Cookies for Santa

What kind of cookies will you leave for Santa?? I would love for you to share your recipes!! Brian told Maggie this week that Santa's favorite cookie was oatmeal raisin, and that he gets really tired of all the chocolate chip cookies he eats at everybody else's house, so we needed to make him something different this year. BLAHHHHHHH...who likes oatmeal raisin cookies?? I assured Maggie that Santa's favorite cookie is chocolate chip, and will always be chocolate chip, and that his second favorite is sugar cookies! :)

I have made these cookies 3 times this holiday season for different occasions, and they have not let me down once!! They are delicious! Of course, I changed the recipe up a bit bc I do not follow the rules and I hate to follow a recipe exactly. I will link the original recipe, then tell you how I changed it up. These would make a great cookie for Santa, unless of course his favorite cookie at your house is oatmeal raisin too!

Paula Dean's 3 Chocolate Cookies

I substitue the almond chips for heath bar crumbles. You can find them where you find the chocolate chips. You could use anything you like really!

Brian was supposed to be watching Maggie while I made these cookies today for a Christmas Party tonight. Well she came dashing in the kitchen and tee teed in the middle of the floor, then went dashing out. Luckily I had my camera handy and was able to snap a shot of her leaving...

I'm sure you all can relate.......

Get the Skinny

www.skinnytaste.com

How could I forget this one on my previous blog of my current interests? This one is definitely top 3 right now. I read all kinds of food blogs, and am constantly looking for ways to make lightened up/low fat versions of good food!! All of Gina's recipes have been fabulous! They are so easy to make, and even calculate WW pts for me. Check out her website. You are sure to find fabulous healthy dishes you will love!

Here are some of our faves...

Baked Spinach Ziti...Maggie LOVED this one. It's an easy way to get her to eat spinach!!

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/09/low-fat-baked-ziti-with-spinach.html

Chicken Divan

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/11/chicken-divan-lightened-up.html

Chicken & White Bean Stuffed Bell Peppers

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/08/chicken-and-white-bean-stuffed-peppers.html

We are slacking on posting recipes girls!!! Let's get busy...the holidays are here!!

Currently...

I stole this from other blogs...

Things I am currently in to right now...

7. Leopard

6. Speaking of Kourtney...her blog!! Yes, I check it everyday for updates. Ok...I could totally be a Kardashian.

http://officialkourtneyk.celebuzz.com/

5. Sunday night TV!!!! I start looking forward to this around Wednesday each week, and seriously count the days down til "my shows" are on, as Brian calls them. He knows Sunday from 8-10 I am out of pocket, and I'm totally ok with my 2 hrs of "me" time once a week!

4. COFFEE!!! I feel like I spent the last 2 yrs of my life pregnant or nursing, so I am definitely indulging in some caffeine lately!! And there is something about the day Starbucks brings out their red cups for Christmas...its gives me the warm fuzzies

3. Vitamins- I am a vitamin junkie. I could do a whole blog about what all you should be taking right now, but I will spare you...it's the drug rep in me!

2. My Daily Devotional

1. And my #1 Obsession of 2010...YOU GUESSED IT!!!

Yes, I realize I should have bought these jammies 1 size bigger. Oh, did I mention I am obsessed with Christmas pj's also!

The Real Reason

I know the real reason for the season...and you know...but do our kids know? It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmastime...decorating the tree, the house, the gingerbread house, buying presents, drinking hot chocolate, listening to Christmas carols. And believe me...we do ALL of those things at my house, however, I want to do more. I want to start teaching Maggie at the early ol age of 1, the real reason for the season!! As she gets older, I want her to count down the days to Jesus' birthday. Not the day she gets to open presents, or the day that Santa comes, but Jesus' birthday. I love the idea of the Little People Nativity scene. Amanda gave Maggie one for Christmas this year and she loves it already. However, she isn't too gentle with baby Jesus yet. We're working on that:) I immediately went out and bought a childrens book on the Christmas story, and read Maggie all about Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. Now Maggie had no idea what in the world I was talking about, but I will bring out the nativity scene each year and read that story until she does understand. I think as parents, our biggest fear is that our children will not grow up to know and love Christ as their heavenly father like we do. We have a BIG responsibility, so how do we do it? What are special things you do with your kids and your family to teach them the real reason for the season? I would love to hear! I need all the help and ideas I can get!!

