Thanksgiving week!

Honestly, this week just zoomed right on in here once we hit November.  It is a big week of course.  I am looking forward to lots of things.....like sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, lima beans and rolls......those are my favorites.  This year I am actually cooking a turkey breast.  I have always bought either a turkey or a turkey breast and we have made the sides.  But this year we are doing it all.  My younger daughter had a 'Friendsgiving' on Saturday so I practiced cooking the turkey then.  I feel very prepared and ready now.  Thank you to my friend Jennifer who gave me the encouragement and the recipe.

Of course, I am also looking forward to the newspaper after dinner and scoping all the sales.  I am most excited that I don't really have anything to buy, so it is totally a no pressure shopping day for me......but I will totally be there. Totally.

I am also super excited about a few days off, some time on the couch under a throw and more than one nap or two.  I will also be Hallmarking it out while putting up Christmas decor.

Y'all I am so thankful for so many things.  Sit and watch the news one night and you realize just how blessed you are.  Scroll through Facebook and you will again be reminded.  My goodness just run into a friend you haven't seen in a while and the things people go through can absolutely break your heart.

I know we are all thinking about thankfulness this week which is great, but I want to encourage you all to join me in taking a quick picture of things/people/situations that you are thankful for all week long.

On Thursday we can all sit back after dinner and scroll through a little photo diary of thankfulness.  Just imagine - a full tummy, feet up and scrolling through all the things we encounter this week to be thankful for......this is just another form of being intentional.  Slow down long enough to take a quick photo on your phone and watch your thankful photo album grow.....might even be fun to share with your family if you feel up to it.

Snap away girls......and smile, my first thankful photo is of all of you! Thanks for reading here with me!

Christmas Craft Series - Part I

This is a super simple craft that can be used for several different things. 

Here is what you are going to need
1) some wooden ornaments
2) glue or mod podge
3) a foam brush
4) some glitter glass or large flake glitter
5) paper plates


Here are the items I gathered
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

I already had the mod podge and the foam brushes but you can get them at any craft store.

You can also find wooden ornaments and glitter at craft stores but I ordered these particular ornaments and this glitter glass from Amazon.

We simply painted on the mod podge and sprinkled away with the glitter

They turned out so pretty

These will be great ornaments for the tree 

or even lovely tied on a gift

We like to do a little craft together after Thanksgiving dinner.  This would be a great one and everyone would have a beautiful ornament to take home.

Go ahead and gather some supplies this weekend and craft on Thanksgiving day.

Have a wonderful weekend.  I will talk to you on Monday!

So now I scope

This time of year I can't help but just scope out fun gift ideas.  Here are a few things I have found to share with you.  For the foodie or cook in your life,  how about a pricey Dutch oven

Le Creuset Dutch Oven

Now if that is too pricey, you know what else cooks don't often by for themselves that would be good......basics

William Sonoma Wooden Spoons

If you don't have a foodie on the list how about something you don't need to know their size to buy....I am loving all the ponchos and wraps this year

BP Poncho

or this one if you really want to splurge

Barefoot Dreams Poncho

Honestly, buy anyone any Barefoot Dreams product and they should be tickled pink.

And you know I highly recommend a throw

Kennebunk Throw

This one comes in 21 different color options and has tons of 5 star reviews

And if you want to really splurge

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw

If you haven't been to Barnes and Noble lately, check them out before you finish all of your shopping.  They have their holiday game face on for sure.  They have a whole section called "Reading socks and Winter Wear".  Everything in this section makes you want to curl up on the sofa for a really long time.  Everything is super soft and cuddly.

They have socks

Reading Socks

and cute hats

Seattle Puff Floppy Hat

You can see the whole collection online by clicking here but do yourself a favor and pop into the store and touch and feel it for yourself. And as always they have the cutest bags with any purchase.  I absolutely can never resist these and may have purchased this one

Snowman Tote

They are $19.95 on their own but if you buy anything in the store you can get it for $12.95.

So it was a good thing I was buying this

Card Trick Kit

I thought my little 10 year old great nephew would enjoy this.  It does not have batteries.  It does not make noise.  I feel like it could be a real winner.

They also had a yo-yo one and a harmonica one. I figured it would take him a while to learn a trick and that his parents would get to enjoy the fruits of his studies.  The other two kind of sounded like they could involve me immediately so I chose wisely.

Lastly, a big shout out to the man I married.  When you have 10 Christmas trees in the attic and you say on Saturday morning you are going shopping for a couple of new ones and he says "OK" you know for sure that you have chosen the right spouse.  I have had most of my trees for over 20 years so I am ready to replace a couple of them.  I wanted something fairly inexpensive for the bedrooms but I didn't want the super skinny trees.  After looking at about 6 stores I broke down and went to Wal Mart......you know I have a love/hate relationship with them.  So it is not a regular stop for me, but this time worked out wonderfully.   I found this tree and I think it is perfect

7' Branford Spruce

While it is a slim profile, it still has some substance to it.  The branches are very full.  It is lightweight and goes up in less than 10 minutes.  Now it is not pre-lit but it is not going to take you long to light this beauty.  I think it is absolutely perfect for a bedroom, a kitchen, a staircase landing or anywhere you could stick another Christmas tree.  It was only $69 dollars.  

I will see you back here on Friday.  But before I go here is a friendly reminder to complete our November Great Things in '18 Challenge.  I know we all get super busy this time of year but finish strong.  When you are strung out or stressed, you always feel better when you do a little something for someone else.

Happy Veteran's Day

I am off today.  I hope you are enjoying a day off too.

A special thanks to all of those who have so bravely served our country.

See you back here on Wednesday.