Christmas in January!

This family will come over tomorrow afternoon,

because it's our Christmas celebration!

And this adorable daughter, 

will ride over from Mississippi with the family below,

and I am going to be in heaven on earth.

I am so in love with these people ~

and so thankful they are ours.

Have Time to Organize? Sure.

First of all, I'm retired, which means I should have organized closets, drawers, under the beds (I love those plastic bins on wheels!) and closed off areas like the pantry and laundry. Notice I used the word 'should'. My girlfriends (that still teach) talk about how they do what they can on holidays and how they envy the time I have at home to keep it all neatly organized. I just smile and ask for a tea refill.

The closet above is a small closet that goes with the master bedroom.  The larger closets are upstairs with the larger bedrooms. When we first moved in, we made one of the rooms upstairs the master. However, it got easier and easier just to go to bed down here. It helped that the bath is much larger than the one upstairs. That's when it all began. The closet became a catch-all. Mr. Hood would go upstairs to get his clothes and leave them in the smaller downstairs closet. I began hanging up his clean clothes downstairs. Now he has clothes both upstairs and down. {The only thing of mine down here are my shoes. I don't like walking down the stairs in anything but flats.}

The closet has quickly become a place for other things besides items of clothing. Such as the vacuum cleaner, a topiary that has no home, plastic bins that holds who knows what, and the clothing isn't even arranged! The work shirts are separated from the casual and dress ones, but my OCD's include placing short sleeves together by color, etc.} It's a small closet, but it has potential. I hope. 

 Hunting equipment! Both downstairs and upstairs. Not sure how that happened. None of it has been used since we moved in. I think we got tired and said to heck with it. See my problem? And there's another area that's making me grit my teeth.

The master bath has a nice linen closet in it and it has slowly accumulated items that no one knew where else to put it. Now, it's not as if we don't have storage in this townhome. If you're familiar with The Park apartments, then you know they have used each extra inch for either living area or storage. I love it. I've just not taken the time to organize it since we moved in. We've been here since March! And I'm retired! I don't stay home twiddling my thumbs each day, but there really is no excuse not to have it where I don't take the enamel off my teeth each time I open the doors. My goal, after we return from our Gatlinburg vacation with our daughters!!!, is to organize and clean up these two closets. The ones upstairs? I'm thinking they can wait until the first of summer. I don't want to overdo things.

Now, let's end this with one of those gut busting laughs. The first time I saw this I laughed each time I thought of it. I think I've had it on here before, but I really don't care. Some things are good enough to watch twice. Or thrice. Or, um, what comes after that?!  I'll be back later with updated pics of organized closets!

Sweet Words From LA ~

Hi Nancy,
My name is Patti, I live in south Alabama, LA as it's called here. I have been reading blogs for several years, guess I'm what they call a lurker. Anyway, I just found yours and love it. Being a southern gal in Bama, it's always fun to find blogs of other Christian women in the south. I've been wanting to start blogging, still would like to, but not sure I have the computer knowledge to do so or that I have anything interesting enough to write. But it's still something I'm seriously considering.
Anyway, I hope you don't mine this email, I just wanted to let you know that there are some who enjoy your blog. It's encouraging and inspiring and fun.
I am also a big Bama fan, so that caught my attention too. ROLL TIDE
Blessings to you and your family,
Patti

*    *    *    *    *    *

I received the above email earlier this week and thought it the sweetest words. Thank you, Patti, for making my day. I'm a lurker too on several blogs, but know how much comments mean so I try hard to say something on those that don't have many comments. Blogging is easy and if you're considering it, then do it.

It's very easy. I use Blogger.com and although they have gone to a new template designer you can use their old templates. I like Minima. Did the rest of you know that?!  If you go to Design, click on HTML, and scroll all the way to the bottom, look to the lower left hand corner, and you'll be able to access the old templates. You will not be able to use the new design editor, but the only thing I like about it is that you're able to enlarge photos easier. If I were advising someone, I would recommend the older style. This way, when you begin playing around with changing your background, it's easier.

I have a growing list of places to go to find cute, adorable, and seasonal backgrounds! You'll find this list on the right hand side of this site. If you have a three column blog (I did mine myself, but with the new blogger layouts, you have the choice!) make sure you choose a background for a three column. I have other blogs that I keep and at times the writing runs over into the background. To remedy this, go back and choose to install the three column background. This gives you plenty of room.

For problems with blogs, this site is awesome! Tips for New Bloggers is a place I've gone to quite often. Patti, it's a great way to keep up with family and friends, to pick up craft and home decor tips, new recipes, and to share what you know with others. At one time I felt as if I had to be entertaining, that I had to write everyday. I don't feel that way anymore. This is for me, to share part of our life that are important to me, to share His word and how He has worked in our lives, to share things I feel others may enjoy as much as us.

I would suggest you begin and just see where it goes :) Be sure and leave me a comment or send an email with your blog address and I'll add it to my list of Friends and Family! Blogger is easy to use. Blogger.com is where you begin :) Don't worry about the name of a background when you sign up for one. You can always change it and I'll be glad to help you with any questions you may have.

Again, thank you for you sweetness. There's a group of us in this area that met once for lunch and have talked about doing it again. Time just gets away from us! If you read The Lettered Cottage, Kevin and Layla Palmer, they live here in Prattville! They live on a street of older homes, charming homes.

For those of you, lurkers, that are even thinking about beginning a blog, I encourage you to do so. You met many very nice people and there are some beautiful home decor blogs out there, which are my favs. It's a great way to keep up with those you love but don't see often enough and some you rarely see.

