Stir Crazy Yet? How About a Cookie?

I know the colder months can be more challenging with little ones, then you add the Christmas break and sometimes we start climbing the walls looking for things to do. Then of course, there's flu/cold season, so there can be times we're stuck inside for days on end. Well, we had invited a couple friends over to decorate cookies around Christmas and then Stella go sick, so we rescheduled for today and it was super fun. Plus it's a great way to spend a cold day. It took a little prep to make the cookies before decorating, the girls loved it. We had 3 different frosting colors and several toppings.

Concentrating oh so hard.

And no cookie is complete without sprinkle, or whatever other topping there is to offer.

This is my first time to try this recipe and it was a hit. You can check it out here.

The Dreaded Resolution

Dun, dun, Duh! It's that time of year again. Will you commit to losing weight? Eating healthier? Working less? Playing more? Quitting smoking, drinking, etc?

So, it's that time of year to make that resolution that tends to haunt all of up come the first of the year. I don't know what to do this year. I definitely want to lose weight after I have the baby, but that's a given, so I want to do something else. I think maybe I want to read more. NO, not blogs, twitter, and facebook, but real books with lots of pages :)

Now, as I type this I still only have one child and it's hard for me to read as it is, so I can't imagine once we add a baby to the mix. BUT I want to do it. Plus we're starting a book review on THIS blog, so that will help keep me accountable!

So what are your goals? Have you ever accomplished your resolution in the past?

Tasty Tuesday: Artichoke Dip

I'm sorry I don't have a picture of this recipe of the week. I'll admit I had every intention of taking a picture of the Artichoke Dip at the party we took it too, but by the time I thought about it was pretty much devoured. So, that should give you an idea of how good it is.

I don't know about you, but between Christmas sweets and appetizers/dips at the various parties I needed to spice up my recipe box.

So my mom sent me this recipe and boy oh boy it was a hit. AND it was super easy and cheap to make. For those of you needing smoothing to make for your New Years party this is simple and I promise you'll leave with an empty dish.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I hope you ALL had a fabulous Christmas and are enjoying the down time before the New Year. I can't believe it's almost 2011! Crazy how time flies.

Earlier today I asked my "tweeps" (you can follow me @knwablogger) what their favorite Christmas present was this year. And oh my GOODNESS you all sound like you were good little boys and girls this year!

There were A LOT of Sugar Bowl gifts. Go Hogs. I hope all of you that are going have a blast. Cheer loud for me because I'll be home calling the hogs from the comfort of my couch.

I know that I loved getting stuff for the babies room. Now that we're less than 2 months out I'm really feeling the pressure to get things in order, so this had helped with that.

But I wanted to share what some other lucky folks got this Christmas!

Jennifer wrote, getting the chance to go home for the holidays.

Jeff said, SUGAR BOWL BABY. (this was a big trend)

Sara said, "My grown-up study Bible and Shark steam mop."

Jenna responded, "Jimmy Choo Hunter books, Kate Spade iPhone4 case, and a Polaroid printer I can hook my computer and phone directly to."

Whitney said, "DSLR camera, photoshop, Coach purse, and money!"

Julee wrote, "iPhone4, Kindle and our new blu ray player with wifi. We love technology gifts for Christmas."

Some of you also responded on Facebook...

Gregg wrote, "All my kids were here plus two sons-in-law."

Misty wrote," Justin got me a painting. Parents got us a Keurig. Kids gave us adorable hand-made goodies. Love them all (givers and gifts!)"

Kerryanne said, " My nookcolor and pandora bracelet with a charm for each of the boys."

Getting to visit and baby sit my 7-month-old nephew Mikey. Such a doll!! was Lisa's favorite present.

Lisa says her iPad.

Addie wrote, "A radio/cd player for the car from my husband! I have been driving around for about 6 months without it and it is going to be so great to finally listen to music with the kiddos in the car!!"

Bethany said," I got a robot that cleans my house! Really, I did! Gabe got me a Roomba and I love it!"

And finally, Elli wrote, "Eureka floor steamer."

That's just a handful of those who were on Santa's nice list this year!

Feel free to share your favorite gift in the comments!

Do You Believe?

Merry Christmas Eve!
By now I hope all your shopping is done and the wrapping is a chore of the past, but now the fun begins.
I'll start by saying it's always important to remember the REAL reason for the season, but the hallmark side of Christmas is always fun too.

