4 Lettre Words

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2012-01-28T14:37:00.000-05:00

1. Smile

(Luke is so into the "thinking-about-it-too-hard" smile, now.)

2. Stand Alone

3. Rusty

4. Artificial

5. Pattern

Loving the light...

2012-01-23T18:20:00.002-05:00

I've mentioned before that we have great light inside...

I really love the light on our deck, tho...

(Yes, I wish I'd zeroed in on the beer bottle at some point! The steak
and chicken were really yummy, by the way.)

i heart faces

2012-01-22T19:13:00.003-05:00

I was excited to see the "book" theme for iheartfaces.com this week

because we dearly love reading. I often find Luke in the playroom or

sitting in the middle of his bed with a stack of books. (Really warms

my heart.) So, today I grabbed some of our Little Golden Books...

...and I let Luke do what Luke does best!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2012-01-21T15:53:00.001-05:00

1. B&W

(Oh, the life of a Molly-Cat!)

2. Sunset

(Fire in the sky.)

3. A day in my life...

4. Colorful

5. Four

King of kids

2012-01-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

Luke loves hats...he also loves french fries...

...and being silly!

My boys have every toy ever made. (Seriously.)

But a $3 kids meal still evokes such joy. And, I love that.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

These are a few of my favorite things...

2012-01-16T07:43:00.000-05:00

Sweet Boys

(Sam took this pic!)

My "Winter" Mantel

(I really loved my Christmas decor, but simple is good, too.)

Silly Cats

Barbecue Pizza

And...these picture-less things...

60 degree temps in January -- That's pretty common in GA, and a big reason we live here!
The boys played football yesterday...for hours...in short-sleeves.

On-line shopping -- It's just so much easier to shop a site like Wayfair. I'm looking for a
a few things to add to the house and really like their selection of kitchen rugs.

Monday Holidays -- All three of my men are home with me today so we're heading out
to get breakfast...pancakes and bacon for Mama!

i heart faces

2012-01-15T19:25:00.000-05:00

It's all in the family this week at iheartfaces.com, so I

chose this one from the Lettre vacation in 2011...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2012-01-14T14:20:00.000-05:00

1. Stacked Up

(I so LOVE to read. A book or two and a few magazines...and

I'm a happy gal! Our recycle company is happy too...LOL)

2. Winter

(We've had a ton of rain this winter.)

3. Sweet

4. Hole

(Snapped this one through a hole in Sam's shower curtain.)

5. Frozen

Wacky Winter Ways

2012-01-12T06:05:00.004-05:00

I'm sure you've heard that the weather in Georgia is kinda

crazy/unusual/unpredictable/great...LOL Well, we just had a

suuuuper strange day. These 4 photos were taken only

a few seconds apart. From our front porch...

Then, from our back deck...

See? Super strange...even for Georgia!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Chore Charts @ Goalforit

2012-01-10T06:46:00.005-05:00

I was recently asked to review a really cool site, Goalforit. And,

considering the new year often has us thinking of goals and action

plans, it couldn't have been better timing. Goalforit offers a great

on-line Chore Chart, Behavior Chart and Goal Chart, and all of
it's free! I love the variety, plus it's all so user-friendly.

The charts for kids range from preschool themes to those cool

enough for teens. You can choose from a list of chores, goals

and behaviors or you can just create your own. For instance,

I added the infamous "Use the Potty" to Luke's chart.

Here are a few examples...

The site also has a great community area, the News Room, where you
can get your friends and family in on the action. (We can all use

a little support!) Plus, you can receive daily email reminders, so

that you won't forget to update your chart(s).

I think the site is pretty fantastic and here's the top 5 reasons:

Easily create a personalized Chart in minutes
Chore Charts can be used online or printed off
Teaches kids about responsibility in a fun way
Tracking & reviewing progress is super simple
It's all 100% FREE

***Thanks to MomSelect and Goalforit for this opportunity. I was compensated for this post,

but the opinions expressed are 100% my own.***

i heart this face -- 2011

2012-01-08T19:19:00.000-05:00

This week at iheartfaces.com, they requested our favorite

face from 2011. That's not easy. Still, I chose...

