Valentine's Day For My Family

Good Morning!! I am gearing up to putting a few of the Valentine's Decor I have up today. I just LOVE Valentine's Day. I enjoy doing up the the house, and surprising my hubby and kids with surprises. I enjoy seein the kids faces even though they are teens now, I think they like it. I am not sure what I will do this year, as my son has a basketball game on Valentine's Day, insert sad face:(...lol... I am still thinking of decorating the house up like I do and maybe have a special breakfast this year, instead of dinner. I love the simple things you can do to show your LOVE. Check out my Valentine's set up from last year...I really LOVE my family and wanted to show them, even though it wasn't much, it meant ALOT to me and my family:)............

DON'T FORGET ABOUT MY TARGET GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY COMING UP, IT WILL START ON VALENTINES DAY FEBRUARY 14TH AND END ON FEBRUARY 28TH! BE SURE TO COME BACK AND SIGN UP, AS ALWAYS MY GIVEAWAYS ARE EASY TO ENTER, AND LOTS OF GREAT GIFT CARDS I GIVE AWAY!

Have a GREAT day to all my BLOGGING friends............... 

Teens and Boyfriends and Girlfriends

I have 2 teenage kids as you all know, Austin is soon to be 16 in a few months and Joli soon to be 14 shortly. Austin is in 10th grade, Joli is in 8th. Well lately we have been coming across the issue of the boyfriend and girlfriend whole ordeal. Well I believe hanging with a group of friends and doing things as a couples is ok(supervised). I am sure I will get back lash on this issue, which I hope I don't. My daughter Joli is currently using the word boyfriend with her new guy friend and it bothers her dad and I a little, but we also know that she is a teen and that word is often thrown around. My son has had girlfriend here and there none really serious and none were he used the word regularly, and his main focus is sports,lol...go figure. However Joli is at the stage were she uses the word boyfriend. She's almost 14 but we think she uses the word to loosely, with Not a real understanding of the word ,because of her age.. Well, we want her to have boys as friends and with boyfriends comes drama and teen issues clearly NO parent wants to face those issues. At the same time I want her to understand that her dad and I care for her and know that she may really LIKE a boy, but do you have to call him your boyfriend? At her age..........it seems that meetin up with a boy at the movies is fine now a days, and back in my day ......it was a NO NO,LOL......, now teens are meetin up at movies, bowling, and skating rinks, and other places, as couples. We allow Joli to attend things like these with other friends, and yes even with boys, as long as theres a group, to some that may be wrong???? We are parents that believe in TRUST, and Joli has NEVER broken are trust, and the only real issue right now with her is the BOYFRIEND word, and its meaning. That being said, we allow her freind(aka) to come over to our home, eat pizza, watch movies, and hang out with her, completely supervised!!! So in a way I told my husband maybe we are promoting in a way that the boyfriend word we so do not like is, is ok with the actions we are allowing to go on, with the issues of doing bowling, movies, allowing him over, and so on. This is a strong issue for me, and I have had to deal with it so much with my daughter, and what we believe and she believes, and we know how she feels, but in the same time we know how we feel, and I am sure many of you are saying well you are the adult, just say NO, well really why??....She has almost a 4.0 GPA, is active with youth and attends church and is really a well behaved daughter, helps, loving, and very caring, and  very trustworthy. I believe and my hubby slightly does, that the meaning will come more clearer to her as she grow and matures threw growing up, and my husband also says, really Michelle, we have guided her who she is now, and we have FAITH she will always do whats the right thing. I could go on and on on this issue, I just needed to clear my head a little, and ramble, and boy did I...lol...well, I am sure we all have mixed feelings about this issue, and I hope I can understand that her word BOYFRIEND is not the end of the world I guess.........................Just a Word that to parents seems like the end of the world......

I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE A GREAT WEB SITE THAT IS CHRISTIAN ORIENTED, AND WE GET BULLENTINS IN OUR CHURCH INSERTS FROM THIS GREAT RESOURCE, ITS CALLED FOCUS OF THE FAMILY. IT IS A WONDERFUL WEBPAGE AND HAS GREAT TIPS ON TEEN, MARRIAGE, AND FAITH. YOU CAN VISIT THE WEB PAGE AT www.FocusOnTheFamily.com. You will be glad you did...:)

Thanks for visiting today. Please be sure to come back and sign up for my Target gift card giveaway coming up in February. As always I love feedback on anything her on my blog, and enjoy the support from fellow bloggers. Thanks, and Have a GREAT day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 2 teens- Austin and Joli- I LOVE them sooooooooo MUCH:)

Valentine Centerpieces- Cheap and Easy

I recently bought some crafting items from the Dollar Tree and made some nice affordable decorative Valentine's Day items. I made these centerpieces from some beautiful roses they just got them in, and I went back a few days later because I was going to get more to use on a wreath, and they were gone..........:( I am glad though I got some when I did. I only have 6 dollars in both centerpieces, and I say thats a pretty good bargain myself, flowers and vases were all a buck each, and I had the heart sticks to stick in left over from another project I did the cupcake liner heart trees check those out in a previous post. All items were bought from Dollar Tree. I love that store:)

I will be having a giveaway in February for a Target gift card, I always have gift cards giveaways so be on the lookout for them:)

I will be sharing a great apple crisp simple and easy recipe tomorrow, come back for that, and as always thanks for stopping by......

Valentine Cupcake Liner Trees-Cute Craft!!!

