Day 8: Christmas of Dreams

Sponsors: Day Eight Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Koshas, Leapfrog and Soda Club.

Do you shop on Black Friday? What time do you start? Do you finish all your shopping on that day? What’s the best deal you have found? What’s your shopping strategy?

No... No... No...

I hate crowds of people like that. Frothing at the mouth and the irritability level that is involved... not a chance!

Now... Cyber Monday?? DEAR GOODNESS... I'm all over that! In fact.. I will be getting one of my guy's gifts that day! (Heck.. all my friends MIGHT get the same thing... )

I'm looking forward to those deals!

My shopping strategy is all year round. If I find something that works for someone, I'll pick it up for them.. otherwise, it's Brad and I wandering the malls for days before the holiday muttering, "Why is it so hard to shop for "so and so" it's not like we haven't known them for years" (Usually his mother)

Day 7: Christmas of Dreams- Mom Dot Party

Sponsors: Day Five Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Sillymonkeez and My Baby Bump

Tell us who is on your naughty list? Who is on your nice list? Why?

Wow... the naughty and nice list...

This is a tough one but, here goes.

Nice list:

My kids: Every Sunday they do their chores without complaining. When I am at work and I need something extra done they always do it before I get home. They like to cook. They try to keep the fighting to a minimum even though they are teens. They help me when I need a bottle or a sippy cup at bedtime. I rarely complain about their laundry needing to be done. They are respectful and they use their manners even without me asking. I've never had a teacher tell me they were rude.

My friends: They stand by me no matter what. They help me out in ways that usually only families do. None of them judge me for what I do. I've always felt I could call them for anything, even if it's to show fear or sadness. All of them have held me while I cried and laughed with me when I was happy. They all love my children as if they were their own family.

My guy: He can read me like a book, even when I don't want him to. He's allowed me into his life in a way no one else has. If I called him at 4am, he'd come running. He wants to be a hero. He bites his tongue sometimes and allows me to vent even when he wants to say something. He learns quickly. He teaches quickly. He is strong, in so many ways.

Naughty List:

Me: Because I don't express myself well enough to those I love. My best friend had a baby 4 months ago and I haven't been over there as much as I should be. I haven't been loving as I've always promised I would. I spent the year healing instead of living. I started working out and stopped. I have said some horrible things to people that I can't take back. I kept my mouth shut when I should have stepped forward. I gossip too much.

Day 6- Mom Dot Party

Sponsors: Day Five Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Flying Colors Baby, Uncommonly Cute and Lollipop Book Club.

What is your favorite holiday memory from your childhood?

My favorite holiday memory is my mom putting up all the decorations. I remember the manger scene on the mantle of our large brick fireplace, the holly wrapped around the post in the kitchen, the tree perfectly decorated and the color of the lights when you were going to bed at night and the house was dark.

I loved the smells and the feeling I would get when present would go under the tree, or everyone would show up for the holiday's and it would be a loud entrance of "Hellos, Good to see you and Merry Christmas".

Everyone was always smiling and smelled like candy canes and pumpkin spice.

I love those memories.

Christmas of Dreams- Day 3

Day Three Blog Party Question is brought to you by Appledonia, Hippos Toes and My Bag

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

Not my Christmas shopping, but my Christmas stockpiling. I have been saving prizes, etc that I win for my kids. Every one has one or two things stashed in my room that will get wrapped and put under the tree or in a stocking. I will write out what they have and then shop from there.

My biggest thing will be Yule this year. It is the biggest holiday for our family and we all make homemade gifts. Last year I made everyone pillows with scented dried herbs and essential oils. They were all made depending on the person and what kind of year I thought they needed. It all worked out amazingly well. This year… baked goods!

Do you budget for the holidays?

Yes, I do, I won’t spend too much per person.

Do you always stick to your budget?

Yes, I only have so much!

Share with us any budgeting tips you may have!

Sometimes simple is better. My girls always need razors, hair dye, makeup, etc. Those are great stocking stuffers! Cologne for my son and EVERYONE gets a new pair of socks. There are simple inexpensive ways to fill their hearts; they don’t always need the high end items.

Christmas of Dreams Party Day 1

Sponsors for day 1 are: Day One Blog Party Question is Brought to you by La Belle Toile and This and That by Randi

Hi all!

Well... I do love to talk about my kiddos! As if everyone didn't notice, so here I am going to introduce you to last years Christmas.

I have always loved putting up my holiday village. I do not believe my home is Christmas-y without ours. Every year I change it up, put up different people, move around the village, and every year I get choked up putting our village into place. I don't know why, perhaps it is the memory of a happier time, regardless.. I love it.



Then... there was last Christmas. I was 15 days from giving birth to baby LaLa and as big as a house. If you are uncomfortable seeing me in this hugely bloated stage... BE WARNED it is NOT pretty. This is at my friend Brad's house.

The year before on Christmas my little girl Issa was born. Christmas morning at 7:20am, so she celebrated her birthday on Christmas eve... Can you tell she really cared one iota about the gifts?? Nope?... Me neither!....


So, now I have to little princess' to celebrate the holidays with the rest of the clan!

I hope you will join me for the rest of the Mom Dot Christmas of Dreams Blog Party. Trust me... it's gonna be a lot of posts and pictures of my family!

Sponsors for day 1 are: Day One Blog Party Question is Brought to you by La Belle Toile and This and That by Randi
Gotta love it huh?