When you think of a Gingerbread House, you think of the above photo. Sweet and adorable. Obviously they did not have two toddlers helping them. Isaiah and Lilly helped me decorate their first gingerbread house yesterday. They had a blast, a sugar high and sticky fingers. It was pretty fun. Isaiah keeps asking to go "Inside". Below is how ours turned out...

Bring it ON Monday! : Handy Counter Top Organization

Hello! After a week of being sick, my children being sick and then my husband being sick, I am finally back!

So today I am highlighting a Christmas gift from my totally awesome friend Shayna. She keeps hers on her counter top, so it has been named the Handy Counter Top Organization.

She saw the origional idea on Pinterest, and then modified it for my family. She took a simple file box to store everything in and then added a monthly outlook calendar to the front of it so you can see your schedule. But the inside is the cool part!

The files are: To File, Bills to Pay, Receipts, Coupons, J. Bella, Steve, Bethany, Kiddos, Magazines and Recipes. How easy is that to put stuff in as it comes into the house!!!!

Plus, you doesn't have a hundred magazines lying around their house? This way you can limit yourself to a certain quantity. When you hit that amount, you have to throw some away, recycle or give it to someone else to use. And I know I have a handful of recipes I want to try but can never find them. This was everything that needs immediate attention can all be in one place.

And stay tuned tomorrow for a J. BELLA GIVEAWAY!

Happy Monday!

Bethany

The Awful Truth About My New Year's Resolutions

Hello! Is everyone almost done with their Christmas shopping? I am not either. 

I may have to put a camera in my own stocking, it is no where to be found. Isaiah probably took it downstairs to the battleground of the 10 million toys. (My name for the family room)

But as we all know, the day after Christmas means a couple of things.

1. Dodging the mail-man (All the delight of watching your kids get the coolest things is now gone)

2. Looking at the kids play with all the boxes and wonder where on earth the actual toy is

3. Putting the scale from the bathroom floor to under the bed

and last but not least: 4. Making your New Year's Resolutions REAL quick since the new year is 5 days away.

Who actually makes all their resolutions? For those of you that do, I applaud you and you are my hero. Really. But in the normal world, we last about a month. So, this year I have come up with a full proof plan.

I will have a different resolution for each month! What do you all think? When you have too many, it is too hard to breath, relax and honestly be sane trying to accomplish them all. So one at a time people!

Here are mine:

1. Finally get up in the morning and exercise. At least 3 days a week. I do not go to a gym or anything. Just a couple of ten pound weights and a yoga ball in my living room. That last 40 pounds of baby fat doesn't work itself off.

2. Write in my hand written journal once a week

3. Finally organize the office (Our filing cabinet is scary!)

4. Go on at least 1 date a month with Steve (Hard to plan ahead with his schedule so it will be a quick decision) and dress up for it

5. Not be intimidated by cooking fish

6. Take myself to a spa DAY, the whole freaking DAY

7. Finally paint the console table I meant to do a year and a half ago

8. Actually keep my car clean

9. Have dinner ready on time (Can you tell I stay at home?)

10. Pay off that doctor bill we have had since 2008

11. Go on daily walks with the kids (Weather permitting)

12. Maybe, buy our own home again

Let's see how this all goes, I do not plan to do this in any set order, just what sounds good at the beginning of the month. Does anyone have any different/quirky resolutions of their own?

Happy Friday!

Bethany

My Son Almost Mangled the Manger

Last night at our ward Christmas party we were having a good time, having some nice dinner. Everyone was dressed up as if it was old Jerusalem itself. That is, everyone but us. Sorry, don't own a bath robe, and no thanks anyway. But I was still in Christmas spirit. We sang carols and it was fun. 

As Steve and I are helping clean up and get Lilly in her car seat I look over and there is a giant stuffed sheep Isaiah is trying to RIDE under the manger with the Baby Jesus all swaddled. As I walk over he gets off and pets it like a dog and runs away. I go back to doing something and look over again and Isaiah is trying to PULL DOWN the Baby Jesus by the eye ball! (No other child tried this for the record) And started tilting the manger over. I got there in just the knick of time, but we almost had a one eyed Baby Jesus. 

Joy to the Holidays!

Bet

Plastic Ornaments CAN Break

Steve has a rule, NO Christmas anything until December 1st. He can't handle anymore than that. So with a chipper song in my heart and an off key "Oh Christmas Tree!" I put up the tree! With some help from Isaiah...

Here is the tree! I did purple (for Lilly), blue (for Isaiah) and silver. The tree skirt, where I got it you ask?? Why it came from the Linen Closet. Mine. It is a white flat sheet. I have not found one I love yet to match.

And here is my make shift tree topper, also have not found one of those I love yet!

And Isaiah was the biggest help of them all! He did not disturb me trying to put things up. He instead took an extra bulb and proceeded to throw it up and down the hallway and chase it. But the time I went to take it for the tree this is what I found:

I guess the package did NOT say unbreakable. I must have just been really hoping. Oh well.

Merry Christmas!

Bet