To all of you, I pray the New Year has begun with good health, happiness, and sprinkled with lots of laughter. May He continue to hold you close to His heart ~ Nancy

College Football History!

The eagle flew ~

The tigers roared ~

and the BCS National Championship trophy is coming back home.

Way to go, Auburn!!

The University of Alabama had Mark Ingram win the Heisman AND the Tide won the BCS National Championship game last year, this makes college football history now having two teams from one state gather both the trophy and the championship game. We are so very proud of both teams,

but again, the SEC ROCKS!

First of All, We Bleed Tide

Our family bleeds crimson but we are huge SEC fans. Which brings me to this post, that I'm sure my husband will remark on something to the fact, "you didn't have to carry it that far". But yes, I do. I am so darn proud of the state of Alabama for having not one, but two, teams to go into the BCS back to back the past two years! So, Auburn Tigers, this one's for you! Let's keep the BCS title in the state of Alabama and bring it home Monday night! We are so proud of you! Now, it'll be our turn next year {smile font}. Fly high, Eagles, and lead those Tigers on!

Let's send those Ducks home good and tired and beat!

(Who wants to be called a 'duck' anyway?!)

Look What's Coming!!

I love reading Ree's site, The Pioneer Woman, and she loves Charlie.  Now there's a book written for children! Ree has already published a cookbook, and a book of her love affair with The Marlboro Man. In the works now is a sequel to this book 'From High Heels to Tar Heels' and Charlie's book will be released in the Spring of this year! Good for Ree, I began following her blog the second year she began and it has changed alot and there are oodles of followers now. I liked her style back then and I like it now. I am so proud for her and the hard work it takes to maintain a blog to but to maintain as many as she does, with giveaways, tours, and all the other hats she wears. Go. Visit. Then let me know if you enjoyed her site as well as I do. I just bet you find something to like! You'll need to note that under the main headings, are smaller headings. For instance, you click on 'Confessions' and you'll find sub-headings such as Animals, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and others. You could spend hours on her site, and I have. Late at night. With noone to bother me. Her recipes are a bit on the spicy side for me but the photographs of the mustangs they care for are unbelievable. I'll leave you with one and encourage you to visit The Pioneer Woman. Oh, and her prints are free to download and frame!

It's Coming! Another Christmas!!

This is more for me than it is for you. I began thinking that in just another week, we'll have Christmas 2010 with all three daughters and their families. What fun it shall be and we feel truly blessed. These thoughts led me to wanting to pull forward some photos from Christmases past.

Austin was the first, born in Aug 2003,

with Ian following in Dec 2003~

Alaina graced our hearts in Dec 2005

Noah was born Nov 2006,

and the two older boys loved being

the kings of the pack ~

 They played this game and called it King of the Sofa ~

These little ones have such fun when they are together

and our hearts soar in grace and blessedness~

Our talented and beautiful daughters~

  and then Miss Elle came to us Sept of '09

and it appears she may be the last grandbaby.

(Shhh, don't tell them, but John and I are praying for more.)

Now it's Christmas of 2010 and we're still adding photos.

We celebrated with Jenny's family and next weekend,

we'll have our Mississippi babies over to once more celebrate

a Christmas together! We are so excited to have all under one roof.

We are waiting patiently for the weekend to come around,

good food, lots of laughter and snuggles, and more photos

to document this awesome time of our lives~

Merry Christmas again!

and a very happy new year ~

Great GiveAway!

Teale, at A Little About Life, has moved her blog to This Girl's Blog and is offering a giveaway! You get your choice of Ree Drummond's autobiography or her cookbook!  You get the chance to place three entries.  What are you waiting for?! Get over there!!

I just love Ree Drummond!  I think you will, too!

Losing Forty!

Okay, I have to get serious. Yesterday one of my doctors told me that some of the meds I am presently taking will increase my appetite (I'd figured that one out) and that they would make me gain weight (Oh, no joke! An increase in appetite will do that! Hello?!)  and she wanted me to lose weight by my April visit. I already knew I needed to lose weight but until John took two photos of me this afternoon, for my 'before' photos on a new blog I've begun, I didn't realize I'd gotten that puffy! If you want to follow along, or if you want to lose along with me, the new blog is Losing Forty!. Or if you want to ignore this {grin font} go right ahead. It's a place for me to hold myself accountable and accept responsibility. I intend to lost forty pounds by the end of 2011. Ugh, I hate the thought. It's so much easier just eating and not worrying about it {wink}

Some Ideas for 2011

I want my sweet man to do this for me this year. I found this over at Decor Chick and knew it was something we could easily to in our kitchen and I am all about ambiance and soft lighting. Cheap, priceless.

This is a neat idea from Maple & Magnolia!

I was tickled to find out that you can have a collection of white platters and plates simply by spray painting them with a primer, then with white paint.  This innovative person took it a step further and there are worlds are stickers out there to have any theme your heart desires on your wall.

I wish I could remember where I found these but the main thing is I saved the site to share with you. These would be handy if you can items to give to friends or that cute 'cupcake in a jar' that Teale did this season! (BTW, I copied that idea but did not use Ball jars and you really need to use the thin pint jars. I used the ones from Walmart, cute but too wide for a cupcake.) You could also use labels like this on your baskets and bins. I am loving the way cubbies and shelves look with this type of storage!

You can find these, and more!, at WorldLabel.

Our new year began quietly with beautiful weather, not too cold and with bright sunlight. I pray that yours has begun with  lots of love and laughter and that your year be filled with the same. Have a blessed day!