tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876309172725143122024-03-12T19:47:57.609-07:00The Southern Hostessbrettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-86020428893106466852011-03-09T10:42:00.000-08:002011-03-09T11:01:42.768-08:00Year+ Sabbatical is Over-Thank You LentI have been taking a blogging sabbatical now for over a year. I love blogging, I just got so overwhelmed. I am a people please-er and I didn't have time to visit everyone's blog and read and comment. I also didn't have time to make sure I always had a blog up, I made it more than it needed to be and therefore it became a chore. So, I am back, please don't be offended if I don't always post and if I don't always comment and thank you for your comment. I really do appreciate it! Trust me, I am encouragement driven! I eat those comments right up!<br /><br />Now, after reading <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/03/why-do-lent-why-a-failing-lent-actually-succeeds-a-booklist/">Ann Voskamp's blog entry on Lent</a> I was excited! I wanted to be a part of it! I didn't want to miss out on God's blessing!<br /><br />So next came the prayer, "What do you want me to give up?" The answer was very quick, my mask. Just typing that sentence made me stop in my tracks and my cheeks turn red. It is so so scary for me to be transparent. I like my mask, it's comfortable and easy, it keeps everyone happy, and it rarely scares me. It also keeps me from God. It keeps me from blessing others and causes me to miss out on God's blessing!<br /><br />Lent-for me-a mask lost.<br /><br />This will cause me to give more, serve more, love more, and I know it will cause me to receive more.<br /><br />A mask gone-my kitchen floor is disgusting. Today Molly had been digging before I brought her in and with all the rain we've gotten this means my kitchen floor is disgusting! I also have mud on my very white new running shoes and on my "new to me" khakis. I wore it all anyway, the mask (perceived perfection) is coming off!<br /><br />To Do Today:<br /><ul><li>Clean my nasty downstairs floors-sweep & mop</li></ul><ul><li>Load the car with the huge pile that was our purging weekend (this will clean up our porch so we don't look like hoarders)</li></ul><ul><li>Bake a loaf of bread (I stink at this, and I am a good cook and baker! I have only used my bread machine twice now, but I will master this!)</li><li>Clean bathrooms (yep, it's been a couple weeks, this is supposed to be a weekly task)<br /></li></ul><br />Ok, now to hit "Publish Post", can I really take that mask fully off and leave it off? The cheeks are reddening, the breathing quickened. "Lord, this is my lent sacrifice, you know more than anyone what a sacrifice this is."brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-34793339266941895612009-11-03T08:31:00.000-08:002009-11-03T08:46:25.768-08:00It's November!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBVMKQ-ga1MBFEuNc9jR27_pl4-nrXQDJCx_QrNTc8jtsITcrI2mdshSfLl6k_aUmCbZBm2hqz6wUEkNMUInMgqS_5r7nyN4Ljwlg7YtLhj6Q5qk3Y4GVbMzc0v5p2Q-pGlBZhX1A6hg/s1600-h/molly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBVMKQ-ga1MBFEuNc9jR27_pl4-nrXQDJCx_QrNTc8jtsITcrI2mdshSfLl6k_aUmCbZBm2hqz6wUEkNMUInMgqS_5r7nyN4Ljwlg7YtLhj6Q5qk3Y4GVbMzc0v5p2Q-pGlBZhX1A6hg/s400/molly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399918970016129682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First Christmas movie of the season-check!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Played first Christmas cd of the season-check!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Brought first tub of decorations up from the basement-check!<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">It's time ladies! </span><br /><br />My goals will be a bit different this year as my life has changed quite a bit since last year. I hurt my back and therefore I can't lift anything so I am relying on my husband more than ever to help with the holidays. So far he has brought up 3 tubs from the basement with holiday decor. I am proud of him for that.<br /><br />We have Molly, who is a great dog actually, but she is only 5 months old and she is 45 pounds. She acts 5 months old and she just doesn't know how big she is. We aren't having a TN Thanksgiving at our house because we sold our dining room table (story below) and Molly might not be able to handle it just yet. We always do our TN Thanksgiving early in November anyway because everyone is so busy and so many in my family go out of town. I think this year, if I host, I will host it at the camp in the Pathway Cabin. We do this for Christmas for my side of the family so it will be normal, and easy on the parking and setup and cleanup and all that.<br /><br />I sold my dining room table. I found a set I really liked on Craigslist and my husband told me I should sell ours before we bought a new one. So, like the good wifey I listed ours. I listed it for more than we paid for it being a bit ambitious, and also not wanting to really sell it until I was sure about the other set. Well, we didn't like the other set. We did sell ours first, and for full asking price! I am not buying a new set before Christmas. So, my dining room will get a larger Christmas tree and a 9ft folding table set up as a buffet for all parties. Perfect for mingling, only.<br /><br />Here are a few things I have done to prepare for the holidays so I don't stress out. I refuse to have a stressful holiday!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Organize your "holiday" recipes</span>-having these ready to go will save you the hunting time later <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Address your Christmas cards</span>-buy the Christmas stamps now and get them addressed while you still have time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mentally plan your decorating</span>-I have a mental plan of what tree goes where, what room I am starting in first, and so on.<br /><br />Have a great day!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-76916490734008077572009-08-21T07:25:00.001-07:002009-08-21T07:38:45.975-07:00A productive day! A rarity since Molly came along!Yesterday I got a ton done! I have figured out that I can work from the kitchen or dining room as soon as I come home until dinner quite easily. Molly lays and waits until she gets to eat! So she watches me from about 4:30-6:30 in anticipation!<br /><br />So I took advantage of this time yesterday! I made baked spaghetti w/chopped broccoli, lima beans, corn on the cob, cheesy rice, hashbrown casserole, and strawberry jello. We should have enough food for a few days now, LOL! Our laundry room is in the mudroom beside our kitchen so I also got all of our fall towels washed and dried, new bedding washed and dried, and a load of towels and cleaning rags. I was so excited! I felt productive again!<br /><br />And yes, you read right, I washed my fall towels. I know it's a bit early, even for me, but I am having a yardsale soon and I wanted to at least get through all of my fall/halloween/thanksgiving decor before the sale.<br /><br />Our home is also decorated for fall already, not the outside though, we can't be tacky! We usually decorate September 1st but we aren't having any parties between now and then so I took advantage of Molly's "waiting" on Tuesday and got everything out. Thank goodness our basement door is in the dining room. I store all holiday decor down there so this fall and winter should be easy with her!<br /><br />So last week I urged all of you to make your fall/winter calendars, did you finish? We finished ours and are ready to go! All of our parties are scheduled and our decorating times are penciled in, and I am so excited! Soon I will be pulling out the Christmas cards and getting them ready, I would like to have them finished before Halloween this year. I mail them out 2 days before Thanksgiving so people usually get them the day before or after.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">QuickTip: Take advantage of that stamp! Mailing costs are getting more and more expensive so think smart. When mailing a Christmas card include an invitation to your upcoming party! Don't waste 2 stamps when 1 is sufficient. </span><br /><br />Today I would like to:<br /><ul><li>Organize my kitchen cupboard (this always get's messed up!)</li><li>Clean the kitchen</li><li>Finish 1 load of laundry</li></ul>I can do that in 2 hours, no problem!<br /><br />I do hope the rain stays away for a little while so we go walking. Yesterday we walked in the rain-not fun!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-59771377683118678302009-08-11T05:59:00.000-07:002009-08-11T06:16:58.964-07:00I'm Back!!!I took a long leave of absence from the blog world due to a busy work schedule and a very busy life. Everything should be a little slower now!<br /><br />I feel like I should catch you up-we now have a puppy, little Molly. She is a great pyrenees, translation, BIG white bear! She is 10 weeks old and 17 pounds, she is growing quickly. So my life has changed a little bit. I can't get quite as much done as I would like because I have a puppy following me around everywhere. The good news is that since we got the puppy my husband has gotten into work mode! I have gotten a new back door, a new entry table, and my buffet is next! Nothing like an addition to the family to give your husband a swift kick in the rear!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday Gameplan</span><br /><br />To Do's<br /><ol><li>put the sheets on the guest room beds (they have been waiting for me for a few days now)</li><li>start cleaning laundry/mud room (this is the room where hubby is putting in the new door and a new cat door)</li><li>make dinner (I buy in bulk from a local food distributor so I get a great deal. When I make chicken breasts I make at least 15 at a time-giving us both lunch for the week and dinner.)</li><li>Start on Fall/Winter Event Calendar (you know I'm in a family with last minute people-so I have to plan plan plan!)<br /></li></ol>That should do it today! I can't get near as much done with Molly, but maybe I will get in shape!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quick Tip</span>: Make a calendar well in advance for the holidays. You know the fall and winter are some of our most busy times. With all the parties and decorating, it can be overwhelming. Make a calendar with all of your parties and family get togethers then look and see what you have time for. Loosely schedule in your decorating, wrapping, cooking, etc. times so you can see where you have extra time and where you need to do some "trimming".brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-48643777337165391592009-02-24T08:24:00.000-08:002009-02-24T08:26:24.000-08:00I am taking a leave of absenceAs much as I love blogging and have loved getting to know you guys, I just simply don't have time. This is our busiest time of the year at work and I dropping the ball with the blog.