How do I display all these beautiful Christmas cards?

It is getting closer to the time that my mailbox begins to fill with Christmas cheer from all over the world. I cannot wait to see all the unique and beautiful cards from my friends. M, L and I get all giddy when we get to open the cards but what do we do with the cards after we have ohhh’ed and ahhh’ed over them? We decorate with them of course. My precious Grandma would always display her cards over the archway in her house, and I have always followed her lead. This year at our new house though, we do not have an archway so I went through the internet and found some creative ways to display your cards.

I love this Christmas Tree display and vase display from Tip Junkie:

If you have a fireplace, this is a super cute idea that was posted on Make and Takes – Christmas Card Garland.

Use your Christmas cards for decorations with this ribbon display from Better Homes and Garden.

I really think we are going to go with the Christmas Tree display from Tip Junkie. How will you be displaying your Christmas Cards this year?

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern, and unique stationery from Christmas cards, New Years cards, party invitations, and address labels to thank you cards. Once the holidays have come and gone, Tiny Prints will still be here to fill your stationary needs with their exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers. All year round, you’ll fine business cards, birth announcements and even custom wedding invitations. Come try the easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality for yourself. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from Tiny Prints. As always, all thoughts and opinions are of my own.

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11-11-11 A day to be thankful for our Veterans through song

I am blessed and thankful to live in a land of free. We would not be able to have this freedom if it wasn’t for our wonderful military. They put their lives on the line every single day for us. What a remarkable thing to do for your country. It reminds me of Jesus giving his life for our sins. We are truly blessed indeed!

My girls celebrate each year at their school with a Veterans Day parade. Yesterday, they dressed up in red, white and blue to be festive in the celebrations. I look at this picture and so blown away by how beautiful my girls are. Again, feeling so blessed.

I had to go back and look in the archives and see this video of M doing a song for all the Veterans when she was 6 years old. It is too precious not to share again.


Happy Veterans Day! Remember to thank a Veteran today!

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Where can I order my Christmas Cards at a good deal?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. I keep saying this over and over. My family has not pushed me out of the house YET! Seriously, my family enjoys this time of year just as much as I do. We are all excited to start breaking out the Christmas decor. I am hosting Thanksgiving this year, and want the house to look super festive since most of the family will not see us at Christmas.

One of the things I look forward to each year is receiving Christmas cards from all my family and friends. I hope this tradition never dies out even with all the technology advances. There is just nothing like going to the mail box around Christmas time and seeing all the Christmas cards from all over the world. I love it!

This year, I am working with Picaboo and helping introduce their new holiday line. This Collection features over 200 designs for Christmas, Hanukkah, party invitations, and a non-­‐denominational line. This modern and eclectic Collection features designs from over two dozen designers from all over the world.

You can choose from a folded card or a flat card design. The software is so easy to use from Picaboo. All you have to do is upload your pictures and select which picture you want in each spot on the card template.

Here are my favorites that I love out of the folded card selections:

Gingerbread Wishes Blue

Joyous Blessing

Here are my favorites out of the Christmas flat cards.

Christmas Whimsy Red

Christmas Stripes Green

One of the huge positives that I am enjoying with Picaboo’s holiday collection is the quality of the paper that they let you as the customer choose. Customers get one of five choices of paper.

1. Signature Stationery

2. Classic Cardstock

3. Premium Cardstock

4. Photo Paper Matte

5. Photo Paper Glossy

Now prepare your pictures and get your order. I have an awesome discount for you too. Buy 25 cards, get 25 free cards by using the code GREAT-JS. Shipping is not included. This code can be used two times by each registered user. So essentially, you buy 50 cards and get 50 cards free. Pretty cool right?

Happy Holidays!

Disclosure: I was given cards from Picaboo to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

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Help kids all around the world have a Christmas

It is that time of year. It is Operation Christmas Child time!

One of the new and upcoming artists that is not afraid to show his faith is helping pass the word this year about Operation Christmas Child. Please take a couple minutes and see Scotty McCreery showing how to pack shoe boxes.

As I wrote last year, I have been participating in Operation Christmas Child since I was in high school. I have always said, I can only imagine the kids reactions when they open up these boxes each year. A child may not get any other gift all year long except from this blessed shoe box filled with many gifts and even the gift of the gospel. How can we not participate? Check out the video I did last year with our shopping journey. As you will see it is not hard at all to shop for these wonderful and sweet children.

Need more gift ideas and what NOT to include in the boxes? Click here to check out a step-by-step guide. During National Collection Week, November 14 – 21, you can drop off your shoe box gifts at a location near you.

Let the fun begin and watch that special twinkle in your child’s eye. You can even follow your box after it leaves the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters.

Happy Shoe Box Packing and Have a Wonderful Merry Christmas!

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season”

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Radio City Rockettes are coming to town!

Ever since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of going to see the Radio City Rockettes. That dream is finally coming true here in 2011. The Rockettes are arriving in Durham, NC on November 10 and I was invited to go. I am beyond excited and taking one of my besties with me. It is like an early Christmas present.

“The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is the #1 live holiday production in the world and has been a cherished part of holiday family traditions for generations.” said Don Simpson, executive vice president, Productions, MSG Entertainment. “We are thrilled to present this new unparalleled production to the Durham, NC audiences as they will experience dynamic and compelling new content while still honoring the traditions steeped in the Christmas Spectacular that have entertained our fans for more than 79 years.”

