Christmas Card Deal from Shutterfly!

You don't want to miss this. You see, I came across this in one of my sidebar links. Farmgirl Paints posted about this incredible deal from Shutterfly, and I had to get on board!



Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly if you just follow some simple rules set by them. Easy. Really. If I can do it, so can you! All you have to do to apply is go here and register and do exactly as they say.




I usually make my own holiday cards. Its takes FOREVER. I've always looked at Shutterfly's website, but just never committed because by then, I had already started mine. Each year it gets harder and harder for me to make 80+ cards, so this year, I'm doin' this deal for half of my list at least. If you go here you can see some really cute cards, and if you click here you can see some more.




Here are some that I really like and can't decide which one I like the best (comment below and give me an idea...of course, some of you will actually be getting the card, so act surprised!)





I really like this one, called Sweet and Retro Christmas Card because it's very vintagey (is that a word?)

I like this one too....called Frosted Frame Christmas Card because it's the colors I'm going with in my picture.

The third option is called Shimmering Stars Christmas Card. I love it just because it's pretty!

Fourth option is called Retro Kaleidoscope Holiday Card. I like the multi-colored wording and the vintagey snowflakes.






This fifth option is called Family Frame Christmas Card. A very classic look with some frills.
And lastly, this one is called Perfect Present Christmas Card. I love that your picture is "framed" for lack of a better term.



But Shutterfly isn't just all about cards. They also make wall art out of any picture you have. Check it out here.

I hope this will save me time this year. I always am making cards up till the last minute! Thanks Shutterfly for this terrific option!

Truth Thursday...Confessions

Brent won't stop talking about Truth Thursday.









Let's go backwards a little bit.









I never told Brent the name of my blog when I started it. I don't have anything to hide from him, but since he's been known to "pick on me" (like CONSTANTLY) I didn't tell him because I didn't want another thing he could make fun of me for.









Fast forward to several months after I started writing. He found the name of my blog and started reading it while he was at work. That's right. He wasn't doing work, he was reading my blog. Suddenly things were coming up in my conversations that were questionable. I was wondering how he was getting this information, and then I caught him at home reading it one night.










Things have only went downhill from there. He counts how many followers I have and lets me know when a new one is added (thank you all by the way. I LOVE to hear from you.) He tells me that he is not mentioned enough, and he wants his own regular blog segment on my blog. Don't think so!







So, when I started Truth Thursday several weeks ago. Let's just say, he latched onto it, and now reminds me each week to do it.




So, here goes...




1. I cannot function without a cup of coffee every morning. (Aldi's donut store brand, or Folgers, I'm not a coffee snob.) I've tried to do without it, and I'm VERY CRANKY! I'm not morning material people.


2. The last time I arranged my Living Room (several weeks ago) I actually arranged it with a Christmas Tree placement in mind. That's right, a month BEFORE Thanksgiving, I had in mind where I would like my tree this year. I'm counting down the days...


3. I drink Mountain Dew, usually ONLY when I have a migraine. For some reason, that's the only thing that cures it right up!


4. I love Josh Duhamel. That's right. I said love. Not like a romantic love or anything....but I love to look at him.

(come on, you all know you have a secret crush on someone too. It's not like I'm ever gonna meet him!)



5. I don't read more than one book at a time. I feel disloyal, and I want to totally engross myself in one set of characters at a time. That being said, this is the book I'm currently reading for book club. It's unlike anything I've read before. (I can't tell if it's good or bad. I'm torn.)


6. I am the oldest grandchild on BOTH sides of the family. The next in age to me is my sister who is younger by 3 years. We were alone for quite awhile!



7. I would secretly (or maybe not so secretly anymore) love to be an interior designer for homes. (Not retail spaces, or restaurants/hotels). I would love my job.


8. For some reason if I wake up during the night and look at my clock, I can do my best math. I can tell you exactly how many hours and minutes until my alarm goes off. It is totally amazing.


9. In my life I've had jobs as a babysitter, waitress, secretary, graphic designer, sales coordinator, and teacher's aide.


10. My husband currently reads my blog (like I mentioned grudgingly above) and wants to have his own segment entitled Husband Wednesdays. (His suggestions are no longer welcome.)


11. There is currently a tie for my favorite show on television. You see, where we live, we don't have cable so we're reduced to 11 channels. That's right, 11! So, my current favorites are:

Friday Night Lights (off season now. Back again in April.)


AND Modern Family.




This show makes me laugh hard every week. It's hysterical!


12. The last purchase I made was this book. I read it cover to cover, and plan to do it again very soon. It is beautiful inside. I also have the first book, a cookbook, from last year.



13. My favorite flower is a peony. When we lived at our first home we had 100 year old peonies growing in the yard. When we moved I took many starts, in all colors, to plant at our new home. I planted them, and for 3 years had no blooms. Last year was the first summer they bloomed. I was so happy that they survived after all!

14. My current favorite colors to wear (and what is mostly in my closet) are chocolate brown, grey, and deep purple, almost violet.

15. LASTLY...I wish I had gotten to stay home when both my kids were in school full time instead of going back to work when Evan was in first grade. I could've gotten SO MUCH DONE!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Why do we always want?

Have you ever thought about why we always want something we can't have? Or maybe we CAN have it, it would just take so long to save for it, that you just can't WAIT!

There are many things over the years that I've wanted, and just had to wait for or just know I can't have it because it's WAY beyond our budget.

There are also some things, and right now the actual item escapes my memory, that I've wanted so badly, got, and then realized, why was this so great after all?

Here are some things that are on my list.

I don't even remember where I saw this, and I DEFINATELY don't have a solid wall in my kitchen where this would work, but I still secretly want it. It's beautiful to me.

This I've wanted for at least a year. It's in the Garnet Hill catalog, and I think it goes for close to $198. Seriously. It would look great above the sink in my laundry room. Really, it's meant for that. But alas, I'll just have to drool over it, and keep it in my dream photo folder.

I've always wanted one of these phones too. It's from the pottery barn catalog or Sturbridge Yankee workshop catalog, I can't remember, but it's adorable. Maybe I just want it for the sentimentality. We had a gold one like this, but with a rotary dial when I was growing up. It had a LONG cord we could wrap into another room, or if we wanted privacy, into the closet.

I wanted these from the first moment I saw them. These are from Restoration Hardware, and cost WAY too much. I would have to sell a lung to be able to afford these. I am going to try to replicate these all on my own. I'll let you know how that goes.

This I would like for the look alone. I have plenty of old yardsticks, but don't want to part with them for a project like this. Although, I really would like one to hang somewhere.

If I would have to choose from all the above pictures, this would be the one I want the most. I want this in my foyer. I have the perfect place for it, and can't stand to look at this picture for fear of crying, they are so great. I would hang all our coats, backpacks, etc. in it because our coat closet in the hallway is a joke! It's from Pottery Barn, which has wonderful ideas at outrageous prices. I would save my weekly allowance on this, but it would take years, and I couldn't do it. I'm secretly wishing someone I know is reading this post (hint, hint, Brent) and thinking....I could make those for my wonderful wife! (ain't gonna happen, I'm sure.) A girl can dream can't she?

And lastly, this living room from Restoration Hardware.

Love the clock, love the sectional, love the pillows, and the perfectly grey walls. Love the bookshelf in the back, and the spotlight (although WHAT IN THE WORLD would you do with a spotlight in your living room?)

Why do we want something we can't have? What is it you've always wanted?