Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Last night was the big trick-or-treat, and Dorothy and I had a fab-o time......

...complete with ruby red slippers.

However, it was a bit bitter sweet without Hollyn and Daddy, who were hangin' at home.

And about halfway through the evening the friends we were with decided that next year we'll all do movies and candy at home. I'm lovin' this idea. You see, while I LOVE Halloween, I don't love the crowded streets, the greediness, and the worry about my kiddos running off or worse.

Thoughts on hosting Halloween at home?

Speaking of AT HOME, that's where I am today with Hollyn, who is still sickly.

Here's hoping Wednesday will be a better day for her.

In the meantime, happy Tuesday to you and you and you.

My Christmas List: Mom, This One's for YOU

My mom has been {persistently} asking for my Christmas list for a while now...

oops.

Is it just me or does Christmas seem to be coming this year with the force of a herd of raging bulls?

Anyway, typically when my mom asks for my Christmas list, I give her one or two things. However, this year, I want to be surprised. So, I've put together a longer list. Mom, feel free to pick and choose as you see fit. Note: this will also serve as my birthday list, which is no doubt be the next thing my mom asks for seeing as how my birthday is a mere two weeks after Christmas (Jan. 7 to be exact).

Let's start with one of these:

I like the pretty blue one in front. I'd put it in our bedroom. So classic, yes?

You can order one here.

This shirt:

While it may seem silly that I'm asking for t-shirts, for the first time in a LONG time I actually am short on supply, seeing as how almost all of my college shirts have now officially bit the dust. And I love this one because a.) the proceeds help fund an adoption b.) it's v-neck, making it more than just a t-shirt, c.) it combines an awesome scheme of colors  d.) all of the above. You can order your very own here.

And in the name of gifts that give back, check this out:

I think it's so stinkin' cute. And I don't have a single hat to wear on days when the hair and I just aren't seeing eye-to-eye. It also gives me an excuse to talk about Africa when I wear it. I see this as a win-win. These cuties can be ordered here.

Speaking of the hair, it's a rare occurrence for me to not totally hate my hair these days...or any days. Ever.

I've heard great things about this product:

It can be ordered at the Redken site or bought in a number of salons, mine just doesn't happen to be one of them.

Next on the list:

It's a cake ball maker! As a mom who believes in the power of a good birthday party and loves to make treats for my girls and their classmates, I think this would be so much fun. Totally not something I need, but I think I'd use the heck out of it. It can be ordered here.

I am also lovin' this dress:

Winter dresses are in short supply at my house. By this I mean I have about two. This one is super cute. It can be found here.

The biggest item on my list:

It's a Shark vac. and steamer combo. With all hardwood and tile in my new house, this will certainly make my daily life easier. My mom also happens to have a Shark, and she LOVES it. They can be purchased here.

So you know how some women hoard shoes and purses?

Well, I'm a jacket girl.

And this one is so my style:

It can be found here and would be great seeing as how my other blue jean jacket has seen better days.

Last but certainly not least:

After walking five miles about five times a week all summer, my current tennis shoes are about as supportive now as a pair of cheap flip flops. I think they need to be replaced with a pair of these:

Cute, yes? They can be found here.

What's on YOUR Christmas list this year?

I'd love to know.

Also, Happy Halloween to you and you and you.

I LOVE Halloween, and this morning the cutest Dorothy I've ever seen left our house headed for school.

Pictures to come. However, just a heads up:

my precious Hollyn has the nastiest cold I've ever seen right now.  She will not be trick-or-treating. Boo on this, and here's hoping my precious girl feels like her old silly self soon.

Whatcha Gonna Do With All That Junk-- Bathroom Edition

We moved this summer.

Remember that?

Well, while I LOVE my new house, storage is not its forte', so to speak.

This is especially problematic in the 'master' bath.

I use that term lightly because it's not actually connected to the bedroom, but it's the one Lee and I use while the girls share the other one.

