Winter is Near: Get ready with my 3-Hour Carmex Giveaway

Christmas is less than 20 days away. I'm sure tons of you are still scrambling to stuff those stockings. Maybe I can help!!! Now what about coworkers, friends, bosses? The new Carmex® Healing Lotion and Healing Cream Collection can help you out too. I mean who doesn't want to stay moisturized? Keeping skin in good health is especially important in the cold winter months. Even though winter hasn't officially started it sure feels like it has here in Oklahoma.

For being apart of the Carmex® Blog Squad I received this kit:

I love getting these!

I wrote before why I love Carmex and these lotions here. Then I found even more amazing lip goodness here, and new lip flavors here. Now that I'm running outside in the cold I really need a lotion that protects my hands and face. They usually get left to face the elements and get dry real quick.

If you like a nice thick body cream you'll love the Healing Cream. It's not greasy at all and has 9 healing ingredients. Great for elbows, heels, and it's concentrated so a little will go a long way. For a daily lotion the Healing Lotion is great, it absorbs fast and feels great. To follow my fitness journey stop on by HappilyEverAfter.

 TODAY ONLY!!!

I'm hosting a Carmex® Healing kit Giveaway

From 2pm CST - 5pm CST one lucky Home-Mom fan will receive a kit just like mine.
Keep the big ones and give the little ones away if you like .)

Click Below to Enter

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Merry Christmas! from my home to yours

click the image for a quick and easy homemade instant cocoa

doesn't this look yummy?

 

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Christmas gone Green Ho-Ho-Ho

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Merry Christmas!




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Last Minute Holiday Gifts - Part 2

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D
id you enjoy Part One? Once I started writing the post I realized I had waaaaay too many favorites and had to break it up. I can get lost in la-la land aka DIY/Crafty blogs. I may have 20 tabs open at once bogging down our already slow browser. Hubby hates it ;) Speaking of hubs I didn't forget about the boys. Below you'll find items for the men in your life. Enjoy!

"Vintage Flair Flats"

by WinterPeach

The very first time I saw these I fell in love  instantly. I can't wait to sew up a dozen in every color I can find. Buy the sewing pattern here.

Visit her blog to find even more great tutes.

"Book Bag/Cover"

by LillyBlossom

this would be a great bible cover or organizer.

"Bracelet Bag"

by Keykalou

Remember my post a while ago about this cuteness?

_______________________________________________


What about the guys? So far there have been tons of mommy gifts so here you go dudes.

"Knitted Scarf"

by: Cotton & Cloud

"Homemade Soap Shaving Kit"

by HeartJCreations



And here are a few more... click the images to visit their stores.

I have been struggling with this type of hat for months now. I'm sure it's a simple fix but I can't seem to get it. My hats turn into to flowery doilies.

another pattern from mamachee

I would love to make the t-shirt for my hub-bub!




We've got to keep our men warm and cozy, they do the same for us don't they? .)

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Last Minute Holiday Gifts - Part 1

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Just four days until Christmas. Both of my husband and my parents have been divorced and remarried. Which leaves us with extra places to visit over the Holidays. Christmas #1 is today, planning #2 for Friday, and daddy actually works Christmas Day so the kids and I will have to find something fun to do. I never really had any traditions growing up except for opening up one gift on Christmas Eve so I'll be brainstorming some ideas for our second Christmas in our first home.

How many Christmas dinners do you have planned? Will you be doing anything new? Have you finished all your Christmas shopping? Here are just a few items I fell in love with while searching for homemade ideas. I divided this up in to two parts. Here's Part one.






"Knitted-Duffers"

a felted slipper pattern

To knit these you can visit Mindie here.

Learning to Knit is still on my tute-do list.


"Salt Dough Ornaments"

photo by John Paul Urizar

for a bake and no-bake recipe visit here.


"Felt Ornaments"
by Dana at Made.

I made some of these for a secret Santa spelling L♥VE and JOY.
It took me a lot longer than I thought and I forgot the loops, but they were still super cute.




"Beards" yes I said Beards
by Delicious Beards Tiff Pippin

Aren't these hilarious?! I just want to make one and wear around the house.
This would be great for the theatrically talented or for when your chin gets cold in the winter.


"Snuggly Owl"
by Make it and Love it




the pro and the armature, by far the hardest project yet...

I was mistaken to think I could make this in one afternoon, it took me two. Instead of making four owls in time for Christmas like I wanted one will have to do. I'd like to make a princess version for my girls with the same concept but different shape.

