Snow Boots

I have over estimated the worth of black ballet flats in more than an inch of snow... Even my tennis shoes got soaked, and I was just on the sidewalk. So a couple of nights ago I bought my first pair of snow boots, ever. Well, since I was a pre-teen anyway. They're black, with a smidge of fluff around the top, not the trendy kind really, just a cute pair, something more my style (which is rather un-trendy). I love them. I do!

Unicorns i love them
Unicorns i love them
Uni uni unicorns i loove them

Have you seen Despicable Me? Ya gotta, just for the (fluffy!) unicorn obsessed tot. It's how I feel about my snow boots.

So, I'd really like to say I didn't want to buy a pair of snow boots, but I've wanted one for years and so I have to admit, I'm really excited about them!

Christmas in Review.

The Christmas season kicked off with a girls Christmas shopping day in Rogers, AR, and that day started with avisit to P.F. Chang's. My first ever.

Christmas eve rolled around with a load of snow, a big snowball fight, and some very rough football!

This is the view from my Mother-in-law's front door. It was a wonderful Christmas.

On Christmas day we headed to Cap's grandmother's house about an hour from his Mom's. In the back seat with me is our niece. We girls were loaded under all the presents and food and quilts, as you can see. The lucky boys were chillin in the front seat with all the leg room.


This picture was taken right before my nap. I'm a car sleeper or a car sicker. There's no in between for me.

Christmas!

I love Christmas. I love it every year. I love to buy gifts and I love to wrap them. I especially love to give them. I always endeavor to find just the right gift for the person that I shop for. It's not about marking a name off a list for me. For me, it's about knowing my loved ones so well that I can spot their gift months in advance. The problem is keeping my mouth shut about it. That's always the problem. When I was a little girl about 5 years old, I think, my dad woke me up in the middle of the night to take me potty (not that I had any bed-wetting problems). I sat on the potty with my eyes half closed and said with my sleepy excitement "Daddy, we got you some shirts for Father's Day today." I think he said something along the lines of "You're not supposed to tell me, Amy Lynn." I'm pretty sure he was holding back a chuckle as he said it though, if I know my dad.
With my Mom, it's different. I always want to get her, not just something she would like but, that one thing she's been wishing for, for months. So she's usually involved in picking out her gift. Now and then it's a big surprise, but mostly we've discussed it. This year is one of those surprise years, I'd tell you what I got her, but she doesn't get to open it for a couple of more weeks. So I'll have to torture myself a bit longer and not even tell you! Believe me, it's very hard. She's been in England since just before Thanksgiving but comes home in January! I can't wait to see the thousands of pictures she must have taken.

It's a Work in Progress

So, I guess things don't just happen over night then? I was really hoping to slash through my closet and dump a bunch of junk. I found out that I am much more attached to a lot of my clothes than I realized... so I've made one pass and I took out about 35 items (of my own thank you). I'll make another pass in a week or so and see what shakes down. In the mean time I am evaluating another option. The option of putting all this extra in a tote for the next year, surely by then my current pieces will be thread bare. So I'll go shopping in my own closet for a few more items to replace my Raggedy-Ann blouses. The idea here is that it's rather dumb to ditch your clothes and then have to buy 3 or even 5 more shirts in a year. Does it sound like I'm making excuses? It feels like it sounds like I am.

Cap chose about 35 of his own shirts and pants (mostly shirts) to send off too. We have two huge shopping bags full of clothes. Our closet looks a little better. Only a little.

As for my wardrobe, I have only settled on 3 tops. I can't decide what the fourth should be and if I should have at least 2 long-sleeved or sweater type shirts. Ya know, cause we're heading into winter here and looking at degrees below zero at some points. Might get chilly under my coat right? Help me! Shoes too, I have no idea what to do about them. I've been wearing out a pair of "ballet" flats for the fall but I don't think they'll do for winter. So what will. I have a couple pair of boots but they have heels and I don't think they'd be great either. So, 1 sneakers, 1 church shoes, and what about the everyday stuff? Keep the ballet flats? Use my old worn out Mary-Jane's? I can't think of another option.

As soon as I settle on the other two shirts I'll post some pictures of my choices.

Christmastime's a Comin'!

We have about 13 weeks left before Christmas and for those of us that get paid about twice a month, that's 6 more paydays! If you don't have your Christmas savings started, then you better get on it! If you save $250 each payday from now until Christmas you'll have $1,500!

Let me break it down for you:
$250 x 6 = $1,500
$200 x 6 = $1,200
$150 x 6 = $900
$100 x 6 = $600
$ 50 x 6 = $300

Of course only you can say how much you've already put aside for Christmas or how much you'll need to spend.

When I made my Christmas list (last night) I wrote down the name of each person I plan to buy gifts for. To the left of the person's name I made a column for the approximate amount of money that I would like to spend (or that I usually spend). We typically spend about $50 on each parent (or parent set) but sometimes (usually) that goes over. It isn't that we try to make it so "dollar specific", but just that we like to go crazy and have to get a grip. Our limits aren't set in stone but if we decide to go over, we discuss it first. For our siblings we try to stay around $25, but some of them have children so I try to budget for little extras there as well. To the right of each name I jotted down some ideas that I've been thinking of (since last Christmas, sometimes). This handy little list can slip right into your purse or pocket so that when you pull it out you'll have your names, items, and spending bracket. At the bottom you can tally up the money you plan to spend and you'll know exactly how much you'll need.

My husband and I often do a joint gift, one year we bought a digital camera, another year we each got a nice watch, sometimes we'll just do shopping money for new clothes, this year we're hoping for a deep freeze!

Charming Charlie

Charming Charlie is a great store that we have in our Battlefield Mall.
My girl friends have been talking about it lately but, since I'm not much of a shopper, I didn't just run right out to see it. I have told people about the store though because I really like what I've heard about their set-up. They have their products arranged by colors, so if you're looking for something in red... there's a spot for that! Well, as I walked into the mall (heading for a certain coffee spot who's name is on my travel mug) I noticed the store and had to get a peek. Here's what I found.



They have accessories in every color, all throughout the store. They have clothing, shoes, and bags to match!




There's a section for gold,



Another for purple.



More space for purple and even some blue. That isn't all though, they have yellow, green, blacks, pearls, pinks, even animal prints and an "army-type" section. Something for everyone I tell ya.



I will definitely be spending some birthday money in here this year, I found a pretty little handbag I'd sure like to carry...and I loved the chandeliers they have all over the shop. It's all very glitz and glam.

My Favorite Things

Marshall's has the best stuff! Each time I walk through their doors I am charmed by an array of beautiful items that I must possess! If I were to buy out the store of each object that pleases me, here's where I would begin:

I love this bird. I have a couple similar to him, which I was given by my good friend, but he calls to me and begs to come home with me. How can I explain to him that I mustn't take home each bird I meet?

How about this guy? Hmm? What shall I tell him? "My long and skinny friend, you may live on my front step. Where you may greet each visitor that passes you with your ducky lipped smile. Thank you. Oh, and bring your blue neighbor."
Would you like to come sit on my back patio with a cup of coffee? These are the seats we will sit in. If I could just get them into my car. All four of them please.
Pillows. The chocolate, the roses, and the cream colored bouquet beneath the roses will welcome you from atop my very high, king sized bed. They will match the window treatments and the chocolate coverlet on the bed. "Come home with me pillows, come home."