Cookies Galore

Get ready for a picture heavy post....  

1. I love decorating for Christmas (Danae helped and we all know she is truly the master decorator)

2. I love the community of ladies I'm surrounded by here

3. I love the babies the come along with these ladies

Woops a little out of focus, but I couldn't leave these lovely ladies out

Merry Christmas to All

Sweet as Sugar!

Over the years my dear friend Danae and I have created a tradition of a cookie exchange each  Christmas season. Danae moved away last year and in the midst of all the craziness the cookie exchange fell to the back burner.  But this year we are back and better than ever! We have 15-25 ladies over at the house with 8 dozen cookies each. Lots of treats, mothers and daughters, too much sugar and plenty of laughter always make for a fun evening! It's evening of delicious food and a fantastic night with so many fun women!

These delicious little morsels are an Ohio tradition and  my cookie exchange staple.Tomorrow I'm spending the evening making at least 16 dozen of them for cookie exchange and Holiday treats for my extended family! These are for you Crowley Girls! I'm excited to see all the fun holiday cookies that everyone will bring, I'll try to snap some pictures for a little blog documenting! 

After all these treats I think I'm going to have hang out with Jillian Michaels and sweat it all off!

Here's to good times with friends eating and sweating!

Game On

 You might say my family is a little crazy, but we love our Buckeyes, and you know there was a big game played last weekend! 

Nope not that game... My extended family had a corn hole tournament over Thanksgiving weekend.

We had loads of fun and some tough competition!

Intimidation at it's finest

Tebowing for the Win

Dad and I had high hopes for a win but....

Off to the losers bracket for us

 

 Lots of fun and laughter was had by all!

Lots of hard work goes into pulling of the kind of Thanksgiving meal we had this weekend. Thanks to Dad and Aunt Ann for all the delicious food, and your servants hearts as you fed all of us crazies!

In poor blogging form I realized a little to late that I didn't have a picture of my Mom playing corn hole. Momma I love ya and thanks for all your hard work to help make Thanksgiving fabulous for all of us. I know it takes a lot of work, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it! You serve all the time, and I'm sure I don't tell you Thank You enough! 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Coffee, Crashes and Yoga

I was able to get out of town this week for some fun and frivolity!  I traveled down to Kentucky to hang out with my brother and my favorite (and only) sister-in-law. We drank lots of coffee, tried new recipes, and laughed a lot! It's impossible not to laugh with these guys!

My sister in-law is a yoga queen! She took us newbies out for a morning Yoga session. My muscles are still feeling the burn!

So please ignore the hilariously gross picture below (I'm gonna blame it on a weird angle) but it was such a funny picture I had to include it!

Jean (sister in-law) and I were waiting at garage where their car was being dropped off after a car accident that evening. Everyone was a OK but the car was a little dinged up. We were bringing the $$$$ to pay for the tow truck. Hooray for no one being hurt in the accident!

Here is the car, it doesn't look to bad but we couldn't drive it!

I'm thankful for  time with my GREAT family, a safe trip and lots of good friends that I got to see this week! 


Be blessed as you spend time with those you love and be sure to tell them that you love them! 

Friendship

Hello Danae

Meet my good friend Danae. She was my roommate for 5 years, my sister away from home and one of my dearest friends. She has seen me through the good times and the rough times, and has always been a fabulous listener and one to encourage me, but she will also to tell it like it is. She is an amazing woman of God! 

I want to brag on her for a second! She is quite possibly the one of worlds kindest, most generous, and most hospitable people I know. When you stay at her house your bath towels are wrapped in a bow, she puts a mint on your pillow, and she will make and serve absolutely gourmet food! She makes the best chocolate chip cookies EVER!!! Danae makes everyone feel at home and at ease, she is one of my favorite people to travel with because she has never met a stranger!  

I had the pleasure of spending a few days with her this weekend! We always have a blast together and this weekend was no exception. We went up to Traverse City, ate at North Peak Brewery. Their Cheddar Ale Soup is DELICIOUS! We did a little shopping, got some coffee talked about life! Life is about the small moments with those you love. I'm blessed to have a friend like Danae in my life. If you want to follow her go HERE to check out her blog.  

Praise the Lord for Good Friends!

Good Morning

My morning started with some of this...

and some of this 

and a little of this....

Yup the snow has started here in Michigan. Thankfully this picture is not from today. We only had a quarter inch of snow and it's already gone. It is Mother Natures way of warning us, that winter is coming! I'm prepping for winter by stocking up on tea, coffee, firewood, and good books, oh and getting my ski's ready. Winter will soon be here.I'm hoping (fingers crossed) that we have a few more nice days without the white fluffy stuff. So long Fall, it's be lovely!

My Challenge for the week:

Time to soak up this truth! Time in God's Word calms my soul, and yet I find myself struggling to make the time for it. I find time to sit on the couch, eat food, watch TV, play games, work out and then all of the sudden it's time for bed and I didn't spend a second in the Word. 

The truth is I lack discipline, I don't say this because I've got it figured out, I say this because I'm realizing it's something I can work on! My goal for tomorrow is to start my day off in the Word. I'll do it while I drink my first cup of coffee! I need to make it a priority. Be still... Be still... Be still...

-Cheers

The Search for the Perfect Wallet

Finding the perfect wallet is hard.  I'm looking for something that helps keep me organized, is original, but also has style! Fossil has it all! I'm looking for a zip up wallet (my personal favorite) it keeps everything exactly where I want it.  Snap wallets just can't do that! Your change can and will (if your Me) go everywhere, and for those who have to keep track of receipts a zip up keeps them in place! 

These bird are charming, I want them to live in my purse. 

I love the flowers, they're a quirky and fun without being to flower power!

Oh baby, Owl love you forever if you keep track of my change! Isn't he cute!  

Ahhh so girly, I love it

I love mustard yellow, but I can't wear it so on a wallet it's perfect! I love this one it's a purse and a wallet combined. When I want to go with out my purse this is the way to go!

The robot feeds my nerdy side, plus I think he's cute. If you want something a little funky and fun choose this guy for a night on the town. He's a little Indy but if you like that you should totally rock it! 

 

I'm always on the search for the perfect wallet. 

Have you ever been on the search for the perfect (fill in the blank) Item? What was it? Where did you find it?

Puppy Fever

I've got puppy fever...

If I saw a puppy right now I might have to bring it home with me.

Look at this handsome little guy, he's so shaggy! I think he want's to come live with me.  

Someday... Maybe someday!