Fulfilling Family Traditions at Northwest Arkansas Mall -- Win a $200 Shopping Spree!! #NWARK

This post was compensated by Northwest Arkansas Mall. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

Hands down, this is the very best giveaway I've ever held here at Hope In Every Season! Northwest Arkansas Mall has given me $200 in gift cards to give away to one local winner! After you've read all about me and Lynzie's fun shopping day at the mall, be sure to enter to win this awesome prize package! (By the way, my favorite scent at Bath and Body Works is Sweet Pea---you know, just in case you win and are feeling extra thankful...)

Lynzie and I braved the Black Friday crowds and headed for Fayetteville last Friday morning! My mom and I had a tradition of shopping on Thanksgiving weekend every year for several years. Now that we're so far away, I'm continuing on the fun with my own daughter!

In fact, our family has several Christmas traditions that make our celebration unique to us. I was able to fulfill all my family tradition shopping plans at Northwest Arkansas Mall!

Every Christmas Eve, the kids open Christmas pajamas. We try to have at least two kids in matching sets, so we have several sets of twinsies running around. We found these super cute and very soft jammies at JC Penney's. It was so hard to decide between the Hello Kitty design and the cute elf ones. I ended up getting the elf ones for both Brenna and Kynthia. Liam has some boy ones to match so it will be perfect!

Penney's also had flannel sets for older boys on a great sale. I got Cainan the red plaid set.

Another tradition involves our decorations. Each year, the older girls get a new decoration to add to their collection that they'll someday take to their own homes. Lynzie collects nutcrackers, Selah collects snow globes, and Avalon began collecting Christmas bells this year. There were so many adorable nutcrackers to choose from at JC Penney. I ended up getting Lynzie the one pictured at the bottom right as she said it reminded her of a British soldier. I surprised her with it this morning and she was thrilled!

Our third big tradition is ornaments. Each family member gets a new ornament each year and I write their names on the bottom of them so they can take them all with them whenever they move out on their own. It's so fun picking out a special ornament that pertains to each child. This Angry Birds one from JC Penney is perfect for Elisha who really enjoys the game.

Francesca's also has several really cute ornaments like this Sock Monkey elf and Melody's Choices has an amazing selection of delicate ornaments in lots of styles.

After we'd finished up with our traditions shopping, we decided to start hunting for gifts! Avalon has wanted a Jessie the Cowgirl doll for a couple years and we found the perfect one, along with a matching hat for Avalon, at JC Penney. She's going to be so excited!

A stop in to Forever 21 brought squeals of delight at almost every rack! Lynzie decided to begin looking for a Christmas dress. We looked...and looked...and...

...stopped by Bath and Body Works to check out the Christmas display! They're always having great sales and their holiday scents are so festive. Lynzie's hoping for some peppermint-scented lotion and body spray this year.

Finally, we found the perfect dress---back at JC Penney! This gorgeous black dress is just right for Lynzie's vintage style. It's a perfectly elegant look for her.

Our shopping day was both productive and memorable. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to hang out together and share our love for shopping, as well as our love for giving!

Northwest Arkansas Mall has graciously given me three gift cards, totaling $200, to give away to one local winner! Want to win? You must live within three hours of Fayetteville. If you do, check out the Rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway. 

Note on Rafflecopter: the widget might take a couple minutes to load. Also, because so many of my dear friends will be entering to win, please understand that Rafflecopter is a completely random computer-generated tool. I have nothing to do with the choice of winner--and I couldn't pick a favorite if I tried! 

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Homemaking Party: Meaningful Gifts from Willow Tree at Family Christian #FCBlogger

This post has been compensated by Family Christian. All opinions are mine alone.

Welcome to the Homemaking Party! Have you been busy shopping like I have? I love buying or making gifts for the special people in my life. A season of giving---what a wonderful thing! Are you familiar with the Willow Tree collection at Family Christian? I've been buying these beautiful pieces as gifts for years. They're so special and there's a scene for every important person in my life!

