Twinkle

On this shortest day of the year I have a few pictures I've taken over the past couple weeks.  Hope it brightens your day!

My Secret Santa Soiree gifts arrived!

This holiday season I participated in a Secret Santa Gift exchange over at The Coloradolady.  It's always fun getting mail that isn't bill or more junk mail to throw in the recycling.  I haven't had much time to blog but did send a Thank You note to the return address and I hope she got it.  All I really know about my SS is that she's from Texas and must like doxies! 

Alex was a teeny tiny bit jealous when a big box arrived at our door last Saturday and it was addressed to me.  I asked if he wanted to help me and he said YES!  (Isn't he so handsome?)

I took everything out and put it under the tree so that we could have a mini Christmas. 

Then we got busy ripping the paper off!

The first thing I opened was a tin of goodies.  Chocolate, almond bark, and crushed candy canes trees.  They were delicious. 

There was even something for Buster.

He approved!

I love hot chocolate and am looking forward to using this little snowman full of cocoa mix soon.

And what should I enjoy it in?  In this matching snowman mug and saucer of course!

This Lone Star State ornament looks great on our tree.

There was one more large squishy surprise...

He's so cute! 

I love all my gifts and appreciate the time my Secret Santa took to find all the great things I received. Thanks again SS! :-) Can't wait to find out who you are.

Buying Local in Denver

Last night Alex and I waited in line in the freezing cold for the Fancy Tiger Holiday Hand Made Craft Fair. (He must really love me to wait almost an hour in 28* weather!)  The first 100 people in got a free swag bag!  We're somewhere just behind the orange coat.  It was a mad house once we got in but we warmed up fast.  I was trying to find a few great things for my Secret Santa Soiree partner.  I think I succeeded but I guess we'll have to just wait and see. :-)

Here's what we waited in line for...

The silver on this side was sparkly. <3

The front and back of the swag bag.  It's made from canvass so it'll be a nice bag to carry extra things around in! 

Wondering what was inside?  Well, let me show you!

All this stuff was from vendors that were selling their handmade wares.  The contents were postcards, a card, lots of business cards, a few buttons, handmade chap stick, a bookmark, some room spray that smells yummy, a diy ornament from etsy and west elm, a bottle of soda pop that was in the fridge by this point and these drawer knobs!

 

Aren't they cute?!  They were only in one of the bags so everyone must've gotten something different or it was just an extra surprise?  Who knows! 


Now on to my Secret Santa presents!  My SSS partner is a quilter and since I can hardly sew a straight line without help from my Mom I was looking for quilt/fabric related items.

This cute cactus pin cushion is perfect for my SSS partner since she collects pin cushions.  It was made by the Ladies Fancywork Society.

This fabric ornament made by Erin McAllister will soon have a new home on her tree!  I love the frayed edges on the strips of fabric.

Last but not least as we were heading out the door I spied this quilted note card set, each one different, made by Amy Gibson from Cuckoo for Quilting!  I really hope SSS will enjoy them since she is a quilter herself.

I'll be mailing them off this week along with the other things I've found for my SSS.

Thanksgiving

 

This was my first Thanksgiving as a married lady! We went across the street and joined friends for a feast prepared by Ali's mom Rebecca and pies made by her aunt.  They had a fire going in the chiminea to welcome all the guests.  I've been doing something different for Thanksgiving since my Dad died and this was a fun experience.  I was glad my Mom was there too this year.   

We did a tiny bit of shopping on Black Friday in the afternoon.  I needed to get yarn to start on a baby blanket for my cousin and my Mom wanted a magazine she couldn't find and some pretty paper.  Today was more shopping and spending time with my husband.

Hope you all had a great holiday with your family by blood or family by choice!

November LoveDrop- In Colorado!

I personally give to LoveDrop through PayPal.  I love what they're doing and that we can actually see where everything's going! <3




Love Drop is at it again! They just came back from the Indianapolis area where they dropped $2,500 worth of baby gifts on newborn triplets, and THIS month they're trying to round up the love for another mother who needs our help -- this time fighting against cancer for the 3rd time in 10 years.

Any of us in the same situation would probably use any extra money toward medical bills, so that's why this month we want to instead focus on giving Marci and family the gift of quality time together. Let's send them somewhere amazing and help them form memories that will last forever! We're looking for creative ideas this month... financial gifts too, but also anything that will help them escape together for a while.
Want to help Marci and her family from Fort Collins, Colorado out? Here are 3 ways:

1. Give $1.00 - This money will help us give her some great quality time!
2. Give a gift card - Gift cards are extremely helpful, especially to places that are national.
3. Donate TRAVEL stuff - Airline miles, timeshare options, destination packages, etc. - whatever you have access to!

Thanks guys! You can reach the Love Drop team here anytime with questions: team (at) love drop (dot) us., or by checking them out at LoveDrop.us. Thanks everyone! We'll let you know how it goes!
 

TuTu Cute

This blog was highjacked by mom--just to add a bit of cuteness from Sarah and Alex's summer wedding.

♥♥♥

July Love Drop Post

The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $5,000 worth of cash and goods to their recipient, the Aubin family, who was struggling financially after the passing of their dad, and this month they're ready to do it again and help out another person :) They've given out over $45,000 in the past 6 months, and show no signs of stopping. If you know of anyone yourself that could use their help, make sure to let them know.


This month they're heading down to Atlanta to help Felicity, a little 4-year-old girl who was just diagnosed with brain cancer. Felicity had immediate surgery and is currently undergoing aggressive radiation treatments for the remaining portion of her tumor. We want to raise $5,000 for her family to help cover mounting medical costs, as well as the future expenses a new baby on its way will bring. With your support and generosity, we can really do something special for them!

Here are three ways you can help:

Give $25 towards medical bills <-- Click this link to contribute $25 towards Felicity's radiation treatments. It'll help them out a ton!
Give a gift or service- Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would definitely help them out. Services too - especially those you can offer yourselves, or from your company.
Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.

Thanks so much guys! Here's to a great month of paying it forward!

Love Drop- April Blog Post

Love Drop is a micro-giving network of people who unite as a community to make a difference in the lives of one person or family a month. By giving just $1.00, they make it easy for their members to change lives in a fun and super easy way.

At the end of every month, Nate and J$ show up in the town the families live in and present them with everything the team raised -- all the money, the gifts, whatever the community helped get. It's all on film, and it all ends with us making a difference! (And then it starts all over again the next month)

Last month Love Drop gave over $5,000 worth of cash and goods to their recipient, Katie, who had been battling a couple of brain tumors over the years, and it culminated with a surprise gift of 15+ friends showing up at her house to celebrate with her. It was awesome. You can watch how it all went down here.


This month they rally behind the Kahlen's - a family who has been hit hard by the economy, and by their daughter's serious medical condition, tuberous sclerosis. In addition to financial assistance, they're planning to unite the artistic community to help support Kent's glassmaking work.

Want to help? Here are two ways you can participate:

1. Give $1.00 - This is the best way to help out and join their team at the same time.

2. Donate a piece of art - Love Drop started their first art shop this month, and would love to feature your artwork in it. Proceeds go to help the Kahlen's this month, and is a great way to promote your work.

3. Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.