Luke and I made some super cute Valentine's last year

but after 12 shots, he was over it! Tee hee...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2012-01-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

1. One Color

(Different shades of the same color?)

2. Laundry

(dryer sheet)

3. Empty

4. One Dozen

5. Soft

Bittersweet Birthday

2012-01-03T19:11:00.002-05:00

My oldest boy is 8-years old! It's so exciting and so very sad at

the same time. I can't believe how much he's grown...and changed

over the years. We are so much alike and so very different. (That

means Sam's really, really awesome.) Here's a quick look at it...

And, his 1st pic of 2012...

It was a wonderful celebration, including a skillet cookie for dessert

and his "big" gift...for which I created a little scavenger hunt...

(You'll have to max the volume b/c we're super quiet.)

My Memories and dreams...

2011-12-31T18:07:00.000-05:00

I love you!

Still laughing...

Winter Wonderland

Birthday

Friends

I was inspired...

Spring Fever

Travel

Summer Days

A day in my life...

All Smiles

Autumn Harvest

Home

Celebrate!

Let's do it again...

I miss you...

Beautiful

Dress up...

Macro

Holidays

(one of) My Favorite(s)

Just because...

Don't ever change!

Hopes

Giving is so much better...

2011-12-28T07:00:00.002-05:00

Every December, my boys and I select toys, underwear, coats, food, etc. for

several children in our area. Children that Santa won't visit. It's always such

a special tradition for us, so when MomSelect and Cepia contacted me about

their amazing RAZ program, I was ecstatic. What is RAZ, you ask???

RAZ is "Random Acts of Zhu" and is the largest community service program

by Cepia, the makers of Zhu Zhu Pets. Each year they send out boxes of furry

little pets and accessories to willing bloggers. This year, I was one of those

bloggers...and look at what I received...

(Yep. My Fed Ex man was shocked, too.)

We'd always planned to donate to Cobb Christmas, which is one of our

favorite local charities, helping around 4,000 children each year. (I

always loved that they set up the donations like a store so needy parents

can "shop" for their kids.) However, once I learned that the donation

was so large, I decided to split it up and help MUST Ministries annual

Toy Shop, too. It's really similar to Cobb Christmas and helps so many

families in our area schools.

So, we loaded up "big blue" twice for drop-offs...

And, it was a ton of fun seeing the faces of the volunteers when we

said we had "a large donation"!

Thank you so much to the aforementioned companies for including me in the donation. I received

nothing for this post. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any manner.

Christmas Past

2011-12-26T17:01:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Christmas with friends...

...and family...

Then, Santa visited us...

...and, left gifts near the fireplace...

Family gifts were at our big tree...

...and so were the kitties!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Merry Christmas to all...

2011-12-24T16:42:00.001-05:00

and, to all, a good night!

"C" is for Christmas...and...

2011-12-21T12:59:00.001-05:00

I had some random photos from the last 2 weeks

and it occurred to me that they all started with "C"...

Cousins

('tis the season to visit family!)

Colorful

(I made Magic Reindeer Food for all of Sam's classmates.)

Chorus

(Luke "performed" at church.)

Countdown

(Better hurry!)

Cutie

(Sam has quite a few admirers at school...in the neighborhood...at church...)

Cat

(Max LOVES Christmas, too!)

Company

(My fave. Snowman will stay in the kichen through February.)

Chocolate

(I call this, "When Doughnuts Attack")

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-12-17T07:16:00.005-05:00

1. What is it?

(Not too mysterious...but I loved the shot!)

2. Children Sleeping

3. Half

4. Joy

5. Window

(Molly spends much of her day looking out the big window of my Craft Room!)

Christmas Tree(s) Tour of my Home

2011-12-14T15:56:00.010-05:00

I so LOVE decorating for Christmas, and always

take a ton of photos. This year, the nighttime

shots really warm my heart...