<br /><br />I will post from time to time and will definitely pick back up in the fall. Thanks everyone!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-35342924799816684412009-02-17T06:24:00.000-08:002009-02-17T06:29:06.652-08:00Trim A Home Tuesday #2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSvdYP6dhNVoWeB9gNVL9aei2fYMTNczsmuZjJDxv9CjRyZXQd5dxltPhyP4fIe0hQNuRwztKC9Tzk93vAQWOlp2ojt2XYeBflldjVRKpSWxkv4JSK2nbv2hd5j5zw7uU3Dt3VfnCBwE/s1600-h/DSCN0158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303773213983786146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSvdYP6dhNVoWeB9gNVL9aei2fYMTNczsmuZjJDxv9CjRyZXQd5dxltPhyP4fIe0hQNuRwztKC9Tzk93vAQWOlp2ojt2XYeBflldjVRKpSWxkv4JSK2nbv2hd5j5zw7uU3Dt3VfnCBwE/s400/DSCN0158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Welcome to Trim A Home Tuesday! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Please check the comments on this post to see who is joining us!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Today I am sharing only 1 pic! (I left my camera in my car last night and when I got it this morning to take pics-only 1 turned out-they were so so foggy from the condensation!-lets hope it clears up) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am sharing my St. Patricks Day dining room table. It isn't finished and I have a few questions. I only have 4 placemats & 4 napkins. My table seats 6 and must seat 6. If you look at the pic I have put the placemats randomly under the chargers. (my colors will be green and gold) I have also put 2 napkins under 2 of the chargers-what do you think? I also have 4 napkin rings and I have put them here and there-can you see them? Is this tacky or cute? Do like all the little leprechauns, or is it too much? </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks for sharing!</div>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-26857226510582532942009-02-10T06:11:00.000-08:002009-02-10T06:27:38.959-08:00Trim A Home Tuesday!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaoCp6imcA4HwAB8cY8W7FaP76hyphenhyphencIkJmqwNw3DRhM1ekZ3HiCF3zlukEXKfdy10JZEhoPuZlDZdVLZrkJIE-8vUL7sz4cGYDplY-SmF7DCHrr-aCQlVQZgr4IC7jVxEn2kWjZlil_7M/s1600-h/DSCN0149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301173813660877410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaoCp6imcA4HwAB8cY8W7FaP76hyphenhyphencIkJmqwNw3DRhM1ekZ3HiCF3zlukEXKfdy10JZEhoPuZlDZdVLZrkJIE-8vUL7sz4cGYDplY-SmF7DCHrr-aCQlVQZgr4IC7jVxEn2kWjZlil_7M/s400/DSCN0149.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxPgB-9lVrVPGpeWumaf9OPmbSOL8w3R5SKaZenEIQeR3FtEUfh2WpoMUXlrJMG551EWzlHp-JP62cvX2vplI2MQvktRR4shqsbE0ZAxc1GffftkhMOZYvRHnOFNsH9CzeNnL3QcECb0/s1600-h/DSCN0145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301173810091206978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxPgB-9lVrVPGpeWumaf9OPmbSOL8w3R5SKaZenEIQeR3FtEUfh2WpoMUXlrJMG551EWzlHp-JP62cvX2vplI2MQvktRR4shqsbE0ZAxc1GffftkhMOZYvRHnOFNsH9CzeNnL3QcECb0/s400/DSCN0145.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFIOEFAY1bdv3kx7RxzBourMsBIKwd_oFPRaIsIllx4ohltW2SovY97ekOcOVX9chb10OK8sNRGthDzCAAPpWdmNwhToIvj4tU6oAUS210iSbWjZSmdvqGETok5Qv3bRKibyEpCuwkHc/s1600-h/DSCN0144.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301173811897714450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFIOEFAY1bdv3kx7RxzBourMsBIKwd_oFPRaIsIllx4ohltW2SovY97ekOcOVX9chb10OK8sNRGthDzCAAPpWdmNwhToIvj4tU6oAUS210iSbWjZSmdvqGETok5Qv3bRKibyEpCuwkHc/s400/DSCN0144.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42G4XpAKdgG4xYApbOxyK1IkbvByb3wD1HCR-WIJ1yC1WU4MDQX2riiqqq2aBTPncWTW4z2BZ5SZWJABu8fnZa5ZKgpLtKlno35BF2hekbH3AtSC3H_SSms3C16MuVNbGvzG2OuL-g5c/s1600-h/DSCN0142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301173805081538370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42G4XpAKdgG4xYApbOxyK1IkbvByb3wD1HCR-WIJ1yC1WU4MDQX2riiqqq2aBTPncWTW4z2BZ5SZWJABu8fnZa5ZKgpLtKlno35BF2hekbH3AtSC3H_SSms3C16MuVNbGvzG2OuL-g5c/s400/DSCN0142.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqlJDkIqNUt8KF5x1ageRMS3ESofjpG6ovrXvv17hhqBu5OhEX5Lfb5-8HgbfTnAJFi4Q5vCxsJKgJXQPmIoist4bbtfBgy_AGqkw2Xdl0cdE8Drol_rSnBg7vcGC_5o3TWd4FPSCqls/s1600-h/DSCN0141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301172186806270498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqlJDkIqNUt8KF5x1ageRMS3ESofjpG6ovrXvv17hhqBu5OhEX5Lfb5-8HgbfTnAJFi4Q5vCxsJKgJXQPmIoist4bbtfBgy_AGqkw2Xdl0cdE8Drol_rSnBg7vcGC_5o3TWd4FPSCqls/s400/DSCN0141.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6HDYX2jml6pG09pNrhipjyYMw3QQWiKr6JEAXMnqO9V6R_X3awhT_mf0XJ2KdR8mlrgFc6snjb_RM1Q8VmaPbBV2mrdqsFKYSlkzXYua8tNNurZKWqdLTKOqeypv8wAW5e1fvTGe5Gw/s1600-h/DSCN0140.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301172184847555554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6HDYX2jml6pG09pNrhipjyYMw3QQWiKr6JEAXMnqO9V6R_X3awhT_mf0XJ2KdR8mlrgFc6snjb_RM1Q8VmaPbBV2mrdqsFKYSlkzXYua8tNNurZKWqdLTKOqeypv8wAW5e1fvTGe5Gw/s400/DSCN0140.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlUyozpmZAJ3g-_5XewL7QwnRQExLQKUNSjyqpt5rVm4abeNUmxGgKSm9i6DuE43MnRZwAnKzx9L6BPHxb4AOp6QRxhH8tb3OmRdYG55dwkKkze9O5AAP1OOO9apDT5JLzKr8-LlgUQs/s1600-h/DSCN0139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301172183626872146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlUyozpmZAJ3g-_5XewL7QwnRQExLQKUNSjyqpt5rVm4abeNUmxGgKSm9i6DuE43MnRZwAnKzx9L6BPHxb4AOp6QRxhH8tb3OmRdYG55dwkKkze9O5AAP1OOO9apDT5JLzKr8-LlgUQs/s400/DSCN0139.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAGLkr2tRYcfdrRdAa2UYRwSiLVmGbWzRUlTQmsvZSRIkJlh2Xw_O1XISLRlufwHWLlKQzKnvZmiVCVB9c_qIIsZTG6Rrb8HIEgkmm2WyYX8zPenYORH4sJq8oxhSWxFZ7bnPSZf0rRA/s1600-h/DSCN0138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301172177077320530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAGLkr2tRYcfdrRdAa2UYRwSiLVmGbWzRUlTQmsvZSRIkJlh2Xw_O1XISLRlufwHWLlKQzKnvZmiVCVB9c_qIIsZTG6Rrb8HIEgkmm2WyYX8zPenYORH4sJq8oxhSWxFZ7bnPSZf0rRA/s400/DSCN0138.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhcRy-etTQmaWbWNisb6mnkJNODALzSNuBk3suCIiGrggG40QsTL3F8dwC-92reO9zPocr8NwfUrK4H41RbKKdPXu1o16ukHbrfjRZgXSf7g2YVJnP6VSDBN-ORvf_lNhaIcfdq-sX2o/s1600-h/DSCN0137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301172168774674610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhcRy-etTQmaWbWNisb6mnkJNODALzSNuBk3suCIiGrggG40QsTL3F8dwC-92reO9zPocr8NwfUrK4H41RbKKdPXu1o16ukHbrfjRZgXSf7g2YVJnP6VSDBN-ORvf_lNhaIcfdq-sX2o/s400/DSCN0137.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Welcome to Trim A Home Tuesday! </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Please check out the comments and visit all the blogs with their beutiful decor! </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I am posting the last of my Valentines Day decor, enjoy!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-49007902552212455692009-02-06T08:39:00.001-08:002009-02-06T08:45:06.464-08:00The final decision on Trim the Tree ThursdayAfter reading everyones GREAT input I have decided to<br /><ul><li>change the name to Trim A Home Tuesday</li><li>the date will change to Tuesday as well</li><li>the content will change a bit-not just holiday decorating, but any decor you would like to post, now this could be a design challenge, or just simply showing us your decor</li><li>if you want to join just post a comment stating you are joining with a link to your post, i am not going to post everyones link in the post and after trying mr. linky and hearing all of the problems, I think this will be the best way to join. </li></ul><p>Our first Trim A Home Tuesday post will be next Tuesday, February 10th. So take pics of your Valentines Day decor or any decor for that matter and lets start sharing! </p>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-77764025292494320002009-01-29T09:06:00.000-08:002009-01-29T09:57:44.811-08:00Trim the Tree Thursday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4397BjZUxA0CPY0SbCXpvEGVaJmhKQqBtGO424ByYHXq74H0cu4q8jZjfdEiW07SMJn9vrB7hfwiBoA4SS8OwEt7ukhnP8uOW0niC8h71cHCZYd1T-qWbXUU5z5qPWpFOi7sAzE4ZAc/s1600-h/DSCN0134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296764469242812738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4397BjZUxA0CPY0SbCXpvEGVaJmhKQqBtGO424ByYHXq74H0cu4q8jZjfdEiW07SMJn9vrB7hfwiBoA4SS8OwEt7ukhnP8uOW0niC8h71cHCZYd1T-qWbXUU5z5qPWpFOi7sAzE4ZAc/s400/DSCN0134.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJONOjfTLsKjXbw6BD2xy_ClyHEpC-XU6yZyWAckZ0bl9a0xhxNNdkDa-NpplAwz3DdJmv-2v1wW5EI6VDixDEpyNlf7bLX2O1-4V9KB_h90DaK1lZV4N8iVQlUICkxmF_8gBm6XkWVdk/s1600-h/DSCN0136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296764459570725090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJONOjfTLsKjXbw6BD2xy_ClyHEpC-XU6yZyWAckZ0bl9a0xhxNNdkDa-NpplAwz3DdJmv-2v1wW5EI6VDixDEpyNlf7bLX2O1-4V9KB_h90DaK1lZV4N8iVQlUICkxmF_8gBm6XkWVdk/s400/DSCN0136.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><strong>Welcome to Trim the Tree Thursday!</strong> </div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><strong>Please visit </strong><a href="http://creatingmyselfcreatively.blogspot.com/"><strong>Cami </strong></a><strong>& <a href="http://bobandterri.blogspot.com/">Terri</a></strong> <strong>as they have Valentines decor up too!</strong> </div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><strong>There has been talk about changing the name of this meme, what do you think? </strong></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><strong>One more question, what do you think about have this meme once a month and then every week in October, November, & December? Please give me some feedback!</strong> </div><div></div><div>Oh no! I just took a ton of pics of our valentines decor, the tree, the wreaths, and now only these are on my cameras card! I am so sorry! I will post the rest next week. I got a new camera for Christmas, so I am still learning how to work it. </div>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-79372534914117989792009-01-28T06:08:00.001-08:002009-01-28T06:23:10.100-08:00Tuesday Recap-Wednesday Gameplan-Anyone Decorating for Valentines Day?<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday Recap</span><br /><br />Our plate is still overflowing it is so full! We still have a house guest, my boss and his wife our office manager just left town and will be gone for a couple weeks leaving me to hold down the fort, we are refinancing, etc. etc. etc.!<br /><br />Yesterday I made lasagna-check out <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bobs-Awesome-Lasagna/Detail.aspx">Bob's Awesome Lasagna @ allrecipes.com</a><br />My favorite lasagna-it is super easy too! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quicktip-I didn't boil the noodles-if you don't boil them just give them some extra time in the oven.</span> This takes about 15 minutes off the prep time and makes it easier to put together.