Angels Gather Here

For my holiday decor this year I am doing a very serene and white theme.  I will be on the Tidings Holiday House Walk  this coming week Tuesday.  I hope you will come by and see my decor and  the others on this home tour.  So many pretty inspiration homes to see.

In the meantime I wanted to show you the angels that have gathered recently in my home from real life angels in blog land.

I got these beautiful angels to add to my  decor and tree this year.  It was a couple of really happy mail days!  Love these beautiful and meaningful angels that were gifted to me.

I know I have said this many times but it is soooo true.  There are the best peeps and friends in blog land.

The Christmas Angels Gather Here sign was given to me by my bff Sandy at my girlfriend party.  Love it in my angel tree.  Thank you Sandy.

This special angel was gifted to me by Diana from Nana Diana Takes A Break.  Diana sewed this beautiful keep sake angel for me.  It is made out of pieces of linen that was her  grandmothers.

The K monogram on the linen she used was from a set of napkins that belonged to her grandmother.  Her last name beginning with the letter K.  It is also my initial for my first name so this was a special touch.  I will treasure this sweet angel.  Diana and I have become close friends and I love that she made this for me.  

Speaking of angels.  Diana is such a wonderful angel to so many in blogland. Diana is always doing prayer requests and featuring others in helpful ways through her blog.  Just recently her hero got diagnosed with Cancer and they are in the investigative stage right now.  Please take a minute in your day today and say a prayer or send out a good thought for her hero and their family.  This is a scary time for all of them.

This pretty Angel I got from Pattie at her  Etsy Shop Tattered Treasures.  Pattie also has a wonderful blog with the same name Tattered Treasures.  I had one made for me and for my girlfriend that collects angels.  They are soooooo pretty.

Love the detail that Pattie uses on these wonderful angels.  Look at her sweet crown made out of vintage buttons.  

My new hope angel from Pattie hangs beautifully with all my other angels collected in my Christmas tree.

Also purchased from Pattie are these beautiful angel wing ornaments.  Loved these too.  So in my cart on her Etsy site they went!

Thank you Pattie these angel wing ornaments will be treasured.  Love these new additions from you for my tree this year.

Deb from Garage Sale Gal blog sent me this cute angel ornament for my tree too.

The angels above the Hope sign were also gifted to me recently.  The prayer angel was from Vera from Row Homes and Cobblestones and the other Willow Tree  Hope Angel ornament is from Diana.
Both of these sweet angels were gifted to me at a time when I needed hope and prayer so they were a perfect addition for my collection.

Celeste from Southern Day Dreams blog gifted me this sweet friendship angel ornament she made.  If you have not been to Celeste's blog or Shop please go by and see all her beautiful creations.

Thank you Celeste.  I love this special angel to add to my tree.

This beautiful angel wind chime was gifted to me from Cindy at Consider it all Joy.  I hung it from my chandelier in the dining room.  Love the sweet sound this chime makes.
Thank you Cindy.

There are so many angels among us and Blogland is not only a great place for inspiration but also for friendship.

Just wanted to say thank you in this post for my new angel editions.

Please come back on Tuesday to see my holiday home decor and all the other inspirational home tours.

Have a great week as we slide on down to Santa's big day!

Kris

:)

Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger

Elzie from Essemia Blog

 Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger is a feature done each Saturday that introduces you to a blogger you may already know or a new blogger for you to get to know. This feature gives you a peak into the personal life of the blogger.  Getting to know the special person behind the beautiful blog.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland so enjoy getting to know these talented bloggers each Saturday.

I am so excited this week to introduce you to an international blogger.  Her name is Elzie and her blog is Essemia Blog and she lives in Sweden.  I love when I find international bloggers that want to share their culture and life with all of us.  

Enjoy getting to know Elzie.  She is a sweet blogger and then hop over to check out her blog.

