WOO HOO!!! Wow I feel like a lucky woman this year, such a beautiful year 2012 has turned out to be!! My ornament swap gift came in the mail today, just in time for Christmas!! Erin over at Keep Calm and Sparkle  knew just the perfect ornaments to send this equally owl obsessed chick!

Aren't they gorgeous!! She sent them in the cutest owl box too...oh and she wrapped the package in Christmas wrapping paper!! I'm so in love with them and now I think I'll sign up next year to join the ornament swap again! Thanks to Steph at The Vintage Modern Wife and Laura from The Luckiest in Love for hosting the 2012 Blogger Ornament Swap! 

A Very Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! 

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone has an amazing holiday and a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May we inspire others and help those who need it when we can. May the spirits of the 26 Newtown, CT. angels live on and move us to be a better country. May you and your family enjoy the holiday with each other and not worry about the gifts under the tree, but rather enjoy the gift of life, of each other.

Happy Holidays!

My new favorite owl mug...my only owl mug...so far!! 

Stand Tall...

We can't keep allowing for this to happen in our schools and I don't believe gun control is the answer. A few weeks before the tragedy in Newtown, CT. two guys were arguing on the train in Philadelphia about a Sixers  VS. Bulls game and when the Sixers fans got off they turned around and opened fire into the train...OVER A BASKETBALL GAME?!!! So I believe I have the right to bare arms and protect myself against people like this, against people who might hurt me or my family. Yes, perhaps we need stronger background checks, or maybe check to see what kind of people are living in the same home as the gun owners, but we also need to arm our schools. This is happening too often in a place that is supposed to be safe for our children, so why aren't we hiring armed security to stand tall at EACH and EVERY School in America?? If someone was there, if there was an armed guard there, this tragedy may not have happened. We arm our malls, so why not arm our schools where our children are for most of the day? Taking guns away from the right people is not the answer because the bad guys will always find a way to illegally have weapons of any kind whether it's a gun, a knife, a bat, etc. Stand tall and fight for the 26 lives that were horribly taken away from their families.

All my love to the families in Newtown, CT and to all those who have been hurt by someone who took your loved one away from you.

Ornament Swap Fail!

So my blogger friend Steph of The Vintage Modern Wife along with Laura from The Luckiest in Love put together an ornament swap blogger event. Whomever wanted to join put in their blog link as well as their email and you were randomly linked with another blogger. I was linked with Erin From Keep Calm and Sparkle, who also has an obsession with owls...hoo knew!!

We were to ship our ornament packages this past Monday to make sure it would get there by today to link up again and share what we received. However, my package hasn't made it's way to Erin yet and her package to me was sent back to her because of some problem at the post office with the wrong weight of the box! It's a little disappointing as this was my first ornament swap, but good things come to those who wait...right?!

So what is everyone doing this weekend? We're hoping to get some Christmas shopping done and we also have a few birthday gifts to get as we have two birthdays this month and one next month with the kids! My youngest is turning 16...OMG where did the time go!! When I met my husband my stepdaughter was just turning 9! AHH I feel old! LOL!

Happy Weekend! xoxo

Update: I found out that we can still link up with the ornament swap until Christmas!! That makes me very happy!! YAY!

It's OK Thursday...

It's OK... That I haven't written since last week because I'm busy catching up on AWS... To listen to the Salt-N-Pepa station on Pandora and sing along to Whatta Man...you know you love them too!

To then listen to the Rob Thomas station and the first song that comes on is your wedding song, which then puts you in tears! 

That I don't feel like going shopping for Christmas gifts for anyone...gift cards are good enough right?

That I feel like getting back into bed and sleeping the rest of the day away so that it will be the weekend already! 

That I bought myself another gift (a cute owl mug) but still haven't bought anything for the hubby or kids yet! What? I'm easier to buy for! 

So what are you OK with today? Are you ready for the weekend or perhaps you are just ready for winter to be over already even though it really hasn't started yet! 

Happy Friday!

So I was hoping to do an OK Thursday post...but it looks like that will have to wait until next week seeing that it's Friday already! Wow did this week just fly by or what?

I just got back from the city, I was a little nervous about driving there since I never really have before. When we lived closer to it we usually took public transportation when going to the flower show, museums, or shopping. But now that we're about an hour away it only makes sense to drive there.

