Happy New Year From Our Home to Your's

I hope everyone is recovering from Christmas and you have spent some quality time with those you love. I also hope you will understand that I will not be posting a Menu plan Monday, or Tip Tuesday this week. I am spending time with my family this week. Next week we will be back to the old grind...but now is a time to enjoy the precious little time we have on our Winter break....
Much love is sent from me to you and I hope you all have a safe New Year celebration.

Christmas in my Home!!!!

Breakfast Nook Table! I love Gingerbread
My Gingerbread Tree in Kitchen
More Gingerbread......

Still more................................. My most precious gifts of all...........

My living room tree and mantel.......


Dining room table
Dinning room Tree

I am so late on posting these pictures of Christmas at the Boyd house. I hope everyone had a very joyful and wonderful Christmas with the ones you love....May you all have a happy New Year......

Merry Christmas

Today is the day of gift giving, and I wanted to thank each of you for the wonderful gift of your friendship. We are so very blessed to have friends and family to share our lives with. I am blessed beyond measure by family, friends and loved ones. Thank you for your friendship and love and I hope I have returned a portion of what I have received. I hope you all have a wonderful New Year, that is filled with God's grace and love in your lives. If you are traveling during the Holidays my prayer is for your safe return home. If you are home with your loved ones take time to enjoy this gift. May God continue to richly bless each of your lives. Merry Christmas from my family to you.....and very Happy New Year ahead.......Much love!!!!

Tip Tuesday "Only One day late"

OK, so only one day late on this post....whew improvement is in sight! lol My tip for this week is sort of a " cop-out" too, like my Menu planning this week....here lately I have been running on adrenaline and I have been over the top trying to shop for gifts, do my holiday baking, Christmas parties, and then add work on top of that , Junior Auxiliary and Christmas in the park...whew.....I am soo tired. Myself, like all of you, we know we should slow down and breath...for a moment. My tip is simple....let others help you when they can, ask for help to accomplish the task that need completion...and if you don't get it "all" done, so what, just try to take a few moments for yourself and your family.....those are truly our "gifts" our blessings during the Holiday season...Much love, I hope to post about my Christmas party later this week...right now I am trying desperately to catch my breath. Much love to you all and take a moment to just "breath"

No Menu Plan Monday!!!

Girls I know this is 2 days late, and I am exempting myself this week from Menu Planning...we are having a "take it or leave it, make it yourself, if you call dibs first you get to eat it...if it smells ok and has been refrigerated be my guest" kind of Menu Plan! ROFL....this week is always so hectic for me, I just couldn't break away 2 minutes to post until now. I told Richard and Britt and Ethan the above comments about our "Menu" they still have choices!!! We did pick up pizza tonight, we are going to make Christmas baskets for our sick and Shut-Ins at Church. I am hosting our "Ladies Bible Class Christmas party tomorrow night! Today was my last day at work until Jan 2! Woohoo...so we may have a menu all worked up next week, but don't hold your breath....I am on strike....until after the Holidays!! Much love and happy eating

Tuesday Tip

In keeping with the Christmas Spirit, my tip to today will be Holiday oriented!

With boxes, bags, wrapping paper, bows, and all the paraphernalia that goes along with wrapping gifts. I have a little tool that I think will be helpful to you girls. I was watching the News tonight, and during a commercial break, there was an advertisement for a new cutting tool. I know you have all seen this commercial, tool is like a seam ripper type of scissors, somewhat like those plastic envelope openers. I thought for a moment and I had an Ahha moment. You probably have those letter openers, you know the ones you pick up at conferences with business' names, why not try these to cut our Holiday gift wrap. Now I have not tried this, but you bet your bottom dollar, Saturday morning I will. No need to spend needless for an item that most of us have in our homes. If you have tried this tip and it works please post, if not pull out those letter openers and get to cutting.....Have a blessed day!!!

Christmas Meme..........

I was tagged by my sweet friend Toree and I so enjoyed reading her list and others! So as below is my list!
This is what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just answer the questions and "tag" another blog buddy! 'Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags ? Wrapping paper and gift bags (Richard does my wrapping) ssh don't tell anyone.....
2. Real or artificial tree? Artificial, I love "real" but somewhat afraid of the dangers.
3. When do you put up the tree? Day after Thanksgiving. Next year I am doing it earlier.
4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, love it...especially homemade.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A Holly Hobie Doll.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Father In Law (he has everything).
9. Easiest person to buy for? My Mom.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? hmm...I am pleading the 5th.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail (usually done by now too)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoons Christmas movie.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually do some in Oct., I get serious in Nov.
14. Ever Recycled a Christmas present? Sorry to say Yes.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas ? Coconut Cake (MIL it's the best)
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Which one? I put up 3. I put Star on Fav. one.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? One on Christmas eve..rest Christmas Morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People who act rude.
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Yes, love color in decorations. Typical Red and Green and Gold! I will post pictures later.
24. What do/did you leave for Santa? When children were young milk and cookies, carrot for Rudolf...we did leave cheese for the reindeer one year...great memories...
25. Do you make New Year's Resolutions and do you keep them? Yes, but the last two years I have a list of Goals I work on all year long. This has been so encouraging to me...

