Favorite Things Day 4

Portraits by Kimberly

Because she came to my house on a Friday night to take photos of my crazy family.

Because she flew to the hospital to document Jackson's birth on a Sunday morning.

Because she made the only gift that has ever brought tears to my eyes.

Because she makes me look good.

AND, she has a FABULOUS assistant that makes me laugh!

Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisp

I lick the bag when the pretzels are gone.

They are that good.

My Closet

Ryan's corner



My corner



It holds all kinds of things!





Pashmina Wraps





I have three pashmina wraps and several assorted scarves/wraps. Next to shoes, they are my favorite accessory. Hmm. Shoes are not really an accessory, so I guess these ARE my favorite accessory. I use them as breast-feeding cover ups, scarves, baby wearing slings, I wrap them around my shoulders on chilly evenings, or cold days in the office. I love them!



Now, IF I was Oprah, I would hook up with Ty Pennington and install your dream closet in the dream home you won yesterday, fully stocked with wraps in every color. You would also receive a free portrait sessions and a portrait package from Portraits by Kimberly, and a years supply of pretzel crisp.



But I'm not Oprah. Or Ty.



But I do have: ONE Pashmina wrap for a lucky winner!
You get to choose ONE of the following colors:




















































































If you would like to enter this giveaway, leave a comment.

Really. It's that easy.

Tell me Kim makes me look so good I don't look like myself.


Tell me you hate buffalo sauce and would not eat it with green eggs or ham.

Tell me what color wrap you would like if you won.

Leave your name.

That's me, easy peasy...lemon squeezy.


Winners will be randomly drawn next week!

Favorite Things Day 3

The Garage

Sorry, I could not find a finished photo.


But this garage is one of my favorite things about this house.


It has been at least 14 years since we've had a garage with working doors.


I had no idea there was snow on the ground the other day until we backed out.


convenient, cozy, comfort!




Washer and Dryer



Ryan purchased these for me in April at an auction.


We put them in storage, and moved them into the new house with us in November.


I am still in shock and awe.


Laundry goes so fast!


And the blue color makes me happy.







ipod



My ipod Nano.


I'm sure it would make working out go faster.


Drowns out the kids on our long car trips.


Certainly makes *waiting* move along!




My Shower




LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.


my new shower.


What you cannot see is the other shower head, rain head from the ceiling and three body jets. With at least two showers a day, I am the cleanest I've ever been.


I love it so much, I've been known to drink my coffee in there. If only I could figure out how to read in there...





If I was Ty Pennington, I would come to your home and yell: "Good Evening ***insert your name here*** family!" Give you all ipods, send you on a fabulous vacation, tear down your house, build you a dream home with the best garage ever, High efficiency washer and dryer in a laundry room to die for. I'd also install a shower dreams are made in...



But I'm not Ty Pennington.



I do have ONE $25.oo gift certificate to Bath & Body Works

so that you may enjoy your shower more!



If you would like to enter this giveaway, leave a comment.
It's that easy.
Tell me your favorite thing.
Tell me to shut up about that house.
Tell me how often you trim your toenails.
Tell me your name.
Hey, I'm easy!

Winners will be randomly drawn early next week!
.

We Interrupt This Program...

McMama is hosting a fabulous giveaway over on her blog... and I'm sure if I won, it would be my new favorite thing! But I'm sure you'd hate it. Never mind.

Click here: McMama if you would like to check it out. I'm sure it's nothing you would be interested in... don't you have better things to do??

My favorite things will continue in a moment...when I get these kids in bed!

Favorite Things Day 2

My dishwasher.

Five months with out it was less than pleasant.


Keurig Coffee Maker


Ryan gave this to me last year for Christmas, and I use it every day.

It is so convenient. Pop in the coffee pod, and *poof* a perfect cup.

Every time!

Shoes

This is my current favorite.

I named them Stella after my great-grandmother.

I'd wear them around the house if the kids didn't look at me funny.

They crack me up!

Reading

I love lots of different authors, styles of writing, except mysteries and scary stuff.

Jodi Picoult is my current fave.

