December 2010

Year In Review: 2010

by oh amanda on December 31, 2010

in me

Happy New Year

source: altoexyl

It’s that time again. A time to reflect. A time to look back and give thanks. A time to look forward and plan. And of course, a time to look at the first sentence of the first post of each month on my blog! I know you’ve been on pins and needles waiting for this recap. Let’s begin, shall we?

{my current comments will be in italics below…}

January…It’s the first day of the year.

{This is why you stick around here. I keep you on the cusp of all things new and exciting!}

February…I have a tiny little intro post to Lost’s final season over at The Disney Blog.

{*sob* Lost is over. *sniff*}

March…even though she spilled a glass of water on my laptop this morning.

{That’s not even a full sentence!}

April…I just got back from the craziest yoga class ever.

{hee, hee! This one was actually a funny post!}

May

world vision bloggers

June…This idea is not original to me.

{big surprise.}

July…On my last Disney Cruise one of the best (worst?) games we played was Are-They-Really-Wearing-That-Bathing-Suit?!

{Nothing like a swimsuit post to get you excited about your New Year’s Resolutions!}

August…Did I tell you about how Lydia collected 293 pairs of shoes for people in Haiti?

{Busting. My. Buttons.}

September

1956

October…After 14 days of this fun mickey-ness, we are now coping with re-entry.

{I miss Disney World.}

November…After a week of not even trying to get up early, I woke up at 6:05 and walked through the neighborhood.

{You do not even want to know how long it’s been since I’ve been up early…}

December…One of the first things my mom said to me after I announced I was pregnant was, “I’m so glad you’re going to be a mother!”

{I’m glad I’m one now, too.}

:: :: ::

Every time I do this I say the same thing: I NEED TO THINK OF SOME BETTER FIRST SENTENCES! But seriously, I’m a little bummed with this one. I was hoping to see a post about my World Vision trip or maybe an I Want to Be Wilder post. Or even a Christmas post! Ahhh well. I guess this is true to life—lots of randomness and not much cohesiveness.

To link up your own Year in Review visit my friend Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife!

{if you’re really bored, you can check out my 2009, 2008 and 2007 Year in Review}

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Top Ten {Tuesday}: Christmas 2010

by oh amanda on December 27, 2010

in christmas,top ten tuesday

I have totally been avoiding writing on my blogs this week. I’ve been doing some research and spiffying on them, instead. You know, maintenance. But then today I was sitting at my computer and thought, “Hmmm. Is tomorrow Tuesday? What if someone NEEDS a Top Ten list?!! What if they need to share their 2010 Christmas memories in a Top Ten list and I’m not here to link up?! The HORROR!” So. As to not disappoint, I have made a Top Ten list for today.

Are you ready for this awesomness? Here are the Top Ten Christmas Pictures, Presents and Pieces. {I know, you love it.}

1. My daughter is cute. And she likes to pose. {Gingerbread skirt from Crazy 8. On sale, baby.}

christmas tree{at the in-law’s house}

2. We got Lydia a “big girl bed” for Christmas. We had it set up in (what we call) the big room so she could see it when she came downstairs. She got super shy when she saw it. But soon? Well…

christmas 2010

3. I bought SIX books with my Christmas money. And only one of them was fiction. I know, I’m still reeling from that fact. Anyway, here they are:

Picnik collage

Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii
The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ’s Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys

Picnik collage


One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life
Raising Able: How chores cultivate capable confident young people

Wow. Could that be some insight into my New Year’s Resolutions? And also–is it required that all books have a byline now?!

Have you read any of them?

4. My mom left an entire container of homemade fudge at my house at Christmas. Uhm. Yum.

5. Best Stocking Stuffer? Chocolate and Strawberry Milk Straws. Seriously. These are cool. It’s like a plastic straw that’s sealed on the end…but with little holes in it. And full of chocolate (or strawberry) candy beads. You stick it in your milk and start sucking. Instant flavored milk. Cool, huh?

chocolate milk

6. Lydia made the COOLEST present for Asa—a homemade matching game. I found wooden discs at Michael’s, printed off two copies of clipart of his favorite Disney characters, cut them with my handydandy circle cutter, Lydia mod-podged them and then we put them in a $1-store Toy Story tin. How cool is that?!

handmade gifts

7. We also did handmade coasters for everyone in my family. Lydia really made them. I just cut out the squares from last year’s wrapping paper and then mod-podged about 6 layers. I cut out some felt and glued it on the bottom. Super cute!

diy coasters

8. I just ate another piece of fudge.

9. I still have enough money leftover to buy one small item. I was thinking either these {click photo for respective etsy shop}:

Or these:

What do you think? Are fingerless gloves cool or weird?

10. We had a white Christmas. The first one since the 1800′s, I think. Magical.

white christmas

Bonus #11: I thought you should see my tutorial on how to wrap Christmas lights so they don’t tangle next year. It will change your life.

:: :: ::

Link up your Top Ten list and join in the Top Ten {Tuesday} fun! All you have to do is WRITE a top ten list, PASTE it below, LINK back to me in your post & then start LOVIN’ on the rest of the participants with facebook likes, stumbles, comments and tweets! For better and more succinct guidelines see my Top Ten {Tuesday} page!

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Merry Christmas to YOU!

by oh amanda on December 25, 2010

in christmas,me

In case you haven’t seen it yet, my church did this awesome iPad/iPhone band at the beginning of service a few weeks ago. It’s gone viral and over has had over 2 million views! So, take a second and enjoy a very merry iChristmas! :)

I’m blessed, honored and excited that you have been a part of my blog life this past year! Merry Christmas, friends!

{ 7 comments }

And it begins…

December 22, 2010 me

Tonight? A double church service—first a Pajama party for the preschoolers. My husband and I will be leading Christmas songs. Then the non-preschool Christmas Night of Worship service (where I guess I’ll *still* be wearing PJs) after that. I’m pretty excited (About church. Not the PJs.) Then tomorrow? My husband’s birthday. Friday? My mom’s birthday. [...]

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Christmas Stuff: Top Ten {Tuesday}

December 20, 2010 christmas

I guess I coulda skipped a Top Ten {Tuesday} today… I mean there are only FOUR more shopping cleaning days till Christmas! I know most of you will be jumping off your computer and into real life this week. But for those of us who carry our laptops around on a chain, I figured a [...]

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Merry ChristMESS

December 20, 2010 christmas

There are only 5 days until Christmas. Are you ready? Is your tree up? Decorated? Have you made Christmas cookies? Bought presents? Wrapped them? Made neighbor gifts? Done a homemade advent calendar? Delivered Christmas food to a needy family? Hand addressed your Christmas cards? Or are you like me? Your gifts are strewn across the [...]

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Stocking Stuffer Ideas {*giveaway*}

December 17, 2010 christmas

Has anyone noticed how amazingly giveawayish my blog has been this week? We’re talking giveaways galore! And just in time for Christmas! It’s all thanks to Nestle’s really cool Holiday Celebrations website! Well, are you ready for ONE MORE? Keep reading… cute felt diy stocking from Nestle One of my very favoritest (is that a [...]

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