Thrifty Thursday

Welcome to Thrifty Thursday where I will show/tell you about my latest thrifty find. Today, I stumbled upon what was left of Target's Christmas decorations for 90% off. Though the pickings were slim, I got 12 glass ornaments in gold and silver for 25 cents! Yes, that's right. A quarter for 12 ornaments. Since they were so economical, I bought 4 sets of each color. So for two whole dollars I have 96 ornaments. I also picked up a pack of ornament hooks for six cents! Now that is what I called thrifty. And it was Thursday no less.

Just Dance

I bought my husband a Wii for Christmas because it is a gaming system I might would actually play with him. He's been begging me for months to play video games with him. I know...I married a man child, but aren't they all? I am not a fan of video games. Repeat, I'm not a fan of video games unless it is Pac-man, Galaga, Super Mario Brothers or some other retro 1980-something video game. I know I'm a loser but video games just don't interest me. That is until I bought the Just Dance video game with my Christmas loot. I thought it might be cool since I like to dance. Let me just say that it was the MOST FUN I have ever had playing a video game. My stepdaughter and I played it for nearly three and a half hours the first night!!! Seriously. I hardly exercise because I can't seem to find the time so I was sweating and out of breath after a few songs. However, it was so-o-o-o worth it. Who knew that a video game would make exercising fun? If you don't believe me, check out what The Pink Chick says about the game. She's a friend of two of my friends, Katie and Heather.

I'm so excited!!!

I'm so excited to see that my son, Asher was featured on Alicia McDonald Photography's blog post yesterday! I didn't see Alicia's post until this morning. What a way to start the day! Isn't my little man A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E?!?!?

Alicia has taken some amazing photos of Asher over the past year, not to mention some fabulous maternity photos. She is a very talented children's photographer and is super sweet to boot. I highly recommend her. Check Alicia's Web site out (http://www.aliciamcdonald.com/index2.php). Too ca-ute!!!

The bestest cookbook EVER!

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

I purchased The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook by Ree Drummond as a Christmas gift to myself for several reasons. One because I am so envious of her mad photography skills. Two, I can't pass up a good cookbook. Three, I needed a good dose of inspiration in those two areas of my life...art and food. Four, I believe she may be my twin if I had porcelain skin and auburny brown hair but then again maybe not.

Anyway, this is by far the BESTEST cookbook I have ever owned. Sorry, Giada. Sorry, Paula Deen. I am a visual learner by nature so the step-by-step photos fulfill my learning needs. And the commentary is priceless. I have even laughed aloud a few times. I mean come on. When was the last time a COOKBOOK made you laugh and out loud at that? This is also the only cookbook I have read EVERY single page. I read it at night before I go to bed. My hubby thinks I've lost it. That's okay...it helps me dream of him in a pair of chaps which is good, yes?

Thanks, P-Dub for writing and photographing the bestest cookbook I have EVER had the true pleasure of reading front to back and back to front. You rock!

2010 Word-of-the-year: MORE

A fresh start. A clean slate. Square one. Here we begin not only a new year but a whole new decade. Ooooh, the possibilities!

Recently, I came across in my blog reading the concept of a “word-of-the-year” on Christine Kane’s blog. There are so many of us that make new year’s resolutions that fail by Jan. 5. “I’m going to lose 10 pounds.” “I’m going to exercise more.” “I’m going to give up sweets.” Yeah, right! We’ve all been there before however, having a word-of-the-year is different.

Kane’s concept is to find a word that you will live up to for the year instead of setting yourself up to fail with another unimaginative resolution. Ideally, the word-of-the-year is an action word such as change, expand or create. Or it can be a noun like abundance, courage or freedom. The beauty of the word-of-the-year is that you own it, whatever word you choose. For me personally, I chose the word “more.”

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

more (adverb):
1 a: in addition b : moreover 2 : to a greater or higher degree —often used with an adjective or adverb to form the comparative

more (adjective):
1" greater 2: additional, further

This year I am going to in no particular order:

• Love more
• Give more
• Volunteer more
• Dance more
• Blog more
• Take more photos
• Cook more home-cooked meals
• Save more
• Create more
• Spend more time with my family
• Work more efficiently
• Exercise more
• Eat more healthier options
• Drink more water
• Read more
• Live more
• Be more!

Here's to getting more out of your life in 2010!

What a steal!

I have been lusting after the Avignon Dining Table from Ballad Designs for eons. Yesterday, thanks to Copy Cat Chic I scored a wonderful and less expensive copy from Pier 1 Imports.

The Avignon table costs $999.00 plus shipping and tax. The Scalloped Dining Table from Pier 1 cost me a whopping $179.98 plus tax!!! It was on clearance. What a steal! I am so happy! Not to mention my hubby gave me the money to buy it. Thanks honey!!! And thank you Copy Cat Chic for the tip. You rock!

Ooooh...a pretty mommy!

A couple of days ago, I was at my son's daycare about to pick him up for a doctor's appointment. The pre-K class was lined up in the hallway next to my son's classroom. In line was a cute little girl with wire-rimmed glasses. She had long brown hair with bangs. To be honest, she looked like me at that age. Skinny and awkward.

When she saw me, the little girl said, "Ooooh....look a pretty mommy!" And smiled the biggest crooked grin I've ever seen. My heart melted because she was being totally honest AND I haven't felt pretty in a L-O-N-G while. Most of the time, I sport a half blow-dried hair style (in desperate need of a root touch-up) and a thrown-together-at-the-last-minute-because-I-hit-the-snooze-button-for-30-minutes-before-I-dragged-my-tired-self-out-of-the-bed-look. If I have any accessories on, it's only because I didn't have a momnesia moment that morning. I've been so far from pretty in my eyes that it may have well been on the other side of the world.

But here a little girl that I didn't know (nor bribed) thought that I was PRETTY. After her exclamation, all the little girls in line wanted to hug the "pretty mommy." I got at least ten hugs from these little girls who then thought I was the coolest, "pretty mommy" because I hugged them. You would have thought they had hugged Miss America. WOW! What a great boost to my self-esteem. Better than chocolate.

The point of this story is that even when you don't think so there IS someone out there that thinks you are PRETTY. So the next time you are out running errands or at church or at work, find a mommy, a little girl or any woman in need of a compliment and tell her she is pretty. It will leave a lasting impression.