oh boy

When my sister and I were little we ALWAYS use to get popcorn at the movies with m&m's on it. It was our favorite. So when planning Whitney's baby shower I wanted to do something that involved that. I came up with "Oh boy she's about to pop." She's having a baby boy so I got to tie that in. Anyhow I loved how they turned out!

By the way, I got the kettle corn from Target, super good!

my turn

Had to wrap some Christmas presents quickly and I tried to use some of the Martha Stewart wrapping ideas I posted about a few days ago. They are far from perfect but I was on a time crunch. I also love the new labels I made for all the gifts this year. Super simple but cute.

yummmmmmm

You know those Cadbury Mini Eggs that I am obsessed with every Easter, well they make them for Christmas now. Soooo good. They call them "Solid Milk Chocolates with a Crisp Sugar Shell," which I find funny, couldn't they be Holiday Mini Eggs? Either way I found them at Target and they are so good (and almost all gone).

Brody's thankfulness

Here are the things Brody is thankful for this year, I was hoping for more humor and some really weird answers, but he has a sweet heart and it only get more tender as he gets older. I'm thankful to have such a great son.

1. I'm thankful for my family because they are the goodest
2. I'm thankful for the food we eat
3. I'm thankful for when I color
4. I'm thankful for how much I play with my friends

He was quick to let me know that was ALL he was thankful for and he left me to go watch a movie. Ha!

giving thanks

I made a promise to God this year, that I wouldn't complain about our circumstances as long as my family was happy and healthy. Because really, what else matters in life? We can live anywhere, do anything, as long as we are healthy and together. So for this Thanksgiving, the things I'm thankful are pretty generic in a sense. This year they are those things that matter most to me.

1. I am thankful for a happy, healthy family
2. I am thankful to have all my basic needs met and beyond
3. I am thankful to have true friends and family who love, never judge and and truly care
4. I am thankful to have a husband that takes care of us and loves us every day
5. I am thankful that I was able to grow more this year in every possible way than ever before
6. I am thankful for my life

I really hope that you can take time this week or on Thanksgiving to reflect on all the things that you are thankful for. You all deserve some quiet "you" time to do that!

And by the way, I'm thankful for you!

Tomorrow: What Brody is thankful for!

something new

Okay so I saw the advertisement for this in Real Simple Magazine. It is the new Zoku Quick Pop Maker. It is sooooo one of those things that you do not need and probably won't use, but I have to say that it looks so awesome. Good advertising! I want to make all those pops in the picture, you should see the chocolate/granola in the actual advertisement. It's only at Williams-Sonoma, sells for $49.95 and the four people who have given their reviews ALL gave it 5 stars.

Yum Yum!

Black Friday

Found this website online and it tells you all of the Black Friday Deals! I love it because I can zip through it seeing if there is anything specific that I am looking for. Looks like they are updating it daily! A must have for Christmas shopping this year.

oh martha!

I just received my December issue of Martha Stewart Living and everything inside was sooooo pretty. I love the holidays!! Here are some of my favs from this issue:

Japanese decorative tape instead of using ribbon on your packages. I love it! Go to happytape.com.

Personalize your guests table setting by monogramming cookies with their initials using a clean crafts-store rubber stamp (shortbread cookies are best). This would be perfect for any type of party favors as well! Imagine all the different types of stamps you can use.

This issue had the best ideas for wrapping gifts. I was drooling. Here are some I found online. I wish I could have showed you all the ones in the magazine. So pretty.

I swear, the October and December issues are always my very favorite! It's like a present in itself.

i'm getting closer

I'm nesting, I'm counting down...I forgot what it feels like to be so close to having a new baby. I have to tell you that it's crazy to me that even with pregnancy #3 (I'd think I'd be an expert by now), everything is still so different. None of my pregnancies have been alike and surprisingly enough this one has been the most difficult on me physically. Here I thought it was going to be a breeze. It just goes to show that you can never think that you are 100% prepared for anything, life will always throw you curveballs.

I do find that I am relatively calm about adding a new life to the mix, even though I have been told on numerous occasions that baby #3 throws you over the edge. I mean in this kind of economy, in this crazy kind of year we have had, what really is "the edge" for anyone? I actually find that the harder things are and the closer to the edge I get I become even more thankful. So I am hoping that even when I lose it and I am so tired I can't keep my kids' names straight, I will continue to have a peace in my heart that I have had all year.

