What a Sweet, Sweet Santa!

Okay, I'm sure you all think you had THE most sweet and thoughtful Secret Santa of them all...

and I'm sure YOURS was sweet and thoughtful...

BUT it turns out it that it was I

who had THE most sweet and thoughtful Secret Santa of them all!

I mean just look at what this girl did for me!

First, she went digging through my blog and learned that I am a complete Muir Woods LOVER.

She then found a BEAUTIFUL photo of Muir Woods and had a nifty little spiral notebook made for me with the photo on the cover.

She then went EVEN one step further and had this gorgeous inscription that I love inscribed on the inside cover.

I mean REALLY, can a Secret Santa be more THOUGHTFUL?

Then, she took it even further by sending me this precious mug stuffed with yummy biscotti and chocolate covered peppermint sticks.  Santa really MUST know everything because THIS girl LOVES her some biscotti!

And check out these PRECIOUS note cards with my initial and the SEASHELLS.  I ADORE all things paper and, of course, I LOVE seashells!

So yes, it is WITHOUT A DOUBT that I do have the SWEETEST AND MOST THOUGHTFUL SECRET SANTA of them all and I THANK HER from the bottom of my heart!

Oh Christmas Tree...

This Precious Little Ornament...

The decorations are out...

and the tree is up...

but none can compare...

to this precious little "ornament"...

   

An Award? For Me? Woo-hoo!

A big thanks to Tammy over at The Fly On The Wall for honoring me with my very first blogger award!  I have to say I was very surprised at the mention and it just made my day!

So, as I understand it I am now supposed to do the following:

1. Pass the award on to 5 deserving blog friends.
   
2. Link to the Superior Scribbler who gave me this award.
3. Display the blog and link to this post, which explains the award.
4. Add my name to the McLinky list on that blog post.
5. Post these rules on my blog.

So, here are five of my favorite blogs to visit (in no particular order).  I hope you will check them out - they are all fabulously fun!

Deep South Dish


That Girl Blogs


Sweet Nothings


Thrifty Decor Chick


The Style Sisters


Thanks again Tammy, as I said, YOU MADE MY DAY!

Peace...

The tree is up and almost complete but I need a few more items from the attic (darn those attic stairs - the ones that it is best I don't climb!)

I love this ornament on my tree. 

Peace.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace goodwill toward men." Luke 2:14

As our country prepares to deploy an additional thirty-thousand solders to Afghanistan please remember to pray for peace this Christmas season and always.

 

That Ho, Ho, Ho Kind Of Spirit

I'm so excited!  It's 45 degrees outside and, although not in my neighborhood, it snowed nearby today!  Yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The cold weather and the mention of snow put me in a Ho, Ho, Ho kind of spirit so after I did a little on-line Christmas shopping at Macy's (using the FABULOUS savings code "macysff" and receiving 25% OFF PLUS FREE SHIPPING on orders of $99 and up!) I ran up to my neighborhood MJ Design's and grabbed a couple of $3.99 Christmas floral bunches came home and got a little crafty!

Now, you remember that $5.95 Southern Living bucket I bought at the junk store a few months back?  Well, I disassembled the fall arrangement I put together back then, clipped the Christmas floral bunches apart and made like an elf.  Ta-da!  What do you think?

Tonight, when the Senor gets home, he is going to once again brave the attic steps and bring down the trees and all the trimmings.  Tomorrow, I deck the halls!

Ours...

Thanksgiving has come and gone for another year.  Ours, like most American families, was packed with the three F's - Family, Football and Food!  It started Wednesday night and went full throttle until late Sunday morning and I loved every second of it.

Those of you who know the Senor and I know that we are all about family.  (A shared blood line is not always required to be a member of our family - but that's for another story on another day.)  Now, back to  Thanksgiving...

We were blessed to have the kids, the grand baby, the brothers, the sister-in-law (who I love as if she were truly my sister), my parents, my grandmother, the nieces (plus one boyfriend and a Morky!), the nephew, my Uncle and a bunch of awesome cousins!  At one point the scene in my kitchen resembled that of a Chinese fire drill - it was sheer chaos and I thought my heart might explode with joy!  The families mix and mingle as if they are one - it is a rarity and an oddity and it works perfectly!

So, another Thanksgiving is behind us and once again I give thanks for the blessing of family...

his...

plus

mine...

equals

ours...