Yes, we have a Christmas forest, instead of a

Christmas tree. The largest is in our foyer...

We have 3 in the family-room, 2 by the fireplace...

And, the smaller, Pooh tree...

Here's our only "real" tree (because of allergies),

on the front porch, along with real garland and wreaths...

And, believe it or not, I want to add another tree...
in our basement rec room...a white tree!

Oral-B Stages & Oral-B/Crest Pro-Health FOR ME -- Party Time

2011-12-13T07:42:00.000-05:00

The fine folks at MommyParties, Oral-B and Crest

recently sent me a big kit to host a party, including

the new Cars 2 DVD, as well as these items:

• Oral-B Stage III Brushes

• Pro-Health FOR ME Brushes

• Oral-B Stages Flossers

• Pro-Health FOR ME Paste

• Pro-Health FOR ME Floss Picks

• Pro-Health FOR ME Rinse

• Cars II Gummy Vitamins

Needless to say, my boys were excited...and, we

decided on a evening party, so the kids could wear

pajamas if they wanted.

The night of the party came along quickly! And,

I let everyone play for a little while, so that I could

pop the popcorn and gather drinks, then we discussed

the products. The floss picks were a big hit, as I heard

several comments like, "Oh, those are so easy!" (They

came in especially handy after the popcorn.)

I raffled off a bottle of the mouth rinse to one parent,

then hid a second bottle in the playroom while the kids

covered their eyes. The 1st one to point out the bottle
and shout "Crest!", claimed it for his own.

Finally, it was time to put the movie in, and everyone

was excited. We headed down to the basement rec

room, and with little delay, the room was silent...

While the movie played, I prepared the goodie bags,

featuring the many great items from our party.

And, since we only had 6 party-goers to make it, we

shared the remaining items with some neighbors and

friends at church. Everyone loved it!

My boys have used these products for a little

over a week now and they really like them. Sam

is very picky about toothpaste flavors, but I've

heard no complaining. He also said that the mouth

rinse doesn't "burn" like some of the other brands.

Thank you to all of the aforementioned companies for the products I received in my free party kit.

The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any manner.

i heart faces

2011-12-11T19:57:00.002-05:00

Furry faces this week on iheartfaces.com, as

well as The Paper Mama, so here's sweet, little Molly-Cat...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-12-10T11:08:00.002-05:00

I was a bit under the weather this week, so the

hunt worried me...but in the end, I gotter-done!

1. Less is more...

2. Christmas Lights

(LOVED this feature on Paper Heart Camera!)

3. Ornaments

(A couple of my "glitter initials" on the big tree.)

4. Cup of Cheer

(Another fun use of lights.)

5. Nativity

Frosty Fotos

2011-12-07T06:25:00.000-05:00

I've been under the weather this week, so my camera

hasn't gotten much use. I'm obsessed with frost right

now, tho, so enjoy this bit of sparkle...

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Favorite Foto

2011-12-04T18:19:00.004-05:00

I just love this pic of Sam, taken in the Spring...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-12-03T13:53:00.000-05:00

Busy, busy around these parts, so I went back a

few weeks for my "time" shot...

1. Portrait

2. Nostalgic

(One of many from my vintage collection.)

3. Time

4. Full of light

5. Motion

P.S. Don't forget to enter my newest giveaway HERE!

Happy December!

2011-12-01T07:32:00.000-05:00

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

P.S. Don't forget to enter my newest giveaway HERE!

Phix Energy Drink - review and giveaway

2011-11-29T14:13:00.001-05:00

****CONTEST HAS ENDED AND WINNER NOTIFIED****

I recently had the opportunity to try Phix energy drink mixes...

I have to admit that energy drinks really aren't my thing, mainly

because of the super-sweet-after-taste...BUT the mixes from

Phix are delicious and have virtually no after-taste. Plus, there

are NO jittery side effects. Bonus!