These are my two favorite of hers.

I started reading "Change of Heart" this week.

I can forget about getting ready for Christmas...she hooks me from the first paragraph.




If I was Oprah, you all would have spankin' new dishwashers delivered to your door tomorrow along with a sleek black coffee maker and a years worth of coffee. Gift certificates for new shoes that you would "need" for your behind-the-scenes at google tour.



But I'm not Oprah.



I do have for you, ONE Jodi Picoult book of your choice.


Just let me know what one you would like.

If you happen to love these books more than I do, and have read every single one, we can make arrangements to get you a different book you've been dying to read..


If you would like to enter this fabulous giveaway, leave a comment.
It's that easy.
Tell me your favorite thing of the moment.
Tell me you hate Jodi Picoult.
Tell me what color you dye your hair.
or, just leave your name.
Hey, I'm easy.


Housekeeping note: I'll be randomly choosing the winners from this week's giveaways next Monday.

My Favorite Things Day 1

Are you one of those people who take delight in the smallest things?

I would like to think that I am.

This week, I am going to share some of my

"Favorite Things"

The Bachelor/ette

I love it.

How can you not love 25 hot, single guys vying for the attention of one girl?

I dream about it at night.

I also dream that I live in a fabulous penthouse in downtown Manhattan, have a closet full of Jimmy Choos and Mahnolo Blahniks, and sit next to Robin Roberts every morning.

shush! It's my dream!

Oh, the new Bachelor starts January 4th!

My Dyson

Really, truly, makes vacuuming a pleasure.

And it looks happy.

Amy Butler

Fabric, patterns, love it.

This job really gets in the way of my crafting projects.

Although, if I did not work, I could not afford the supplies...vicious cycle.

Straight No Chaser

I love many different kinds of music, country being my least favorite.

SNC is my current fav.

Now, if I was Oprah, I would send you all to the "Bachelor Pad" to have drinks with Chris, go on an exotic adventure, eat amazing food, and sit in the hot tub all with the person of your choice. I would also give you all Dysons, Have wonderful gift bags stuffed full of Amy's latest patterns and fabrics AND arrange a private concert with SNC for you and say a dozen of your closest friends.

But I'm not Oprah.

I do have, ONE Straight No Chaser Christmas Cheers cd for one lucky winner!

If you would like to enter this fabulous giveaway, leave a comment.

It's that easy.

Tell me your favorite thing of the moment.

Tell me you hate The Bachelor.

Tell me what you had for lunch.

or, just leave your name.

Hey, I'm easy.

Things to Come

Tonight is the Night!

I'll be kicking off my first annual "Fabulous Things" week!

For all of you who have not figured out how to leave comments...you'll wish you had!!

Things to Come

Oprah

She's clue #2.

Things to Come

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

My Great Idea

I have been a "Family Fun" subscriber for several years now, and my favorite feature is "My Great Idea". Readers submit their best ideas for everything from how they get their kids to be grateful to eating vegetables to cutting down on dirty dishes.

Instead of submitting my great idea, I'm posting it here, to share with you my friends.

Homework with William is a challenge on my good days. Second grade spelling is really kicking our butts this year. ("cornucopia" was one of his words last week.) After sitting (not so) nicely at school for seven hours, plus a half hour commute each way, he is ready to do anything but homework.

When I saw this "Scrabble" game at the local mission for a dollar, I grabbed it up! He is now having fun creating different crosswords with his spelling words every night!

1972

What does this remind me of?
My mother.

In her senior photo.

In 1972.

Christmas Party!

Saturday was my Grandmother's Christmas party in Ohio.

There was a horse-drawn hayride...

Horrible pic of me, but Jackson loved the horses. "Dick" and "Pete".

A pinata...

All the little kids lined up for their turn at the pirate. "Because nobody is sad to hit a pirate". Good thinkin' matey.

Multiple photo ops....

I love you guys. Wanna' move to Indiana???

Lots of food.... a group of us AFTER lunch.

Just kiddin' Remember this photo from last year?

Here they are!

Babies on the outside!

