Happy 2013!

Happy New Years, y'all!

 I'm linking up with Jeannett again for instafriday!

I love this because, it's just a fun little way to recap my week. :)

Here's how we celebrated New Year's Eve.

Very low key but fun.

Friday Favorite {Christmas style}

You know I love me some, Lady Antebellum!



Enjoy their cover of "Baby, it's cold outside".





17 days left, y'all! : )

2012 Christmas mantle

I just did this super quick and of course, used Instagram to take the pic!

I think it turned out cute, though!

How's your Christmas decor coming along?

Only 18 more days til Christmas! Eek!

Can you believe it?! : )

Friday Favorite...

I am so lovin' the Candycane cocoa by Stephen's right now!





Have you ever had it?

Oh my, it's soooo delish!

Who can resist hot chocolate with itty bitty bits of peppermint in it?


If you haven't tried it, please do!

I promise it's good and it's perfect for the chillier temps ahead!

What's your fave thing to indulge in when the temps drop?

A little Valentine's recap. . .

Hope you all had a great weekend!

We  managed to have a good one, though our hearts were a little heavy, because our neighbor's daughter passed away at the age of 7 and we attended her funeral on Sunday.

Oh, that was just heartbreaking.

I can't even begin to fathom such a thing. : (

We did decide to go out Saturday night and celebrate Valentine's day a little early.

Jeff and I went to a snazzy little restaurant downtown and had a really good time.

The food was soo yum and the atmosphere was really cool, it was definitely a step up, from our usual dives. : )

Here's a couple pics of the inside, I swiped from their website. ; )

Then, after a short drive through our quaint little town, we headed to the ever, so romantic. . .

Do we know how to celebrate, or what?!?!   ; )

I told Jeff that it's official, we were old!

Anyhow, while I was there, I picked this up. . .

I'm not ashamed, to admit that I'm a little scared. LOL

I had all intentions of starting this today but overslept. (seriously!)

Tomorrow it's on, though.

I promise.

Have you "shredded"?

If so, what did you think?

Another quick Valentine's project. . .

I was at Target this weekend and everytime I'm there, I have to hit up the $1 spot.

Well,I spotted this cute handmade Valentine card and knew I could do something cute with it, or at the very least, give it to Jeff. : )

So, once I got home, I thought it would be super cute framed!

I already had the white frame on hand, and here's just a quick pic of the card before hand.


Here it is framed!


I think it's adorable and it only cost me a whole $1! : )

Really pulled out all the stops for this one, didn't I? ; )

See, it doesn't take much to decorate for the holidays around my house!

Valentine's decorating on a whim. . .

What do you get when you take some epsom salts, votive candles and some left over Christmas ribbon?




You get this. . .











I love it!

And even better, I already had everything already on hand!


Oh-and see all that white behind it?!?

That's a little sneak peek of my corner piece.

It's not done yet, but it's coming along nicely and I have no regrets about painting it!

65 in 365 . . .

I stole this idea from Snarky mom.

Tara at Mom Jeans and Minivans has also done the same thing.

These ladies have totally inspired me and I loved the idea of 65 in 365.

The idea of this is to accomplish these 65 things within the next 365 days.

Can I do it?

We'll see!