After all, you probably remember the days of waiting for Santa to land on your roof and squeeze down your chimney and always wondering how it is you missed him AGAIN! The magic of Rudolph's nose and the crumbs left from Santa's cookies...for me those are some great childhood memories.

I recently talking with some "adults" about the magic that can fill the air this time of year and we all talked about if we still believed? You betcha! I might now the truth behind good ole Saint Nick, but I BELIEVE in the magic of him.

Since I'm always looking for creative ways to make family traditions I thought some of these suggestions from my friends were fun. We all want to BELIEVE as long as possible.

One friend leaves dirt marks on the floor near the tree where Santa dropped off his presents. Another has a piece of Santa's pants (a piece of red fabric) caught on a nail in the fireplace where Santa got caught up. One family turns the temperature in the house way down because Santa and his reindeer bring in Arctic air. And I loved this one because you don't hear about Mrs. Claus often...they put on super bright red/can't rub off lipstick and kiss the kids cheeks as they sleep so they wake up to find a kiss from Santa's lovely wife.

As a kid if you don't believe after that it might be a lost cause, but thought some of those ideas were super cute and original. I still believe....lets face it...if we don't believe Santa will stop visiting.

Merry Christmas EVE!

Oh Christmas Tree...Maybe Next Year

So I might hold the record for the quickest/earliest Christmas tree cleanup ever!
Stella (our 2 year old) has been suffering with a cold/allergies, so in an effort to get rid of anything that was making her miserable we took DOWN our tree TODAY. Yes, we know there are only two days left, but I swear she is already feeling a little better. I think part of that is the antibiotic she is on for her ear infection and the absence of our REAL tree.

Speaking of REAL tree, I never knew people had fake trees until I moved to the south. You see in Oregon (where I grew up) there are tree farms galore and everyone has real trees. So what's this mama to do now that I have to shop for a (gasp) FAKE tree. I know there will be incredible sales on trees come December 26th. I need your help/suggestion for the best place to find the most "real-looking" tree so we don't make our little one miserable next year.

I will admit it does feel good to have all the ornaments wrapped up and put in the storage box, but Santa will have to be creative on setting up his treats tomorrow night.

Hope you're all enjoying your time off. For those of you who are still working...thanks for all you do!

Stocking Stuffers

It's hard to believe Christmas is Saturday! If you've driven near any malls or shopping centers then you know the last minute rush is ON. But have you noticed all the stores advertising about their great stocking stuffers.
Call me the Grinch, but we're not doing them this year because Stella doesn't know the difference yet and we've got PLENTY of little toys and trinkets around the house as it is. However, there are some GREAT deals out there right now. This morning on KNWA Today the crew talked about what YOUR stockings include Christmas morning and there were some creative and traditional ideas that I wanted to share here too.
PS if you don't follow KNWA Today on Facebook you should! :)

Stocking Stuffer ideas...
Tina said "My Grama always used actual socks. She would put the mate in the bottom and fill the sock with fruit and candy. And after Christmas we had a cozy new pair of socks for winter."

Kelly wrote, " I always put the persons favorite snack. I also put things people use on a daily basis, like toiletry items..."

Deborah wrote, "Lottery scratch off tix."

Check out the facebook page because there are more ideas!
Happy Stuffing!

Tasty Tuesday: Meat Cupcakes

Yes, you read the title right...Meat Cupcakes. I know it may sound a bit odd, but it's a super easy recipe and it was a hit at our house. Plus after the holidays I know most of us are looking for easy and cheap recipes since we've spent a lot of time in the kitchen.

I promise if I can make this so can you...check out the recipe here.

Lights

I know we've talked about Christmas traditions lately and many of you mentioned driving around to see the lights in our local neighborhoods. Of course, the Fayetteville Square is always a hit. The night we went we were trying to make our Christmas card...that FAILED. But we still enjoyed the holidya spirit.

Tonight we drove to a house in Rogers (thanks for the suggestion Jenna) and it was awesome. I'm sorry this picture doesn't do it justice because I was in the car and took it with my phone. It's close to downtown if you live in the area on 5th street.

Thanks for sharing family traditions! If you know of other great houses in the area let me know. I've heard through the grapevine that there's a great house in Springdale and another in Fayetteville. Anyone know of a great display in Bentonville?