With that being said, I just wanted to blog a little about my pregnancy and life. I still have plenty of time until this baby comes so I'll keep posting my favs. And, feel free to send me any of yours!

xo,

Amanda

pretty little pieces

Oh man, Anthropologie has some amazing clothes for little girls. Looks like they only carry a few things. In person they are gorgeous with amazing attention to detail. Of course they are pricey, but totally worth it if you can afford it. Love, love, love! Sold in sizes 6 months, 12 months or 18 months.

Dear Target,

I missed you today while I was at my usual grocery store. For some reason grocery prices seem extra high right now (and I go to the "cheaper" store in my area). I actually had to put things back because I knew that they are so much cheaper at your store. I was thinking that time is money, but when I added up the difference, it wasn't even close. So I will be visiting you tomorrow for my bread, cheese, shampoo, cereal and a few other small things. Thank you for being so reasonably priced.

xo,

Amanda

something special for your turkey

This fav comes from a good friend! She says that this Turkey Brine from Williams-Sonoma is amazing. From what I understand you bath your turkey in a brine bath of these seasonings before you cook it. Even the reviews online say you won't want your turkey any other way after you try it. I can't wait!

trim the trees

I know we haven't hit Thanksgiving yet, but all I can think about is decorating for Christmas. I can't wait!!!! I had to peek over at Anthropogie because I LOVE their ornaments. Here are some of my favorites!

adorable

I just came across these Juicy Ballet Flats online, they are sooooo cute! They only have them in 3-12 month sizes. Too small for Piper, so sad.

Okay, I'm not a huge Cam Gigandet fan, but there is something I love about this photo of him and his daughter Everleigh. I loved it enough I had to post it!

oh man

I'm sure you have heard, but Stella McCartney now has a line at GapKids/BabyGap. Love it, love it, love it. Simple and classic.

reminder

Just a reminder that it's the Nordstroms Half Yearly Sale for women & kids!

daily devotional

This daily devotional from November 5th is one of my favorite devotionals. It brings me back to reality in hard times and reminds me to continuously be thankful for what I do have, a lesson I have learned double or triple this year and I practice every day. It's also a good reminder on worry and hard times. I hope you can find some inspiration from it.

america's sweetheart

For those of you who missed Taylor Swift's hosting duties on SNL, here's her monologue. She is definitely America's sweetheart right now. Love it!

christmas list

I just got finished making Brody & Piper's Wish Lists for Christmas. What a great way to share what your kids want with family! We went to the store last night and walked the aisles to pick out some of their favorite things. The store's registry guns were not working, so I made a list myself with brand names and toy names and then made the Wish List online. It's so easy! I think the best part is that we put a variety of toys and price points on there and it takes the stress off of your family to find that perfect toy. They still get to pick or at least have suggestions if they want to go off the list!

good read

I just finished this book, it's a quick read. I loved it. It's a true story written by Mitch Albom (author of Tuesdays with Morrie) about writing a eulogy for the rabbi from his hometown as well as the story of a unlikely Detroit pastor. Although this book is filled with religion (of different variations), I find that it is more about the human spirit, more about living a full life and about change. It warmed my heart, it made me think and it gave me a new outlook.

My favorite part was actually about the rabbi's view on marriage.

"Like Sarah says (his wife), twenty good minutes here, forty good minutes there, it adds up to something beautiful. The trick is when things aren't so great you don't junk the whole thing. It's

okay to have an argument. It's okay that the other one nudges you a little, bothers you a little. It's part of being close to someone."

"But the joy you get from that same closeness-when you watch your children, when you wake up and smile at each other-that, as our tradition teaches us, is a blessing. People forget that."

winner

Congrats to Noel for winning the Marisela Photography giveaway!

For all who entered, Marisela Photography is offering a sitting and a cd with 20 pictures for $85 (usually worth $115)!!! Go get your Christmas pictures taken!

Marisela Photography

Chela Williams

562.712.2561

chelawilliams@cox.net

Don't forget

Don't forget to enter for the Christmas Portrait Sitting Giveaway a few posts below! Contest ends Wednesday, November 4th.

help please

I need your help!

I have purchase 2 different video monitors (neither are the one above) over the last 4.5 years. One when Brody was a baby and a different one for Piper. Both clonked out around the 6 month mark. While I could still use them both technically, they were not reliable.

Time for a new one. I have researched, read reviews and it looks like they all have flaws. I am leaning towards one in particular, but wanted to know if anyone absolutely loves theirs (and you've had it longer than a few months).

Please let me know!

this week

New things I'm making this week:

Pan-Fried Pork Chops & Homemade Applesauce

from Cooking Light Magazine

Chicken Tamale Casserole

from Cooking Light Magazine/myrecipes.com

Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

from Cooking Light Magazine

If any of them turn out good I will post the recipe!