christmas placemats....

i had a such a great response to the thanksgiving placemats...thank you to everyone that ordered! i'm so excited to show you the christmas ones!! i just printed out all of these to "test" them and i have to say, i LOVE how they turned out :) 

(click on the image if you want to see a larger/more detailed picture...)

ordering details: 

if you'd like to place an order for a digital file email me at: 

mrsamytippins {at} gmail {dot} com. 

please include:

1. placemat choice (see pictures for numbers/names)

2. any changes/special requests (add bow, change font, single initial/mono, boy/girl specific, etc.)

3. name for personalization

4. paypal email for invoice to be sent.

5. email address to send pdf file/printing instructions (if different from paypal email)

prices: 

1 placemat (1 pdf file)  - $6

2 placemats (2 separate pdf files) - $10

3 placemats (3 separate pdf files) - $14

4 or more  - email for prices

how it works:

once i receive your email, i will send you a paypal invoice and begin working on your placemat. after your invoice is paid, you will be sent a pdf file of your placemat. i will do my best to send you your file(s) no more than 24hrs after your invoice is paid. the pdf file(s) will be yours to keep and print as many times as you'd like! :) the finished placemat (with a .25inch border of laminate measures approx. 17.25x11.25inches)

as far as printing goes, you can print from home (if you have tabloid size paper). i choose to send my files to fedex/kinkos to print and laminate. i will tell you that there is a small white edge (about 1mm) on the outsides of the placemat file. you can ask fedex to cut it for you before laminating, but y'all, they charge almost $3 for that!!! crazy! i usually take my file up there (or email it), have it printed, then cut it myself while in the store before having them laminate it. but if i'm pressed for time and don't really care about the extra $3 or so dollars, i just ask them to cut the edges for me. :) 

i considered printing and laminating these myself, but the cost to ship them would literally be almost as much as the printing/laminating. if you're interested in having a placemat shipped to you, you can email me for prices, but honestly - the pdf files are much more cost effective. 

let me know if you have any questions - or if you're interested in a particular design/theme that you do not see here. i'll be happy to work with you! 

catching up....

i kind of took a little blogging break over thanksgiving, but wanted to post a few things we did just for posterity's sake... and because i would literally forget how to spell my last name if it wasn't written down somewhere. mom brain is for real, y'all! :) 

over the thanksgiving break we were busy, busy, busy! libbi was out of school all week and jeffrey was off from work so it was nice to have every one home at the same time! 

we did a little bit of grocery shopping (can you sense libbi's excitement? if it's any indication of how I feel about grocery shopping, libbi was around a 7. i'm about a 25). ;-)

the girls took some naps...obviously DESTROYING the playroom can wear a girl out. 

we went on a family date night to frontera (our favorite mexican restaurant). it's safe to say that chips and queso are libbi and laney's love language (say that 5 times fast!) and i'm pretty sure they get it honestly. :) 

thanksgiving morning we watched the macy's thanksgiving parade. the girls were so funny... they were mesmerized. i though laney was going to flip out when she saw elmo. 

libbi decided the parade would be more enjoyable if they were wearing dress up clothes, and she proceeded to pull chairs up for her and laney to sit in once they were "all ready."

love those girls!

laney also experimented with a new hairstyle over the break.... don't worry, i'm pretty sure it won't catch on. 

keeping up with our tradition, mom and i went shopping early (realllllll early - try "dark thirty") on black friday. there wasn't anything particular i was searching for, i just like to go and see all the people. and just like every other year, this one did not disappoint. 

the girls spent the night at mimzy and buddy's house on friday night and i had every intention of getting out my christmas decorations while my "assistants" had the night off.... but somehow going to be at 8:30 won. and i'm pretty sure i told my mom not to look directly at me when i met her to pick up the girls the next day since i was basically still in my pajamas(at 4 pm!) 

laylay forgot her lovey at mimzy and buddy's house and libbi was SO sweet to offer her one of hers! libs sleeps with two (identical) loveys and she decided she could sacrifice for her sister just this once. beyond sweet! 

sunday morning the girls and i went to church on our own since jeffrey was sick. somehow we ended up at the store (again!) after church. anyone else feel like you are on a constant "load/unload....load/unload....load/unload" cycle? between the dishwasher, the washing machine, groceries and kids i feel like i am always either loading or unloading something - ha! 

