Wanna get up close and personal?

Of course you do! Doesnt everyone?

 

Wait....let me brush my teeth.

 

Ok...here we go...Head on over Here and get up close and personal with me!

 

XOXOX

Hello Ginger!

This year I wanted to make sure that we did some awesome things with the kidlets to make memories...sometimes when you live in a blended family household, its hard to have traditions...because you have to celebrate things at different times, and sometimes not all your family can be together. This sometimes sucks...but we make the best of it...and try to cram as much into a week as possible and make tons of memories when all the babes are home!

 

We made gingerbread (graham cracker) houses! When the kids came into the dining room and saw all the candy I thought they were gonna fall over...Colton said "can I eat all this?!?"

 

 

Kendra's house....

 

 

Mary's house.....

 

 

My house.....

 

 

And the mister's house...when he came into the dining room...he first reaction was "this is stupid...I dont know how to make a gingerbread house" then it kept falling over and breaking and I thought he was gonna chuck it and let the dogs eat it. But after about 15 minutes he started getting into it...he was sitting at the table for about an hour and a half....and this was his finish product. He blew us all out of the water with his little wood stack made of caramel.

 

 

The one in the back is my creation...it doesnt have a complete roof because it kept caving in and I have no patience because it is a "roofless modern home" obviously they build these types of homes in places where they have no rain. Duh!

 

Megs kept calling it a shed....

 

 

There is one little part of our Christmas!

 

Happy Wednesday! Its my first day back at work since the 21st...and I cant concentrate on anything......Good thing I only have a 2 day work week!

 

The bestie!

About a year and a half ago, this little peach...otherwise know as my BFF....decided to move to Florida. ALL THE WAY FROM IDAHO TO FLORIDA. this was completely unacceptable...and so I decided to be mad at her forever. After about 3 days of being mad, I started missing her like crazy. This girl and I have been through hell and back together, and I love her like a sister. We've been best friends since we were freshman!

 

I havent seen her in a little over a year! She and her family came back to see her husbands family for Christmas! Its so crazy how you have those friends who just get you....and who love you no matter what...this is Marie...she just gets me...and I love her so much.

 

We did a little of this......

 

Pedis...with the bestie!

 

She gave me the most amazing christmas present EVER! This is us in high school...I think we were juniors...Holy Hottness huh!

 

I made her cheer with me...she hated it the WHOLE time....and she still gives me crap, and says that I owe her because she lost a whole year of her life as an "athletic supporter" HA!

 

Love this girl.

 

 

And of course any lady date isnt complete with out the fro yo!

 

After a year and a couple months its hard to believe that we just picked up like we hadnt been 2,000 plus miles apart, but thats what best friends do! I am so happy for her and her husband...and I know they love their life in Florida, but I get a little jealous sometimes...because I miss her. So I have to put my big girl panties on and deal!

 

Happy Saturday lovies! Call your BFF and tell her you love her!

December love!

I hope that all of you had a FABULOUS CHRISTmas!! I know that we did! I have tons of posts planned to show you pics and tell you about the fun stuff we did...but now I have to play catch up!

 

Its time show you lovelies this month's Cara Box! This months theme was "sparkle"....My FAV!!

 

 

 

I was paired with 2 beauties. One was the girly that I sent a box to and the other was the person who sent me a box! I sent to Jessica , and the fabulous lady who sent to me was Julie over at Oh my Tookies!

 

 

This girl is just amazing. She loves Jesus, and she is SOOOO sweet. Her package to me blessed me in ways beyond words.

 

The sweetest part was her words to me. She asked me some questions, and in one of my answers I told her about my mama...who has passed away. I told her how we used to bake cookies together and frost them with yummy buttercream. Julie sent me some of the most amazing buttercream frosting I have ever EVER eaten. It was from her shop...Tookies

 

 

It made me cry....thinking about my mom! (happy tears!)

 

It was just the sweetest package ever. Everything that she sent me had a sweet note on it...she really is blessed with knowing how to make people feel special.

 

this was the card...

 

Some awesome sparkly mineral eyeshadow....

