Scenes From Our Week - Week 15

We had a birthday in our house this week.  Our baby girl, Reagan turned 7!  It seems like just yesterday, Pat and I were in the hospital room, patiently waiting for our miracle girl to arrive.  The epidural was doing its job and we were tuning into an episode of DR PHIL.  Then all of a sudden everything changed, the epidural quit doing its job and it was time to deliver.  Reagan was born at 3:58 pm on January 11th.  And seven years later, we continued to be blessed every day by her sweet, kind and generous personality.



She took #7 cookies to school for her treats!



She asked for flowers and she got them! Aren't they both gorgeous?!



She loves Hello Kitty



Comfy Hello Kitty PJ's. I wish I had a pair!



She wanted me to get a strawberry cake and luckily I found this one at HyVee
. It was just the perfect size for our family, decorated perfectly for her and the best part....Berry! It was yummy!

Reagan had friends over Friday night and they made Shrinky Dink bracelets.
Remember Shrinky Dinks????  Oh how I loved them as a kid!

We also had a little nail salon going on Friday night with the girls!  

It wasn't all about Reagan this week, Patrick had a basketball tournament too.  

It was a full week and we even got our first snowfall of the season.  We are looking forward to another busy week ahead that starts with a  lazy day at home on Monday! Have a great week everyone!

How I Get Organized With List PlanIt

As I said on Monday, HERE, I LOVE List PlanIt and how they help me stay organized.  They have lists for everything! 

This is one of the many lists that I use here at home.  When I can't think of what to do for supper I can go to my Meal List that I have inside one of my kitchen cabinets.  For most of them, I always have the ingredients on hand.  They are our families favorite and most requested meals. 

This is just one of the many, many lists offered on List PlanIt.  I'm offering a giveaway for one of their memberships.  Sign up HERE to win by Sunday, January 22, 2012. 

Scenes From Our Week - Week 14

Not a whole lot of photo opportunities this week.  We were just trying to get back into a regular routine again after the Christmas break!  Next week will feature lots of birthday pictures, I am sure!

Reagan is super excited to turn 7 this week!



Patrick with his bridge that he and his dad built for science.  It passed the weight test...holding 37 pounds!



Our cat, Baxter found a cozy spot to curl up this week....on my lap....which is rare for him.




Amazingly, on January 8th, we had hot air balloons go over our house. 



We are used to seeing the balloons in the spring/summer, but NOT in JANUARY! 



Giveaway: Get your List on With List PlanIt

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. THANKS FOR ENTERING!

If you know me at all, you know I am a LIST kind of gal!  I make lists for everything....groceries, errands to run, books to read, things to do today, things to do soon, blog topics, gift ideas....I could go on and on.  I just can't possibly keep everything in my head and so I make lists to keep it all straight. 

Have you heard of a website called LIST PLANIT? They have all the lists you will ever need and ones you haven't even thought of before.  I love this site and get my "list making fix" everytime I visit it. 

Hundreds of Lists to Put Your World in Order

List PlanIt is an amazing resource with more than 500 printable lists, forms and planners available for print and download!  I personally have the download membership and love how I can download any list to my computer, add or make changes if necessary and print it out whenever I need it. 

With many of you having "Get Organized" as one of you New Year's Resolutions, there is no better time to check out List PlanIt.  They offer lists to make your life easier including lists that will help you keep track of appointments, shopping lists, medical information, school information, vacation planning, schedules, to-do lists and more.

What I really appreciate is that I can get all that stuff floating around in my head and down on paper where I can't forget it.  As I think of something, I just write it on the list for that specific item.  So, for example, when I think of a place I want to visit, or at least research, for our upcoming vacation, I can just add it to that list and refer to it later when I have the time. 
Jennifer Tankersley, the founder and official list maker, has really made life so much easier for so many.  She has come up with lists for just about every area of life imaginable. You’ll find travel planners, homeschooling planners, to do lists and business planners, just to name a few.  This site isn't just for your home life either, there are great ways to organize your business/career life as well.  Jennifer was also the creator of the 100 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS ebook that I raved about a few months ago!




List PlanIt Goal Sheet

ListPlanIt offers several membership options:

■Print Membership. For $20/year, get instant access to more than 500 lists with the ability to print them out.

■Download Membership. Do you want to be able to save your information digitally? Than the download membership is for you. Get instant access to all of the lists, with the added ability to fill in your forms and save them on your computer for just $30/year.

■ePlanners. If you’re looking for a specific set of printables, you’ll also find individual planners for just $7 each. Browse the ePlanners here.

Check out http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1381356 for all the great options they have to offer!

As I mentioned, I purchased the Download Membership and am anxious to access the List PlanIt site throughout the upcoming year.  Some of my favorites lists are:

RESPONSIBILITY LIST (chore charts for kids)
DINNERTIME CONVERSATION QUESTIONS
BIRTHDAY PARTY TIMELINE
GIFT LISTS
ROOM BY ROOM PURGE
HOME IMPROVEMENT WISH LIST
2 MONTH AT A GLANCE MONTHLY CALENDAR (for blog topic ideas/schedule)
VACATION PLANNING

There is even an AMERICAN IDOL JOURNAL to keep track of your favorites while you are watching each week!  I guarantee there will be lists that will fit your life!  There are so many lists to discover and use on this site.

And.....

I have one List PlanIt membership of your choice to GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

REQUIRED ENTRY: Tell me where you have the greatest need for organization in your life and what list could help you out most. 

Be sure to also leave your email address (ex: name AT email DOT com) so I can contact you if you win!

This giveaway is open through 11:59 PM on Sunday, January 22, 2012.  All entries after that will not be counted.  I will used random.org to choose a winner on Monday, January 23, 2012, and email the winner.  The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or I will choose another winner. 