Mindy & Ashley, Sarah & Jackson, Mindy & Megan, Amy & Warren, Annie & Chase.

I'm the only person who still weighs the same.

And this? This is the photo with the two little boys who's mommies didn't want anyone to know last year. Amanda & Wyatt, Beth & Tucker.

These little guys brought our family number up to 70!

And next year....

71!

anyone else? anyone??

Angle Family Fun Day

I think the house is finally finished. The stainless counter top arrived, modeled by the lovely Isabelle.

We have hardware on the cabinets, and a shiny new sink. More on that later. We've slept here three full weeks and We absolutely love it! It truly feels like home. Now to get the rest of our things moved in...More on that later too!

Twice a year my family gathers together for "Angle Family Fun Day" named by yours truly. To make everything "fair" (we are siblings, not saints), and not have some families traveling more than another, we created a rotation. And this fall was our turn to host. Thankfully, our house was finished early, and we were able to have everyone Thanksgiving weekend instead of New Years weekend like we had originally planned. THANK YOU Matt!

Mom and Dad arrived last Sunday, and worked like busy little beavers all week on (our) their "honey do" list while Ryan and I worked. They did an amazing job, and the house looked FABULOUS when everyone arrived.

Mom. I don't think she slept at all while she was here. Really. She was awake when I went to bed every night, and up when I got up each morning. I hope I can be half the Nana she is when my turn comes. But I don't think I want to be a "Nana"...maybe a "Softa" or a "Sho Sho"... different topic for a different time...

Uncle Ben and Aunt Mindy were the first to arrive Wednesday evening. It was the first time we've met my niece, Ashley. She is so beautiful. I'm not saying that because she's my niece, she really is just the sweetest baby. Eye lashes, big brown eyes, chubby legs. Cuteness you can eat with a spoon.

Ashley and Hunter. Looks just like my brother. Except for the dimples and brown eyes. Those are his Mama's. William was so excited to share his bunk bed with Hunter. The three years in between their age is no problem, they play wonderfully. Makes your heart melt.

Miss Lydia and Isabelle. We marvel at their differences. Lydia has thick, thick, curly dark hair, dark eyes, and Isabelle has thin, Marilyn Monroe hair, blue eyes. Don't let their cuteness deceive you. When Elizabeth is ruling the world, these two may just de-thrown her when their time comes. Talk about a family of alpha females.

Uncle Reuben arrived shortly after, with Wesley and Logan.

I'm sure these cousins were never more than 5 feet from each other at any given moment. I am so proud of these boys. At almost 15, and almost 14, they tolerate my kids like no other. And act like they are enjoying themselves! I hope it lasts....

Uncle Simon and Aunt Kasey were the last to arrive, about 3 am on Thursday morning.

This is their little bundle of sweetness. She looks nothing like us. She's all her mommy. And she's just beautiful. What is it with nieces and nephews? I've been thinking on it this weekend. Why do we love them so much? Is it because they bring back fond memories of my childhood with their fathers? or that I loved my Aunts and Uncles so much, that I want them to love me too? hmm. I'm thinking some more.

We kept busy Thursday and Friday, playing, playing, playing. And dare I say? very minimal fighting and crying! woo hoo!

Nana hosted a tea party for the girls, complete with real tea and cookies! For some I think it's more about the cream and sugar, some the cookies, but everyone had a good time!



Miss Ashley enjoyed it as well...check out those polka dot tights!

And because these boys felt completely left out,




Papa hosted a tea party for all the boys. With real tea too, cookies and ice cream.

Wesley cannot wait until the next time!

We spent some time shopping, most of our time eating, but we had a fabulous time with them all here. Kimberly came and took a family photo, no crying or gnashing of the teeth, she is truly wonderful. Quick, Quick, Quick! She was so good, that Reuben and Ben decided to do some family shots too. When you have a good photographer, she gets done before the kids get cranky!

Reuben and Simon headed out Friday night, and the rest of us headed to Ohio Saturday morning for my Dad's family Christmas. More photos to come!

I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

God has blessed us with much over the past year, our cup is running over. And for His greatness, we are truly Thankful.