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!

You will want to enter this giveaway!

Thank you to Chela Williams at Marisela Photography for offering our best giveaway yet! Enter to win a 1-hour Christmas Picture Sitting at your location of choice in Orange County. You will also receive 20-30 edited proofs on a cd. You have one week to enter, deadline is midnight on Wednesday, November 4th. Just enter a comment below and good luck!

Don't forget to put your email address in your comment!