Minecraft Christmas - Elf on a Shelf in Pixel form

My 20 year old daughter is in college. Though she is only about an hour away, we don’t see her a lot.  When you are a 10, 7 and 6 year old at home you think your big sister is a superhero; Because when you are that age, you are a super hero to everyone younger than you.

Ashlyn is a big kid at heart. She loves video games, anime and dressing up to act a fool. It’s perfect for little kids. So when she started playing Minecraft, they fell in love with it. They learned what they could from her and eventually were allowed to be on a server with her.

Then she came up with the idea of Glowstone. See, Glowstone is an Elf on the Shelf, in pixel form. He has spent every day decorating, building a house for them and counting down to Christmas. (And Issa’s birthday). This is what amazing things the kids found on the first day..

Pretty amazing right? It’s only a few more days to go before Glowstone goes away for the year, but I am certain next year they will look forward to seeing what Glowstone has in store for them.

Do your kids play Minecraft? If you do, would you consider doing an Elf on the Shelf in Pixel from?

Shutterfly Review and Giveaway - Ending Nov. 22

Winner Announced: (The First winner didn't respond )  #14 (chosen by the Random Generator) Melissa Thank you to everyone for entering!! Make sure you enter my other giveaway at: Treat Mug and Notecards.

I LOVE cards! However, my favorite thing to get in the mail is holiday cards. The embossed envelope with a card full of love is exactly what I need in the cold winter days that come around the holidays. Someone thought enough of my family and I to address a card to us. Knowing we will hang it on our walls and read it to our kids when they ask, "Who is that?", "Where do they live?"

The Shutterfly 2013 holiday card collection made it so easy to make a card, however choosing one is always the hardest part.

Do I want Classic?

Tri- fold?

Monogrammed?

ORRR... or one that will hold photos of my beloved family that I take throughout the year?

Which ever card I choose will be as amazing as they are every year. I hang them on the wall with all the others so we can see the changes the family has made in 365 days. I also hang up my Shutterfly Holiday Gifts that I've had made during past holidays.

(This is how I hang my husbands and my wedding photos on our tree. It's my favorite ornament!)

For some great ideas and fun prizes make sure you join in the Shutterfly Photos You Love Twitter and Pinning Party on Nov. 15th from 8-9pm (EST). You can RSVP @ResourcefulMom at her site.

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How would you like to win a giveaway for a $50 off total order (plus free shipping) code at Shutterfly.

Giveaway Rules:

*Leave a way to contact you (email address) and visit Shutterfly Holiday Cards then leave a comment with your favorite card.

That is it, Easy Peasy.

(Giveaway ends Nov 22, 2013 at 11:59pm MST. Winner is chosen at random using a random generator.)

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(Disclosure: I was given a code by Shutterfly for this review/giveaway. I adore working for this company and have never been disappointed with them. All opinions are my own)

Decorate your holiday table with LTD Commodities

It is the holiday season!!

October starts the mad dash for decorating the yard to look spooky, cute and fun. Then comes November where I take down the scary and leave up the quaint and comforting, after that comes December where my house is coated in red, green and tinsel.

I fight with myself constantly over what “style” of house I want for the holidays. Something kid friendly with silly figurines and things hanging in windows, or something classic that makes people feel comfortable when they come in the door. Is there a way to do both?

Well, when it comes to my table setting, I spent this morning pouring over the products at LTD Commodities, looking for a cute way to decorate without spending an arm and a leg to do it. I loved 

the Holiday Collections they have:

Halloween Table collection- it comes with everything you see to tablescape for the upcoming holiday.

Holiday Loaf Pan sets - I make about 10 loaves of pumpkin bread every year so these are perfect to send them to my friends. Then they have a cute pan of their own.

Merry Christmas Y’all Platter- A cute way to serves those holiday treats while enjoying hot cocoa

If you are looking for quick and easy holiday decorations for your home and table settings, make sure you check out LTDCommodities.com

(This post was sponsored, all the verbiage is my own)

TodaysMama Big Giveaway

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family?

* I want my kids to have a holiday to remember. I need it to snow, curl up and watch Charlie Brown Christmas, and bask in our family.

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition?

*Coffee, giving all the kids their stockings and then letting my Christmas baby (she was born Christmas Day 2006) open her "Birthday Tree" and gifts first. THEN, we all get to open our gifts one at a time!

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?