Potty Training 101

We touched on this topic once in the past, but it seems a lot of moms I know are in this phase of life...including me. Or at least I think we're there. Several people have told to me wait on potty training until Stella is ready.
Well, the other day she wanted to wear big girl panties and try things out. Since we were going to be home all I day I decided lets try this out.
It went pretty well, but she was very upset when she had an accident, SO I'm soliciting advice. Several of you have already helped me out on Facebook and Twitter, but the more advice the BETTER.
I thought I would share with you some of the feedback, but please keep it coming!

Tips/Advice
1.patience and bribery
2.M&M rewards and celebrate each time she goes in the potty
3.Find a book about potty training and read it over and over
4.Clearly say you're going to go on the potty and then let them run around naked all day. Make sure they attempt every hour.
5.Bribery works
6.Use M&Ms and set a timer for every 30 minutes so you can "try" on the big potty

Please continue to help us mommies out if you have advice/tips on potty training. Wouldn't that be a great Christmas present for any parent? :)



PS sorry there wasn't a post Friday...I had a sick little girl I was taking care of!

Oh Christmas Tree

By now if you probably already have your tree up and presents piling up underneath it. But recently as I've visited people's homes or even just browsed their blogs I'm amazed at how beautiful and different a families Christmas tree can be! The top picture is ours (please ignore the toys everywhere). We always due the real tree. I grew up in Oregon and that's just what you do :) I know you can't see it very well, but we have a wide range of ornaments. It's really simple, but I've been inspired by other trees so we might spice it up next year. However, our tree this year seems to be where Stella does all her posing for pictures.

Isn't this tree beautiful! I don't even know how to make my tree look a little like that. I stole the picture from Kelly's Korner. You should check out her decorations -- they are beautiful.

I also thought this tree is perfect in shape. I got the picture from Superchikk. She too has more pictures of her decorations.

I love how skinny this tree is in the corner. This is actually Matt and Julee Turner's (Matt anchors KNWA 5,6,10) tree. Julee actually wrote on her blog she wasn't happy with how their tree turned out and I was shocked. I think it's AMAZING!

Anyway, I was just wondering what you looked for in a tree. I love the variety!

Don't Forget to Enjoy the Season...

If any of you are like me then this time of year is super crazy. Well, this past weekend at my church, Church at Arkansas, they had an advent guide to help us remember why we celebrate this time of year. I know many of you have great family traditions while others of you are looking for ideas, so I thought I'd share this with you. I hope this helps make this time of year more than just parties, sweets, presents, and plays. Enjoy!

The Church at Arkansas Advent Guide

The word "advent" simply means "arrival." This is the time of year to intentionally reflect on, anticipate and celebrate the coming of Christ - both His first coming and His coming again.

So to help make the most of this Advent season, set aside an hour as soon as you can to walk through the following"

1. Decide which activities are most important to you: spending time alone with the Lord, baking cookies with your kids to take to neighbors, volunteering at 7 Hills homeless center or reading the Bible together as a family. These activities are important, but no one will ever make you do them. It's up to you to schedule them.

2. Schedule the "have-to's": study time, travel, school plays and activities, office parties, etc. You may not want to do all of these, but some can't be avoided so get them into you calendar. Just don't be too quick to call something a "have-to." It's ok to say no to some things.

3. Schedule some evenings for the family fun and traditions. Watch a Christmas special. Play a game. Read together. Listen to Christmas music as you drive around looking at lights. Take your family to the square and let the kids ride the camel. Make ornaments for your tree. Just do things together as a family. Schedule these times, so if something else comes up, you have the freedom to say you're already booked. Again, don't be afraid to say "no" to good things to protect the best things.

4.Make time for your marriage. December can be a month to actually grow closer, not apart. It just requires being intentional.

**source: Church at Arkansas

Tasty Tuesday: Rocky Road

Peanut Butter...CHECK
Chocolate Chips..CHECK
Butterscotch Chips..CHECK
Marshmallows..CHECK
Ready for my favorite Christmas sweet...CHECK, CHECK, CHECK!

Please don't judge this recipe by it's looks. It was fresh and hasn't set yet, BUT I promise you if you like the ingredients listed above you wont be disappointed!
This is a recipe that's been served in our family for as long as I can remember and I'm thankful it's easy enough for me to make. I promise you if you can't make a thing...you can make this!
Just click here for the recipe and PLEASE ENJOY!