I sampled the Citron, Teaberry and Tropic mixes. (Which are

so easy -- just add a pouch to 12-16 ounces of water!) They

mix easily, hot or cold, tho I'm not a "hot beverage" drinker,

so I always went cold. Here's what you can expect:

Phix Citron energy drink has a mellow lemon tea taste that awakens your senses and tickles your taste buds.

Phix Energy Tropic has a tropical berry, pineapple & guava taste that transports your taste buds to the beaches of faraway tropical islands.

Phix Energy Teaberry is a mixed berry tea flavor that packs in all the sensations of luscious fresh fruit as if you were eating them in the fields.

I really liked each flavor, but Tropic was my fave. It

was so "summery", which is nice this time of year!

I had my drink around 3PM each day. It gave me a gentle

(but much needed) boost that propelled me through homework,

dinner-prep, bath time, etc. And, I didn't have to worry about

the ingredients b/c the mixes are vegan and gluten-free, plus

organic...and contain very little sugar or caffeine.

(I don't think they're finished either so keep up with Phix via

Twitter and Facebook.)

Soooo...wanna win some???

I have a month's supply to give away, which means

YOU can try 3 boxes of Phix, plus you'll get a 25%

off coupon to use on future purchases. (Sorry, but

the giveaway is limited to the United States.)

Just leave a comment about what you like best about Phix.

If you're a follower you can have an extra entry, but please

leave me a 2nd comment as a reminder. :)

This giveaway will end at 10PM on December 5th.

I received this product free-of-charge in exchange for my honest review.

The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any manner.

i heart him

2011-11-28T01:00:00.001-05:00

Luke loves playing "get me" and I love his laughter...

plus those wonderful eyelashes...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-26T03:18:00.003-05:00

My favorite hunt so far...

1. Waiting

(Luke was sitting on the front porch waiting for Daddy's return!)

2. Foliage

3. Candid

(Sam was out of school all week for Thanksgiving break. He

watched a TON of football.)

4. Fork

5. Rule of Thirds

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T15:18:00.003-05:00

We are so thankful for all of our turkeys, handmade...

And, of course, hand-carved...

These are a few of my favorite things...

2011-11-21T07:23:00.003-05:00

Beautiful sunsets, each so different...

(November 19th)

(November 16th)

Soft, purring kitties, each so different...

(Max)

(Molly)

Sweet, little boys, each so different...

(Sam, consumed by football, therefore ignoring the camera.)

(Luke, "tending to be sad". One of many faces he asked me to capture!)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-19T14:58:00.002-05:00

1. Mainly one color

(And, it's a favorite color in this house, for sure!)

2. Around the home

3. Writing

(I was getting started on the many Christmas cards I send

when this little lady dropped in for a visit.)

4. Reflection

5. Water

And, because I just couldn't stop hunting, here's

"reflection in water"...

The not-so-colorful post...

2011-11-17T06:24:00.004-05:00

This week I was looking for white. I found it up high...

(The sky is so lovely this time of year.)

And, down below...

(We've already had 5 frosty-mornings this fall. Odd for our area!)

(Luke loved these tiny ice crystals on our cypress trees.)

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Turkey Trot Tot

2011-11-14T16:25:00.002-05:00

Sam's school had a fundraiser over the weekend, The Turkey Trot.

It was a cold November-morning for GA at 28 degrees...

But, we had a great turn out and everyone was excited to

be there, especially Sam...

(How cute is that shirt? It was designed by a 4th-grader

and chosen by the 5th-grade student council!)

We had warm-ups...and a 6-foot turkey...

My boys loved the warm-ups!

Then, we were off for our 2K run...through a

local neighborhood...

And, there were some great signs along the way...

We all had such a great time, and (eventually) the

6-foot turkey finished, too...

i heart faces

2011-11-13T20:02:00.000-05:00

Don't you love autumn? (Of course, in the south it's "Fall".)

We always look forward to the days when kids-can-be-kids,

without the heat and humidity we're so accustom to...

Share your Fall'ish shots at iheartfaces.com!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-12T15:45:00.002-05:00

1. Opposing Lines

2. Before & After

3. Custom Bokeh

4. Little Features

5. Which pair of shoes?

(Oh, the dilemmas of a 3-year old!)

