Good Bye 2012 ... a December review

I have to admit, I have just totally written off my blog the last couple of weeks. Instead I have been enjoying spending time with my favorite people on the earth, my family! It was the first Christmas in 2 years that I have had Adam focused on the season, and not finals!

So instead of updating you on every little Christmas event we participated in this year, I decided to just enjoy each moment. Here are a few things I missed updating you on!

My Christmas Cards (which I just realized I never revealed to my blog readers!)

Printed through my favorite local & online printer (www.prodigitalphotos.com)

The Back - Douglass Family Info Graphic!

And the details of how these babies were finished up with a little "Mandy" Touch

The focus of my Christmas Cards was to tell people our big announcement of adoption. 

It always seems like I have GREAT intentions to reveal my Christmas Card sooner than a few days before Christmas, but it with all of the CRAZINESS of the season, I just barely made it to the post office, for the 100 I sent out this year! (& I still feel like I wasn't able to get everyone I hoped to send one to this year! I guess you have to stop somewhere huh!)

Christmas Cards have been a big thing for me. Through the years. Here is why!
1. I LOVE designing them. It is my favorite part
2. I even more LOVE receiving them
3. I always like to put a little "twist" on my Christmas Cards from year to year.

Something else I really enjoy is giving my neighbors a small gift to tell them thanks for being a great neighbor! Here is the reveal for this year. The idea came from Emily Bradley on Studio 5 back in November. Click here to watch her darling segment! The Tags however I came up with myself!

And finally my favorite pictures from December of my boys!

And gifts from my boys from their preschool classes

Now it is to all start again with 2013!

Happy New Year to you all!

Peace for my broken heart!

I woke up at 5:30 am this morning, not able to go back to sleep as my mind kept thinking back on the horrific tragedy that happened yesterday. My heart just hurts. 

I got teary eyed, watching the news casts here and there yesterday. I have a hard time understanding why! I feel so much sorrow for the family of the boy who made such a mess of the poor lives of these innocent children and their families. How I am sure his family wishes that they could go back and try to help him more. He obviously was a very very sick boy, and my heart goes out to his family.

On another note of those sweet small children, I hugged my two boys so super tight last night as I put them to bed. Then started sobbing as I left their rooms. Those sweet families didn't get to tuck there little ones into bed last night. It all really finally hit me. The reality that it did really happen. 

I often wonder if life really is fair. However, I can imagine those sweet children in the arms of the Savior ... as he allowed each one in his arms as he did in the scriptures. He loves those little children and comforted them I am sure. Now it is time for us to comfort those sweet families that have experienced a loss that none of us can comprehend. 

My thoughts and prayers are with each family that is suffering from this tragedy. My hopes are that you feel the love from your Heavenly Father, and that the spirit will comfort you and confirm that those sweet children are in the best place they can be right now. Heavenly Father will take care of it, 

and will apply his justice and mercy to those involved.

I hope as a human family we can all agree,

that our peace does not come from things of this world, that peace comes from above!

 

Preschool treats!

I have been so crazy the past few weeks, that I haven't had a chance to really do a fun project for the heck of it! So in honor of the hundreds of other time pressing projects sitting and waiting for me to do, here's to pushing them aside and having a little crafting fun tonight;)

(Chad's preschool treats for tomorrow!)

Studio 5 - Family Gift Exchanges

So I promised I would reveal the cute outfit I got today at

... along with a discount to all of my readers! So what do you think??

Don't you just love those Christmas Green skinny's? And this necklace is to DIE for! 

 Just for my readers, Valshi will give you 10% off your entire purchase.
Just enter "holiday10" (offer valid until Dec. 31, 2012) on their website www.valshi.com
Or print or show on your smart phone this coupon and take it into one of their stores!

Or visit one of their two stores.

Lehi Utah Store

1438 East Main #8

Lehi, Utah

Orem Utah Store

226 East University Parkway

Orem, Utah

Today I was joined by two great friends of mine. Kathryn & Alicia.

We had a blast ... thanks girls for coming with me!

Today's segments were all about extended family gift giving. Two different segments ... hope you enjoy!

Gas Station Gifts

Here is a tutorial on how to put together the gift tags from the 12 days of Christmas:

**UPDATE**

Download your SHOPPING LIST HERE

Download your tags HERE

1. Print out tags on white cardstock

2. Cut the circle tags with a 1 ½” circle punch.

3. Cut rectangular tags 3 ½” x 2”. Round edges on right side of tag.

4. Use a 2” scallop circle punch and punch 12 circles out of dark green or pattern paper.

5. Attach printed circle inside of green scallop circle.

6. Attach circle to rectangle, with ½ of the circle hanging over the edge.

7. Place a strip of ribbon vertically over tag. Lay over the folded over bag and staple to bottom portion of green scallop circle.

8. Tie a knot with ribbon. 

SANTA!! I know him!! & my NEWEST sponsor!

I do love Christmas time. 

I think, however, I associate Christmas with major stress, and so each year I look less and less forward to it coming. Do you feel the same?

This year, although I was a little reluctant to December first making it's presence, doing a Countdown again (I skipped it last year) ... I have been pleasantly surprised how much fun I have had. Here is what we have done so far!

December 1

I talked Adam into letting me run the SANTA RUN in Provo with a bunch of my friends! 

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!

December 2

One of my favorite traditions, watching the LDS Christmas Devotional. Click here to view it! 

The talks were amazing and filled me up with some wonderful Christmas Spirit! Great for any Christian regardless if you're LDS or not!

December 3

We did a family night about the nativity and how we can bring the spirit of Christ into our home. It really is so hard to explain to a 4 & 3 year old what Christmas is all about ... but when I said it was Jesus' Birthday, it kinda clicked. 

December 4

Last year I had to do it on my own, because Adam was in school ... but this year I had his help and had a great evening at Thanksgiving point, seeing Santa Clause!

And now ... I am starting to see why I am enjoying this year. For 2 years I have had a 

stressed out, 

final taking, 

school going

 husband ... 

and really have done all of these activities on my own. But this year I have him around ... and it makes all the difference. I LOVE having my husband here, 

and enjoying all of the craziness of Christmas with him.

On another note ... I have a new sponsor!

Valshi is a local & online clothing & jewelry boutique.

They have really unique, darling cloths at VERY reasonable prices.

3 Places to get there DARLING cloths!

www.valshi.com

Lehi Utah Store

1438 East Main #8

Lehi, Utah

Orem Utah Store

226 East University Parkway

Orem, Utah

Tomorrow I have Studio 5 again and they are dressing me for the event! Be sure to check back tomorrow for a coupon code, and to see the DARLING outfit they dressed me in!