¤TU¤ - ~Holidays~

June 20th means ties....right?

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:57:58 -0700

When you think of a father, what's the first thing that you think of? Love? Hard-working? Strict? Or how about neckties, perhaps? That's right, I said it, neckties.

These are lots of men that really look forward to the thought of getting a new necktie for Father's Day or even for the holidays in general. But, I am sure a lot of father or even men don't think about getting a necktie cake for these special occasions.

Over at Tiepedia, Matt is obsessed with neckties. And for Father's Day he has done the research and found some of the most splendid looking necktie cakes to satisfy a sweet tooth and a father who loves neckties.

Matt's site, Tiepedia, talks about ways to tie a necktie, where to buy some of the best looking ties for any occasion as well as how to keep a tie looking its best.

If your father is into neckties as much as Matt is, his site is truly the place to visit to see all the ways you too can love a necktie. Neckties can pretty much dress up any outfit for any occasion and some women even dress up there look with a necktie or two. There are companies that use organic cotton, hemp, bamboo or other organic and natural materials to make their neckties as well. Over at Rawganique you can get other organic and natural neckties and other men's apparel as well. Pair that natural, organic necktie with a necktie cake and make dad's day special.

When Father's Day rolls around consider a necktie cake for you dear father and show him just how much you care. Tiepedia has lots of ideas about cakes that are not only dad friendly but also necktie awesome! And plus you get a taste of the sweetness as well.

Happy Father's Day!

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Christmas at our house

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:08:08 -0700

Make a Smilebox slideshow

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Happy Earth Day!

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:19:00 -0700

It's Fat Tuesday, meaning Mardi Graaaaaaaas is Here

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:07:21 -0700

So today marks the 172nd year where Mardi Gras has been celebrated and don't bother calling any businesses that are located in Lousisianna, because this is their holiday and are closed. School, banks and any other business wanting to celebrate the holiday, shut their doors today. This means you can eat and drink all you want all day today and get "fat". Literally. Drink, sing and be merry. The celebration started on January 6th and the parade on Fat Tuesday marks the end of the celebration.

The celebration of Mardi Gras-Mardi meaning Tuesday and Gras meaning Fat, Gives everyone the excuse to party hardy. Today is a great day to cook some of the most wonderful dishes that Mardi Gras brings to the table or in this case, your own table.

Make a King Cake today and don't forget the little babies and the purple (meaning justice); green (meaning faith); gold (meaning power), sprinkles on the top.

The little babies signify a new birth. If you get the baby in your piece of cake, you will be blessed with child soon.

"Throw me somethin'! Mister! Even if it's a Moon Pie!"

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Happy Valentine's Day

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:48:17 -0700

Make a Smilebox recipe

The History Behind the LifeSavers Holiday Story Books

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:06:30 -0700

Every year since I was a kid my parents would add a LifeSavers Story Book to the stocking. My sister, my brother and I would all be so excited when the LifeSavers were there. They would come with ten rolls of Lifesavers in assorted colors and flavors and they would actually be in a book of sorts. The LifeSavers book would add to the excitement of the holidays while we thought Santa had left them just for us.

As happy as these little candy rolls in a cardboard box made us feel, I have continued the excitement of adding them to Skylar's stocking since he was born. When I head down the isle to purchase last minute holiday stocking stuffers, I always grab one of the books still. Even though rolls in the book have been shortened to five instead of the original ten, they still offer a short story within the opening of the book. They have always been an added part of the holidays in my life growing up and I am pleased to still have the opportunity to share them with Skylar and Jeff now.

It reminds me of my own Christmas holiday and gives that morning a special feeling when they both see that "Santa" brought them a LifeSavers Storybook as well. At times I think back to coming down from upstairs with Will, as my sister is coming up from the basement of my parents house and all three of us being so excited to know the jolly man in red had been in our home and left us gifts and the LifeSavers Storybook in our stocking, along with every other kind of candy. Its great memories I am glad to share with my family now and I hope the spirit will carry on as Skylar gets older.

Season's Greetings, from our House to Yours

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:40:05 -0700

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Night Before Christmas at our House

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:07:00 -0700

Cheers to a New Year!

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:29:00 -0700

Trying to keep a New Year's Resolution, but always fail? Then why not bet money on it? At Stickk you can sign up for the "contract on yourself" commitment form. This form will charge you money, which you set, and charge you every time you fail to meet that goal.

It worked for me! And my husband was the one that received the $87 of what I failed to follow through with. By the way, he treated me to dinner and a movie once I met my goal that I set for myself. I have set another goal that I plan to follow through with and I set a charity of my choice to receive my failure reporting. So even if I don't follow through completely, at least someone will benefit from it. (Maybe I will purposely miss a few log entries).

So give it a try, what do you have to lose? Well, other than your money. HA!

Choosing the 2008 Christmas Tree

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:35:13 -0700

To view more visit Skylar Braden's World or El Hefe's Point of View.

Making the Christmas Card Photos

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:28:00 -0700

Jeff typed out the Christmas letter this year and I was very pleased with what he typed. He said he never realized why I always cry when typing them out until he did this one. It's amazing what you think about in your head in order to shorten the year down to one or two pages worth of news for all to read. You end up thinking about good times and the bad and even the sad, so the tears do happen to flow when I type it out. Jeff had more time to sit and ponder things this season than I did, so he was eager to write it up.

For those who received a letter and the photo, you more than likely read about our move. That move date is set in stone now. Different from the other dates that we have planned in the past, so I am so excited. The weather here in Oregon is not my cup of tea, at all. I can do without all the rain. After being in Oregon now for more than four years, we both agreed that the Arkansas weather is more enjoyable. And to be honest with you, Oregon weather is down right depressing at times, but the coast makes it seem, not so bad.

Before the 2010 move we will be fitting in a bunch more coast trips, a ski trip and our "already booked" Great Wolf Lodge stay in February. So look for those pictures to be posted here, Jeff's site and even Skylar's site soon.

Below are a few more shots from the making of our Christmas card photo. Enjoy!

To see more visit Jeff's site.
To see a slide show visit Skylar's site.

Halloween Night at Our House

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:39:34 -0700

The moon was semi-full.

We ate pizza in the shape of a pumpkin.

We drank hot apple cider.

And we took the "cloud" out to trick-or-treat.

A Perfect Halloween House

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:09:30 -0700

Making the "Cloud" Costume for Halloween

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:16:47 -0700

Skylar wanted to be a "cloud" this year for Halloween and as with last year's costume, I went on a mad hunt to find ideas on how to make him a cloud. After hearing several suggestions, sandwich board-style, stuff his clothing, wrap cotton in some tulle, etc., Jeff and I finally figure out a way while racking our brains one night. He had the idea of putting Skylar in a sweat suit and drawing a cloud on him and gluing cotton to the drawing. I thought; why not glue the cotton all over him instead. On a hat, on a shirt, on a pair of pants and even his shoes. So there it was. I bought a box of batting and a cheap suit and hat and began hot gluing the entire thing.

Carving our Pumpkin Patch Findings

mcwilkerson1977@yahoo.com (Shelly Hardage-Wilkerson) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:51:16 -0700