Category: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Christmas is a time for family and friends to celebrate together.  Unfortunately for many, including ourselves, distance keeps us from doing that physically.  There haven’t been many Christmases in the past 15 years since we moved to the United States that we’ve had the opportunity to spend it with family.  But all of that has changed with Walmart Best Plans, because with Unlimited Talk, Text & Data/Web, and our Extras Pack we can connect with friends and family all over North America.

Some days I feel like I am so ahead of the pack (not often, just some days, lol!).  I’ll be talking to my husband and spouting off things, and he’ll stop me and say “HUH?!”  And I respond sort of sarcastically (and sort of seriously!) “TRY AND KEEP UP.“

As we all Try And Keep Up ® (TAKU) in today’s fast-moving, globally aware times, some of you may enjoy sporting an all-new attitude of multiculturalism that’s hitting the streetwear circuit from TAKU. 

I can’t believe Christmas is only a week away.  We’re starting to wrap things up (both literally and figuratively) for the big day.  Last Sunday I got together with some friends for an afternoon of crafting where we were still making Christmas decorations to brighten up our homes.  Most of them have college aged children that were making their way home for Christmas, and the resounding chorus around the table was that they couldn’t wait to get home to TEXAS!

Okay I know there are some of you that still haven’t finished their Christmas shopping (or started for that matter)!  I don’t know about you but I really like getting gifts that are tailored to me or have special meaning. 

And it’s even more awesome if said gift has a Texas theme to it!  Let me tell you – even though I’ve only lived in Texas for 17 months… I should have been born here!  Sometimes it’s a little hard for me to come up with gift ideas for my nieces, especially the ones in their teens.  But I know I can always get them a t-shirt or a tote bag and they will love it.

Without question, chocolate chips are at the top of most bakers’ lists of favorite ingredients!

125 Best Chocolate Chip Recipes features incredibly creative recipes for everything from cakes and pies to breads, puddings, bars, squares and muffins to beverages and sauces.  And it goes without saying that no cookbook on chocolate chips would be complete without cookie ideas.

As the season grows chillier, I look for softer clothes that can go from day to night, especially when the holidays roll around. 

So I’m bashing the winter blues with this oh so fashionable mixed fabric color block top from Donna Degnan.  Talk about about effortless chic!  Paired with a short black skirt, black tights, a pair of high black boots, and a simple statement necklace, I’m ready for both a day out shopping with the ladies or a night out on the town with my spouse.

Since 1975, the Best of Bridge “Ladies,” as their children have named them, have been developing recipes that are easy to understand, written with a sense of humor and guaranteed to work.  Not surprisingly, given their motto – “simple recipes with gourmet results” – over the course of four decades, they have cooked up countless treats that are perfect for sharing with family and friends when it’s time for a celebration.

Best of Bridge Holiday Classics: 225 Recipes for Special Occasions focuses on recipes that will meet all of your holiday entertaining needs. 

Believe in the spirit of friendship, the strength of family and the power of hope – the perfect Family Movie Night movie in time for the holidays is now on Blu-Ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment – Dolphin Tale 2.

The inspiring true story of Winter isn’t over.  Several years after receiving a prosthetic tail, Winter loses her surrogate mother, leaving her alone, grieving and unwillling to engage with anyone, even her best human friend, Sawyer.  Worse, she may have to be moved from her home at the aquarium due to regualtions requiring dolphins to be paired.

One of the reasons we love our family living area is because of the floor to ceiling brick fireplace.  And even though the fireplace itself doesn’t get much use because we live in Texas, it’s a architectual piece that anchors the room.  This is the fourth home we’ve lived in and the only other home that had a fireplace, it was in the basement which we never used.  Last year was the first Christmas in this home and I didn’t take advantage of decorating the hearth like I could have.  This year though, I went all out.

Having grown up with the Bible being a focal part of my lifestyle, I was instantly drawn to the title of this book.  While always having known that I am beautiful in the sight of God and that my inner beauty will always be more important than my outer features, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care how I looked 🙂 

I think it’s important to note that although our personality, demeanor and attitude naturally make all of us beautiful women, there are many places in the Bible where the physical beauty of women are specifically mentioned.