Gates Family Christmas 2015

My husband's aunt now host Christmas at her house. She is Nana to my son and the twins.  This year we bought just for the kids. If was fun watching them open thier gifts. Arlee has  really gotten the hang of opening presents  and he enjoys tearing into the wrapping paper. The twins get more enjoyment from the sound the paper makes! They had us all entertained and laughing.
Oh the joy that little ones bring!

Arlee made Nana a footprint ornament...she loved it!

                The girls famous game of Spoons!!

 Before we broke the table. ..on our practice round!

Oh we have so much fun! 

This is a picture of all the cousins...it's growing 

every year

                             Our 2 engaged girls!!!

 Yep, Lee's sister, Jessica was Surprised on Christmas Eve by an engagement! ....we are sooo excited!!!

Another wonderful Christmas has come and gone.  Our next family adventure will be the twins 

1 year bday party!!!!

Hill Christmas 2015

Well the last Christmas celebration has finally come to wraps..... no pun intended!!!! My family came in for a quick weekend trip.  We had a nice but fast time together.  My sister and her husband were unable to make it.  It seems like it is just impossible to get all of us together.

The girls and I stayed up to wait for the Grandparents to make it in.  Since it was New Year's Eve we brought 2016 in with a picture!!!..of course.

We watched TV and then the little man decided to wake up and wait for Grandma and Pawpaw as well!!

We were up till 2:30 am waiting and waiting. 

Finally, they arrived.  We quickly did hugs and hellos and switched them to  goodnights and to bed we all went. 

We all slept in the next morning.

We did our Christmas that morning! 

 Arlee liked the bubble wrap as much as his presents!

My mom brought a game that was so much fun. It was a huge ball of sticky plastic wrap. It was loaded with gifts and candy wrapped up in foil. You play it like musical chairs. You unwrap as much as you can while the music is going.  You keep the gifts you pull out. But the twist is you do all of this with gloves on. It was so much fun!!!

We all enjoyed it. 

Kaylan was the big winner of the $20 prize. 

I think this will become an annual game! 

The rest of the day was pretty lazy. We did get dressed and do a little shopping...lol

Then the guys watched football so the girls curled up on the bed and watched a movie! 

Our time together was short but fun!

I wish I had taken more pictures but honestly we spent most of our time in pjs, snacking and watching movies. All of our favorite things!!!!

Frugal Fashion

Frugal Fashion.
I know it seems like an oxymoron.
A complete condradiction.
It seems like something that only exist in Fairy Tale Land!!!

If you know me,  you know I love Fashion.
I love all things Fashion!!!
I love clothes,  shoes,  purses, scarves, jewelry and all the sparkly  accessories that go with it!!!

But when you live on a budget you can not walk into a Department Store or in a Boutique and buy right off the racks.
There is just no way.
So how can a person love Fashion and still afford it?

Here are a few guidelines I set up for myself way back in my college days. These "rules for shopping" have helped me for years!
I hope they can be a blessing to you as well.

1. Never pay full price for an item.
 
To help myself follow this rule I pass up all of  the  racks and go  straight to the clearance racks.
I know I will fall madly in love with something that is way too expensive. And I can find a way to justify my need for it!!
But no matter how much I may justify, no sweater is  worth going broke over.
I know that is not today's philosophy.
But it us mine....
So, for me not to enter temptation, I walk right passed those high dollar racks.
I don't look and I don't peek.
It will simply hurt my feelings.

The best deal I  ever found was a $150 dress that was marked down to $49. That price had been marked out and the new price of $29 was written in its place.  I noticed it was on a 60% off rack. And that day they were offering an additional 25% off.
Hummmm....85% off $29.00!!
I did the math and liked the number.
When I got to the register I was shocked by the number the lady told me.
She started giggling when I asked her to repeat the total. Just in case I had misunderstood her.
$.99 as in .99 cents! What!!! Not even Goodwill could offer this kind of a deal!!!
I used the dress for our family pictures this year.

$.99 dress from Belk and $4.00 brand new shoes from Goodwill. Not too shabby!!!

2. Shop out of Season.

This is my biggest bargain tool!
You can find the lowest prices this way.
I love shopping out of season.
Finding a $2 sweater or a $5 coat in the middle of Summer may sound funny but to me it's like finding gold.
Right now, winter clothes are being marked down really low because the stores are bringing out their Spring Fashions.
Even I'd a new style is introduced, I wait till it is on sale.

3. Don't be afraid Goodwill!!

A huge percent of my clothes come from Goodwill.
Before there was Pinterest, I would look at Department Store magazines at the latest Fashions, then I would go to Goodwill and try to re-create it the best I could.
Now we have Pinterest, Fashion Blogs and Instagram to help with that.
Goodwill is my Happy Place!

This is the year of the Puffy Vest.
I found this little red beauty at Goodwill.

Before I wore it I decided to checkout Pinterest to study several ways to style it. I was going for rustic and causal. This was my favorite.

4. Learn to shop in your own closet!

When we did our family Christmas pictures. I got my inspiration from Pinterest. Then instead of buying anything, I went to my closet. I had to get creative but I think I did pretty good!

