A Fabulously Flawed Life

Really quickly, I remembered another gift that I make almost every year for the Grandparents, a calendar. There are so many ways you can do this. I make 12 layouts w/ pictures in Microsoft Publisher and print it out on card-stock with this calendar . I take it to Office Depot and have it spiral bound with a plastic front cover and black back cover. To personalize and make the calendar more useful, I add all the families birthdays and other special days. You could go one further and make this calendar holder. It's seriously so easy! Simply get some plywood and molding, cut the molding to frame the board. I painted the board red first and then black. (You can use any colors) Sand different places around the frame with sand paper to let the red show through. I then sprayed it with polyurethane. I ordered "Turk Times" in cream vinyl lettering . My friend makes a calendar every year for her parents using her kids artwork from school. I've always thought that was a great id...

I got so sick this week! Grrrr . I'm still tired, but feeling much better. Wednesday, Davis won 1st place in the Raingutter Regatta at Scouts. This is his second year to participate and 2 nd time to win 1st place. So much for the "Good Sport" talk we had before the race. ;) Needless to say he's so excited about getting another trophy. 2 weeks ago we got notification, in the school newsletter, that Davis won 1st place in a Holiday Card competition at school and will be representing our Region. I still haven't received any information, so that's all I know. We're very proud of him and it's doing wonders for his self-concept. My dilemma now is what to do with the very competitive but less driven son? He most certainly has won the award for 'Most Red Days' in a row; as he continues to bring home discipline notes almost daily. I need to think about it a little more, but I think I just might order him a trophy myself. He is the most helpful male in...

I posted Mother-In-Law and Grandparent gift ideas that I've done in the past over on Tip Junkie .

You Are Socks! Cozy and warm... but easily lost. You make a good puppet. What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

I was going back through my blog posts, as I do sometimes, to see what "mood" I'm reflecting on my blog. I've been struggling with my family lately and it's been getting me down. I wanted to be sure that I wasn't bumming all of you out. ;) I'm so grateful for this blog because it's more of a "grateful journal" for me and highlights the good things in my life. I have a terrible memory and SOO much on my mind, so it's nice to go back and focus on the positive moments. I wrote the " How you know when you're done having kids " post as part of my ongoing grieving process of not having the family I had imagined all my life. I'm not feeling sorry for myself, but there are little moments that ping my heart and I can't help but feel the loss of not raising a daughter and wonder if I really have what it takes to raise these energetic boys. I've decided that it's best to let those feelings come and not push them back o...

Here are 24 quick, easy, cheap Christmas gift Ideas for friends, neighbors, bus drivers, and teachers. Simply attach one of these cute sayings or poems to the item to make a more thoughtful gift! Thanks to Lisa and my mom for compiling this list and taking all the pictures!! The Christmas Orange Cheese and a cheese grater : " Cheesen ’s Greetings To A Really “GRATE” Neighbor!" Christmas Towel: May the “Absorbing” Spirit of Christmas “Blot” Out Your Troubles, “Soak” Up Your Sorrows. And “Wipe” Away Your Difficulties. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Candle Here’s an early Christmas greeting For your family to share Let it brighten up your season And spread gladness thru the air. You can start a new tradition Every night till Christmas day To burn the Christmas candle While the family doth play. You can bake, draw, or read stories Sing songs or just play games And by the season finish Only memories remain. It is hoped that you‘ll enjoy A special season full of fun. And that love will burn mo...

For Talk To Me Tuesday over on Tip Junkie, we're talking about homemade Christmas gifts. We have several homemade Christmas traditions in our family that I've also made and given as gifts. Here's a few of them: Felt Nativity Hand Puppets : Several years ago I made these hand puppets at a Super Saturday craft day at my church. They were so easy!! We don't have enough people in our family to act out the Nativity - so this is our alternative. Laminated Finch Family Nativity : This is my favorite Christmas gift to make for friends with small kiddos. Print out the "Away in Manger" project in the The Best of Family Home Evening CD on card stock , cut, and laminate. Since I have a terrible voice, I made a CD of all the songs to go with it. I put wrote the corresponding songs and CD track # on the back of each one as well as a Velcro dot. My boys pick a Nativity character and we sing along with the CD. You can also print out all the words to the songs here . I...