I just made the cutest craft I wanted to share with you, it was really cheap, and easy to make. I got all the items at the Dollar Tree, and was less than 5 dollars to make 2. I bought 2 styofoam cones, 2 different color design cupcake liners and they came with heart toppers that I use to stick in the styrofoam trees. I also got some heart sticks and use them to stick down inside the trees. This is an Easy craft, and my daughter help me make them, she made 1, I made 1. We shared the glue gun I think I am gonna invest in getting her her own glue gun, she likes makin crafts too. The trees are easy to make and here is the details.....
Take the cupcake liners and cut the center of the liner out, it will leave the edge that is rippled and glue around the tree, you may have to add another liner according to the size of the cone, cut to desired length.
I used 2 different design liners to make it have a little different layer look, you can use 1 design if thats all you have, or more than 2 like I had. I bet more liners to use the more it will stand out. The Dollar Tree didn't have a whole lot to choose from. Glue the liners rotating the design up the tree until you reach the top. Then add the picks I used the ones that came with the cupcake liners. I got both of in a set for a $1.00. I took 1 of the large heart sticks and stuck in the top of the tree. That is it really simple, and they really are cute, and you can make any design for any occassion. Take a look at my pictures. I also made some cute centerpieces for Valentine's Day decor. I will share them Monday so come back and check those out too. I am Happy to finally be getting back in the routine of blogging. I have missed it so much this last month, with being Super Busy. I have sure missed all my bloggers, my friends. Look for my next giveaway coming up in February. Now to the pics and Have a GREAT DAY!!!

Note Flash was not the greatest in these pictures.

New Years Resloultion

Hi everyone, hope you Holidays were all Wonderful. I know mine were fabulous. I had a busy month in December, lots of ups and downs, and not up to par on my posting....lol... I was havin a rough month and it really showed, in lack of posts, and I feel bummed for that. I really was hoping to share and do much more posting iin December and actually it was my worst month for non posting ever:( I have though set forth 1 of my new years resolutions to be more active on my blog. More post, more ideas, and most of all more of all of you. I really want to get to know more fellow bloggers, and hope they will me too. :)

I have lots of other resolutions too----they are--- read the bible more, lose 15 pounds, spend more time with my hubby(really lacking in this department, as he is hardly ever home work related) be more active at church, spend more time with my teenage kids-thats hard too cause its just not cool to hang with mom much when your a teen. I hope I can KEEP all my New Years Resolutions. I am excited for what the New Year will bring, and I am Blessed for last year, and Super Blessed to have another year to be able to enjoy LIFE:)
Well bloggin friends I am off to run on the treadmill for awhile I am really tryin on these New Year Resolutions.............Welcome 2012 I am READY!!!!!!!!!!
Please be sure and follow along with me here at my blog, and all the GRAET things I will be sharing in 2012, with all of you my bloggin friends.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Christmas meaning-from a 13 year old:)

I am Happy the Holidays are over, well almost, the next few days will be unwinding as a we wind down from the Holidays:) Well, my hubby had to be back to work today so he gets No real time to wind down, back to 6 day work weeks and 10-12 hour days:(.... I wanted to share a quick story about something my daughter told me. She got tons of presents, cds, perfume, purse, so on so on,stereo system,curlers.........on and on..... She told me that her favorite gift of all was not all she got from everyone material wise, her favorite gift was that that was given to her by her great-grandma who is over 80 years old, a beautiful blanket with her name, school name, and graduation date. She tells her that even if she does not make it too graduation she will have somethin from her, and Joli is the most soft hearted lil gal, and takes right after the sweetest lady I have ever been blessed to have known, my hubby;s grandma. She loves everyone, she(my daughter) made it known that is the best gift ever!!! She shared it to her friends on facebook, verbally to other loved ones. It's not often when a teenager can bring a dose of reality to an adult but that was a definate one for me. We are Christians and believe in giving, and Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas, I think he uses Children as gifts to many to learn from even at their young age. I believe that in so many ways..........I Love that the Lord has blessed me with SO much, and that my daughter can bring a dose of reality to me, its not material things that matter, its all about love<3 SOMETIMES in the present bought world we live in material things for show are what makes people happy, look at my ring, my laptop, my north face coat, my new shoes, louis vuitton purse......so on so on............. I am glad that I have raised my daughter to know what is really meaningful. I thank you Lord for sending her to me, and I thank you for all that I have been given, and for always finding away to make sure that I know you are around(in this case I believe it was the message sent through my daughter ) I thank you all for stopping at my blog today, and hope you understand my lil message I received from my daughter, and sometimes I could use a reality check in this department, material things don't matter...... and I got your message Lord........ It's Love.........

My daughter Joli and her Great Grandma

  

Missing In Action!! Giveaway Winner!!

I had to take a break from blogging for so many reasons. I am gonna try and get back to it becasue I sure miss it. Its been a long few weeks since my last post, round of flu in our house hold, sons basketball games, searching for a new car, and so much here and there. I also have been havin alot of problems hurting in my back, and I finally just made a doctors appointment for it, and it is Monday of next week. After almost 2 years of not going to the doctors. I finally picked up the phone and made an appointment, thats how bad my back pain is and it hurts:( I am really excited for the Holidays, I would like to post some pictures to share my Holiday decor and tree with you all. I think I will take some pictures today and get that up tomorrow. I am hoping to make a few of my cookie recipes and peanut butter fudge for the Holidays if I can because of my back. I will keep my fingers crossed. Now I am so sorry about my delay of my giveaway winner, its just been as I stated a LONG few weeks, and I forgot to announce my winner...........according to random.org........giveaway winner is #11 affectioknit said... I'm following you on Twitter too!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I will be e-mailing you to get your goodie out to you, and your $15 Target gift card. As always thanks for following my blog, and I am sure I will be back to my ole bloggin self, bare with me. I am off to take some pictures of the house now, will share my Holiday items around the house tomorrow:) See you real soon.........