Brown all around...

2011-11-10T08:12:00.008-05:00

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Boys will be boys!

2011-11-07T13:55:00.002-05:00

We're having some beautiful November weather, so

of course. we're spending a lot of time out back...

Luke dressed himself. (He LOVES blue...teehee.)

He decided to rope me up, too...

i heart fall

2011-11-06T19:54:00.001-05:00

(We had s'mores the other night...at 7:23!)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-05T13:32:00.001-04:00

1. Food

(A portion of Monday's loot.)

2. In disguise...

3. Shapes

4. Photog's choice...

(November 1st sunset from our driveway.)

5. Purple

Thankful on Thursday 4: Hibachi

2011-11-03T06:23:00.001-04:00

Sam was out early from school for teacher conference

week, so we decided to do a family lunch. We chose

our favorite sushi place b/c they also do hibachi...

Luke LOVES fried rice...

and then he likes to color...

And, after hibachi, we were stuck in traffic...

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Hallowen parties, everywhere...

2011-10-31T15:26:00.006-04:00

Two boys. Two parties. One day.

Sam's new school is so wonderful, where kids can be kids...

I couldn't make an appearance at Luke's pre-school

party, but I snapped some "before" shots...

Erin Healy’s The Baker’s Wife

2011-10-31T11:26:00.000-04:00

To save her husband and son, Audrey Bofinger must rescue her enemy.

The Bofinger family has lost their church ministry in a scandal exposed by Officer Jack Mansfield. Hoping to heal and to restore their reputation, Audrey, Geoff, and their son Ed take over a failing bakery in the small community.

Driving to the bakery one morning, blinded by fog, Audrey hits a motor scooter owned by Jack’s wife, Julie. The mangled scooter is crushed and bloody. But Julie is nowhere to be found. Her disappearance coincides with a sudden illness that nearly cripples Audrey.

Jack believes the Bofingers have hurt Julie to take revenge on him, but the evidence dries up and her trail goes cold. At a breaking point, Jack takes the tiny bakery and its patrons hostage, issuing only one demand: Audrey has six hours to return Julie to him, or lose Geoff and Ed forever.

With only an excruciating and intuitive gift, an ex-con, and Julie’s estranged daughter to help search for clues, Audrey starts the search of her life for a woman who has vanished like the fog.

The Baker's Wife was nearly impossible to put down! It centers around the choices people make and how they can affect others. I loved everything about it, especially the well-crafted characters. Audrey and Geoff are so likable, and Julie's disappearance had me puzzled until the very end. I also appreciated the reminder that everything must be forgiven...and that forgiveness brings freedom.

Well-known to critics and reviewers, Erin Healy has established herself as an award-winning editor and a best-selling co-author with Ted Dekker. Healy received wide acclaim for her two debut novels Never Let You Go and The Promises She Keeps. Her work focuses on the psychological and spiritual, driven by high moral stakes. She lives and writes in Colorado with her family.

For more information please visit www.erinhealy.com.

Enter to win a KitchenAid Mixer and RSVP for Facebook Party on 11/10!

Let the flour fly! Beginning October 24th, Erin's celebrating the release of her latest page turner, The Baker's Wife, with an outstanding KitchenAid baking prize package giveaway that includes a brand new KitchenAid Mixer, cook books, and all you need to whip up some fabulous bread or sweets! Then and on November 10th she'll be wrapping up the release of The Baker's Wife with an Author Book Chat Party on Facebook! Don't miss a minute of the fun!

One grand prize winner will receive:

Empire Red 4.5 QT Ultra Power KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Black & White Kitschy Apron
Black Silicone Oven Mitt
Black OXO Rolling Pin
Wilton 9X5 loaf pan
At My Grandmother's Knee Cookbook by Faye Porter
Second Helpings with Johnnie Gabriel Cookbook
The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced at The Baker's Wife Author Book Chat Facebok Party. Erin will be wrapping up the The Baker's Wife celebration with a book club chat and giving away a bunch of "sweet treats"! So grab your copy of The Baker's Wife (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Erin on the evening of November 10th for a book chat, some "baking" trivia and lots of "sweet" giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 10th!

