Christmas, a time for miracles

 Joyeux Noël/Feliz Navidad/Merry Christmas/Buon Natale

With all of the hussle & bussle that the holidays bring: baking, cards, photos, cooking, wrapping, giving, volunteering, traveling, shopping, now is a great time to un-plug from social media (not that i haven't loved emailing, blogging & tweeting you! I really have and love my bloggy friends!) and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. It really is a time for miracles!

Let us celebrate the birth of our Savior [our amazing gift!] and enjoy the time we have with our cherished family & friends.

Isaiah 9:6 — “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I know not everyone is religious, but i still wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas holiday!

Wishing everyone a holly, jolly Christmas! May we all have good health, laughter & joy this season and always.

Lots of love from Bee Littlequeen!

Christmas Tidings

haha a play on words, my Christmas season as I prepare has not been so tidy. here's proof of that:

I've been elfing a way-is that even a word, a verb? I don't care. So yes, I've been writing in store bought cards to send to my lovelys and addressing them. Also, this month, I've been making some of my own handmade Christmas cards that a couple people ordered from me. I need to put the finishing touches on them!

There are presents that have been wrapped and some that still need to be wrapped. My friend tessa came over yesterday to wrap presents together because isn't doing something like that more fun with someone else? I think so, yes.

Yummy treats have been baked, the first round that is: two pumpkin cheesecakes. Round two: made eight mini loaves of chocolate chip pumpkin bread for my friendly neighbors that is derived from this recipe! [side note: they baked for 30 minutes]. Also, more baking is planned for the weekend.

decorated my charlie brown Christmas treee--it's an upgrade!! haha

and, i've been so spoiled with gifts for the 12 days til Christmas from my aunt sharon and uncle dave who live in Texas! I couldn't believe them. They are so clever and sneaky!

days 12,11 and 10 here too

new makeup from Arbonne. i heart makeup!

but in all seriousness i sure do wish you all: "good tidings we bring to you and your kin, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!"

I'm not sure when I'll be back on the blog to report, but hope to check in with you all before Christmas! lots of love!

secret santa gift swap reveal!

The day has come to post about the Secret Santa Swap event that was hosted by Messy Dirty Hair, My Cliffnotes and Perception is Everything! Thanks girls for hosting such a fun thing for us bloggers!

I signed up to participate sometime in late October, I think? lol, and received my gal's name shortly thereafter. I had so much fun shopping for my secret blogger who was... Jade of An Organized Mess!! 

I checked out her blog many a time before the deadline of shipping out her package! I would read  some of her funny blog posts and WANT to comment so badly, but didn't in fear of her getting a hunch that MAYBE i was her secret santa hahah, so i refrained! 

I loved reading her stories of running events (something I admire), tales of her two precious cats, Alice & Ralph! [hello animal lover here! you have to see how cute they are!] and just her overall sense of sarcastic humor! love it! Plus, she's a fellow quote obsessed-collector like me. I literally keep a running list of quotes copy & pasted on a "sticky note" on my desktop and have a couple pages filled with quotes in my smashbook! With that in mind, I just had to copy some of my fave quotes with her! I hope she liked them!

anyhoo...So last friday, i received my package from my secret blogger santa! I have literally NO idea who she is but can't wait to find out to thank her! She hit the nail on the head by sending me yummy coffee!, a pretty purple bottle of nail polish that i can't wait to try, in addition to candycane flavored lipbalm (i love minty stuff!), bubblebath, and a super cute notepad-"eat, drink and be merry"--seriously, i loooovvee paper products because I am a daily list maker or note writer!

and let me entertain you with a photo sequence of me opening my package!

yeh, no makeup. gosh my face is so shiny!

heeey!

pucker up

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and in case you were wondering, the pretty scarf I am wearing was made especially for me by avid reader, Danielle of The Book Barn. She has a wonderful prayer ministry called Knit Together By Love that you should definitely check out. She's one beautiful, sweet person! It was so special (and timely) to receive this scarf FILLED with love, prayer and encouragement, just for me. Thank you again my friend! It really blessed me.

i got my hair did

I cut my hair last week! I ended up chopping 8 inches off! I intended to donate my hair to Pantene's beautiful lengths program, where the minimum length to donate is eight inches, but after re-reading the directions and qualifications of donating, i learned I couldn't because I color treat my hair :( BUMMER!

Jo, my nurse Heide's hairdresser friend, who cut my hair, said that even some hair that is donated is not usable because of the color or texture of the hair, so to not feel too bad. 

Did you know it takes about eight donations of hair to make one wig!? I had no idea! So if my hair was two or three different shades it would be hard to blend with other donated hair to make a natural looking wig for someone. makes sense. She cut it shorter in the back and longer in the front (thanks to suggestion from my aunt june who is an awesome hairdresser too!). It's still layered so I can still pouf it on top! give me that bouffant! Or as Sofia tells me, "the Marge Simpson" look hahaha.

My hair was in desperate need of cutting. It felt so heavy with it being so long. 

Here are before pictures and after pics that I took that day as well as a couple days later after I had washed and blowed dried it, then the next day was curled so you can see how it looks.

look at that wild mane!

