{Year in Review} New Blogs I've Come to LOVE in 2013

Hey everyone! While I'm enjoying the last few days of 2013 I thought we'd take a few minutes to round up some of my favorites from 2013. Today we're talking blogs I've come to love in 2013. 

Ya'll know I love finding a good new blog to read. And in true 'Year in Review' fashion today I'm gonna tell you all about the TOP 13 new to me blogs I've found this year that I've been loving. 

So hopefully you have a free moment to sit down and waste some time on the internet because you're gonna want to. Tell your husband to watch the kiddos. Go find your fave spot in your home. Grab your favorite drink and a snack and let's get to it! 

Click the banners and links below to visit these blogs. 

Chatting at the Sky Beach Babe Fitness Brookie Babble The Mom Digitty Gal Meets Glam House of Rose J's Everyday Fashion Do you have a favorite blog? Leave me the link in the comments below, I'm always looking for new favorites! 
Christmas is just a few days away! Who's excited?!!!

Merry Christmas from my Family to Yours.

our 2013 family Christmas card.

.....and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger. Luke 2:7

.... Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth to those whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14

Merry Christmas friends! 

Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the reason we celebrate this wonderful season.

I hope you all are enjoying a day with family and friends. Have a blessed day!

{Year in Review} Favorite Projects of 2013

Today I'm excited to review a few of my favorite projects from this past year. Here's a look back at 10 of my most favorite things I created this year for my home and for my family. So in no particular order here goes, a collection of ten projects that I had fun creating. 

1. Cilantro Lime Avocado Dip

2. Zane's Nursery

3. Easy Breast Milk Storage Idea

4. Tequila Lime Chicken

5. Ava's Pink + Gold Third Birthday

6. Mixed Metals Tablescape

7. Christmas Advent Calendar

8. Family Rules Sign

9. Valentine's Day Cookie Party

10. Gold + Glitter Jars

Kick Starting My New Years Resolutions with Sears Style

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

As we wind down this year, it’s time to start thinking about a brand new year, and new goals. This year has already been such a journey in the aspect of my physical health. After losing already 65+ pounds on my journey I’ve been so surprised by myself and my ability to challenge myself and strive for better and better when it comes to what my body can do. With the new year fast approaching I’m excited to make some new goals, and push myself ever further. 

I decided to get my Hubby on board as well, so we’ll be doing a lot of these goals together which I am so excited about. It’s good to have accountability when it comes to fitness and health. We’re taking the first week of the new year and setting a different goal each day towards a more healthy life.

Day 1 Start a week cleanse from all processed and fast food. Clean our bodies out! I’ve been wanting to do a cleanse for a really long time, but have been unable to do so with breast feeding. Now, that I am no longer breast feeding I’ve been excited to start one. Dr. Oz has a great one, you can check it out on his website.

Day 2 Start a new fitness routine! I’ve been running for a while now and before that I was doing the 30 Day Shred. I think it’s great to continue to challenge yourself and try new things. This year I want to keep running and try Zumba!

Day  3 Pick a new healthy recipe and cook together as a family. I love involving my family in meal planning, I think it helps keep them excited to try new healthy dishes, plus cooking together is a lot of fun.

Day 4 Buy new work out clothing! There’s nothing that helps keep me motivated more than being able to buy clothing in a smaller size. I really love this new shirt and pants that I found at Sears! Perfect for running in this cooler Arizona weather. I used my Shop Your Way Rewards and saved $15 on my order, I love a good deal like this and Sears does a great job at rewarding customers. Sears Style has so many great options to help you get the look for less. Like them on Facebook for updates and more. #ThisisStyle #cbias

Day 5 Add a heart rate monitor! One thing I’ve wanted to do for a while now but haven’t is use a heart rate monitor like this one, pair it with my new outfit and I'm feeling motivated to meet my fitness goals for the new year!

Day 6 Set new weight loss and fitness goals. I’ve lost a considerable amount of weight and I don’t plan on losing much more but this year I do want to tone up more and make that a goal.

I am excited about where this new year will take me on my fitness journey. At some point even though it scares me to death I want to run in my very first 5K. This is also a goal of mine for the year. I’ve been training for one for the last few weeks, and I’m excited to complete this goal in the near future. Check out the Sears Style Pin board for more inspiration. 

