New Year-New Focus

I can't believe it's already 2014.  Where did the holidays go?

You may have noticed that there haven't been any posts in a couple of weeks. Did you? Well, I took a technology break for the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. I did read some books on my Kindle, but I don't really count that.  I was just reading, after all. I think I plowed through 3 books. It was awesomesauce.

We took in a couple of movies with the little guy, too.  Walking with Dinosaurs and The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, both of them were so good.  I highly recommend them.

And, of course, there were all of the holiday festivities. Visiting family and opening huge mounds of gifts.

Everyone was happy with their swag that they got. I especially love watching the boys faces as they open their gifts.

I really raked in the goodies, as well.  I got some things for the house, and I'll show those things off later on. But, the absolute best gift I received was a brand new dining room table built just for me by my amazing husband.

Pine Dining Table with Weathered Gray Stain

I can't even tell you how much I love it.  Well, maybe I can.  I love it. A lot. Right now there are the same 6 chairs around the table, but this weekend there will be 8.  I have two more of the same chairs that have been waiting patiently in the garage until they were called up.  I felt so sorry for them. Just hanging out in the cold garage. Poor things.

Here is the dining room before:

{Note that these pics are unedited}

These were right after we completed the kitchen renovation.  In the top pic, we didn't even have 6 chairs finished, yet. Notice in the bottom two photos that the table legs are right in front of the chair? Yea. That made for a comfy seat for a meal. NOT.  

I did move the green bench that was in front of the window in the dining room.  We needed just a tad more room for comfort. 

I will be updating the photos on the Our Home page, soon, so stay tuned. 

Also, during the month of December and the Christmas break, I started making some "lifestyle" changes for my health.  I am not an unhealthy person, but some changes did need to be made.  I have suffered with migraines all of my life, and I have an autoimmune liver condition. I have been on a lot of medication for many years, and I felt the need to change that.  Is it scary? Absolutely! 

I was able to transition off of one of my medications and I am replacing it with supplements, diet changes, better habits.  I have added Advocare products to my daily regimen, to keep me hydrated, increase intake of certain vitamins and minerals, and promote all around well being.  

I hope you'll wish me luck for success! I'll be sharing about my my migraine regimen very soon.  I know that there are many people who suffer and feel so misunderstood.  

Tomorrow is the newest installment of the Tips And Tricks Linky Party and we are hoping that you will stop by and share your favorite posts from 2013!

Christmas Morning Goodies!

There are a few things that I only eat at certain time of the year. {Like, Chicken and Dressing.  Here in the south we have dressing, not stuffing. And, it's made with cornbread. Oh my lordy it's good.}

Chicken and Dressing at Thanksgiving.

Cinnamon Role Casserole on Christmas morning.

I can't eat those things the rest of the year because I would pack on quite a bit of poundage.

It is ridiculously delicious.

And, here is the absolute best recipe that I have used. It's from the Dishy Decorator.

Cinnamon Role Casserole via The Dishy Decorator

Don't you just want to lick the screen?

Really, I could go on and on about this recipe, but you just have to try it.  It is easy to make and if you like cinnamon, pecans, butter, icing and syrup, it's got ya covered.

It is front and center on my Christmas Morning Menu.

It can't be all sweet and ooey gooey, though.  We will be having Crock Pot Sausage Breakfast Casserole to balance out the menu.

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

This one, from Six Sister's Stuff, is yumtastic.  I would not have thought to put the mozzarella cheese in {I usually just use cheddar}, but it makes it so cheesy wonderful.  

That is the extent of my Christmas Morning menu! Woohoo! 

Really what else do you need after a whirlwind of gift opening? Coffee, perhaps.

I will be making a few other items to have throughout the day, but we will not eat breakfast until around 9:30 or 10.  Munchies will fill in the rest of the day.  

I've created printable menu that you can download for free and fill in with your own choices.

Free Christmas Morning Printable

What do you serve to your hungry crowd on Christmas morning?

Tips & Tricks: Christmas Recipes

It's time for the Christmas Recipe version of Tips and Tricks!

I know you all are getting your delicious recipes ready and gathering your ingredients.  Maybe you're making a special treat for teachers or friends at work?

We would love for you to share your recipes here!

Here is a rundown of the parties for the rest of the year, as a reminder. Don't miss one!

Don't forget to follow all of our amazing co-hosts, and visit each other's links. It's a great way to discover new blogs and all sorts of great ideas!

Heather - Stringtown HomeFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Jessica - Prairie Girl to Southern BelleFacebook/Followgram/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Jonell - Like Gramma's HouseFacebook/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Kathleen & Samantha - Fearlessly Creative MammasFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Ursula - Kraft MintPinterest
Denise - Stl MotherhoodFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Followgram
Karissa - A Fresh Start on a BudgetFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Gina - Gina's Craft Corner
Christa - Controlling CrazinessFacebook/Pinterest
Leslie Monroe - Be Simply BetterFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/LinkedIn
Amy - Trip Worth TakingFacebook/Pinterest/Twitter/Instagram/Bloglovin'
Wendy - A Daily Dose of Del SignoreFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/Bloglovin'/Instagram
Krysta - Krysta Steen.comFacebook/Pinterest/Instagram/Twitter

Anything Goes Section:

More Christmas Printables!