It's hard being away from family during the holidays---and especially hard for me, being away from my mom! I love to send her gifts that are meaningful and that show her how much I love her. I've been sending her Willow Tree figurines for years because their beautiful simplicity touches her heart and reminds her of how much I care.

I bought her this one a few years ago when I had one of the babies---Liam, maybe? I think we were living apart then, as well, and I thought it would be special to have something she could see every day. Even if she couldn't see us every day.

These I bought for her on other occasions, like her birthday or Christmas, I believe. They're very special ways to commemorate an important event, as well as to just say, "I love you". 

This Willow Tree Nativity is my DREAM SET! I was admiring it in Family Christian in Fayetteville last week. I think I need to start collecting the pieces for this. I've been drooling over it for a good 10 years now!

Do you have any pieces of the Willow Tree collection? What are your favorites? You can find Willow Tree at Family Christian and even have your gift sent from them straight to your loved one---just in time for Christmas. Check out their collection and pick out the perfect figurine or two for your special person.

Thanks for stopping by the Homemaking Party! Be sure to link up all your great posts and tell me about your Christmas plans in the comments below!

Blessings!



Linking with:

Hungry for God...Starving for Time -- 5 Minute Devotions for Busy Women

Today I'm hosting author, Lori Hatcher, as she features an excerpt from her new book, Hungry for God...Starving for Time, 5 Minute Devotions for Busy Women. Check out this sneak peek and then make sure to visit her giveaway for a FREE KINDLE loaded with Christian books!

Facetime: God, I'm having a bad hair day. What can I do to feel better about myself?

As I prepare for a speaking engagement, I begin praying far in advance. I pray for God to give me the message he wants me to share. I pray for each person who will attend, that God will encourage and equip them. I pray for the event planners, that the Lord will provide everything they need and give them wisdom and creativity.

But on the actual morning of the event, I pray for something quite different.


I pray for a good hair day.

Sometimes God answers, and sometimes he doesn’t.


If you were completely honest, you’ve probably done the same thing. 

Tell the truth. Didn’t you pray to be zit-free on your wedding day? Or bloat-free for your high school reunion? Or 10-lbs. lighter for the family photo?  

There’s something about being in front with all eyes upon us that reduces us to bundles of adolescent insecurity. Having good hair, blemish-free complexions, or flat bellies won’t make us into something we’re not, but they do help us feel a little more confident.

So what should we do if, despite our best efforts, we’re having a bad hair day?

1.  Remember that “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). We can rest in the confidence that we are beloved and beautiful. Knowing God thinks we’re lovely because of what’s inside our hearts, whether our locks lie down or let loose, should put smiles on our faces that are much more beautiful than our marvelous manes.

2.  Don’t schlump. We should raise our chins, put on our best smiles, and look people in the eyes. Chances are we’re the only ones who are aware of the cowlick that won’t cooperate or the muffin top above our waistlines. If we act as though we wish we could crawl under the rug, however, even those who have no idea that our hair didn’t turn out right are going to sense something’s wrong. We need to put on our game faces and press on!

3.  Concentrate on others. Before long, we’ll forget we had a tussle with our tresses. When we take our eyes off ourselves and place them squarely on someone else, we gain perspective about what truly matters. A side benefit to this is that if we concentrate on helping others feel comfortable, confident, and cared for, THAT’s what they remember about us, not our crazy coiffure.

4.  Remember that true beauty isn’t determined by what our bodies look like, but by what our spirits look like. “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment,” says 1 Peter 3:3-4, “such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”

 So tomorrow, whether it’s a good hair day or a bad one, let’s greet the world with a smile. We’ve got Kingdom work to do!

How about you? What tends to unravel your self-confidence? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like "When God Looks You in the Eye, What Does He See?"

 

This devotion is an excerpt from Lori’s new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women.

