My Life In Pictures - June 18 - June 30 - Playing catch up

 June 18 - Got my daughter an Unus Annus Sweatshirt! Here is her art! Soooo good.

June 19 - Camp Warner Bros box! So excited to be part of this!

June 20 - Went to a friends who is moving to Florida with my daughter. She had opened her home for everyone to come in and take what they want. She can't take it all and with COVID she was denied a yard sale. We got a ton of stuff for nothing and my daughter is a future picker! She got some good stuff!

June 21 - Father's Day!

June 22 - My girl is a talented girl!

June 23  -  Talented! I wish she could see how amazing she is! Her work is incredible. I wish I had half her talent. 

June 24 - The artist at work!

June 25 - We have roses!

June 26 - So Pretty!

June 27 -  My girl loves taking photos as much as I do.

June 28 - My Bleeding Hearts from last year actually bloomed. We were so excited. Only got a few blooms but we were so happy.

June 29 -  Working from sources. Trying to learn face symmetry.  

June 30 - Out walking with my girl! We love old farms. 

Three Easy and Inexpensive Self-Care Gifts

Finding the perfect birthday or holiday gift can be hard, especially when the person you're buying for doesn't seem to have any obvious wants or needs. Since stress and anxiety are so widespread these days, it may be a good idea to give your acquaintance, friend or family member a gift that helps him or her to relax and unwind. Read on for some helpful ideas.

An Adult Coloring Book

Coloring books aren't just for kids anymore! Coloring books geared towards adults tend to feature more complex patterns than those meant for children, and many people find that completing the pages is a relaxing way to both unwind and unleash some pent-up creativity. Best of all, they provide screen-free entertainment. Include a pack of colored pencils to round out the gift.

Bubble Bath

Slipping into a warm bath is a wonderful way to beat stress after a long day, especially in the wintertime. Fragrant bubbles add an extra element of luxury to a bath, which your recipient will be sure to appreciate. While bath bombs may seem like a more fun and exciting alternative to traditional bubble bath, it's best to avoid them as they can wreak havoc on drains.

A Soothing Drink

A few delicious sips of a favorite beverage can go a long way towards achieving a sense of relaxation. If the person you're shopping for enjoys wine or beer, a bottle or six pack will be a welcome treat. If not, stick with some high-quality tea or hot chocolate. To complete the gift, include a pair of beautiful wine glasses or cute mugs.

It is so important to take time for oneself, and you can never go wrong with a gift that helps the recipient to do just that. Next time you're searching for the perfect present, consider picking one that facilitates self-care. Your loved one will thank you!

Christmas 2020 Was Amazing!

 

I was pretty excited about Christmas. I had started shopping in September because I was worried about things being shut down or prolonged due to COVID. With every paycheck I did a little shopping so that by Christmas my kids, husband and family members would be taken care of. We mailed so much out this year because we weren't getting together with my husband's family. Usually we go there Christmas Day but this year was going to be different. It was nice. We kinda liked not having to get on the road after opening gifts. I felt bad that we wouldn't see my in-laws but always hated that I had to drag the kids out after they opened their gifts. 

This year with the kids being older I did my second year of having a different colored paper for everyone. No tags and they don't know what their color will be in case they find the wrapped gifts or wake before us they don't get to shake all their gifts trying to find out what is in it. 

I was really excited about my stocking this year. As a teacher I often get gifts from my students which I give to my daughter who will check it for homemade goods. If there are goods we put that out for all of us but if not she sticks it in my stocking so that I have something to open on Christmas Day. It isn't hard for me to hold off. A lot of my co-workers open as soon as they get them but honestly I love waiting. I don't get many surprises and it is so sweet of these families to give me gifts from their children. They are so sweet and really appreciate the love and care their kids get out the center. This year was overwhelming. I love opening them on Christmas morning and thinking about my students as I open each one. 

My son woke ahead of his sister so I asked him to sit by the tree. Lighting

 was an issue but I don't mind. We had lost power at about 1:00 AM and got it back by 7:45AM thankfully. I felt bad for the power company guys who had to leave their families to work on lines but I was so thankful for their service that the moment the lights came back on, I wrote a thank you online.

She looks crazy but in my daughter's defense she had just opened her eyes 5 seconds before this photo. We always start with stockings but I wait for mine so that I can make a list after each gift to help me with my thank you cards.

I love this picture of my husband. He is a big baby and loves a lot of gifts! I mean who doesn't?! He gives me some of my favorite gifts ever except that time he gave me a frame and a candle and not even a candle I would have picked for myself but my most epic gifts have come from him. 

He looks like he is holding a baby! Come to think of it, I don't think he ever looked like this holding our kids. LOL. He is beyond excited because most of the things in his stocking were from his WISH LIST. Does everyone else do this? I love when people have wish lists. It makes shopping for them so much easier.

