I just returned home from Thanksgiving break. I worked in San Antonio this week. My family lives in SA so after the holiday I stayed. It worked out really well. When I got home this afternoon, I was very excited to see my Christmas Swap package at my door. My partner was Beth and I just love all the fabulous, girly surprises from her. Thanks, Beth!

Cute Wrapping

Yumm... Peppermint Bark

I LOVE this "J" ornament~ too cute!

Very cute holiday sign, now hanging on my front door

I’m so excited… I received the "Your Blog is Fabulous" Award from Vineyard Vogue. VV is so cute and she just got engaged! Also if you’re looking for a good fish recipe, check out her blog.

Here are the rules: Copy and paste the rules and instructions in your post. When posting on receiving the award, make sure you include who gave you the award and link it back to them. Post five winners and link it back to them as well. Post five of your addictions. Add the award image. Let your winners know you gave them an award by leaving them a comment on their blog.

My 5 Addictions Are:

1. Diet Coke~ y’all it’s a real problem but no interventions, please :)
2. Bravo Shows~ Top Design, Project Runway, and Top Chef
3. Reading Blogs
4. Medicated Chapstick
5. L’occitane Hand Cream and Cuticle Cream

I’ll pass the award to…

1. Well That’s Just Fabulous~ For obvious reasons Danielle deserves this award
2. Monogram Chick~ Sarah has fabulous taste and she’s just as sweet as she is cute. Check out her super CUTE monogrammed items!
3. Different Kind of Southern Girl~ My friend Amy who is pregnant with twins after trying for SIX years.
4. My Chihuahua Bites~ Andrea always has the cutest crafting ideas and recipe ideas
5. Savannah Smiles~ This sweet family adopted the cutest little girl from Guatemala.

Gracie Update

Gracie is 9 Months Old

I received my first sponsor update on Gracie, the happiest baby in the world. She’s getting so big! I miss her so much.

"On November 24th Gracie had heart surgery. The two ½ hour surgery was successful and she has recovered very quickly. She has recovered so quickly that she is being released from the hospital today.

Gracie's nanny wrote this update.
Coming to us recently from another orphanage, Gracie is a beautiful little girl with big eyes, porcelain skin, and a sweet smile. She suffers from a congenital heart disease, but her surgery on November 24 went very well, and we're confident that she will fully recover. Gracie has done so well since coming to the foster home. She gained 1.2 kg in a little over a month, and she's learned to roll over and hold her head up since coming to the foster home. She sucks her fingers in a very cute way, and she loves being held. She always coos and gives such beautiful big smiles. We're thrilled to see the progress she's made in just a few weeks, and we can't wait to see what she accomplishes in the future!"

Christmas Cards for Tibet Orphans

Sunday afternoon my sister, Jenn, hosted a “Christmas Card Craft Party.” We made Christmas cards for children in a Tibet orphanage. Jenn is sending all the kids their own little Christmas gift with a card especially made for them with their photo on it. What a nice sister! :)

Jenn is on the left and my mom is next to her

My mom made this card~very cute

And it's a "pop-up" card

Last Saturday night Amy hosted our monthly Girl’s Night. It’s become a tradition that every November we make Christmas crafts at her house and bring a favorite holiday dish. Amy made a homemade buttermilk pie... Yummm! For crafting Amy made Christmas gift tags and I painted and embellished snow cottages. I got the idea (like every great idea) from Lori. How does she ever come up with all these great ideas? We also listened to some really great Christmas music. :)

Very Messy

The Surprise Goes To....

I had mentioned in my “Ask Me Anything” post that I would draw a name and give the winner a little surprise. Nine people ask me questions, thanks! I used “Random. Org” and the winner is #3, My Amazeing Journey! Amy~ your surprise is Vera Bradley note cards and Vera Bradley stationery. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all

This year I’m thankful for…
(NOT in order)

~My Family

~A Job

~Dresses

~Freedom to worship

~Grace and Forgiveness

~My Grandparents who are still with us

~My new blog friends, y’all are super sweet
~The power to forgive others, let go, and set yourself free
~Friends that stay with me thorough thick and thin (very hard to come by)
~A foster home in China that provides special needs children with medical attention, love, & hope
~Running into my BGFF (best guy friends forever) co-workers on Tuesday in the MSP airport
~My BFF, Tiffany. She found a card she wrote me 8 years ago about why she was thankful for our friendship and mailed it to me this week.