Hope you're not scrambling like Santa! Last minute craft project? Squeezing just one more awesome blog post in before the in-laws head in? Already cooked up some holiday goodies? This is your spot to showcase your work!
Welcome to Week 16 and to the only virtual tailgate party around!
Our team is here to welcome you, be sure to stop by, say hello and follow them:
Need more proof of just how versatile our hop is? Take a look our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs):
What adorable lil Sock Snow People, courtesy of our own Betty from A Gut & A Butt.
New Mama Diaries shared a yummy recipe for Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Thank you Bouncing Baby for sharing your Dada, we thank him for being a protector over in Afghanistan.
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
Be sure to share our button, letting everyone know where you're linking up this football season.
Nope, you don't have to sit out in the cold to tailgate. Your opportunity is right here! Think of our hop as a one big virtual tailgate party! Link up your tailgate recipes, DIY decor projects or your best post of the week.
Our team is here to welcome you, be sure to stop by, say hello and follow them:
Oh wow, Foody Schmoody's Chocolate Cream Pie Martini looks like the perfect way to cap off Christmas night or any night for that matter!
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
Be sure to share our button, letting everyone know where you're linking up this football season.
That's about how long my parents waited in line to get me my Cabbage Patch Kids doll.
Might be her, not sure, my sister eventually destroyed her!
The year was 1983, or somewhere around then...
I can still hear my mom telling the story of now long they stood in line, the fights that were erupting around them. But lo and behold, they walked out with my doll.
Really, that's all I cared about. My dad was tough, he could take down any other parent that got in the way of getting my doll.
That's my story.
What's yours?
I enlisted the help of some blog buddies to share their stories of getting that must have toy for Christmas. Here are their stories.
I
sooooooooooooo wanted the Barbie Dream House! My parents NEVER got it for
me! While my daughter is only 18 months, it is taking all my will power
not to start buying Barbi stuff. However, I am still very
conflicted. Since growing out of my Barbie phase, I became a pretty
liberal feminist and even went to a very liberal all women's college. I
am pretty sure I am going to cave and get her that giant pink sparkly house of
plastic as soon as she is old enough!
My favorite childhood
toys were Barbies, my pink Barbie corvette powerwheels, and my Fisher Price
kitchen. I literally think I played with all of those until they either broke
or grew out of them. I still have my Barbies tucked away somewhere at my mom's
house.
I don't recall a
particular toy that was a "must have" item. Toys were marketed
differently in the 60s and 70s. I do remember going through the Sears
"Wish Book" and putting my initials on the things I liked. One
item that stands out for me was my Crissy doll. She had red hair that you
could pull out to make long or retract for shorter hair. I remember she
had a mod dress and go-go boots. My sister had a blond doll and my cousin
had a dark haired one. My mother had a grand time sewing clothes for
them. We played with them for several years until we outgrew them.
In 1976, I was eight
years old and all I wanted that Christmas was a Bionic Woman doll. I was
thrilled when I got it; she had that lever on the back that made her swing her
arm that held a tennis racket. I played with that doll until it literally
fell apart!
I remember the Christmas
when I was 10, I wanted a Chatty Cathy Doll. She talked, walked and was so
cute. I loved playing with her. It was a very special Christmas, most of
all because my Grandparents were there.
My favorite must have
item was a Cabbage Patch Doll, her name is Letty and I still have her. My mom
put her layaway because $75.00 was a lot of money for her! She was a single
parent.
I am a native of Bulgaria. As a child we had an exchange program
with a school Germany. We had a student assigned to be our pen pal. We would
write letters to each other. This was a great cultural exchange for me from a
very early age. I loved hearing about the different customs in a
different country and make a friend at the same time. I also spent some quality
time with my grandmother as she was a Language Arts teacher with German minor,
she was helping me write the letters. I became quite good friends with my pen
pal. We started exchanging gifts as well. One Christmas we had purchased and
sent a Bulgarian traditional folk doll to my German friend. In exchange she
sent me a Barbie doll. It was the time where Barbie dolls were actually hard to
get in my country... so I was beyond myself. I still remember this gift as well
as the wonderful friendship that brought it.
Welcome to the most versatile hop around. This is your spot to showcase your latest DIY decor/projects, tailgate recipes or your best post of the week!
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
Be sure to share our button, letting everyone know where you're linking up this football season.
***Disclaimer***
My picks may be a bit out of the norm, you won't find any Miracle on 34th Street here, I like that movie but it didn't make my list. I also went with my top 7 picks, I know, 7, not 5, not 10 but 7.
Go get your popcorn, relax, get ready for some holiday movie cheer clips!
