Favorite Things Day One!

Hey folks! Guess what? It's time for....

Striving for Fabulous' Third Annual

FAVORITE THINGS Week!

In all honesty, it kinda snuck up on me!

My favorite thing for day one is.....

TUPPERWARE! 

I know, I know.  I've heard all the jokes about Tupperware parties and Tupperware ladies. I used to be a Tupperware lady in fact.

I love Tupperware. Love it. Let's blame it on my Grandmother. She started the whole thing before I even knew what happend. Grandma gave me my first Tupperware when Tupperware looked like this:

I still have some of those pieces-all mixed in with the girls toys. My pitcher is orange. I don't have colored coordinated lids for my cups or those snazzy square pieces. hmm.

These are some of my favorite pieces now:

These 16 ounce tumblers are my favorite go-to cup. Rarely use the lids though.

This Quick Chef is super handy. I don't have a food processor- I use this instead!

The best thing about this Salad Spinner is that you can use outer bowl to serve or store.

Some of my favorite Tupperware has to be my pans.  Ugh.  They were pretty pricey, but I've had them for several years and I still love them.

These guys are great for the kids snacks. Or dips. Little leftovers. And the colors are fabulous.

Square Tupperware has to be my favorite of them all.

I think the Mix & Stor is a must have for any kitchen.

My Season Serve has seen a lot less marinades and a lot more cupcakes...

This little guy is pretty handy too.  Works like a lawn mower. The kids I work with love him.

The Vent and Serve has got to be my favorite. I like that it does not get all bumpy and yucky on the inside when you heat something to long or hot in the microwave.  99% of our leftovers get stuck in one of these guys.  And they are square.  I love square.

The traditional Salt & Pepper Shakers are one of the newest additions to my collection.  I'm not sure how much I love them.  The lids seem to get kind of grubby.

The Chip n Dip is a fun one to get out when we have friends over-way more sophisticated to eat chips out of a bowl instead of the bag!

Square Tupperware is where it's at I tell ya.  If I put it in the freezer, I like it to go in one of these.

Oh My.  When these came out, I thought I died and went to heaven.  Not only are they square, but they nest all together inside each other. Minimal space in the drawer. Which is critical when you have as much Tupperware as I do!

Get to the giveaway already right??

Today, I am giving one lucky person the second most used Tupperware in my house:

A 32 cup THATSA BOWL!

Tupperware is not on my wish list this year.  Maybe because I had a Tupperware party earlier this year.  Maybe because I have 80% of the catalog already.  Tupperware is not on my list this year, but a nail gun is.

What's on your list?


To enter this giveaway, leave a comment telling me one thing on your wish list this year. One winner will be randomly drawn one week from today, Monday, December 26th.

Avocado*Corn*Black Bean Salsa

Avocado Corn Black Bean Salsa

Ingredients:

2 avocados

2 cans white corn

2 cans black beans

4 green onions

cilantro

fresh lime juice

cumin

salt

pepper

Directions:

Drain corn and beans. Dice avocado, onion and cilantro, toss together.  Squeeze a little lime juice over mixture. Add cumin, salt and pepper to taste. Serve with tortilla chips.

 *This recipe is from my good friend, Sarah. In true Sarah fashion, it's a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" recipe- adjust all ingredients to your taste!

*This is NOT a "make ahead" recipe.  I recommend mixing it up no more than 2 hours before you want to serve.

*This is not so good left over either, so you'll want to start small-using only one can of corn, and one can of beans.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Tonight we (the kids) finally decorated the tree.

Now for the rest of the house.... and the pile of Christmas cards I picked up today.

And This,

is why I hate 3.

Desitin diaper rash cream

does

not

 

wash

 

off.

 

But his skin? It's as smooth as well... a baby's butt.

Happy Birthday!

Our baby is three today!

Happy Birthday Jackson!

Movember

A month ago I purposed a challenge to Tyler- If he did not shave for a whole month, I would buy him a pair of TOMS.  his mother was pleased. I think her exact words were: "So, I have you to blame, huh?"

He kept his end of the bargain, and I kept mine~

With his "special edition" Movember TOMS!

Hot Pink Baby

Sunday after church, Isabelle and I took a little road trip to Ohio.  I so enjoy spending time with that little lady all by myself!

My brother and his girlfriend are expecting a baby in early February, and some of her family hosted a shower for her and the new Little sister.

Isabelle and I with the Mommy-to-be.

I cannot wait to meet the little lady. I love her already!

Potty Train

Kept his undies dry all day yesterday!

He's Getting Bigger...

Jackson is learning all kinds of new things lately.  Helpful things really.

He has started putting on his pajamas. All by himself... WOO HOO! Does a great job too.

He's figured out how to get water out of the fridge, with or without ice. Minimal spillage.

His verbal skill have always been advanced, ( in my opinion) but wow.. you should hear him talk. He uses "maybe" and "probably" appropriately. Understands everything.

He can reach all the light switches. Also handy.

He's starting into the swing of the potty training thing. For several weeks now, I've been talking to him about going to the bathroom in the toilet, and when he turns three on his birthday (12/14) he's going to wear "big boy undies". Yesterday, since we were going to stay home in the morning, I asked him if he wanted to wear his undies. To which he replied: "It's my BIRTHDAY??!!"   So smart.  So ready for him to wear underwear.

I'm not sure I'm quite ready for this though:

And yes, the guard was on the razor.  He did a fine job!

Sixty Four Years

Earlier this year when my grandparents were visiting, my grandmother and I got to chatting about her wedding.

My grandma and grandpa were married here, in the small town where we live- where my grandmother was born and raised. (If you consider 17 raised. That is how old she was when she married my grandpa. oh my.)

During the conversation, she mentioned on their wedding night they stayed in a hotel in a neighboring town- and did I know if it was still there? (The hotel, not the town.)

The Charley Creek Inn

It sure is... and recently refurbished!

During that conversation, I thought: "How much fun would it be for them to stay there again?"

After chatting with a few of my Aunts/Uncles/cousins about my great idea, I conned them into sending me some money and reserved the Honeymoon Suite.

Last Friday was my grandparents sixty-fourth anniversary!

They got into town a little after lunch on Friday and I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with them at our local county museum.

Before I needed to pick up my kids from school, I helped them check into their room.

These were waiting for them:

Fresh flowers compliments of the General Manager and hotel staff.

They were so cute! Grandma was sure she'd never seen anything so luxurious! Grandpa wasn't so sure they needed all that room!

I left them to take a little rest, picked up my kids from school, grabbed Ryan and went back to the hotel. I took several pictures of them around the room-

In the sitting room...

In the bedroom... I just missed him kissing her!
On our way downstairs for dinner we stopped on each floor- Grandma wanted to see the decor of each.

Outside the door of where they think they stayed on their wedding night. It's hard to remember that long ago!

Ryan and I enjoyed spending time with them at dinner-we very rarely see them alone. We usually have to share them with some other family member, or our kids.

We can only hope to be together for as long as they have!