Valentine Surprise

It's finally safe to post, now that Valentine's Day has passed...

A group of us got together and decided to create Valentines for our husbands. We were each supposed to do 7 Valentines, of 2 different types. That way we would have 14 different Valentines, 1 for each day leading up to Valentine's Day. After creating them, we got together for a little potluck brunch and exchanged our sweet sentiments.

Marianne was our idea originator and super hostess.
Jaime, Kim, Karen, Amber, Bethany and I participated too.

We had a yummy selection of brunch food;
sausage biscuits, quiche, muffins, sweet breads, croissants, fruit, juice and more.

All the Valentines turned out so cute and all so different. Here's what we each went home with:

Large paper fortune cookie with Hershey hugs/kisses inside.
"Your future will be filled with sweet hugs and kisses."









Car air freshener
"Every moment with you, is like a breath of fresh air!"











Hand warmer packet
"Within the touch of your hand lies the power to warm my heart."











BBQ Sauce
"Baby, your love is soooo.... Rich & Sassy."









Pen
"We're simply 'write' for each other!"









Ladybug card
"I'll keep bugging you 'til you say you'll be mine."











Chinese takeout box with "fortune cookie"
"It's my good fortune to have you Valentine!"










Bliss chocolates
"You bring me pure bliss."









Snickerdoodle cookies
"You are my snickerdoodle sweetheart."











M&Ms
"You melt my heart, just by holding my hand."












Can of nuts
"I'm nuts about U!"









Paper cell phone with candy buttons
"You really push my buttons Valentine!"







Crunch candy
"You always help out when I'm in a crunch, that's one of the reasons I love you a bunch."







Heart card
"My heart is yours, now and always!"

This was such a fun idea. I loved making my Valentines, getting together for brunch and most of all being able to leave a little sweet note for my husband, each day, on his pillow.
I hope he knows how much I love and appreciate him.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Tagged

I've been tagged by Brittany.

Here are the rules:
1.Post rules on blog
2.Answer the six 8 items
3.Let each person know by leaving them a comment

8 Favorite TV Shows:
1. 17 Kids and Counting
2. Little People Big World
3. Biggest Loser (this season)
4. Lost
5. John and Kate Plus 8
6. E.R.
7. Top Chef
8. The Office

8 Things I did Yesterday:
1. Watched my nephew Kyrick.
2. Layed in bed, off and on, feeling sick.
3. Sent my daughter Rylee, to my brother/sis-in-law's house to watch their 2 girls, while their mom went to the hospital to deliver their baby sister.
4. Talked to Rylee on the phone several times, suggesting what do to with the girls; play outside, what to fix for dinner, etc.
5. Watched my 2 neices Audrey and Katelyn, in the evening, while still waiting for their baby sister to be born.
6. Bathed Abree, Audrey and Katelyn together.
7. Watched old cartoons, while trying to settle down kids for bedtime.
8. Watched t.v. a program on HGTV, until I fell asleep.

8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. Feeling better, not sick.
2. Our 13th Anniversary, on Feb 17th.
3. Settling into my warm bed, for the night.
4. Throwing a baby shower for my sister's and sister-in-law.
5. Jason's day off.
6. Holding my new baby niece.
7. Using my service coupon from Jason.
8. Decorating some areas in my house.

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Olive Garden
2. IHOP
3. Souper Salad
4. Cafe Ole
5. Panda Express
6. Applebees
7. Chapalas
8. Wendy's

8 Things I Wish For:
1. My kids to make good choices.
2. For me to be a good mom & wife.
3. The determination and desire to make healthier choices for myself.
4. An armoire for my bedroom.
5. All my "honey-dos" to be done.
6. To live to be a "ripe old age".
7. More money.
8. A second car.

8 People I Tag:
1. You
2. Someone who needs something to post on their blog.
3. Someone who is bored.
4. Someone who has never been tagged.
5. Someone who gets tagged all the time.
6. Someone who is related to me.
7. Someone who is my friend.
8. Someone who is on FaceBook.

Holiday Inn Tradition

Since my early childhood, the "Holiday Inn" has been a part of my life. I've been there on a "family vacation" when my mom was too close to her due date (Tawnya), to go very far from home. I've been there for birthday parities. I once went there for some type of conference. And again to some type of toy or book sale. When my parents separated, my brothers and sisters and I would go there to celebrate Christmas with my dad.

It's become an annual tradition to go to the "Holiday Inn". We mostly go at Christmas time, but there has been an occassion or two, when we've been there for New Year's Eve. This year, with finances being tight, we didn't make it there for Christmas OR New Years.

Luckily, Josh & Tawnya got a great deal from Craigslist. They purchased a room, for one night, for $25. They invited all of us to come have pizza, hang out and swim. Our kids were so excited. This annual trip to the "Holiday Inn" now includes them and they look forward to it every year.







Katelyn giving Kyrick a ride.










Abree








Pizza and goodies shared by all.







Treyson shows me how he can jump off grandpa's shoulders and dive in.








Rylee







Micalea









Audrey








Taylee

Everyone had a great time... the "Holiday Inn" tradition lives on!

Thanks Josh and Tawnya!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Did he see his shadow? I don't know... I was too busy making these silly cupcakes. Ingredients; Almond Joy (mini), marshmallows and mini M&Ms.

Vote for Melanie!

My cousin-in-law Melanie, is a finalist in a contest on http://www.seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/ . If she wins she will receive all sorts of fun pampering. Go there and vote today!

Cute & Easy Gifts

Here are some cute & easy gifts I've made...

First, are these key chains. They are made out of ribbon (of your choice), a split key ring and a "D" ring. They are kind of addictive. Once you start, you see so many possibilities it's hard to stop. The only thing that stopped me is that I have to get-out and put-away my sewing machine each time. What a pain. I need to remedy that!
Here's where I got the original idea from: http://creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/creative_little_daisy/2006/02/super_easy_keyc.html
I didn't follow the directions word-for-word, but they gave me a good start.


Next, is this Post-it note holder. It's made with scrapbook paper, embellishments/stickers (of your choice), and an acrylic 4x6 picture frame. I made 4 or 5 of these and none of them where alike. Mine are again much different than the original idea. Let your creativity be your guide. :o)
You can put next to the phone or on your desk. Who doesn't need a Post-it note every once in a while? ---I wish I would have taken a picture of the others I did, so you could see the variety and versatility. Oh well.

Here's where I got the original idea from:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/acrylicpostitnoteholder.php

I think these would make good visiting teaching gifts, teacher gifts, neighbor gifts or a gift for a person who as ALMOST everything. They are quick, easy and not bad on the budget. Let me know if you make some. I'd love to see the "fruits of you labors". Good luck.