<br /><br />The only other thing I got started, I can't even say got finished, was cleaning up my craft desk in the blue room. I wrapped Valentines Day gifts and St. Patricks Day gifts (yes my family loves holidays). I need to finish the projects on my desk or just pack them away-hopefully today. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quicktip-If you buy gifts in advance, make sure you don't over give. </span>When items are on sale, I mean a great sale, I always buy more than I need for the coming year. This way I am already prepared for the next year! Just make sure you don't give them everything you bought, keep the extras you bought for the next holiday!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday Gameplan</span><br /><br /><ul><li>Clean off craft table</li><li>Mail Valentines gifts and cards to out of towners</li><li>1 load of laundry</li><li>put up dishes and clean kitchen</li></ul>This would all be doable if we didn't have our pre-inspection inspection. LOL! As I have said before we are refinancing. Well, we currently have a conventional loan, but the FHA rates are so low right now that we are going with an FHA loan. Only one issue, the FHA inspection is intense and we live in an early 1900's home! So a good friend of mine and her real estate partner are coming over to give me a pre-inspection inspection. They are supposed to come over today so I still need to do a good once over of the whole house.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyone Decorate for Valentines Day?</span><br /><br />Tomorrow is Trim the Tree Thursday and I will finally be posting my Valentines Day decor. Anyone else decorate? This is the one time of the year where red and pink can go together! Where you can put hearts and roses everywhere and not get yelled at! If you want to join tomorrows post just let me know!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-28908749394429144172009-01-22T07:18:00.000-08:002009-01-22T07:47:56.633-08:00Trim The Tree Thursday-The Cove-My Crazy Week!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CUE9bsl_VwloLjpHl3CRbkEWEWs_-ADr4xm7YGZfeSLcDxa5xcJw35DpFB4FoHxmEWzasWpEilvRLbqLTY21KFTNIUl4lnMST5h7uF42MiX0hbC_yCvRu-0V3XSE5Uw_xom7TRzF_pg/s1600-h/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CUE9bsl_VwloLjpHl3CRbkEWEWs_-ADr4xm7YGZfeSLcDxa5xcJw35DpFB4FoHxmEWzasWpEilvRLbqLTY21KFTNIUl4lnMST5h7uF42MiX0hbC_yCvRu-0V3XSE5Uw_xom7TRzF_pg/s400/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294138956317999890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit <a href="http://creatingmyselfcreatively.blogspot.com/">Cami </a><br />She has winter decorations up and some romantic valentines day decor they are just beautiful!<br /><br />I have been at The Cove-the Billy Graham Conference Center at a conference all week. My valentines decor is out-just not photographed yet. I apologize!<br /><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thecove.org/">The Cove</a><br /><br />You have to check it out! We stayed there last year for a conference and I fell in love, this week just deepened my love! If you are ever in the Asheville, NC area you simply must check it out. The entire downstairs walls are made to show photos of Billy Grahams ministry, life, and family. There are also thousands of gifts that he has been given from around the world. It is simply amazing the ministry that he has lived.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Crazy Week<br /><br /></span>This starts Sunday morning-early-before we shower for church. My brother in law calls and asks if he and my father in law can come and take showers. They had been hunting in Alabama and had come in at 2am to find his new condo flooded. Being guys, they decided they could still sleep there. (not even close to what I would have done) So the main water line had frozen and busted.<br /><br />So now my brother in law, whom I love dearly, is living at our house for a while. His kitchen cabinets, tile, garage ceiling, etc. have been ripped out. They are trying to dry the carpet and go from there. Thank the Lord for insurance!<br /><br />Monday I had to leave for the conference at The Cove. This was refreshing. All except for the fact that a good friend of mine told me on Sunday how she was able to refinance and get a superb low rate on her mortgage. We had been thinking about this for a while now and new now was the time. The only thing, my friend said, "you better call soon, she's 3 centimeters dilated". Now, I have never had a child, so I was assured that meant she was going in at any moment. So although she was off on Monday, I called and left her a message.<br /><br />Now phone reception at The Cove is quite limited. In order for me to talk with the loan officer I had to press my face against the window of the front door of Pilgrims Inn or stand outside in 10 degrees. I did go off and on-inside and outside. I did this for about an hour. She told us great news-really great news in fact-so say a little prayer it all goes according to plan. We are getting our home reappraised as well-this means a few final details are yet to be done. You know how you start a project and get almost finished, but never quite finish? Well, this is all my husband knows, and we have done quite a bit of work on this house. So I call and let him know all the details. He agrees he have some work to do.<br /><br />So I get in late last night. I decided to leave a little early. Everyone else was getting back later today but I needed the time! I have a hefty list of to do's in order to be in tip top shape for the appraisal.<br /><br />So here are a few hopeful to do's<br /><ul><li>new back door & air vent<br /></li><ul><li>we converted our back porch/mud room into a laundry room (taking the laundry out of the kitchen) and there is only a storm door there, in order to count this as new square footage we must have an exterior door and a vent from the central heat and air running to it.</li></ul></ul><ul><li>stage office as bedroom</li><ul><li>when we bought our home they called it a 3 bedroom with office simply because the previous owners had converted the smallest bedroom into a family closet. we converted it into an office, but in order to get top appraisal we have some staging to do.<br /></li></ul><li>frame around dishwasher</li><ul><li>when we bought our home there was no dishwasher so we put one in and have yet to frame it out or secure it in-it still will tip a little if I have all the heavy things on the bottom and pull it out-not so good!</li></ul></ul>I think these are my main things. The dishwasher just needs to look finished so we get top dollar for a renovated kitchen. We need the appraisal value for 4 bedrooms and extra square footage/laundry room. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Quick Tip- Keep a list of updates you have made to the house. You will be amazed at what it looks like on paper!</span><br /><br />We need to get all of this done, have a house guest, finally take down our outdoor lights, and help some friends move. Do you think we will get it all done? Probably not! We will try!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Action Plan</span><br /><ul><li>Laundry</li><li>Work out at the gym</li><li>Start on office de-clutter in order to stage as bedroom</li><li>Get an estimate on an air vent in the laundry room</li></ul>I think that is enough for today!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5 minutes-Make a yearly birthday action plan. </span>Write out all of the birthdays you need to send cards for-write them in order according to the date. Decide on a budget if you are giving gifts as well and write that beside it. This will be your go to for birthdays and birthday gifts. Take this with you if you haven't bought your birthday cards for the year yet, that way you won't forget anyone!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-38962859077965828042009-01-15T05:54:00.000-08:002009-01-15T06:10:15.521-08:00Trim the Tree Thursday-Exterior Shots<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNGpOkm0cvpDYwqN_b3ywa3-sSsUgUO7mUqdN_olxI4oNycHA5URha14j_q_1-SAkUY_FkCF10EtlIQ75aeZIRLNzxUczXJj6_c31yZcEa9CdUX6nG5V5lEVdNKDAAcCIgTpeXpYFhOY/s1600-h/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNGpOkm0cvpDYwqN_b3ywa3-sSsUgUO7mUqdN_olxI4oNycHA5URha14j_q_1-SAkUY_FkCF10EtlIQ75aeZIRLNzxUczXJj6_c31yZcEa9CdUX6nG5V5lEVdNKDAAcCIgTpeXpYFhOY/s400/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291520116970996354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1T-rji3pa7qW-nrltMj2FKVF2qyQJqUCZ1yl03hdtA69myVrXvBu5IER5B5hg0oRHY5ERWYFt9OKpF9tQA3aBCbVyWmoYVcsPTdZ3OnpTpKg0N4HPP87gjhY2ehJm36T0GvMOtXuYdvk/s1600-h/DSCN0112.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1T-rji3pa7qW-nrltMj2FKVF2qyQJqUCZ1yl03hdtA69myVrXvBu5IER5B5hg0oRHY5ERWYFt9OKpF9tQA3aBCbVyWmoYVcsPTdZ3OnpTpKg0N4HPP87gjhY2ehJm36T0GvMOtXuYdvk/s400/DSCN0112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291520110827116418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQtlRoTHQfpC5SIVt3x7jhZTycAA9Htxn4-vS-bG_h6jkVUWRQHgFozfvYZAuP9vp39z18Zj541K1gDRa23lekcZEsuUux2Bt4lWQeu7s9t724MlD4AQ2_B2jBkqSd1zYn8R8ZRUUErU/s1600-h/DSCN0111.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQtlRoTHQfpC5SIVt3x7jhZTycAA9Htxn4-vS-bG_h6jkVUWRQHgFozfvYZAuP9vp39z18Zj541K1gDRa23lekcZEsuUux2Bt4lWQeu7s9t724MlD4AQ2_B2jBkqSd1zYn8R8ZRUUErU/s400/DSCN0111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291520073261734466" border="0" /></a>Please visit <a href="http://creatingmyselfcreatively.blogspot.com/">Cami </a><br />She has winter decorations up that are just beautiful!<br /><br />I know I said I had hoped to have Valentines Day up by now-but I don't. Our weekend was super fun-but no work got done. We had family in on Thursday and Friday and then we all went and visited family 3 1/2 hours away on Saturday and Sunday. We are close on the inside though. Nothing finished yet on the outside-it is just too cold. My wonderful husband said that next week it is supposed to be in the 50's what a change from the single digits we are supposed to have for the rest of this week!<br /><br />The pics are of the exterior of our house and our office. We have done nothing in way of remodeling our office so please excuse the mess. This is my husbands domain. This is also his tree. Ohio State & Steelers with a little A Christmas Story too! The few pieces of the village at the bottom are his A Christmas Story village. Next year we will set the whole thing up. He got 5 new houses in the set this year-so next year! Do note the gun by the tree is a Red Rider BB gun-if you are a fan of the movie you will get it!<br /><br />And do ignore my baby Sassy-she is such a ham!<br /><br />Just a little quick "Go Me" I have been running! My best friend has been running with me. I feel really good after I run and really terrible the next day. My body just isn't used to all this excitement! We are going to keep it up though-a goal is a goal and I will reach mine! 4K-first of October!