Ok now I must tag someone so I am tagging Annette at Toadily Handmade Cards! Happy Holidays to all.

Menu Plan Monday

Wow it is only 15 days until Christmas, here Monday rolls around again. I have been stressing a little lately. I can't seem to get everything done that needs to be done. I am using this stress to my advantage, keeping my menus very simple thru Holiday Season. Thank you to Laura at Orgjunkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday. Hope you all have a peaceful week.

Monday: BLT, Oven Fries
Tue: Burritos, Corn in Cob
Wed: Lasagna, Garden Salad
Thur: Chili, grilled cheese
Fri: Eat out or Take out
Sat: Left overs
Sun: Dinner at MIL...yum!!!

The Winner Is!!!!!!!

We have a winner for the Holiday Give A Way! My sweet nephews Jalen and Jensen drew the winner. Debra at Bunnies' Bungalow was the lucky reciepent. I will be in contact with Debra for her address so that I can mail the goodies. I will post a picture tomorrow of the Holiday Basket.

Contents are:

Pine and Cinnamon Candles

A Tea Towel with embroidered Christmas Tree

Sugar and Spice Lotion from Bath and Body

A Christmas CD

A pretty Santa Box and some other goodies

I am planning on including.

Congratualtion Debra. Thank you all for sharing your Christmas memories and favorite things of the season. May you all have a blessed Holiday!!!

P.S. Jalen said "He hopes you all do not get a lump of coal in your stockings"

Surprise Christmas Give A Way Finally!!!!

I thought about this and thought about it, over and over the past two days! What could I do to share some Christmas spirit? Well in the true spirit of Christmas I am giving a way to one lucky person a "Surprise Holiday Basket" filled with goodies. What girl doesn't love a surprise, and Christmas is about opening the unknown gift. I will post the gift along with the winner's name after the lucky one is chosen. So the big reveal will be fun for all, the surprise will be based on your own personal taste.

So here are the rules..... the winner will be posting their Christmas list, favorite things..(sorta like Oprah's), but I will not be giving away cars!!! lol.. Christmas gifts, ideas, food, you get the picture. What you love about Christmas, your favorites. I will randomly draw a name on Sunday, Dec 9th, that is 2 days away girls. So good luck, tell me your favorites and maybe you will win!!! Good luck and Happy Holidays!!!!

****If you link this post to your blog and others play along and mention your name you will be added for each additional commnet.

TIP TUESDAY "100TH POST"

Wow this is my 100th post!!!! It is also Tip Tuesday, I am so late posting this, it is 10:00 pm, I just walked in the door. We had "Christmas in the Park" tonight, and as always it was a huge success (I will post with pics later).

I have waited all day to post this because I wanted to tie in a "giveaway" with this post. It is the Holidays and kinda special with my 100th post.....soo girlie's my tip for today is simple....courtesy of Flylady.net

Pamper Your Lips

As the winter chill surrounds us, it's easy for our lips to become dry and rough. It is very important to keep lip balm with you at all times so that you can defeat this winter beauty problem. For even softer lips, before bed, exfoliate the lips by mixing a little baking soda with a little cleanser or olive oil. Gently rub this mixture onto your lips and then rinse away. Finish this pampering treatment for your lips by applying lip treatment balm, olive oil, or even a dab of petroleum jelly to moisturize your lips. Soft healthy lips make your lipstick look so much prettier. Pamper yourself! You are so worth it!

*****Give a way in next post~stay tuned*****

Monday Meal Plan Dec 3-Dec 9

I hope everyone had a good weekend. It is time to begin another week. With the Holidays upon us, take time for yourself, and I am trying desperately to keep things simple. Meals, shopping, entertaining, less is more is my motto this week!!! I hope you enjoy my menu and big thank you to Laura for hosting Menu Plan Monday!! If you are near our hometown, please come out on Tuesday night and enjoy "Christmas in the Park"

Mon: Chicken Pot Pie, salad

Tue: Left overs (Christmas In Park)

Wed: (Breakfast) eggs, sausage, hash browns, toast

Thur: Taco Salad

Fri: Take out or Eat out

Sat: Grilled pork chops, twice baked potatoes, salad

Sun: Dinner at MIL!!!!!!!

Hop over for a free giveaway!!!!

GIVEAWAY---HOP ON OVER FOR YOU CHANCE TO WIN!!
A Christmas GiveAway,snow flake candles, gift bags & ribbons.......pretty paper plates & napkins, tags & tins, some filled with chocolate!Cards & postage stamps and lots of other Christmas goodies will be added.AND.................................A 1994 Christmas Collection Edition LONGABERGER
BASKET, complete with plastic liner,
fabric liner & holiday tie-on !!!!

I have been soo busy this week, as all of you have been, and I haven't posted anything other than my thankful list in days. I visited Ms. Debra here , she is having a giveaway. Stop by and visit her site and post a comment to be entered in the contest. She has such goodies to be won by a lucky person. So hop on over for a visit and leave a comment and let her know you found out about her here. Thanks Deb for hosting this wonderful giveaway. All who participate I will be checking and I just may have a giveaway in the works in the next few days or so....I hope you all have a great weekend.