• What are some of your health and fitness goals for the year? Remember to make them small and attainable. Everyone has to start some where, if you never start you’ll never see how far you can push yourself.

Just start.

Follow SoFabConnect's board ThisisStyle on Pinterest.

Christmas Sleepover with Party Details from WeR Memory Keepers

We're headed to Iowa for Christmas vacation with the family soon. I'm so excited, this will be the first time we'll be home for Christmas in a couple years. I'm excited for Ava to spent Christmas with her cousins and extended family. 

Christmas is a amazing season to spend with family and friends. A time to share love and laughter and make memories. As my children get older and more into what Christmas is all about it becomes more and more fun sharing this season with them. 

I've been a brand ambassador for Lifestyle Crafts for a while now, and I will now be apart of their Lifestyle Studios teams specializing in the party decor portion. So, I'm excited to be sharing different projects every month using some of their awesome tools and accessories. 

Today I'm teaming up with my friend Destiny from the blog A Place for Us and sharing with you this adorable Christmas sleepover you can easily put together for your little ones. Perfect for sharing with little cousins or play date friends. 

Grab your blankets, books and pillows and set the scene under this adorable handmade tent. I made this tent for my family pictures a few weeks back, we also use it and have it set up in our home. Ava loves to read books in there and play. If you would like to purchase one, you can here.
With some simple supplies from around the house you can set up your own Christmas Sleepover too! Plus I'm going to show you some products from We R that you can use to create some special details. 

I used the food tray die to make these little trays to hold sugar cookies in. I simply used the die and cut the shapes and then folded on the lines and used the Sticky Thumb Adhesive to keep it glued together. 

Fun tip, add some syrup to the rim of your bottle and dip it in sprinkles or sugar for a fun and festive garnish. 

I also used the snowflake die to make these snowflake wraps and put them around the glass bottles. These glass bottles are just empty Starbucks Frap bottles that I've cleaned and saved to re use. They have come in really handy. Destiny made these adorable drink flags to go with. Check them out here. 

Destiny also made these really cute snack trays. Visit her blog here to get the scoop on the projects she made for the Christmas Sleepover including this snack caddy shown above.

With a few little elements you can create a magical setting for your little ones. Snuggle up and grab a few books while enjoying your snacks under the tent. 

These girls, they are sooo cute! I just love watching them together. 

Find all the products I used linked below. If you're interested in creating some of these crafts and having your own Christmas Sleepover be sure to check them out and use code WORLEYHOUSE for 20% off your purchase. Shop here. Visit the We R Memory Keepers website here for their full line of craft supplies. They also have other fun items like photo albums, washi tape and scrapbook supplies.

Products I used:

Sticky Thumb Adhesive

Food Tray

Snowflake Punches

Use code WORLEYHOUSE for 20% off your purchase from WeR Memory Keepers. 

To find out more about WeR visit them on Facebook & Follow them on Twitter.

Happy First Birthday Zane!

Today is a really special day for our family. One year ago today Zane came into our world and completed our family. I remember that day just like it was yesterday. I was up at 5 am having what I didn't know what back labor. By the time we got to the hospital I was at 8 cm and he was born 39 minutes later. He came so fast and he hasn't slowed down since. I should not be surprised that he hit every milestone so fast.

Zane, 
Today is your birthday. I can not believe how quickly this year has gone by. I remember sitting in the hospital the day you were born thinking how complete our family felt now that you were here. Today, I feel that emotion still. We are so complete with you. You made me a mommy again, you made Ava a big sister and your Daddy's boy! 

We love you so much! I love your laughter and your giggles. I love that you have the same simple in your chin just like Daddy. Your are such a lover and a cudler and are always by my side. 

You love your sister and chase her around. I love watching you guys play together. Your smile is big and bright it makes my heart so happy. Today is just one of many days that I am so proud to be your Mommy. I feel so blessed that God has given you to us, that he's allowed me to be your Mommy. You are a blessed to our family and we couldn't imagine life with out you. 