You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

The Woman Code --- Sophia Nelson Book Signing Dec. 6th #FCEvents #FCBlogger

   This post is a promotion for Family Christian. I was compensated for sharing this information. All opinions are honest and are my own.

Those who live in the Manassas, Virginia area have the opportunity to attend author Sophia Nelson's book signing December 6th. Nelson will be signing copies of her newest book, The Woman Code.

Family Christian bookstore of Manassas will host the event at 5 PM on 12/6. Address details are listed below.

About the Book (from Family Christian): Every woman lives by a code, whether she realizes it or not. It informs how she treats others and herself, how much she expects of herself, and how far she is willing to go in order to find success. But is the code we're living by truly helping us create the lives of purpose and fulfillment we desire? Or are we sacrificing the deeper things for mere achievement? 

In this inspiring book, Sophia A. Nelson calls women to live out a powerful life code that will lead them to purposeful and successful lives. With the wisdom that comes from experience, Nelson reveals to women:

The true meaning of "having it all"

How to take better care of their minds, bodies, and souls

How to achieve professional excellence without compromising their values

How to find lasting love and purpose in life beyond their accomplishments

How to navigate the sisterhood of women, to build collaboration rather than competition

How to heal from past hurts, rejection, and life's inevitable storms

And much more

The Woman Code is a way of living, of navigating life's challenges, and of interacting positively with other women. It's a way of pursuing our dreams and our deepest desires. It reveals a universal and timeless set of principles of the mind, body, and spirit that help women balance the demands of work, home, family, and friendship. The Woman Code not only calls on women to practice purpose in their lives, it shows them how to do it with grace.

About the Author (from Amazon): "Sophia A. Nelson is an award-winning author and award winning journalist. She is also a highly sought-after corporate leadership trainer and motivational speaker. Nelson has a national platform that is making strides to help women lead more fulfilling and powerful lives in and out of the workplace."

Visit Nelson on Twitter and at IamSophiaNelson.com.

Meet Sophia Nelson at Manassas Family Christian bookstore at 5 PM on December 6th:

Family Christian

10404 Portsmouth Road

Manassas, VA 20109

Phone: (703) 330-7845

Hope to see you there!

Warm Up with Marie Callender's Pot Pies #PotPiePlease #Ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PotPiePlease #CollectiveBias 

Winter is here! Oh, how I love the smell of chimney smoke in the air and snuggling up with a warm blanket and tea and cozy socks and... I'm definitely a cold weather girl! The cold weather makes me want to bake and cook warm hearty meals for my family. No more cold sandwiches and pasta salads---bring on the soups, stews, and pot pies! Marie Callender's pot pies are one of our family's new favorites. I made one for lunch today and everyone who had some loved it!

Last week, I made a big shopping trip to Walmart where I picked up all of our Thanksgiving food, as well as a few quick and easy dinners for the nights before and after the busy holiday. I found Marie Callender's pot pies in the freezer aisle labeled Family Meals.

My Dad made the three-day trip out here from Oregon to spend Thanksgiving with us. It's been so great having him here and showing him around Northwest Arkansas. I love having a few meals in the freezer to pull out when we have family or friends come to stay because it saves me prep time--time that can be better spent hanging out with our guests! It's especially nice at holiday time because there's always something else we'd rather be doing---like decorating the house or playing a board game. 

This was the first time we'd tried the Marie Callender's pot pies and I was impressed from the first bite. The crust was buttery and flakey and a perfect compliment to the light chicken gravy inside.  The meat was moist and the vegetables were barely crisp---a wonderful change from the usual mushy veggies I find in many frozen meals. I couldn't have made that crust better myself. I've tried. Ha! I like my crust really light-colored so I took it out of the oven about three minutes before the timer was set to go off. For a darker and glossy crust, brush beaten egg whites over the top of the crust during the last 5-6 minutes of baking.

Since Marie Callender's pot pies are now available in family size, most of you can feed your whole family a warm and hearty meal from one box for less than $10! We need to buy two---but that's still better than 11 individual ones, right?