(and i know it doesn't matter, but FYI their outfits are corduroy. i didn't want y'all to think i'd dress them in spring cotton in this cold weather. even though the picture looks like it!) :) 

libbi went back to school on monday and laylay and i did some christmas decorating. 

i took both girls to the dentist today and they were both AWESOME! i was nervous about laney, but she did great! libbi chose a whoopee cushion as her "prize"....i wish i was kidding. i also wish i was kidding when i tell you that there has been a lot of "tooting" going on in the tippins house. it just doesn't seem right to see my sweet little girl in her matilda jane dress laughing hysterically as she plops down on a whoopee cushion. all day she has begged me to blow up the whoopee cushion while she's in the playroom and place it on the couch. then she instructs me "Momma, can you say, 'hey, libbi. i saved you a seat on the couch'...." and she innocently and unsuspectingly sits on the seat i've "saved" for her which also happens to be the exact location of the whoopee cushion. no one has been safe. laney doesn't care for it. at all. even baby jesus and the wisemen have fallen victim to the whoopee cushion. i'm sure that's a first. 

and in the midst of all that, we also celebrated thanksgiving with our families, bought a christmas tree, decorated our house, had my debit card stolen, went to build-a-bear, watched rudolph, and ate at chickfila (a time or two ;-))

i think that about covers it. whew! now back to my regularly scheduled posting :) 

cyber monday...

a few of my favorite cyber monday deals: 

goat and lulu is offering 20% off EVERYTHING on her site! go check it out.... her christmas selection is adorable!!! :) 

this cute little remote that a certain little girl is getting for christmas. you can program in seven channels and they can switch between those channels only. genius, right? 

the erin condren gift box briefcase is on plum district today. you can get this gift box set (adorable!!) for only $35.00....a $69.00 value. AND if you use the code CYBERM20 you can get another 20% off making it only $28!!!! but don't worry, if you miss out on it today, you can pay with your visa and use the code visapromo to get 10% off making it $31.50...still a great deal!!! 

and finally, my favorite bow shop, polkadot posies is offering these cute mesh headbands for only 2.00 today!!!!  hurry over and scoop some up! :) 

happy shopping!!!

playgrounds and plans...

there's a park right near libbi's preschool. so on days where we're a little too early to pick up libbi, i stop and let laylay play. the playground is a nice break from the carseat for laney and a breath of fresh air for me before the monotony of the carpool line begins. 

the first time we stopped, i thought laney would be all over that playground....climbing, jumping, running - just doing her thing. :)

but she pretty much stayed outside the perimeter. 

she liked to balance on the ledge and walk up and down the boundaries of the playground. 

i figured maybe she was just a little overwhelmed. seeing as she'd never been to a playground without her big sister before, maybe she just didn't know what to do? i was sure the next time we stopped she'd be more comfortable and actually play on the playground. 

so we went back the next school day.....and she did the exact same thing. the second, third, even fourth time we stopped at the playground, she still wanted to walk the perimeter. i did everything i could to convince laylay of all the fun stuff just waiting for her "on the inside".... swings, slides, even a picnic table! but every time i brought her onto the woodchips to explore a new piece of equipment, she'd quickly go right back to her wooden ledge and continue with her own balancing act. 

i tried so many times to get her to play that it was almost laughable. but also humbling. here i am trying to convince her to step inside the playground parameters and all she wants to do is toe the line outside of it. 

and i started thinking that in my life, the playground is kind of like The Lord's plans. He tells me, "Look! I have all of these wonderful things waiting for you if you'll just follow My path for your life." yet, i still think i know best and that choosing my own path is somehow better than His. The Lord says, "stay inside My will, follow My directions, and you will be blessed." and yet i still choose to be like laylay and tiptoe around the perimeter. why do i choose to balance on the precarious instead of standing firm on His promises? even though i KNOW the safest place to be is inside the will of God, i still want to forge my own path while walking the perimeter of His.