Although my heart is bittersweet to see you grow up, I am praying for you that you would grow to be strong in the Lord. I pray for the boy that you are becoming and the man you will be. God has many great things for you. We love you so much baby boy!

Mommy & Daddy.

Holiday Greetings with Cardstore.com + A Giveaway for YOU!

Happy Friday friends! Today I have a special treat for you! Have you sent out your holiday cards yet? Don't worry it's not to late. I love sending out our holiday cards each year, I also love getting them in the mail from our friends and family too! 

With all of the design and paper options these days holiday cards are little pieces of artwork too. I love finding fresh and new designs to make our holiday cards better than the year before. Enter Cardstore, they have tons of great designs. 

They have tons of great options for your holiday cards. You can narrow down your search by filtering through options like size, colors, and amount of photo options to name a few. I really like the one above with a 'year in review' and this one below with simple "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." 

Once you've chosen your card you can then personalize it by adding your own photos and text. You can change the font and size to make it even more personal to you and your family.

Once you're done you preview your card front and back before ordering. Once great feature I really love is that you can address your cards right there on the site and have them mailed to your recipients. 

I chose this simple black and white card with this cute saying on it. I really loved the saying and thought it was a perfect Christmas and New Years card mashed all together. 

Not only do they have great holiday and Christmas cards they are a full service card shop! With birthday cards, announcements, and other cards there's something to fit all of your needs. 

Today Cardstore is offering one lucky Worley House reader 20 FREE cards! If you haven't yet sent out your cards this is perfect for you! Please use the Rafflecopter below for your entries. This giveaway will run from today until Monday at 12AM. Winner will be notified via email. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To connect and find out more about CardStore find them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter. 

Products and or services were exchanged for the purpose of a review, as always all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only review products that are a fit for my lifestyle and those I feel my readers would benefit from as well.

One of My Favorite Christmas Traditions {Recordable Story Books}

We moved to Arizona in August, and we did not go anywhere for Christmas that year. We stayed here in Arizona and it was kinda hard. But, due to lack of vacation time we stayed here. The following year we had Ava it was her first Christmas, she turned 9 months old on Christmas Eve. Again we did not go anywhere to see family for Christmas, we stayed here in Arizona and had our first Christmas as a new family. 

My parents sent along a gift package for our family and inside was the most precious gift, this recordable story book The Night Before Christmas.

As I turned each page a familiar voice read each word, then another voice read the next page, and so on till it was finished. I sat there in my living room with my baby girl and heard the voices of each of our family members. Crying like a fool cause I missed them so, and so thankful they took the time to do this. 



Now, each year they record a story book and give it to my children. We're getting quite the collection and I love this Christmas tradition. 

If you live far away from family this is the perfect tradition to start with them. Sometimes I open the books when I just want to hear their voices. 

What are some of your favorite family traditions around the holidays?

Sending Fun Holiday Cards with Open Me

“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Open Me, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #OpenMeHoliday  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.”

It's that time of year, I love sending out our yearly Holiday card. I'm an old fashioned note, pen to paper kinda girl. But sometimes it's fun and quick to send out a holiday e- card to the ones you love. Open Me is a fun service that offers just that. No stamps needed, you can choose a card, add photos and send it right away to your loved ones.

I wanted to send a cutesy holiday card to my husband this year while he was at work. A fun card just for him to let him know I'm thinking about him all day long and can't wait for the holidays with our little family. 

I loved all the options that Open Me had to choose from, from funny, to sentimental there's something for everyone.

 I decided on this cheeky one for my husband. I thought it was so cute, a little naughty and nice. Just the perfect one to send to him while he's at work on the computer all day long.

I love that you can customize the inside and back of your cards, add photos and text. I added a cute photo of my Husband and I to the inside of the card and a sweet little message. You can preview the card just before you send it off. You can either make it an e-card for free or send it through the mail for $4 per card.

You can send it right away or have your card scheduled to arrive via email on a certain day. If you send your card through the mail it takes 3-5 days. Find more inspiration for cards from Open Me on Facebook & Pinterest.

If you're looking to send fun and personal cards to your loved ones Open Me is a perfect choice. They have tons of cards options to choose from for any occasion. Visit them here, or find them on Twitter here.