12 Days of Christmas, Day 7: Holiday Craft

I'm not really a craft person, but last year I made these cupcakes.


(Taken with my phone)

That's crafty, right?

I made these for work, out of a cake box, with pre-made frosting.

For the snowmen, I used (note, you only need a little bit of each item):
A bag of gum drops (the bell shaped ones)
Bag of pretzels
Bag of twizzlers
Shredded coconut
Black frosting gel.

I made the cupcakes according to the box instructions and frosted them with a cream cheese frosting. Next, I added shredded coconut to resemble snow.

Then, I began assembling the snowmen! With a pretzel stick (or a tooth pick), place two marshmallows on the stick and place the other side of the stick into the cupcake. You can use the pretzel stick to make the arms and nose, too. Then, take a dab of frosting and put it on top of the marshmallow where the hat would go. Place a gum drop, side down, on top of the frosting to secure the hat.

Finally, I used twizzlers to wrap around the neck (between the two marshmallows) to look like a scarf. However, this only worked for a few minutes until they would break or pop off. This year, I am going to find the twizzlers pull and peels because I think those will be easier to work with. Use the black frosting gel for the eyes and buttons.

The cupcake liners I bought from Walmart came with the Christmas tree picks.

This would be great for a kid to take to school or a party!

Link up with Aly and Molly by clicking on the button. :)

12 Days of Christmas, Day 6: Gift Ideas for Me!

I think the purpose of this topic was to give our significant others a hint about what we would like for Christmas. However, I already made my honey a list way before Thanksgiving! He needed some options. :)

But, as corny as it sounds... I would just be really happy if we didn't have to exchange gifts with anyone ... and everyone in the family just did something TOGETHER. :) I guess that is a tradition I could start when Haven is older, maybe a winter vacation.

This Christmas, my main focus is to make sure that I get Haven all of his "big boy" furniture. Glave is going to have the cutest little "ABC" room.

As far as my list:

Easy tones

Any purse from J. Crew

New jeans and work pants

Workout clothes

Powerwasher

Leaf blower

A million dollars

A new house

Lipo-dissolve


Link up with Aly and Molly and tell us what you want! :) A girl can dream, right?

12 Days of Christmas, Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie

I love Home Alone... 1 or 2... Doesn't matter, I will watch it every time it's on television. Chris loves to watch The Christmas Story, but I've never sat through the whole film!



Link up with Ally and Molly by clicking on the button below. :)

12 Days of Christmas, Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly Holiday

This is Day 4 of Aly and Molly's Challenge... Link Up!


Tips and Tips to a Budget Friendly Holiday:

1. Rob a bank!
2. If that fails, draw out your budget (or lack thereof).
3. Write down everyone who you have to buy for and how much money you can allocate per person.
4. Get a babysitter and go shopping!

I have been browsing online and doing some window shopping in person, so I am fairly confident that I can get everything I need bought in one day. Last year, I did multiple trips out, which lead to buying more, losing receipts, more time in lines, etc. I'm really looking forward to a long day out, alone, with my husband!! He likes shopping more than I do, so it will be really fun, small budget or not. :)

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is enjoying time with those special people. I am in central Illinois with my husband, baby, and in-laws. We are enjoying some Pioneer Woman recipe's and spending quality time together.

{{Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. }}

(Philippians 2:14-18 NIV)

12 Days of Christmas, Day 3: Best Gift You've Received

Link up with Aly and Molly to participate in the 12 Days of Christmas blog challenge.


Ah, this was a tough one.

Last year, Chris made a DVD slide show for me from him and Haven. He had a show of all of my favorite pictures playing to the lyrics of "Northern Downpour."

I.Was.Bawling.

It was the sweetest gift I've ever received! :)

FYI: I don't think there is a "12 Day" post tomorrow. See you Friday and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I hope by the time you're reading this, I have found a hairdresser that can fit me in, my car is packed, and I'm on the road to central Illinois!

12 Days of Christmas, Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips

Click on the button and link up. :)

Black Friday tips?
1. Don't go.

I don't have 'em. I never participate. Last year, I took Chris to Best Buy but I stayed in the car. Between the ice cold temperatures and the crazy people, I just sit out on the "fun."

Shopping tips?
1. Figure out your budget.
2. Make a list of everyone you have to buy for.
3. Allocate how much money you can spend per person.
4. Get it all done in one day.

I always make a list of everyone we need to buy for. Then, depending on our budget, we allocate a certain amount of money per person... and we try really hard to stick to the list and the budget. This year, we are going to the bank, withdrawing our budget, and making an envelope for each person. I'll put the receipts in the envelopes for easy tracking. We have 17 people to buy for just in our immediate family that we exchange gifts with {not including gifts for each other or from Santa}.... so we have to make our little budget stretch!! Also, I like to do all of my shopping in one day. We get a babysitter and head out early... it's a fun day away together, shopping and eating.

On that note, if you are someone in our immediate family, I am apologizing in advance about our really, really small Christmas budget. ;)

{{Geez, after proof reading this, I sound like Scrooge. :) But in reality, Christmas shopping is my favorite thing to do!!!}}

12 Days of Christmas, Day1: Christmas/Holiday Traditions

I am linking up with Aly and Molly's blog challenge.. I hope you do the same. These are a lot of fun to read.