Popular Giveaway is Back

Hey friends!
Like I told you last month Petit Jean is doing ANOTHER giveaway for one of you this week. It's the perfect gift to help you provide some food for the holidays/holiday parties. Or, better yet you could win it and give the yummy food as a gift. For details on the giveaway you can go here.

And click here to register for your chance to win.

Good luck. We'll announce the winner Thursday morning.

Fa La La La La

I think I'm officially the last one to get my Christmas tree and decorations up, but it's done, so bring on the wrapping!
I don't know about you, but I love the hustle and bustle this time of year and all the excitement that surrounds the holiday. BUT just the other day I was wondering about (what I consider) a lost Christmas tradition.
What happened to Christmas Carolers? I remember the days of bundling up and going door to door belting out my favorite Christmas songs. I can't remember that last time someone sang to me on my front porch. Do we consider it too dangerous to knock on strangers doors anymore? We do it for Halloween...why not Christmas.
Anyway, those are my random thoughts.
If you're planning to head out and spread a little holiday cheer with your vocals...you're always welcome at our house.

Book Review?

Calling all readers (and wanna be readers). I mentioned this during our Skype time Wednesday morning, but I wanted to mention it again. I'm thinking about starting up a book review.
I had a chance to READ while I was out of town and I had forgotten how relaxing it can be. So, with my nose stuck in a book I thought it might be fun to start a book review with some of you on this blog.
I have to admit it definitely takes me longer to flip through the pages as I chase a toddler around, but I think I'm up for the challenge.
I'd love for some of you to read along with me and give your input on whatever we read. Plus I'd like book suggestions. I've already received a couple emails from you since Wednesday, so I think this could be a fun adventure. Keep them coming!

I hope to review the book I read on vacation this weekend or early next week to kick things off. I read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. If you've read it I'd like your feedback too. You can email me at knwablogger@knwa.com
I'm currently reading another book, but like I said now that I'm back to reality it's taking longer then my past reading days.

Anyway, let me know what you think.

LearningRx Winner is...

Congratulations to Jade James, of Bryant, for winning the giveaway from LearningRx. I hope you enjoy the gift basket from them.

Happy Holidays.

Tasty Tuesday: Corn Fritters

Yes, that is oil preparing fried goodies!
If you've caught our skype segment lately on KNWA Today Wednesday mornings then you know I've been out of town for awhile. A couple week ago I skyped from the mountains for Montana and then later from Oregon. It was a great trip and of course it included incredible food thanks to my sister in law and mom.
We had mostly traditional sides for Thanksgiving, but my sister in law also added a couple extras including these corn fritters. You need to try them out. She whipped them out super fast and they were a hit.

If you try them let me know what you think!

Time to Exercise Your Brain

I know you've all been out shopping for your loved ones this holiday season, but now I've got a giveaway for you. You can check out the details here, but it's a game from LearningRx. You can register here and of course we'll talk more about it Wednesday morning on KNWA Today.

Good luck!

Perfect Gift this Holiday Season for Dog Lovers

I know many of you are on twitter and you're also dog lovers...so, what about twitter for your furry friend? Yes, you heard me right!
You might have seen the segment on KNWA Today about this toy, but if you didn't you can check it out here.
Basically, you attach it to your dog and then you can log onto a computer and watch their tweet updates. I'll admit at first this sounded a little over the top, but after seeing the segment on KNWA Today it's pretty funny. I can see how it could easily become addicting if you want to know what Fido is up to while you're at work.
Anyway, I know many of you are still looking for that perfect gift for your loved ones and I thought this was a unique gift.
Happy Shopping.

Go NWA Football!

I know there's been a lot of talk surrounding the Hogs, but how about our local high school teams! I'm still out of town, but I hear the cities of Fayetteville and Bentonville are laying out the red carpet for their teams headed to Little Rock to battle it out for the state title. They play tomorrow for the ultimate title. But they aren't the only 2 teams from our area. Today Shiloh Christian is playing to win it all in their division and West Fork is also hoping to win it all.

I love that NWA dominates the 7A division. Go Tigers and Bulldogs. If you have some free time tomorrow load up the car and go cheer the NWA teams on. You can also check for updates on all 4 teams from our area here.

Yeah for some great high school football teams!

