"Follow Us Monday Morning" Question of the week

Question of the Week: Are you done with Christmas shopping?

Nope! I never finish Christmas shopping til a couple days before Christmas. I'm making most of my gifts this year (well, I make gifts every year lol). I know I still need to buy for my nephews, but other than them, I won't know what I need to buy until I set out all my crafts and delegate what needs to go to who!

You can join in on the blog hop and make new friends here :)

Coming soon...12 Days of Christmas Crafts :)

I have decided to create a blog activity for myself called "12 Days of Christmas Crafts" in which I will do exactly that: for 12 days I will post a new craft that I'm working on! I'm excited to finally get some more crafts in!

Here are a few things I'm planning on working on:

1. Ribbon Christmas tree for tabletop

2. Homemade Christmas cards

3. Various ornaments

4. Christmas wreath

5. Craft kit from Oriental Trading.

....I'm not going to post any of these until December, but I'm excited! I can't wait to show you these ideas I have floating around in my head!!

Wee Bit Wednesday



{one} what kind of camera do you have?

The Nikon D5000 :) a digital slr camera

{two} you just won $1000 and you have to spend it on yourself on one item. what do you buy?

One item?! Hmmm...I have no idea! I just spent nearly that much on my camera...so maybe I could use it to get a better lens :)

 

{three} if you had to choose, would you rather live with your parents in the same house forever or 5000 miles away?

In the same house...5000 miles is a really far distance!

 

{four} is your christmas tree up yet?

No, not yet, but we've ordered it! The boyfriend's fam goes up to atl every yr and gets nice REAL trees for low prices and bring a bunch home :)

 

{five} do you bring reusable bags to the grocery store?

No :/ ...I always save my plastic bags and reuse them though!

 

{six} which would be worse: listening to the same song on replay for the rest of your life or having to eat the same meal everyday for the rest of your life?

I think hearing the same song everyday would be worse. At first I though I would choose eating the same meal...but sometimes I eat the same thing 2 or 3 days in a row anyways for lunch....

 

{seven} name 3 things you are thankful for this season.

1. Each day the Lord gives me 2. My family 3. My awesome friends

 

{eight} do you dye/highlight your hair? if so, do you do it yourself or have it done at the salon?

I never dye my hair...lol and I only get a cut about once....MAYBE twice a year!

 

{nine} would you rather watch a movie at home or at the theater?

This is a toughie too...I like both. Sometimes I just wanna chill at the house, cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. Other times I want to get out of the house, go to the movies (nice big screen) ...and each nachos!

 

{ten} would you rather win $1000/week for life or $5 million all at once?

$1000 a week for a couple reasons...it would feel like a continual paycheck for one. Secondly, if I live long enough, it will be more money!

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to join in on the fun at Leigh Ashley's!

Silhouette Giveaway

Talk about an AMAZING deal!

Visit this link to enter a drawing to win a  Silhouette machine!!

I want one SO, SO bad!!! ...this is a pic of the crafter's best friend and some projects that can be completed with it.

I am sooo tempted to buy it for $199 on monday if I don't win. Hmmm...don't know how'd I'd be able to explain that one to the boyfriend! But it's regular $299 +supplies.

Chicken Chili ...yum!

Hello bloggy friends!

Ok, so last week someone asked me how I made my chicken chili...so here ya go!

Ingredients:

(Give or take, depending on how much you would like to make...I usually make mine in a large pot so the boyfriend and I can have left-overs for lunch the next day.)

1.  Three (3) 16oz cans of chili beans

2.  Two (2) cans of kidney beans...you can use light red, dark red, or both. I prefer just the light red b/c they're softer :)

3.  Two (2) 16oz cans of stewed tomatoes....or less if you're not a fan of tomatoes...

4. 1 pack of chili seasoning

5. Pack of white chicken. (I usually get the boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut any excess fat off and cut them into strips before cooking...or you can go the easy route like I did tonight and just buy the chicken already in strips haha)

Optional...you can add in onions or bellpeppers to your chili too...really whatever you prefer. My boyfriend hates onions and isn't a fan of bellpeppers, so I keep my chili pretty simple.

First: Empty all your cans of beans and tomatoes in a large pot, add your chili seasoning and simmer.

Second: Boil your chicken strips in a smaller, seperate pot.

Third: Once the chicken is done, cut each strip into bite size pieces and add into the pot with the beans.

Fourth: Let it cook on medium heat until hot...or on low and let it simmer and soak in all the spices from the chili seasoning a little longer. (Be sure to watch it and make sure it doesn't burn on bottom. All stoves are different and medium on my stove may or may not be the equivilant of yours.)

