*Warning*

Long End of the Year Post

Christmas has come and gone and it is time to bring on the New Year.

We had to wake up the younger boys at 8 on Christmas morning. I can't believe they were not up at 4, like I use to be as a child.

Malik is so grown now and most of his gifts were clothing,

and video games.

Toot wasn't to interested in opening his gifts after he saw the tricycle and bubble gum in his brother stocking.
He took that bubble tape to every grown up in the house to open it. We looked at it and gave it back to him. he wasn't happy till Malik gave him a bit. Afterall it was Christmas morning.


















We got Ky the scooter he had been seeing on the TV. But it seems he wanted everything he had seen on the TV and News Papers since about October. He kelp wanting to revise his Christmas list. So we didn't know from day to day what he really wanted. He just wanted it all!

*

We woke up to snow on Christmas morning. It was the fist white Christmas since the 80's. (and this picture was on Monday after, all was about gone) Someone James works with gave him this gator for the boys and they love it! Toot wants out to ride all the time. We have to charge the battery while he is in bed so it is ready to go again in the morning.

I bought this gingerbread house at a charity bake sale and Ky wanted to get at it all month. I bought it strictly for decoration. So I let him at it before I tossed it. It was so hard I had to help. The baby just ate the candy lane, it made him happy.

So tomorrow will be 2011 and I can't believe we can add another year in the books. My boys and family are growing, happy and healthy. We have so much to be thankful for. My little shop will celebrate 5 years in January.

Thank you 2010 for a great year. Now bring on 2011!

Christmas Play at Church was a great success.
Malik had a speaking part as one of the wise men.
Terry was in the Choir- ( no picture)
And Ky ( below) was a Trumpeter, he stayed on stage during the whole play and blew his horn.
We were so worried about him, cause he said he wasn't going to go out on the stage.
But he did and was great.
Everyone was great.
And there was a few solo's that we never knew could sing.

As always Christmas week was a blur. Christmas play at church, cooking and shopping and
all that goes with it. And as to top it all off a white Christmas for Alabama. It was so pretty and cold. Still winding down and having family time. Will post more later.

It is all in the packaging.

I don't care what is inside, if you make the package look good, I am happy.

This simple white chocolate with crushed peppermints. couldn't be easier to make, but it is the package that makes it outstanding.

So all these post have been about thinking about the forgotten friend.

Take a minute and share one of these items and make them smile.

Merry Christmas!

We all have one special Neighbor or Friend that needs alittle nip now and then. This would make a wonderful gift anytime of the year. So simple and yet so Elegant.

I like this idea. The tree is always so big and takes up so much room. Problem solved with this tree.

Not alot of time left, so how about this one.

Perfect for a neighbor gift too.

So cute and you can hang it on your neighbors door and run. HAHA

Alittle too cute....

Pardon the break in Neighbor Gift Post for a Wonderful Easy Recipe.

Brown Sugar Pralines

2 cups packed brown sugar 1/4 cup water

2 cups pecans 1 teaspoons vanilla

3 tablespoons butter

Combine brown sugar, pecans, butter and water in saucepan. Mix well. Cook over medium heat to 240 degrees on candy thermometer, softball stage.

Stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla and mix well. Beat until mixture loses its luster. Drop by spoonfuls onto foil.

Stop me!

Give your neighbor Pace Salsa and chips with this note....

Is the hustle and bustle of the season getting you down? We hope this helps you pick up the "Pace" this Christmas!"

Another easy one.

Just buy Syrup and pancake mix.

Another cut idea

Here is "7" reasons why you are "UP" on our list of favorites.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. Fill in the blanks

Easy Pleasee.

So So cute!

Stop me......I love finding these ideas. This one is for yourself.

S'mores hot chocolate.

Dip the rim of your cup in butter and then graham cracker crumbs.

Put a 1/2 Hershey candy bar in your cup and heat your milk to add.

Don't forget to toast up ( in the oven) a few Marshmellow for the top.

YummY!

Enjoy, you deserve it!!

Neighbor Gift #3

Cover a store bought can of hot chocolate with scrapbook paper or wrapping paper and add a bow. Done

I just love these Neighbor gifts........stay tuned!

For the remainder of the Holidays, I will be showing you easy Neighbor gifts. I am so blessed and I think I can even do a few of these...So think about just one neighbor and see how it makes you feel.

Merry Christmas!

This embellished dish towel looks easy enough and you could add in a package of cookie mix.

What a nice gift.

I love to snap this picture each year, I know, I know, it is blurry. But I love the way the light shines.

This was the same time and the camera was set on outdoor setting. The lights don't show up.

And the little wornmy light......

Merry Christmas!

Crafting Friday

Today I want to spotlight my tree at the shop.

This ball was a silk cover ball. You remember the ones I am talking about.

If they got a snag, they raveled.

So I raveled them and punched circles and glued them on and added a bow.

I made cones and ornaments from hymnal pages.

This is a old Zinc lid that was trash. It was bent and could not be used. So I punched holes with the crop a dile and glued in a circle cut from a old Christmas card. Add embellishment and wala.

This tree looks so small in this picture, but it is 5 feet tall and really pretty.

I love decorating at the shop.

It is a dream come true.

And I can go crazy.

I would never put present in my bath tub...or would I?