Calling All Football Fans

I know you've heard me mention Holy Turf before, but now that we're in the midst of championship games, BCS talks, etc I thought I'd redirect all you football fans to a great new website that talks all things SEC and Big 12. Flint, the creator, lives in northwest Arkansas and KNOWS his football.
If you haven't checked out his website then you need to! AND ladies if you're looking for a fun gift for your hubby's this Christmas be sure to check out the section for women...there's a great gift for your loyal tailgating football-loving husbands.

I know that I keep finding myself getting caught up in this talk of what bowl the Hogs will go to...what happens if Auburn wins or loses this weekend, etc...so I'm loving all the blogs about the possible scenarios.

Plus as we all gear up for those bowl parties that are in our future there are great recipes for game day.

Check it out and let me know what you think.
And oh yeah, Poor Some Sugar on Me...crossing my fingers for the Sugar Bowl.

Too Picky? I Need Stockings

I know some of these pictures are small, but I need help deciding what to do for our family stockings. We already have traditional needlepoint stockings for our family a 3 and our furry child, but now that we're almost a family of four I think I want a change.

I really like these white ones and I'd have our names embroidered in either green or red. Thoughts?

But I also LOVE the actual stocking look. What do you think?

And of course there's the more modern look, but will I get sick of these after a couple years?

I know, I know big decisions, but I know MOST of you are already in the Christmas spirit and have decorated so I need your help. Just FYI, my house is more traditional/country than modern, but around the holidays I say anything goes.

Thanks for your help.

Black Friday Crazies!

For all of you that braved the cooler temps on full stomachs for the great deals this Black Friday...I'm proud. While you were cashing in on the good deals I was sleeping in the mountains of Montana. I know I missed some great deals for Stella from Santa, but the trek into "town" wasn't worth the EARLY wake-up call.

But I want you to add to my stress of the shopping I have in my future...and hear about your deals and fun early morning stories.

Plus if you have a little one and DON'T have ZuZu pet you're missing out. Stella and her cousins got some last night and they're super funny.

Check them out if you can!

Happy Black Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you're all taking a break for technology and enjoying your family and friends today!

Take a little time to remember what you're thankful for.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Gobble Gobble.

Turkey Day Preps

If you were up bright and early with us during Skype this morning then you know I'm no longer in Arkansas. This year I'm so excited to be celebrating Thanksgiving in Montana with my brother and his family. Anyway, it's beautiful here and I wanted to show you a little bit of Missoula's beauty!
Hope you're elbow deep in turkey day preps.
Bring on the pumpkin pie!

Road Trip

I'm sorry for my absence today but I'm currently bundled up, sitting by a warm fire and enjoying the views of Montana!
Yes, over the last few days I've hop-scotched my way from Arkansas to Oregon and now montana. I'm hear for the holidays and just now got computer access. Like I said I'm in the mountains so I hope to have a pictures by tomorrow. I should be heading to bed since we drove through a snow storm to get here and I'm skyping with the KNWA Today crew very early in the morning.

Thanks for understanding for my tardiness!

Will You Cheer for the Tigers?

To say the SEC has been entertaining this football season is an understatement! SO many ups and downs...big wins and big losses...you get my point. But lets face it, that's what makes this conference so much fun.

Now, I know 99% of you reading this will be calling those Hogs loud and proud this weekend, but what about Auburn? I know we're playing the Tigers of LSU and we WILL win, but what about the other Tiger team? Lets face it...we (as Hog fans) want and NEED them to WIN. Will you cheer for Auburn? We were so close to beating them and oh I wish we had, but now if they win this weekend they go to the National Championship game AND when we beat LSU then that means the HOGS will go to the Sugar Bowl!

Can I get a WOO PIG SOOOOIE!?! Oh it's going to be an awesome weekend of football. I can't think of a better way to work off that turkey then cheer and scream at the TV all weekend.

Airport Screenings...Like or Dislike?

If you haven't heard about the new airport screenings popping up at airports across the countries then you are lucky. It seems everywhere I turn some news organization is covering the controversy about these screenings.
Since I recently flew I as interested to see these new regulations in person, but the airports I visited haven't "upgraded" yet. BUT let me tell you it is the talk of the "town" in airports. People have VERY strong opinions on BOTH sides. Let's face it, LONG gone are the days of kissing loved ones goodbye at their gate. It all stems back to 9/11 and in my opinion I'd rather be overly cautious then not safe enough, but I know not everyone agrees.

