Utah...

I was gone all week.

Can you believe it?  A whole week.

At the last minute Jeff and I decided to pack our bags and head to my dads house for Thanksgiving.

We were busy little bees and came home with tons of memories.......and pictures........and stories to tell.....

About sheep and horses and dogs and birds AND babies.  And a whole lot more.  

I can't wait to share them with you.

Dean's Dipstakes Giveaway

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking a Dean's Dipstakes giveaway package would be a fantastic holiday present for one of the men in your life.  Dean's Dip is found in the refrigerated dairy section of your grocery store and is the "Chip Magnet™".

Dean's Dipstakes is giving to one of you a prize package worth $50.00 including:

FIVE vouchers for Dean's Dip

ONE dip tray

ONE stadium blanket

To enter to win, simply:

Leave a comment here expressing your interest in winning.

For additional entries:

Tweet about the giveaway or become a fan on Facebook.

Separate comments, please.

Contest ends Sunday, December 6th at 11:59 PM and only open to US residents.

For more information on the Dean's Dipstakes, visit their Facebook Page .  There you will have the chance to win other "BIG" prizes and find more details about Dean's Dip.

Disclosure:  I was not compensated in any way for hosting this giveaway.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all the most {THANKFUL} holiday season this year.

Wordful Wednesday: Feeling Pretty Thankful..........

*Wordful Wednesday is for those of us that like to showcase a photo(s) but that just can't seem keep our mouths shut about it(them). If you'd like to play along, post a photo on your blog, and let the words roll. Feel free to "capture" my 7 Clown Circus button (below and on the left) or simply hyperlink to my site, and be sure to add yourself to Mr. Linky. Thanks for playing along!

Grab My Button

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Four years ago something happened that changed my life.  

It was emotional.

It was painful.

It was downright spectacular.

Most importantly, what happened makes me exceedingly grateful for my blessings and serves as a reminder that I have much to be thankful for.

Four years ago tomorrow, these healthy, happy, fun loving, melt-my-heart, hilarious, miracle boys were born.

I've been able to watch with wonder as they went from this:

To this:

To this:

Life IS sweet.  

Happy Birthday, my babies.

Chronicles of a Mommy appears today!

You know how some people have that knack for making whatever it is they do special? They pay close attention to detail and have an eye for color and combinations that work well together.  You know, the kind that are just plain talented?  Kacey is one of those people.  I absolutely LOVE her style and ability to personalize gifts and parties.  She's SUPER cute and sweet, plus, she is a mother after my own heart as she has twins, like me!

I asked her to guest post today and share a tutorial that would be great for the gift givers out there that want something special.  Like me.

You can find Kacey at Chronicles of a Mommy (it's that the greatest blog title?).

Enjoy!

{As promised here is the "tutorial" on how to make this butterfly applique shirt. It is SUPER simple. This is my version on how to do this - the most simplest sewing machine free way. I kind of wing everything and learn through trial and error. If you would like more of an in depth tutorial there is a great one right here.

Here is what you are going to need:

Scrap paper

Pen

Pre-washed T-shirt - I got mine from Wal-Mart. It is the Geranimals brand and it washes really nicely

Two pre-washed scrap fabric pieces - preferably different complimentary fabrics

Hot iron

Iron on adhesive

Needle

Thread or embroidery floss

This is what we're making...

Pick two pieces of fabric to create your butterfly. I was originally going to use this dragonfly as a template, but I was better at drawing my butterfly freehand. *Remember to make sure that your T-shirt/onsie and fabric are both pre-washed.*

Freehand your butterfly on scrap paper, or anything else you would like to make...

Cut out all of your pieces....

Use your cut out pieces of paper to cut out your pieces of fabric....

Make sure your pieces of fabric line up how you would like them to. Adhere your iron on adhesive to the back side of your fabric. *I found my adhesive at JoAnn's, however, I would imagine that it would be available at any craft or fabric store.*

Once your butterfly is ironed onto your T-shirt and is secure, you want to add a little more embellishment that also acts as a little more security for your applique. Use your thread and needle to whipstitch around the entire applique. Apparently I have my own version of a whipstitch so I will spare myself the embarrassment. My friend Michelle clued me in on how to do an actual whipstitch though so fear not. One thing I learned is that I would use embroidery floss in lieu of thread the next time. I think I would like the bolder look of the floss. Its just a matter of preference though.