And when we moved it, the only storage in this bathroom was one cabinet under the sink.

Boo on that.

So, here's what I did.

I went to Dirt Cheap.

Can I just say I LOVE Dirt Cheap?

I especially love ours because almost everything in it is from Target.

And while I'm all for second hand stores, all of Dirt Cheap's merchandise is brand spankin' new.

And I found this little beauty:

It's from Target, and usually sells for $69.99.

I however, paid $11.99 for mine, fresh in the box and in perfect condition.

I then paired it with some of these:

I found them at Hobby Lobby on sale and paid less than $20 for all four.

So, for under $35, which is essentially less than half of what the shelf alone should have cost,

I have this:

I love how MUCH stuff I cram into it....

and I love how we use this bucket on top for towel storage.

The shelves are all different sizes, which is great.

And the shelves are really tall, which is nice for bigger items.

And just in case you're wondering, here's a breakdown of my baskets:

What are some of your storage ideas?

I'd love to see where you keep all your goodies....

Here's hoping your weekend is wonderful.

Mine is being filled with finishing Libby's reading fair project with her and taking up her Halloween costume.

More to come on both of these projects next week.

Wherever you are, I hope there's candy corn and good company.

Happy weekend to you and you and you.

Is My Dog the Only One.....

If I didn't know better, I'd swear he wakes up every day and asks himself,

"Hmmmm.....what can I chew up today?"

He barks... a lot....

....drinks straight from the toilet while his water bowl sits untouched.....

....he hogs the couch......

....and while he sometimes drive us t-totally crazy....

...he really is kinda cute.....

...and a big ole' wuss at the heart of him.

Here's hoping you've had an amazing week.

Mine has been busy, busy, busy.

And next week will probably be the same if not worse.

You????

The Girl Really Gets It

When I got home from work yesterday, there was a package waiting at my doorstep.

Last week I ordered two copies of Kisses From Katie, the book about the life of Katie Davis, who gave up her life in America and traded it for a life serving orphans in Uganda.

While I'm not quite finished with the book, the one thing I can say for sure is

THE GIRL GETS IT.

 In her book, Katie talks very clearly about living for God and how nothing on Earth is more important than serving him; I'd say that Katie's one very smart cookie.

And while there are MANY inspiring passages,
the first one that reallyhit home with me was this (pgs. 6-7):

I can't explain in words the love I felt for these children or why I felt it. I think many people would have looked at them and seen only their filthy clothes, the ringworm on their heads, or the mucus that ended up in a crust around their nostrils. They would have looked around at the dormitories of the orphanage with its smooth, hard cement floor where rats and cockroaches made themselves at home and been a bit disgusted. By the grace of God, though, I didn't see these things.

The truth is, I saw myself in those little faces. I looked at them and felt this love that was unimaginable and knew that this is the way God sees me. The children would run to me with gifts of stones or dirt and I saw myself, filthy and broken, offering my life to the God of the universe and begging Him to make it into something beautiful.

I can't explain the joy that the messages in these pages is bringing to my heart. I can simply encourage you to see for yourself how God has used Katie to make a difference and how she so willing accepted.

And while I'd love to stay and chat, I've been itching all day to finish it.

**Are you reading it too? If so, I'd LOVE to hear which lines have spoken to you....**

Girls Night.....In

Here's hoping......

.....your Friday night....

......is as tasty as ours.

It's the Little Things

Today I was home sick.

Yuck, yuck, yuck.

And when I got out to pick up Libby from school, even though I felt t-totally crummy, I picked up two peppermint hot chocolates before meeting her to celebrate the first day of cold.

To me, it's moments such as this that being a part of a family is all about. It's taking something little, something ordinary and making it special that makes the best kind of memory.

Agreed?

What sorts of memory making have you been doing lately?

Note: This picture was taken with my cell phone. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.

Here's hoping you don't ache from head to toe and that you are staying nice and toasty.