*Also...be sure to stir it from time to time to get it all nice and mixed and so it doesn't burn!

This is SO easy to make! It takes less than 30 minutes and it's great with crackers :)

I am incredibly picky about my food. I have this wierd phobia of eating ground meat...doesn't matter if it's Beef, Chicken, Turkey, whatever...if it's ground, I don't want it. This is why I do chicken chili :)

Hope you enjoy!

Follow Us Monday Question :)

Question of the Week: Will you be shopping at Black Friday? If so,do you have a special Black Friday Shopping Strategy?

NOPE! I have never went shopping on black friday! ...I'm usually working anyways. Plus, I've heard some stories from my mom in the past about people snatching things from others or taking something out of someone's cart b/c they wanted it so badly. Caaa-Razy! Haha! I'll be selling clothes this black friday though...and luckily, my department store doesn't get the super crazies!

Join in on the blog hop and make some new friends! ......

I'm a Busy Bee

Hola!

I just want to take some time to chit chat :)

I have been SO busy! I absolutely love blogging...but I do most of my blogging in the evening, usually super late haha. My boyfriend hates when I'm on the computer too!

Just some randomness from me to you:

1. I can't wait for Thanksgiving! My mom's office had a Thanksgiving potluck Friday...I was There! It was so good :) One of her office pals, Todd, made this super awesome turtle cheesecake! AHHH    I ♥ cheesecake!

2. I was extremely stressed this week! First of all, I work in retail...secondly, I had to pull together a fashion show in 3 days and host it. I feel so cool to say, yes, I am in charge of the fashion shows! Haha, but really I'm just a sales associate who's trusted with extra responsibility...because I'm that good ;). Just playin... I'm just a work-a-holic! It would be a cool full time job though!

3. I love Sundays :) It's a time that I get to relax and go to Bible study with some of my best friends :) We usually cook dinner together, then go over our bible study. Great fellowship :). Next month is gonna suck a little though, because I'll be working every Sunday....goodbye relaxation day! Today we are doing things a little different too....We are going to a christian concert! I'm excited :)

Anywho...that's it for now...just a little bit of randomness. Now I'm going to enjoy some time with a friend before our concert!



Wee Bit Wednesday

{one} what time do you normally wake up?

I don't have a set time to wake up every day b/c I work in retail. Sometimes I get up at 8am and sometimes 10am.

{two} do you have a go-to song for karaoke?

haha, not really...I don't really do karaoke

{three} if you could only see black and white except for one color, what color would you choose to see?

red...lol, b/c those three colors look so dramatic together :)

{four} what color best matches your personality?

yikes! um...maybe yellow

{five} if you could choose one meal to cook better than anyone else, what would it be?

haha, this is a tough one! I love making chili..with chicken, that is...so I'd choose it to be a meal I'd like to make better than anyone else. Don't get me wrong, it's good now, but it'd be awesome if it were the best :D

{six} how many keys do you have on your key ring?

Only 3 :) One to my house, one to my car, and  one to my best friends' apartment

{seven} do you give your pets birthday/christmas gifts?

My family has always had a stocking for their pets, so I'm sure I'll do something for my little Choo Choo since he's w/ us this year

{eight} when your plate has different foods on it, do you mix or not?

It depends on what the diff foods are. Generally I do not mix though.

{nine} if you could hire someone to do one thing for you all the time, what would it be?

My laundry...because I always wait til all my favorite and most comfortable items are dirty before I finally wash them!

{ten} when flying, do you prefer the window or aisle seat?

Idk...I've never flown before! I'm sure I'd prefer the window though!

Join in on the fun and don't forget to link up at Leigh Ashley's!

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, well I don't have a Wordless Wednesday linky to link up to, but I have such a gorgeous pic to post that I captured w/ my awesome new camera :)

I love college football :) WAR EAGLE!



New Camera and Awesome Pictures!

I got a new camera!

I am so excited about this camera :) My friend Jenna has it, and ever since she let me play with it to shoot some pics of her I fell in love with it. It's the Nikon D5000.

I got to play around with it and test it out on Thursday with some friends. We went to Callaway Gardens to bike ride...it is just so gorgeous there too!

Here with my friends Katrina and Antonya :)

..and this is Aunt Diane. She came too :) She's not MY aunt...she's Antonya and Katrina's aunt...but I claim her too b/c she's just that awesome!

(Isn't this picture awesome too!!)