Hi! Some time ago I got a note on my blog from Kris that she wanted me to be the blogger of the week in her Spotlight Feature. I really got thrilled!! It had not been on my mind at all, but I must say I was really thrilled about it. And after I said yes, I began to wonder what should I write???? Had no idea, but here I am and you'll have to take me for what I am, lol.

My name is Elzie and I live in Rottne, a small Town in the South of Sweden. Our county is Småland. I'm 60 years old (oh, that sounds SO OLD!) and I'm married to the man of my Life. His name is Ingvar and he's 66. Actually he's retired now, but got back to work for some Days a week. I Think he had a dull time as I'm still working, haha. It's better for him to have something to do cause he's such a energic person.

Here he is with our dog Fia. She's a Welsh Springer Spaniel and she's almost 5 years now. A very spoiled Little dog, haha. She also helps out as soon as there is  food in the kitchen!

Another Picture of our baby.

As we both were a bit older when we met, we have both kids and grandkids on separate sides. I have one daughter that has two daughters, and a son that has one son and one daughter. My DH has a son that's married but have no kids and a daughter that has a son and a daughter. It's only my son that lives nearbye. The others are living both to the North, West  and the South.

This is our house from the garden side. I just love to be in the garden and work and next year will be perfect for that. We've been camping on the same spot for seven years now and to tell the truth, I was very bored the last two years. It was the same people all the time and it can be rather irritating hearing the same things over and over again. But now we've decided we shall go with our Caravan to the North of Sweden and drive around there and look at things. It'll give me more time in the garden and that I love!!

If you wonder why I don't show any Pictures of my family, apart from my DH, I can tell you they don't like to be on blogs or FB. So I just have to accept that I'm afraid.

I work as a staff nurse at a home for the elderly 20 kms from here. I've done that for many years now and I like it, even if it can be rather Heavy from time to time, both for the head and body.

My favorite things to do when I'm free is to work in the garden, as I mentioned, do different kinds of handicraft, take photos, read books, write letters, play with my grandchildren and much more.

I don't know what more to tell you about me, it's Always difficult to talk about one self I Think. Maybe I'll meet you one day on either yours or my blog. Take care everyone and have a great Christmas.

Love Elzie

Thank you Elzie for sharing about yourself and your life in Sweden.

It was a pleasure to get to know you a little better.

Please take a moment and make a visit to Elzie's blog. 

 Have a great rest of the week end.

Kris

:)

Yummy and Quick Appetizer

I got so many compliments on my Fiesta Dip recipe at my girlfriend party I thought I would share it with you today.  If you are needing a yummy easy to make appetizer this is a good one.

Easy to make and you put it in a crock pot.

So easy peasy.

In a fry pan you brown Jimmy Dean's pork sausage (small tube) and some green onions (about 4 to 5 chopped)  then add in cut up peppers.  I used one each  yellow, orange, red and green peppers.  I love the taste of all of these added together.

After you have added your cut up peppers to the browned sausage and onions.  You then add two bricks of cream cheese and stir until melted.

Then I added store bought pico de gallo.  I use the mild but you can spice this up with hot too.  Turn off your heat and add the pico and stir until well mixed.

Then I added one jar of mild banana peppers cut up.    Mix the banana peppers into the mixture.

You can add jalapeno's right into the dip or serve them on the side.  I served them on the side for those that wanted to add the heat.  I feel there is a lot of heat with mild jalapeno's but they also make a hot version for those of you that love intense heat!!!

I put the fiesta dip into one of my crock pots and turned it onto warm for the evening.  I served this dip with taco chip scoops and also Frito scoops.  Soooo yummy and I got lots of compliments on the taste of this dip.  It is a crowd pleaser.

You can make this dip up ahead of time and just keep in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.  I would set it on low for an hour or so before the party is to start to heat it through.  Then you can set the crock pot back to keep warm.

So easy and delish.  So if you need a good dip to take to your holiday party this is a great one.
I am making this to take as one of my appetizer's for Christmas Eve.

Have a great week.  Enjoy the fast pace days of this time of year.
Kris
:)

Girlfriend Party

Happy Sunday.

