Top 12 In 2012

Can you believe that today is the last day of 2012?

I thought it would be fitting to leave with you my top 12 favorite posts from 2012.

1. Settling In--We bought our first home this year!
2. Room To Breathe-- Stay tuned as I revamp our routines in the new year and continue to find my groove in my ever-changing schedule!
3. Resourceful Drawer Pulls-- Still love these!
4. Dear Cookies
5. Valentine Getaway
6. 7 Things We Don't Usually Spend Money On
7. Expensive Free-Range Chicken Challenge--Continuing to work on stretching the grocery budget and using resources wisely in order to afford  better quality food!
8. Inexpensive Photo Album Gifts
9. Gingham Pennant Garland Fun
10. Birthday Party
11. How Not To Be A Good Host
12. Mailbox Facelift

Happy New Year!

See you in 2013!

Winner!

The winner of the pumpkin giveaway is...

Wendi!

She commented that what she loves most about fall:

"The thing I love most about fall is the changing leaves. It is like a new picture outside my window each day."


Congratulations!


For the rest of you, I'm offering a coupon code good for 15% off anything in my shop through October 31, 2012. Use  coupon code FALL2012 at checkout!

Facebook

This week I pulled both my personal profile and blog page from Facebook. Some of you may have seen my status updates informing of this decision and some may not have.

I won't go into specifics concerning this decision but you can be assured that I didn't have any negative experience that prompted this action.

In the meantime, I do still plan to keep my blog up and running. If you'd like to subscribe so you don't miss an update, you can subscribe by email or become a follower. Both of these options are on the right sidebar of my blog. Or you can subscribe via a reader. Google Reader  is my favorite and keeps all the blogs I read in one place!

As always, thank you so much for continuing to read and comment here at Mary Ann's House. I appreciate it and it means a lot to me!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Year In Review

To quickly recap my blog in 2011...

On the practical side of things, I shared why I regularly purge, declutter and get rid of things, some easy meals, painting our dining room, and about using recycled gift wrap.

We continued to enjoy living frugally learning how to make homemade laundry soap and how to cut my own boneless, skinless chicken breasts, saving money on groceries in spite of rising prices, using coupons, shared about eating frugally while on vacation and of course scouring yard sales and thrift stores for hidden treasures. I even picked up a thing or two off the curb on trash day!

We love living a simple life and this year enjoyed seasonal homemade meals, shopping at the local Farmer's Market, and thoroughly embracing each season--winter, spring, summer and fall.

Creativity was a big part of our year as well...We made our own fun by dressing up a squash, grew grass for decoration, entertained the kidlets on the cheap and found an extra closet! I enjoyed making crafty things for gifts and our home!

Life was full once again with a trip to Oregon to visit my parents, changing our eating habits, and celebrating 7 years of marriage with a trip to the mountains. Taking care of several little ones during the week leaves me very little time for naps! We experienced God's kindness and provision and grew in His Word.

We thank God for His goodness and look forward to more of the same in 2012!

Would You Like To Win One Of My Aprons?

My sweet blog friend Katie is hosting an apron giveaway! Visit her blog to get the details on how to enter and also get a coupon code for my Etsy shop!

Decluttering the Blog List

In the spirit of decluttering, I spent a few minutes today editing my Google Reader subscriptions.

I love to read blogs so when I find one I think I like, it's so easy to subscribe! After a while, I end up with more than I can read and I find there are a few that I just don't enjoy as much anymore. And there is always at least one that is no longer valid; either the blogger has moved to a "new home" and I need to update or the blog is no longer around. When that happens, I go through and edit my subscriptions.

While I was at it, I also edited my blog list here and moved all the crafty, creative-type blogs to their own list over at The Gingham Cottage.

By the way, I really *love* reading  blogs through a reader. Google Reader is my favorite so far. I like it a lot better than Bloglines. But both serve the same purpose. I love not having to go to each blog to look for an update. This saves me tons of time every day!

Christmas Survey

1.) Have you started your Christmas shopping?

Yes and it is all finished except for a few stocking stuffers.

2.) Tell me about one of your special traditions.