Here's my list

1. Read the bible cover to cover with the help of a bible reading guide
2. Be more involved in church
3. Continue on my path to getting healthy and reach my goal weight
4. Learn to be more comfortable in my own skin
5. Faithfully use a skin care routine, eye cream, moisturize etc.
6. Take more time off to attend school functions with Maddie
7. Make a point to have "date night" with Jeff on a more regular basis
8. Exercise 3-4 times a week
9. Establish a better morning routine. No more sleeping until the very last second
10. Go to bed earlier!
11. Make my bed on a regular basis. ( I never make it, how awful am I?!)
12. Meal plan
13. Get my home and work more organized and keep it that way!
14. Make a point to tell my family and friends how much I appreciate them on a more regular basis
15. Start yard saling and antiquing and possibly open an Etsy store?
16. Learn how to use that fancy schmancy camera on something other than auto! : )
17. Buy a photo editing software
18. Make more of an effort with my daily appearance
19. Fix kitchen flooring
20. Buy a house (hopefully!)
21. Learn to sew!
22. Be more on task when I need to be
23. Be a more positive person
24. Give more, ask for less
25. Buy a new car...maybe?!
26. Paint my kitchen table
27. Catch up on my laundry
28. Re enroll in school
29. Cook healthier meals for my family
30. Learn new recipes
31. Have Maddie's artwork framed
32. Eat dinner at the kitchen table each and every night
33. Have more Mama and Maddie time
34. Tackle more DIY projects
35. Follow Dave Ramsey's plan
36. Read more
37. Go to the dentist every 6 months
38. Plan a family vacation
39. Use the grocery game
40. Get our wills done
41. Have a professional family portrait done
42. Restock my gift closet
43. Start having more Sunday dinners with my parents and my brother's family.
44. Start a Christmas club account
45. Open an Education IRA for Maddie
46. Finish my projects, I've started
47. Manage my time better
48. Blog on a more consistent basis
49. Be a better friend
50. Quit focusing on what I don't have and appreciate what I do have
51. Volunteer more
52. Paint corner hutch in living room
53. Refinish hardwood floors
54. Clean carpet in bedroom
55. Make curtains for bedroom
56. Be more patient
57. Visit family out of town on a more regular basis
58. Stop procrastinating so much
59. Stop worrying so much, as well!
60. Become stronger in my faith
61. Establish a craft area for myself
62. Clean attic out
63. Fix up family room
64. Try not to take things so personally
65. Enjoy each and every day to the fullest because we never get that time back!

Phew! It's a lot but I am gonna take it a day at a time and as I accomplish these things, I will check them off my list.

If I get 1/2 of these items accomplished, I will be a happy camper!

What about you? Do you have any resolutions for 2010?

What would be your 65 in 365?

Show and tell gifts. . .

Mrs. DIY at The DIY showoff, is doing a show and tell gifts, so I decided to participate.

We scaled way back this year, but I still got some pretty amazing things and wanted to show and tell it to you. : )

I had bought myself this a couple of months ago and wanted to just call it my Christmas gift.




It was kind of spendy so I was totally cool with calling it my gift and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Seriously, it's the best thing for your skin ever!



But, Jeff wanted me to have something to open on Christmas Day.

So, this is what he got for me.



I have been wanting a pair of Sperry's forever but was to cheap to buy them.

So, he bought me a pair for Christmas.

I was so excited b/c you know, that's what all the cool kids wear these days. ; )

He also bought me these Jessica Simpson aviator sunglasses that I had been eyeing for a while.




Am I gonna look cool or what?!? LOL

My parents bought me this glass beverage jar that I had seen at TJ Maxx and fell in love with.




I knew I was this getting b/c I had picked it up myself at TJ Maxx when they marked it down to $10.

But, I didn't know I was getting this.




A 12 piece set of Paula Deen cookware! WOOT! : )

I'm such a lucky girl!

Everything I got, I can and will definitely put to good use!

I got more than I had expected but am so thankful for everything and I gotta say that I love it all! :)

This about sums our Christmas up . . .

See the look of pure joy in her face?




She, and well all of us, had a WONDERFUL Christmas.

I actually hated for Christmas to come, just because I didn't want it to go.

For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed every minute of it.

I still have yet to take my tree down and probably won't until New Year's Day.

Just because, I love it so.

How was your Christmas?

I hope it was as magical as ours was!

Check out this Christmas decoration. . .

I received this in my email and just had to share.

Make sure you read the whole story below. . .




Greg sends along this DIY - FYI:

"Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take my fake man down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, an elderly lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was only one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard."


When I first saw the picture I was like OH MY GOODNESS! Then when I read the story that followed I had to giggle a little.

Anywho, I hope it made you giggle a little too. : )

Christmas at The Huntley Home

Welcome, welcome to our humble home!

This is our front door, adorned with our Christmas wreath.



Instead of using my normal wreath hanger, I decided to use some ribbon to hang it from and I love the way it turned out!

When you walk into our front door, you are greeted with our Christmas tree.



We just bought a new one this year, it's pre-lit and considered pre-decorated because it came with pinecones and berries on it, already.

So, if I decided to be lazy one year, all I have to do is set it up!

We did decorate it this year and here are just a few close ups of the ornaments, we have on it. . .






a Maddie-made one,



and a recent gift sent to me.