"Crochet Slippers"
by Mamachee's Pattern Shop

Now that I can crochet I can't wait to attempt these gorgeous things.



You've got four days until Christmas...
these may take a bit longer than a minute but you get the point. .)

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Holidays at the Hiltons of Branson!

This post brought to you by Hilton Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
I t's been almost two decades since I've been to Branson, MO. Back then I was a little girl on her way to camp. I was excited but scared to be leaving home. Now I'm a grown woman and mother and can't wait to leave home especially for the V-word, Vacation! I would love to return to Branson and see all the things I keep hearing about, like outlet malls, convention centers filled with entertainment, and fabulous food finds. This time of year would be an even better time to visit because I hear Santa frequents Branson and stays at the Hilton.

It's True! Just before Christmas Santa will be visiting children in the dining room of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel every Saturday and Sunday morning and will be helping make family portraits brighter by posing for pictures in front of the tree in the lobby. Mrs. Claus will be hosting story time each Friday and Saturday by the same tree. This special time is open to the public and ends mid December. Click here for more about Holidays at the Hilton.

December is one of the best times to stay at the lovely Hiltons of Branson. From December 12th - 30th there are special room rates with up to 50% off regular in-season rates at both hotels. The Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, a 12 story glass tower (pictured below), is connected to the Branson Convention Center. It features a steakhouse, cocktail lounge, and is just minutes from Branson's forty-nine theaters, Silver Dollar City, and other Branson Attractions. The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is situated within the Branson Landing, a water-front shopping and dining district, and located across from the other spectacular Hilton Hotel.
Both Hotels are located within minutes of some of the best entertainment and recreational attractions around the nation. For those not interested in venturing too far away each hotel has access to the Precor® Fitness Center and wireless high-speed connectivity in each guest room and meeting space. Both amenities are available 24 hours a day. Each hotel gives you an option of a room with one King or two Queen size beds and a 32 inch flat panel television. It's really a win-win situation. Branson really is the ideal location for our family vacations. If it were possible I'd love to go right now.

   

Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing

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New Traditions

C

lassic Salt Dough Ornament Recipes. This is going on my Tute-do list. I love browsing the net searching for easy crafts I think I can do only to try and fail. In all that my kids and I will have spent time together learning we aren't perfect no matter how hard we try or how easy we think it would be. These are the teachable lessons we both crave. Let's get started!

Bake Dough Ornament Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 cup water

Directions:

1. Mix salt and flour.

2. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water.

3. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.

4. For flat dough ornaments roll out the dough on baking paper

Or be creative and make odd shapes and wreaths (takes longer to bake)

Create:

Use cookie cutters, cut-out templates, or just use your hands.

Dust dough with flour and begin to add details to the ornaments with a toothpick, popsicle stick, and knife.

Don't Forget:

Use a straw to make a hole so you can hang the ornament.

Baking: Time varies based on thickness of ornament

Temperature: 325 degrees

Time: 1 1/2 hours - or until dry

Decorate: Let cool before you begin

Paint with acrylic paints

Glue on beads, buttons, or any fun accessory

Preservation: Making them last a long time

Coat with acrylic varnish when everything is dry

*** Color Variation Notes from our Visitors***

- Substitute coffee for water - great for gingerbread people - Thanks, Shelly

- Add food coloring to make dough a unique color - white, blue, red, etc...

No-Bake Dough Ornament Recipe

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups corn starch

1/2 cup salt

1 1/2 cups very hot water

1 T glycerine or vaseline

Directions:

1. Mix flour and corn starch

2. Combine water, salt and glycerine until salt is dissolved

3. Add flour and starch mixture to liquid mixture, mix until it clumps

4. Form into a ball, then knead for 5-10 minutes until smooth

Note: Once complete, place dough plastic bag so it doesn't dry out.

Create:

Form ornaments - when connecting, braiding, layering pieces, coat them with water - this will act as a glue.

Insert hanging hook or ribbon while dough is soft

Let dry 2-3 hours before coating, adding decorations, or painting.

Preservation: Making them last a long time

Coat with acrylic varnish when everything is dry.

Pictures coming soon!

