Top Posts of 2013!

Just for the fun of it, I thought I'd share the most popular posts from this past year here in one quick spot on this last day of 2013! It's actually been really interesting to figure out just what brings people here the most... and realize that, indeed, the things we put the most effort into give us the most return, seemingly regardless of what they are specifically. This year I've been able to focus more on this blog than ever before, and it shows. Some ways good and surely some ways bad-ha! No matter what, thank you for being here and making this little space something that still brings me happiness, and especially allows me to share it :)

Cool Gifts and Accessories from Best Buy

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Was your living room about as messy as it could've possibly been Christmas morning too? We had wrapping paper and cardboard strewn everywhere, lots of it in the name of the cool gifts the boys got this year! Stephen and I made a fair bit of effort trying to find them the best tech gifts we could- good prices, quality, trends- all the details that go into making a larger purchase you want to really be happy with. So it goes for parents of teenagers specifically, eh? :)

Christmas 2013

December Has Wings

How is it that this month, of all months, really does just seem to fly?! December forever goes so fast that I can't help but feel like I just kinda miss it to some extent. We have done some fun seasonal type things, though and I thought I'd share them before I post about Christmas Day itself :)

Sprinkle blizzard at the boys' graham houses :)

Wishing YOU a Very...

Just want to wish anyone who reads a very Merry Christmas!

Heard this song below for the first time earlier this year and found this video wonderfully powerful-

 enjoy! I know our Savior was born in a manger and that HE is the reason our lives are what they are.

So thankful for His birth and the exciting time of Christmas to acknowledge it! Merry Christmas!

Super Quick and Easy Gifts... Popcorn and More with Printable Tags

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This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client.

Today is Cooper's last day of school before the Holiday Break! I'm so excited to have all the boys together for a long while- kinda feels like Christmas season can actually begin now! With today being the last day, I sent him out the door with his teacher gifts in tow (Ryder also took his to preschool yesterday). I'm so glad that they both enjoy gifting too- they were thrilled with the cute, easy gift "baskets" we put together. To create them, I got to shop at Target for hot chocolate, gourmet popcorn and beef jerky (hard life, I know) ;) 

Last Minute Christmas Service Ideas #spreadingjoy

I can't even express how grateful I am to be part of the cool #spreadingjoy, Season of Giving effort over at Kid Stuff World. I was told about this great series by the amazing Sheila from Pennies of Time and knew immediately I wanted to join- I'm so glad she thought to ask me! So today I get to share a little list that's been gaining momentum in my head for a few weeks now... a few last minute ideas for giving service this time of year!

Christmas flies by every year, no matter what. It gets here and we think, did I really feel the spirit of it all? Did I do the things that mattered most? Will my kids remember THIS year imparticular? I know the answer for me is pretty well always "No," even if we have done some great and good things. But I do, I spend too much time at the store in the name of gift giving. Too much time in the kitchen in the name of baking and tradition. Too much time behind my laptop in the name of... what, exactly?

15 Winter Boredom Busters for Kids

This month #myfavoritebloggers and I are each sharing a WINTER idea-

lots of talent right here in one stop:

Peppermint Sugar Cookie Snowman,   Zippered Snowflake Pouch,   Crocheted Winter Gnome,   Crocheted Snowflake Pattern,  Winter Princess Pearl Necklace,   Safety Pin Ice Skates,   Winter Party Favors,   Gold-Brushed Pine Cone Ornaments,   Winter Gift in a Jar,   Candy Swirl Winter Centerpiece,   Egg Nog Cookies,   Easy Beaded Snowflakes,   DIY Christmas Trees.

My mind went to indoor boredom buster activities when it came to winter- it can get frustrating not being able to just go outside and ride bikes or jump on the tramp for my little guys I know! I scrolled down memory lane... or the archives here at this little blog... and gathered several ideas for having simple fun at home this winter!

Mason Jar Wine Glasses: Christmas Style

Earlier this year, I took a page from the Robertson family themselves and made my own mason jar wine glasses. I think they might just be one of my favorite things I've ever made! We've loved them, from using just because to adding a bit of flair to a meal or get together with friends. I wish I had about three times as many of them! What's stopping me... who knows! Just stuff, like always! :) 

Anyhow, I saw them awhile back sitting on my counter together and had the thought that they could make a neat Christmas gift. So, I tried adding a little bit of holiday cheer to them and thought I'd share!

You can first find the full tutorial for how to make them HERE. A case of jars is about $8 and the candlesticks used for the base you can find at the dollar store. It takes 24 hours for the silicone that holds the two together to really set good, but surely within 8 or 12 you'd be able to work on getting your gift together is you were super low on time. These could make a really easy, inexpensive last minute DIY gift...

My Own 'Christmas Shoes' Story

Oh, my, it is seriously past time for a family update around here! This little blog is keeping me busy lately and I LOVE it, but it also means that otherwise I just want spend time with my little band of men, instead of get behind the laptop again to blog about them, shaknow? :) I do have the most heart warming little Christmas story to share with you- I've been frothing at the bit to get this posted...

So Cooper has been really concerned with what he's giving to everyone this year- he loves giving gifts! Comes by it rightly ;) He's slowly been checking off family members, earning a dollar here and there, and wanting to spend his own money on the gifts he's giving.

