Sponsor Winner, Christmas, Pee, and a Big Ol Ring

Thank you to everyone who participated in the {jumbo} sponsor spot giveaway. And a special thanks to all of my sponsors for the Blissdom help. I hope you all saw some traffic over the weekend.

Because I am such a picky rule follower, I only counted the comments that mentioned that they followed someone... before 6pm last night.

The winner is Laura Boswell from Walking in Memphis in High Heels! Please go click on this girl's blog. She looks like a damn super model. I just ate 6 chocolate dipped pretzel sticks, covered in sprinkles, while reading her blog. She is also Lindsey's {from Plane Doctor, His Nurse, and 3 Little Passengers} SIL. :)

If you're interested in sponsoring in January, read THIS or send me an email at: holly.j.stanfield@gmail.com

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Are you guys done with your Christmas shopping? The only thing we have to go out and buy today are those white paper bags that people line their sidewalks with on Christmas Eve. We were the only house that didn't get the memo last year. After pulling into the driveway after our annual Mexican & margaritas on Christmas Eve, it was too late to go out and grab bags.

My goal today is to watch Home Alone, the Family Stone, and Love Actually.Then I will finally put on some makeup, grab some Mexican with Chris and the kids, and go look at Christmas lights. Chris and I exchange gifts tonight, Haven opens one gift, Olive will just sit there because she doesn't know what the hell is going on, and we will prepare for Santa's arrival. After Santa comes, we make our second journey to central Illinois for the Stanfield Christmas's. One at his parent's house. One at his Mamie's house.

Let me back up and explain how Christmas trip number one went, in case you missed the highlight on Facebook HERE.

Every year, we make a three hour drive to my hometown on the Saturday before Christmas, where we celebrate Christmas with my step dad, his daughter's, and their families. {Btw, him and my mom are no longer married, so please add this my family dysFUNction list} Always yummy food, lot's of beer, and good gifts.

This year, after the Christmas party, I wanted to take Haven to see the Festival of Lights. It's this big drive-thru light show in East Peoria, IL. One of the things I am a snob about? Besides THESE things? Hotel rooms. I will pack a cooler to save money before I go cheap on a hotel room. So of course, we get a room at the Embassy Suites and I day-dream about what a magical night this will be for Haven.

Now, let me back up. We already got off to rough start because after a trip to Walgreen's to get an eyebrow pencil {holla!}, a trip to the grocery store to get my favorite child some organic food meals, and a trip back home because we forgot wedding rings {people don't need to be thinkin' we're havin' problems!}, before we finally get on the road. Then, of course, Haven has to pee. I see that the next gas station is in four miles. I contemplate pulling over on the side of the highway after he points to the side of the road and tell me that he needs to pee in the rocks. Chris veto's that idea. Two miles later, Haven takes a smelly piss in his booster seat. Oh wonderful.

So we stop, get him cleaned up, and get back on the road. We had a great Christmas with my step dad and his family, then we head to East Peoria for this super-amazing-out-of-this-world-light-show. Pull in... Haven is scared. He keeps saying, "I wanna get outta here."

Can I just say that I always do this to myself? Just like the time that spent our life savings taking him to Disney World. I made reservations for us to have lunch with all of the Disney Jr characters. What happened during lunch? He hid under the table in fear. Or the time that I wanted Haven to have a home cooked meal on Thanksgiving... so I sweated away in the kitchen for 7 hours and almost divorced his father, only for him to eat a bowl of cottage cheese and corn mixed together.

Needless to say, he wasn't impressed. I was bummed. We trekked back to the over-priced-for-one-night hotel and passed out. Only to wake up and the heat not be working. Big Holly got that shit comped.

In the meantime my brother, Butkus, got engaged! What is the proper way to welcome someone into your family of dysfunction, shit, greatness, and love?

Merry Christmas, friends!!