Merry Christmas from the Rix Family

Christmas Tour 2010

Here is my home entry for

Christmas Tour 2010

Front Porch Entry

Entry table

Coffee Filter Wreath and Trees

Family Room Tree

Train Under Tree

Family Room Mantel

Picture is Son #2 at 6 months

Kitchen Centerpiece

Living Room Tree

This belonged to my Mom

Kids' Bath

Snowman Themed

Master Bath

Old World Santa Theme

Big Boy Tree

Car Themed

Girl Child Tree

Barbie (Pink) Themed

Middle Boys Tree

Lunchbox Themed

And lastly

The Outdoor Decorations

Ala Griswolds

Well Spanx me!

I bought some Spanx for an upcoming special occasion.

I thought I could use a little smoothing and trimming.

I was skeptical that this teensie tiny elastic band of a thing could provide noticeable results.

You be the judge!

This is me

BEFORE SPANX

Okay, not horrible - I've seen worse

But, let's take a look at the reverse side

See those unsightly rolls? - Ackckck!

I hope to do something permanent about them in 2011

But in the meantime - Ackckck!!!

This is me

AFTER SPANX

It's not really drastic

But I can see a smoother silhouette (if I squint) LOL

Let's see what they did for the back side

You know -- the side they'll all be laughing and pointing at behind my back

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a teensie bit.

AFTER SPANX

BIG improvement in my opinion.

What do you think??

BEFORE AND AFTER - FRONT

More noticeable with the side-by-side, no?

BEFORE AND AFTER - BACK

Much smoother and I think slimmer looking too!

Keep the Change!

I found the perfect container to put our spare change in.

It's one of those tubs-o-gum that the kids always finish and forget to tell me that they finished until I go to chew a piece of gum and find out that it's all gone.

But I digress

I raided our change jar this afternoon and filled the empty gum container to place in our cup holder in the minivan.

We have plans for this change!...

We plan to put it all right here!

Each time we go into the grocery store or Walmart and pass the Salvation Army bucket, the kids will get to donate some of the change to a worthy cause.

They also get the opportunity to wish the volunteer

'Merry Christmas'

or

'God's Blessing!'

It's just one of the small traditions I started with the kids.

They get excited to donate and feel good about doing something 'worthy'

What traditions do you share with your kids during the holiday season??

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You can win this:

Seriously!!!

Just visit Thrifty Decor Chick and see how by clicking HERE

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You can win a Gift Certificate for

Pure and Lovely

Just by posting HERE

All Things Thrifty is having a Giveaway

You can win some of this:

By visiting All Things Thrifty HERE and taking a chance to win!

Giveaway ~~ Giveaway ~~ Giveaway

Here's another great giveaway. Bloggers have been very generous lately, haven't they?

You can win this Pottery Barn Gift Card:

Treat yourself to a little somethin' something' this holiday season. To win?

Just visit Urban Farmgirl HERE and take a chance of winning!

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You can win all of this:

by clicking HERE

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Melissa is having a great giveaway for her readers. You can win this:

By going HERE

Good Luck

View from INSIDE my bedroom this month.

Kind of creepy to wake up in the middle of the night and see this mummy watching over me.

Spooky Porch Update

So after about a week of moping and saying he 'didn't think he felt' like decorating this year.

My husband got over it and did this today.

This is the newest addition to the family.

The kids have dubbed him Flat Stanley

He's as tall as me

don't let that impress you - I'm short

My carved and lit pumpkins

Ratty Rat

[I hate this thing]

I try to sneak a little cute in when the hubster and kids aren't looking

I generally hate spiders but don't mind them outdoors so much

especially light up ones in cool colors like purple and green

I think the weird hanging insect looking thing reminds me of summer and mosquitoes.

Here in Illinois they can feel this big some nights

The skeletor guy accidentaly gets left turned on some nights and I have the pleasure of hearing him moan while he glides back and forth on his zip line

I just call this guy rabid bat

[shudders]

we've had this ghost/pumpkin combo since our early married days

before kids and ghoulish stuff took over

light up spider webs book end each end of the porch

Flat Stanley behaving

Still to come....

Some spooky additions to the 2nd floor

Stay tuned

mwah hah hah hah hah

Transition to Halloween

I showed you a few of my fall decorations yesterday.

Well, I decided to REALLY change things up in my entry for

HALLOWEEN

Are you ready for it?

This is the

BEFORE

And here is the

AFTER

I know - life changing, right?

Just in case you missed it

Aren't you sceered?

Hey, it's a start. Front porch decorations are next

My hubby is in charge of those and sorta goes overboard.

Stay tuned!

A few Fall updates!

Front Entry

Just a few Autumn leaves and candles

The cutout pumpkin holds a candle

Dollar Store Pumpkins replace my candles

A $6 package of fall 'filler' from Walmart

$8 worth of fall foliage from Hobby Lobby

Vase is from a garage sale I posted about last week

The Leaf Garland was $5 at Hobby Lobby

Fall Vignette on the coffee table