It can be difficult, sometimes, to find something that the whole family enjoys. Marie Callender's tastes like homemade, and these pot pies are a satisfying, tummy-filling meal that will please both your family and guests. Let me know if you give one a try. To learn more about the product, visit MarieCallender's online. You can also visit potpieplease.com for some delicious recipes.

Making Christmas Memories with Santa at Northwest Arkansas Mall #NWARK

I was compensated for this campaign by Northwest Arkansas Mall. All opinions are honest and are my own.

You're never too old to have your picture taken with Santa! All the Coller kids, from little 2-year-old Brenna, on up to almost 15-year-old Lynzie, gathered round the big guy this morning at Northwest Arkansas Mall in Fayetteville for a festive photo shoot. 

Even though we don't really do the "Santa thing" here at home, it's still fun to keep this tradition that both Jamie and I enjoyed as kids. Here are me and my brother getting our photos with Santa in Heppner, Oregon in 1984. Joe and I sure grew up, but Santa hasn't changed a bit!

It was easy to find the spot where Santa would be making his magical appearance at Center Court---everything was decorated so pretty and Christmasy! The kids were especially excited about this great big Christmas tree standing behind Santa's chair. This year, Santa is enjoying a brand new set and décor. Trust me--if you've not decorated for Christmas yet, this festive setting will make you want to!

Santa will be at the mall now through 

Christmas Eve. 

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am - 8pm 

(break from 3-4)

 Sunday 12pm - 6pm 

(break from 3-3:30) 

As you can see, most of the kids were pretty happy to be posing with and sitting on the lap of a guy they've never met before...but you always have that one kid who just won't smile and cooperate. Ha! Oh well, it's a cute picture anyway!

There are several photo packages to choose from, along with the option to add a phone app to your package, if desired. The photos printed immediately for us to bring home. 

Near the checkout counter, they've got all kinds of cute frames, snow globes, and other products in which to display your picture. Lots of great gift ideas!

I had an idea for a frame using some supplies that I had at home, so I stopped by Claire's before we left and grabbed a couple of sparkly things to add to it. I found these sweet Christmas tree earrings, along with a hair tie featuring Rudolph, Clarice, and lots of pretty ribbons.

Once we got home, I grabbed an old frame, some scrapbooking paper, scissors, and a glue stick and got to work. First I covered the front of the frame with the pretty paper. Then I cut up the hair tie and removed the posts from the earrings. I glued them on the frame in a kind of cute/kind of gaudy way---and voila! Our Christmas 2014 photo is done and being displayed in all it's messy beautiful glory!

I can't wait to see your family photos with Santa this year! Make sure to leave me a link in the comments, if you have one, and let me know what some of your favorite Christmas traditions are. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

Win an Etsy Gift Card and More at the Holiday HOHOHO Giveaway Hop! #RWMevent

Welcome to the Holiday HOHOHO Hop!

Now is your chance to seek out some awesome prizes for those on your Christmas list, but you better hurry, the hop ends on December 5! Make sure to stop by The Review Wire for the Grand Prize, an Erin Condren Life Planner! Use it as a nutrition/exercise log, newborn sleep & peep record, work meetings & appointments, academic & social planner, keepsake journal or as a scrapbook...the possibilities are endless! 

I'm giving away a $20 Etsy gift card! Help support home based businesses by shopping on Etsy. This giveaway is open worldwide so check out the Rafflecopter below to enter and then share with your friends!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on December 5, 2014. The Anything Goes Event Bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Companies and bloggers, if you would like to participate in group giveaway events like this one, sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Review Wire Media. Visit the other bloggers on the hop to win more great prizes! *************************

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Walnut Wreath Cookies

Welcome to the Homemaking Party!

Mom was helping me come up with some ideas for holiday baking and told me about these Wreath Cookies that my great-grandma used to make. They're super easy and taste awesome! You can find the recipe below, but first...