Friday night I had my annual Girlfriend Charity Party.  This is a party I have at my home each year to bring all my bff's together to share a night of good food, fun and friendship.  Love all of these girls in my life and it is a great night to celebrate our love and friendship for each other.

Just thought I would show you a few pics of the party.  I get so busy with hosting I forget to take a lot of pics.  Here are a few.

I am so happy I have this large open dining room.  I can set up my tables so we can all sit together.  We play games so it is nice to be all at one table for those.

I put a favors out on the table for each girl.  You can see my post here on those.

Getting my food table ready.  We do walking tacos as the main appetizer.  Have you ever had a walking taco?  You take Frito lunch size bags.  You can see them in the upper left corner on the table.  Cut them open and then each girl fills the Frito bags with chicken or taco meats and then I have all the toppings to add. Sorry did not get a finished picture with all the toppings put out.   Each girl can then walk around with their appetizer and enjoy.  They are fun and everyone can have them their way!

Margarita Drink Station in the kitchen.

Some of my long time bff's.  Oh how I love these girls.

Opening some of the girlfriend charity gifts.  Each girl brings a exchange gift for another girl at the party.  The gifts purchased must benefit a charity in some way.  The gifts are always fabulous and the charities that they benefit are wonderful.  It amazes me each year the fabulous gifts each of the girls bring to exchange.

Years ago when I started this party it was just me and my bff's.  Now that my two daughters are grown they bring their bff's to the party.  My daughter Kim on the far right and her friends dressed in a theme for their jammies.  They were elf's.  Every Christmas Party needs a few elf's RIGHT?!!

My other daughter Jen second from the right and her bff's were Christmas sock monkeys.  I can share something special about this picture now.  My daughter is going to have another baby.  I can finally spread the word.  She is starting to show in this picture.  So Abby will be getting a sister or brother for the beginning of summer.

Here is our group pic with all of us in our Christmas jammies. We all just have a wonderful evening together.
My little granddaughter Abby wore her jammies to the party too.  Abby went with Grandpa to the movies first and then joined us girls later.  Love that little 5 year old wants to be part of the party now too!


Well just a few pictures I remember to take of the fun night.  It is bittersweet again for me.  This will be my last year to host the party in this home since it is now sold.  No matter where we land in this coming new year I  hope next year I will be able to host my special party for these beautiful friends.

Hope your decor is happening and your cookies are baking and your shopping and wrapping are almost finished.
Enjoy the down hill slide into Christmas.  Just goes too fast.
Have a good week.
Love you all.
Kris
:)

Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind The Blogger

Karen from Southern Gal Meets Midwest

 Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger is a feature done each Saturday that introduces you to a blogger you may already know or a new blogger for you to get to know. This feature gives you a peak into the personal life of the blogger.  Getting to know the special person behind the beautiful blog.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland so enjoy getting to know these talented bloggers each Saturday.

I want to thank Karen for being in the Spotlight this week.  Karen is a life saver!!!  I had another blogger scheduled and she had to back out at the last minute.  Karen was scheduled for later in the month but was so kind to get  her feature to me early for this Saturday.    So thank you Karen for coming to Spotlight's rescue!  So enjoy reading Karen's feature and getting to know her better.  Karen is so sweet and you will love her blog.

Hello Friends,

I am very excited and honored to be featured in todays Saturday Spotlight. Thank you so much Kris for inviting me to participate. I am a beginner in blogging over at Southern Gal Meets Midwest. My blog name is directly taken from the big life change for me in recent years. I love to sew (had a holly hobbie sewing machine at age 9) and decorate anything, guess you could say my style is all over the place! There are a lot of neutrals in my home so adding color to go with the seasons gives me the feeling of a completely new room. My obsession with thrift stores keeps growing and if I don't feed that obsession at least once a week? well, it's just not good. I love finding metal pieces to add to my décor and giving old furniture new life. A native of Florida I'm the oldest of 3. Me and my younger sister and brother.