To stay up to date follow List PlanIt on Facebook or Twitter.


This giveaway is made possible by List PlanIt. I was not compensated in any way for this review or giveaway. I paid for my own membership to List PlanIt. This post may contain affiliate links that will compensate me if a purchase is made.  This review is my honest opinion and I only review products that I truly enjoy and would benefit myself and/or my family.

Book Review: The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zaslow

THE MAGIC ROOM:  A STORY ABOUT THE LOVE WE WISH FOR OUR DAUGHTERS

By Jeffrey Zaslow

Published December 27, 2011

*****

The New York Times bestselling journalist and author of The Girls from Ames, Jeffrey Zaslow, takes us to a multi- generational family owned small-town bridal shop to explore the emotional lives of women in the 21st century.

You may not have heard of Fowler, Michigan, much less Becker's Bridal. But for the thousands of women who have stepped inside, Becker's is the site of some of the most important moments of their lives-moments that speak to us all. Housed in a former bank, the boutique owners transformed the vault into a "magic room," with soft church lighting, a circular pedestal, and mirrors that make lifelong dreams come true.

Illuminating the poignant aspects of a woman's journey to the altar, The Magic Room tells the stories of memorable women on the brink of commitment. Run by the same family for years, Becker's has witnessed transformations in how America views the institution of marriage; some of the shop's clientele are becoming stepmothers, or starting married life for a second time. In The Girls from Ames, beloved author Jeffrey Zaslow used friendships to explore the emotional lives of women. In The Magic Room, he turns his perceptive eye to weddings and weaves together secrets, memories and family tales to explore the hopes and dreams we have for our daughters.



I was extremely excited when I found out I had the opportunity to review this book.  I loved both of Zaslow's previous books THE LAST LECTURE and THE GIRLS FROM AMES.  I had a feeling I would love this one too, and I did.  Zaslow wrote this in much the same style as THE GIRLS FROM AMES, giving each bride their own chapter and then coming back to them at the end with their follow-up story.  Even though this is non-fiction, it reads smoothly and the emotion of each woman's story is the focus over the research studies that filter thoughout. 

I found all the history of brides, bridal dress shopping and familial relationships extremely interesting and made me think of my own dress shopping days.  I myself had two bridal dress shopping days, one when I was 20 and one when I was 25.  I never got to wear the first dress as I ended up breaking off the engagement, but the two shopping experiences were vastly different and reflected much of the research and experiences in the book.  I am sure you will also reflect on both your dress shopping day and your wedding day as you read the stories in this book.  I remember the dress I ended up with was one I never would have picked out, but once I put it on, the tears and the emotions were immediately there.  It was THE ONE.

What I also appreciated about this book was that even though it focuses on the bride, the dress and the big day, through the stories, it reminds you “It’s not just about the dress, the flowers, the reception. It’s about the man and the marriage and the life that will follow” (p. 256).

The Magic Room at Becker's Bridal

Keep the tissue box close by as you travel through the stories in this book.  Zaslow knew just whose stories to tell and you will want to know how each bride is doing after finishing the book.  By going to http://www.themagicroombook.com/, you may be able to see updates and find other information about the book and the author.  Even though I have finished the book, I know the marriages and lives featured in this story go on.  I am praying all of them are blessed by the telling of their stories and their marriages are long, loving and strong. 

Thanks to Gotham Books and Librarything for providing me with an ARC of this book.  This review is my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

Need A Little Organization Boost?

Are you feeling overwhelmed with all the things you want to clean and organize in your home?

Are you wanting to plan out your meals and actually shop for the foods your family is going to eat?

When was the last time you actually felt like you had a handle on your household chores?

These are all things I was feeling overwhelmed with and at times I still am.  But I have an excellent option that I turn to and lucky you.....I'm willing to share this miracle with you as well!



My friend, Susan of THE CONFIDENT MOM has been a real mom that I have gotten some amazing advice from.  Her website and newsletters have often times arrived in my in-box at just the right moment.  She is real and she struggles just like the rest of us.  Her insights and honest perspective makes you realize that you don't have to get through the real-life frazzled days of motherhood alone! 

Susan has come to the rescue again with the 2012 WEEKLY HOUSEHOLD PLANNER.



If you are looking for some direction on what to accomplish each week, this planner will make your life so much easier. 

It will arrive in 56 pages and you can print them off all at once and place in a binder or save it and just print out each week at a time.  You have your daily tasks to complete and then each day will list a new item to focus on like changing the bed linens or cleaning out your car.  Then she also gives you these weekly reminders for example, to plan your cards/gift for that month's birthdays, upload your photos, or buy your child's Valentines.  You will be much less likely to forget something if you use Susan's planner.  There is plenty of room to add your own stuff too and a space to plan out your meals! 

THE BEST PART........this planner is only $9!  Yes, $9 for the WHOLE YEAR'S WORTH.  That is less than $1/month!  I know!  INSANE!  So, click on this little button and get yourself organized!!!!!  Right now!!!






As an affiliate, I may receive a compensation for purchases from the above links.  This review is my honest opinion.  I purchased the above item with my own money and did not receive any other benefit by giving this review. 

Scenes From Our Week - Week 13

Christmas morning joy:

Patrick in his new Tebow jersey, Bennett in his new Shonn Greene jersey



Reagan with her new art set



Patrick trying out the new drum throne (stool)



Bennett's turn.  A drummer's gotta have proper seating! Much better than the folding chair they did use!



Grandkids and Great-Grandkids at my folks, ready to tear into the presents!



Snow Princess, Reagan - Now we just need some snow!



Our 4 month old Great-Niece, Aleya - That football is almost as big as she is!



Great-Nephew Henry is always ready to ham it up for the camera!



My mom in her new cozy, plush robe