In no particular order, first up is Scrooged with Bill Murray.
This movie is hilarious but has meaning behind it. It's a remake of the Dickens classic, with a twist. The movie showcases how a meanie turns good, with a little knocking upside the head. Family dysfunction is lurking here...
Speaking of dysfunction...
It's Christmas time with the Griswolds!
Gotta love Aunt Bethany! Her reciting the Pledge of Allegiance instead of saying grace is hilarious!
WARNING: I will be using the word HILARIOUS throughout this post.
So many funny hilarious scenes throughout this movie. The Griswolds show us the effects of having family around for the holidays. They show us that we all have a crazy Cousin Eddie that embarrasses the heck out of us, but in the end, means well.
Ok, my next pick is probably over-played but Christmas doesn't seem like Christmas without watching it.
Does "you'll shoot your eye out, kid" ring a bell? Yep, you guessed it, my next pick is...
A Christmas Story
The clip I've chosen for you is of the gift that keeps on giving, giving light that is, it's the leg lamp!
Ralphie and his folks show us, again, that all families have a tinge of dysfunction. I can relate to the cussing dad!
Again, the family has dysfunction but they mean well. Ralphie standing up for himself to the dad getting him the Red Ryder BB gun, they show us that family sticks together after all is said and done.
This next clip helps keep the true meaning of Christmas before our eyes.
Starting at scene 2:45, Linus breaks it down for us, explaining the arrival of our Saviour. Watching this clip takes me back to my childhood. Amazing, how I watched this as a kid and how my kids watch it. I never grow tired of watching it each year. This movie has a way of making things right in the world. You start to think about how screwed up our world is BUT then you think about what our Saviour did for us. A great movie to usher in Christmas.
But where is the dysfunction?
Did you see that tree? That was dysfunction enough! The group needed to hear the meaning of Christmas because there was dysfunction amongst the group of friends.
Alright, keeping with the cartoon theme, couldn't leave this one out:
Not the full action movie but the original 1966 cartoon. Sometimes originals should be left alone. So, you know the story, mean Mr. Grinch has this teeny tiny lil heart. Goes into Whoville, steals everything, gets bitten by the love bug in the form of Cindy Lou, turns over a new leaf. Something about the nostalgia this one brings up. Again, knowing that I watched this as a kid and hearing my daughter squeal as I play the clip.
WARNING: No laughter allowed at my next pick.
This is not well known, or should I say not known at all. Wasn't even sure I would find the clip on Youtube.
So, here's the story on how this one made my list. Just so happens one day, MonkeyMan and I were home, flipping channels, having a quiet moment where we had control over the TV. This movie caught our eye. The kid is the kid from the Disney channel, well, they're twins. His parents have started to argue a lot and looks like they are headed for divorce. The kid just so happens sees his mom kissing Santa (it's actually his dad), this starts his plot to get them to stop arguing.
Ok, so I'll admit it, this movie is not all that great but it makes me remember that Saturday afternoon with my husband. To me, this represents the season, being together with those you love.
So, I know I said that my picks aren't in any particular type of order but...
Gotta admit, this one has become one of my favs.
Will Ferrell is hilarious, sometimes so annoying that it's just hilarious!
This one has become a classic that just gets us laughing. Buddy the Elf kinda grows on you, in the same way he had to grow on his own dad. The theme again is that even with dysfunction, family still loves. Buddy is different, his family couldn't accept him in the beginning but grew to understand him.
The holiday season has a way of bringing out the dysfunction in every family, my movie picks tells us that.
My family is no different, however, I know they mean well.
How will you deal with the family dysfunction this year?
If answering that question increases the headache pain, tell me your favorite Christmas movie!
Take a look at our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) from last week's hop:
Positive thinking can change any situation, it's a great character trait for all. Readers have an opportunity to win a copy from Create With Joy.
Delicious Kale Cranberry salad! Maria from Music Teaching and Parenting shared a wonderful, light salad, perfect, especially after your Thanksgiving feast!
Anne from Anne's Blog is so creative and helped get us into the Christmas spirit with her whimsical cards.
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
Be sure to share our button, letting everyone know where you're linking up this football season.
Welcome to the most versatile blog hop around! This is the hop where fellow bloggers can post tailgate recipes, DIY decor projects or best posts of the week.
Football love not necessary. Why? Because we're the spot you come to when your husband/boyfriend/significant other is overdosing in football. You get to step away, hang out with us for a bit, then go watch that game! Or if you prefer, just hang out with us!
Told you our hop is versatile, better yet, let's have our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) tell ya:
Thrift for Today showcased awesome DIY tips. Be sure to check her out Fridays when she gives us her Five on Friday .
