Next Week

I can't believe Christmas is already next week. And to think there's only a couple weeks of 2010 left; it just blows my mind.

How is it possible that my 30th year of life is rapidly coming to a close, and in no time I'll be in my 31st. (YIKES!)

I do love this time of year, even though it is always insanely busy and I start to feel a bit stressed, a bit stretched too thin.

Mom & I finished our holiday baking yesterday - a whopping 102 dozen cookies. We may just be a little insane, but when we've got a list of family, friends, coworkers, etc that we give cookies to....plus we have to keep some around for us to indulge. Oh, and of course we need some for Santa!

Thankfully my shopping has been done for some time, and my wrapping is just about complete. I've got 3 gifts left to wrap, just as soon as the last two things I'm waiting on to complete 2 gifts come in the mail.

We also just celebrated my boy's NINTH birthday. How that is possible, I don't know.

And last, but not least -- an update and a great big thank you for those of you sending up prayers for my friend. Baby is growing with a wonderful heartbeat, and while my friend has been on bedrest due to a subchorionic bleed, it has clotted & gotten smaller. So thankful for that! I am just so thrilled that I get to be an "auntie" to so many fantastic kiddos, and that there's 2 more coming in 2011 (another friend is expecting her 5th!)!!

Calling All Prayer Warriors....

I told you all about my good friend that has been down quite the road to get pregnant.

They just found out the good news last week & this week they saw their itty bitty little baby on ultrasound, measuring a happy 6 weeks.

However, today they found themselves in the ER due to bleeding. The good news is that they DID hear the baby's heartbeat (such a HUGE step!), but it was lower than what the doctor wanted. More good news is that her HCG levels increased again, but they were told it really could go either way.

So if you all could take a moment and pray for that baby to hang on. In my heart I feel that everything will be okay, but some extra prayers never hurt, either.

God is GOOD

My dear friend & her husband received the BEST news yesterday.

Their 2nd IVF cycle WORKED!!! They are PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In about a week, they'll get to find out whether they are expecting one or two babies. I'm so over the moon happy for them.

So much to be thankful for this year....

100 Days

Next week will mark the 100th day since I've given up all soda pop. Something I never thought I'd be able to do!

I admit, at first, there were times when we'd be out to dinner & I'd catch a glimpse of that delicious bubbly beverage at the table next to us. And my mouth would water, and in my mind I could recall just what a Diet Coke tasted like. And how I craved it. But I held strong & kept on with ordering lemonade or iced tea.

Now, it's not even on my mind. It's just become so routine NOT to drink it, that I don't even think about it. In fact, I actually had to look back and count out the days because I really had no idea how long it had been, because it's just not a part of my life anymore.

I hoped to see some better results in terms of weight loss, but I am taking in more calories these days by NOT drinking pop because I've substituted with lemonade, teas, and fruit juices. I went from a 0 calorie Diet Coke, to a glass of juice with 100-some odd calories per serving. In the last couple weeks, I've tried to drink more water and less of the beverages with calories.

But let me tell ya ... when you don't drink a lot of water on a regular basis, and then suddenly start ... you may as well camp out in the bathroom. I feel like I have to pee every 5 minutes. I suppose that's something that I will adjust to over time; or at least I'm hoping!

Recipe - Black Forest Stuffed Cupcakes

Black Forest Stuffed Cupcakes (thanks Kraft recipes!)

Ingredients:

1 package (2 layer size) chocolate cake mix (I used Devil's Food)
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
1 egg (*please note that you'll also need further ingredients based on the directions on the cake mix you pick)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 can (20 oz) cherry pie filling
1 tub Cool Whip

Directions:

Preheat over to 350 degrees.

Prepare cake mix as directed on box. Set aside.

Mix cream cheese, egg and sugar until well blended.

Remove 3/4 cup of pie filling for garnish.

Spoon 2 tablespoons of cake batter into each of 24 paper lined medium muffin cups. Top each with 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture. Then spoon a bit of pie filling into each (I did about 2 cherries plus the cherry sauce into each). Cover each evening with remaining cake batter.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely.

Top cupcakes with cool whip & remaining pie filling just before serving.

*Also note that these should be eaten with a fork as they are moist and delicate having filling inside them and can get a little messy.*

Baking, Photographing, You Name It, I've Done It.

Just this month I had my first paying photography gig. I've also got another one booked for next month. The one I just did was my cousin, but the next is just more of an online friend/acquaintance and it's a little nerve-wracking. Having the worry that they won't like the photos. I've got about a month to pysch myself up about it.

I've also been busy trying new recipes, and keeping up with the extreme couponing. The amount of freebies I've snagged is incredible!!! It's a total rush to see the savings at the end of a shopping trip. Truly fab! Perfect time of year to be saving money -- I've got Christmas shopping to start!!!

Couponing

I have become slightly addicted to couponing.

Just in the last couple weeks, I've managed to get several fantastic deals.

First, I got 3 containers of Glade Tough Odor Solutions carpet deodorizer -- regular price $1.99 each at Target, used {$1.00 off 1} and {$2.00 off 2} manufacturer coupons, stacked with 3 - {$1.00 off 1} Target store coupons == FREE!

Then, this weekend, I got 5 Tic Tacs -- currently on sale at my local grocery store (Woodman's) for 79-cents, used 5 - {.75cents off 1} manufacturer coupons == a total of .20cents!

Also, grabbed 6 Mentos Gum containers -- currently on sale at my local grocery store (Woodman's) for 99-cents, used 6 - {$1.00 off 1} manufacturer coupons == FREE!

But the best deal is probably the 15 Nivea lip care items -- on sale at Walgreens for $1.00, used 5 - {$1.00 off 1} and 5 - {$2.00 off 2} manufacturer coupons == FREE! (and these had a retail value of over $50!!!)

Fabulous!!!

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It didn't work. My friend's first attempt and it was unsuccessful.

Continued prayers for them, please.

Prayers for them to keep their heads up and their hearts open. I just know there are babies waiting for them.

In the meantime, J, I've got shoulders & ears so if you need them, let me know.