If you don't know, the new screenings include two options full body scan (basically, an x-ray) or a pat down. Now, I have seen stories where it looks a bit ridiculous for little kids to get patted down by strangers. I don't think our little one will like that, but it's only for a couple minutes and then we're off. As travelers we do have the option of choosing what we want. Since I'm pregnant I was prepared for a pat down, but again, I didn't have to experience either.
SOOO...what do you think? I know there are several arguments for each side. I tend to lean towards be careful so I'm fine with the changes, but I don't travel as often as some of you. I DO think it goes back to what our parents taught us when we're little..."If little Johnny does it and ruins it for everyone, then we're done." Well, unfortunately terrorists have ruioned traveling for all of us, but thankfully we have technology and knowlege to make sure it doesn't happen again! Do you feel it's an invasion of privacy? Are you upset it's gotten this far?

Let me know because I KNOW there are opinions out there.
If you're traveling for the holidays this upcoming week...safe travels and have fun!

Traditions

I know we all have some sort of tradition around the holidays.
Today I had the great privilege to visit with my grandparents and I was quickly reminded of all the traditions I have not only on the holidays, but just during regular visits.
As long as I can remember, my grandma has had a "candy" jar in her kitchen and EVERY time I visit I check it out. I'll admit last time I visited the candy wasn't my favorite but today I hit the jack pot with Butterfingers! But as I was reaching for the yummy treat I was reminded about all the "traditions" I've shared with my Grandma over the years.
Growing up I had a blankie (if I'm honest I still have it, ha) and whenever I spent the night with Grandma and Pa Grandma would sew a fresh stitch around my blankie to make sure it "lasted." Well, it's done the trick.

Anyway, those are regular habits I have at my grandparents, but it made me think of holiday traditions.

So, now is your chance to share. Do you have family traditions? Please share. Some families don't have any, so you're might be their new tradition.

The Winner is...

The random selected winner of the Petit Jean giveaway is Brooke Peterson of Fayetteville. Congratulations Brooke! I hope the 14 pound ham and deluxe gift box comes in handy for your Thanksgiving feast!

Thank you to all of you that registered. I wish I could give you all a gift because it's obvious this was a big hit. BUT I do have some good news...Petit Jean is doing ANOTHER giveaway in December in time for Christmas, so be sure to tune in on Wednesdays for our skype time and follow me on twitter @knwablogger for hints on when you can register!

Happy early Thanksgiving friends.

FREE FOOD

Don't miss your chance to win free food just in time for the holidays.

Go here for more information and here to register.

Tasty Tuesday: Corn Casserole

This past weekend our church had a chili cook off and I was in charge of cornbread. I decided instead of just making the traditional cornbread muffins I'd make my favorite corn casserole. Since it was such a hit I thought I'd share the recipe with you because it's a great side dish for the holidays. It goes with all sorts of foods including turkey and even mexican dishes!

Check out the recipe here!

And DON'T FORGET if ham is on your holiday menu be sure to check out this week's giveaway! I promise it's definitely worth taking time to register to win.

Need Food? Check This Out

Is your mouth watering? I know mine is!
I'm counting down the days until Thanksgiving and all the yumminess that comes with it, ha!
Next week basically kicks off the beginning of eating myself silly!

So in an effort to encourage you and everyone else to enjoy yummy food this holiday season we're giving away THIS great gift from Petit Jean Meats. All you have to do is register and you
could add a 14 pound ham and other goodies to your menu this season! How perfect is that? Just in time for making your holiday menus and saving a little money since you wont have to splurge on the ham!! You can go here for more details.

Don't forget to register!

Fa La La La La

Is it too soon?
I know a lot of you have shared your opinions/concerns about Christmas music already playing in stores, on the radio etc.
So, again I ask, is it too soon?

This is one of my favorite times of year! I love Christmas music and I really could probably start listening too it as soon as it's cool enough for me to start drinking hot chocolate. So, I have no problems with it. But I know people like my husband would rather get a full 24 hours of the holiday cheer Christmas eve and leave it at that.

If you've been out in public lately then you've noticed tis the season to jump into the holiday spirit early!!! I love the idea of decorating early. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to skip over Thanksgiving because I do think it's an important part of the year to reflect on things you are thankful for, but lets face it...decorating for Christmas can be a full days worth of work. SOOO lets enjoy it a little longer.

