HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN!!!!

Happy Birthday to the BEST Husband in the entire world!! I am soo thankful you were born and that God planned you for me!! :) I'm taking Kevin out to lunch and dinner today! He has to work unfortunately on his birthday :(  I LOVE YOU DEAR!!

New Camera!!

Kevin and I got a NICE new camera for our Christmas/Birthday present from Kevin's dad!! We are soo excited about it. We wanted one to be able to take with us when we head to Italy in a few months!! I had a little fun on my birthday playing around with it!!

A White Christmas in Alabama!

Well I must be the luckiest person in the South! I had TWO White Christmases in a ROW!!! Last year it snowed on Christmas Eve in Dallas and this year it snowed on Christmas Day in Birmingham!! We had a great time in Alabama this year for Christmas!! We woke up on Christmas morning, literally when it started snowing! We quickly ate breakfast and opened presents so we can make our way out to play in the snow!! Kevin's dad lives kind of up on a hill in Trussville, so I think we got even more snow up there!!

Day 25 - Things To Do On Christmas Day

1. Go See a Movie with your family like...

2. Play Games with your family...
3. Watch Christmas Movies on TV...
4. Go drive and see Christmas Lights...
5. Sit around tell Christmas Stories...

Day 24 - Last Minute Gift Ideas

1. Fresh Baked Cookies, like Tiff's Treats .
2. Chocolate
3. Bath & Body Works
4. Gift Certificates for Massages
5. Gift Cards

Day 23 - Favorite Christmas Food and Drinks

I love Sparkling Grape Juice around Christmas time.

I LOVE any kind of sweets that come out around the holidays that have peppermint in them like Chick-fil-a's Peppermint Shake.

On Christmas Day I love having a GREAT yummy Breakfast because I LOVE breakfast!! I also love having turkey or ham with yummy sides on Christmas too! And of course around Christmas I LOVE having any kind of Christmas baked goods!!

Day 22 - Stocking Stuffers Under $10

1. Of course CANDY...you can't get a stocking without candy!!

2. For girls, fun little beauty products...

3. Lottery Scratch Offs

7. For Guys, pocket knives, miniature flashlights, small tools, etc.

8. Gift Cards to Starbucks, Sonic, etc.

Day 21 - Holiday Vacations

I don't really ever take a Holiday Vacation trip. Basically our vacation consists of heading to Dallas and Birmingham each Holiday season. I guess I'll tell you about what our plans are this Christmas. We are heading to Alabama on Thursday night. Our flight leaves Austin around 6:40pm and we get to Birmingham around 9 something. That night I have a lot of present wrapping to do because we just pack all the gifts in our suitcases and wrap them once we get there.

Then on Friday morning, we'll wake up early and head up to Gadsden to do a Christmas Eve Brunch with Kevin's mom's side of the family. They do Dirty Santa gifts every year were everyone buys a gift under $20. It is fun to watch people fight over gifts! I think we got 2 really good gifts this year that I think people will like. After that we'll probably go over to Kevin's grandparent's house in Gadsden and do Christmas with them.

Of course on Christmas Day we'll spend time at Kevin's dad's house with his family. Then the day after Christmas of course is MY 27th Birthday! AHHHH I'm old! I usually hate my birthday every year, having a birthday the day after Christmas isn't so exciting, but ohhh well.

Then bright and EARLY on the 27th we will fly back to Austin and be back around 9:30am so Kevin can get back to work. So we have a pretty quick trip to Alabama and back, but that is our holiday vacations.

Day 20 - Show Us The Best Gift You’ve Bought For Someone

Well I can't really tell you what I've gotten people yet since it isn't Christmas! We did go and have Christmas with my family though this past weekend in Irving since we'll be in Alabama for Christmas this year! I guess I can tell you what I got some of them since they already received it! None of them are like out of this world AWESOME or anything, just practical things....I guess I'll just share two of the things I got my sister because those are easy to find pictures of...

A Vera Bradley Tote she was wanting...

And A Vera Bradley Headband...

Day 19 - Show Us Your Favorite Ornament

This is probably my favorite because its an ornament to show our first Christmas together 2009 as a married couple! I know years from now we'll always look back at that ornament and it will hold a special place in our heart!

