Happy New Year

Hi friends - sorry I've not been around very much the past couple of weeks, but as usual, things have been crazy busy at work and I've just not had time to blog.  Add that to the holidays and blogging has been put on the back burner lately.  We leave this Friday night for a family vacation to Colorado and we can hardly wait. It will be us and our 2 grown kiddos.  It may be the last one we ever have as a family of 4, so we are taking it now while we can.  Our son is in college and working full-time so not sure when he will ever have another chance for vacation with the family.  Our daughter lives in a different state and works full-time, so we are just lucky and blessed that she's getting to come along. :)  Anyway, I promise to have plenty of pictures to share with all of you after our trip.  Also, it is my husband's 45th birthday so that's another reason for celebration! :)    

So.... I hope you and your family have a very Happy and safe New Year and please be careful out there tonight.  As you know there are a lot of crazies on the road this time of year.  Hubby and I are going to party it up like we always do by relaxing in bed watching tv - ha ha!  Real party animals here aren't we?! 

See you on the flip side my friends! :)

Lots of love and hugs,

Merry CHRISTmas

from our family to yours:

Lots of love and hugs,

Weekend Festivities

Happy Monday y'all!  How was your weekend?  Great, I hope!  We had a wonderful weekend.  It was extremely busy but SO much fun! :)  My company had a CHRISTmas party this weekend and it was black-tie and I was THRILLED.  Not so sure my husband was because he had to wear his tux, but we had a great time.  We haven't been to a formal party in over 2 years, so I was even more stoked to get dressed up and decked all out.  Plus, he looked SO handsome in his tux that I was even more excited to go and be on his arm. :)  Anyway, here are a few pictures from our night out:

This was at the end of the night as we were waiting for our car - hubby was being silly:

 Then I got a good one of him - ha!

 Close-up of me - I don't normally get good pictures of me, but hubby wanted these so I obliged - LOL

 I think they turned out great surprisingly - I felt like the Belle of the Ball and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman! 

 Mink, shoes and matching clutch - perfect for playing dress up!

 Me and my honey at the party

 Berry Berry Blitzen martini - YUMMY! (I don't know why it's sideways though - oy)

 Close up of my handsome man

On Sunday hubby had to work, so I spent my entire day from 8 a.m. until after 5 p.m baking goodies for work for this week.  Here are a few pictures of my masterpieces:

Some of the loot:

 The rest of the loot:

 Red Velvet/Cream Cheese balls:

 Beginning for cookies:

 Some of the cookies:

 Red Velvet Cake:

 Candy cane goodness:

I honestly have NO idea why these are all upside down - UGH.  They are all upright on my computer where they are saved, but not when I posted them.  Anyway, you get the jist of the idea at least. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by to say hello! :)

Lots of love and hugs,

CHRISTmas Tour of Homes 2013

Happy Friday the 13th my friends.  How was your day?  How was your week?  I was only at work for 2 days this week due to the death and funeral of my grandfather, but for a Friday the 13th, my day wasn't bad at all.  Actually, today our office had a CHRISTmas luncheon and played CHRISTmas movies during it. We watched A CHRISTmas Vacation with Chevy Chase and A CHRISTmas Story.  It was a nice way to break up the monotony of the work day.  Tomorrow night is our holiday party and it's a black tie affair so I'm super excited because hubby will be in a Tux and me in a long red dress.  I hope our pictures turn out good. ;)

Anyway, on to the reason you are here:  I am linking up with Kelly over at Kelly's Korner for her annual CHRISTmas Tour of Homes 2013.  I can't wait to see what everyone else's tours look like.  However, mine is minimal due to running out of time with traveling during Thanksgiving and again for my grandfather's funeral.  Both were out of state and in Arkansas.  So, again, I hope you will forgive my minimal decor.  So without further adieu:

My Dishwasher:

New CHRISTmas towel my wonderful mother-in-law made me:

My Kitchen table:

Some of my snowmen:

My big snowman: (another gift from my wonderful mother-in-law)

My sign made by my mother many years ago - still one of my favorites:

Our front yard:

Wreath on our front door:

My new garland decoration:

My three wise men (another gift from my wonderful mother-in-law years ago)

Our village:

Stockings:

My side table:

Our tree:

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by Kelly's Korner and see everyone else's wonderful decorations.  And if you are already here from Kelly's Korner, thanks for stopping by and please let me know you were here so I can drop by your blogs as well.

Lots of love and hugs,

Friday 5

Happy TGIF my peeps!  Hope you are staying nice and dry and most of all, WARM in this crazy weather. Due to my grandfather's passing a couple of days ago, we are supposed to be driving back home to Arkansas, however, they are having severe winter weather currently, so we're not sure we will be able to make it very far, if at all.  :(   It is just cold and rainy here in Houston.  I really miss home and the snow and ice on days like today where the entire state shuts down and you get to enjoy having a snow day with your family.  How about you?  How is the weather where you live?  Cold and Snowy or Hot and Sunny? :)

Anywho.... it is Friday, so I am linking up once again with Darci and others over at The Good Life for her weekly Friday Five linky party.  Here are my top 5 of the week:

{ONE}

Christmas is my most favorite time of year, which means, I am going to lead this one off with my all-time favorite Christmas movies that I love watching this time of year (in no particular order):

The Holiday

Home Alone I (not as crazy about 2 and 3 - 1 is just a classic)

The Santa Clause (again - prefer the first one most)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

It's a Wonderful Life

Miracle on 34th Street

{TWO}

Some of my favorite CHRISTmas CD's that I couldn't wait to pull back out this year (again in no particular order):

{THREE}

My new favorite toy that I just LOVE - especially because it was such an AWESOME price (a Black Friday special without having to go out on Black Friday and fight the crowds) - $74.00 at Kohl's on Black Friday (1 p.m. to be exact) - WOOT WOOT!!! 

{FOUR}

A few of my new favorite Winter outfits currently on Pinterest are.... Can you say "comfy/cozy"... 

{FIVE}

I have been loving this baby now for the last 6 weeks or so - I love making fresh juice - especially green juice - it's so nice and healthy for you and so easy to make.  :)  

Well, as Porky Pig used to say - that's all folks.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!  Please be sure to let me know you were here so I can come visit your blog as well and check out your favorite Friday Five's this week! :)

Lots of love and hugs,