I love how my kids try to put their paper in the bag after they open a gift.  I always worry about things getting lost so have trained them to keep the area clean. It started out that way but didn't stay like this for long. 

My son tends to open quicker than my daughter and over the years he always thought she had so much more than him. I always count to make sure they are equal. He was trying so hard to go very slow and did but she really loves taking her time and looking at everything. Showing me. Talking about it while he just opens and moves on. He did well. It took all his patience although he was very quiet so probably focusing on keeping it S L O W. 

This was a new comforter which I noticed was still not on his bed tonight.

Awww Jinxy hung out with us while we opened the gifts. The other two cats hung under the bed I guess. He definitely was very interested in the papers and boxes.

From my seat it was hard to get all three of them in the picture. I managed if I stood behind the couch. The living room is pretty small.

I had asked for a laptop and a Fitbit. I knew the laptop would cost but figured Fitbits are under $60. NOPE he got me an iWatch which I thought about taking back at first because they are so expensive and I know that the Fitbit does so much. The laptop wasn't what I had expected either. I would have killed for an iMac because I wanted to do more editing than what I do on my iPad but he got me a Dell which is really nice too! He also helped me load some video editing software that I purchased after researching. Hopefully I can learn it. 

As the kids have gotten older. I always feel like they aren't getting a lot of things. They would say differently but I guess things use to be so much cheaper when it was just toys. Now I don't even get to shop in the toy aisle. SOB!

I have to say I was very spoiled this year from my preschool kids. It was completely overwhelming and this weekend I made sure to write out 25 thank you cards! These families are very special to me and they were so sweet. My favorite gifts were the long notes some of the moms wrote about how much we love their children and how grateful they are that they KNOW and feel their children are loved. YES! I love their children. They are my daytime kids and I think about them when I am not with them. It is beautiful that the parents actually feel that too! As a teacher that is what you hope for. I want them to know their children are being taken care because that is what I would want as a parent with a child in daycare. I just treat them like they are mine. 

COME on! Can you even imagine? This is so generous!

My favorite gift had to have come from my daughter though. She wishes her daddy would take her shopping for me so she can pick something out and wrap it but he hasn't yet and she is 15 so she makes me something. 

She made US this very sweet card.

AND on the back of the card...

How did she know I would turn it over?

A few hours after cleaning up, I went into my bedroom to put some stuff away and she ran in with this very special treat.

Is this not adorable?! So sweet!

All in all it was an amazing Christmas and I am typing this right now on my new laptop! 

OH BTW at the end of the night I said, "the only thing we didn't do was take a family picture." The next thing I know, my husband has a selfie stick and we are all in the living room posing for a photo. It was a quickie but I got my photo nonetheless. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas filled with laughter and love!

Endless Games’ Expansion Now Includes Puzzles

 

My daughter and I love doing puzzles together but have to say this was a challenge in fact, we are still working on it. It shocks us since we usually do 1,000 to 5,000 piece puzzles but that just means we will be spending more time together which I am always happy about.

When we do a puzzle, we like most start with all edges and once we get the border done, work on large inside sections until we are done. So far, we have not completed the outside and. moved onto large sections hoping to get more of the outside as we move along. As I mentiond this is a challenge. My puzzle loving co-worker asked for it when we are done because she wants the challenge and to beat our time which is already two weeks. UnHeard Of!

Give The Gift Of Wine! I Did!!!

2020 was a very interesting year. I am not seeing any of my extended family this year which means I needed to send out quite a lot of gifts, usually I send only to my dad and uncle as I don’t see them but this year it would be my in laws including my sister-in-laws and in-laws, newly engaged niece and 25 year old niece. 

Dad and my Uncle usually get a treat with some wine but after 3 weeks of stressing over gifts for everyone I decided to send the necessities this year which is toilet paper. Everyone got a case of TP and a few bottles of wine. Thankfully I found WTSO the Zulily of wine stores. 

So far my uncle has received his package and was thrilled telling us we made his day. He laughed over the toilet paper with the note that said “for your booty” and had already opened the bottle as he was making his dinner. I hope everyone feels the same as they get their very odd but necessary gift! My coworkers thought it was a great idea. Come to think about it, wine and toilet paper delivered would make me very happy too. So if you are ever wondering what to send me, this is the perfect combination.

Happy holidays I wish you all a good cheer.

Desalu Naturals Makes My Skin Feel Amazing

The 411:

I work in daycare and my husband at a hospital so we wash our hands 100 times a day making our hands dry, cut up and sore. We noticed a change the very first time we used Desalu Naturals Shea Butter And Eucalyptus Oil.

It is nice and thick, smells great and makes our skin feel amazing. The result lasts a long time too which is wonderful. Most moisturizers feel great initially but this lasts and lasts. It is even great for our feet. My daughter thinks it smells like the bug candle we use in the summer to keep bugs away but I don’t smell that. I do smell the eucalyptus oil though and it is wonderful.