My stepdaughter had her music audition today for one of the colleges she applied to and not knowing what the traffic would be like or where I would be parking, we left pretty early to give ourselves extra time. However, as we got closer and every light decided to turn red on us I realized that I better just drop her off at the building she needed to be at and search for parking on my own. So I drove around for about 15 minutes and realized I didn't have any cash on me to park in a parking garage, but luckily I found a neighborhood apartment complex with a suitable parking lot and just hoped that I wouldn't get a ticket! 20 minutes later, after warming up with her musical pieces, she sang for the music administration and we were already on our way home! PS... she said it went really well, fingers crossed!

It's funny how you build up the excitement, the nerves, and the butterflies in your stomach for weeks and moments before your big day (whatever it may be) and you do what you have to do and then it's done! But now the waiting begins all over again and this is her top choice, so send your good vibes and think good thoughts for us because now the nerves and the butterflies will start to grow again for the news of the acceptance letter!

Before I say goodbye and wish you a good weekend here are some photos of our Christmas tree...we always make sure all of the kids are home to pick out a tree and decorate, it's one of my favorite family traditions. So they better come back even when they're in college, no matter what!

We made these ornaments last year using scrapbook paper!

Here we are putting up our photo ornaments from Ocean Side Bride...check out her Etsy shop!

I'm hoping to collect more owl ornaments and decorate a mini tree with all of them! 

I love having the tree in front of the window, it reminds me of the old fashion holiday movies! 

What are some of your holiday traditions? Happy Weekend! 

I need another week...

I feel like I need another week to catch up on things, I can't believe it's already Wednesday night and almost December?! WHAT?!!! My hubby was on vacation until yesterday, so when he is home all week I always fall behind because, well I just want to spend time with him and do nothing else! What's wrong with that! So now this week I am playing catch up on my editing and posts for All Women Stalk and on reading all my favorite blogs. So forgive me if I haven't stopped by in a week and thank you all for the lovely hair complements, I'm so happy I cut it and that everyone loves it too!!


xoxo

It's OK Thanksgiving Thursday!!

I'm a little late with this and have been a little busy around here with the holiday and having the kids and hubby on vacation, it has just been nice to spend some family time together away from the blogging world.

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving with their family and friends, today I'm still thinking of those hit by Hurricane Sandy and hope that everyone was able to enjoy a hot turkey meal whether they are still in Red Cross shelters or bunked up tight at a friend's house.

I'm not sure about you, but I just don't believe in stores opening up at 8pm and 10pm on Thanksgiving night for sales, it's called Black Friday and that's what day it should be on. Thanksgiving is a time for family and for tradition. Those who have to work the sales should be at home with their families and shouldn't have to worry about leaving the holiday celebration earlier. I really would love to see the holiday taken back from the stores and the media who push these sales...leave Thanksgiving alone and let all the stores stay closed until Friday morning.

So let's get on to It's OK Thursday...




It's OK...
That my family is loud, curses, and acts crazy on Thanksgiving because if they didn't it just wouldn't be the same!  To exercise before eating Thanksgiving dinner and still think, "Wow I can't believe I'm exercising on Thanksgiving!" To still feel hungry after eating Thanksgiving dinner, pie and other desserts!  To write my OK Thursday when it's almost Friday!  That I want another tattoo on my forearm to go next to my owl tattoo That I still love seeing my parents together even though they have been divorced for over 10 years.  To not want to go out Christmas shopping for anyone! 
Some photos from Thanksgiving...

My mom, sisters, and I...

My dad, sisters, and I...

My hubby...tomorrow we will be celebrating 7 years together since the day we met and next April will be our 3rd wedding anniversary! I LOVE YOU BABE! xoxo

I did it!!

I finally cut my hair short...and guess what I'm never going back to long hair!!!! These aren't the best of photos, but I just had to take something to share!!

 

It's OK Thursday...

      I first saw "It's Ok Thursdays" over on my friend Steph's blog The Vintage Modern Wife and thought what a great idea to write down things that you feel are okay to do, say, or be! You can link up with Neely over at A Complete Waste of Makeup to join in on the fun! So here goes my "It's Okay" list...    

It's OK...

 

• to be writing this post at 4:00 am
• to get my hair cut short even if I'm nervous about it.
• to be grouchy at times when I'm not sure why I'm being grouchy
• to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving Day
• to enter giveaway after giveaway, but also give back as well!
• to watch 666 Park Avenue and The Walking Dead before going to sleep even though I know I'll probably creep myself out and have nightmares!
• that I'm obsessed with owls and still feel like I need more owl decor, clothing, and accessories!
• that I still haven't gone food shopping for Thanksgiving, including the turkey!
• to have never liked coffee before a few years ago and now I can't live without it!
• to curse at Jillian Michaels when she tells you to keep going for 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

So the short haircut that I decided is okay for me....

