Favorite Things Friday - Veggie Tales Easter Carol

Be sure to hit "pause" off to the right first!

Favorite Things Friday - My Husband!

Wednesday was our 9th wedding anniversary. We are celebrating it today and I can honestly say that when it comes to favorite things, my husband tops the list! This is a picture of him proposing to me. I wish it were clearer, but I know I am blessed to even have a photo of the moment - especially since it was taken by strangers when they figured out what was going on! (I know this shot looks staged, but it's not - well, it was by him!) We were on a beach just outside Cancun - just after sunset - with a tropical storm rolling in. It couldn't have been more romantic and I couldn't have been more surprised! It is a rather long and wonderful story, but the point for now is that God blessed me with the perfect husband who is just as good to me today as he was 10 years ago and I love him with all my heart!

Favorite Things Friday: There's No Place Like....my own bed!

I know...it's Saturday - but Friday was too full for blog posting....
I got to sleep in my own bed last night after 22 nights of missing it!
It's also the first time in 5 weeks my husband and I have been at home together! After spending most of yesterday traveling, it was so nice to be home as a family, eat take out (the fridge is empty), and go to bed at 6:30! (that's a first!) Although my husband's travel schedule does not let up for quite some time, the girls and I are home for a while, so I will definitely be enjoying sleeping in my own bed!

Favorite Things Friday - Some Like It Hot!

Yes, I love Tabasco. You will always find this in my fridge:

And I like to cook with this:

I like to visit this site, and eventually I'll make it to Avery Island, Louisiana where the magic happens.

This is the spoon rest my husband brought me after his last trip to Louisiana:

Other than this prized possession, I am not fanatical to the point that my house or kitchen is littered with Tabasco paraphernalia. But, you will find these pictures in my own little corner of the world (the laundry room):

This gallon jug is on my wish list.....

Along with this 125th Anniversary Edition....

And last, but not least, this.....

Have a spicy day!

Favorite Things Friday

Finally figuring out a way to do something crafty without feeling like I am neglecting my children!

I have been so wanting to do something creative, but lack time, organization, patience....oh, I lack so many things!
As we creep into late January, I am fast running out of time to send those thank you cards from Christmas that I so often procrastinate and then run out of time to send and then kick myself later....
So, today, I got out the stuff, told the kids it was arts & crafts time and we got to work. After a huge mess, a lot of fun and a little fighting and complaining.........I got ONE card done.
Maybe everyone will settle for a thank you email?

Favorite Things Friday - NEIL DIAMOND

I would have written about this sooner, but I seemed to have lost an entire week being sick...

Although I have always loved his voice, I have never really considered myself a Neil Diamond "fan" (as my husband is). We got tickets to the concert last Friday night and went out for a "date night." I was amazed. The show started 30 minutes late, I was just beginning to get sick, and I was wondering if I would be able to make it through the evening. I sat, calculating in my mind - if Neil Diamond has recorded upwards of 200 songs - most of which were hits - if he just performed the hits - we could be there all weekend...
Once the lights went down and the show began; I was mesmerized. The lights, the stage, the band.....the music. If I tried to find one word describe him, it would be....smooth. Two hours later the entire arena was still wanting to hear more.
I went from thinking too many of his songs sound alike to deciding that if Neil Diamond opened the newspaper and sang it, I'd still want to listen.

Favorite Things Friday - Peppermint Mochas!

I only have a minute, so this will be short and sweet (literally). It's the simple things in life that make me happy......
It's that chilly time of year when enjoying a hot drink is one of my favorite things to do. I often grab a cup of hot coffee or tea while I take leisurely time out to relax run around like crazy trying to get things done during the day. Every holiday season I look forward to one of my all-time favorites, the Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha Twist. Although they serve these fabulous drinks year-round.....for me it is a holiday treat.

Imagine my delight (along with the delight of my wallet and waistline), when I made this discovery in the grocery store this year!

Yum. Have a delicious day!
Have a favorite to share this Friday?

These are a Few of My Favorite Things....

Julie Andrews did it best (reminiscing about her favorite things), but my kids and I began a weekly project a few months back that we call "Favorite Things Friday". Each week we think about and discuss some of our favorite things and on Friday the kids sit down, draw or paint a picture of that favorite thing and we talk about what they have chosen. It has been quite fun and prompts them to think regularly about the good things in their lives and I have found that I get to know my children better through the process. For example, my oldest (who is 6) surprises me every once in a while with a favorite thing she has never even done! Then there is my "note to self" to make sure we do it!
Although "Favorite Things Friday" is by no means an original idea (especially in "blogland"), I have decided to make it part of my weekly blogging. Thanksgiving-time got me thinking that we could all use encouragement to focus on the positives in our lives-especially in these times. One of the things I have always loved about the holiday season is that even the most cynical of people can be persuaded to take a moment to find something to be thankful for or happy about.
So, today is not Friday, but here is my first contribution to Favorite Things Friday:

I LOVE FALL

I know, it is hard for me to cope with the fact that it is almost winter, especially when just less than a couple of weeks ago, we had days like this one in our neck of the woods (okay, our neck of the desert): This was 11am IN THE SHADE!


Okay, so when my friends were decorating their homes for Fall as soon as the calendar said September 22nd, I just couldn't do it, especially with the temperature hitting 90 degrees on most days. So, I waited for some 'Autumn' weather and once again found myself putting up my Fall decorations just in time to take them down for Christmas decorations! I still love it.


Although we don't get to enjoy strolls down tree-lined roads with changing leaves and crisp, cool air.....you can't beat being able to run around the yard in shorts and flip flops, squeezing in the last bit of swimming before it's too cold. I love Autumn in this town.


NOT our City.......But not far from here!

We did make it to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch just across town. Call it what you like, it was still in the middle of the desert, so I don't know what I expected!

So, that was October/November....We now have 18 days until Christmas and although I can keep the windows open during the day and the kids still eat lunch in the front yard, it has been great having chilly nights where we can sit by the fireplace and enjoy the holiday smells and sounds. This time will be short-lived as our desert winter is rapidly approaching and each year it seems to get cold and windy before I am ready, but I still love this time of year!

Happy Fall!
What is one of your "Favorite Things" this time of year?

"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8