I guess I'm in a printable kind of mood.  I love creating them, and it's such a great way to really personalize your home decor any time of year.

I created two printables that you can use together or individually, based on John 3:16 & 17.

Take a look:

I know these aren't considered traditionally "Christmas" verses, but I believe they are very fitting. 

Aren't we amazingly blessed to be so loved by our Creator?

Click on the images above to DOWNLOAD.

Christmas Card Printable

Merry Week and Half until Christmas Everyone!

Can you believe it? It really IS almost here!

And, if you are like me then, you haven't sent out your Christmas cards yet. Yes, I know. Not very Christmas-y of me, is it?

Since I am so behind, I though maybe a few of you might be, also.

Here is a copy of the card that I will be sending out:

If you would like your own, here is a copy without names for you to download for free.

Just click on the image to download.  

I left plenty of room at the bottom for the names of everyone in your family.

It will print out at 4x6.  If you print it on cardstock you can simply put the addresses on the back with a stamp and drop it in the mail. Easy peasy, and so cute!

Please leave a comment if you download the card and plan to use it! I would love to hear from you.

A Family Christmas Printable

Two weeks 'til the kids are out of school and I am off of work for Christmas!

I love this time of year and I am so looking forward to spending time with my family and friends.  That is the best part of the holiday season to me-making memories.

We have already been to one holiday party and will be going to more coming up in the next couple of weeks. Also, we have family traditions that we will be continuing this year.

Here is our list:

Every year we go out to dinner one night then drive around looking at lights, with a yummy peppermint and chocolate shake to keep us company. It's on the list.

Every year we take a trip to the Boardwalk in Shreveport, Louisiana, to have dinner at Joe's Crab Shack, do a little shopping, and enjoy the activities they have going on.  This year they have free Santa photos at Bass Pro Shop, the Boardwalk Blizzard, and live music. It's on the list.

We WILL watch The Christmas Story every year on Christmas Day. OF course, it's on the list.  

I want to make a point to just have some quiet down time with the boys, so we will definitely have a Family Game Night.  We do this pretty regularly, but with all the busy-ness of the holidays, I want to be certain to make it happen. It's on the list. 

Visiting grandparents, baking, and everything else that is oh so important, is on the list. 

We will check off each one as we go.  

My list may be different from yours, so I created a blank one for you to download and add your own activities. 

I hope you enjoy it, and have a wonderfully blessed Christmas!

Click the image to download!

Holiday Preparations: Recipes for Gifts and Parties

As I'm preparing for Christmas, I am gathering recipes all in one place so that they will be easy to locate when I need them.  Where am I gathering them? Pinterest, of course!

There are lots of recipes that I have used in years past and some new ones that I can't wait to try.

Follow this board to see what recipes I will be using for parties, gifts, and family gatherings:

Follow Amy @ Life Is A Trip Christmas: Recipes for Gifts, Parties, Christmas morning, and Snacks on Pinterest


Gift ideas for Teachers:

Chocolate Covered Pretzels with Sprinkles
Boozy Caramel Fudge
Tex-Mex Brownies
Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Mix

Combine one or more of these yummies and your gift to the teacher will get an A+!

I have made the Candy Cane Hot Chocolate and the Chocolate Covered Pretzels many times in the past few years and they are always a huge hit.

When you combine the words caramel and fudge, you know you've got something good happening!

For the Hostess with the Mostest:

Homemade Caramel Sauce
Carolina Mustard
Fresh Herb Mayonnaise
Spicy Cheddar Straws

Carolina Mustard is a delicious dipping sauce that goes well with sweet potato fries, spread on a burger, or paired with fresh veggies.

Any self respecting Southerner has a good recipe for Cheddar Straws.  This one has a little bit of heat.  Whip them up and present them in a cute jar with baker's twine and you'll be a star!

Party Starters:

Cherry Pecan Brie
Bacon Cheese Dip
Colby Pepper Jack Dip

Your party will be off to a great start and your friends will think you're a certified chef with any of these tasty treats.

Do you need a few more printable Christmas tags to add to your stash? Click on the image to download.

Created with PicMonkey Courtesy of Amy@TripWorthTaking

Add your own flair to these tags using some of the precious Christmas Fonts that I shared last month, and print out on cardstock. A perfect homemade gift to make someone feel special!

*The tags print at 8.5" x 11".

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving: Cooking, Eating, and Shopping; Oh My!

Oh. Em. Gee.

I love Thanksgiving so much. And, not just because of the amazing food. Partly because of the amazing food, not completely.  

I love going back to my hometown and spending time with my family.  That is totally the best part.  

The wonderful dressing that my mother makes is the second best part.

Here are the recipes for the dishes that I will be preparing:

I've use this recipe for Broccoli Bacon Salad before and it is just perfect. It is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

This Squash Casserole is originally from Southern Living Magazine, so you know it's good.  No doubt about it.  And, it's not really Squash Casserole if it doesn't have Ritz cracker, now is it?