 

(source)

 

AHHH!!! I'm going to do this!! Wish me luck! xoxo

 

Thinking of a New Hairstyle...

I've seen so many gorgeous short haircuts that I would love to just go pixie, but do I dare? I love having long hair and being able to style it when I go out. But most of the time when I'm home writing, editing, and doing things with the girls or running around town I just pull it back in a messy bun. So why not cut it short, right?! So have you ever gone short, did you love it or think, "Why did I do this?". I always get my haircut about shoulder length or just above shoulder and love how the hairstylist blow drys it and styles it, but who can ever get that same look at home! I just feel like I'm drying it too much and any more it doesn't seem to have a style. When I do want curls or a cute side braid I just ask my stepdaughter for help, she's my go-to hairstylist when I want something fancy! So I found these two photos and thought Mandy Moore's face shape was close to mine, I like the darker color and I'm looking to dye my hair too since the box color didn't seem to keep for too long last time. So short or medium with side bangs?

 

{left photo source} & {right photo source}

What's for Thanksgiving?

Can I tell you a little secret? I wonder if any of you share this same secret when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner...do you want to know, I bet you do! So here is my confession, I do not nor have I ever cooked Thanksgiving dinner...GASP!! My wonderful and amazing top chef of a husband does all, yes all, of the cooking on Thanksgiving day. So am I the only one, does your husband cook or help you cook Thanksgiving dinner? I guess it's not that big of a deal, right? I can remember plenty of holiday movies where the men cook the turkey, or is it that they just carve the turkey? So if you cook, does your husband carve?

I cook dinner all the time, but usually nothing fancy or experimental. I just stick to chicken or pork with 2 sides, though I have branched out a little bit and started making chicken alfredo, but there's really nothing to it. I would love to really get into make recipes, there are so many things on pinterest that I've drooled over and would love to make. I have made cookies and even banana bread before, wow I was so excited and proud of myself when the banana bread came out just right! Thanks to my friend Diana over at Express-O, I have the perfect recipe that she featured over on Honest Cooking. So now that it's fall and I've seen pumpkin recipes all over, I'm hoping to get experimental and make something great to go with all of the food my husband will be cooking on Thanksgiving! Have you baked any fun pumpkin recipes this season? I would love to make frosted pumpkin cookies...

 

Source

 

I've also fallen in love with sweet potatoes and would love to make a sweet potato soup. We did make our own sweet potato fries, but they weren't as crunchy as I would have liked them.

 

 

Taken with Instagram!

 

Are you a foodie and love to cook, or are you just a foodie who loves to eat?!

 

 

 

What happened to 2012...

Where did 2012 go? I can still remember New Year's Eve 2011 celebrating on the couch with my hubby and thinking how cool it was that I was texting Casie in Florida! Casie from The Name is Casie that is! She was the first blogger that I got the chance to meet in person and I hope there will be many more bloggers to meet in person and hang out with! There are so many friendships I've built online and can't believe how lucky I am that I have this life and get to interact with bloggers from all over the world. Just this year I have gotten really close with a wonderful Mama named Tairalyn over at Little Miss Mama, but sadly she lives all the way in Vancouver, Canada...but I know one day we will meet in person. It's just crazy though how you can build a friendship and trust online with someone you've never met. Years ago I would have never thought to even talk to anyone online or even trust that they were who they said they really were. But now it seems that blogging and facebook has really changed all of that...and I'm grateful for it!

Another amazing woman I met after hosting a giveaway with her is Katie from Vintage Vinyl Journals...you have to check out her online shop. She takes old, unplayable vinyl records and turns them into journals! She contacted AWS (All Women Stalk) about doing a giveaway with us and I found out she lived right in the next town over from me! How cool is that! After we worked together on the giveaway for AWS, she was doing a show with some other vendors at a local restaurant so I went over to meet her and check out her journals in person! Now we are really great friends and we are in a few local clubs together.