Vashti gave us some Thanksgiving history, it's always good to know both sides of a story.
What a great list from Beautiful Solutions! Great items that can be picked up from eBay and put right into a Christmas stocking!
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
Be sure to share our button, letting everyone know where you're linking up this football season.
Ok, well, I will be when it happens. At the time of this post, "it" happens in 10 days.
I imagine an 18 year being happy about turning 18. It represents freedom.
Or a 21 year old being happy about turning 21. It represents being of drinking age, if you're into that sort of thing.
Why am I happy about turning 40? To me, it represents life leveling out. Let me explain.
Sure, I could freak out about early signs of menopause, the sound my knees make after a strenuous workout, trying to read the teeny, tiny print on a bottle (who ever came up with teeny, tiny print?) mammograms, saying stuff like "back in my day", or this muffin top that I am busting my butt to shrink. Notice I didn't say get rid of completely.
I am good with not having a perfect, Victoria's Secret model's body.
See, that's just it.
I am choosing to rock the fact that:
I am comfortable in my own skin
I made it to 40
I don't feel old
I am in great health
I have the best husband in the world
I have the best kids that many moms wish they had
I have a growing career
I no longer need the stamp of approval from people
Fact is, who says 40 is the age when you realize certain things? It could be at any age.
We all grow at different rates. So, for you, your life may have leveled out at 25, or 32. You may still be waiting for it to calm down!
Guess what, that's ok because there are some awesome lessons to be learned on the journey. I know it doesn't feel like it during the chaos but believe that it's shaping who you are and who you will become.
Yes, even at 40, you can transform yourself.
Hope you're happy about whatever age you currently are or about to be.
Let me help you boost that enthusiasm a lil bit more with a GIVEAWAY.
So, it's my birthday (or it will be in 10 days) and I'll give away stuff if I want to!
Enjoy my 40 for 40 birthday giveaway! Since I am turning 40, I am giving away 4 gift cards in increments of $10.
Periodically, this blog hosts giveaways intended for fun and an
incentive for the readers. These events may be self-sponsored by the blog owner
or may be sponsored by another individual, business or corporation. This may or
may not be plainly stated in the actual giveaway. If you need further
clarification, please ask.
All giveaways, unless otherwise stated, will follow these
guidelines:
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and in no way are meant to be a form of gambling or sweepstakes.
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~will start and end on dates listed on each specific
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~each winner will have 48 hours to claim prize,after being notified via the email they used to enter the contest.
After 48 hours, if there is no response, another winner will be chosen.
~If giveaway is self-hosted, site/blog owner agrees to mail
prize to winner(s) within 14 days.
~If giveaway is sponsored by an outside entity, then winner will
abide by their prize fulfillment periods, which may be as long as 180 days,
depending on the company. I carefully select the companies I work with. Since
we live in an online world, many things can occur. If a vendor chooses to not
fulfill a promised prize, I cannot be held liable or responsible. I will
diligently work to have the company make good on their promise, but this
outcome is not guaranteed. Hopefully, this will not be an outcome we will have
to explore.
·All giveaway entrants agree to be honest; Entrants may be
disqualified at my discretion if fraud is detected.
·The winner(s) is responsible for any tax liability resulting
from any prizes.
·Any and all giveaways may be promoted on Twitter, Pinterest,
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only. This is not to be misconstrued as Twitter, Facebook or other social network
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·Winner(s) assumes all responsibility if they desire additional
clarification, prior to entering the giveaway or at the conclusion of the
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·Now, go have fun with this giveaway, all the best to you and
thank you for reading!
****Before I give you our weekly football blurb, we've altered the hop a bit**** Now, you can link up your Twitter, Bloglovin, Pinterest, Facebook and Google + profiles! Giving us all the opportunities to connect with other bloggers and give some hits to our social media sites. Now, on to business... No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Yes, the same question is being asked from last week.
What do these two teams have in common?
Yes, they're both in Florida!
But, what else do they have in common?
Woo hoo, both of these teams have finally won a game!
Our hop is the most versatile hop around! Don't believe us, take a look at our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) from last week's hop:
Just in time for the holidays, Bakewell Junction shared a delicious recipe for Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie.
Nachos are awesome at anytime! Tumbleweed Contessa knows this, it's what she shared last week.
Loving Krystal's Kitsch's Thanksgiving table decor! There's a freebie here, so get it for your Thanksgiving Day setting!
Each of our Most Valuable Bloggers (MVBs) have been pinned to our Football Blog Hop Blitz Pinterest board. Football fan or not, check out our wide range of pins.
Be sure to share our button, letting everyone know where you're linking up this football season.