<br /><br />Have a wonderful day everyone! I should be able to finish putting everything up tonight and possibly get started in the kitchen (a ton of dishes to pack away!). This should leave me cleaning and Valentines Day decorating by the weekend!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuFptWmeA7FZ4K3V5TBqW04kIFmof6mXT6zRafQrWCZdtBJInuJJR2xOkKLosm4GQ5rY9IEDRPA1Lh0ryy-qdSp4WHnAetBM_xiSLhK-Ya3lkwq8jfeVgafS7BPU6WTWP8oxDMuzJim4/s1600-h/DSCN0105.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuFptWmeA7FZ4K3V5TBqW04kIFmof6mXT6zRafQrWCZdtBJInuJJR2xOkKLosm4GQ5rY9IEDRPA1Lh0ryy-qdSp4WHnAetBM_xiSLhK-Ya3lkwq8jfeVgafS7BPU6WTWP8oxDMuzJim4/s400/DSCN0105.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291519694323272034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vZG_ho9bKvtq2SaxNPYTYr0qoPi3SBl0ubbjeW-AlTZBLp6t_OGqUvQ7XqlWAjfU4YJ0sORfi54CWVGtiEH2-bFjpM4jjWHWZHIr6BU-f5SP7NwAK5rJEy3kiqRuKWz-Xr17t9khJEI/s1600-h/DSCN0106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; 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float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2ciWdN5yabV-6MilHaq0w4tFKEdBOi6d8x6hS47NvdhOqxi74clNVk0TjPmH7fCv5Lx3PS7WpTaN5myVBzVD7lgMrndi3A6T0mlhV_P91ZOqh8Tv48dn0hyphenhyphenipWB6EZQGg4-ZybIfbZs/s400/DSCN0108.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291519677121715874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOm4t4wqZ0Yu97xD0qlyQlwmc2I4QiDvNWC2ajw0nGGMKSArxRR8chP1B3vMPEdKM5p-rJFFlafuD94Oa_i9JfF_v10fr-M_IRgoWT5f4Q8i9umzrg9Z7ol2NZ_dl9g0ZUgS7_cUGNSg/s1600-h/DSCN0110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOm4t4wqZ0Yu97xD0qlyQlwmc2I4QiDvNWC2ajw0nGGMKSArxRR8chP1B3vMPEdKM5p-rJFFlafuD94Oa_i9JfF_v10fr-M_IRgoWT5f4Q8i9umzrg9Z7ol2NZ_dl9g0ZUgS7_cUGNSg/s400/DSCN0110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291519673617888610" border="0" /></a>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-11351393268807830442009-01-07T15:48:00.000-08:002009-01-08T06:38:08.974-08:00Trim The Tree Thursday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhExu73MIwXMnoT_EqPGkqqB6DnsAXu5aFwi4r9T-ZobNuqsbycvw4a1_MZ3vnvmmnuPna0Fygz_C9X4HDKHdNdXzHEdHpg5MNfOSn-n1nL2IB36PGkY0F5e7VIfpf8iGHnkykJONyIvQ/s1600-h/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; 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float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJk8dUjTeZDRF9bZRT7M3rFhFXERm0b_uUUueI7uPJhLEoESFGgRZBXvvr4_R5H_4UTjz2xhNjuZ1uLzBIU_eVEcjIv6VR9etYlIihqD2rgVG2DhsCXGjMIkSFw5fMwqTgzW5o8mwylQ/s400/DSCN0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288716192422960914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kA8Cd3RAWWYqxXMjHyCzHPg0MRtrz6_5Y6RsusOxGyjHAvFOkYWu2AMy9el1H6KgacuL4stSwsMaHcpxb2DhAY5kpQ2xr4ejhhERKutq7Q2Ozma5JFP64yjZolBH5QOrd_M97CP1Xbo/s1600-h/DSCN0055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kA8Cd3RAWWYqxXMjHyCzHPg0MRtrz6_5Y6RsusOxGyjHAvFOkYWu2AMy9el1H6KgacuL4stSwsMaHcpxb2DhAY5kpQ2xr4ejhhERKutq7Q2Ozma5JFP64yjZolBH5QOrd_M97CP1Xbo/s400/DSCN0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288716188265083746" border="0" /></a><br />Welcome to Trim The Tree Thursday!<br /><br />If you would like to be listed please let me know and I will add you as soon as I can. I am going to try and figure out Mr Linky and use that from now on. Thanks for your patience!<br /><br />Please visit the following blog(s) and check out their decor!<br /><br /><a href="http://creatingmyselfcreatively.blogspot.com/">Cami</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our Parlor & our hallway right outside the parlor.<br /><br />Make sure and check out the pic of my gold, frankincense and myrrh. This was a Christmas gift, such a neat gift!<br /><br />The secretary in our hallway was a wedding gift from my parents. They bought it at an antique shop and refinished it for us.<br /><br />The star on our tree was made by my mother from material left over from one of her mother's dresses. It was used on my family tree for as long as I can remember. Now my mom lets me use it. Thanks mom!<br /><br />The floral hanging on the fireplace was done by me! I aam still quite proud. I fell in love with Hobby Lobby that day!<br /><br />Check out the small purse hanging from the knobs on the secretary. This was my great grandmothers. It is one of the old metal purses. Can you imagine carrying this as your purse? This wouldn't hold 1% of what's in my purse!<br /><br />The couch and 2 chairs in the parlor are from my great grandmother. She used them for many years and had them reupholstered at least twice that I remember being told.<br /><br />The piano was given to us by my stepdad. He got it in an old barn years ago and refinished it by hand. He even squeezed walnuts from his tree to get pure stain. It is from the early 1800's. It is one of my prized possessions.<br /><br />The santa on the mantle was made by my mother. She used old coats from her mothers closet. The fur is all real.<br /><br />The floral wall hanging is my wedding bouquet. We had it preserved-it was deep froze for a few months-another one of my favorite things!<br /><br />I hope you enjoy our parlor!<br /><br />Hopefully next week I will have some Valentines Day decor out!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-28760308987111653332009-01-06T05:57:00.000-08:002009-01-06T06:17:26.010-08:00Monday Recap-I actually ran!-P.S. I Love You Movie Review<span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday Recap</span><br /><br />Yesterday was a bit of a bust on behalf of my list. Oh well, those days happen. I got a load of laundry washed and dried but didn't get it out of the dryer yet. I didn't get the upstairs bathroom cleaned. I didn't go to the YMCA, the pool is still closed for maintenance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday GamePlan</span><br /><ul><li>Meeting with my bride (I am organizing a wedding)</li><li>Warm up dinner (still leftovers-we need to get rid of this stuff!)</li><li>Finish load of laundry from yesterday</li><li>Clean upstairs bathroom</li><li>Begin cleaning out car </li><li>Run/Walk for 30 minutes</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">I actually ran!</span><br />So with the pool closed and my gym buddy still in Portland I decided to not go to the gym at all. The classes I go to if the pool is closed are quite clicky. Most of the people are teachers and so they gossip the whole time since they know all the same people. I loathe going in there by myself. So as you know my goal for the year is to run in the Apple Festival 4K. Well, <a href="http://thethoughtsofemily.blogspot.com/">Emily</a>, a blogger friend and friend through a friend suggested the <a href="http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml">couch potato to 5K training program</a>. So I copied what they did and simplified it to fit me a little bit. So I ran a block, walked a block, and so on for 30 minutes. I was surprised I could actually do it! This morning my legs are a little sore, which is a good thing. So perhaps I will be a runner in 2009!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">P.S. I Love You-Movie Review</span><br /><br />I had seen previews for this movie a while back and thought it looked great. A total chick flick that I would watch by myself or with girlfriends. Yesterday <a href="http://www.redbox.com/home.aspx">Red Box</a> had a free promo code so I could get a free movie. What a perfect time!<br /><br />The move was about 2 hours long, and I cried for a solid 2 hours. It totally sucked me in! If you are willing to cry until your eyes are puffy you will enjoy it. The ending did make me smile.<br /><br />So after watching this movie and crying the whole time and asking God to please not let this happen to my husband I realized something. I probably shouldn't watch movies or read books where the husband or wife dies, I just can't take it! After reading the Notebook and staying up all night crying and praying I told my mother not to give book like that again-she now screens them!<br /><br />I will still probably continue to subject myself to these cryfest movies. I know I shouldn't. So here is your "pre-screen" on the movie-now choose for yourself!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5 Minutes</span>-Buy the stamps for your cards for the year and put them on the envelopes. Make sure you only put the stamps on the ones you are sure you will mail. Great tip <a href="http://rosevignettes.blogspot.com/">Liz!</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-39740057136615367142009-01-05T07:16:00.000-08:002009-01-05T08:58:11.995-08:00New Year New Goals!I'm back! Sorry for the long delay, our Christmas is long and actually we still aren't finished! There is still 1 more house to go to and 1 more Christmas party.<br /><br />So I must say this Christmas was my favorite one in the last few years. We spread it out, planned ahead, and it was fantastic!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My goal for the new year</span>-run in the 4k Apple Festival run in October. I think this is a very feasible goal. Another goal is to become a runner. I have even been dreaming about it :) This goal will be tough for me, but I want to at least give it a try!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you set a goal? Try following my 5 minute tips. A very small goal that can go a long way!</span><br /><br />All of our decorations are still out and won't be put up until next week. We are having family in this weekend and they want to see everything. This weeks Trim The Tree Thursday will feature our Parlor. Next week I will hopefully have everything up from Christmas and have Valentines Day items out.<br /><br />Monday Game Plan<br /><ul><li>Finish 1 load of laundry</li><li>Clean upstairs bathroom</li><li>Run (slow jog really)</li><li>Go to gym (I will slowly jog the long way there)</li><li>Enjoy my evening! (Free rental from RedBox & leftover Ham Bone Soup from Saturday)<br /></li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">QuickTip: Take 1 day and buy all of your birthday and anniversary cards for the year. </span>Keep them in a card organizer sorted by month. This way you will always have what you need on hand!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Only have 5 minutes? </span>Take your 5 precious minutes and clear some clutter in a room. Each day take that same 5 minutes in a different room. You will be amazed what 5 minutes will accomplish!