Just catching up...

I love this fireplace and SOOOOO wish we had one! I dream of the day we have a new house and a fireplace to hang the stockings on and to be able to curl up next to the fire at night with come hot chocolate!! Mmmmm:)

Believe it or not, I STILL do not have my tree up:( I usually put it up the Monday before Thanksgiving but time didn't allow it this week. I am so excited to decorate the house, Christmas is my favorite holiday. I am very worried about lil' Gage who is 19 months now and VERY curious, that he will destroy the tree this year. My future mother-in-law is taking him Monday while Gavin is at school so I can get rid of the dust bunnies that have been taking over lately and get our tree and decor put up. All of our snow outside has just about melted already! I know we have more back soon though.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving; ours was nice, but not the same as always:( We only had one place to go this year, instead of 2. I cooked for us and the boys and our dads on the Monday before and had NO leftovers!! I couldn't believe it; I wanted turkey so bad on Tuesday for lunch and nope, none to eat!! (I'll just assume it was too go to leave any as leftovers!; lol!)

Well, as soon as I get my tree up and pics taken I'll post them!

To everyone...

Awesome MySpace Comments & Myspace Layouts

Another FUN swap to do!!

Here is my 2nd swap for this Christmas season!
I think it will be a lot of fun; I've never created a "cracker" before:)
My partner is Sue and I'll be visiting her blog a little later today for more info about what she loves!
I'm off and running to take care of a messy house due to 2 little boys who have about 200 hundred train cars and hot wheels all over this place! LOL
Later,
~Noelle~

Stocking Swap SURPRISE!!

Boy, am I spoiled!
Look at what Peggy from Hidden Haven sent me for the Stocking Swap!!
It snowed today which made it feel even more Christmas when I opened my big box of goodies!!

Wonder whats wrapped so cute in here?

Its a cute little snowman and woman, hehe, pillow!

And a GINGERBREAD scented candle!
I LOVE this little felt wrap that goes around the candle; I've never seen something like this before!
It also is like my lil family: momma, daddy and the 2 lil snow-boys!!

Super cute gift tags and a snowman notecard set!

I sooooo love these gerbera daisy and zinnia's scrapbook stickers!
The ones on the left will go beautiful in our wedding album!!

More pretty wedding scrapbook stickers, love the cake!!

A Beautiful gown!!

GINGERBREADS!!!!
I love this tin so much, Gavin grabbed it and ate the jelly beans!!

Peggy makes her own soaps and lotions from goats milk, which smell soooo good!

Darn it, this pic didn't turn but its the cutest little snowman statue!

Here is the felt bag that she put most of my stuff in!
I want to give this penguin a smooch cause he is so CUTE!!

I LOVE GOODIES!!!

Thanks so much again Peggy for all these wonderful items!
It brightened my Monday:)
I can't wait to get your stocking to you!

~Noelle~

Elf Yourself! LOL

This is for a GOOD Laugh! Go to www.ELFyourself.com and you can upload your families faces and turn them into ELVES!!! LOL You also can choose from disco, country, and charleston dances in which your ELVES dance to the music; the DISCO is the BEST!! What a way to get into the Holiday Spirit!!

HAVE FUN!!

~Noelle~

My favorite everyday and holiday things...

I LOOOOOVE to Bake! Especially for the Holidays!

Gingerbread anything melts my heart!! I have some stuff in my kitchen year round, along with apple decor!

My #1 hobby other than shopping, is... SCRAPBOOKING!!

I collect Christmas ornaments, especially Gingerbread ones!

Love Snow "people" too!! Very sweet looking!

Of course, my main desire is WEDDING PLANNING!! Our wedding is just a year away- 11/14/09!!

STOCKING SWAP!!

I am so excited for my 2nd swap! I am in the Christmas Stocking Swap with Peggy from Hidden Haven! I cannot wait to get started looking for items to put in her stocking!
Peggy, I'll do a post for you with some of my fave Christmas things!

~Noelle :)

My 1st Etsy Purchase!!!

So there is this very crafty lady on blogspot named Scrappy Jessi. I love to visit her blog to see all the creative things she makes! I just made my first purchase at her Etsy shop for an ADORABLE Fall Bag Brag album. I am going to put a few our engagement pics in it and keep it in my purse to show off!! I can't wait till it comes:)

Here are a couple pics of what it looks like...

~Noelle

Yummy Recipe! I want to make these!

cranberry caramel bars
Recipe courtesy of Alicia's Recipes

1 cup fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups uncooked regular oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 (10-ounce) package chopped dates
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 (12-ounce) jar caramel sauce

Preheat oven to 350 F and line a 13x9x2 pan with aluminum foil, leaving a little overhang, and you can lift bars out to cut with no problem.

Combine 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small bowl with the cranberries and set aside. Combine 2 cups of flour and the next four ingredients. Stir in melted butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of this mixture and set aside. Press remaining mixture into bottom of a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish or pan (use a piece of wax paper placed over the top to press down the mixture). Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with dates, pecans, and the cranberry mixture. Stir the caramel sauce and the remaining 1/3 cup flour together until smooth, spoon over cranberries. Sprinkle with the reserved 1 cup flour mixture. Bake an additional 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool on a wire rack. Lift out of pan with foil overhang. Cut into bars, makes approximately 24

Being Thankful...

I am having Thanksgiving at my house this year for the little side of my family! I've been thinking about what to make for dessert, of course! (LOL) I guess I make a "mean" turkey, according to Brian! It always comes out very tender and juicy-yum!

So all this turkey talk got me thinking about the real reason for thanksgiving; sharing with others what you are thankful for!

I am thankful for...

(1) My precious boys; they make me feel very old and tired at times, but keep me young but teaching me how fun it is to play and be silly:)

(2) My future husband, Brian. He supports our family and works his butt off to give us the nice things we have. He has allowed me to either stay home or work part time to be able to raise our boys and take parts in all the things that I'd miss if I'd have to work full time! I love you BABE!

(3) My mom... she is the only female left in our family! She had taught me the importance of family and how to savor each moment with your children, because they are only small once!

(4) My friends... I have a small group of them but they are great! Always there for me when I need to escape (LOL), to laugh or a shoulder to cry on! Thanks girls... I love you! (Valerie, Amie, Wendy, Becky, Angie...)

(5) That my COLLEGE DEGREE will be completed this December after 6 years!

Don't forget to count your blessings today! Happy "early" Thanksgiving to everyone!

~Noelle