Tis the Season...

To Be Jolly...Right??? Well that's what I keep telling myself. I guess this holiday isn't quite as jolly as I had planned on it being. I'm sorry to say, I have not been blogging to my full potential. I am kind of at a crossroads as to what to blog about. If I write only about Maggie and the joy she brings us, I sort of feel like I am completely ignoring the fact that I had another little girl. But if I write about the sad and painful things, then I feel bad for not focusing on all the many, wonderful things God has blessed me with!! I wish there was a handbook for this sort of thing. The only handbook I know of is the Bible, and it continues to be my strength, my inspiration, and my instruction manual for how to handle life and the ups and downs it throws me.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5 & 6

My sister took Maggie's 1 year/Christmas card pictures this past weekend. Out of 197 awesome ones, it was really hard to pic just a few to post. And of course I did not post the Christmas card pic bc I want you to be surprised when my card arrives!! I have extra thanks to Shutterfly so message me if you want one!!

And now, on to the pictures I have taken. Last week we took Maggie to Winter Wonderland at the Convention Center. They had it all decked out like the North Pole with people dressed as elves, toy soldiers, reindeer, and of course Santa and Mrs. Clause. She HATED Santa!! I paid $15 to have her picture professionally done on Santa's lap and she screamed bloody murder the entire time. I can't wait to get that picture in the mail. Maybe that would have made for a funny Christmas card!

She loved this car at the Winter Wonderland...in fact, she had a hard time sharing it with her friends.

I have no idea where she gets this face, I guess Brian taught it to her

This is the cabinet where I store all of her toys. I leave only a few out at a time for her to play with, then put them all up nicely once she goes to bed. Well....that only lasted a few peaceful weeks. She HAS discovered it...

And of course let's throw in some fashion..even Maggie knows leopard is very "IN" this season

A girl after my own heart...obsessed with shoes!!!!

This weekend we have Christmas with Brian's side of the family so I will take lots and lots of pictures!!

To Send or Not to Send??

Shutterfly is giving away 50 free Christmas cards to bloggers this year! How awesome is that?!! The only reason I knew this is because I have seen on other blogs. Well in case you didn't know, you must check it out! It's only for bloggers! Christmas cards are getting more and more expensive, so every year it seems I have to shorten my list. So be happy if you made the cut! ha! Well not this year...I will be sending to everyone and anyone! I am really proud of the little angel on my card though:)

A few of my favorite designs are...

I love the blue in this one. It looks so great with a black and white photo, which I also love!!

Anything that says JOY and has GLITTER, well I'm sold.

This one is just sweet. I can also see it with a black and white.

Their photo books are also amazing. I have created several books of my wedding festivities for both sets of grandparents. I love the picture calendars, and you can put fun pictures of your kiddos and everyone's birthdays, anniversaries, etc! I know in my house we have to have it written down!!

Happy Sending!!! Click Here to get your free cards!

13 Months!!

My little Maggie Moo is getting SO big!!! She is talking up a storm and repeating everything we say!! She has learned how to give hugs now, and loves to walk up to you with her arms wide open ready for a big hug!! It melts my heart! She LOVES to be outside. She could play outside for hours with Sadie and a ball. She loves my flowers, and likes to pick them when I'm not looking. She loves her playhouse, and checks her mailbox every time she goes outside. She loves water, and splashes it all over her and her clothes any chance she gets. She is just so darn fun, I could go on and on.

I wanted to say a special thank you to all my blogging friends for the kind words of encouragement lately. I have gotten many sweet comments, facebook messages, emails, etc and Brian and I really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers. You all are pretty special to me, and I'm happy to share this journey we call life with you all!