October mini-mail pen pals!

When I saw this post over at Meredith's blog, I knew I had to participate in her mini-mail pen pals! 

My boys love to get "fun mail" and I love to give gifts- this was a win-win for our family!!

October's theme was a hodge-podge of either your child's favorites or fun Halloween things. I signed the boys up together and they had sibling pen pals as well. We hope Madison & Jack loved their package as much as we loved ours!! 

Here are the fun packages we sent out:

We sent little Madison a grow your own princess and a Disney princess chalk board {she loves princesses}. We got her a cute pair of gloves for fall that are sure to match any cute girly outfit! We also sent some fun Halloween goodies- glow in the dark nail polish, a spider cookie, pumpkin pez, and face painting make up kit. 

We sent Jack a grow your own dinosaur kit, and little dinos to play with {he loves dinosaurs}. Because Jack loves cars, we sent him a lightening McQueen chalk board, and a new hot wheel. We also through in some Halloween goodies- a pumpkin cookie, a pumpkin pez, and a face painting make up kit! 

The boys also gave them a card with a photo of themselves and a few things to help Madison & Jack get to know them better!

Here they are all packaged up cute, ready to be shipped!

And here is what they sent our little guys:

Little bug got 2 cute little cars, a pumpkin bib, a squish monster, and a cute spider bag. Little man got a fun monster truck, spider socks, a squish monster, and a pumpkin bag. Madison and Jack also sent us a sweet note telling us about themselves. The boys loved it!!!

Cannot wait to participate next month!! 

No pudge fudge

Saw this at sprouts this week and it had me very curious. Fat free, all natural brownies that use yogurt and you can make single servings in 60 seconds??? OKAY!

You start out by adding 1T of Non-fat plain yogurt for every 2T of mix

look at that batter!! 

Now microwave for 60 seconds

Sampling the batter

this is what it looks like out of the microwave... 

can you smell it??? mmmm....

and then, eat that yummy goodness! 

This was such a treat! I felt like i was splurging on dessert, but it wasnt a splurge! YUM! I am keeping this as a staple in our house for sure! 

{and no i am not getting paid in any way to tell you this...hehe}

It was enjoyed by all!

Thrift store hoppin'

Guess where I went today?? 

oh. i guess the title sorta gives that away huh?

Ahem. Well, I went to 4 {!!} different thrift stores today and found some goodies!!

the table on the left is a long folding table that i think most of you will say "my parents have one like that!" It is great, folds up, and has a snap and handle! $15

the trunk isnt a reproduction like we see most of the time. it is truly vintage. It has a huge lock on the front and an old key attached to open it!! the inside is spotless and I am so so happy i found it! it is going to be one of little man's bday presents. I think it will be great to store his superhero costumes! $15

the other card table is a vintage Samsonite card table that was only $3.50!

that yarn is for a special project! $1

look at this huge vintage sheet score!! 

would you believe me if i told you i walked away paying only $5 {!!} for all three of these full size sheet SETS?!?!?!? swoooon.

here is a photo of my boys... 

...i think i wore them out. bug slept like that for over 45mins and little man ASKED to sit in the basket. troopers.

Handmade goods!

Love groupon, the foundary, zulily, totsy, mamapedia and other fabulous discount sites??

I just found this website called Quite Unique. Quite Unique is a new website that features one unique handpicked item per day at a great value. Great news?? EVERYTHING IS HANDMADE!! Like a deal a day of etsy items!!

Take a look for yourself.

CLICK HERE!

Super mom vs abiding mom

A friend shared with me this blog that had this wonderful reminder to keep our priorities in check. I pray you all seek to abide in Him! 

Super Mom	Abiding Mom
Does	Is (Psalm 46:10)
Tries to impress others	Pleases the Lord (Eph. 5:10,Proverbs 29:25)
Is controlled by an agenda(curriculum, schedule, etc)	Is controlled by the Holy Spirit: (Gal. 5:22-26) (Uses curriculum & schedules as tools for orderliness so she's more free to follow the spirit)
Her self worth is found in her accomplishments (clean house, perfect kids, the perfect bulletin boards, etc.)	Her self worth is found in an accurate view of who she is in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:10)
Her peace is found in the “perfect” environment	Her peace is found in Jesus in the midst of any storm (Is 26:3)
She is discouraged by failure	Failure reminds her that God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
She expects perfection from herself and others	She practices grace with herself and others (Eph 4:32)
She teaches her kids to be good	She teaches her kids to be Godly (Proverbs 22:6)
She is frustrated with her lack of spiritual fruit	She abides in Christ and bears much fruit (John 15:5)
She does things with her children	She builds a relationship with her children (Deut 6:6-7)
Her perspective is based on what is seen	Her perspective is based on what is unseen (Col 3:2)
She chooses quantity of activities	She chooses the most excellent Way (I Cor 13)

She made a great printable version- I printed one out to keep by my sewing machine to remind myself daily!

Click here for a printable version!

source

Patman Wedding

Our second wedding of our little wedding season was one of a dear friend from as far back as I can remember. We that are close to her call her Tae Tae, and she was one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen!