***I received this book free-of-charge, in exchange for an honest review.
The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any manner.***

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-10-29T15:21:00.003-04:00

It's been a beautiful Fall week in GA...

1. Macro

2. Found Texture

3. Home

4. Tree

5. Cover

Reminder: I have a fun toy giveaway....so be sure and enter!

Click HERE!

Fall Frenzy

2011-10-27T18:28:00.003-04:00

It's a busy time, but so lovely...and fun...

We just visited our local botanical garden, Smith-Gilbert,

and their roses took my breath away. Many were 8-10 feet

tall and the beautiful blooms were 6" across. Stunning!

Of course, there was a lot of beauty there...

These SO resembled spun gold.

(I think Rumpelstiltskin was nearby, for sure!)

And, speaking of beauty. Check out these guys...

(Can you tell that one son is all about detail (Luke)
and one is all about the silly (Sam)???)

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Reminder: I have a fun toy giveaway....so be sure and enter!

Click HERE!

Xia-Xia Pets -- Review & Giveaway

2011-10-26T02:26:00.001-04:00

***CLOSED***CLOSED***CLOSED***

Congrats to random comment #45!

Have you seen these cute little crabs???

If not...then meet the Xia-Xia Pets (pronounced Sha-Sha)

from the makers of DaGeDar and Zhu Zhu Pets.

These new colorful, collectible creatures combine the loveable charm

of a real hermit crab but add a twist of imagination. Each Xia-Xia comes

with a candy colored shell in which kids can find a little friend hidden

inside. Additional shells can be purchased so children can style their

Xia-Xia in their favorite fashions. For an added bonus, each additional

shell contains two little friends. Xia-Xia have colorful playsets, bringing

alive a world of color, magic, and imagination for kids to enjoy!

We recently received one each of the cute little crabs, some

extra shells and three fun playsets. They really are too cute,

and kept us giggling as they scooted around their "habitats".

And, tho, they appear fragile, they can certainly handle the

fingers of a 3-year old, plus the occasional fall. Love that!

The tiny friends that come in the shells were a big bonus

for my kids, too. And, I personally, loved the packaging

for the crabs and shells.

These fun pets are predicted to be a big seller during the
holidays, so I'm really happy to announce that I have one
crab and shell to give away! Wanna win them?

Just leave a comment below telling me what you
like best about this new toy. That's it! Oh, and
if you're a follower, you can get a second entry.
(Please leave a second comment.)

***This giveaway will end at 9PM on October 31st.***

(Many thanks to MomSelect and Cepia for the opportunity to review these items.

The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any manner.)

Ruby Tuesday

2011-10-24T15:03:00.002-04:00

We're having the most beautiful weather...

and seeing red everywhere...

i heart faces

2011-10-23T19:52:00.000-04:00

This week, iheartfaces.com is all about tiny parts,

from babies to toddlers, so...

here's our Luke, the first time he went to the beach. It
was Pensacola, FL...and amazing, but he was still a bit
timid. All of these little fences helped out...a lot. (I
still LOVE all of the sand on his face and hand!)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-10-22T14:24:00.001-04:00

It's definitely getting Fall'ish here, in GA. Friday morning we

even had a freeze warning. Wowza...it's too early for that, but

after the intense Summer, we're realy enjoying the crispness!

1. Words

(Popular words in this home!)

2. Under

(Yet, another shot of me and my babe, from last Sunday. I don't

have a remote, so all of my selfies are "timed". Luke is sooo easy!)

Had to include this one for good measure...and The Paper Mama...

3. Orange

4. Fly

(We fly our flag most days from sunup until sundown.)

5. Always look on the bright side...

(We had some really hard rain and wind this week. My roses certainly

took a beating, but this little guy couldn't help but smile at the sun!)

Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

2011-10-22T05:11:00.002-04:00

Hope finds the hopeless when a storm hits.

It's Christmas weekend 1949, and despite the threat of a storm, the townspeople of Frost are determined to continue their holiday traditions, if only as a means to forget the war that they had all just suffered through. But the suffering hasn't ended for Dottie Morgan who lost her only son in the war. She's preparing to wallow in her isolation for the weekend, when Violet, nearly a spinster at age 29, dares to make a request that will force Dottie to publicly revive the memory of her dead son.

When a storm traps the two women at home with a strange young man who has an unbelievable confession and a neighbor with more to do with Violet's past than she would like, no one can predict how this Christmas will give them all a second chance.

This was such a beautiful read, full of love, hope and nostalgia. I adored the characters of Gordy and Violet, but all of the characters were so well crafted, I felt like I knew them. This was the perfect book to read during the cool nights we've recently had. The story truly warmed my heart, and I can't wait to read Susan's next book.

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at:www.susanmaywarren.com.

Warm up to Chrismtas early this year with Susan May Warren's Baby, It's Cold Outside! To celebrate the release of her new Christmas book with Summerside Press, she and the publisher are giving away a Kindle Fire and hosting an early Christmas Party on Facebook!

One festive winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire
Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. Giveaway ends on 10/26!

But, wait there’s more! Join Susan May Warren on 10/27 for merriment and a few early Christmas presents at her Baby, It's Cold Outside Christmas party! Grab your Christmas sweaters, socks and pj’s and join Susan and a few friends for a fireside chat about her recent books (Heiress & Baby, It’s Cold Outside), holiday traditions, favorite Christmas recipes, a trivia contest and more! Invite your friends and don’t miss the fun!

RSVP here and we'll see you on October 27th at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST!

***I received this book free of charge, in exchange for an honest review.
The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any manner.***

Hodge Podge

2011-10-19T20:15:00.003-04:00

So, I really have nothing new to say. I do have

a few recent photos that I haven't shared...and love...

( I so loved this little "shoot" of me and my baby!)

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Fall, Family & Fun

2011-10-17T15:34:00.003-04:00

We had an amazing weekend that included time

with family, gorgeous weather and my hubby's chili.

(Plus, it was his birthday...#41!)

It was good to see that one of our "spookies" was on-guard...

And, my mums are still really perky...

The boys LOVED spending time in the backyard...

Of course, there was the occasional fumble...

At the end of the day, it was all smiles, tho...

i heart faces

2011-10-16T18:28:00.001-04:00

I tell this boy, daily, "Luke, you are under my feet!" Look

at that sweetness, tho. You know I'm not complaining.

We're supporting PINK this week at iheartfaces.com...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-10-15T17:16:00.003-04:00

1. Round

(Another shot from the BMX Show.)

2. Abstract

(The mat at our front door, with some bling.)

3. Seeing Faces

4. Fire

5. Star(s)

(Sam LOVES erasers and this star is a fave.)

Plus...

(See the stars on the flags? I took this a few weeks ago,

but never showed it on my blog.)

High-flying Bikers

2011-10-13T16:25:00.003-04:00

We went to a King BMX Stunt Show and saw some

pretty amazing skills...

Pretty neat, huh!? My boys were in Heaven. And,

I have to say it was pretty cool...and took me back

to some fun/crazy high school days.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-10-10T14:50:00.004-04:00

Halloween! And, your family room looks like this...

And, your front porch looks like this...

Not to mention the little pest that flies into your lovely

sunset-silhouette shot of the front Crape Myrtle...

There's no denying that the colors are wonderful, tho...

i heart faces

2011-10-09T16:30:00.001-04:00

I have a thing for what my boys' hands are doing/

creating/messing up...HA! This was such a great

prompt for me...and Mr. Blue Lips...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-10-08T14:57:00.002-04:00

1. Landscape

2. Color Wheel - Complimentary

3. Black & White

4. Food

5. Blank Space

The Flying Circus

2011-10-05T17:31:00.004-04:00

I mentioned earlier this week that the fair was in town

and we took the boys for some fun...and fried food,

of course. Sam's favorite ride was The Flying Circus.

