Christmas...

If Tony would let me I'd have up all my Christmas decorations....but he is a tyrant...and says no!  Even now he is shaking his head at me.
Do you all feel sorry for me?  JK....He can't be perfect right!

So today I decided to order our Christmas cards...I ordered them from Mint.com and there is a referral program...if I refer anyone they can receive $25.00 off their order!  And you can stack that with this coupon code...that Money saving mom was offering....  HOLI25SHIP
So I was able to get a great deal on our Christmas cards...

I can't wait to get them....This is my first year ordering photo cards.
Let me know if you decided to try out mint...and put to good use those fab family photos you all just had taken a month or two ago.

XOXO!
Gina

Just a fun project I worked on...a little instagram and pinterest...oh YA!

I love color.  I love burlap.  I love design.  this is an instagram upload...you can follow me there.  I'm not sure how.LOL.!  my name?  Gina Giraud @ overwhelminggrace? 

I'm following this lovly crafty lady.  She just made this adorable sign that says "JOY TO THE WORLD" on simple pieces of wood...using i think freezer paper...such an easy craft! oooohhh maybe I should pin it on pinterest!  YES.  that is what I will do.  follow me on pinterest if you haven't yet.  so fun.  projects and ideas to swooon over! 

Hope you having a very blessed christmas!  i Know we are.  packed.  but fun.  :)  Thanks be to God for finding the joy in sometimes a crazy life.  wouldn't trade it for the world.

Merry CHRISTMAS friends.
Gina

not your mamas style shopping with purpose....

I just added some new designs that I had been working on a month ago...but sadly got so behind that just now go the opportunity to get them listed.

all the proceeds of this will go to help our family get to Africa.  Our trip is coming up in 2012. While we know everyone can not physically go there themselves...the Lord has layed it on our hearts that we are to go....for two weeks. So here is an opportunity for the body of Christ to come together and lift each other up weather its in prayer or monetarily or just reblogging and spreading the word....

the cost will be around $10,000.00 for all 5 of us to go for two weeks.  Its a big number.  thankfully God is much bigger.

Check out my [not your mamas Style] on etsy if you wanna shop with a purpose.

theres also a donate button at the top if you don't want anything but wanna help us get there.

XOXO!
Gina

The most perfect day

for the most perfect day.

Today I had different plans. I had plans of taking the kids to school and coming straight home. Wrapping gifts by a beautifully lit fire in my fireplace while listening to Christmas music and then watching a Christmas movie. Oh and baking while in my jammies.

`So now for reality!

[its okay, i put on my big girl pants to handle it! ha.]

I took the kids to school and hit the grocery store....we seriously had no milk...and tony well he was out of his necessary desserts [popsicles]! So after that I was torn on what to do....I was already out of my Jammie's so do I go somewhere else or head home? I asked the lord. He spurred a conversation on with my mom....and off I went to go do some Christmas shopping. I thought id be in and out in less than an hour....nope I didn't get home until after 12....came home and his my husbands presents....wrapped. Couple of presents....baked some breaddy goodness.....
This is not the image of mine...I forgot before we dived into it!LOL...(oink, oink!)

source  <----click that for the recipe!

[I did change out the rum for vanilla extract]

can.not.wait! to eat it!
Cleaned.
Did some laundry...
Listened to Christmas music...
Watched a Christmas movie...

Got totally spoiled as the Mr picked up the kids from school!

And now I sit at Em's dance class...
Did some Christmas cards.
Made a phone call.
Organized my Christmas list.
And now blogging.

The most perfect day indeed. [could only be more perfect if my kids and hubby could have been home with me too!]



I thank the lord for the joy of the lord in the simplest of things.

Xoxo!

Gina

a tradition, two trees, three happy kids, and a partridge in a pear tree!

Tradition.....

 Every year we stop and get coffee and hot chocolate on our way to the same tree farm for as long as we've lived in Genesee county... really its a guy with a vision who has turned his back yard into a tree farm. Sweet family.... I pray the lord blesses them for there kindness to others... They actually said merry Christmas! Can you believe it....okay pick yourself up off the floor...I was as shocked as you.

They tied our trees to our roof... Yes. I said trees...as in two.... I was shooting for three but the mister put his foot down....maybe next year! God has truly blessed us with a nice size house so a few years back I came up with a pretty brilliant idea to get two trees....one for the living room and one for the family room, to my shock my sweet mister said sure! I know sweet right?! And a little bit crazy?! So this last Saturday our tradition continued we headed out the Saturday after thanksgiving and cut down our trees.... Came home and put on some Christmas music and started getting the trees decorated and the rest of the house.

 Dark approached soon and the kids ran outside to see the lights...they loved it....I loved it! 

Next up on our tradition is to go to braunners... The biggest Christmas store in Michigan and let everyone pick out a new ornament....

Oh and cant forget that on the traditions list is more coffee and hot cocoa and driving around looking at Christmas lights...

What about you???? Got any traditions to share?

Merry Christmas friends!

Gina