No detail was spared

The cakes were wonderful

The bride and groom were so in love

and so much fun to be had!

Thanks for letting us be a part of your special day!

9/25

Gettin' Skinny!

Soooo..... 

I don't know about yall, but I ate one too many hundred sweets this holiday season and need to get down to a pre-baby size again. Not a pre-bug size, but rather a pre-little man size. I know I will probably not be a size 4 ever again. Not even sure my hips would go that small again, darn childbirth. I do however want to be about 20lbs lighter and more importantly back in shape! 

For Christmas we got an XBOX360 and the kinect, along with the biggest loser: ultimate workout game.

Let me tell ya, Bob is kicking my butt! I haven't been this sore since high school cheer camps... wow! 

Bob is going to whip me into shape in no time flat!

Also made a stop at Forever 21 tonight and got some skinny jeans. Yep, I finally broke down and got a pair. They are supa cute and a whopping $9.50. Yes you heard me correctly, only $9.50!!! 

{you will not see me in the for a while however, as I bought them a size smaller than I am now to give me motivation to hurry and get down a size!}

Lastly, in the spirit of getting skinny, I broke in my new crock pot and made some yummy {!!!!} Vegetarian Chili with Sweet potatoes tonight. 

The recipe I found in January's issue of Real Simple magazine. It rocked my world!!

In case you didn't grab a copy of real simple yet, or your wonderful MIL didnt get you a subscription as mine did for me, I will share this great recipe!

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili with Sweet Potatoes

1 Md red onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1T chili powder

1T ground cumin

2t unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4t ground cinnamon

1t Salt

1/4t black pepper

1 28oz can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes

1 15.5oz can of black beans, rinsed

1 15.5oz can of kidney beans, rinsed

I Md Sweet potato {about 8oz}, peeled and cut into 1/2in pieces

Sour cream, sliced chives, and tortilla chips for garnishing {optional}

In a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker, combine everything and add 1C of water. Cover and cook until sweet potatoes are tender and chili has thickened on low for 7-8hrs or high for 4-5hrs. 

Enjoy getting skinny too!!

The boys are celebrities!!!!

Well, sort of!

{GRIN}

We had the wonderful Mckmama take our family photos while she was visiting the metroplex. 

The sneak peaks are WONDERFUL!! 

Can you spot the boys????

{i cannot wait to get them in!!!}

CYBER MONDAY @ *2by2 Boutique* One Stop Baby Shop!

VISIT 

ETSY

OR 

HYENACART

NOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SHIPPING ALL DAY!!

Also, I am giving away 2(!!) $15 gift certificates here and here!!

Advent Calender Ideas

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it is time to start thinking about Advent. This is such a wonderful time to steer the focus from "getting presents" and take this sweet opportunity to share the true meaning- the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. 

Itching to get crafty?? Here are some of my favorite advent calendar tutorials for your inspiration!

1. Pottery Barn Inspired Branch Calendar 

for tutorial click here or here

2. Advent Pockets bunting style

for tutorial click here

3. Advent Quilt Calendar 

for the tutorial click here

4. Simple Embroidered Calender

for tutorial click here

5. Pottery Barn Burlap Calendar

for tutorial click here

6. Garnet Hill garland calendar

for tutorial click here

7. Cone garland Calender

8. Garnet hill bucket calender

for tutorial click here

9. Rusty bucket calendar

or here for tons of ideas with paper like these:

or go to this flickr pool to see more advent calenders!

Now that you have ideas, wondering what you say or do now??

Here is a list of very simple verses to go through to share the story of Jesus' birth. It is great for younger kiddos. Very concrete and easily understandable for those sweet young minds. Now you can either put a simple trinket for each day to represent the verse, or a piece of candy/sm toy for your kiddos to reveal.

1. God made it possible for Mary to be pregnant. Matthew 1:18
2. An angel talked to Joseph about the birth. Matthew 1:20
3. The angel said that Mary’s special son will save us from our sins.Matthew 1:21
4. God had already said that his Son would come in this way. Matthew 1:22–23
5. Joseph would care for Mary while she was pregnant. Matthew 1:24–25
6. It was time to register for the population census. Luke 2:1–2
7. God had promised that Bethlehem would be Jesus’ birthplace. Micah 5:2
8. Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to be registered. Luke 2:3–5
9. Mary gave birth to baby Jesus in a stable. Luke 2:6–7
10. An angel surprised some shepherds. Luke 2:8–9
11. “Good news” was announced about a baby who would be a Savior. Luke 2:10–12
12. Lots of angels joined in praising God! Luke 2:13–14
13. The shepherds got excited about finding the baby. Luke 2:15
14. The shepherds visited the special baby. Luke 2:16–17
15. Everyone was amazed at the baby boy! Luke 2:18–20
16. The baby was named Jesus. Luke 2:21
17. The wise men followed a star, looking for Jesus. Matthew 2:1–2
18. King Herod got concerned when he heard about Jesus. Matthew 2:3–4
19. The Old Testament had already told about the town of Jesus’ birth.Matthew 2:5–6
20. King Herod came up with a plan to find Jesus. Matthew 2:7–8
21. The wise men again found the guiding star. Matthew 2:9–10
22. The wise men met Mary and Jesus. Matthew 2:11
23. God warned the wise men to avoid King Herod. Matthew 2:12
24. Jesus came so we can become children of God! Galatians 4:4–5
25. Jesus grew up to die on the cross so we can have never-ending life with God! John 3:16–17

Now if you have older children, here are some small passages that you can read and go into more detail about the story as well as activities to do along side the calendar.