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-46646134647282347042008-12-17T18:46:00.000-08:002008-12-17T19:22:53.383-08:00Trim the Tree Thursday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpij-BYtUr6_tjNlBumnGaQODxP8ly0wgrtz6snRHXqaeSPMa46N3iRCR72X7PLgERRtaGbRVNfCSOn3he4eRu2wlMMJAb7CiW9D9ns_O1OxPBe0YsC1-K-9p1nm9b8iVsb3Zy8FHyro/s1600-h/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpij-BYtUr6_tjNlBumnGaQODxP8ly0wgrtz6snRHXqaeSPMa46N3iRCR72X7PLgERRtaGbRVNfCSOn3he4eRu2wlMMJAb7CiW9D9ns_O1OxPBe0YsC1-K-9p1nm9b8iVsb3Zy8FHyro/s400/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280965315518101602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpYUl0CWxUWLeuK52IYoHp-2qdxO1AhiecVzTFveof-EaFGqmWoGjzboyfvgPoPlH5j7BA2GkQy8Z7D7bAh-dIWT9n9_fbZMUCeyA4n9_edrnD2NrOad8_FMmqMl9qzSwtWJGdrPVq_o/s1600-h/IMG_1952.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; 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float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxux8ecoh-TCjl5U7gXQObhv_wQJPrcjLNMQcY7LZXXJjGac7WcdS_ULGgCdOl2OfxtvMIcKZsg_MGHEU3ZFd8w5BszD3GF4iR_JG1BytfWkgikwtKrtPeydNiEhwI-3oZm5foZzykng/s400/IMG_1965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280960790393022546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNC0mcYxT2bUUjcWP9UuBZxIIAjythy0XXeQ4Gdpu_tUxvqoJqHXaUcDy5rPA_rI8kI3diPEw4DCijy5KFdWgL0CfPNybnYRWPD802uWUJ78TzpdIvle-236I-Lt6y3NPWfRKwnDV36n0/s1600-h/IMG_1966.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNC0mcYxT2bUUjcWP9UuBZxIIAjythy0XXeQ4Gdpu_tUxvqoJqHXaUcDy5rPA_rI8kI3diPEw4DCijy5KFdWgL0CfPNybnYRWPD802uWUJ78TzpdIvle-236I-Lt6y3NPWfRKwnDV36n0/s400/IMG_1966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280960783257150962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn85-V0wy27l-kPwpDomS3pcTbfFyvWuD93CB6v6XIqxX2RJs-mYKWzwB0w_1FFEzQOjV_7M3GiOnWK5KmD_UCtOGxoFUMm-7QpbUI8VZqzaM18WrkcouGn1THBZx7kzWS7d7lL0mVoaY/s1600-h/IMG_1967.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn85-V0wy27l-kPwpDomS3pcTbfFyvWuD93CB6v6XIqxX2RJs-mYKWzwB0w_1FFEzQOjV_7M3GiOnWK5KmD_UCtOGxoFUMm-7QpbUI8VZqzaM18WrkcouGn1THBZx7kzWS7d7lL0mVoaY/s400/IMG_1967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280960780993944546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVr2423qtGK8rqLLDJ719qjeIi4sKXIawh8_PSNxtoN-P3Y4bWSIyaO9fCQJ669sfFHyVB5k4XuCMGjJaR2OeVUGZXrKTkTd12U9aS-8SK42gCUm2clVkvgl4vpxbkGcD0hOboU25ZhfU/s1600-h/IMG_1968.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVr2423qtGK8rqLLDJ719qjeIi4sKXIawh8_PSNxtoN-P3Y4bWSIyaO9fCQJ669sfFHyVB5k4XuCMGjJaR2OeVUGZXrKTkTd12U9aS-8SK42gCUm2clVkvgl4vpxbkGcD0hOboU25ZhfU/s400/IMG_1968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280960776193623858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaFsL1KX2dl5MBYqSGCyW7NcIdj0rT5n4ui-JSCiKPLzif-3Mnpz6XREdpUmKuH5gHcJ9tQThXQI4SWNvq5-DrohGqDe8nh6_XhKJOBe6V0mrFyIGTj2YGb9nfp8vgRy6bVJnuLnlD5U/s1600-h/IMG_1969.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaFsL1KX2dl5MBYqSGCyW7NcIdj0rT5n4ui-JSCiKPLzif-3Mnpz6XREdpUmKuH5gHcJ9tQThXQI4SWNvq5-DrohGqDe8nh6_XhKJOBe6V0mrFyIGTj2YGb9nfp8vgRy6bVJnuLnlD5U/s400/IMG_1969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280959416842898578" border="0" /></a><br />Please visit the following blogs to view all the beautiful Christmas decor!<br /><a href="http://creatingmyselfcreatively.blogspot.com/">Cami @ Creating Myself</a><br /><br /><a href="http://bobandterri.blogspot.com/">Terri @ Lakewood Mano</a><a href="http://bobandterri.blogspot.com/">r</a><br /><br /><a href="http://meganscookin.blogspot.com/">Megan @ Megan's Cookin</a><br /><br /><a href="http://mimisgarden.blogspot.com/">Kathy @ Mimi's Garden</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kathleenellis.blogspot.com/">Kathleen Ellis</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gypsycorner.blogspot.com/">Tam @ Gypsy</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gypsycorner.blogspot.com/">Corner</a><br /><br /><a href="http://char72.wordpress.com/">Charlotte </a><br /><a href="http://www.cinnamongirl93.blogspot.com/"><br />Cinnamon Girl</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sallyssalmagundi.blogspot.com/">Sally</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/">Susan</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ourcreativelife.blogspot.com/">Darlene</a><br /><br /><a href="http://backporchmusings.blogspot.com/">Pat</a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><a href="http://happywonderer.wordpress.com/">Ellen B</a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://rosevignettes.blogspot.com/">Liz</a><br /><br /><a href="http://365-days-of-christmas.blogspot.com/">Storm</a><br /><br /><a href="http://carolanativitygallery.blogspot.com/">Carrie</a><br /><br /><a href="http://oakrisecottage.blogspot.com/">Carrie</a><br /><br /><a href="http://magnoliamemories08.blogspot.com/">Magnolia Memories</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.thecrownedcasa.blogspot.com">Mishelle</a><br /><br /><a href="http://scooterbluswhimsy.blogspot.com/">Rhonda</a><br /><br /><a href="http://southernseven.blogspot.com/2008/12/our-christmas-tree.html">Southerner</a><br /><br /><a href="http://evangelines.blogspot.com./">Evangeline</a><br /><br /><a href="http://anewpathforme.blogspot.com/">Cary</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkinofhome.blogspot.com/">Ceekay</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.royaltouchart.blogspot.com">Linda</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thethoughtsofemily.blogspot.com/">Emily</a><br /><br /><a href="http://lindacarolinehome.blogspot.com/">Red Sox Mom</a><br /><br />These pics are of our living room and entry. Enjoy!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-64714526767754030662008-12-15T07:56:00.000-08:002008-12-15T10:21:28.036-08:00Weekend Recap w/Cookie Exchange/Monday Gameplan/Best Tip of the Day!<strong>Weekend Recap</strong><br /><br />Our weekend was wonderful! Friday I finished my list and began preparing for my cookie exchange party. Saturday morning my husband helped me clean-love his heart! Saturday night was our cookie exchange party!<br /><br />We had around the same number of people as the year before. (this is my 3rd year hosting) We had 9 guests, which is a great number. I never want to have more than 15. When I hit 15 I will stop inviting new guests. The party lasted about the same amount of time, typically 3 1/2-4 hours. We love to talk! Everyone made 4 dozen cookies. Most cookie exchange parties ask you to bake 1 dozen per guest, this seems like alot to me and alot for my guests. Next year I will up it to 5 dozen, I upped it a dozen this year and it was great, but then I think I will keep it at that. There were prizes for best tasting, best looking, and most creative (a santa cookie platter). I also have a couple cheesy Christmas games so that everyone will win something (a christmas candle holder). If any of you want to throw a cookie exchange this next year or are already throwing one this year and you have questions please let me know! I have games, menu's, etc that I can send your way!<br /><br />The party was great, even better than last year. Now we all have several dozen cookies ready for all of our holiday parties! A party that helps you be more organized-can it get better?<br /><br />Sunday was our Cantata at church and they did a wonderful job, it really gets you in the Christmas mood!<br /><br /><strong>Monday Gameplan</strong><br /><br />Great news! If you have followed along with my blog you should know that we are ready! I have nothing to buy, nothing to wrap, nothing to bake, and nothing to decorate! I am finished! So tonight, I will swing by Walgreens and get a movie from RedBox and enjoy my night off!<br /><br />Everyday To Do's<br /><ul><li>1 load of laundry</li><li>make dinner & pack our lunches</li></ul><p>Seriously, I have hit my overall goal. I wanted to enjoy Christmas and not collapse on Christmas Eve. I think I have made it! </p><p>There are a couple gifts yet to arrive from online shopping so I will need to wrap those when they come. All of our stocking stuffers are ready to go. <strong>QuickTip: As you buy little stocking stuffers throughout the year keep them in a gift bag that is readily accesible. This way you can take stock of what you need and don't need.</strong> I have bought all of our gift exchange, office christmas parties, gifts and wrapped them labeled to "my husbands work" or to "my work". <strong>QuickTip:Everyone has parties where you have to buy a generic gift. Buy these on sale throughout the year and just wrap them with a tag saying what party they go to. This will keep you from having to run out and buy something last minute.</strong> My freezer is stuffed to the rim with cookies and candies. Our house is organized and clean. <strong>QuickTip: Baking a cookie or making a type of candy each night a week or two before Christmas will only take an hour out of your day, but it will save you from the everpresent crazy baking power day right before Christmas.</strong></p><p>Saturday is our "Open House" Christmas Party for friends, family, and neighbors. I will keep you updated as to how this goes. </p><p><strong>Best Tip of the Day!</strong></p><p>I always check organizedchristmas.com and usually the tips are things I already have done or don't need to do. But I found a tip that I have never thought of, but one that I think is genius!</p><p>Gifts are piling up beneath the tree, and Santa's ready to roll: time to prepare a <strong>Christmas morning basket!</strong><br />The concept is simple: gather the tools and supplies you'll need to open Christmas gifts and put them in a basket, gift bag or gift box beneath the tree.<br />Include items like scissors, box cutter, notepad and pen (for recording "gifts received"), camera or videocam, trash bags, zipper food storage bags (for bundling small pieces so they're not lost) and extra batteries.<br />Add a Santa hat for a fun touch: she who wears the hat, passes out the presents!</p>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-12127733646888657822008-12-12T05:54:00.000-08:002008-12-12T06:13:37.697-08:00Thursday Recap/Friday Gameplan/Recipe for Fabulous Make Ahead Dessert!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday Recap<br /><br /></span>I knew I had alot to do yesterday, but I wasn't sure if I could get it all done. So here is what I finished.<br /><br /><ul><li>1 load of laundry</li></ul><ul><li>1 load in dryer</li></ul><ul><li>ran a load of dishes</li></ul><ul><li>made dinner & lunch for Friday <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quicktip: When making dinner go ahead and make enough for </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">lunch the next day, box it up and have it ready to grab in the morning.</span> Not only will this save time and money, but you will probably eat a little healthier too. Not to mention how happy your husband will be!</li></ul><ul><li>made apple pie for co-worker who just got out of the hospital (he gives me apples from his tree :)<br /></li></ul><ul><li>put lights in my garland on the banister</li></ul><ul><li>went to dinner with some friends (what a fun fun time!)