If I could, I would...Christmas!!! {Part 2}

I'm still stuck on how I would decorate for Christmas. What theme, what colors, how much or less is more? What kind of tree or garland......It's almost like planning a wedding! And I love Planning Weddings!!!!

So first I think decided on what Tree is the beginning of it all....

Upside Down -vs- Right side Up

For me this is a no-brainer...I'm just not that into the Upside Down tree.

Next is REAL -vs- ARTIFICIAL TREES

I see the joy in going to pick out a Real Tree and how it feels the house with Christmas Scents. However I grew up with Artificial trees and I am too much of a practical girl. So I invest once in a "on-sale" tree that is PRE-LITE! I remember every year putting those crazy lights on, taking them off and then trying to untangle the next year. The PRE-LIT os so worth the MONEY!

TO FLOCK or NOT TO FLOCK?

I have grown fond of this look. I know its fake snow but I gave this ago this year on my $15 4ft tree from BIG LOTS and I love it. I have nothing on my tree but the Flocking from a can and I really enjoy it.

COLORED LIGHTS -vs- WHITE LIGHTS

Again I grew up with White Lights but I am torn on this one. I love the fun playfulness of the colored but I lOVE the glow a room gets from the white lights.

THEME

This is endless so I just picked out a couple that I thought were neat/pretty! Take a look below!

{Family Tree with Pictures of multiple Generations on it}

{Turquoise & Silver}

This makes me think of my Sister and my Mom! We all love Turquoise!

{White & Gold}

So clean looking and elegant at the same time

{Just Flocking & Lights}

This is what I have right now but only a 4ft tree. it's still pretty!

{White & Rustic}

{Traditional}

{Gold & Red}

{CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREE}

My family loves Charlie Brown Christmas so I had to include this tree you can get at Target!

So what is your Taste......

Real or Artificial?

Flocking or Not?

Colored lights or White?

Themes?

HomeMade Apple Pie - Pretty & Delicious!

I decided to bake an Apple Pie for Thanksgiving this year and since I get my free Subcription to Better Homes and Garden due to MyCokeRewards.com......I saw a Recipe for Cranberry-Apple Pie. Now I didn't include the Cranberries but the rest was wonderful!

CRUST

I use a Recipe from the November Magazine that was easy enough, however took a little bit of time. (about 30-40 minutes) but I would dare to say FOOL-PROOF! Why would I say that? Well I did exactly as the recipe said but my crust didn't turn out anything like the picture (plus I didn't have a PASTRY BLENDER). Nevertheless, the crusts were wonderful after all was said and done!!!

I will use it again! To see the Recipe go HERE. It's also on Page 178 of the November 2010 BHG Magazine.

Then for the Apple Pie Recipe I also got this from The November 2o10 BHG Magazine (page 182). Or you can go HERE for the Recipe. Because I don't have any special tools, I did all of the peeling, de-coring, etc myself for the apples. This too me a good hour to do. After this everything else went fairly quickly. (about 30 minutes).

Since the Pastry Recipe makes 3 Servings (two were for the crust and one serving was for the topping of one of the pies), I needed another topping. So I made a strudel Topping which was just as delicious, just slightly different!

Fainting Goats Montage

I saw this the other day on America's Funniest Home Videos Show. This guy snuck up on a goat, scared it, the goat froze and fell over, fainting!!! I laughed so hard and since one of my things to be Thanksful is Laughter, I thought I would share a montage of FAINTING GOATS. I hope you enjoy and get a good laugh out of it too!

LAX Passenger (Corinne) Wears Bikini To Get Through TSA Security (Bikini...

Alex and I have talked about this new Pat-Down over the last week or so. Mostly how we both agree precautions should be taken for our safety, however the idea to me seems just not worth it for the invasion of my body.

Which then lead to how Alex said he would just wear a speedo through security in order to avoid the whole thing. Well two days later we saw this news clip on on ABCNews about a woman who wore a Bikini through airport security in order to avoid any invasive pat-downs. Too great!

Watch the below to see the whole story, in order to how you too can avoid the Pat-Down!

So what is your option is your option on the TSA Pat-Down?

Would you wear the bathing suit through security to avoid it all?

Today is the letter "F"

Since Alex is still hunting and Gathering in the Deer woods...

Therefore, I'm still visiting with my parents, which has been wonderful! I can't remember the last time I spent 24 hours straight with my sister and my parents. I forget how incredibly Funny they all are and how much fun we have together! Like yesterday, we decided to go shopping (But not until about 4PM) and we had so much Fun admiring the different Fashions!

We joked about how big and long our Feet were with baby shoes, Rachael found the tallest hills in the store and tried them on (I think she really like the shoes minus she could walk in them) and we gave dad hair extensions with this hat we found at Eddie Bauer.

So today we are baking! Mama has this recipe for homemade Caramel Corn and she makes it the best out of anyone in the Family! In fact my mamaw (who is a Southern Belle Cook, YUM!) and my aunt Charlotte ask her to make it for them every year! So this year she is teaching us girls to make it!!!!

Plus we are making Fudge and then at 2:30PM we are watching the Razorbacks play LSU (Football) in Little Rock for the Battle of the Boot!!!

If I could, I would...Christmas!!!

I would decorate to my hearts content with Christmas lights, Christmas Trees in every room, Christmas scents, Christmas Greenery, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!!!