I especially think it's ok if you're not hosting Thanksgiving at your house. this year I'm keeping my fall decorations up a little longer, but I am eager to break out the red and green!

All that to say...what do you think? I know some of you are already done Christmas shopping (to say I'm jealous is an understatement) and others of you haven't even given the holiday a second thought.
So again, tell me what you think!?

I Missed It

Without giving you too many details the stomach bug hit our home last night. It seems I've taken the biggest hit, but it fast and furious, so I'm sorry I'm just now posting about this.

First of all, I don't think you know how much I despise being sick and being sick with a very active toddler is NO FUN!

Anyway, I was looking forward today because it's Drive-Thru Difference Day hosted by the local radio station KLRC 101.1.

I look forward to listening to their morning radio updates on this day because it's so cool to hear others paying it forward.

If you don't have dinner plans you can still get in on the fun.

Basically, you order your food and then offer to ALSO pay for the car behind you. I just love this concept! I know we can do any day of the week, month and even year --- i just love hearing the stories from folks in the area.
Anyway, I hope at least one of you were blessed by this fun day!

I would participate tonight, but saltines are the only item on my menu today.

Hope you're all feeling well!!!

Calling All the Ladies:NWA Boutique Show

Calling all shoppers! I know you're out there and I KNOW you're itching to get started (or maybe finished) with your Christmas shopping.

Well, if you don't know where to start...how about the NWA Boutique Show? Not only will you being checking off that Christmas list, but you can also help support local artists and designers at the NWA Boutique Show. This years event features over 130 UNIQUE merchants from across the area. They'll be showing off/selling specialty holiday items, home decor, clothing, gourmet foods, jewelry, toys and of course MUCH MORE.

Did you read the part about UNIQUE gifts? Hello, do I hear those wheels turning that this might be the PERFECT shop stop for that "hard-to-buy-for" loved one?!!

And it's gets even BETTER...it's a 2 day event! November 19th and 20th. The BEST part, Saturday the 20th is FREE. All you have to do is show up at the Springdale Convention Center and shop your little heart out starting at 9 until 6!

BUT HOLD ON...I have MORE. Friday, the 19th is GIRLS NIGHT OUT! Yep, you heard me right. Leave the kids at home, grab your purses, pick up your girl friends and head out to a UNIQUE shopping event with your girlfriends. The night will include LIVE Christmas Jazz, hot cocoa (because I'd like to believe it will feel like fall/winter by then), and get this, a CANDY BUFFET. There will be door prizes and much more. NOW, this does cost $10 at the door, OR you can register online before and it only costs $8. Friday shopping starts at 5 and goes until 9 PM. Let's face it a candy buffet is worth the $8 and 4 hours of fun with girls ALONE!

So mark your calendars and DON'T miss this great event! Plus you're helping support local businesses!!!

PS...Be sure to follow me on twitter @knwablogger because I might come across some fun items that will BENEFIT YOU for this fun event!

Tasty Tuesday: Irene Casserole

I've realized that lately a lot of my more recent recipes in the recipe box have been a bit on the sweet side. Come on, don't hate. I'm pregnant. HA!

Anyway, I wanted to mix it up some so I asked my friends on twitter @KNWAblogger for some recipes and I've received several, so be ready for some new treats coming soon.

Ok, enough rambling. My sweet friend Dana shared a dish called Irene Casserole. She has enjoyed it since she was little and it's named after her babysitter. You can check it out here.
I'll add a picture later because Dana is sending one once she gets off work, but I wanted to get this up now in case you're looking for something easy and cheap for tonight. I plan on making it tomorrow!!!

If you have a recipe you'd like to share please shoot me an email knwablogger@knwa.com

Sprinkle or Shower??!!

Everyone has heard of a baby shower, but have you heard of a baby sprinkle? At first I thought it was something us southerns made up (and they may be the case originally), but it's a real deal.

According to several different websites, a baby sprinkle is relatively new. It's a scaled-down version of a baby shower for mom's expecting baby #2.

Sprinkle was invented to celebrate the future little one, but NOT go overboard. After all, baby #2 usually doesn't "need" as much as the first baby because the "big" items are already purchased.

I know that some of the showers I've gone to for second kiddos include a lot of diaper purchases and the "necessities" especially if #2 is the same gender as it's older sibling. But then there are times I can get caught up in buying the cute outfits for the little one.

