AliLily | Category Archives: Christmas

Gifts That Give Back #CleverHaiti

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Ami Posted in Christmas, Giveaways, Holiday Decor, Home Decor 4 Comments

I love my Heart of Haiti Holiday Star! It’s beautiful and I think it looks wonderful on my tree. It’s perfect for the STAR of my life, my wonderful husband.

I was so happy to be selected to receive one. I also love the cause behind the Heart of Haiti collection at Macy’s. Purchasing one of the handcrafted pieces in the Heart of Haiti collection directly benefits the Haiti artisans and their families. The artisans receive half the wholesale price for each piece sold in the collection.

Have you seen the collection? It is full of gorgeous handcrafted pieces. Pieces like…

These gorgeous Spice Nesting Trays

This lovely Haiti Teardrop Vase

Beautiful handcraft jewelry

and this lovely Hearts picture frame.
There is so much more to see, you’ll have to go have a look. Purchasing items from Macy’s Heart of Haiti is an easy way to contribute to the Haitian community, which now in light of Hurricane Sandy, needs our help more than ever. Macy’s Heart of Haiti upholds the belief that “trade not aid” is a powerful way to create sustainable work and much needed financial opportunities. The initiative allows opportunities for the artists to work with US designers, helping strengthen international artisan relationships and making their products viable in the US market. The Heart of Haiti campaign pays in excess of fair wage to the talented artisans who create the product, giving them the dignity of work and economic self-determination.

The collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts, metalwork, jewelry and paintings all made almost entirely from recycled and sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums and local gommier wood. These gorgeous Holiday Stars were designed just for us. Isn’t that so special? Ya know what else is really special? I was given an extra Heart of Haiti Holiday Star to give away to someone special. I thought that it would be nice to give it to one of you!

Now, I know it’s after Christmas. Myself and my laptop have been very sick for the past few weeks (I talked all about that in this I’M BAAACK post here) and the Clever Girls Collective was so incredibly nice and gave me an extension to work on this post. So, with it being after Christmas I thought that the Heart of Haiti Holiday Star would make a nice Happy New Year gift?

So, if you would love one of these GORGEOUS Heart of Haiti Holiday Stars for yourself or maybe to give to a special star in your life just leave me a comment below. That’s it! I’ll pick a winner in one week from today. Remember too, that these beautiful Haiti Holiday Stars were designed just for us, you can not buy one.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. #CleverHaiti

Laptop is Fixed, I’m Fixed….OMG I missed y’all!!!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Ami Posted in Alice Marie, Christmas, family, Football, New Years 2 Comments

WOW!!! I have missed y’all! It feels SO AWESOME to back on here and back with y’all!! I don’t have any crafties for y’all today, not YET anyhow. I had a BUNCH planned for Christmas and New Years but life happened!! I have LOTS of Valentine ideas so stay tuned in!

So….what happened right?? Well….. It starts with, I GOT A JOB!! I am a Teachers Assistant at the Kids R Kids Learning Academy that my sweet Alice Marie goes to. I have 21 3 year olds and I fell crazy in love with them on day one!! Not working for nearly 5 years, especially in a school filled with “kid cooties”, and maybe 2 years of breastfeeding left my immune system seriously lacking!! I got sick. Fever of 103.2 and I ended up in Urgent Care clinic. While on antibiotics my laptop came down with it’s own illness. One day I got the BSOD!! Ya know, the Blue Screen of Death!!! Laptop went to the HP hospital. Antibiotics for bronchitis didn’t work. Ended up back in the Urgent Care clinic only this time I was diagnosed with PNEUMONIA!!!

Huge sad face! Have you ever had it? It is absolutely DREADFUL!!! :’( I went on some serious antibiotics along with 6 other prescriptions!

I think I slept for about 4 days while in “pneumonia recovery” I don’t remember them at all! I’m much better now! It’s been about 2 weeks and I’m almost back to normal. Still coughing up yuck and still just a bit weak. Pneumonia is rough y’all!

AND…I got my laptop back with all my files and pics INTACT!! Y’all know, for a mom and a blogger losing your hard drive is a super scary thought!

Since I missed y’all so much I really wanted to share with y’all what’s been going on in my world!!