Andy and I bake our Christmas goodies together every year. Even though this takes place in November, another special tradition is packing our Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.


3.) When do you put up your Tree?
Usually somewhere in the first or second week of December.


4.) Are you a Black Friday shopper?

Not usually. I sometimes go with my sister or sister-in-law since they love it. I wouldn't go by myself though.
5.) Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home?

Both. This year we're staying home and my whole family will be here visiting. Since neither of our families lives nearby, we often travel for the holidays.

6.) What is your funniest Christmas memory?

Not sure if this is the funniest, but most certainly one of the most memorable! The Christmas that I was eight years old, our family went out to eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant. This was a great treat to us since we rarely ate out in those days. I was not feeling well that day but seemed to be well enough to go eat. By the time we were done eating, I was not feeling well at  all. The restaurant was very crowded and as we walked out, I threw up right between tables where people were eating their Christmas dinners! Mom took me to the restroom to clean me up where I threw up again. A very nice lady followed us to help out; she was so kind and very concerned for me. It was quite embarrassing and I remember very clearly now that one lady said, "Oh gross!' as I was throwing up near her table! Well, no wonder!!! What I remember the most though is that I cried and cried on the way home and Mom and my sister tried to console me that it was ok. But what I was most upset about was that I was wearing a brand-new coat I had gotten for Christmas-my first brand-new coat ever- and I was afraid the vomit stains wouldn't come out! As soon as we got home, Mom washed my coat for me so I could see that it would look as good as new! And it did. Apparently I was quite proud of that new coat!!!

7.) What is your favorite Christmas Movie of All time?

All three Santa Clause movies, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

8.) Do you do your own Christmas Baking? What’s your favorite treat?

Yes. Our very favorites are Chocolate-Peanut Squares, Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels and Chocolate-Mint Cookies. Recipes and directions for all can be found here.

9.) Fake or Real Tree?

Real. We cut our own at a local tree farm.

10.) What day (as a Mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done?

Don't know. Not a Mom. :-)
11.) Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

Not usually. We're not often home on Christmas Eve!

12.) What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?

Holiday baking, driving to see the Christmas lights, picking out gifts for all the nieces and nephews.

13.) What Christmas craft do you like the best?

I don't really do a lot of Christmas crafts, per se. I do enjoy making many of my own gifts most years. I didn't make many this year, thus the reason for being done with my Christmas list so early!!!

14.) Christmas music? Yes or No. And if yes, What is your favorite song?
Yes, yes, yes. We love Christmas music. I don't really have one favorite. Two favorite albums are Veggie Tales Singing Christmas Tree and Denver and The Mile High Orchestra's Timeless Christmas. I do love Michael W. Smith's song Welcome To Our World and also Jingle Bell Rock  for some odd reason- maybe because Cherished Dog's name is Rock and it just cracks me up!

15.) When do you plan to finish all your shopping?

Either this weekend or early next week.

Any blogger is welcome to participate in this meme, even if you haven’t been tagged yet. Just simply copy and paste the questions into your blog, and then answer them. Then tag 5 or more of your favorite blogs, and leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged.

When you post your blog, please spread some Christmas cheer, and leave a link back to Heather's Top Ten Christmas Blog, and the blog that you were tagged by (I wasn't tagged, but I found this at In This Season.)

Any bloggers who read this are tagged to do this survey if they'd like!

Bob Evans Farmhouse Feast Giveaway

$5 Dinners is giving away a Bob Evans Farmhouse Feast. We love Bob Evans! Wouldn't it be fun to win this? Go here to read all the details on how to enter the giveaway.

Fall Giveaway Winner!

I'm excited to announce that the winner of my fall giveaway is:

Manuela@ The Pleasures Of Homemaking.

She wins this sweet little basket. Manuela has a real knack for beautiful and creative decorating on a budget so I know she'll put this basket to good use!

Thanks to all who entered!

Fall Giveaway!

It's giveaway time!

Laura from Heavenly Homemakers is hosting a fall giveaway this week. There are many cool things that you can win! Go here to see all the links and enter the different giveaways!