Both new scenes and fan favorites will be enhanced by a state of the art 50-foot LED screen as this technology transports the audience from a wintry landscape to Times Square to Santa’s Workshop right before their very eyes. The vibrant new sets and breathtaking special effects will allow families to connect with both the intimacy and grandness of the Christmas Spectacular. This year’s show will hit the road with nearly 20 trucks, making this the biggest production of the Christmas Spectacular to play in a theatrical setting. From the moment guests settle into their seats, they will be immersed in a whirlwind of Christmas spirit.

In a brand new scene, “New York at Christmas,” the Rockettes will board a lifelike double-decker tour bus taking audiences on a guided tour through the streets of New York City. This new scene includes show stopping choreography coupled with the landscape of iconic New York City holiday landmarks and culminates in the crossroads of the world, Times Square.

I am SO excited. I will definitely be getting in the Christmas Spirit early and already thinking of what type of Christmas attire to wear. I will be reporting back with pictures and a full review of the show, so stay tuned.

The Christmas Spectacular will run from November 10 through November 27 for 37 dazzling performances! To order tickets for the Durham, NC show, go to DPACNC.com or TicketMaster.com.

Disclosure: I am being provided tickets to the Christmas Spectacular show. No other compensation was given. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

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What do I do with all this Halloween Candy?

Halloween was a blast. I will be writing a follow-up tonight of our celebrations that took over 2 weeks. Who knew we could celebrate so much?

The question on parents minds today is what do we do with all the candy? Candy can be enjoyable as long as we make sure we do everything in moderation. Also, Dr. Singh, founder and CEO of Arch Dental’s shares five tips for enjoying your Halloween treats!

1. Choose candy that melts quickly and can be eaten easily.

2. Have a glass of water after eating candy to wash away the sugar and neutralize the acid.

3. Avoid grazing on candy; it increases the time sugars are in contact with tooth enamel.

4. Have a treat with or after a meal, followed by a thorough tooth-brushing .

5. Time is of the essence when it comes to teeth and sugar. If not removed by brushing, or swishing with water, sugar from any source can increase the likelihood of cavities.

Another tip in which my girls love to participate each year, is giving the candy to charity. We give a big portion of our Halloween Candy each year to Operation Christmas Child. This month is when National Collection Week takes place, so it is perfect timing. If you would like to participate, Samaritan’s Purse has a great tutorial on their website to help you pack your shoe box. I hope you will participate alon with us!

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Disney Pumpkin Carving Patterns

It’s beginning to look a lot like – FALL!

We love this time of year and all the fun fall projects you can do as a family. Today we surprised the girl with a trip to town to pick out two pumpkins. Who knew we would have a time trying to find pumpkins? Oh that is right, we are the family that waits till the last week of October.

The perfect two pumpkins ended up at our local store and were sitting there on the bench waiting patiently for the One Moms World family to arrive and give them a good home. The girls were eager to get home and begin carving.

This year, we decided to stick with the Disney theme. With Disney’s new Muppet Movie coming out next month, we picked to do Kermit the Frog. Also, since we just got back from Disney world yesterday, L wanted to do Mickey Mouse. Disney’s Family Fun magazine to the rescue.

Download Kermit the Frog Pumpkin Carving Pattern (free)

We sat down at the table and went to work. We were over the moon excited how it turned out!

M and I worked on the Kermit the Frog while L went to work on the Mickey Mouse pumpkin.

Download Mickey Mouse Pumpkin Carving Template (free)

L did 75% of the carving herself. I came in at the end and wrapped it up.

The best part? The pumpkins are not perfect but they are perfect in our own little way. It has my family’s special touch and that is what makes it such fun fall family memories.

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Bringing In The New Year With An Acorn

That is how we roll here in Raleigh, NC. Who needs the ball in Times Square when you have an Acorn?! We attended the festivities New Years Eve at First Night Raleigh. It truly was a lot of fun!

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Enjoy our little video of the night :)

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SeaWorld Brings Out The Best In You For The Holidays

Raising a huge animal lover, means that SeaWorld is one of our favorite theme parks. We recently transferred our Busch Garden season tickets over to SeaWorld since we thought we were moving to Florida, but those plans changed and we stayed in NC. L could not be happier though with our decision to transfer the tickets. She absolutely would go to SeaWorld every single day. It truly is that much fun for her.

On our little Florida Christmas getaway last week, we visit SeaWorld two different days. The first time we went and enjoyed all the day activities and then went back to enjoy the Christmas activities at night. The shows are filled with amazement and joy for your soul. I have a feeling that we will be going back several times in 2011.

Check out the pictures and video that I have created!

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Also, my guest blog post is up over at Visit Kissimmee so you can read full detail about all the shows that we attended. If you are ever in or around the Orlando, FL area, most definitely put SeaWorld on your itinerary. You will not regret it!

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Dreams Do Come True White Christmas 2010

I’m dreaming of a White Christmas… wait… wake-up Jen!

It’s SNOWING!

Get out…. It’s true folks. Most of NC received a dream that many have been dreaming for years. We got a nice winter storm on Christmas Day. The snow was so beautiful falling down all throughout the day. I just wanted to pause time.

We spent the day outside creating lots of fun in the snow. I put together a little video of our snow celebrations for Christmas 2010.

Did you have a White Christmas?

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