Blogger

My Blog’s Reading Level

Laurie4 Comments

I can’t resist these fun blog things! Since I don’t have a college degree – this made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

My Enrichment Social (church meeting) and ornament exchange went well last night. Lisa and I had made 60 ornaments to give to each lady as a small Christmas gift from the board. I’m just now realizing that I didn’t keep one for myself. Oops. Oh well, they weren’t that great anyway.

I’m NOT fishing for compliments – I was a little disappointed in how they turned out. But when you’re making 60 of them you just have to, “Make it Work”. I did a version of this one my friend Melissa in Katy, Texas made years ago. Here’s the poem:

High above the weary world,
For eyes to see that will,
The star of Bethlehem will shine
For those who seek Him still.

My Dad and his wife are coming tonight. Yeah! I love my dad and we are finally getting back to where our relationship was before the divorce. It’s a good feeling. Check out Tip Junkie for other things I’ve been up to.

Party Planner

Have a Ball!

Laurie12 Comments

I received my first Christmas gift Monday, and even better I got to open it up! It was from my mom. The card said:

Christmas is a time to splurge.
Sometimes I can’t resist the urge.
Boxes and bags hold a surprise.
Here’s a bit of Christmas cheer
You can enjoy year after year.
To merry Christmas to you all.
Take a bow and have a ball!!

Thanks Mom!! I love the lime green bows and balls, they were just what my tree needed!!

Small Talker

My Latest Guilty Pleasures

Laurie9 Comments

This has seriously been the craziest week! While I’m completing all my Christmas projects (which seem to multiply daily) I’ve been endulging on some new guilty pleasures. šŸ˜‰

My sister, Lisa’s, in town for only 2 days to help me finish these projects and keep me sane. šŸ˜‰ She introduced me to these Sundried Tomato & Basil Wheat Thins. They’re just the right amount of crunch and spice. Yummy!!!

I can’t believe I’m admitting this to you (go ahead and judge) but I have officially completed watching the entire seasons of Laguna Beach and The Hills. {{giggle}}

I’m a bit of a Reality TV junkie. I love the drama! Mainly, because I avoid drama in real life at all costs. Seriously. But there’s just something about rich, beautiful, people who are miserable that make me smile. šŸ˜‰ I know that’s completely naughty of me, but I love it.

Today Lisa and I made 60 ornaments w/ tags while completing the last CD of Season 2 of The Hills. Talk about productive.

What TV show is your guilty pleasure?

Small Talker

It’s a Wrap!

Laurie25 Comments

I’ve done it! I’m finished shopping and wrapping my boys Christmas gifts. {{applause}} There’s still so much to do namely Christmas cards…

The only part of the Holiday’s that I dread, is the annual Christmas family photo. Usually, I try to rotate between Easter and Christmas to give myself a break and our pictures some variety.

There’s just something about the stress of finding coordinating outfits, getting a photographer (even if it’s a friend), scheduling the day, getting everyone dressed, and maintaining happiness during the fittings and photo shoot. Anyway, here’s the final product of our holiday photo. Whew! It will have to do. (I need to learn how to photo shop BADLY.)

My brother started a bog about fantasy basketball and asked me to design the header. The black one above is the final product! These were some of my favorites:

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I made my mom a blog header as well. I love how it turned out and it’s totally her! She’s a red head and lime green is her favorite color. She has yet to post something, but at least I did my part and it’s all ready for her.

That’s my weekend “wrap up”! (he he)

Home Decorator · Party Planner

Another Grandparent Gift

Laurie8 Comments

Really quickly, I remembered another gift that I make almost every year for the Grandparents, a calendar.

There are so many ways you can do this. I make 12 layouts w/ pictures in Microsoft Publisher and print it out on card-stock with this calendar. I take it to Office Depot and have it spiral bound with a plastic front cover and black back cover.

To personalize and make the calendar more useful, I add all the families birthdays and other special days.

You could go one further and make this calendar holder. It’s seriously so easy!

  • Simply get some plywood and molding, cut the molding to frame the board.
  • I painted the board red first and then black. (You can use any colors)
  • Sand different places around the frame with sand paper to let the red show through.
  • I then sprayed it with polyurethane.
  • I ordered “Turk Times” in cream vinyl lettering.

My friend makes a calendar every year for her parents using her kids artwork from school. I’ve always thought that was a great idea.

You digital scrapbookers have got it easy! Simply print out 12 of your favorites, use this calendar, and have it bound.

(The calendar is in portrait format – if you’re going to use this idea and want it in landscape format – e-mail me and I’ll fix it for you.) laurie at executive homemaker dot com (no spaces)

Mother of Boys

Grandparent Post

Laurie8 Comments

I got so sick this week! Grrrr. I’m still tired, but feeling much better. Wednesday, Davis won 1st place in the Raingutter Regatta at Scouts. This is his second year to participate and 2nd time to win 1st place.

So much for the “Good Sport” talk we had before the race. šŸ˜‰ Needless to say he’s so excited about getting another trophy.

2 weeks ago we got notification, in the school newsletter, that Davis won 1st place in a Holiday Card competition at school and will be representing our Region. I still haven’t received any information, so that’s all I know. We’re very proud of him and it’s doing wonders for his self-concept.

My dilemma now is what to do with the very competitive but less driven son? He most certainly has won the award for ‘Most Red Days’ in a row; as he continues to bring home discipline notes almost daily.

I need to think about it a little more, but I think I just might order him a trophy myself. He is the most helpful male in my home and so loving. He’ll never win a trophy for those characteristics and they mean the world to me.