*I want a new wardrobe! Something that is sexy, trendy and things I can still wear to work!

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?

*Spending time with the family and watching "Charlie Brown", it is something we always watch and the hot cocoa makes me so happy.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?

*'Sorry' and 'Boggle'. Love those memories.

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?

*Pumpkin Bread. My mother used to make it and I remember smelling it when I would come home from school. Those memories are infused in my senses.

7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip?

*I would go home to Texas. A little warmer, tons of family and friends along with sitting next to my Christmas tree I grew up with.

8. Check out GameStop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year?

Top Three Items
* Final Fantasy XIII
*God of War
*Call of Duty: Black Ops

Target and Christmas Happiness

"What was the most surprising gift you've ever received?"

It was 5:30am on Christmas day. It was perfect, the storm of the century was in between blizzards and our neighbors had shoveled us out knowing I couldn’t make it if they didn’t.

I was 9 months pregnant, exhausted from having stayed up late eating cookies and doing “santas” dirty work. It’s a yearly thing for he and I. The kids sit on HIS lap, tell HIM what they want, and then Mommy wraps it.

I must have pulled the short straw.

I had finally dragged my sore back, grumbly LARGE butt out of bed to go to the bathroom, for the umpteenth time…. When it happened.

My water broke.

Off to the hospital we went, contractions in full force, a 30 minute drive to the hospital and with it being baby #5, I knew that time was of the essence. (Lois)

By 7:20am, Christmas morning 2006, I had my beautiful baby girl Jacqueline Skylar Isolde (Issa) and was given the GREATEST surprise Christmas gift ever!!

(Want the chance to win a 100$ GC to Target? *I ~heart~ Target*…. Check out this opportunity from TwitterMoms)

My romantic man- and the BAD santa!

He was trying to be romantic, and it was working.

We had hot chocolate, with some peppermint goodness in it.
We were both so happy to get to be with one another.

Starting off in his neighborhood and winding around town, we finally made it out to the other part of the city, in Highlands Ranch, near his parents house.

"There is a house you have to see, he decorates it every year"

It was like Vegas I tell ya! I could see it over a mile away, bright lights and cars turning in the cul-de-sac, trying not to hit one another, though wishing to see the many lights and decorations.

Then we saw it... "Does Santa have pants on?"

We flipped the car around and craned our necks....
"Oh my, He... he doesn't"

Yep... Santa was standing in the front yard of the decorated house, pant less, waving and yelling, "Hello Children, Merry Christmas!".

Santa had too much eggnog this year!

I can't wait for next year!

Wordless Wednesday (Norman Rockwell Village in a not so Normal Rockwell home!)

Blue Nile makes things easier!

It's shown in commercials all the time, Romantic fire and a Christmas tree decorated perfectly. The scents of pine and cinnamon mixed together and a cup of hot cocoa with a peppermint stick. He pulls out the box.. and honestly, do they really care what color the box is... ?.. Not a chance.. it's all about what is inside the box.

The ring, the item you are going to be wearing.. forever. It's the classic fairy tale, however.. lets turn the focus away from us, and onto our poor guy...

Fast forward six months.... And him, wandering the stores trying to figure out what your ring size is, what type of metal you like... what are these three C's they talk about and how in the heck is he going to figure out if you want a classic, vintage or multiple stones on a ring? He will ask our friends for tips and advice from our sisters...

Blue Nile has come to the rescue here.....

Blue Nile allows you to:

Build your own Ring

Step one: Choose your diamond. Shape, Cost, Carat, Cut, Color and Clarity and then pick which one you want from a list.

Step Two: Choose your setting. Classic, Vintage, Color, Sidestone/ Choose your metal/ Choose your cost for the whole setting.

Step Three: Choose the ring, and the order is done!

Pretty awesome huh?

They can usually send the order out within the week, so now is the time for ya'll to get your Wish List up.

Because honestly, even if you are already married, and/or not ready to get engaged, what girl doesn't need a full set of all types of jewelry? Pearls, Diamond, and Gemstone (Birthstone).

You can even make your own diamond jewelry so that there is no guessing involved.

Now, for us ladies... they carry gifts for men as well.

Cuff links, Money clips, Citizen watches, and Valet key rings. Diamonds aren't just for girls after all!

So... what does your DREAM ring look like? What is your favorite set of jewelry you would love to receive?

This one is mine... isn't she pretty?