</li></ul><br />I needed to finish the garland and clean house a bit. But, by the time I got home I did really good to get everything I got done, done. I went to bed at 11:00, 30 min later than usual, so I am a bit tired today.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday Gameplan</span><br /><br /><ul><li>make peppermint bark (I am doing this at work because it takes forever to harden and I can put it in the fridge or freezer and get it done quickly) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quicktip: Make a few extra desserts that you can keep in your freezer, you never know when you will have to go to a last minute party, or a neighbor might all of a sudden give you a gift, having treats already made will keep you from stressing from the unexpected.</span><br /></li></ul><ul><li>finish garland (I am hanging all of our cards form our banister garland)</li></ul><ul><li>make dinner (good news is that all I have to do is warm up leftovers! Hooray!)</li></ul><ul><li>wrap about 5 gifts (I had to pull some switcheroo's as a couple family members decided they were only giving gifts to children and a couple things arrived from online shopping)<br /></li></ul><ul><li>visit co-worker and deliver pie</li></ul><ul><li>deliver open house/christmas party invitations to the neighbors</li></ul><ul><li>make candy cane cookies for my cookie exchange party on Saturday (I made some peanut butter heath cookies earlier this week just in case I didn't have time to get these done)</li></ul><br />This can all easily be finished today! This just leaves a little cleaning and straightening up along<br /> with a little appetizer making for Saturday before the party. I can't wait!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chocolate Toffee Crunchies</span><br /><br />When making these line your pans with parchment paper-this makes it easier to get them out of the pan when finished. I even laid mine in the freezer to cool off, I just carefully picked up the parchment paper-this enables you to get it out of the hot pan. I also stored these in the freezer after they were done and I tried one a couple days later-these are the perfect make ahead and freeze dessert.<br /><br />I didn't use nuts, they are expensive and I wanted this to be a little cheaper. I topped them with granulated natural sugar and red sprinkles. The natural sugar is large granules and it has a yellow goldish color. They look really festive this way.<br /><ul><li> 2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs</li><li> 1/4 cup packed brown sugar</li><li> 1/2 cup butter (no substitutes), melted</li><li> TOPPING:</li><li> 1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)</li><li> 1/2 cup packed brown sugar</li><li> 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips</li><li> 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans</li></ul> <!-- tool box --> <!-- DIRECTIONS --> <ol><li><span> Combine crumbs, brown sugar and butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. In a saucepan, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 1 minute. Pour evenly over crust. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand until chocolate is melted. Spread evenly over top; sprinkle with pecans. Cool completely before cutting. </span></li></ol>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-14637382707031303662008-12-10T16:45:00.000-08:002008-12-12T06:32:23.137-08:00Trim The Tree Thursday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZKbY8BKA9jkXwBG9s3pFxdK8H57OkAY0nF_m1ZDnf7Wgxm-I_nYIt5DEOjtgeK454_Fa_habJFFKfERlWd9G6dRHddklPI_M7JXcIHMIfjopUUR8nWXN7k8jo8AjqrxlYZ44NKH7WiE/s1600-h/IMG_1906.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZKbY8BKA9jkXwBG9s3pFxdK8H57OkAY0nF_m1ZDnf7Wgxm-I_nYIt5DEOjtgeK454_Fa_habJFFKfERlWd9G6dRHddklPI_M7JXcIHMIfjopUUR8nWXN7k8jo8AjqrxlYZ44NKH7WiE/s400/IMG_1906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278344975176169762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbBtrPVV2FSBLLMo5MCLtTK69My99CrTDmySrCifEO0-8E1OqsgMOKYiKTTv-_qc3Rq3LLXWI0pNnroRgnulC7Wzx6e-3ZsaWBjARPsNkBYaHtm5Z3ryED_rhTKjJgy0bEZSgy2r2G5I/s1600-h/IMG_1907.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; 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float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jf8tGrjv2OscL3hlOi8i7t-5t0HSO-mE7rylZdnJ8683fwEkFYs-k_8YKM1dKK1hOeVB7FHOYrWyOyosFRU0BmhZxzQODW3eaiRQls3o-hJgZ7_tTIwmH3Dv7maAjlhVuFtNKY7NkxI/s400/IMG_1927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278333850377748162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgcfca9YHfFvhmKRPz980_FWJsr659x-rT3TZZF_1_1HTN83bXdvMDIXFAaytvi2dJU3dyzxNZ-T82hq3La2N3AF7bQ8EBqOXel-vUhOiRWKt8PsIg8GvQXmWibrdYUcWL7Q0BS4FD-U/s1600-h/IMG_1928.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgcfca9YHfFvhmKRPz980_FWJsr659x-rT3TZZF_1_1HTN83bXdvMDIXFAaytvi2dJU3dyzxNZ-T82hq3La2N3AF7bQ8EBqOXel-vUhOiRWKt8PsIg8GvQXmWibrdYUcWL7Q0BS4FD-U/s400/IMG_1928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278333838959891122" border="0" /></a><br />Please visit the following blogs to view all the beautiful Christmas decor!<br /><a href="http://creatingmyselfcreatively.blogspot.com/">Cami @ Creating Myself</a><a href="http://anewpathforme.blogspot.com/"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://bobandterri.blogspot.com/">Terri @ Lakewood Mano</a><a href="http://bobandterri.blogspot.com/">r</a><br /><br /><a href="http://meganscookin.blogspot.com/">Megan @ Megan's Cookin</a><br /><br /><a href="http://mimisgarden.blogspot.com/">Kathy @ Mimi's Garden</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kathleenellis.blogspot.com/">Kathleen Ellis</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gypsycorner.blogspot.com/">Tam @ Gypsy Corner</a><a href="http://mittensmuse.blogspot.com/"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://char72.wordpress.com/">Charlotte </a><br /><a href="http://www.cinnamongirl93.blogspot.com/"><br />Cinnamon Girl</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sallyssalmagundi.blogspot.com/">Sally</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/">Susan</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ourcreativelife.blogspot.com/">Darlene</a><br /><br /><a href="http://backporchmusings.blogspot.com/">Pat</a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><a href="http://happywonderer.wordpress.com/">Ellen B</a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://rosevignettes.blogspot.com/">Liz</a><br /><br /><a href="http://365-days-of-christmas.blogspot.com/">Storm</a><br /><br /><a href="http://carolanativitygallery.blogspot.com/">Carrie</a><br /><br /><a href="http://oakrisecottage.blogspot.com/">Carrie</a><br /><br /><a href="http://magnoliamemories08.blogspot.com/">Magnolia Memories</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.thecrownedcasa.blogspot.com">Mishelle</a><br /><br /><a href="http://scooterbluswhimsy.blogspot.com/">Rhonda</a><br /><br /><a href="http://southernseven.blogspot.com/2008/12/our-christmas-tree.html">Southerner</a><br /><br /><a href="http://evangelines.blogspot.com./">Evangeline</a><br /><br /><a href="http://anewpathforme.blogspot.com/">Cary</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkinofhome.blogspot.com/">Ceekay</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.royaltouchart.blogspot.com">Linda</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thethoughtsofemily.blogspot.com/">Emily</a><br /><br /><a href="http://lindacarolinehome.blogspot.com/">Red Sox Mom</a><br /><br />These pics are of my dining room and my kitchen. Please ignore the mess in my kitchen, I made several things tonight to freeze for Christmas.<br /><br />Enjoy all the pics!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-7580585177166694052008-12-08T18:07:00.000-08:002008-12-08T18:36:13.436-08:00A Friends Open House-Enjoy!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtRDTHRAfiFP9VhT_Equ5PD2ZRplvTkaqQC92eUAZxJurQy5alXCJXslGiGhmVwoytd8IzgpOW9WFmGhbqScLtsyl7WVBDvgcM9csgooZRDENQ1wJLMnir3DSgxexO9ZmQI0w37D1VWc/s1600-h/IMG_1895+040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtRDTHRAfiFP9VhT_Equ5PD2ZRplvTkaqQC92eUAZxJurQy5alXCJXslGiGhmVwoytd8IzgpOW9WFmGhbqScLtsyl7WVBDvgcM9csgooZRDENQ1wJLMnir3DSgxexO9ZmQI0w37D1VWc/s400/IMG_1895+040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277613465097366898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa5U8N7cW_eqscJ3q5BJh_SpC9Gi9bCs96dl7ggUoog2GD1BCMEF5nuQ0squFEgvV3ClhNMOhjnl7d3T-cUwjlOjeN_phf7l6CTc0pxE3lAz5IIOn_FCtj_4Uv_FGu8NmMkd6WD2OFk8/s1600-h/IMG_1894+039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; 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float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSxgTWRUqeH1MN6PVnKEy9IYoiatig19pxLHDd1RlN8QHEv4DRQ0JXGrHwq2Lt2wujM1QAR-XWWSC31-JIqqDN0HFHyz3iVLGGy3jJ7wqzZNw27SyIl6dLxwOp_lHV6FeMPzvU9on6MQ/s400/IMG_1877+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277609768388210914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaHLK6yjLOq8hC7lgZ9cv7_iiLUN_jPeMoMMAFI2OWLjtVvinpUPhFWgRklW2e225JiwrQsP-dMg3iGVCMn6duzFVVoQzPyeNwgcn6t8KqMvdtBnmZqDmNHS6mYm1_ETpyAoje_uuBwc/s1600-h/IMG_1875+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaHLK6yjLOq8hC7lgZ9cv7_iiLUN_jPeMoMMAFI2OWLjtVvinpUPhFWgRklW2e225JiwrQsP-dMg3iGVCMn6duzFVVoQzPyeNwgcn6t8KqMvdtBnmZqDmNHS6mYm1_ETpyAoje_uuBwc/s400/IMG_1875+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277609538707433474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSt_PJox6aZZ6htKFc5isbYts06bIsgsbtpgdXeeBJZs270jGfkniGKFnn1VuvkSPe5dfNhKm4VM9OfsY_zDdUMaCgb493O5ADeKdVuv3K6eD6fT-JURbolpqD-ZKZcdkxApWBvLN7t0/s1600-h/IMG_1873+018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSt_PJox6aZZ6htKFc5isbYts06bIsgsbtpgdXeeBJZs270jGfkniGKFnn1VuvkSPe5dfNhKm4VM9OfsY_zDdUMaCgb493O5ADeKdVuv3K6eD6fT-JURbolpqD-ZKZcdkxApWBvLN7t0/s400/IMG_1873+018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277609304279875298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_NSFFYUOHhXn-gP-_u2LROFTY3J4Fb8MoJcGBckfTkjUt1fVyhlAeqoiZmegN5xtuxeVtfALfYN75wyzuYEXTrPEsPyZU98vGt-nMHZXwYMWw-iNOcqlOCDuKyj1o_UkRCTpugqu0Pk/s1600-h/IMG_1871+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_NSFFYUOHhXn-gP-_u2LROFTY3J4Fb8MoJcGBckfTkjUt1fVyhlAeqoiZmegN5xtuxeVtfALfYN75wyzuYEXTrPEsPyZU98vGt-nMHZXwYMWw-iNOcqlOCDuKyj1o_UkRCTpugqu0Pk/s400/IMG_1871+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277609036256682562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA24nACBr4vSJuX8_59c5UgOe6uH4mSmwt53Pz6nyfDNNkc4i7revzdYAzVCOmrSZ2puossmVrKS7p5mHEajvfrZJ9fpRua06xpd0J5ZcYT5oARVKibjt2V_mO_pId_E8YXiTTM12uoVA/s1600-h/IMG_1870+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA24nACBr4vSJuX8_59c5UgOe6uH4mSmwt53Pz6nyfDNNkc4i7revzdYAzVCOmrSZ2puossmVrKS7p5mHEajvfrZJ9fpRua06xpd0J5ZcYT5oARVKibjt2V_mO_pId_E8YXiTTM12uoVA/s400/IMG_1870+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277608442013023506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3drNs-XUFy7B-Tsc05-D1h0SwFGRXNPBXkqN45gW1tTCwbRz