The reason this is an issue is because Davis has already won TWO 1st place ribbons for art work. Dylan is beginning to feel inferior.

Any suggestions?

Genuine

Gotta Love Those Challenges

Laurie30 Comments

I was going back through my blog posts, as I do sometimes, to see what “mood” I’m reflecting on my blog. I’ve been struggling with my family lately and it’s been getting me down. I wanted to be sure that I wasn’t bumming all of you out. šŸ˜‰

I’m so grateful for this blog because it’s more of a “grateful journal” for me and highlights the good things in my life. I have a terrible memory and SOO much on my mind, so it’s nice to go back and focus on the positive moments.

I wrote the “How you know when you’re done having kids” post as part of my ongoing grieving process of not having the family I had imagined all my life. I’m not feeling sorry for myself, but there are little moments that ping my heart and I can’t help but feel the loss of not raising a daughter and wonder if I really have what it takes to raise these energetic boys. I’ve decided that it’s best to let those feelings come and not push them back or pretend they’re not there.

The holiday season is harder on me than any other time of year. We have all experienced these feelings in one form or another. I am truly grateful for my 3 boys and I realize that they’re so strong-willed, busy, and LOUD because they’re mine. (I’ve been known to be a little strong-willed myself, but I’m never loud. ha ha!) I also realize that I should just be grateful that I have 3 children at all. However, my logical brain and my emotional heart are always in conflict over this issue.

I know that I’m just tired from hosting Thanksgiving guests for a week. I’ve been wanting to share my feelings for quite a while now. I’ve hesitated because I know so many of you are struggling with real trials and mine compared to those seem insignificant. But it doesn’t help that I get questions daily on when I’m going to have a girl (like I choose only boys). I wish people thought more about the things that come out of their mouths. I politely tell people that, “I tried 3 times, thank you.”

Thanks for listening. I’ll post some grandparent and great-grandparent gift ideas tomorrow. As well as pictures of my house ready for Christmas!

Can any of you relate to not having the family you dreamed of since you were a little girl?

Party Planner

24 Quick, Easy, and Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas

Laurie16 Comments

Here are 24 quick, easy, cheap Christmas gift Ideas for friends, neighbors, bus drivers, and teachers. Simply attach one of these cute sayings or poems to the item to make a more thoughtful gift!

Thanks to Lisa and my mom for compiling this list and taking all the pictures!!

The Christmas Orange

Cheese and a cheese grater: “Cheesenā€™s Greetings To A Really ā€œGRATEā€ Neighbor!”

Christmas Towel: May the ā€œAbsorbingā€ Spirit of Christmas ā€œBlotā€ Out Your Troubles, ā€œSoakā€ Up Your Sorrows. And ā€œWipeā€ Away Your Difficulties. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Candle

Hereā€™s an early Christmas greeting
For your family to share
Let it brighten up your season
And spread gladness thru the air.

You can start a new tradition
Every night till Christmas day
To burn the Christmas candle
While the family doth play.

You can bake, draw, or read stories
Sing songs or just play games
And by the season finish
Only memories remain.

It is hoped that youā€˜ll enjoy
A special season full of fun.
And that love will burn more brightly
When your holiday is gone.

2 liter of Sprite: “May your holiday be merry and “sprite!”

Whoppers: Hope you have a ā€œWHOPPERā€ of a Christmas!


Measuring cup with candy or Cup of Soup

A Cup of Christmas Cheer
No one can measure up to you
But weā€™re doing our best to try,
We appreciate all the kindness you show

A kind of caring you just canā€™t buy.
This Christmas gift is sent your way
To wish a full measure of holiday cheer,
May your cup overflow with joy and peace,

Bubble bath

When the rushing of Christmas gets you down
And youā€™ve had all the fun you can stand
Donā€™t get discouraged and donā€™t give up
Just let this present give you a handā€¦

Take a break from the kids and shopping
Let the phone ringā€¦donā€™t answer the door
Lay back and relax in a hot bubble bath
And youā€™ll soon feel ready for more!!

Hot pads stitched together into a cone and fill with candy:

Eat My Treats
And Cut My Stitches
Then Use Me When You
Hold HOT Dishes

Mint candy:

Some friends come
And some friends go
But true friends stay
For life you know,So in my heart

Youā€™ll always be
Your friendshipā€™s worth
A MINT to me!!

Nuts: Iā€™D HAVE TO BE NUTS TO MISS THE CHANCE TO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

Nuts:

Itā€™s always ā€œNUTSā€ around our house
But especially during the Christmas season ā€“
Thereā€™s so much decorating and shopping to do
And the weather is usually freezinā€™

Although sometimes we appear half-cracked
Weā€™re so glad to have friends like you ā€“
So Merry Christmas from your ā€œnuttyā€ friends
And a very Happy New Year, too!

Wire Wisk with Hershey kisses wrapped in cellophane: “We Whisk You A Merry Kissmas!”

Oven mitt filled with spaghetti and sauce: We know how hectic the Holidays can be With all the Christmas rush and the fuss, So relax a bitā€”Open this MITT, and have some Spaghetti on us!!

Popcorn: WEā€™RE POPPING IN TO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Jolly Ranchers: “HAVE A HOLLY, JOLLY CHRISTMAS!”

Cider

When itā€™s freezing outside
And the cold breezes blow
You want to stay warm
And comfy, I know.

So hereā€™s my suggestion
To make wintertime brighter
Put up your feet
And enjoy some hot cider!!!

You can print out all of these ideas at once on Executive Homemaker for free! There are two options: Pictures Only or Tags with Small Pictures.