Can you believe its Christmas time already!! I made a total elf of myself, check it out: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9525654613

I can NOT believe it is Thanksgiving already! Where did October and November go? I met the boys for their Thanksgiving feast at school (last Friday). They loved it and it was the perfect way to start our week of family time. Drake even ate some turkey. (I know, I was shocked too.) I finally gave in and decided to host Thanksgiving here at my house this year. {{sigh}} My sister, Lisa , and my sister-in-law came early so we could have some quality time with them and the kids. Samantha is my newest niece at only 4 months old. Drake did NOT appreciate me holding her. ;) We took the opportunity to take the fam to the Dallas Aquarium. It was a really cool experience and the boys loved it! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to tease Lisa a couple times during our excursion. (ha ha) Not only is my mom in town but I have agreed to cook. Needless to say I'm stressing a little. :( I'll be much better on Friday when it's been confirmed that no one got food poisoning from my cooki...

I had fully intended on doing this last Friday but all of a sudden it was Monday! oops. ;) Friday Fill-In #46 1. The things I give thanks for this Thanksgiving are an eternal family, good health, and fabulous friends. 2. My Thanksgiving traditions include a fun kiddie dessert like this one , a craft with my boys like The Tablecloth , and a Gratitude Tree . 3. The best part about Thanksgiving is the food. 4. My favorite Thanksgiving food is pumpkin pie. 5. ______ was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me on Thanksgiving. (I block out everything bad and embarrassing. ha ha. I really have no idea, Davis probably broke something valuable at someones house. ;) 6. After the meal, I clean up. {{bummer}} 7. Tonight I'm looking forward to organizing my house top to bottom getting ready for company, tomorrow my plans include buying new sheets for my guest bed and Wednesday, I want to take my family to the Dallas Aquarium ! Happy Thanksgiving Ladies!! I hope you all trave...

I feel like I haven't stopped moving since I got home from Utah. It's been a fun and crazy week. Besides getting ready to host Thanksgiving here at my house, I've been uploading TONS of new products onto Executive Homemaker . All kinds of fun stuff from Bitsy Blossoms . There are so many new products, click here to check them all out. Keep your Christmas shopping list in mind. Let's support these Mom- prenuers and fellow bloggers !

...when you're done having kids? (From the Ugly Baby Contest - Crying) 10. When you're in the store and your sister says, "Isn't that baby so cute?" You look at the baby and can honestly say no. 9. When you won't tango with your man while you're ovulating. ;) 8. When you see girls at church that are unkempt, and you no longer have to fight the urge to grab them and do their hair. 7. While planning future family events - you only have the current kiddos in mind and it feels right. (No more planning around pregnancies.) 6. When you give all your baby stuff to your sister and are so excited to have the extra attic room! 5. When you come to terms that the ache you feel for wanting a daughter IS the trial, not the process of raising one. 4. When you no longer linger in the girl clothes department. 3. When you see other mothers and daughters together you think of all the problems you won't have to deal with instead of all the experiences you'll miss out...

There are so many amazing 38+ women at my church that I want to get to know. I've lived in this house now for almost 2 years, and I realized a while ago that if I want to become friends with these women, I'm going to have to MAKE the opportunity. That's when I hatched the idea of the "Cougar & Kitten Luncheon". Did any of you see that TV show 'Age of Love' where the 30-something dated women in their 40s (Cougars) and 20s (Kittens)? Anyway , it's that concept. I invited my friends and Jolyn (pictured above) invited her friends. It was so much fun!! For the party favor, I made these party cones and filled them with chocolates and an inspirational bauble magnet. I made this runner and these simple centerpieces. It was potluck (of course), so the food was so yummy! Jen hooked me up with one of her recipes . Thanks Jen ! It was important to me that when the lunch was over, I felt like I got to know the Cougars better. So, I had each person write down a ...