Once you've stitched all around your applique, throw that baby back the the washer and dryer to get the cute frayed edges. Once it's dry...Viola! You have a sassy appliqued shirt all your own. There are several other ones that I would like to do...I think a tiara would be stinikn' cute and so many others. I'll be sure to let you know if I come up with anything else.

I hope you enjoyed this little lesson. Another note I would like to make is if you do have a sewing machine, you can do a cute zig zag stitch (which I need to practice) or even a regular stitch. It was much less stressful for me to hand stitch. I think this will continue to be my best bet because I will also use the embroidery floss next time as well.

If you would like to make the matching tu-tu you can find the tutorial on that here from the fab Refugee Crafter. I took the liberty of making Lily's longer in the back so it looks like a little train and added the bow. It was SO CUTE on her!

Have a wonderful day!}

Thanksgiving Ideas from the Tip Junkie

Do you remember last month when I talked bragged  about meeting Laurie Turk of Tip Junkie and Executive Homemaker?  I told you all that she is even nicer in person than I would have ever imagined, if that's even possible. When I told you I ADORE her personally and professionally, I really meant it.

I'm not sure if I told you this, but if we lived in the same city, I'd make her my new B-F-F, stat.

She's just that great.  And I mean that.

Keep on reading and you'll see what I mean.

And yes, the text below IS Laurie Turk "talking".  She's guest posting here today.

Ms.  Laurie Turk, the original Tip Junkie is here.  HERE.   I feel like a celebrity.  This is just as exciting {or more exciting, really} as when one of my favorite authors actually visited my blog, commented on it, AND linked up.

I hope that you enjoy this Thanksgiving week, finding many things to be grateful for!

I just love to focus on gratitude and family traditions during November. Here as several activities you can do with your family this week.



World of Homemaking does the Turkey Day Awards! Ask each family member for their nominations and be sure everyone gets an award. For example, "best haircut of the year" or "toughest survivor of a home renovation." You make awards in these cute pine cone scrolls tutorial.



A tradition that would be fun to start is a Thanksgiving Book. Every year each member of the family is given a sheet of paper to write down the things for which they are thankful. You then put the sheets into a binder and save them so that next year you can look back and see what everyone wrote the year before and then compare it to the current year.



A Little Life has a tutorial on how to make these fun gratitude leaves.



High Heeled Mama made a gratitude garland.



I found this idea from Country Living. On strips of paper, write quotes or phrases. Fasten strip at end with double-sided tape, so it is slightly smaller than the glass's circumference; place on each glass. Invite guests, when seated, to read quote aloud.



This is Jennifer's picture grateful album with a mini tutorial so you can do it too!



Debbie has a Thanksgiving blessing book to help focus on the what we're grateful for.



I found this Family Gratitude Spinner Project over on Ali's blog. What a beautiful way to capture what your family is grateful for this year.



Amber gratitude tree is beautiful, it's a Hallmark tree altered for Thanksgiving.



Jo-Ann's family tradition; every year the children make their thankful lists on the chalkboard in their kitchen. Jo-Ann takes a picture of it to capture these special blessings.



Chocolate on my Cranium's tradition: Every year we each have a thanks tree and a giving tree. We add leaves to each tree each day writing something we are thankful for and something we have done to give or help others.



Kendra's family is working with our kids for the whole month of November on cultivating an "attitude of gratitude." So she made a gratitude tree. Every night at dinner time, each member of the family comes up with one specific thing they are thankful for each day and we write it on a leaf and post it on the wall.



Rebecca's family's tradition; She makes a thankful turkey and throughout the month everyone writes something they're are thankful for and adds it to the turkey. He gets nice and fluffy by Thanksgiving.

To make planning your traditions really easy this year, print out all of them on 2 pages and simply circle the one's you want to do!

THANK YOU, Laurie!

One Last Hurrah at the Magic Kingdom....

Being a resident of Southern California DOES have some perks.

Lots of them, really.
For today though, I'll just focus on the Disneyland perk, otherwise known as,

ANNUAL PASSES.

Our annual passes expire this month and so in order to get the most out of our Magic Kingdom passes we took the kidlets out of school and braved the crowds that ALWAYS SEEM TO BE present there.

EXCEPT.......

EXCEPT.......