He recently set up a little "Chrismis Popkorne" sale at our aquarium shop on Saturday afternoon while Stephen was open and busy. He loves stuff like this! (Ry's face in this pic makes me so sad! He was obviously tired. I sure love my trooper baby- he endures a lot in the name of everyone else.) Anyhow, at the end of the day Cooper just begged me to go to Michaels because he had earned $3 selling popcorn (surely from his Dad and older brothers) :) I knew we had time, so I did agree to swing to Michaels before home. He was over the moon!

A Better Pharmacy Experience with the Walgreens Mobile App

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I've been talking a bit more recently about how I have Type One Diabetes... certainly not because it's as fun as crafting- ha! I think I just need for it to be more visibly a part of who I am, more in the forefront of my mind as a result. I feel stronger than I have before that I just need to really get over the frustration that diabetes controls me, that it will control me even more in the future. Proves I'm getting older, I guess, eh? This pic above is one I took for submitting to a Day in the Life of Diabetes Mosaic. That's my pump site on my arm :)

When I had the chance to look into the Walgreens Mobile App, and specifically learn more about some of the helpful features in the pharmacy section, I decided it could be a good thing.

Simple Christmas Kindness with Extra Gum

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I'm so excited about this post! I know, I know, I say that a lot, but this one just got me a bit nostalgic, which I love. Fun crafty things with mint gum are something I remember being a part of Christmas time in my childhood and I really wanted to incorporate it into something I could pass on to the boys too...

Do you remember the candy trains you made during Christmas time as a kid? I can't quite remember which part was which candy- lifesavers for the wheels I think. And a pack of gum for the body. Glued together just right to make a train ornament that I remember was just too heavy for the branches! Something about those kinds of little things just brings on the nostalgia... memories of Christmas' past :) Those kinds of little things are the reason that Christmas is so beloved to us now, that we are trying to pass on the spirit we feel to our own kids.

Affordable Neighbor Gift: Dinner in a Mug

Today I'm back with my friend Emily from The Benson Street to share some inexpensive, quick neighbor gift ideas for Christmas! This month we went to Dollar Tree... and tried to get some creative juice flowing in the busy aisle, all while Cooper and Ryder buzzed back and forth needing feedback- ha! Emily is so cool to deal with my lack of organization when we get together! :) 

Christmas Wish List Giveaway!

I've been so excited for today to get here, for this giveaway blog hop!

I've been having far too much fun getting ready for it!

You already know I LOVE gifting, so being able to give one of YOU some of my  favorite  things is like a little bit of bliss :) It's possible I went a titch overboard... nah, of  course not ;) For this giveaway, I'm joining a great new group of bloggers and each of them did the same thing too- gathered items from their own Christmas wish list to send to one lucky winner, hopefully making their holiday a little happier! Every blogger is hosting a giveaway on their site, for their basket. :)

#MyFavoriteBloggers Stocking Stuffer Giveaway!

Wood Creations of Idaho Falls Christmas Sneak Peak

Let the Christmas decorating and crafting begin! Or rather, get into full swing... since it's pretty much too hard to totally wait until after Thanksgiving and we've actually already started ;) Today I'm sharing some of the fun Christmas kits on the shelves at Wood Creations of Idaho Falls. Not giving one away just yet... and I'll tell why in a sec... (you won't be disappointed) ;)

These two kits above were some of my very favorites- isn't that rusty bell neat?!

Ideas to Get Rid of your Elf on the Shelf... and Why We Won't Even be Using Them

When I set to start writing this post, I was determined that my boys' Elf on the Shelf, Jolly, would not be returning this year. Stephen and I had to "lie" to them more than I was comfortable with in order to give them as much detail as they wanted about Jolly last year. And there were those couple of occasions we forgot to move him and had to try and do it on the fly when it was already too late. I don't like the focus of our Christmas season feeling so negative. Jolly would NOT be coming back this year... I even got to work on a post about it...

Simple Fleece Face Guards: Gifts Under $20

Today I'm happily in the company of #myfavoritebloggers again! This time we've set out to each share a gift under $20. The one I chose had been on my list for a long time.... and is WELL under that $20 price point. Maybe more like under $5 even...

 

SAVE on stocking stuffers with MONEY!

I really love being cozy at home during the holidays. But, truth: I also love holiday shopping. Totally enjoy the hustle and bustle, so long as it's not too much hustle and bustle, ya know? Which is why I'm sharing this stocking stuffer idea now- because, I'm surely not the only one who's already Christmas shopping so I can be done well before the day of December 24th!

Some of my very favorite things to buy for Christmas are stocking stuffers! But, confession: for me, it's way too easy to get carried away without even thinking twice!

Fall Fun at Grandpa and Grandma's

What an awesome way to start our November- a trip home to Grandma and Grandpas! Their lawn was loaded with leaves and it ended up being a beautiful afternoon, so we had a ball raking and jumping (for the boys at least). It's actually been a really beautiful Fall in general I'd say. I love these fun pictures :)

My Mom is the coolest Grandma ever.

Really. She is. :)

LOVE this shot of Ryder- bliss!

Stephen was hosting the Idaho Falconer's Association field meet around Arco again this year and we made some nice soups to meet him at the park to serve everyone lunch. It made for a fun time for the boys again. They are so blessed! Hope they really realize it someday. :)

As always, life is good and boys rule :)