6PD1n-J4-kBjjntVOdCmBMhrFCuW2XIlLnib3G8DGhxch0J9D648FNX7SvoUdX-Zxo9VN_PDhwIMIyW62zep6FQUDbjk/s1600-h/IMG_1869+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3drNs-XUFy7B-Tsc05-D1h0SwFGRXNPBXkqN45gW1tTCwbRz6PD1n-J4-kBjjntVOdCmBMhrFCuW2XIlLnib3G8DGhxch0J9D648FNX7SvoUdX-Zxo9VN_PDhwIMIyW62zep6FQUDbjk/s400/IMG_1869+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277608438018958114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWirs1m_jSORI1RmbfBfujJSe_ZZTSZvGOUkKz9d_i7BBZ5iAdylHf7eWPdm3nnpGKfrGrx2KcWa834EQI85M69znRxDVCWX9w4dmlYMo7Qy_0vQZ6Zi58bUpmZUZ1w3qwKz9AXYVjfo/s1600-h/IMG_1868+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWirs1m_jSORI1RmbfBfujJSe_ZZTSZvGOUkKz9d_i7BBZ5iAdylHf7eWPdm3nnpGKfrGrx2KcWa834EQI85M69znRxDVCWX9w4dmlYMo7Qy_0vQZ6Zi58bUpmZUZ1w3qwKz9AXYVjfo/s400/IMG_1868+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277608430584758258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRxyCyT5B8Xovhfd51RXzz0h9oDSQfeLPXFoy9u41wel5PL31fMoGppaDexSyZQGUPLPBP88l5YGZ4fuXEgmbV0PME3NhyeFv9cbjLdr2zqi_XzajWzn_vb9CI_ODWt4jvsfY78pj6KQ/s1600-h/IMG_1867+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRxyCyT5B8Xovhfd51RXzz0h9oDSQfeLPXFoy9u41wel5PL31fMoGppaDexSyZQGUPLPBP88l5YGZ4fuXEgmbV0PME3NhyeFv9cbjLdr2zqi_XzajWzn_vb9CI_ODWt4jvsfY78pj6KQ/s400/IMG_1867+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277608421610818274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruu5HWhoVtwIYEkUsxvDlIk2dQm7AWpSwNpb_t6b04yfEictHmtxNV5F6adMAkiBaK_ocg8DTQ9WWzFrO-QBBJE-K9JBZwPUKjafFDRM7eJCfuH9ZcCNiNNlpbDBDvTU47tHmD4DH5PA/s1600-h/IMG_1866+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruu5HWhoVtwIYEkUsxvDlIk2dQm7AWpSwNpb_t6b04yfEictHmtxNV5F6adMAkiBaK_ocg8DTQ9WWzFrO-QBBJE-K9JBZwPUKjafFDRM7eJCfuH9ZcCNiNNlpbDBDvTU47tHmD4DH5PA/s400/IMG_1866+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277608413624325602" border="0" /></a><br />These are some pictures we took this weekend at a friends Open House. They have a beautiful home built in the early 1900's. They go over the top at Christmas and it is so beautiful! Enjoy all the pictures!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-11252237608179412322008-12-05T06:50:00.000-08:002008-12-05T07:14:57.605-08:00Getting Back On The Wagon!Well, thanks to theraflu and God's good grace I am starting to feel better. My head still hurts, nose is running and stopped up, and my throat not only sounds like death but it feels like it too. The good news, great news really, is that my body doesn't hurt and I am not nearly as tired! I needed my energy back!<br /><br />Today's To-Do's<br />Return 2 items to Kohl's and spend Kohl's cash <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quick Tip-Make sure you have a few items of clothing that are Christmas Party Perfect!</span> Already having these items in your brain and ready for the event will take off the stress of looking in your closet and finding nothing to wear 30min before the event.<br /><br />Buy Aunt Marie a sweater with Kohl's cash<br /><br />Go to Dick's Sporting Goods and buy Cousin Chris a toboggan<br /><br />Go to Earth Fair and buy buckwheat flour (Cousin Chris wants that too)<br /><br />Put lights on banister garland (thank you tttt participants for making me go the extra mile)<br /><br />Finish Laundry<br /><br />Wrap gifts that I buy (all gifts-I'm talking every single last gift is wrapped!!!)<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Quick Tip-Don't put it off!</span> I can say this over and over again and some of you will still have a marathon session on Christmas Eve. Spend 5min when you get home wrapping gifts, this will help you enjoy the task instead of dreading it!<br /><br />Clean Bathrooms<br /><br />Make dessert for Sunday Church Christmas Dinner<br /><br />Make wreath that Brat Girl made for Saturdays birthday party gift<br /><br />I think that's enough for tonight!<br /><br /><br />Our Weekend:<br />Tomorrow I have an Open House to go to and trust me I will take pictures. They make my 7 trees look like cake! They put up 12 trees, you heard it 12 trees!<br /><br />Then we have a birthday party to attend. Sunday is our church Christmas Dinner.<br /><br />Throw in some Christmas movies and hot tea and our weekend will be grand!<br /><br />Last Christmas To Do's:<br />Buy 3 gift cards-I purposely wait on these, just in case I change my mind or something happens.<br />Buy 2 gifts for people who my husband has to pick them out-not my fault!<br />Hang outdoor wreaths on upstairs windows (my husband had a marathon night this week and finished all of our outdoor decor except for these-he wouldn't let me help because I was sick-he is too good to me!)<br /><br />Only have 5min? Finish your Christmas cards and wrap a couple gifts. If you have followed my lead and all of these are done finish any craft project you have started. All craft projects should be finished by this weekend.<br /><br />Have a Merry Christmas!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-91385365105452645162008-12-04T03:00:00.000-08:002008-12-04T06:30:52.863-08:00Trim the Tree Thursday!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0NLMzc6GVMs3V0wKLphwqw67p4r5AROC9wTnCjyfKG2HWpx_0X8dFvgAUubNIB3PtHk6KU3EOIVOU35xK1BuskVP_k0ydt1lnVhof59IpqF-l6jRc5wDmT8JredaZ4FD4K2C3GQi_e0/s1600-h/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0NLMzc6GVMs3V0wKLphwqw67p4r5AROC9wTnCjyfKG2HWpx_0X8dFvgAUubNIB3PtHk6KU3EOIVOU35xK1BuskVP_k0ydt1lnVhof59IpqF-l6jRc5wDmT8JredaZ4FD4K2C3GQi_e0/s400/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275679402459342674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvQi54SoD1ujQYy5BYO-PtC7tZa0ie-3vZ32UgNJpKJEHR2o5UnmVhx-NPqhhHlICYhfwJ7sNWs919cZx6FDM9xj2YaF31mmGOgGNjfNDlY3E7nBn0xllQPEGaAPbM4Hd14mwpgLsea8/s1600-h/IMG_1760.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvQi54SoD1ujQYy5BYO-PtC7tZa0ie-3vZ32UgNJpKJEHR2o5UnmVhx-NPqhhHlICYhfwJ7sNWs919cZx6FDM9xj2YaF31mmGOgGNjfNDlY3E7nBn0xllQPEGaAPbM4Hd14mwpgLsea8/s400/IMG_1760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275678185546366994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJMBDPBEYVn7IDu23TvNAuE2zF5X8O4NuRsDi1ORW5WvSajSVcWqVgCZrYKtSLqWzObyBqLEntj_XBfk-bFT_PFfN_O3rw2LVoFDNPU0BND7wU4sIvNTsXKWdg5XCip1M1lv7ON2_i_Y/s1600-h/IMG_1759.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJMBDPBEYVn7IDu23TvNAuE2zF5X8O4NuRsDi1ORW5WvSajSVcWqVgCZrYKtSLqWzObyBqLEntj_XBfk-bFT_PFfN_O3rw2LVoFDNPU0BND7wU4sIvNTsXKWdg5XCip1M1lv7ON2_i_Y/s400/IMG_1759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275678178235379698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Please visit the following blogs to see their beautiful decor!<br /><a href="http://creatingmyselfcreatively.blogspot.com/"><br />Cami @ Creating Myself</a><br /><br /><a href="http://abbysweets.blogspot.com/">Abby @ Abby's Sweets</a><br /><br /><a href="http://anewpathforme.blogspot.com/">Cary @ A New Path</a><br /><br /><a href="http://bobandterri.blogspot.com/">Terri @ Lakewood Mano</a><a href="http://bobandterri.blogspot.com/">r</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/acatinmylap.blogspot.com">Dana & Daisy</a><br /><br /><a href="http://meganscookin.blogspot.com/">Megan @ Megan's Cookin</a><br /><br /><a href="http://mimisgarden.blogspot.com/">Kathy @ Mimi's Garden</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kathleenellis.blogspot.com/">Kathleen Ellis</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gypsycorner.blogspot.com/">Tam @ Gypsy Corner</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizi_ee9o2vDVEk0SjCJOUY3vAycq3dphL1wiA2h1LsB0yhHV_93oAlIkAYyp_DizwMVLglvzM2IEZtEuNQgwD6cw9lJpXYmOK2XCRV0gUhyGgRKJUe05_g4LFSHddSrLA-9K0GbdJ9fNk/s1600-h/IMG_1758.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizi_ee9o2vDVEk0SjCJOUY3vAycq3dphL1wiA2h1LsB0yhHV_93oAlIkAYyp_DizwMVLglvzM2IEZtEuNQgwD6cw9lJpXYmOK2XCRV0gUhyGgRKJUe05_g4LFSHddSrLA-9K0GbdJ9fNk/s400/IMG_1758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275676679077375890" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://evangelines.blogspot.com/">BRAT Girl</a><br /><br /><a href="http://mittensmuse.blogspot.com/">BRAT Girl</a><br /><br /><a href="http://char72.wordpress.com/">Charlotte </a><br /><a href="http://www.cinnamongirl93.blogspot.com/"><br />Cinnamon Girl</a><br /><a href="http://www.lindacarolinehome.blogspot.com/"><br />RedSox Mom</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sallyssalmagundi.blogspot.com/">Sally</a><br /><a href="http://thinkinofhome.blogspot.com/"><br />Thinkin of Home</a><br /><br /><a href="http://dishingondecor.blogspot.com/">Judy Bug</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thethoughtsofemily.blogspot.com/">Emily</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/">Susan</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ourcreativelife.blogspot.com/2008/12/oh-christmas-tree-oh-christmas-tree.html">Darlene</a><br /><br /><a href="http://backporchmusings.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-need-little-christmas.html">Pat</a><br /><br /><a href="http://happywonderer.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/trim-the-tree-thursday-2/">Ellen B</a><br /><br /><a href="http://munnfunn.blogspot.com">The Munns</a><br /><br /><a href="http://rosevignettes.blogspot.com/">Liz</a><br /><br />I don't have a camera with me at the house, so I will post a few pics of my upstairs hallway and some shelves in our blue guest room. There will be tons of pics next week from me!<br /><br />Thanks for participating everyone!brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-10582376637647558522008-12-02T07:20:00.000-08:002008-12-02T07:30:27.375-08:00I'm back, sort of/Black Friday Goal RecapI hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We sure did! We celebrated in Tennessee on the Friday before Thanksgiving, served dinner at church on Thanksgiving day in Ohio for people who didn't have somewhere to be, and then celebrated with our family in Ohio on Saturday after Thanksgiving. So needless to say, we are full!<br /><br />The tradition was started this year to serve on Thanksgiving day. It was so rewarding and I do hope we continue this next year.<br /><br />My sister-in-law and I went out on Black Friday, as we do every year. We left the house at 2:30 and got home around 5:30. We had our plans all laid out in order of importance/stores opening/must have. We started out at Kohls, then on to Home Depot, Staples, Toys R Us, Walmart, Macy's, Sears, Target, and then from there it is quite a blur!<br /><br />So my goal was to be finished shopping on the day after black friday. Well, I have not reached my goal. I am super close. I thought we may be able to go to the Christmas Story House on Sunday so I could shop at the gift shop-but it looks like we will be going after Christmas instead. Thank you to Susan over at Between Naps On The Porch for showing homes from movies. The Christmas Story House is super close to my in-laws and my husband and brother in law are quite the fans!