What A Day!!!

Last night I got a text from a friend asking if I was available to babysit this afternoon. I immediately replied with a yes! I couldn't say no to an opportunity to hang out with some of the sweetest children I know! I actually had Muni's son (pictured below) in Kindergarten a few years ago and I have her older daughter in my class now and hopefully will have her youngest daughter in my class next fall.

Isn't he just a cutie pie!?!?! I can't help but want to pinch those cheeks everytime I see him!
She is a cutie too though!!!

I had so much fun today and the time went by so quickly. We played Barbies and watched television and played hide and go seek! We even had fun pretending to be Hannah Montanta complete with makeup application! The girls wouldn't let me take their pictures after their own makeovers! They had fun with the lipstick is all I'm saying!!! I can't wait to go back and play again one day!!!
When I got home, I have to admit I was tired but Tom wanted to get out so we went and ran some errands and took Maggie along. After we had her nails trimmed and ran to grab a phone battery, Tom suggested a trip to Unleashed. I decided that would be fun so we spent the evening at Lab Night at the dog park. Maggie had so much fun and even fell asleep on the way home. She really enjoys going to playdates and meeting new friends! We even met a dog that quickly became her pal. Her pal was a huge great dane mix, I'm just glad she didn't decide to pick on him because she likes to be bossy with the little dogs on occasion! This dog was beautiful and suprisingly calm. I was hoping some of this would rub off on Maggie!!! Wishful thinking I guess! Ha! All in all, a great and productive day and very relaxing! Everyday should be this fun!

This post is brought to you by the letter M

So it's been a while...but my life has just been so busy I haven't had a minute to sit down! Last weekend, was our first weekend of winter break. We had so much fun with so much crammed into a couple of days.

I'll start with Saturday

MAKEOVER!
This is my mom!

About a month ago, I entered a contest to win my mom a makeover and guess what? She won!!! There wasn't any pictures involved in entering- otherwise, she wouldn't have won because she is beautiful just as she is! I just wrote an essay and they picked mine and I surprised my mom with a new look!
Above is her before look and here is her after!


I LOVE her haircut! I even thought about cutting mine like this. The color turned out fabulous and really suits her. Christina did a wonderful job! If you are in the DFW area, make an appointment with her now at Salon 306.
Later Saturday evening...
MUSICAL!
Tom and I have enjoyed going to the theatre lately for musicals. We went to see Legally Blonde this past summer and Saturday night we went to see 101 Dalmations! It was absolutely adorable. They didn't use the dogs as much as I would have hoped but it was still super cute! If you have a chance to see this musical, go do it!
Sunday...
MMMMMMM!!!!!
At our classroom Christmas party, a sweet parent of mine brought me the most fabulous treat- my new favorite Christmas candy actually! She was even kind enough to give me the recipe! I'm taking this to my in laws tonight! YUMMMY!!!
I'm passing this recipe along to you all...I had all of the ingredients in my pantry and made this as soon as I got this recipe. Enjoy!!!

Christmas Bark
1 cup butter (this is real butter friends, save the margarine for your momma! Ha!)
½ cup light brown sugar
1 sleeve saltines
12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
Sprinkles or nuts

Preheat oven to 350.
Lay out saltines in a rimmed baking sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper.
Melt butter in saucepan. Add brown sugar and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. (You can tell when it’s ready because the brown sugar will be totally blended in.)
Pour butter mixture over saltines, spreading evenly.
Bake for 15 minutes.
When it comes out of the oven, pour the chocolate chips over (I put mine back in the oven for about 3 minutes) and once they start to melt, spread them out over the saltines. Top with nuts or sprinkles.
Refrigerate until it hardens, about 1 hour. Remove from fridge and break into pieces.

Finally...
Merry Christmas!

The Nester Christmas Tour

Okay so I'm a couple days late...story of my life lately!

Welcome to our home!

This is our front entry. I have a wreath and two entry trees that flock the doorway. I love the simplicity of it all! Here is a closeup shot of my wreath. I did not make it but I do love it!

When you enter our house, the office is on the right. I did make these wreaths to hang on the office doors. Sorry it's so dark!

They are brown and gold to match the rest of my colors in my home. I love how they turned out!
Next is our formal dining room. I would love to have my Spode Christmas Tree china displayed but due to the fact that I have curious fur friends, I can not. My Christmas china is the ONLY china I wanted so that is what we registered for when we did our wedding registry.