It was also my favorite ride to photograph...

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

a fair-y good time

2011-10-03T15:29:00.010-04:00

Nothing says Fall around here like the fair...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-10-01T17:43:00.003-04:00

1. Inspired by a book

Just so happens that we had a (VERY) foggy morning this week...

and I'm reading The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy, which involves

a terrible accident and mystery brought on by intense fog.

2. Brown

Brown eyes in our brown family room.

3. Hazy

Loved the way the sun was coming through our Bradford Pear.

4. Tea for me

Yep. I'm The One who doesn't drink coffee.

5. Linger

Sometimes it's just hard to let go.

Quarterly top 5!

2011-09-29T08:02:00.001-04:00

It's time again for my 5 favorite photos...

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Ready to Fall???

2011-09-26T15:28:00.003-04:00

Did Autumn arrive in your neck of the woods?

We're starting to see color in GA...

...and, we're loving it!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-09-24T16:11:00.004-04:00

1. Low Key

(This one stumped me b/c our house has a ton of fun, natural

light...except for 7AM. But, after snapping this one, I turned

to see Sam playing his DS. Gotta get it in before the bus...)

2. Color Wheel

(I really love neutrals in my home!)

3. Circle

4. Scarf

(One of my fuzzy-faves.)

5. Phone

Are you up for some bubbles?

2011-09-22T15:33:00.003-04:00

The weather was sooo amazing Monday, that we spent

time outside after dinner...and Luke brought out his

BUBBLES!!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

P.S. Do your kids love ZhuZhu Pets? If so, check this out.

Out and about...

2011-09-19T15:43:00.004-04:00

We had the most beautiful weekend in GA, so

you know we spent most of it outside!

1st up...a street festival near our home...

The boys enjoyed playing around...

Mama enjoyed all of the photo-opps!

How great is this fountain...

Then we headed to a sweet little frozen yogurt shop

called Oolala. I think that was Luke's favorite

part of the day...teehee...

Then (naturally) we ended the day with chalk...

P.S. I just created a new blog for my reviews and giveaways,
so click HERE to read the latest!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-09-17T17:35:00.002-04:00

1. Street Photography

2. From a distance

(Luke was rolling balls up his slide. I was sitting under our deck.)

3. Sunday

(These are on a hill that overlooks our church parking lot.)

4. Liquid

5. Behind

(Luke was watching for his BFF, Grace, to arrive for a playdate.)

Thursday's letter is B...

2011-09-15T08:03:00.000-04:00

This weather brings...

Berries!

And, we're hoping for some...

Birds!

And, there's no shortage of...

Baths!

Or, of course, my fave...

Brotherly-fun! (Playing hopscotch.)

Tho, I really am lovin' the new...

Blooms!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

On 9/11 we cried, smiled...and danced.

2011-09-12T15:31:00.000-04:00

We spent much of yesterday doing what we do...

church, a grilled lunch, playing outside, etc.

Luke did a dance, too...

And, we really can't get enough of this cool'ish weather.

(Please, please don't go away!)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-09-10T13:36:00.005-04:00

1. Remember

And, Sam thought of this one...

(He made this for me when he was younger.)

2. Process of Elimination

3. Statue(s)

4. Flying High

5. Bokeh

(The morning dew makes our front lawn appear golden,
and up-close it's full of tiny bokeh!)

On September 11, 2001, I worked for Aon Consulting in Atlanta. Our
company had offices in Building 2 (South Tower) of the Twin Towers.

We lost 176 lives that day...175 employees and an unborn baby.

I'll be back in the blog world Monday.

Celebrate!

2011-09-05T14:32:00.004-04:00

We're enjoying our holiday in this house "Lukey style"...

He made this little streamer at school on Friday,

and really enjoyed entertaining our family!

(P.S. Check out that funny little ape foot. Made me laugh!)