Check out the adorable ballet bag I bought for Avalon from Heather Rogers Designs on Etsy*. What first got me excited about this bag was that I could personalize it with her name, and even choose her hair and skin color! Besides that, at only $20, I figured it was a good investment to keep her ballet things organized.

Once I received it, I realized what a great investment it really was! First off, the bag is way bigger than I was expecting. The measurements are, 14"W x 18"H x 2"D, which is plenty big enough for her to use into her teen years. I'm also impressed by the quality of the canvas bag. The design is dyed into the fabric, rather than ironed on, for a much better quality product.

Heather has over 2,500 items to choose from in her Etsy shop---lots of bags, mugs, phone covers, and clothing items to choose from---all personalized. You can find tons of gifts in Heather's shop and, best of all, you'll be supporting a home-based business to boot! Check out Heather Rogers Designs and tell her you saw her here! (I've always wanted to say something commercial-ly like that!)

Now, as promised, a yummy recipe!

Grammy Annabelle's Wreath Cookies
1 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs, separated
2 c. flour
2 c. chopped nuts
7 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1 c. chocolate chips


Cream sugar and butter. Blend in egg yolks. Add flour and mix well, then form into small balls. Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until frothy. Dip dough balls in egg whites and then roll in nuts. Set them on a cookie sheet and press down the center of each cookie. Bake at 350º for 10-12 minutes, then remove from oven and immediately press down center again. Cool completely. For filling, melt milk and chocolate and stir until smooth. Spoon into cookie centers and let cool until hardened. 

Now it's time for the Homemaking Party---I can't wait to see what you've got to share! 

*I was given a discount on my purchase in exchange for this review. Review was solicited by me because I LOVE this bag! All opinions are honest and are my own.

Linking with:

RSV Prevention and World Prematurity Day #MC #RSVAwareness #PreemieProtection #sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for MedImmune. I received  a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Today is World Prematurity Day and what better way to honor families who have experienced the birth of a premature baby than to discuss RSV Prevention. Up to 1/3 of parents are unaware of the risks and symptoms of RSV and often brush them off as a simple cold. However, when you're dealing with an infant, especially a premature one, any illness should be taken seriously.

When Lynzie was about 22 months old, she contracted RSV. Her symptoms included blue color around her mouth, as well as a raspy cough and gasping for breath. As young parents with no experience recognizing the symptoms of a sick baby, we held off taking her to the doctor much longer than we should have. We'd dealt with sickness like this ourselves as adults and knew we eventually recovered fine. It didn't occur to us how this sickness could be much more serious in a baby or toddler.

When my husband noticed her "falling asleep" on the couch, I realized she was actually passing out. We raced her to the emergency room, me singing, You Are My Sunshine, all the way just to keep myself from panicking. Her oxygen saturation was very low and she was immediately put into an oxygen tent where she spent three days. 

We were blessed to have a baby who recovered, yet not all children do. Up to 200 infants die each year from RSV.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus effects nearly all babies by the time they're two years old. It usually causes mild or moderate cold-like symptoms, but in some babies, symptoms become severe and cause a dangerous infection.

Premature babies, those born before 37 weeks, are at a higher risk for severe symptoms since they usually have underdeveloped lungs and immune systems. RSV season usually runs November-March and accounts for about 125,000 hospitalizations each year.

Here are some things to look for in your infant:

*Persistent coughing/wheezing

*Bluish color around lips, mouth, fingernails (indicates lack of oxygen)

*Rapid, difficult, gasping breaths

*Fever (over 100.4º in infants 3 mo. and younger)

How can you prevent RSV? Here are some crucial steps:

*Understand risk factors to see if your baby is at an increased risk.

*Never let anyone smoke around your baby.

*Wash your hands and require others to do the same before handling your baby.

*Keep toys, clothes, and blankets clean.

*Avoid crowds or other young children during RSV season.