What do you think about a baby sprinkle?

You're probably asking, why in the world am I writing about such a random topic, but a sweet friend of mine has offer to throw a "sprinkle" and she was planning on going overboard. I told her to keep it simple. We'll see if she listens. It's not that I don't think the second baby doesn't deserve a big party like her big sister...I just know we all have a lot going on and I don't want to add extra stress.

So, that's what spurred today's blog topic. Plus I still think it's more of a southern thing, but I wanted to share it with those of you that might not know about a baby sprinkle.

Gap Jean Giveaway!!!

I don't know about you but I love the word FREE.

And how about Free and Jeans in the same sentence. Thanks to my tweeps I follow from Celebrate Magazine I was tipped off to this great event that's happening TOMORROW.

According to the Gap facebook page Gap is giving away 10,000 pairs of jeans. All you have to do is check-in to the stores using facebook places and YOU COULD WIN. It says ALL Gap stores are participating so we all have a chance!

And if you show up and you're not the winner...don't worry you will still get jeans at 40% off if you choose!!!

I say this is a WIN/WIN situation. I'm thankful for social media today. First, for hearing about this via twitter then know Gap is using Facebook to spread the wealth. Be sure to check out the Gap Facebook page for all the details.

If you participate and win...shoot me an email to let me know knwablogger@knwa.com

Good LUCK!

Britax Carseats Recalled

Britax announced it's recalling thousands of it's infant carseats because of an issue with it's harness chest clip.

According the company's site, the clip can break and possibly cut the child. And since the piece is small it could also be a choking hazard.

The seats being recalled were sold nationwide from October 2009 through last month and they cost $230.

You can call Britax with concerns anytime at (888) 427-4829 or visit their website for a free repair kit.

Unhappy Times for Kids Meals in San Francisco

If you're planning to visit the Bay Area anytime soon with your little ones you'll want to make sure you order them a healthy kids meal if you want them to get the promised toy so many are accustomed to.
Recently, it was voted on and APPROVED in San Francisco to BAN toys in kids meals at fast food chain restaurants. Kids can still get a toy with there meal ONLY if the ordered meal contains fruits and veggies, is less than 600 calories and is low in fat and sodium.
I wonder if this will become a growing trend..what do you think?
I know the story alone makes one think. Yes, fast food is not good for you that's why it's cheap and easy to get our hands on, but it's been around for years.
Will this action really change the way we order fastfood?
I admit it, Stella has had a kids meal a time or two, but I know it's better if she eats her well-balanced meal at home and we try our best to provide that everyday.

I know there's not a ban here in NWA, but the reasons of the BAN in California is enough to make me reconsider if I'm going to swing through a drive-thru for a quick meal for my growing toddler.

What do you think? Do you think this should go nationwide? Is it up to the parents/guardians to watch what their little ones eat, or should officials set in to help with kids well-being?
Ok, lots of food for thought. Here's a link to another article on the decision in San Fran. And here's another story in the NY Times.

Tasty Tuesday: Pumpkin Bread

I thought I'd share a seasonal favorite!
Yes, Halloween is over, but there's still Thanksgiving. So get out the pumpkin and enjoy this fall treat.
Go here for the recipe.

Play Time vs. TV Time

Guess what? It's time for a new study.
According to the new study, kids who spend more than two hours of television tend to have more problems...no matter how active they are.
Is it time to turn off the TV? Well, I guess that's up to you. I know this study doesn't seem much different than past kids and TV studies, but I thought I'd share.
Of course experts recommend replacing TV time with story time, play time or EVEN bed time.
For the full report you can go here for the story.

On that note, what are your thoughts on TV and kids? I know I'm guilty of letting Stella watch cartoons in the morning while I get ready and then when I'm getting dinner ready.
And let's face it...there are lazy days when it's cold outside and we just want to cuddle up and watch Mickey.
Thoughts?

Fashion Friday: Sleepy Hogs (2 days late)

I know these are a couple days late, but my computer was dead and I'm just getting back to it.

Anyway, we all know that LAST week's game was super long thanks to the rain delays and I just thought these pictures of these loyal hog fans were cute. It's obvious they did there best to cheer on the hogs, but like most of us I'm sure they were worn out.

Go Hogs!!! Glad you won last week and again Saturday.

If you have pictures of your royal and loyal hog fans email them to knwablogger@knwa.com