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i ♥ shutterfly

This love is real. I recently got to host a Shutterfly House Party and received a free photo book along with 14 codes to share with my friends and family. Each of us also got 15 Christmas cards. I've gotten to make 2 photo books prior to this so I already felt like a pro. Have you ever put your family pictures into a picture album? I mean the kind where the pages stick to each other? I have all of our family's pictures in a chest that I've been lugging around with plans to scrapbook something spectacular. That day still has not come. How about a photo book, much easier. Although you can't change the pictures around when you tire of the arrangement the look and quality of these printed books are beautiful.


This next year I hope I can make a few more books as gifts for the grandparents. Our kids have 7 sets including 2 great grandmas, yeah we need those books hot off the press pronto! In 2011 I hope to be more organized. The gift giving possibilities are endless. I just love this full front photo card for the Holidays.

For mom the need is great! I've got four kids now so Birthday Invites are a must. Even if you like to make and create your own you can relax and pick and choose from a wide selection.Cards & Stationary for all those thank yous from the Holidays and such.

If you've not discovered Shutterfly go now, you just might find a discount special going on. The Photo Mugs are too cute and would be adorable as part of a hot cocoa gift set. I'm just sayin'. Hope your Holiday preparations have gone smoothly. For more great gift ideas check out my Home-Mom Holiday Gift Guide.




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Mama Needs a New Pair of...

I do need some new shoes but I'd love to take care of all christmas shopping by winning this giveaway...

Yep they'd love me!

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you. So join in!

1
What is your holiday wish for your family?
My wish is simple to master keeping our Joy no matter what.


2. What is your Christmas morning / Hanukkah Nightly tradition?
Normally we get up and let the kids unwrap presents. Than head out to visit family.


3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?
Cruise, Cruise, Cruise and I'd take my kids (and a gma) of course.


4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?
I'm working on a Home-Mom-Made Gift Guide For green gifts that are upcycled.


5. What games did you play with your family growing up?
Anything that made each other laugh was game!


6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?
There really aren't any traditions that have carried on but I'm looking for some creative ways to introduce some fun things into our Holidays.

7. Where would you go for a Christmas/Hanukkah-away-from-home trip?
Cruise, Cruise, Cruise!


8. Check out GameStop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year?

I'd still like to have a Kinnect. Yes, even if it can't see me (view my post) 

Getting healthy is a top priority after baby 4, Wii Fit could help.

Game Cubes were so much fun so it'd be a tie between this or a nintendo64

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Happy Turkey Day!

Iam thankful for:
             My hubby!
                   My children!
                           My Home!
                                          My Framily! (Friends you've made into a Family)

...and My SANITY!

Count It All Joy! James 1:2

WISHING YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Holiday Decor Must-Haves

This post brought to you by Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Holidays are near and I am so glad I didn't offer my home to host any dinners. Oops did that sound bad? I mean I'm glad I didn't offer to lose my mind, much better right? I really would love to entertain and host parties but we are less than two weeks until baby time. I think my plate is full. Buuuut... if circumstances were different (in a perfect world I mean) I would have jumped at the chance to host Thanksgiving dinner and open up our home to all those who still have not gotten the chance to come and visit us. December we'll be celebrating our first Christmas as 6 and have spent a full year in our 1st Home.
How do you feel about holiday entertaining? Do you break out in hives at the thought of tons of people in your house or do you stress about cooking for others? I stress about cooking for other people. Okay enough of the fears. I'll act as nothing would bother me and plan my dream Holiday party with help from Pier 1.

For the table.

Beaded Leaf Table Runner - $49.95

Essential Colours Dinnerware - Yellow - $5-$7

Tiered Multi-Colored Apron - $14.95

When I was a little girl my mother would drag me around the mall and other stores looking at different ways to design. We never bought anything but I got to know a few pretty well. Pier 1 was one we frequented quite often. I can't physically go shopping with four kiddos but online shopping is just as good and sometimes better. Look at these deals.

I'm a barganista so these would definitely have to come along

Talavera 8x11 Baking Dish - $12.48

Talavera 2 Quart Baking Dish - $16.38

Yellow Terracotta Square Baker - $19.95

I just know I'd look so cute in that apron up above. Even if I made everyone bring a dish it'd make me feel like I was a classy chef. I'm really digging yellows and browns too it seems. This is the time of year people tend to be a bit more charitable. Feeling Charitable? During the months of November and December, you can support Toys for Tots by dropping off an unwrapped toy and/or making a cash donation at the register.
Even easier you can simply “Like” Pier 1 on facebook at  Facebook.com/Pier1 like I did and they will donate $1 to Toys for Tots for every new fan in November. Tell them @Home-Mom sent you!

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