I love this holiday for so many reasons, but this post is mostly just the fact of decorating for the Holiday Spirit. What's Holding be back?

A couple of things. For one we don't have the place to store the stuff when it's not Christmas, 2 we wouldn't be home to enjoy it. I decorated some our first year of marriage and we were home to plug in the lights only twice the whole month. The other is I am still figuring out what my Christmas Decor style would be to begin with.

Which brings me to my "If I could, I would"....what would be my style and how would I decorate if I had the space and time to enjoy it!

I love these pictures!

This "Upside Down Tree" is unique but NOT Me.

Here is a Martha Stewart Tree that I would put in the Entry Way!

I love this for the Front Door! I might add something like some RED and/or Lights!

The Pictures for Lights on the Outside. One has lights you can hang from trees and the driveway lined with lights! It's so invited even before your guests get in the door!

I enjoy the Precious Moment Nativity Scene just because my mom has one and puts it out every year. Hers isn't this big but still just as precious.

I love these Picture Stocking Holders (These are from Pottery Barn)! It helps remind you to take at least one good annual picture a year and then you can scrapbook the photo after the holiday. Another way to make great memories.

25 Days of Thankfulness

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Thanksgiving is a time for us to reflect upon what we are grateful for. Below I have listed my 25 things I am thankful for! (I picked 25 since Thanksgiving falls on November 25):

1. My God! My Lord and Savior has freed me from the bondage of Sin and given me new life through Salvation and Loves me every day unconditionally!
2. My Husband, Alex Constien. I know how few quality men are out there, especially ones that are also wonderful Men of God. I am grateful for the Man Alex is. He is my best friend and my partner for life! He lifts me up when I need it, loves me unconditionally, has faith in and completes me in every way! What a BLESSING he is in EVERY WAY GOD MADE HIM!!!
3. Parents! My parents have taught me so much in life and have prayed me through just as much growing up! They showed me what a really loving and covenant marriage is supposed to be. My mom taught me what a woman of faith is and my dad showed me how to expect a man of honor/faith to treat me. They continue to love and support our Marriage (even though they are still learning how to spell my new last name, LOL).
4. In-Laws. David and Vickie are Alex’s parents but I feel love from them as I do my own parents. Again I have heard horror stories of In-Laws and I am grateful for such loving and warm welcome into such a gracious family. Also for the wonderful job they did raising such a wonderful man that I am PROUD to call my Husband!
5. My Sister! Rachael started life as complete Opposites and even though we aren’t really the same now, God has blessed us by transforming a sibling rivlry into a new found Friendship. I admire my sister for where she has been in life. How she has allowed God to use that to get where she is now and wherever God is going to take her next. I am grateful I get to serve our God and ministry together and the unreserved support/love I know she will always give.
6. Family! I'm thankful to have family (aunts, uncles, cousins Grandmother)! I know how precious life is and how quickly you can lose a loved one. So I'm grateful to have family and to have opportunity to love one another.
7. Friends! Enough Said!
8. My Sister-in-Law and my nephew! Robyn is a lot like Rachael. We might not be a like in some ways but I know she has a huge heart of which she has graciously extended to include me. I’m thankful I can see her as a Sister and Friend! Tyler her son, is a joy to watch grow-up! Especially when I am told he is a complete replicate of my Alex! I am grateful for my other sister-in-law and look forward to getting to know her and their family more so. I am grateful for when I do get to see them!
9. Not Moving! I think I counted once that we moved 12 times in 20 years (give or take). We have been in Fayetteville since 1995, allowing is to spend time with extended family; of whom we only saw on Holidays. And now being married, when we actually do have spare time, we can all the sooner see our families who are all here in NWA (for the most part).
10. Laughter – LIFE could be so DULL & BORING with out this one! And Corny Jokes! I know their Corny BUT I LOVE THEM! They are easy to remember and give you a good Laugh!!! (JOKE: Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 ate(8) 9!)
11. Peanut Butter! ENOUGH SAID!
12. Mac-n-Cheese! Again ENOUGH SAID!
13. Getting Sick! I really don’t enjoy being stuck in bed or having to take any medicine. Nevertheless, I was sick the last two weeks (roughly) and the time off was a breath of Fresh Air! I am grateful for that break!
14. My Job!
15. A roof over our head, food on the table, clothes in my closet and our mode of transportation. After going to Haiti last summer, these are things I know I am spoiled to have and grateful to have them!
16. Bitsy, our sweet kitty!
17. Deer. They give my husband that he enjoys and when he is blessed with one from a hunt it puts food on the table.
18. Beaches!
19. Freedom! God bless all who have, are and will give of themselves so that we might have the privilege of the freedoms we have in this Country!
20. Electric Tooth brushes! They have saved me from having any Cavities for YEARS! (and I do not enjoy going to the DENTIST!)
21. Thunderstorms! As I’m typing this I can here thunder rolling, YAY!
22. Miracles! I believe these still happen everyday in our lives. They are messages from God that He is here, He hears us and provides according to His will! They Make the Lord's Presence KNOWN!
23. Cameras! I love being creative with shots, capturing Memories and revisiting them repeatedly! All of which is possible with Cameras!
24. My Education! It is a privilege and College was some of the best years of when I was discovering who I am.
25. Holidays. Some of my best memories are all on a Holiday. There is family time, time away from work/school, great food, lots of laughs and a wonderful time of reflection on how blessed we ALL really are.

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?