Happy Thankgiving...

Well it's here... Thanksgiving... and the question to be asked this year is...

What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

Are you sleeping outside in line waiting for a store to open so you can get the best deals... or... are you holding back, just a little, and gobbling down your food so fast you can't enjoy it to get to the store of choice doors opening... or... are you spending time with family and friends and enjoying the day... and aren't you wondering, just a little bit, what happened to this holiday of giving thanks....

Well, here in my little house?... I'm looking at my family... at my home... at my little part-time job... at all the blessings I've been given this past year... feeling blessed by little things taken for granted.

If you've followed my blog at all... you'll know I haven't blogged like I use to this last year... and when I do, it's been something quick... but the truth is... the reason is... I've had a hard year... so many ups and downs... so many things going on in my life... I haven't had the energy to put much into anything other than caring for what's most important...

I'm not going to go into everything that's been going on this last year... but I will tell you if it hadn't been for Lord, my prayers and those of others... what I'm thankful for would be much different...

So, today instead of passing by this holiday with shopping and meaningless things that don't last... I'm going to make memories and enjoy every moment of the day... I'm going to remember Thanksgivings past with those I miss... and enjoy... enjoy every family member... enjoy every giggle... enjoy every football cheer... enjoy every board game... enjoy every bite of thanksgiving dinner... down to the very last bite of pumpkin harvest pie...

I'm going take in the blessings that surround me... and be thankful...

I hope you're surrounded by blessings to be thankful for today and always... Happy Thanksgiving...

Stuff For To{day}...

Thought I'd share one of my new favorite things to make... and I'm having such fun making them...
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pacifier Clip... which I'm now selling in my Etsy Shop...

Sick For My Birthday...

Well, yesterday was my Birthday.... and both Rainee & I were sick... Steve rented us movies... so between naps, we watched movies and had chicken noodle soup...

Soooo because yesterday was a bust... we decided to celebrate today instead.... I'll have to give you an update about what birthday surprises my family have in-store for me....


Have a wonderful day...

Halloween Lunch Box Notes...

Download Halloween Lunch Box Notes Here

I think Halloween is such a fun holiday although I'm not into all the gory stuff... I do love seeing Rainee get dressed up and taking her out trick or treating... This year I thought it would be fun to do something fun for her the full month of October.... but the question is... what? Well, with Halloween themed Lunchbox Notes of course.  

Here is a set of Free Halloween Lunch Box Notes...

Etsy Shop Halloween Lunch Box Notes

..... Annnnnnnd if you're interest in more Halloween Lunch Box Notes, here are a few more from my etsy shop....

I know Rainee will love them... I hope your kiddo's will too!!

For laughs... below I've add a few fun sayings to go along with your lunch box notes...

What did the ghost say to the invisible man? Long time no see.

What music do Mummies like? Wrap music.

What kind of witch lives on the beach? A sand-witch

What do skeletons use to communicate? Cell-phones

Ghouls just want to have fun...

Have a Fang-tastic day...

Halloween is a real treat.

Carve out some good times! (with carved pumpkin)

Just hanging out with my ghoul friends.

Time for a coffin break. 

I can’t stop falling in love with brew.

Why didn't the skeleton cross the road? Because he didn't have any guts.

Sit for a spell and have some brew. 

I want my mummy

Mummy's little monster

Free broom with flying lessons.

Broom Parking - 5 cents 

Ima Ghoul

Myra Mains

Dr. Acula

Bite me.

What's a ghost's favorite thing to wear? Boo-jeans

What do you call a witch's garage? A broom closet.

What is a vampire's favorite candy? A sucker

What is a vampire's favorite food? Neck-torine

These Free Halloween Lunchbox Notes will disappear on October 31st--

and will be laid to rest until the next Halloween... Get yours before they're gone!

New Teacher Gift...

Rainee and I love giving gifts to Rainee's new teacher's each year... and this year along with the Cup-Filled-With-Pencils (from last year - and below) we gave her a set of From-The-Desk-Of cards from my SimplyEverydayMe Etsy Shop... one of each design (apples, bees, pencils, crayons, owl & little blue bird)... Plus we also gave her former teachers at set... all the same designs... as a little thank you for helping her get to Third Grade. They loved them!!!

Now as for last years teacher gift  - - - -  I've had sooooo many emails... and comments about this Cup-Filled-With-Pencils for Rainee's teacher gift from last year... I thought I'd post this project again and answer a few questions....

What Size Cup: This is a 24oz. cup
Where Did I Get Them: Walmart. AND I just went online and found them for a set of 4/$18.00 .
How Many Pencils: I put 30 in it. One for each kid in the class.

Suggestion: Sharpen sharpen sharpen those pencils before giving them to the teacher... I didn't the first time... but this year I did... they appreciate it a whole bunch!!!

Hope you day is filled to the brim with wonderful things too...

Lunch Box Notes... Extension...

If you've had a full weekend, like me... and didn't do half the things you wanted to... you're in luck when it comes to my last post and the Lunch Box Note giveaway... I've extended it, check it out...

Giveaway... Lunch Box Notes...

Since summer for us is at a close and school is starting up this week I thought I'd do a little giveaway!!!

I don't know of a better way to say I love you during a child's day than with Lunch Box Notes... Rainee looks forward to seeing not only what I've put in her lunch, but what little surprise Lunch Box Note I've given her for the day... I know these notes make her day and make her feel close to me on good days... but especially on rough ones...