I chose something nice out of my yard sale pile to give to one lucky commenter! I hope you don't mind that it is gently used.  I could've chosen the Dora potty seat, you know.

But because I am nice and especially because I do not want my blog associated with ewwww, I'm giving away this sweet little bread basket instead.

Features include:

• Cute fall colors and fabric.
• Folds flat for easy storage (and shipping!)
• Approximately 8" square.
• Will look adorable holding homemade dinner rolls on your Thanksgiving table!
• Will look equally cute holding apples or mini pumpkins and gourds.
• Will not look as cute but be just as functional holding your car keys and junk mail. 

You need this basket! 

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. Please leave your name and email address, so that I can contact you if you win.  Drawing will be open through Friday October 9, after which I will randomly draw a winner.

**You do not need to have a blog to be eligible for this drawing. However, I must have a name and a way to contact you should you be the winner.

**This drawing is open to U.S. residents only.

Have fun!

Too Much Fun!

I hope you are enjoying my new blog design.  I am!

I have tried to figure out how to add a design and other stuff for a while and could not do it in the way my blog was formatted.(I did not have the Layout button and therefore, did not have access to any of the Customize tabs.) Through emails with my sister, I figured out how to upgrade my blog, through the clicking of a button. How hard was that!?!

Now I'm having fun with all the cool gadgets and things you can add and customize so easily! Yeah!

A Week Off

I took the week off from reading blogs in order to spend more time in prayer for some specific needs.

I asked God what I should "fast" (give up) for the week and He immediately gave me the answer of not reading blogs for the rest of the week.

This is an area that can easily get out of balance for me. I can get started reading and before long, I'm neglecting more important things. Some folks play computer games, read novels or watch T.V. for downtime. I read blogs.:-)

I was apprehensive about taking time off but it has been so good! It was difficult at times but not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I also thought it would be better not to do much blogging myself during this time since that would make it that much harder to stay away from reading other blogs!

Even though I'll be back to catching up with you all soon, I hope to continue to use discipline and keep all things in my life, including reading blogs, in balance.

We Have A Winner!

Thanks to my faithful readers who entered my giveaway. I appreciate you coming by to read my blog!

The winner of the purse is:


Lyn!

I've emailed her and as soon as I get her mailing address, I will send the purse to her!

Congratulations!

Blog-iversary and a Giveaway!

This weekend marks my blog's 4th birthday!

To celebrate, I'm giving away one of my handmade purses.

I made this purse from a recycled denim skirt. Lined with cheery red gingham, this is one of my favorites!

Here's what you need to do to enter the giveaway:

--Leave a comment on this post. Make sure the comment includes your name and email address.

**I am unable to ship internationally. Winner must be a resident of the USA.

Giveaway will be open through Tuesday, July 28. I will then choose a winner through random selection.

Thanks to all my faithful readers who make blogging that much more fun!

Switching To Google Reader

I'm in the process of switching all my blog subscriptions from Bloglines to Google Reader.

I've been using Bloglines for over a year. I love the idea of going to one place to read all the updates instead of hopping from one blog to another to find updates.

I've been very happy with Bloglines except for the fact that they have continually dropped feeds. Suddenly, I no longer receive updates to certain blogs. What is the point of using a reader if you are back to clicking around looking for updates?

Bloglines also gets confused regularly and suddenly I have several thousand new posts which are really old ones that are showing up as new. This is annoying.

So I've switched to Google Reader since I've heard good reviews about it. I'm planning to try it out for a while and see what I think.

What about you? If you use Google Reader, do you like and not like about it? What other blog readers do you use?

I Won, I Won!!

I was quite tickled yesterday when I received an email from Coupon Teacher telling me that I had won her June giveaway- a $10 CVS gift card. Yeah! What a blessing that is to us!

She has details on her July giveaway here, so run over and say hi!

Worth Reading

Here's a few great reads I found while blog surfing this past week. Enjoy!

7 Tips On Leading A Balanced Blogger Life @ Mom Advice.

Adventures In Couponing: 8 Great Ways To Find Coupons @ Life As Mom.

How I "Do It All" @ Keeper Of The Home.