We lucked out and the crowds were not the crowded I-just-want-to-get-out-of-here type of crowds.  Of course there were lots of people, but nothing like every other day we've gone to Disneyland this past year and wanted to pull our hair out in frustration because it was so densely packed with people.

We had SUCH a nice time.......

So much fun, in fact, that we almost considered springing for another year of Magic Kingdom enjoyment.

Almost.

Until NEXT time.......

Wordful Wednesday-the perfect location?

*Wordful Wednesday is for those of us that like to showcase a photo(s) but that just can't seem keep our mouths shut about it(them). If you'd like to play along, post a photo on your blog, and let the words roll. Feel free to "capture" my 7 Clown Circus button (below and on the left) or simply hyperlink to my site, and be sure to add yourself to Mr. Linky. Thanks for playing along!

Grab My Button







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I started a new tradition last year.

The tradition involves calling Tammie of Halcomb Photography and asking her to photograph my family before the holidays.  Knowing that this has hereby been declared a tradition by me, I have all year to think about settings and wardrobe.  All year.  Yet both years I've put those details off until the last minute and then run around like a crazy person trying to find just the right spot and just the right outfits.  Not the smartest thing to do or the best use of my time....sigh.

I found the perfect setting at the last minute this year.  It involved a park with beautiful trees and a duck/turtle pond. 

There was just one tinsy problem.  Other people found the perfect spot too.  

Who would have guessed?

Two bridal parties and no less than 4 quinceneras.  One hour of good light and about a million people vying for the same spots.

I wasn't very happy.  Neither was Jeff.  Tammie wasn't phased by it though and got some great shots.   At least I'm confident she did.  She always does.  I've only seen a few. 

Like this one.

I can't wait to show you more.  First I have to deal with the fact that my hair looked super stupid (no one's fault but my own) in some of them and the super cute shirt I was wearing made me look.....chunkier than I'd like.  I hate it when that nasty vanity rears it's big fat head..........:)

Did he really?

Oh yes he did.

He snapped his fingers right next to my ear and said, "HELLO?" 

Are you picturing his tone of voice? I am, and the impatience I can still hear in it makes me red-hot-mad.

I can't remember the last time I was so angry at a stranger.

What I wanted to say was, "Did you seriously just snap your fingers in my ear?"

What I did say was, "I know there is a register open, but they are not ready for me". 

I also said another word that I shall not mention in my head.  My girls were with me.

He saw that I was steaming and he said, "You're a lucky momma".

Really?  Hum.  Is that the new greeting for lucky momma's?  Snapping at them?  When they are paying more attention than you to the line?

Being the reactionary that I am, I glared at him  It didn't feel as good as it should have.

I wish I could have snapped my fingers on either side of his ears. For like 5 minutes straight.  I really, really wanted to. I'm an ADULT though, so I didn't.  But that doesn't mean I didn't want to.  It might have felt good to kick him, too.

I should have taken his picture.  I wish I would have taken his picture.  Because wouldn't being able to see a photoshopped picture of him make this post all the better?

My question to you is:  {Is it ever appropriate when-standing-behind-someone-in-line to snap your fingers in their ear to get their attention?}

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say no. 

Want to weigh in on how you find balance in motherhood?  My friend Nicole over at Defining Moments is writing an article for her local paper and she'd love for you to weigh in.  Head on over now.

Me? Crafty?

I think so.

On occasion.  It may be rare, but it happens.

And when it does, I'm pretty darn pleased with myself.

So pleased, in fact, that I have to brag a bit.

So bear with me, and please, I IMPLORE you, feed my ego.  You know, so I feel so special that I do something crafty again...Unless of course, you honestly feel like I should explore other avenues of expression.  In that case, be gentle.  Please.

What started out as this:

Ended up like this:

I won this custom vinyl piece from Kristina at Pulispher Predilictions.  It was donated by Jessica at her Etsy Shop, Say it with Style.  

Once the vinyl arrived in the mail, I had to do something with it.  

So, I went Thrift Store shopping and found the frame pictured above for $2.99.  

Then, I rushed home and took the glass and print out and spray painted the frame.  Next, I followed the instructions for adhering the vinyl to the glass, popped the glass back in the frame, and stood back all amazed.

Yes.  It's true.  For under 3 dollars I put together a cool dry erase calendar for my family.

Some would not call that crafty. 

Some would say anyone could do that.

I'd have to agree.

And then add that only I did what's pictured.  

And I think that's crafty.