 

A super cute christmas charm bracelet!

 

 

Some fabulous pink and blue bobby pins and an adorable pink sparkly headband!

 

 

a cute little bottle of pink sparky nail polish, files, nail decals, and a mary kay satin hands set

 

 

This was the cutest packaging ever...this box contained the most yummiest most fabulous red velvet cookies I have EVER tasted, and buttercream frosting that literally melted in my mouth!!!!!!

   

This was the sweet note that she put on the package of tookies.....

 

 

the only thing I didnt get a pic of by itself was the fabulous apple body wash that she sent me! I used it in the shower and when I came to bed, the mister kept smelling me saying "YUM, you smell like an apple...like I could just take a bite of you!" haha.

this was all the loot together....such a blessing to me! I LOVED everything she sent me!!! It was like we have been friends forever and she knew me super well!

 

 

 

 

There was a note on top of this one saying "open last" and it was the best thing besides the TOOKIES! A charm for my bracelet that says "celebrate friends!"

I am SO glad to call Julie my friend....and I am so glad that Kaitlyn decided to start this Carabox swap. It has blessed me beyond just getting a box of cool stuff. It has given me new friends!!!

 

 

I also because I am obsessed with blog swaps and giving people presents  did another blog swap and this one was a secret santa swap! It was hosted by these foxy ladies...

 

 

My partner that I played santa to was Michelle! I sent her some awesome goodies....a starbucks card, a journal, some nail polish and some other fun things!

 

And THIS...is what my fabulous secret santa gave me!!!!!!

 

  

 

everything was SO me! sparkly nail polish...a cute sign that says "get your jingle on", a super cute and sparkly candle holder, and some fabulous pink lip gloss. This santa really hit the nail on the sparkle lovin head!!! And because I already checked out the link up, I know that my santa was Kari over at cupcakes and bling ! Thanks for the awesome gifts Kari, I love everything!!!

 

Well, there you have it my sweets....I got spoiled...and I have new friends. I am blessed. And I am still addicted to blog swaps!

 

 

 

31 days of giving

yesterday I was silent on my blog to show support for all of the families in Conn....but before that....I have been quiet on the blog because I have been trying to wrap my mind around the tragedy in Conn. My heart just breaks for those families, and for the family of the shooter. For everyone who was touched by that situation.

 

I am just praying that God is near to them, holding them and giving them the peace that only HE can give.

 

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

I am doing TOOKIES'S 31 days of giving! And I am JUST loving it.

 

 On Sunday, I went through a drive through at a local restaurant and the girl that was working the window was SO sweet. She looked like she had had a rough life. But her spirit was just adorable, and she was laughing and joking with me...she thought it was SO funny that both our names were Heather. Before I drove off, I asked her if she had kids...she said that she did, 4 of them. So I handed her some free movie passes and told her to take her babies to a movie! She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "really? for me" When I smiled and said "yes! Merry Christmas!" she just cried! It touched my heart in a huge way.

 

On Monday night after work I went to sonic and picked up 3 $5 gift cards....

 

 

 I stuck a note in them that said "Merry Christmas! You've been R.A.K.E.D! We wanted to bless you with a random act of kindness! God Bless, and have a very Merry Christmas!" I handed them out to random people..A nurse at one of the nursing homes, a lady renting a redbox at Walgreens...and a women getting gas at the Chevron. It felt really good. Giving back when I have been blessed so much is awesome.

 

What have you done to give this month? What have you done to bless someone?

 

Silence and Prayers

 

Today I am silent on my blog with hundreds of other bloggers. Praying and thinking of the families and everyone touched by this tragedy.

Psalm 34:18

¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Lord be near.

Introducing me...by the Mister...

Hey ya'll..today you get the pleasure of a post from the mister
 

 

...he thought you should know all about the real me. (and of course I know you love the picture of him looking like a demon about to eat some scalding hot fondue)

One thing the readers need to know about me? You are crazy. You are coo coo for cocoa puffs.

What is your favorite thing about me?  My favorite thing that we can write in a blog??? Haha. It would be your giving spirit. Because you love to give to others.  

