
  • Sleigh Ride, Tamar Braxton (listen to this first)
  • What Christmas Means to Me, Stevie Wonder
  • Every Year, Every Christmas, Luther Vandross

My kids and I share a love for Christmas music, so  I am always looking to add some more songs to my catalog.  What are some of your favorites?  I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

All About The Stockings..

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All About The Stockings

Photo Source: Credit: Jose Luis Pelaez The Image Bank Getty Images

There are less than two weeks left before Christmas.  If you are lucky enough to be done with your shopping and your decorating, the only thing left to do is to Fill those Stockings!!  This just happens to be one of my favorite Christmas Traditions.  When it comes to Christmas gifts, my kids normally give us a general idea of what they like.  But, the Christmas stocking … let’s just say I have free reign where that is concerned.  When my oldest was younger and my pockets were lighter, I stuffed it with things that I knew he LOVED, like Yoo-Hoo’s, mini boxes of his favorite cereals, Candy, and Gum.

As the years went by our Christmas Stockings evolved.  So here are some of the things that I use to fill our Christmas Stockings.

For My Son (21):

  • Dress Socks
  • Hand Lotion
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Gift Cards
  • Mini Tissue Packs
  • Pens
  • Note Pads
  • Batteries

For My Teenage Daughter: 

  • Lip Gloss
  • Hand Lotion
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Hand Wipes
  • Earrings
  • Bracelets
  • Midi Rings*
  • Funky Pens and Pencils
  • Sticker Books
  • Cell Phone Cases
  • Funky Socks
  • Winter Hats
  • Gloves
  • Dry Erase Markers
  • Microfiber Cloths

For My Younger Daughter:

  • Legos (Small Box Sets)
  • Pencil Top Erasers
  • Socks
  • Gloves
  • Winter Hats
  • Coloring Books
  • Crayons
  • Colored Pencils
  • Art Supplies
  • Sketch Books
  • Fidget Spinners
  • Hair Barrettes and Hair Bows
  • Frilly Church Socks
  • Stockings/Tights
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunglasses Case
  • Dry Erase Markers

Hubby:

    • Dress Socks
    • Regular Socks
    • Phone Cases
    • Pens
    • Gift Cards
    • Mini Liquor Bottles
    • Play Station Games
    • Car Chargers
    • USB Chargers
    • Lotion
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Hand Wipes
    • Mini Tissue Packs
    • Razors
    • Batteries

Favorite Places to Shop for Stocking Stuffers:

  • Five and Below
  • The Dollar Store
  • Kroger/Publix
  • Bath and Body Works
  • Ross
  • TJmaxx
  • Marshalls
  • Home Goods
  • Brookstones

FUN FACT:

According to the St. Nicholas Center Organization, St. Nicholas aided the poor, especially those girls whose families could not afford to give them dowries, by dropping gold down chimneys or through windows. This money would land in stockings that were hung up to dry. Another story says that the stocking tradition began when children would leave their shoes out filled with hay for Santa Claus’s horse. He then would replace the hay with gifts.

St. Nicholas was reputedly born in the third century in Patara, a place that is now Demre, Turkey. His parents, who raised him as a Christian in what was then a Grecian province, died in an epidemic. Nicholas used what was left of the family fortune to help those less fortunate. He eventually became the Bishop of Myra where he continued his good works. He died on December 6, on what is now known as St. Nicholas Day. Many countries, such as Poland, celebrate this day with gift giving and feasts.

What are some of the things that you use to stuff your Christmas Stockings?  I would love to hear about it, in the comment section below.

Saying Goodbye to Our Christmas Elf

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For the last seven years, Dobbie the Christmas Elf, also known as our Elf on The Shelf, has been a part of Our Christmas traditions.  So you can imagine my shock and surprise when my seven year old told me that he scared her a little.  Of all three of my kids, my youngest one is the one that I would describe as “fearless”, so hearing her say this really hit me hard.   After all, Dobbie was meant to add to the Christmas Magic.  Once I got myself together, I decided to talk to her some more and really get an idea of where her head was.  And, that is when she said that she sometimes had nightmares about him.  I knew then, that Dobbie would have to go.

Of course, how could I explain his departure, or just that he was not coming back this year?  So we put our heads together and decided that we would write a letter to Santa, requesting to retire Dobbie and gift him to another family.

I am not sure if anyone else’s little ones are experiencing this.  But, just in case, here’s the letter that we wrote to Santa.  She is generally a very inquisitive child, and this managed to pass the “sniff test”.

Last year, we officially let our oldest daughter in on the fun, and made her the keeper of the Christmas Elf.  It was her job to move him around, before her sister woke up in the morning.  So she is a little sad to see him go.  But, we thought it was best.  So.. Goodbye Dobbie.. you served our family well, until you didn’t,  lol.

In my humble opinion, being a parent is full of lots of wins and fails, not sure I won this one.  But, I’m moving on.  Hopefully, I am not the only one out here flailing from time to time.

Friday Favorites – Week 400 – How to Make Rustic Christmas Ornaments

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Friday Favorites – Week 399 – Simple and Delicious Caprese Quiche

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Friday Favorites – Week 398 – Curried Salmon Cakes with Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce

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Friday Favorites – Week 397 – Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Stuffing

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Friday Favorites – Week 396 – Stuffed Pepper Casserole

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Friday Favorites – Week 395 – Candy Corn Popcorn

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Our 2017 Fall Home Tour

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Fall Home Tour 2017

It was my intention to have this year’s Fall Home Tour posted by the first day of Autumn, but life happened, and I had to settle on getting it done before the Time Change.  That being said, my home is finally all decorated for fall and Visitor Ready.  So come on in and look around.

Fall Home Tour 2017: Front Porch

Not to toot my own horn, but I think that I am finally getting the hang of re-using things we already have in a new way.  Believe it or not that makes decorating that much easier.  This year the list of things that I purchased were minimal.  For the front porch, I bought a new wreath on sale for 60% off at Joann’s and (2) unfinished wooden crates.

Fall Home Tour 2017 : Foyer

In the foyer, I simply changed out the Fall Printable, with one from Our Etsy Store, and added some leaf votive candle holders, fall flowers and a ceramic pumpkin.

Fall Home Tour 2017 : Formal Living Room

In the Formal Living Room, I purchased a few mini Pumpkin and Gourd Vase Fillers and threw them in with Pine Cones and Fall Leaves from previous year’s decor, and surrounded the basket with Salt and Pepper Acorn Shakers.

Fall Home Tour 2017 : Fall Tablescape

The only thing new in this year’s Tablescape were the Velvet Fabric Pumpkins I found at Joann’s for 40% off.

Fall Home Tour 2017 : Centerpiece on the Side Buffet

A fun centerpiece for the Side Buffet using a Fall Bouquet and some mini apple vase fillers.

Fall Home Tour 2017: Mantel Decor

Fall Home Tour 2017 : The Family Room

Our Family Room is where we spend most of our time together, I did the least in this room.  Just a few simple touches here and there, the Football Fall Wood Accent over the fireplace, the pumpkins in the Dough Bowl and the super plush Football Throw that I picked up at Hobby Lobby.

I hope you enjoyed this year’s Fall Home Tour.  How do you decorate for the season?  I’d love to hear all about it.  Feel free to share in the comment section below.