To each and every one of you, MERRY CHRISTMAS!! This has been another wonderful year, thanks to you, my awesome readers and friends.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!  I hope you all enjoy this magical holiday season with your friends and family! I will see you in January!!!  XO {kierste} … [Read more...]

Congrats to #44, Lora--winner of the Honeywell Thermostat from The Home Depot! The winner has already been contacted via e-mail.  Please reply within 48 hours, or I will need to select a new winner.  I'm so happy for you!!!! {kierste} … [Read more...]

You guys!! We are on the Christmas countdown!!  I just have a few more things to do, but mostly it's going to be a busy weekend packed with really fun family activities that I've been looking forward to...ice skating, seeing a movie, driving to see lights, The Nutcracker, and more.  LOVE!!! I'm really trying to let go of stress, and trying to enjoy these last few days of Christmas. What is your family planning this weekend? I'm so sorry I missed last week's link up---it just got away from me with all the Christmas prep going on.  I'm excited for this week though, and can't wait to see all of your projects! But first... Our last party's most viewed entry was: {Chalkboard Christmas … [Read more...]

This week I was faced with a task that I never imagined...talking to my two little 1st graders about an unspeakable tragedy, and explaining to them why their classroom doors are now kept locked. As difficult as this was, it can't even compare to the immense grief and sadness the families of those sweet babies and brave souls that lost their lives on Friday are feeling. My heart is breaking for them, and I hope they can feel the arms of this entire nation around them during  not only this holiday season, but through the months and years to come. This tragedy struck our nation hard, and its effects will linger for a long time to come, and many of us are looking for answers.  It's being … [Read more...]

Living in Michigan was cold...very cold.  I learned very quickly how much our heating bill could be, especially through the winter months.  Now that we've moved to Texas, it's just the opposite--winters are beautiful, and the cooling bill in the summer can really add up. Did you know that heating and cooling costs account for nearly half the average homeowner’s total energy bill?  About $1,000 a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® program.  I totally believe it!  Fortunately, there are some easy things you can do that can make a big difference to keep your house warm...or cool, and save in the process! {Replace your air filter & install a … [Read more...]

 It's OFFICIAL - the holiday season is in FULL swing and in less than 3 weeks it will all be over! You probably have five million things on your to-do list including Christmas cards to send out, presents to buy, treats to make, etc. The list could go on and on and then on some more. Sometimes at this time of year we can get so burdened down with all there is do, although they are all probably wonderful things, that we actually may just want to put on our pj's, climb into bed, and hibernate for awhile - a long while instead. While our physical health should be something that is always at the top of our list we need not forget our mental health as well. Most importantly at this time of … [Read more...]