#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 31

Day 31: "Fun" - Partying with the Besties! These are some of our FAVORITE people! Britany runs 32 Turns. She is one of the funniest, most talented, sweetest people I know. It was the perfect way to ring in the new year. BRING ON 2013!

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 30

 Day 30: "Winter Wonderland" - wondering if this is how they'll spend ALL winter. . .

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 29

Day 29: "Sky" - Just another beautiful day in the Valley of the Sun!

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 28

Day 28: "Words" - The next installment from my Secret Student. :)

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 27

Day 27: "Night Time" - Tonight I got to 'help' my sweet friend Jenna at cosmotology school. She is awesome at what she does! She did Jamielyn's {iheartnaptime} hair and makeup for her appearance on Arizona Midday.

She had to pass-off what she's learned so far and needed a "model". And I had a nice relaxing night. WIN WIN!

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 26

Day 26: "Grateful" - I'm grateful to finally be ordering my 2013 custom calendar gifts.

Every year, I give all the moms in our family a new calendar. I put all their kids, spouses, grandkids, and anniversaries on them, along with a photo from the previous year. I get my calendars from The Shabby Shoppe {they even have FREE digital scrapbooking kits HERE!}. The Moms love them and I never have to worry about what to get each year, which is pretty SWEET! =)
I always upload them to and order them from Mixbook.com. Other places are a bit cheaper but you definitely get what you pay for!

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 25

Day 25: "Christmas Morning" - Bright eyed and ready to roll!

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 24

Day 24: "Christmas Eve" - We always have this for dinner on Christmas Eve: homemade white chilli in bread bowls. :)

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Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt

We got to have some SWEET holiday fun! Some friends of ours found a great idea on Pinterest (source) for a Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt. They challenged us to a competition tonight! You each get a list, pick an unfamiliar area, set your timers for 30 minutes and GO!
 

You can print your own list here!
 

{DISCLAIMER: My photos are bad! Some of them are with my regular camera, some are on my phone, and several were taken while moving since my competitive husband wouldn't slow down! (: }
 

Here's our list and what we found:

1 - A Nativity Scene

2 - A yard with at least 5 reindeer

3 - A house lit with only white lights

4 - The Grinch ~ We couldn't find a Grinch but if anyone else is looking, COME TO OUR HOUSE!

5 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ( I promise that's him!)

6 - Giant Candy

7 - A snowman with a top hat

8 - Christmas music playing

9 - Disney characters~ This was a lot harder to find than we were expecting! All we got was Pooh Bear.

10 - A decorated mailbox~ also very hard to find in Phoenix where most mailboxes are in huge stacks in the heart of the neighborhood.

11 - Snoopy~ there were several of these!

12 - A white Christmas tree

13 - Mr. & Mrs. Claus (Apparently not a very common item! The one we found was teeny tiny.)

14 - Blinking lights

15 - A yard with 3 inflatables

16 - A train

 

17 - Blue icicle lights

 

18 - A camel {We couldn't find a camel either! WHAT?! Where IS your Christmas spirit, people?!}

 

19 - Santa on a roof

 

20 - An angel

It was SO much fun! Next year, we want to get several couples/families involved and split up around town.

#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 23

Day 23: "Scarf" - This one was a gift from my sister-in-law. It's about 6 feet long and super soft. I LOVE IT!

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 22

Day 22: "Tradition" -We have a tradition of buying a new ornament each year that represents something significant from the year. This year we got our morkie, Nutmeg. :)

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 21

Day 21: "Peace" - This is our family ornament from 2010. It's hard to read but it does say PEACE.

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 20

Day 20: "Tree Topper" - We've had this one for years. I love it but I really wish it had lights. /:

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 19

Day 19: 'Candy Cane' - These are part of our outdoor lights display.

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Hot For Teacher

I'm now a Reading Specialist at an elementary school. My days aren't nearly as funny or exciting as they were when I taught preschool but yesterday was an exception. One of my reading students made a comment to me (he considered it a compliment) and subsequently brought back this note:

It made me smile. =)

#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 18

Day 18: "Stockings"- white for boys, red for me, stocking holders: P.E.A.C.E.

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#CAPTURINGDECEMBER: Day 17

 Day 17: "Presents"- we only have a few right now but it's enough to be exciting!

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