And finally, a picture of some of the breathtaking landscape at Callaway Gardens :)...

http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac254/crafthobbytime/flowersonSaturday.jpg



Craft Ideas

In October I discovered Country Living and I absolutely love checking out the home decor and crafts they feature.

Here is an idea I am interested in trying...maybe you will like them too!

Jeweled Magnets

...these are adorable!

That's all I saw for now...hope you enjoy :)

Wee Bit Wednesday...on Thursday

I was super busy yesterday....and today, but I wanted to get in my weekly Wee Bit Wednesday post b/c I enjoy it so much :)

{one} do you collect anything? if so, what and how long have you been collecting?

I use to collect dolphin figurines, and I still have them. These days I don't really have a particular item I collect unless you can count my array of beads and craft items....or clothes lol ;)

{two} what is one cleaning tip that you swear by?

Hmmm...I'm not sure that I have any cleaning tip that I swear by...

{three} who would you call for bail money?

haha, my boyfriend. Even if he didn't have it, he could get it from a friend or family.

{four} what is one thing you miss about being a kid?

Not having bills to pay and not having any real responsibilities...free time galore :)

{five} name a few of your guilty pleasures?

My coffee mostly :)

{six} how early do you start your holiday shopping?

Never early enough. I usually don't start until November...towards the end of the month haha. BUT...I already have a few people out of the way (bought some gifts this week :) )...so I'm not doing too bad haha.

{seven} what is a family tradition that you would like to pass on to your significant other/children?

The only tradition I really remember doing every year was decorating the Christmas tree with my mom and sisters, so I'll definately keep that up and make some of my own traditions :)

{eight} what do you consider your greatest achievement?

Getting my Bachelor's degree AND my certification for health education...even though I have been unable to use it so far :/

{nine} what do you do to pamper yourself?

I don't really pamper myself. I rarely get my hair cut, I don't color it, and I rarely ever get pedis...though I'd really love one right now :)

{ten} if you were to start your own restaurant, what would it be called?

Wow, no clue! I'm don't prefer to be in the kitchen, so if I had a restaurant it would only be because Michael wanted one, because he loves cooking!

Join in on the fun and link up at Leigh Ashley's!



Silly Band Earrings

Hello :)

I have been planning on doing this for the last month and finally got around to it! It's super easy!

Most of you probably know about the silly band craze going around. I have no clue why kids are so addicted to them, but I guess we all have our "thing" as kids! Not only are there bracelets, but there are rings too! So...I made some silly band earrings for some of the teens this year!

I bought the pack of silly band rings at Walmart for $1 per pack. I bought the hook earrings from Hobby Lobby for $1 (they were running as sale!). The beads I already had.

You can make these without the beads, but I love glass beads and thought it made them even cuter!

Can you tell what shapes these bands make??

Hope you enjoy!!

Wee Bit Wednesday



{one} do you still use a checkbook?

yes...only when I pay my car insurance though!

{two} what size shoe do you wear?

...a size 9!

{three} scary movies or happy endings?

I think I prefer happy endings :) They always make me smile!

{four} do you prefer spontaneity or stability?

Definately stability...I am a planner! Spontaneity is okay sometimes...but I usually like to know what I'm getting in to!

{five} what is the most embarrassing cd that you own?

hhmmm.....I probably still have a Backstreet Boys cd somewhere haha

{six} do you watch reality tv?

haha yes, I love reality tv...it's so funny!

{seven} what is your favorite home-made meal?

chicken pot pie and chicken chili :) two favorites!

{eight} do you have any allergies?

I don't believe so

{nine} if you could open your own restaurant/store, what would it be?

Probably a jewelry and accessories store :)

{ten} would you ever go skydiving (or have you been)?

Never been, but I'd love to try it!

Link over at Leigh Ashley's and join in on the fun!

Vote for this Pepsi Refresh Project!

Hello :)

Students in the Servant Leadership program at the local university have entered the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Please go to the website and

vote to help them build an awesome playground for children with disabilities! ...and spread the word for this great cause :)

You can vote through Facebook, your email, and text...yes, and not or...you can do all three! You can vote everyday too, and voting lasts through November 30th. Please show your support!

             

Link here ...

http://www.refresheverything.com/insanelycoolplayground

Happy November :)

I am so excited that it is November! Nice fall weather and boots, and Thanksgiving!

I also can't wait to get started on my December crafts! I'll have to be careful though...most of my crafts are Christmas gifts, and I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise by having friends and family viewing those blog posts!

I have been slacking these last couple weeks and I know I really need to start some crafts! I always have a ton of ideas and very little time to get them done :/

In the mean time, here are some Halloween pics from this weekend!

...have a happy and safe week!