<br /><br />As of now my entire house is decorated on the inside. The outside hasn't really been started (this is my husbands department). Hopefully soon-it has to be soon, there isn't much time left!<br /><br />I would be able to completely finish my goal today of having all gifts wrapped and bought-but I am sick. Seriously sick. I feel terrible, and super tired. This is hard for me! So please pray that I get better quickly because time is of the essence!<br /><br />Today's List<br />Laundry<br />Lay in bed!<br /><br />I know I can get the second part of that list finished! We will see about the first part :)brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-46945147960598533612008-11-21T07:38:00.000-08:002008-11-21T09:09:42.218-08:00Trim the Tree Thursday offical signup-Week RecapI want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have been a part of Trim the Tree Thursday. It is so much fun to look at everyones holiday decor and to share my own. This event has quickly taken off!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trim the Tree Thursday Official Signup</span><br /><br />If you would like to remain on the list every week through december please comment with a link to your blog and say 'December'<br /><br />If you would like to remain on the list indefinitely please comment with a link to your blog and say 'Indefinitely' (this would mean you share your Easter, St.Patricks, Valentines, etc. decor)<br /><br />If you just want to be added on a weekly basis you will need to tell me on Wednesday the day before you join with a comment telling me to add you and with a link to your blog.<br /><br />Thanks ladies!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Due to Thanksgiving we will not have a Trim the Tree Thursday next week. We will restart on December 4th. this give all of you ladies plenty of time to get your decor up!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Week Recap<br /></span>Well, I finished everything! I even finished a few other things as well. :)<br />Yesterday I:<br /><ul><li>vacuumed our downstairs hardwood floors (i love my dyson attachment!)</li><li>mopped the downstairs floors</li><li>dusted everything downstairs</li><li>made extra room in the parlor closet for guests coats. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quick Tip: Clean and Organize your "drop off" space. This may be a hallway closet, coat tree, boot tray, etc. Make sure there is room for your guests to feel at home in your home!</span></li><li>set up appetizer area in living room. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quick Tip: Want to keep people mingling throughout your home instead of hovering over you in the kitchen? Put the appetizers in another room!</span></li><li>Cleaned downstairs guest bath</li><li>Burned Pumpkin Nectarine scented oil by The Body Shop <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quick Tip: The day before a party make sure your home smells wonderful. Burn something that is quite strong. This way you don't have to worry about burning anything while you have guests. Your home will already smell wonderful!</span></li><li>Set up dessert area in kitchen complete with flatware, dessert plates, napkins, & the desserts that I made.</li><li>Set up drink area in kitchen complete with-only glasses! I will warm up the cider when I get home and put that out along with a pitcher of ice water. My brother in law is bringing the best sweet tea in town! Thank you Red Pig!<br /></li><li>Set out all serving dishes, serving utensils, jplates, & flatware. I now know everything will fit on our kitchen island. Our island will be serving as the buffet.<br /></li><li>I also set out all dry ingredients on it's fitting serving dish. Now when I go home and have limited time to finish everything at least all of my dry items and recipes are already out!</li></ul>Now all I have to do is bake the ham (it's already been cooked-smoked actually, so I will add the glaze and warm it up!), make the stuffing, and make the topping for my romaine salad. Then, enjoy all of my hard work, and my company of course!<br /><br />I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I am going to leave this post at the top until Monday so that everyone will have time to respond about Trim the Tree Thursday.<br /><br />My weekend will be filled with Christmas decorating downstairs, parents jewelry show, kidstuf at church (I am an actress in the skits), and working in the nursery Sunday morning. A busy weekend for me! My goal-finish the living room tree and living room decor. Put all fall decor up. I should be able to reach that goal!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287630917272514312.post-28995556833666346362008-11-19T18:52:00.000-08:002008-11-20T08:31:17.462-08:002nd Trim the Tree Thursday!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEQzSUT00-on0sQO6Q0WzfFmottYuT1PUqIAJLwMK50uMJbdakh79jisQQ-ZlddkhxPG8GctdSGfDovG09tOprzujjSdg5_JRAKj6jcNoLTYH1iH6oUJYWxStwq4mrav1LQvByuX3ErA/s1600-h/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEQzSUT00-on0sQO6Q0WzfFmottYuT1PUqIAJLwMK50uMJbdakh79jisQQ-ZlddkhxPG8GctdSGfDovG09tOprzujjSdg5_JRAKj6jcNoLTYH1iH6oUJYWxStwq4mrav1LQvByuX3ErA/s400/trim+the+tree+thursday+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270568785018872546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUDO5TcebYsNCybzRWI0rH6BprO8_u1JJXWwSSqsSdGggsX0CpaZaohW_8TDkeqb1obru49RZsScZTDN-4Jf5Wr9NuKSHN7U7i-j85AruMCmBN3-H1CuaNooCM-WFG0DksVPPYSQ9ms4/s1600-h/IMG_1834.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUDO5TcebYsNCybzRWI0rH6BprO8_u1JJXWwSSqsSdGggsX0CpaZaohW_8TDkeqb1obru49RZsScZTDN-4Jf5Wr9NuKSHN7U7i-j85AruMCmBN3-H1CuaNooCM-WFG0DksVPPYSQ9ms4/s400/IMG_1834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270568335900986274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0COXEw4QYfD6f2OJE8j66zsloqJa_18FHrKl16bkWJN1a9A9U9RFCGIJC0me63c9Vy9iFDsRPatpGn4KFA_-MmUJsNHxoNL0OcLjHCfFqrJ87n4Pt_-slflqJiwfe1vAkrwkIvgV0tvQ/s1600-h/IMG_1835.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0COXEw4QYfD6f2OJE8j66zsloqJa_18FHrKl16bkWJN1a9A9U9RFCGIJC0me63c9Vy9iFDsRPatpGn4KFA_-MmUJsNHxoNL0OcLjHCfFqrJ87n4Pt_-slflqJiwfe1vAkrwkIvgV0tvQ/s400/IMG_1835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270568333062642562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhHBgaId7yU7ViX1xuQ-sutbXG9akecDJhtYwFstH5jKAmVZDMM0Z-_Me3-f2Z6JfYPzF3rM6kiTwiBuQ-D1Ex8IMVs5uS3fEKKxjMAP20E_Cs2sUPQCfgyp6XCUyYQKBoukCTQI8cU4/s1600-h/IMG_1837.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhHBgaId7yU7ViX1xuQ-sutbXG9akecDJhtYwFstH5jKAmVZDMM0Z-_Me3-f2Z6JfYPzF3rM6kiTwiBuQ-D1Ex8IMVs5uS3fEKKxjMAP20E_Cs2sUPQCfgyp6XCUyYQKBoukCTQI8cU4/s400/IMG_1837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270568322856894450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-X2ojUmHLq6AC0pZgerzutzn9Ie0Hsii6rE2OTn9czbzg8nCmWVDJDa5pa06opaMfEe35eIPdvy_X-65aogeSFJYiWzJGaf_Z-aaeZQw08nnVmCshviXL01BUE5Dzo9m-kGNjNhvXoRs/s1600-h/IMG_1838.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-X2ojUmHLq6AC0pZgerzutzn9Ie0Hsii6rE2OTn9czbzg8nCmWVDJDa5pa06opaMfEe35eIPdvy_X-65aogeSFJYiWzJGaf_Z-aaeZQw08nnVmCshviXL01BUE5Dzo9m-kGNjNhvXoRs/s400/IMG_1838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270568320801970322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS4HOki1y3e81GtNbLsrz8cWa04fNKdNKWyOySgVN69Aur77t_vcWHi5912KJ12JF1-GLogr0MsUo_hCZ4PYzLt50ZEUDfZOhdeaK5N6afAIzb3mhZVt0VeDCfTWCiwwsAPPQkx6kcnc/s1600-h/IMG_1840.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS4HOki1y3e81GtNbLsrz8cWa04fNKdNKWyOySgVN69Aur77t_vcWHi5912KJ12JF1-GLogr0MsUo_hCZ4PYzLt50ZEUDfZOhdeaK5N6afAIzb3mhZVt0VeDCfTWCiwwsAPPQkx6kcnc/s400/IMG_1840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270568317315769810" border="0" /></a><br />This week I am posting my upstairs hallway and stair landing. I like to keep like items together as a collection. If I have a favorite item, like a specific pottery snowman pictured, they stand alone. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quick Tip-rule of design is 1,3,5 or a collection. </span>Following this rule can help give your space an organized, less cluttered look.<br /><br /><br />My mother made me the snowmen family sitting on the antique sled.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This chair was my great grandmothers and I recovered it using a curtain panel that matches those in my living room. The table was bought at an antique store for only $14-it looked terrible! My step-dad lovingly refinished it for me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is my favorite snowman out of my pottery snowmen.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Please be sure and visit these lovely ladies blogs and see some of their holiday decor! Thanks for joining ladies!<br /><a href="http://melissasheartandhome.blogspot.com/2008/11/trim-tree-thursday.html"><br />Melissa @ Melissa's Heart & Home</a><br /><br /><a href="http://anewpathforme.blogspot.com/">Cary @ A New Path For Me</a><br /><br /><a href="http://bobandterri.blogspot.com/">Terri @ Terri & Bob </a><br /><br /><a href="http://char72.wordpress.com/">Charlotte </a><br /><a href="http://happywonderer.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/trim-the-tree-thursday/"><br />Ellen @ The Happy Wonderer</a><br /><a href="http://mimisgarden.blogspot.com/"><br />Kathy @ Mimi's Garden </a><br /><br /><a href="http://creatingmyselfcreatively.blogspot.com/">Cami @ Creating Myself</a><br /><a href="http://southernlady-nancy.blogspot.com/"><br />Nancy @ Southern Lady</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gypsycorner.blogspot.com/">Gypsy's Corner</a><br /><br /><a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/">Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch</a><br /><br /><a href="http://southernseven.blogspot.com/">Southerner</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.oakrisecottage.blogspot.com/">Carrie</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hyperhomemaker.blogspot.com/">Katie @ The Hyper Homemaker</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jt-jantom.blogspot.com/">Jan @ Jan & Tom's Place</a><br /><br /><a href="http://tesorofino.blogspot.com/2008/11/since-i-am-dreaming-of-pink-white.html">Tesoro Fino</a><br /><br /><a href="http://abbysweets.blogspot.com/">Abby @ Abby's Sweets</a><br /><br /><a href="http://backporchmusings.blogspot.com/2008/11/blue-dining-room.html">Pat @ Back Porch Musings</a><br /><br /><a href="http://carolanativitygallery.blogspot.com/2008/11/trim-tree-thursday-nativity-tree.html">Carrie</a><br /><br /><a href="http://meganscookin.blogspot.com">Megan</a><br /><a href="http://carolanativitygallery.blogspot.com/2008/11/trim-tree-thursday-nativity-tree.html"> </a>brettinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08259049605974766615noreply@blogger.com27