~ Download Lunch Box Notes Here ~

I've been doing notes for her since preschool... and now I thought I'd share some with you sooooo...  you can DOWNLOAD these (8) Printable Lunch Box Notes...  your kiddo's will love them... FOR THIS WEEKEND ONLY... GIVEAWAY EXTENSION... you can now download these whenever you'd like.

I am also delighted to show you 3 other Lunch Box Note versions from my etsy shop... SimplyEverydayMe... There are 8 Lunch Box Notes on each printable page.

Thanks so much for skipping by and I know your kiddo's love these... happy lunches...

~ Link to Etsy Shop for more Printable Lunch Box Cards ~

Giveaway... Lunch Box Notes...

Since summer for us is at a close and school is starting up this week I thought I'd do a little giveaway!!!

I don't know of a better way to say I love you during a child's day than with Lunch Box Notes... Rainee looks forward to seeing not only what I've put in her lunch, but what little surprise Lunch Box Note I've given her for the day... I know these notes make her day and make her feel close to me on good days... but especially on rough ones...

Download for Printable Lunch Box Notes

I've been doing notes for her since preschool... and now I thought I'd share some with you sooooo...  FOR THIS WEEKEND ONLY... you can DOWNLOAD these (8) Printable Lunch Box Notes...  your kiddo's will love these KnockKnock Jokes... (after this weekend they will be available at my etsy store)

I am also delighted to show you 3 other Lunch Box Note versions from my etsy store... SimplyEverydayMe... There are 8 Lunch Box Notes on each printable page.

Thanks so much for skipping by and I know your kiddo's love these... happy lunches...

Link to Printable Lunch Box Notes - at SimplyEverydayMe

Thurs{day} Thoughts...

With my daughter getting old (every moment)... I've been thinking about my own childhood. There are some memories that are so strong and some that seem to have faded along with time. Why do you suppose that is? Getting older and memory loss? Or is it just life has taken over and we need reminding of those pleasant days of when we were young... 

I like to believe it's just life... and in return, I love it when my now life brings back memories of my own childhood... One that happened just this week...

My daughter, loves loves loves dogs... she loves playing and sleeping with her stuffed doggies... she also loves pretending she's a doggie... it's adorable... I never get tired of seeing the joy she gets from her doggie playtime.

And this week her playtime triggered one of my own childhood memories... We didn't have a dog when I was a child... but one of our favorite things to play... was doggie. My little brother would pretend to be our "doggie" and my older sister & I would play with him and put bowls of water & food out for him... we would do this for hours... just like Rainee... I love this memory of my own childhood, but also love that Rainee is making her own "doggie" memories...

It doesn't take much to make a memory... or to trigger one that's been forgotten. What is one of your favorite childhood memories?

Rainbow Sling...

I thought I'd share my latest crocheted item in my Etsy Store...  on both blogs... 

This Water Bottle Sling... is a great way to hold your water bottle. It's perfect to take along on walks... hikes... bike rides... dog walks... bird watching... shopping... concerts in the park... or a day at Disneyland. I love love love the bright rainbow. It is just so fun... I've been using mine all summer... and every time I take it anywhere I get an order... So... today's the first chance I've had to get one up on my Etsy Store... anyway, here it is...

Thanks for looking... Have wonderful day...

Happy Father's Day...

Happy Father's {Day}!!!

As I was looking for a photo of Steve with Rainee for this post... I came across one of my favorite layouts of them together... so I had to post it again...

Anyway... to Steve... Rainee's daddy... I love watching you teach Rainee little things that help her grow... you make her smile, laugh and play... I love seeing how very much she loves you... you are a great dad... and we love you very much!!!!

And to my dad... even though you're not here... I still miss you... I feel blessed to have had a dad with such a kind caring and loving heart... you are missed to{day} and every {day}...

Father's, enjoy your {day}... enjoy your children...  and have a happy father's {day}!!!

It Is Still Spring... Isn't It?.....

Spring cleaning to me... conjures up images of sunny days with the windows wide open and sunshine flooding into every room.  It brings thoughts of summer...

So with it still officially Spring...
I have been doing my annual Spring cleaning these last
2 1/2weeks... and every {day} Rainee asks... "Mama, If you're doing Spring cleaning, when is it going to be Summer? I thought we were on Summer vacation?" And every {day} I answer with... Summer actually begins June 21st... and that when she gets out of school it's still Spring... which is great for mommy... I can get to Spring clean, while it's still Spring!!! But I've noticed over the last couple of days... she's stopped asking.... do you think she's realized, she'll probably get the exact same answer if she does ask???... lol!!!

Sooo thinking I was nearly done on Monday... my husband decided to get involved and add a few things to my list of "to do's"... sooooooooo after giving me his list of projects to tackle... I'm now just hoping to finish before Summer enters and Spring ends... My fingers are crossed that to{day} will be the {day} I finish up... so our Summer vacation can officially start... because honestly I'm exhausted... I really need some R&R... plus a little bit of fun!!!
What about you... did you get all you wanted done with your Spring cleaning??? Or are you still working on it like me??? Whatever it is... I hope it's fruitful.... so you can enjoy the sunshine of Summer!!!

The Blogoversary Winner...

The Blogoversary Winner to the Owl Coffee Cozy & Starbucks Gift Card is...

CHRIS RANDAL

Congratulations!!!! Email me your mailing info so I can get this to you!!! And thank you all so much for making my blogoversary special!