I had bought this shirt a few years back. I did not have a white tulle skirt so I used a dress. I folded my shirt up and covered it up with a belt.
My goal was not to  buy anything for this photo shoot.
I simply shopped in my own closet and thought outside the box.

5. Pray before you shop!

God promises to supply our needs.
So, if I have a need for a particular item, I pray that God will help me find it and for a good price.
If I don't find it, I know He wants to supply it another way.
He has never failed.



6. Don't spend what you don't have.


It's that simple.
I don't always like it but if I don't have money for clothes even if it's a great deal, I DON'T BUY IT.
I do not own a credit card.
I do not use Department Stores credit cards.
I want to honor God with my finances and my fashion.
But if I drain my account just to dress cute, I will ruin my marriage.
So, budget.
Learn to shop frugal.
And learn when to say no.

I hope this has been a blessing.
Remember, God wants us to enjoy life, and enjoy beauty.
However, we do not have to break the bank to accomplish that!!

Live Your Life

The funny, wonderful, strange, frustrating, amazing thing about life is,  it can not be planned or expected. Each day is new and fresh. Each day is full of surprises and disappointments. Each day should be lived to the fullest with purpose and zeal! And no matter how much planning and preparation we do.... life has a way of showing us we are not always in control.

2016 started off for many of us with new resolutions and new goals.
 A fresh start.
No mistakes.
 A new purpose.
Determination and will-power.

For many 2016 is the year you plan to get your finances in control.
Maybe it's the year of getting healthy and more active.
It could be the year you finally take those big steps to follow your dreams.
Or could it be, that its your desire to honor God more with your life.
Maybe go to church, or be more faithful to church!

Whatever it may be, you have to take the first step and simply  make a plan.
You do not plan to fail
You fail to plan.
So...How can you reach those resolutions??
Take those few small steps first.
Focus on one day at a time
Make small achievable goals to help you reach your big out of reach goals.
You Do It ONE Step At A time!

There is nothing wrong with a purpose and a plan. There is nothing wrong with motivational books and self help cds.
But what we all need to remember is that sometimes life can throw us curve balls.  The best plans and goals may come up short when we are knocked in the gut, left unable to breath.
It is in those moments that we have to dig deep,  find our strength and where it truly comes from.
 Its Not in self help books or resolutions.
 Its sure Not in the gym or in the 30 Day Shred DVD. Our strength and our help comes from the Lord.

2016 may be the year of heartbreak or the year of healing.  It may be a year of weight loss or the year of weight gain.  Some may experience extreme joy and others may see tremendous sorrow. It could bring new life or unfortunately it could be the end of a life.

We do not know what 2016 holds but I pray you will cling to the one Who does.
Will you trust Him with your tomorrows.
Will you live your life and enjoy every minute of it.
Life is a gift.
I pray we will all live 2016 with more love, peace  kindness, purpose and joy. I hope we will pray harder and read our Bibles longer.
Give more and let go of grudges and bitterness.
Life is short.
Enjoy this beautiful thing called life...and live it!!!

 How quickly time flies. This was Arlee's beautiful one year photo shoot. I adore and treasure  them.

Life moves fast and does not wait for you to live it.
Grab those loved ones by the hand, and live your life in the way God planned for you to.

Ward Family Christmas and Florida

The annual Ward Christmas party was held at Rochelle and Coby's new house.  It was so rustic and spacious. We had a wonderful time.  We only get to see these family members about once a year,  but we always have so much fun.  We enjoy the food, fellowship and games. This year there were so many children and babies running/crawling around everywhere.  Arlee really enjoyed playing with all of the kiddos.

During the Ornament Swap Arlee gained 2 new train ornaments. He was excited about that! 

Sunday after church we headed down to Florida.  My brother wanted to host Christmas this year but it did not work out for the rest of the 

family to come in. 

 So we decided we would and stay until Christmas Eve and have Christmas at our own house. 

We really enjoyed slowing down and watching movies,  playing games,  making a ginger bread house and I even had the joy of playing the piano and singing with my SIL and the girls in Church. 

We sang "What child is this"

 I really miss being a part of their daily lives. 

And to top it off, we went to the 

Bass Pro Shop to see Santa! 

 I thought it would be a sweet treat for my mom to have a picture of all the grandkids with

 "Sana" or "Ho Ho". 

Of course the girls were less than thrilled with the idea,  but after I stood in line by myself for about an hour they decided to be a good sport.  

They are good girls!!

                   Some pictures of our time there....
Arlee was enjoying the Hill tradition of gas station stops and honey buns!

 The first Christmas gift!!..we thought he might enjoy one of his new movies on the long ride.  It was Disney's Planes. He loved it.  Such a cute movie.

                 
   The beginning of the Gingerbread house project!

I wished I had taken more pictures but glad I remembered to take a few!!

               This one may be my favorite. ...lol

Arlee had a fantastic time with his cousins their fish and Eek Eek  (better known as Nibbles the Hamster)
He totally wore himself out and slept almost the entire ride home!!...yay.