What drives you crazy about me? You like to be in control. ALL THE TIME.

What is your favorite thing to do with me? Travel and go on dates. Because we get silly. And make up stupid stories.

If you could describe in 5 words what would they be? beautiful, fun, loving, strange (because you always check for bedbugs even at 300 a night hotels, and you are obsessed with smelling good...and you have 400 kinds of perfume and body spray) but most of all you love God, and you love others.

 

He says that there is more...but he has to go make dinner. I am such a lucky girl.

 

I hope everyone is having an awesome december...there is alot to be thankful for. But sometimes its easy to get caught up in the "have to's" and the "want to's" and the "I wants".

So here is a little present from me to you....xoxox

 

 

 

My Favorites...

Hey my little sugar plums....I thought I would write a post dedicated to my favorite things this month. Since they change often..I guess its good to look back and see what craziness I was into and when.

 

I am obsessed with big hair, the bigger the better. As far as I am concerned jacked to Jesus isnt high enough.

 

 These are my favorite products....

 

Moroccan Oil, I LOVE this stuff..I use it every time I wash my hair (twice a week). After I wash it I slather this on and then put my hair in a tight bun overnight.

 

The next morning I spray my hair with this nectar from heaven - Kenra Blow Dry Spray. It smells DEE LISH US. I spray it on the mister attacks my head. He thinks it smells like candy.

Then I spray my roots with Kenra root lifting spray...and blow dry.

 

 

After it is all dry...I spray the crap out of it with this stuff - Kenra Volume Spray 25 - AMAZING volumizing hair spray. This stuff is fabulous. It gives you hold, but not gross hold. Awesome home. Because their is a difference. duh. After this process...then I curl with a large barrel curling iron. Its takes me about 4 days to do my hair. Just kidding. But it does take a LOOONG time..which is why I only wash my hair twice a week.

 

 

My other favs right now are....leggings with boots. Lets face it, sometimes you wanna look cute, but you dont wanna wear jeans. Especially when you are a CG (chubby girl)...and you ate too many french fries for lunch. I am loving my leopard print leggings and my boot socks with my boots.

 

Its super comfy and I still feel cute. And thats all that matters. Some people say that us CG's shouldnt wear leggings and boots, but I can rock it. So if you are a ney sayer...keep on ney sayin. But I am gonna keep lookin fabulous.

 

My other fav right now is this lovely bottle...

 

Incredible body spray from Victoria Secret. Its smells like heaven. I have a bottle in my car and a bottle at home...I coat my self in it thoroughly before I leave home. Its like a sealant. So all my goodness doesn't get out. And I love it. You will too, I promise. So put it on your christmas list!

 

 

Who am I?

You know those days that something happens and it makes you question everything? Someone today told me that I was "A fake Bi%$# who only cares about what people think" they told me that I put on a front to make people think that I was a "good christian" girl. Then they told me that I wasnt fooling anyone.

 

This crushed me. Am I fake? Do I put on a front? Do I try to be someone that I am not? Am I not always honest with people?

 

Do I act like this....

 

In front of some people and like this.....

 

 

 

In front of others?

 

Do I judge people, or lie to people?

 

And I guess why these questions wrecked me so much is because the answer was yes to some of them. I am NOT perfect. I do judge people sometimes, but I am working on that. And I am trying to let God use me, I am trying to see everyone as God sees them. Do I yell at my husband and disrespect him sometimes, yes I do....but I am working on that too. I am the first one to admit that I am not perfect. But anyone who knows me and loves me will tell you that I am honest. I dont pull any punches. If I screw up, I will tell you. If I fall, I will tell you, because the truth is...I might need you to help me up.

 

This persons description of me was not "true" but it still made me think. And when I think...I am able to see the areas that still need work. I am a work in progress. I am never going to stop growing or stop trying to be better. A better person, a better wife, a better mom, and better friend, a better christian.

 

What about you? Have you ever had someone say something to you that really hurt, but when you really thought about it....you could take their hurtful words and grow from them?