Tuesday Tip

We are all in the midst or beginning to think about decorating our homes for the Christmas Holidays. I like to look at magazines and get ideas, but I want to be original also. I have a tried and true tip that makes my trees unique. So here is my tip for today.

If you are looking for a different look for your tree skirt, try using a beautiful tablecloth. I have used these for several years now, I try to use color either under the tablecloth or on top. The ideas are as endless as your tablecloth collection, so go for it. I hope you have a wonderful time decorating and try to pace yourselves and don't stress too much!!!

Menu Plan Monday Nov 26-Dec 2

The weather is getting colder here in Tennessee, so I am looking for comfort food which usually means lots of carbs! I hope you enjoy my menu this week and thanks to Laura at htp://orgjunkie.com for hosting 'Menu Plan Monday

Mon: Potato~ Cheese Soup, salad, crusty bread
Tues: Homemade Spaghetti and Meatball, salad, bread
Wed: Left overs
Thur: Lemon~Pepper Chicken, Baked Pot., Green Beans
Fri: Christmas Dinner with employees of Ben Lomand Telephone.
Sat: Eat out or Take out
Sun: Dinner at MIL, yummy!!!!

Traditional or Modern Thanksgiving dinner!!!!!

I must admit when I received this email and thought with today being Thanksgiving what better way to celebrate. I hope you get a good laugh, I know I did. This is quite long but so worth the read....and the laughs.....

Thanksgiving Dinner excluding Martha Stewart:

For those of you who are coming to our place for Thanksgiving dinner-Martha Stewart ain't gonna be here! I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming. I've made a few changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run with children, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.

Once inside, our guests will note that the foyer is not decorated with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea. The dinning table will not be covered

with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will have a fork. Since it IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic "Peter Rabbit Plate" and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.

Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised.

Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it IS a turkey. We will be dining fashionable late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hot line. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 am upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.

As an accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen Turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying. We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table, in a separate room, next door.

Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your sister in the head with warm tasty bread. Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce, if a young diner should inquire "what is cheese sauce" or the orgins of cheese sauce, plead ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains.

Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice between 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice; take it or leave it. Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this year. She probably won't be coming next year either. I am thankful.

Have a Happy and Blessed Day with your loved ones....

Much love,

Happy Heart with a Smile!!!!

I woke up this morning just smiling and happy and content inside. It is Thanksgiving Eve and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Thanksgiving. I talked to several girls this morning in regards to Christmas in Park responsibilities and hopefully I was able to help them. Did I mention I love Thanksgiving...lol I read my comments on here and my heart started to smile...then I read this on my sidebar for christian mothers, I just had to put it out here in this post in case you missed it there. So smile as you go about your work today, and thank God for the many blessing he gives us. As for me, my heart is just overflowing with happy right now......

****Smile often, and let kindness be a cloak you wear as an example to your children****

Lighting of the Tree!!!!

Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville is known for "Christmas in the Park" this has been a long standing tradition for us. The lighting of the tree has begun the Holiday season for many. This year we will be putting bows on the 35' Christmas Tree in downtown. We sold bow in honor of or memory of loved ones and friends, the profit from the sale of the bows will be given to Healing Hearts, our welfare project. The bows will be placed on the tree Friday night. The lighting of the Tree will take place on Saturday night, at which time our members will read the names of the ones whom the bows are representing.
Our traditional "Christmas in the Park" Will be celebrated this year on Tuesday, December 4th. There will be lots of fun activities for your little ones to enjoy. We will have our Cider House in Regions bank, please stop by and grab a cup of cider and cookie and meet our Provisional members. We will once again, with many thanks to Ben Lomand Telephone, have the Santa Phone Booths (little one can call Santa). We have a new addition this year, the Lollipop Shop, little ones can come in and purchase a gift for their families. We are also in charge of the entertainment. I know there will be several performances you will not want to miss. This along with the downtown Merchants involvement should be a night of fun for all. Please come out and enjoy the beginning of a wonderful Holiday season, bring your young ones and the young at heart for a festive evening courtesy of Junior Auxiliary. As always may God bless our efforts with this project.
Special Note: Please keep our President, Susan Burks, family in your prayers. Her grandmother is in the hospital having test today. Lets pray for speedy recovery and good test results.

God is Smiling on Us

I am sure you all have received this email at some time this past month.

I just wanted to remind everyone of God's love. I think of my children,

and when they make me happy, and I smile. I truly hope that I help

God to smile down on me, when he sees me going about my day to day life.

I strive to make him proud as his child, and I pray to live my life to show honor

and respect to him.

How about you? Is God smiling down on you.

Tip Tuesday!!

This week being a busy week for everyone, and knowing how

many of you are crafty and so talented. I am posting this tip.

I found it on one of my emails. Big Shout out to Better Homes

and Garden "100 days of Holidays" for this neat tip!!!

I haven't tried it. I hope it works.

Please post if you have tried this method and it works....

Tip of the Day: Make your own felt for craft projects by

washing lengths of wool in hot water, then drying

them on high heat.