Before all the super sickies started David helped me make these cute Santa’s for my class late one night. We had the kids glue cotton balls on Santa’s beard. I saved one for Alice and had her make it when she got home from school.

Alice and Daddy put up the tree. Ya know, I never finished our tree or our mantel!! The tree was done enough that Alice loved it, but the box of ornaments I had bought in a the new scheme still hasn’t been open! Well, I’m ready for next year right!?

Alice got a glasses!! She only needs to wear them for study time at school and home and while reading.

Alice roasted her first marshmallows.

Alice, Daddy and Uncle Charlie played a lot of Kinect Party!

Alice sang in her first Christmas program at school! She was GREAT!!! Can you see her? Second cutie from the right staring right at the camera.

My precious Texans fan!!

Alice went to visit Santa. Yes, I am well aware that he is one extra giant Santa!!! LOL

Now, literally 1 day after the first day I woke up and was able to get out of bed, my brother, his wife and their super precious nephew came from AZ to spend Christmas with us. It was such a perfect get well soon present!! From the left is my mom, then me in purple, my brother Jaddy behind me, his wife and my awesome SIL Julie, my precious nephew Jayden, my dad, my niece Angie on his lap, my precious Alice Marie, my niece April, my sister and their mom Nori behind them and my hubs David.

Jayden, my dad, Angie, Alice and April

Seriously!? Look at that kissy face! Snooki would be so proud! LOL

While Jayden was here we where blessed with precious moments like this!

And this!! How cute are they!?

We took the kids to Monkey Joe’s and they had a blast!!

We took the kids to Fun Plex, too! They had a blast there as well.

On Christmas Eve my brother helped all the kids make cookies for Santa!

Alice and Jayden put out their cookies for Santa and carrots and water for the reindeer.

Alice’s special Christmas Eve pj’s, Christmas slippers and new Christmas book. Here is my precious girl sleeping and dreaming of Santa.

Alice and Jayden on Christmas morning checking out what Santa brought them.

Jayden was really proud of that present. It’s blurry but it’s a matching pink superman set to the superman set Jayden is holding. He picked it out for Alice. SO CUTE!!!!

Someone was so happy she got a Dream Lights!!

My Christmas cutie!!

Happy girl!

Now that all her cousins are over it’s time for the kids gift exchange!

Cuties!!!

While my brother and his family stayed with us, Alice slept in our bed. It seemed like there was a new someone special in our bed with Alice every night. This is at the end of the week!!

We also had a tamale making party one night! It was ALL of our first times making them!

Tonight, we actually had some fun outside with fireworks!

Look!! It’s me!! I’m not in front of the camera very often.

My Christmas loves!!

For New Years, we are staying at home, having a fun relaxing special time with just us.

I’m going to do the fun countdown bags I found at The Idea Room. I’ll have everyone fill out this fun New Years Resolution print from 30 days.

Alice and I are going to make these fun Party Poppers I found on Make and Takes.

I have lots more ideas I’ve saved on Pinterest, you can see those here!!

I hope y’all had a wonderful Christmas, a wonderful holiday season and I hope y’all have a wonderful New Years!!

Christmas Sweets & Treats Round Up and Link Party

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Ami Posted in Christmas, Link Party, Recipes and Food Leave a comment

Welcome back to another week of Create & Share!

We want to see all your fun and delicious Christmas treats.

How yummy do these look?

1. Christmas Tree Waffles by Rutherford Family Happenings, 2. Reese’s Cup Reindeer by Hungry Happenings, 3. Easy Christmas Cupcakes by Something Swanky, 4. Santa Hats by A Little Loveliness, 5. Holiday Pretzel Treats by Spoonful, 6. Christmas Caramel Popcorn by Baked Perfection, 7. Ornament Cake Balls by A Step in the Journey, 8. Christmas Wreath Cookies by Cheerios and Lattes, 9. Elf Munch by Crazy for Crust, 10. Santa Grams, 11. Colorful Swirl Cookies by Our Italian Kitchen, 12. Peppermint Crunch Popcorn Pops by Mom on Timeout,Now, we want to be inspired by you!! Share all your Christmas treats with us.