For more information, contact your child's doctor or visit RSVProtection.com.

Chocolate Orange Swirl Bread

I made this delicious bread for the kids' breakfast a couple days ago and it was a huge hit! I substituted clementines for the oranges, since that's what I had on hand, and made up the remaining amount with lemon juice. It was still great! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Chocolate Orange Swirl Bread
(makes 2 loaves)

1 c. softened butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 lg. oranges
4 c. flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 TB. unsweetened cocoa
2 TB. milk

Mix butter, sugar, and eggs until well combined. Grate the peels from both the oranges to measure at least 2 TB. zest. Juice both oranges to equal approximately 1 c. of juice. If you don't get quite enough, you can add milk or water to make up the difference. Mix zest and juice into butter mixture. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl, then stir into wet mixture until just combined. Pour all but 1 c. of mixture into 2 pans. Add cocoa and milk to the remaining mixture and whisk until well combined. Divide between the two pans, pouring down the middle of each. Use a knife to swirl the mixture around a bit. Bake at 325º for 1 hour.

Why It's Not "UnChristian" To Be Open On Christmas Day And Thanksgiving

I can't tell you how many versions of "Don't Shop at ...." I see during this time of year. Stores are labeled pro or against Christmas, like in the recently published AFA Naughty or Nice list. 

People put up snotty status memes like this one:

Or this one is even better...

Makes me want to remind them about the holi-day our Lord, a practicing Jew, celebrated during this time of year---Hanukkah. Heard of it? Besides the fact that it makes sense for a business to buy a Happy Holidays banner that will suffice from Nov. 1-Jan. 2, this arrogant point of view also shows off your ignorance, since Christmas was a man-made holiday that came way after Jesus. I don't think he really cares one way or another if or how we celebrate it. (Yes, I celebrate. No, I don't want to have this discussion.)

But the thing that just makes me want to smack y'all upside the head is when you tell me you're going to actually boycott a store because it's open on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Are you kidding me?

"Oh, but those poor single moms should be home with their poor kids who have to be in school all week long and they should at least get Christmas together, for crying out loud!"

Really? No, actually it's called, doing what you have to do. Or, more plainly, having character and integrity.

Ok, so I'm sure there are tons of people, who work for companies that require them to work on a holiday, who are pretty put out about the whole thing. In fact, I bet every single one of them wishes they could be home with their families for Christmas Day. 

You know, because that's what normal families do.

You know what else probably goes through their minds? They're probably thanking God they have a job. They're probably thanking God they might be able to provide for some or all of their family's celebration that year. They're probably thanking God they're doing better than they did last year. Maybe they know their willingness to work hard, even when it hurts, will show their employers that they're committed to the job and they'll be put up for a promotion? 

Many companies offer time and a half, or even double time and a half, for employees who will work the holiday. Maybe that's the make it or break it day that will push their paychecks up just enough to be able to make their family celebration meaningful. Because they're making their own family traditions...a normal for them that is, frankly, none of your business.

Last Thanksgiving morning, my husband was home for the day, enjoying his paid holiday with his children. As they all giggled and played in the living room, I worked in the kitchen preparing a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner---more food than we could even fit on our table. I realized I'd forgotten to get something, and headed to Walmart. I felt a little guilty "making" the cashier ring me up, even though she had to be there anyway. As I reached for my change, I told her thank you for working that day. I told her how much I appreciated the store being open so I could finish what I was working on. 

That woman didn't see me as some snob who was rubbing it in her face that I got to be normal and she didn't. She smiled big and told me how much she appreciated that I said that. I'd made her feel valued in the midst of hundreds of other shoppers also rushing through to get back to the kitchen. Her family was preparing the dinner and she was going home later that afternoon to enjoy it with them. This was her normal.

This Thanksgiving, I might just head down to Walmart for the fun of it. Just to tell one of them thanks for doing hard things. Here's a new status meme for you...I dare you.