My parents have said many times they could not keep me still or quiet, I was continuously talking to anyone who would listen and sometimes even those who weren't! When I started school all that talking got me called out by the teacher...what can I say.. I'm very social!

 Daddy was always tossing me around and even though it was scary for mama and my aunties I always enjoyed it. I think I was supposed to be a boy...LOL!

I was only one year old when my sister came along and we were raised pretty much like twins. We did everything together. Easter was a favorite time along with hunting eggs in the field of wildflowers behind our house. We lived very modestly and happily as Daddy was a welder at the local phosphate mine and Mama stayed home to raise us kids. Both of our grandmothers were excellent seamstresses and they made most of the pretty dresses we wore. Our family always said that proper southern young ladies should wear only dresses so that is what we did until we were old enough to plead our case for jeans. Eventually they saw our side of it (or just got tired of hearing us) and it was blue jeans for school, but only dresses for church...always.

I don't have many pictures of our younger brother with us when we were small as he spent much time sick or hospitalized as an infant and toddler. We try and make up for that these days and get together to visit and snap pics even though we are all spread out in different states.

I married very young (soon after high school) and started a family a couple of years later. Things did not work out like I thought they would in the marriage but my 3 kids are more than I could have ever asked for. Brittany, Chad and the youngest is Dylan.

They have brought so much joy to me and I have treasured each stage during their years of growing up. Seemed like they would be little forever and the time has just gone by so fast. Brittany still remains in Georgia, Chad's job took him to Florida and Dylan lives with me.

Brittany married her best friend Rollie (aka James) two years ago and I am so proud to have him as my son. Rollie is a teacher and Brittany is a hair stylist.

 We have had many things to celebrate over the past few years, another being mama and daddy's 50th Wedding Anniversary. They still live in Florida and I try to get there for visits as often as possible.

One of the most AMAZING things to happen to me in recent years was meeting this handsome gentleman!
My Darling Kevin

I was living in Georgia at this time so we were separated by many miles. We did get to visit and go on a few traditional dates....

but most of our dates were on the phone or emails. We saw it as a great opportunity to further our friendship and that we did. We communicated everyday and each time I was head over heels that much more for him. He is the sweetest most kind gentleman I have ever met and I love him with all my heart. Kevin and I were married in 2014. We had a beach ceremony in Florida with our family and close friends present.

He has won the hearts of my entire family, especially Mama.

Kevin, Dylan & I are now calling Iowa home, even though we miss our family and old friends God is opening new doors for us to form new relationships through church, school and work. For all this we are very thankful.

I can't forget our two very spoiled pups....

Hope is Kevin's Jack Russell baby and Oakley is my little ball of lovable fluff.

Hmmm...what a combination!

Hope was not so sure she was ready to allow Oakley in her life as her brother but she is learning to tolerate him a little more now.

Sharing squeaky toys and attention is not so easy when you have been numero uno all your life!

This year we have been blessed with a precious new addition. Brittany and Rollie welcomed their first child Ellie.

Now I am a proud Nana!!
Seeing Ellie for the first time brought tears to my eyes and I could hardly wait to get her in my arms.

Looks like our trips south will become much more frequent...

after all...I  am gonna have to spoil this little bundle of chunky sweetness...it's my job!

Well...I know this is a lot but maybe it gives a peek into the life of Karen who now lives in the Midwest but will always be a Southern Gal. Thanks for stopping by and may I say...all of you ladies are just the sweetest and I am so looking forward to knowing all of you better.

Karen
Southern Gal Meets Midwest

Thank you Karen for sharing yourself with us this week in the Spotlight.   You look way too young to be a grandma!!!!  Please jump over to Karen's blog and say Hi.
I know with all the busy going on with holiday shopping, baking, decorating, etc.  I appreciate you taking some down time to read Spotlight this week.  Thank you again Karen for helping me out this week with doing Spotlight early.  Loved getting to know more about you and your beautiful family.
Have a great week end.
Kris
:)