Counting My Blessings

I've really tried to focus on Counting My Blessings this season and not get so caught up in the everyday stresses of life.  This is a test for me so I won't stress out so much and get the ugly "non-gratitude" attitude!

I have this little plaque hanging by my stove and it reminds me every day to Count My Blessings!

I didn't decorate for Fall this year, even though I LOVE Fall--I just didn't have the time (or energy for that matter).  I did manage to bring out my Fall plates though and use them a few times, which the boys loved!

I was reading a blog that I love a few months ago, and she did a wonderful post on Gratitude..... here's a blurb of what she wrote in the post.  I think she wrote it all just for ME.  ha-ha

"In the same breath that I complain I don't have enough time in this day, I am wishing for a different day, where I can add more to my to-do list.  I am rushing through my today so I can get to tomorrow.  What's the matter with me?!  Why can't I just be in the moment and enjoy it?

It has really made me start to question my level of gratitude.  I mean, of course I am grateful for my family and friends... grateful that we're all healthy... grateful for our home, etc.  But what about the little things?
Every moment on this earth is a chance to be grateful for something.  Why would we want to rush any season of our lives?
Yet we do.

Good things, no matter how small, are opportunities for us to be grateful. But so are bad things.  For every problem I have, there is someone who has a bigger one.  For each of my aches and pains, there is someone else who is hurting more.  Also?  With every problem there is an opportunity for me to learn something.  I need to be grateful for those moments. For each and every moment, really.

I think that when I forget to look at things through a lens of gratitude, my entire  world seems more chaotic and stressful than it really is."

I just loved all that "Viv" had to say in her post about Gratitude.  Hopefully, my "lens of gratitude" is clear, not only this season, but in ALL seasons.  Those seasons include times of sickness, health, plenty, want, stress, non-stress, rejoicing and sorrow!

Try Counting YOUR Blessings today (and every day).  It makes all the difference in the world.

~CB~

Fridge Feet

I was going through some pictures a few days ago trying to get a blog post ready, and I came across these feet that are stationed on my refrigerator.....OH SO CUTE!

~CB~

I Love a Clearance!

Y'all.  I LOVE me a good clearance sale!  It stands to reason that some of the BEST clearance deals you'll find are after the holidays.

I was out shopping last weekend when lo and behold I came across these cake decorating items that were 80% off since they were classified as Halloween items.

Anyone care to guess how "much" I paid for the stuff above?  It's 2 bottles of green decorator's gel, 2 bottles of orange decorator's gel (these I can use for cupcakes for the kids), and 1 bottle of orange cake glitter, and a bottle of purple cake glitter.

The TOTAL for the purchase?  About $2.00.  True story.

Gotta love those clearance sections!

~CB~

Field Trip

Carter had a field trip last week to a local pumpkin patch.  I wasn't able to go, but the hubs went and said they had a great time!

The kids were able to feed cows, ride some sort of barrel train, and walk through a corn maze!

Where you see one of these boys, you usually see the other, as they are "best buddies".  Carter and Austin are never far apart.  Good thing his teacher was smart enough to put them at separate tables in class.  HA!

Carter hasn't quit talking about the field trip yet, so I definitely know he had a great time!

~CB~

Florida Georgia 2011

It's no secret that the Florida-Georgia game is my MOST favorite game.  It's the rowdiest, most intense, and most FUN day!

Every year, we make the trek to Jacksonville to watch our GATORS play.  Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but it's ALWAYS fun!

As in past years, the hubs leaves home at 1am (yes, 1 AM) to head that way and grab our parking spot with our tailgate host.  I leave with my in-laws around 8:00 (like a normal person).

The tailgate is always hopping with good music, great friends, and fun!

As one knows, potties are few and far between when you're tailgating.  That's why we made friends with the local port-o-potti man a few years ago.  HA!  Every year, he brings us a few port-o-potties with locks on them.  Not that I used it--but it was there if I needed to!  HA!

It's really quite funny to watch people try and bribe you to use the port-o-potti and/or get mad when you say it's private. 

Well, the game didn't turn out in our favor this year, but we sure did have fun!
 

~CB~

Scientist in the Shower

As the boys have gotten older, I allow them to take a bath/shower without me standing in the bathroom with them.  I do call their name out about every minute just to make sure everything is okay, but I can usually hear them playing or singing, etc. so I'm not worried.

I checked on Carter the other night and this is what I found.

HA!  Notice there is not a lens in those glasses.  I guess he thought....well--I'm not sure what he thought! HA!

So silly!

~CB~

Ice Cream!

Carter's class received an ice-cream party last week because they had the most parent representatives at the prior (several) PTO meetings.  I took the afternoon off from work and had a great time with him!

There was NO shortage of toppings for this party either! Gummy bears, Reese cups, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, Hershey bars, cherries and a few other things! All the kids had a great time and enjoyed their treat!

~CB~

A Cake to Decorate

I do a little cake baking and decorating on the side, and was asked a few weeks ago by a family I know to make a birthday cake for a grandmother's surprise party.

I'll be the first to tell you that I don't tend to be creative when it comes to decorating cakes (mostly because I'm scared I'll mess something up) but this particular family didn't care what design I put on it.  That meant (gulp), that I had to come up with something on my own.

I chose to put some brightly colored flowers on the cake, thinking that was rather "grandmotherly".  HA!  And, if I say so myself, I think it turned out pretty good!

I had to freehand all the flowers, but they weren't nearly as bad as I thought they would be!

 

It's certainly not perfect, but the good thing is--I don't claim to be!  I received several compliments on the cake and the best part is that it tasted great!

~CB~

A Ninja and a Samurai

Last night was our town's "Trail of Treaters" so we loaded up a hayride with some friends of ours and rode "downtown" as we call it, to trick or treat.  I didn't take a ton of pictures, but did manage to get a few of the boys before we started the hayride.

Our friends' boy was dressed as a werewolf--it was cute!  I think he ended up shedding his mask about half-way through the night because he couldn't see very well while wearing it! 

Overall, the kids had a great time trick or treating, got lots of candy, and had a wonderful time on the hayride in some PERFECT fall weather!

Trick or Treat!

~CB~