See...I just opened the china cabinet door for a second to get a close up of my china and Ham decided he would hop in for a visit!

The next area is my kitchen. I didn't take many pictures of my decor other than my cute gingerbread house luminary (I got from Bath and Body Works- online may I add) It is so cute. The smoke comes out of the chimney!!!

I also finally found a card holder. I have been looking for one for a while. I usually just put my cards in a basket but I love to display the cards- especially the picture cards!

I have a button tree on my breakfast room table. I got this at Hallmark several years ago. I plan to put this in the baby's room one of these days!

At last my family room. Our kitchen, breakfast room and family room are really one big room. This is why we chose this floor plan to build. I thought one day it would be perfect to have baby Ward toddling around while I could cook dinner and still keep an eye on him/her. We have our main tree in our family room this year. This is the only one I put up this year, except for the one upstairs (it's little and in the man cave so I didn't get a picture of it) Here is my tree and my mantle. No stockings, I'm going to order those from Ballard after Christmas! My garland on my mantle matches my front door wreath.



And my favorite Christmas decoration...okay well, favorite Christmas sign...

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Turtleneck Queen

I am the turtleneck queen! I have bestowed this honor upon myself and I'm proud of it! Not many people can sport the turtleneck with such confidence but friends, I certainly can. My turtleneck wearing days started during my student teaching days in 2001. My fellow student teacher- Heather- commented one day about the enormous amounts of turtlenecks that I had in my wardrobe (I still think about you every time I wear one too). Yes, I do own at least one (sometimes more than that if it's a popular color) in every solid color and probably at least 20 printed ones. Now, they aren't teacher sweaters, they are striped or argyle. I also own short sleeved turtlenecks, sleveless turtlenecks, 3/4 length sleeved turtlenecks and the ever so popular long sleeved! I couldn't exactly tell you how many I own just know that for the past 2 weeks, I have worn a DIFFERENT one each day! Tom and I went into Gap this past weekend to work on our Christmas shopping lists and my heart became instantly happy upon stumbling into the turtleneck display. They even had them buy one get one free! I told Tom I could really use another turtleneck and he had the nerve to ask, "What color do you want?" I immediately looked at him and said, "Why all of them of course!" He rolled his eyes and mumbled something to the effect of, "you probably already own them all." Anyway, I am anxiously awaiting another turtleneck sale! I am planning to take pictures of myself in my turtlenecks so you can see! I have already planned tomorrow's outfit, bet you had no idea it was going to include a turtleneck!!!

Nine More Days!!!

So I left school a bit earlier than usual because I had to get to the grocery store! I bought stuff to make Paula Deen's taco chili (I saw it on Paula's Home Cooking yesterday as I was being a slacker and hanging out in my pj's all day). The chili is on the stove now actually and it smells kind of good despite all the modifications I made! Guess it isn't Paula's taco chili anymore! Ha! After my run to the grocery store, I stopped at Sephora and ran into some crazy sales lady- she is actually a high school student who came and read to my class one day last year- I don't know how she remembered me but anyway, she started asking me about how long it takes to get through school to become a teacher and how I knew I wanted to teach anyway. I didn't know just running in to pick up a little makeup was going to turn into a job interview! I got home and started the chili and decided to catch up on the blog and ran across Becky's blog. She is hosting a giveaway and has a hilarious story about her Sephora trip! You must read about the crazy Sephora ladies!

I am also getting ready to make some yummy cookies! They are peanut butter with a snickers baked right inside! I have to make lots because I'm scheduled to attend a cookie exchange party so I wanted to test them out before I exchange them with anyone. I'm also experimenting because I plan to do a little baking this weekend for Christmas gifts for my room mothers. If you have any great cookie recipes, feel free to pass them along to me!

Have You Been Looking?

My principal sent us this poem last year sometime and I LOVE it. It has made me a better person, teacher and friend. I sent the poem to the two people who I have always looked up to, my mom and my Aunt Jan. I wish I could have shared this with my Daddy though. Feel free to copy it and send it to people who you think could use a day brightener. Let them know that you were always looking and have made you the person you are today!


WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING
By Mary Rita Schilke Korzan

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you displayed my first report, and I wanted to do another.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you fed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you gave me a sticker, and I knew that little things were special things.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you put your arm around me, and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt--but that it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you smiled, and it made me want to look that pretty too.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you cared, and I wanted to be everything I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking--I looked...and wanted to say thanks for all those things you did when you thought I wasn’t looking.

Our Christmas Tree

Oh how I love my tree this year! I took some advice from friends to redecorate my tree this year and I love how it turned out. I did plan to put up my second tree in our dining room but as of yet, I haven't done so. I am going to try to hit Hobby Lobby after Christmas and get a nine foot slim tree for the dining room for next year and I am going to get a small pink tree for my future daughters room- more about that later! I have to share Tom's theory with ya'll, you will be laughing so hard!

Okay so back to the tree!



I used brown and gold on my tree with ribbon that is weaved with gold metallic thread so it has just a hint of brown and a hint of gold depending on the light and the way you look at it. I also used a bunch of stick things and poinsettias for the topper. Those are also brown and gold! I love my decorations!

The main reason I put up two trees is so I can display my sentimental ornaments from my childhood, vacations, special people in my life and teacher ornaments on one and have my other tree as my decor tree that matches everything in my house. I will eventually get around to putting that second tree up!

I searched high and low and in every catalog I could find for a tree skirt that matched my specifications! I ended up having to spend last weekend making one. Tom went to Hobby Lobby with me to get material and find everything I needed. So Saturday morning I pulled out the machine and measured and cut and measured and cut some more then sewed the thing together- totally backwards!!! I was pretty upset and thought about it all night. I ended up working on it on Sunday afternoon and finished it and I was so happy how it turned out! It is just what I wanted! But trust me friends, you don't want to do this- just buy one!!! However, I will be making two more, one for my classroom for my kids to put their handprints on as a keepsake for me and another for my pink tree!


Now, the pink tree! Tom's theory is that older couples have girls first! Just look at the celebrities. I think he just knows that I would love to have a baby girl one day! I love that man! I hope his theory is right or I'm going to have my own personal pink tree!

Merry Christmas friends! I love ya'll!

Feelings

Not sure what I am feeling this morning. It's a total mix of happiness for a friend and delight that she is finally getting what she wants. I love you friend- you know who you are! I so appreciate the fact that you shared with me first! I am also feeling hopelessness, despair and pure sadness. I'm just going to take it one day at a time and know that one day, my time will come too!

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."~ Proverbs 16:9

I have to have trust in Him and know that I am planning my steps but He is determining when and where they will take me.

Please pray for me to acheive some sort of happiness today.

These guys cheered me up when they came and surprised me with a happy meal on Wednesday! They are coming to see me again today- I can't wait to get some hugs!

And Your Reason Is?

So, I did get up on Friday to do a little black Friday shopping however, the parking lots got the best of me and I only went to Home Depot. Well, I decided I would run a few errands yesterday after work and I went to Target in search of a bread machine. You know, those popular devices from the early 90's that were in every woman's kitchen, well, they are now extinct...at least at Target they are. I'm going to have to look at Walmart this week. I need one for next week to make bread with my Kindergartners. I had one at one point but I left it at a former school and it hasn't ever been returned to it's rightful owner! If you know where I can find one, PLEASE let me know so I'm not on a wild goose chase!
So the story goes on...I stopped off at Bath and Body Works to pick up a couple of candles. I heart the twisted peppermint candles! I go in, I spy the candles and I pick up two since the sign said 2 for $20. I go to the register with my purchases and the lady gives me my $45 total. I looked at her like she had just told me an overwhelming story about how I won the lotto or something and then proceed to tell her, "I'm not paying that." Yes, you heard me friends, "I'm not paying that." I informed her of the sign and she said, "Could you show me where that is?" I lead her little sassy pants right over to the candles and she said, "that sign is leftover from our sales over the weekend, I just forgot to take it down." To which I replied, "Well, it's 5:00 in the evening on Monday, if the sales were over yesterday, shouldn't the signs have been taken down as well?" She looked at me like I had just written a novel and said, "probably". I was floored! She didn't even tell me she would give the sale price. I immediately turned around and walked out. Guess I'll be waiting on the next for sure sale before I get my peppermint candles...booo!!!