November 28: First Sunday of Advent

Bible readings: Isaiah 9:2; John 8:12

One of the most treasured traditions of the Advent season is the Advent wreath. Made of evergreens, the wreath includes five candles. You can make this wreath with your children out of live or plastic evergreen branches by fastening them into a circle with green twisty ties or lightweight wire. Then place four candleholders and taper candles within the greenery. Three of the candles should be purple — although some churches now substitute a blue candle to represent the church for one of the purple candles — and the fourth is rose-colored. In the center of the wreath's circle, place a thick, white candle. Why these colors are important will be explored later in the Advent season.

At dinner, light one of the purple candles. This lighting of the first candle signifies the beginning of the Advent season. Extinguish the flame when dinner is over. Every night this week, light the same candle at dinner. The next purple candle won't be lit until the second Sunday of Advent (a new candle being lit each Sunday), and the final white candle isn't lit until Christmas Day.

Not only will this Advent wreath be a daily reminder of those who historically waited for the fulfillment of God's promises, it may also be a meaningful holiday tradition and a seasonal decoration for your family.

November 29

Bible readings: Isaiah 9:6-7; Psalm 89:1-2

Talk to your children about the circle of evergreen branches in your Advent wreath. The circle reminds us of God's love; it never ends. The evergreen branches represent God's faithfulness; they remain green during all seasons. The four taper candles symbolize how God's people have suffered and rejoiced as they waited for the birth of the Christ child. The center candle serves as a reminder that Christ is central to this Christmas season. Let a child light the first purple candle (as you supervise him) during dinner today.

November 30

Bible readings: John 18:37; Hebrews 1:1-4

Though red and green are the customary colors of Christmas, the traditional color for the Advent season is purple. In many churches, this is reflected in the clothing of the clergy and the decorations on the altar. During the time of Christ, purple was a royal color, worn mostly by kings and rulers. Have your children search for something they own that is purple. The color reminds us that the birth of Christ was a royal entrance. Discuss how Jesus came into the world as a baby, even though He was the King.

December 1

Bible readings: Psalm 51:10-12; Psalm 40:1-3

As the Advent season begins, it is important to remember that this time is one of preparation. Just as a family prepares for a guest to visit, so we prepare our hearts and lives for the celebration of the Christ child.

Have your children help clean your home as though you were expecting a very important guest. As you clean, talk with your children about cleaning their hearts through prayer and repentance. Intentional preparation of our hearts and our homes reflects the anticipation we feel as Christmas draws closer.

December 2

Bible readings: Isaiah 7:14; Psalm 92:1-5

Music and worship are important aspects of most Christian celebrations. The carols and hymns surrounding the birth of our Savior are a rich part of the Advent season. You can help your children grow in their appreciation of the special sounds of the Christmas season, even as they learn more about praising God through song. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is a traditional Advent hymn that can be sung in church, at home and around the neighborhood, perhaps as part of Christmas caroling. Sing this song with your children. When you are done singing it together, explain to them that "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" may be a traditional Advent song, but it also reminds us to focus on the arrival of the Christ child.

December 3

Bible readings: Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24

Two central figures in the Christmas story are Mary and Joseph. Discuss the Christmas story with your children (you may even want to read a children's book about the Nativity, such as My First Message: The Christmas Story by Eugene H. Peterson), focusing on these characters. The story of Mary can teach us to trust that God's words are true and His promises will be fulfilled. Joseph provides an example of obedience to God. The humility of Mary and the obedience of Joseph are wonderful examples of people who trusted God.

Have your children draw or create figures of Mary and Joseph out of clay, and display them in a place where your family will be reminded of their amazing stories.

December 4

Bible readings: Hebrews 11:1; Psalm 27:14; 130:5

Giving and receiving gifts are an important part of the Christmas season. For Advent, prepare a small gift for each of your children, such as a cookie, a water balloon or a paper doll, and hide the gifts in relatively easy places to find throughout your home. Have your children take turns searching for a gift, but stall for a moment before letting the youngest child go first. Younger children may feel as if they have waited a long time, even if they haven't. While each child is waiting for his or her turn, talk about the excitement of waiting. It can be difficult to wait for something even as small as this little gift, so imagine how exciting it is to wait for and anticipate the gift of Jesus.

When all the gifts are found, remind your children that you gave these gifts out of love — how much more must God love us to give us His Son, Jesus!

Week 2 of this Advent calendar will be available Friday, November 26 here. Weeks 3 and 4 will be posted the two successive Fridays after that.

This season, I don’t want the busyness of  the Christmas season to crowd out a quiet anticipation of the wonder of incarnation.  I want the glories of God to illuminate and outshine all our Christmas joys.

Which calendar are you going to make??