Merry "huff puff" Christmas!

We are halfway thru December but I feel like it should still be March!? This year has and is flying by! I hope to be a bit more current on posts next year...tho' making no promises. Here are a couple of things I have done lately...another "Where's Baby?" for my newest grandchild "Eliza"...


I did fabric ties this time (as opposed to velcro attachments) and trimmed it with BIG rick rack to match her quilt...


My daughter came up with this idea for decorating her Christmas mantle. I like how the quote is placed off to the right rather than centered...the new "big sister" is pretty excited about it all!

What's for "D"?

More often than not, around our house "what's for D or dessert?" are chocolate chip cookies. Warm and gooey just out of the oven! My daughter decided to put up the recipe for chocolate chip cookies on the wall of her new kitchen. Naturally this meant we had to make some!!!

TREES...not for birds only!

I just got back from almost 4 weeks of "grandma heaven"...it was delightful chaos! For weeks prior, my daughter and I planned via email what she wanted to do to her "new to them" older home. The biggest project was my little granddaughter's great big bedroom with very empty walls. It is now filled with big trees and little birdies and a little girl that loves it!

A proper tree wouldn't be complete without a birdhouse...right!?


I had lots of help putting up the vinyl and it turned out great because of it...or is it despite of it?!

CFB Favorites of 2009

I recently tuned in to a Rachel Ray Show and they shared some of the BHG (Better Homes and Gardens) favorite products from 50,000 voters. Naturally I needed to check out some of these products. It got me thinking about what are some of my favorite products that I discovered this year? Here are some of my favorites:

1) Howard's Restore-A-Finish
Makes old water stained wood cupboards (like under the sink and around dishwasher) look like new...quick and easy! Available at Home Depot in 3 wood toned colors.

2) Scotch Brite Easy Erasing Pad/like Mr. Clean "Magic Eraser"
Works amazing on scuff marks on linoleum and woodwork...where was this when my kids were little?! Supposed to be good on tile too, but I haven't tried that yet.

3) The Ped Egg
I saw it in a human lab test on a local news show and since I have a problem with dry, cracky heels decided to try it...love it! Available at Bed, Bath and Beyond (next time you get one of their coupons, use it for this) or also available at Target

4) Utah Truffle Bar
(of course my list would have to include CHOCOLATE!)
Unfortunately I have become addicted to these. I particularly like the Premium Almond flavor. I am such a chocolate snob, but this is a good quality chocolate bar for under a dollar! Best buy at Macey's grocery store...sorry to those of you who live outside Utah!

5) WEIMAN Stainless Steel Wipes
Quick and easy clean for stainless steel appliances. Available at Target.

What are your favorite products...please share!

If HARRODS can do it, so can I!

I'm still trying to adjust to the fact that TARGET has had their school supplies on sale for a month...I'm ready for summer to begin, not end?! I really hate how the stores are always two seasons ahead and you can never buy what you need at the time you need it!? That said, I apologize for my hypocritical-ness here and post a HALLOWEEN decoration! My husband told me this morning that HARRODS of London already has their Christmas decorations on display...so if they can do Christmas, I can surely do Halloween!

My friend brought this idea to me for a Ladies Night activity in the fall. We tweeked it up and this is what we came up with. It could be hung on a door or displayed on an easel. (Any resemblance to the occupant of this house, is purely coincidental!)

Like GRANDMAS, like GRANDDAUGHTER!

I have a beautiful dark haired daughter who looks nothing like me, but has repeatedly reminded us of both of her grandmothers in their younger years...coloring, dark eyes, noses, etc! I have been talking about how fun it would be to have pictures of all of them together, and I finally did it for her birthday last month.

Mandi, you are a "blessing of heaven and my heart"! We may not look alike, but our passion for chocolate runs deep!

G is for GRATEFUL!

The economy stinks, life can be hard, and at times, terribly unfair! However, there are many things to be grateful for at the same time; wonderful things all around us that we tend to overlook or take for granted, or that just get overshadowed by the JUNK. My sweet Mom used to always say, "When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!" and "It is always darkest before the dawn." My Dad was equally positive and had many health challenges before he passed away...in my book, he had a lot he could complain about, but never did! Instead he would always end our conversations with," I've lived a blessed life. I have no complaints." We can't control everything around us, but we can control our attitude...we can laugh or we can cry...
we can focus on our trials or focus on our blessings...we can complain about our circumstances or do something to make life better, either in our life or someone else's! Now don't go thinking I've got this "attitude thing" mastered, but I'm working on it! LIFE really IS GREAT!