I've already purchased my ingredients and will take them all to my mother's house to make the dishes.  

So, yes, my kitchen will stay clean! ;)

Every year we all say that we don't need to have so much food, but we always have sooo much. It's all so good, too.  I will eat way more than I should, but I will enjoy it.

Do you have a favorite recipe that you bring to the Thanksgiving meal, or that someone else brings? You know there are those dishes that really MAKE the meal, and it wouldn't be complete without it. What is that dish for you? Please share! We all love new recipes to try!

Here is a new one that I will be trying out. 

I have had Pecan Pie Muffins many times, so using the batter to top off a delicious apple pie mixture sounds like a no brainer!

We will have so many desserts it will be ridiculous.  I'm sure it's the same in many homes across the country.

Will you be going out shopping on Thursday or Friday? I considered it, but now that I have been able to get quite a few early Black Friday deals, I don't really have a need to. Thank goodness!

If you're looking for great deals early, I recommend signing up for daily updates through Passion For Savings. You will be able to stay current on what deals are available each day, and which sales have gone live in stores and online.

I was able to find out that Target had Skylanders Swap Force available online at their Black Friday price yesterday.  You couldn't actually order it, though.  So, I went to the store where they had it at a "sale" price of $49.99. I took it to the checkout and told the lady that it was $37.00 online.  She scanned it and said, "well, it's $49.99 here".  I asked her to call someone and got a Customer Service Manager to look it up and got the deal.  That was a 51% savings off the original price people! Woot!

And, I didn't have to fight the Black Friday crowd to get it.

Several Black Friday sales are going live today, so be sure to check them out.  Also,  you can see in the sidebar all the items that I am shopping for this year!

Holiday Ways to Save

I love the Christmas season. Everything about it.  The cooler weather, decorating the house, gathering with friends, good food, giving (and getting) gifts.

Really, if you don't enjoy the holidays, I am not someone that you would want to be around. 

We haven't started putting up the Christmas decorations yet, but we are making plans about what we want to do the same as in the past, and what we want to change.  

We, also, start saving money for Christmas gifts during the summer, so we are doing pretty good on the gift budget.  (Now, if I can just stick to it!)

Any way that I can find to save money over the holidays is appealing to me.  I want everything to be festive and fun, without breaking the bank.  So, of course, I turn to Pinterest. Where else would I go?

I was able to find an awesome Christmas Savings Guide that is printable from Passionforsavings.com

via passionforsavings.com

This is really genius.  There are planners for baking, parties, and cards; a budget worksheet, a gift list, a shopping list for Black Friday, and a Santa Survey for the kiddos. 

It is completely free to download when you sign up for her email updates, which are so useful!

You will get daily money saving deals right to your inbox, plus access to freebies.  Head over and get signed up!

Another way that I like to save money during the Holidays is by creating my own decor and wrapping using free printables.

These really cute tags are at Shanty-2-Chic, from last Christmas:

via Shanty-2-Chic

It makes so much more sense to make your own tags. You can get exactly what you want in the number you need.  For years, I had half used sheets of those sticker tags left after Christmas, and didn't want to use the same ones the next year!

This precious Christmas Countdown is available over at The Crafting Chicks, and would definitely add to the excitement for little ones and big ones alike!

via The Crafting Chicks

Collections of freebies are always fun to browse, and Pretty Providence gathered a list of 50 printables of types last year.  There tags, cards, cupcake wrappers, and prints to frame.  Head over and check out her list!

via Pretty Providence

These are all great ways to get you thinking about different ways to save money during the holidays.  And, creating items at home is one of the very best way to do it.  And, when you create your own decor and wrapping, you can really put your own personal stamp on your Holiday season.

Do you have printables and other ideas to share? Tell me in the comments!

Simple Christmas Decor Ideas

I am in the Christmas spirit like most of you are, I'm sure. It's only 47 days 'til Christmas, after all.

I can't wait.

We will be putting up our Christmas decorations the week of Thanksgiving so that we can enjoy them for as long as possible. 

With that in mind, I've been looking for some new ideas to add into our usual decking of the halls.

I want simple, but really awesome, ideas. 

Here is one of my favorites, so far.

Shining Stars from bijzondermooi

I am thinking of doing something similar on the mirror on the mantle.  Any wall would work, or add a little festivity to a door.

I must be on a garland kick, because here is another and it is too cute. 

via iheartnaptime.com

This one is going somewhere in my house.  It would work so well in any room. Or, how cute would it be looped from the ceiling down the hall? Eek!

This next one will need a little tweaking because I don't want to spend a lot on new Christmas decorations this year.  

via Pinterest

If you remember my Fall Tree Centerpiece, I will just take the leaves down, and add mini paper snowflakes. I think it will turn out really pretty!

I'm always looking for a new way to display Christmas cards, and I really love this idea:

via WaveAvenue

I'll be sharing more ideas as we get closer, and even some shots of past decorating that I've done.  

What new things will you be creating for your Christmas vignettes?

Now, I'm off to start cutting out paper snowflakes!