I definitely have a hodge podge tree but I love it.

Here, is my Garnet Hill knock off advent calendar.




I fell in love with this version of theirs and was lucky enough to find something similar for a fraction of the price at World Market.

Love when that happens!

Here's, another bargain I came across last year, after Christmas.

Gotta LOVE those after Christmas sales! ; )



They sit on top of our TV armoire and make it pretty and sparkly!



Here is my "attempt" at decorating my mantle.



It's just lots of ribbon, garland, some barn stars that light up and our stockings.


I wanted it to be whimsical and fun to match these new stockings that I just had made for us!




My friend April made them and they are fabulous, she did an amazing job!

She even monogrammed them for us!




She is so very talented and so sweet!

Here's just a little bit of Christmas on my coffee table.


I had some extra Christmas balls and just put them in an apothecary jar.

I love all the fun colors!

Definitely, need to get some more though, and fill that baby up!


Lastly, here is the wreath on our back door.

Another, after Christmas find from last year.



It's not much, but it's quaint and our home and we love it.

Thanks so much for visiting The Huntley Home and we wish you a very, merry Christmas from our home to yours! : )

Now, I'm off to tour your homes!

Brown paper packages tied up with string...

These are a few of my favorite things. . .

I am a member of a message board that consists of an amazing group of ladies, called "The Sisterhood of the Fancy Britches".

I have known a lot of these women for years, we've seen each other babies grow up, and have been through a lot together.

I truly feel fortunate to know these ladies.

Anyhow, the last couple of years, we have done a secret sister exchange and this is what I received from my secret sister this year.




What a lucky girl, am I? : )



Every year, that I have participated, I have truly loved what I received.

Plus, it's always fun to receive a little surprise in the mail from time to time! ; )


Here's the ornmaent on my tree, is it cute or what?!



I hope my secret sister, likes what I picked out for her just as much as I loved my gift! : )


Thanks again, Lori!

Buried Treasure. . .

While unpacking our Christmas stuff, I found several things that I bought after Christmas.

I had forgotten about alot of them and was giddy with the discovery of my newly found treasures.


These two gold churches were part of that stash.



Aren't they GORGEOUS?

I seriously love them!

They aren't my typical Christmas decor but I just had to have them and better yet, I got them for 75% off!

Doesn't get much better than that!?!?! : )

Christmas Tunes. . .

Was doing a bit of blog reading last night, and came across some blogs that had some Christmas music on them.

So, last night I wrote out my Christmas cards and enjoyed everyone's music.

It was so nice, I was the only one awake, my Christmas tree was all lit up and I was completely enjoying the moment.

Since I am in the Christmas mood today, I decided to add a few of my favorite songs too.

Some are new favorites, some are old and I am sure I will add more as time goes on. : )

You can check out what I have so far, on my playlist on the right over there. -->

What is your favorite Christmas song?

I would love to hear it!

One gift. . .

As I stated before, Jeff and I cutting way back on Christmas this year.

I have to admit that I still want Christmas to be "magical" and for Maddie to just receive everything, her little heart desires. So, it's been a bit of a struggle for me. Don't get me wrong, she is still getting what she asked for but I am no longer supplementing her gifts, just so she has more to open.
Because truth be told, the majority of the "filler" stuff I buy ends up in the garbage in a few months, anyhow.

I am also pretty much done with our Christmas shopping.

It does looks somewhat "bare" under my tree. I guess it looks "bare" in relation to what it used to look like under there.

I will also admit, that in some ways it feels good to not stress as much as to what to get everyone like I have typically done in the past.

It's definitely an adjustment, but I think a good one, nonetheless.

For me, anyways.

I actually have had the time to just enjoy the coziness of our Christmas tree and snuggle up to Jeff and Maddie, to make gingerbread houses, and listen to Christmas music.


Jeff and I did also decide that we would buy one gift a piece for each other and the budget was $50.

One gift, gosh?

What did I want?

What could I get?

You definitely think more carefully, when you can only choose one gift!!

My mind has been reeling!

Currently, this is what I *think* I am gonna ask for.




I just LOVE clocks!

They seem to be my thing and I really need another like I need a hole in the head. : )

So, if you could only chose one gift, and the limit was $50.

What would you choose?