Publish Post

Day 18 - Favorite Christmas Memory

Ohh goodness! Hmmmm.... I just remember the excitement of Christmas when I was little! It was always fun to track Santa on the TV stations at my Grandmommy's house and then when we'd be heading home afterwards, we would look for Rudolph's nose in the sky! That was always so much fun!

Last year was pretty neat too since we had a white Christmas with all the snow, I had never had one of those before!!

Day 17 - Christmas Baking and Recipes

Peppermint Ice Cream Pie


This is one of my favorite desserts to have during the holidays and its very simple! All you need is an Oreo cookie pie crust, peppermint ice cream, and hot fudge and/or cool whip.

Let the ice cream sit out for a bit so it softens then add it to the pie crust and put in the freezer until it hardens nicely. When its time to serve, you can either heat up some hot fudge and drizzle on each slice or put some cool whip on time! Sooo good!!

Day 16 - Christmas Gift Ideas

Well obviously I don't want to give you any Christmas Gift Ideas of stuff I have bought people....so here are some fun Christmas Gift Ideas that are generic and I think many people would love to receive! We'll limit it to gifts under $50!

Wine Opener with Chiller

$34.99

I love that you can have something to keep the wine cold after you open while guests are still there and it can sit on the counter!

Ice Cream Maker

$19.99-$29.99

I saw these in the store and thought they were soo neat. Make the ice cream in these bowls and freeze!

Cupcake Maker

$39.99

Love this!! Easy quick way to make cupcakes!

Bar Set

$39.99

Everything you'd need to make a good drink!

Lasagna Trio

$29.99

Love this!! This would be great for us, since Kevin like meat in his and I don't!

Day 15 - 2010 Christmas Cards

Here is the Christmas Card we sent out this year! I really like it!

Day 14 - Past Christmases and Gifts

Well I guess I can talk about the past 2 Christmases with Kevin...

This was Christmas 2 Years ago in Birmingham. When went to the Birmingham Zoo on Christmas Eve where they had a light display...

This was Christmas Eve last year in DFW!! YAY it snowed!

And this is Christmas Day last year at my parents!

And probably my favorite gift I received in the last 2 years was my surprise proposal pictures. Kevin had proposed December 13, 2008 and on Christmas morning he surprised me with pictures that someone had secretly been taking!!! I cried because I was soo excited!

Day 13 - Show Us Your Holiday Parties

We aren't hitting up too many Christmas Parties this year. Either many conflicted with each other or conflicted with other things we had going on! But this I love this picture of HO HO HO shirts we made to wear to a Christmas Party one year!

Day 12 - Show Us Your Family Christmas Pictures

Day 11 - Favorite Christmas Activities

1) I love driving around and looking at Christmas Lights!
2) I love baking Christmas goodies!
3) I love watching Christmas movies! (Just watched Love Actually last night)
4) I love putting our tree up!
5) I love wrapping presents!

Day 10 - Holiday Shopping Tips

Well, START EARLY!!! I've already finished my Christmas shopping and one I found some really good deals early, but two I don't have the stress of knowing I still have a ton of shopping to do in just a couple of weeks! I also have started shopping online a lot more than I use to. Macy's was having a HUGE 3 day sale a week or two before Thanksgiving and honestly it was so much easier to browse online and find stuff for people than going all over Macy's. We got such awesome deals and we had a better selection to choose from online. I don't think shipping ended up being that bad too! I also like to make a list of all the people we need to get presents for and then add to it what we got each person to keep track of how much we spent and how many more things we need to buy!!

Day 9 - Favorite Thing About The Holiday Season

I love the Christmas Season, it is my favorite time of the year!!!

1) I love getting to spend time with family!

2) I love getting bundled up because of the cold weather.

3) I love seeing Christmas lights out!

4) I love watching TV downstairs at our house (as oppose to upstairs where we usually watch TV) because we love to sit in the same room as our lit up Christmas Tree!!

5) I love hot chocolate and Carmel Apple Spice!

6) I love Christmas songs!

7) I love sitting around the Christmas tree and having everyone open presents!

8) I love remembering the true meaning of Christmas, when the "Word Became Flesh"

"There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." John 1:9-17

Day 8 - Best Gift You’ve Received

I don't really know what the best gift I've ever received is!!! I do remember when I was really little the present I wanted the most and got for Christmas... I was sooo excited!