Ultimate Blog Party

It's time for the Ultimate Blog Party of 2009!

If you're new to my site, please do come in. Welcome to Mary Ann's House!

I've got some spices simmering in the kitchen so you won't be as quick to notice that I really haven't done much cleaning this week. :-)

I'm Mary Ann, wife of 4 and a half years to Andy and 'mommy' to our sweet dog Rock. I am a stay-at-home-wife and currently I work at home providing childcare to two little boys.

As a homemaker, I love to cook and bake and I find it a fun challenge to stretch our hard-earned dollars as far as possible!

What you will find here includes:
--practical and frugal ideas for homemaking
--lots of recipes and kitchen tips
--joy in the simple things


Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you come back soon! Please leave a comment so that I know that you've visited!
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There are so many prizes to win at the blog party this year.
My top 3 picks are:
#19-$50 Target gift card from Shoot-Me-Now
#88-$40 Carrabba's Italian Grill gift card from The Divine Miss Mommy
#68-$30 Christian Book Distributors gift card from A High and Noble Calling

If these prizes are taken, I'd also be happy with numbers 21,22,26,93,91,113,121,123 or something for a baby as many friends are having new babies this year.

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**Thanks to 5 Minutes For Mom for hosting the Ultimate Blog Party!

Clean Swap

I was excited to be able to participate in another one of Carrie and Monica's sister swaps. The theme for this one was Clean. I always find these swaps as a fun challenge to see what I can come up with to go with the theme and this one was no exception.

It was so much fun to do a three-way swap with Monica and Wendi. I have been long-time readers of both of their blogs and it was nice to prepare boxes for each of them. Even though I have never met them in real-life, I still feel as though both ladies are dear friends!

For both boxes, I tagged each gift with an appropriate verse mostly centering around homekeeping and clean heart.

Wendi has been focusing on organizing and decluttering her home so I tried to put together a few items to help her with that.

I filled a blue organizing basket with:
--dusting cloths
--drawer organizers
--Glade air freshener
--small body wash and lotion
--Orbit gum/breath mints
--kitchen towel
--scrubbie for washing dishes
--small bag of clothespins with instructions for writing prayer requests on each one as a way to pray for family and different needs while hanging the laundry.
--handmade frame with verse from Proverbs 31 written on it.



My box from Wendi was cute and practical. She wrapped every gift in brown paper and tied little tags on that said,"C is for clean." Very cute!

The box included:
--a cute cherry apron that I think Wendi made herself!
--cherry dishcloth
--a book about a million uses for vinegar. Right down my alley!
--hand soap
--Glade scented oil candles and refills
--sponge
--Mary Engelbreit magnetic note pad

Thank you, Wendi for your careful thought in putting my box together!

I filled Monica's shoebox with:
--a handmade hanging frame with a quote by Elisabeth Elliot:
"I'm mothering young children who some day will fill important and useful spheres in life, and washing clothes is part of my grand task in caring for these souls who shall live forever."
--a small bag of clothespins with instructions for writing names and prayer requests as a reminder to pray while doing the laundry!
--drawer organizers
--scrubbie for dishes
--small body wash and lotion
--kitchen towel
--Glade apple cinnamon candle
--Orbit gum

Monica's gift to me was also very practical which I love! She filled a plastic organizing box with:
--decorated spray bottle
--embroidered cleaning mitt
--fun container of dishwasher soap
--sponge
--fabric
--handmade apron that is so cute and looks like spring!
--small dish

I appreciate the thought that went into preparing my box. Thank you, Monica!


Visit Carrie's blog to peek at more of the Clean swap boxes!

Kreativ Blogger Award

Tracy from Lines From The Vine recently awarded me with this award. Thanks, Tracy!


I'm tagging the following blogs I love to read for this award:

--The Homespun Heart
--In This Season
--Challenges and Adventures
--My Heart Is Always Home
--A Simple Walk


To claim your award you need to:

* 1. Thank the person who gave the award to you

* 2. Post the award on your blog or on a post

* 3. Nominate blogs which show great attitude/gratitude

* 4. Link to the people you chose on your post

Then comment on their blogs to tell them about the award.