I feel like I am living in the et cetera right now.
Our family joined my parents, siblings, niece, and a family friend for a Thanksgiving in Branson. Good times all around. We even got to eat Thanksgiving Dinner with Neal McCoy! (Okay, so when I say "with," I mean he was at a table catty-corner from us at Texas Land and Cattle Company. Close enough to sneak sideways glances at while acting completely nonchalant.)
The best, best part was being completely away from computer screens for half a week. Of course, this puts me several paces behind. I am scurrying to catch up, but the rest was much-needed and thoroughly enjoyed.
So, here are some things:
1) Yesterday, Ann Voskamp released her e-book on creating a Jesse Tree complete with Advent Devotions. It's free! (All you have to do is subscribe if you aren't already a subscriber.) I've already printed ours out and will be using it to create our family's Jesse Tree this year.
2) All week long, the Simple Living Media family is celebrating with TONS of giveaways! I'm pretty sure that it would be a conflict of interest if I were to enter and win (sob), but I do hope you'll get in on the fun!
3) Speaking of SLM, I forgot to mention that my column on Thoughtful Teacher's Gifts (with a Natural Twist) ran last week at Simple Organic. Lots of good feedback in the comments from both parents and teachers!
4) I have absolutely adored Sasha since Bid Day at the Chi O house my freshman year. Her blog - Sasha Says - is so much fun and so helpful! She keeps a watchful eye on Amazon and is constantly sharing her GDAs (Good Deal Alerts). If you love to snag Amazon deals this time of year, I highly recommend following Sasha!
5) TODAY ONLY! If you haven't yet purchased Kitchen Stewardship's Healthy Snacks To Go e-book yet (why not?!?!?!), today is the day to do so! Katie has them on sale for only $4 for the first 100 books sold today. USE CODE CYBERMONDAY (deal expires at 6 PM MST TODAY) Y'all, I am not kidding you. My copy of this is already dog-eared and splattered and in rough shape because I use it all. the. time.
6) If you are buying handmade this year, I hope you are reading The Lovely Guide. As I wrote in one of my comments there, The Lovely Guide is like art + art. The team of lovely ladies over there swims through the incredible at Etsy (and other purveyors of handmade) and surfaces with all kinds of glorious treasure. The write-ups they create to feature each shop are a little bit breathtaking. It's like nothing I've ever seen. (the write-up on creole sha might be my favorite yet. i mean, they worked in a quote from The Princess Bride. The book, y'all. The Princess Bride book.)
Even if you aren't necessarily all about buying handmade, I think you'll enjoy it. Especially if you just enjoy loveliness in all of its manifestations. Go. Go now. Dig in.
7) Finally, this is the second year that Seth and Amber Haines will be inviting us all to Christmas Change. On Wednesday, December 1st, they will host a big link-up at the Christmas Change blog so that we can all share what "a season of change, a life of return" means in our hearts, homes, and families this Christmas season. I'll be joining in, and I hope you will, too.
Thanks for joining me on this adventure in miscellany!
How was YOUR Thanksgiving?