It was a singing mermaid, funny I know!! I was trying to google to find a picture of what she looked like...i think this was her! Man was I soooo pumped to get her for Christmas, hahah!

Day 7 - Christmas Crafts

Well I'm not really a crafty person AT ALL!! Just don't think I have that artistic bone in me...but here are a few neat Christmas Craft ideas I found courtesy of  Craft Bits !!!

Cinnamon Stars

This is a quick little project for kids of all ages and a fast way to make tree decorations by using half sticks of cinnamon.

To make this rustic country Christmas star begin by taking your sticks and laying them on top of each other to form a 5 point star. You do this by creating two triangles.

Secure the ends by adding a dab of glue and binding it with decorative twine.

Do this to all the points of the star. 

Glue a loop onto the top so you can hang it.

Pom Pom Wreath

Take the pom poms and glue them side by side into a circle using craft glue. Using the gold pipe cleaner twist it around the gaps in the pom poms. Use the gold thread to tie onto the wreath to form a hanging cord. Glue on the holly to finish it off. We added a few beads to the front for decoration.

Christmas Angel

For this adorable Christmas angel you will need a cardboard cone, you can make your own cone using some cardboard or purchase a polystyrene cone.

To make this simple, yet elegant Christmas craft begin by constructing spray painting your cone.

Paint your ping pong ball or large bead to look like a face. In the picture we have left it totally gold for a more simplistic looking Christmas angel.

Take your 2 paper doily's and cut 1 of them in half. These 2 half's will form the Angels sleeves. Simply fold each half into half again as shown in the picture.

With the 2nd doily cut it into half and then trim off the decorative edge off one half. This section becomes the angels collar. Discard the 2nd half as you do not need it for this project.

Spray paint your folded sleeves and the collar with the gold spray paint. 

Alternatively if you are spray painting the whole angel a single color as we have done then you can glue it all together and then paint it.

Glue on the head first then the collar and finish off with the sleeves. Add the wings onto the back and glue on a small bow in the front.

This Christmas Craft Angel is ideal for centerpieces and table settings and can be adapted to suit your creativity.

Ginger Bread Cookie Mix In A Jar

Great Gift Idea

For these recipes you will need a jar that holds around 1 quart or 1.130 litres.

If your jar is airtight add the ingredients directly otherwise place them into

an airtight or ziplock bag and attach the recipe card instructions.

Tie the whole jar up with some cellophane or add some curling ribbons and a bow to finish off this gift

Jar Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 cup packed brown sugar

Mix 2 cups of the flour with the baking soda and baking powder. Mix the remaining 1

1/2 cups flour with the ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. In a 1 quart, wide

mouth canning jar, layer the ingredients starting with the flour and baking powder

mixture, then the brown sugar, and finally the flour and spice mixture. Pack firmly

between layers.

Tag Instructions:

Gingerbread Cookies

1. Empty contents of jar into a large mixing bowl. Stir to blend together. Mix in

1/2 cup softened butter or margarine, 3/4 cup molasses, and 1 slightly beaten egg.

Dough will be very stiff, so you may need to use your hands. Cover, and refrigerate

for 1 hour. 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 3. Roll dough to 1/4

inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.

Place cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. 4. Bake for

10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven. Decorate as desired. Makes 1 1/2 dozen

Day 6 - Dresses for the Holidays

Well I don't really have a need for dresses for the holidays, but if I did....here are some that I might be interested in...

Auburn Football

So Auburn is heading to the National Championship Game!! I'm so excited for my husband and Auburn!! This team really has such a heart!!! We have had our plane tickets booked for over a month and we now have a hotel and car!!! Sook January 10th we'll be in Phoenix!!!!

Day 5, Favorite Christmas Songs

Hands down "Oh Holy Night" is my favorite Christmas song!!!

Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine


Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name

Day 4 - Favorite Christmas Movies

I love Christmas movies, especially the cheesy Lifetime Movies. But these listed are just a few that I love!

Day 3 - Christmas Wish List

Here are some things I would love for Christmas...

 A new camera to take to Italy

 Decorating Stuff!!

  Decorating Stuff!!

 Brown Boots (really any boots, I LOVE BOOTS!!)

I need a new hair dryer!!

I don't wear a watch now, but I would love this one!!

And of course I love clothes, jewelry, scarves, etc!!! :)