I'm very grateful for meeting Katie because the beginning of 2012 wasn't looking so great for me. We have lived here for 2 years now and I still didn't know many people yet other than my husband's friend's wife. My best friend lives about 2 hours from us and my family lives about an hour. I just felt like I was stuck in the house all the time since I was working from home or that the only time I got out was when my stepdaughters needed to go somewhere. Yes, I would go see my family once in a while, but our weekends always seemed consumed with whatever the girls had to do for school, birthday parties, etc. I didn't have someone I could hang out with and just be one of the girls and most of the moms of my girls' friends weren't someone I really saw myself hanging out with. But when I met Katie she helped me get involved in the community and even volunteering for different projects. When we're hanging out I just feel like this is someone who I can relax with and feel like myself, be the Philly girl that I am...not the suburb mom I sometimes pretend to be! Who would have thought that someone who wanted to do a giveaway with AWS would turn out to be a wonderful friend and one I know will last for a life time. Thanks Katie for helping me come out of my shell in the suburbs!!

Ps here is one of her journals that I won in a raffle...the photos from my phone don't do any justice to her amazing product...so check out her site Vintage Vinyl Journals!

Who Doesn't Love Fall!

I recently joined a local photography group and our first assignment was to take "Fall" photos so we could compare and see what everyone's idea of Fall was. I really enjoy taking photos and hope to one day be a bit more professional about it. I may not know technical terms or even know what taking "raw" photos means, but I like the idea of asking others in the group about my photos, and what I can do to get a better shot next time. It seems like most of the group has taken a class or two about photography, so perhaps I'll learn a thing or two from them! Here are a few of my favorite photos from this month's assignment, next month we'll be sharing photos of "texture". I have a few ideas for this, but I would love to hear some of your thoughts.

 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look...see ya next time!

New Blog Design!

An amazing big thank you to the lovely Lindsay over at Jennie called Jane Designs for my gorgeous new blog design! She is so sweet to work with and keeps you up to date with how the look is coming together! Another thank you goes out to Chelsea over at Yours Truly, she designed my new signature that will show up on all of my new posts...of course I had to include an owl! But a very Big Thank You goes to my sweet friend Stephanie over at The Vintage Modern Wife for being so amazing and for hosting an awesome giveaway that I won, which is where the new blog design and signature came from! She has really done a wonderful job with her own blog and right now she is celebrating 500 followers with another giveaway! So head on over and check out her blog!

I want to thank everyone who reads my blog, leaves wonderful comments, and makes me feel like I can write and talk from the heart. I can't believe I started my blog five years ago in 2007 and although I don't update as much as I would like to, I still have amazing followers who stop by and leave sweet comments. Now that I have a new look and a personalized look I'm really hoping to write more and get my little blog going...maybe one day I'll have 500 followers like Steph!

Before I say goodnight... I just wanted to touch a little on Hurricane Sandy.

Last week it hit the Northeast pretty bad and NJ, NY, and a few other states including my own got the worst of it. I have experienced some pretty crazy snow storms, but I've never experienced a storm quite like Sandy before. The winds were horrific and frightening, at one point we thought we might have to head down to the basement. When the power went out at 9:30 pm on Monday night I wasn't sure what to expect next. I'm just glad that my husband was home from work and that we were all together in the house as a family. I'm not sure how I would have handled myself if he wasn't home, I probably would have been on my cell phone with him all night long freaking out! The next morning our power came back on, but my inlaws' did not so they came to stay with us, and the girls didn't have school for the entire week! But we are very blessed compared to what has happened in other towns and states. Some are still without power, some can't go home, and some don't know how they are going to rebuild.

It breaks my heart to see the shores of NJ, places I've traveled to and vacationed at since I was a baby. In some parts the boardwalk and rides are no longer there or they are sitting in the ocean; broken and destroyed. I just couldn't believe when I heard about the town of Breezy Point, NY and how they have lived through members of their community dying on 9/11 and now many of the same families have lost their homes from a fire that went out of control during the storm.

I know many of us don't have the funds to donate money, but if you can volunteer or look through your closet and see if there are any sweaters, jeans, or blankets that you can give to these families in need, please do so. We have some old clothes that we were going to donate to our local thrift store, but this weekend I'm going to see if there is a place to donate them to for a family that was effected by Hurricane Sandy.

 

This was a roller coaster at Seaside Heights, NJ.

 

This is a subway station in NYC.

 

This is the devastation that was left in Breezy Point, NY.

 

(Photos Source)

 

Their homes may have been destroyed, but let's lend a helping hand so their spirits never are.