This is the Stanfield Holiday Schedule/Tradition:

Thanksgiving:
We always spend Thanksgiving in Chris' hometown at his grandma LeAnn's house. This year I am looking forward to cooking up the big meal for 16 people. :) Also on Thanksgiving, the grandparents' give us Christmas money to buy ourselves presents. We then shop, wrap, and bring these presents back on Christmas Day.

Weekend after Thanksgiving:
Set up tree (real, of course... until this year)


SHOP!!

Take a picture for our Christmas card.

Last year, someone didn't like my idea.

Then... we're off to see Santa!

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas:
I love to bake, wacth Home Alone 100 times, and wrap presents. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to wrap presents!!

Saturday before Christmas:
We make the three hour drive to my hometown and celebrate with my step dad's side of the family. There is always delicious food and really the only time we get together throughout the year.

Christmas Eve:
Off to church and then Chris, Haven, and I go out for Mexican for dinner and then drive around and look at Christmas lights. Last year the roads were bad, so we just headed home. Chris and I exchange our gifts with each other and give Haven his Christmas pajamas. Then, I put Haven to bed, have another margarita, and set out presents from Santa!

Christmas morning:
Santa comes!! Then we pack up the car and head to Chris' parents house, which is about an hour and a half away. We exchange our gifts which is always fun because Chris' dad always has a big/shock gift for everyone. Last year, everyone got a new computer! {I know, right?}





After the gift exchange with his parents, we drive 45 minutes to his dad's parents' house. We usually have soup and sandwiches and then open gifts. The soup is another blog post in itself. And this is only funny if you're in the family.

Then, we drive 45 minutes back to his hometown to his grandma LeAnn's house and open gifts with his grandma and extended family and then we finally eat dinner.

About 5pm, I am ready to go to bed for the night. :)

I should also mention in Chris' family, everyone opens gifts in a circle, one gift a time, in turn. This is completely different than the barbaric way the Glover's usually open gifts... Which are often marked wrong since my sister does the wrapping for my mom.

Please follow the link and link up!

The Birthday Blog

Today, Stacy from "Not Just a Housewife" has featured the pirate cake I made for Haven on her blog about creative birthdays!!

Check it out HERE. :)

And please check out both of her blogs for great ideas!!

Thanksgiving Menu

I am cooking Thanksgiving for the very first time. We are traveling to central Illinois to Chris' grandmother's house and she has the most fabulous kitchen... and I'm so excited. The best part is that all I had to do is give her my grocery list and she is doing all of the shopping.

The brining, deviled eggs, desserts, and random slicing and dicing will be done the night before. Other than that, I'm not for sure what order I'll do the sides.

What kind of Thanksgiving would America have without Pioneer Woman?

Just click on the item to get to the recipe.

Am I missing any staples that you're cooking? Please share. :)

Spruell-Stanfield Thanksgiving

Fresh Organic Turkey, Brined

Sausage Stuffing (I'm adding sausage to this recipe)

Maple Glazed Cranberry Sauce

Garlic & Herb Smashed Potatoes with Turkey Gravy

Baked Macaroni & Four Cheeses

Whipped Sweet Potatoes, Topped with Pecans and Marshmallows

Cheddar & Mushroom Green Bean Casserole

Creamed Corn

Deviled Eggs

Rosemary Rolls

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

Apple & Pear Crisp, a la mode

Peanut Butter Pie

A Little Boy's Best Friend

Slow-Cooker Beefy Stroganoff

This is my stroganoff recipe. Every now and then I'll make it on the stove, but it's best if it can simmer all day in the crockpot.

What you'll need:
1lb of lean hamburger
Tub of sour cream
1 clove of garlic
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of water
1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
1 bag of noodles (I like bow tie)
1 1/2 cups of beef broth
1 packet of onion soup mix (I've used an onion and some garlic salt as a substitute before)

Brown hamburger with garlic, mushrooms, and salt & pepper.

Add drained hamburger mixture to the crockpot with the rest of the ingredients, except for sour cream and noodles.

Stir pot really well. Cook on low 4-6 hours.

Right before serving, boil noodles and then add to crockpot.

Stir in one cup of sour cream... and enjoy!

Handy Manny

There are very few things that are cuter than a boy who knows how to fix a car!

My Little Monkey

On Saturday we went to Boo at the Zoo. We had beautiful weather and a very happy baby. Haven was excited that he got to walk around like a big boy... and we were very happy that he feel asleep like a baby on the ride home.

{We got to visit Riley!}


{Loves being on Daddy's shoulders}


{My favorite picture}


{Posing with Mom!}


Later in the afternoon, we drove to central Illinois to celebrate my MIL's birthday. The next morning, we drove to Charleston to see Haven's great grandparent's. Haven and Blaine took some happy pictures on the couch while mommy danced and sang to get the happy boy on camera!



I hope everyone enjoyed Halloween as much as we did! :)

Halloween Sneak Peak

Haven had a fun weekend walking around the zoo, playing soccer with his cousin, drooling over knick-knacks at his great-grandma's house, and dressing up like a little monkey.

Here is a picture of him in his costume until I can upload the rest tonight.


We didn't take him door to door since he is still too little to get the concept. That would also mean I would have to go door to door and it was just too cold for that. :) Holidays are just so much more fun with little babies.