I feel much better and figure in about 3 weeks to a month, it'll be the perfect length and just how i like it!

I am a bit closer to being ready for the holidays!

Big, Beautiful & Broke, me too!

Howdy all! 
I've got a bright spirit sharing on the blog today and her name is Chelsea!
I actually met Chelsea about a couple months ago because she won a prize from me in a group giveaway that I participated in! I have enjoyed getting to know her a bit through exchanged emails and she is a Venti sponsor of mine right now! I just love it when you somehow click and quickly befriend another blogger! Just maybe that'll happen to you too when you go say Hi

Hi! I'm Chelsea and I blog over at The Big, Beautiful & Broke Blog! I started my blog this summer and vowed to write everyday for a year, to document the ups and downs to prove to myself that I can get through tough times in one piece! I am a registered nurse in an incredibly busy emergency department! I have been a nurse for over six years and am starting graduate school this winter working towards a degree in nursing education. When I'm not working or writing incredibly long, boring papers, I love to shop, blog, craft and attempt new recipes! I hope that you all will stop by and visit soon!

Britt e-mailed me the following interview questions...and here are my answers:

If you could have any superhero power, what would it be and why? I'm not sure if this counts as a superhero power, but I would want to be a shield. Have you all seen the Twilight movies or read the book series? Bella is considered a "shield", which means she has the power to protect her loved ones from harm. Working in an emergency room, I see all kinds of traumatic injuries and illnesses. My biggest wish is that I could protect my friends and family from having to deal with the kinds of things I see on a daily basis. 

What color do you feel represents you? like your style, personality, energy? Purple is my favorite color so I think it represents me. Purple combines the calm stability of blue and the fierce energy of red. I can be very calm and stable, but I also can be temperamental. I think I have to have these qualities to be an ER nurse. Purple also represents ambition and I was voted "most ambitious" in my class prophecies. 

Have you ever traveled outside of the U.S.? Where did you go? Or what has been your best vacation thus far? I have traveled all over the US, however the furthest I have traveled outside of the US is the Bahamas. I went on a cruise with my family when I was in middle school. It was fun, but the ship was TINY. You could feel every wave. I think at the first dinner, I saw around five people vomit. So gross! My dream vacation would be to go to Italy.

What's one "weird" thing that others tell you, you do? This is a great question for my husband. He tells me all the time I have "weirdness". I set my alarm for weird times...I won't set it on the normal 00,15,30 or 45. I'll pick like 1007...or my wake-up alarm when I work is 05:43. When I sleep I have to be surrounded by pillows. 

With the Holiday season fast approaching, what's your fave part of it all, if you celebrate, of course? I have always loved Christmas. I'm not religious and don't really follow the religious tradition of Christmas, but am a huge fan of the holiday because it brings families together. I love putting up and decorating the tree, while singing Christmas songs. My husband knows that I love Christmas lights, so whenever he sees a house or building with an awesome display, he makes sure he drives by it with me so I can see it. 

I hope you enjoyed a little insight into my personality!! Thank-you, Britt, for introducing me to your readers! I hope you all visit soon :)

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest

Omg, first i love your silly pics Chelsea! and your outfit by the Christmas tree looks so dang cozy! And 2nd, I do alot of weird things too. Has anyone ever gave a gift card a $7 value rather than a standard $5 or $10, because I have thought about it! lol. Does anyone else set their alarm clock on "odd" times? Let Chelsea and I know! I am curious!

22 more days!

Hello Hello. And the countdown is on!

I really do love this time of the year. I find myself missing my family more. Just being around my cousins and siblings and everyone. 

I love the cheer & kindness and goodwill that everyone shows to each other. It makes me cry! ( I am happy to know that I am not the only one who gets emotional)-Thanks to Danette, which btw, you should check out her blog because she's co-hosting a really cool challenge series for this month-Decemeber Kindness Challenge.

i love meh snow bunny boots!

Ok, so last night I watched the season finale of Once Upon a Time! Did you too? if you haven't yet, maybe I won't talk about the end, but whoa! Can't wait for January for the new season and for season 3 to premier of DOWNTON ABBEY!! I've got January 6th marked on my calendar-nobody bother me that night! lol My eyes will be glued to my tv as I happily anticipate Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley! LOVE!

So Yes, Happy December to you! To get  myself in the Christmas spirit, I've been listening to "christmas radio" on pandora while sippin on my coffee doused splashed with peppermint mocha creamer...OMG i love this stuff! Our house is decorated and looks all merry.

santa's secret elf

Oh Christmas tree!

that's me!

I've been busy making cards to fulfill a 25qty order from my friend's mom! 8 more to go and then I'll make about 10-15 more in between writing out & addressing store bought Christmas cards, Christmas shopping, putting together packages and wrapping! 

Do you celebrate Christmas? How are you getting into the spirit?

The best part about Christmas for me is giving. I love to give. Gifts, Time, Attention, Love, a listening ear, a compliment. Check out Megan's blog because you  just might win this giveaway courtesy of Nicole from Pharr Away! I entered and if I win, I will give away the prize to one of my readers!! :) fa la la la la la la la la la