maybe the playground was a little too big for laney. maybe it was a little too scary. maybe she wasn't used to going it alone. so she stuck with what was comfortable and chose to stand on the sidelines instead. she thought the sidewalk was fun, but what she didn't realize was all that she was missing because she wouldn't step out of her comfort zone. oftentimes the will of God is an uncomfortable place to be. but comfort is not the point of obedience, is it? how can i, in my prideful, controlling ways, tell Him, "it's okay, Lord. i've got this. i don't need to go/see/do/hear what you're asking of me. i realize Your ways are better than mine and Your plans are greater than mine. but...they're also a little bit scarier. so i'm gonna forgo all the blessings You have in store for me, because i'm choosing to take the easy road."

 but i've done just that. shamefully, more than once. 

sweet laney was perfectly content to walk around the playground during our time at the park. but while she may have been content, she was missing out on the joy that awaited her if she'd only step out to the other side. sometimes i'm content to do my own thing. and even though i may think i'm content, i know that i'm missing out on the true joy that awaits me if i'd only step out on faith. 

you know what? i eventually convinced laylay to step off that ledge and join me on the playground. and when she finally did.... she found slides, swings, and joy in between. and she even found a little toy car on the picnic table.... just an added bonus. :)

 now when we stop at the playground before picking libbi up from school, it's not just a fun break for laney. it's also a sweet reminder to me to step out on faith and trust that He knows best. I'm reminded that joy is waiting to be found at the end of obedience. 

"So remember that the Lord your God is the only God, and you can trust him! He keeps his agreement. He shows his love and kindness to all people who love him and obey his commands. He continues to show his love and kindness through a thousand generations"

Deuteronomy 7:9

5 friday fav's

because who doesn't love some alliteration?! ;-)
Five Favorites....

FIVE FAVORITE "FOTOS" :) 
 oh, laylay.... she is just so proud of herself for being able to climb in and out of the baby doll crib. it's hard to get mad at that face. :) 

 daddy brought home a sweet treat for his sweet girls one night this week. i'm pretty sure they enjoyed it... 

story time :) 

laney and i were running errands while libbi was at school. she was living the good life, for sure. (let's not mention the fact that we went into the store for a gallon of milk. that's it. and somebody lost her ever loving mind wanting to ride in the germ mobile. and since libbi wasn't with us, laney was thrilled she had two steering wheels to lick instead of one. thankyouverymuch). 

before school this morning. sweet sisters. (and libbi has her arms full of all her princesses-like usual these days). 

FIVE FUTURE PLANS:
1.we're taking libbi to her first georgia game tomorrow. i'm excited for her. she has had so many questions..... "will the band be inside or outside? will they have violins? will the dog be there? will he be able to get in my seat?" and on and on. 
2. we're celebrating thanksgiving with my side of the family on sunday afternoon. i can't wait! 
3. we're also celebrating thanksgiving with some of jeffrey's side of the family on sunday. it is going to be a full day.... in more ways than one!
4. christmas shopping. woot woot! 
5. christmas decorating - the tippins' are dedicating their house to the griswold family this year. ;)

FIVE FINISHED PRODUCTS: 
1. i made stocking door hangers for the girls' doors. libbi's is complete, but laney's is still in the works, although i don't think she's noticed.

2. placemats! i've been hard at work making lots of cute little placemats for thanksgiving. 

there's still time if you're interested in ordering one!! click HERE for all the details. 

3. thanksgiving treat bags for libbi's class. today was her last day of school before thanksgiving break, so she took in some sweet treats for her little friends. 

4. photobooks.... i've been hard at work on some photobooks - but that's all i can tell you, because they are gifts for certain family members that may or may not read this blog!

5. enchiladas. tonight was enchilada night at the tippins house. always a good way to end a friday night. :) 

FIVE FINAL RANDOM POINTS:

1. libbi made this placemat at school. apparently laney didn't make the "thankful list" this year. we'll just tell her she was redshirted. :) 

and funny enough, i'm pretty sure libbi doesn't even have a belle doll and i know for a fact she doesn't like vegetables. i guess jeffrey and i should be grateful we made the cut!

2. the winner for the MyMemories giveaway was chosen! congrats to Andrea...you should have an email from me! sorry it took me so long to announce! 

3. if you didn't win, don't forget you can still use the code: STMMMS42656 at mymemories.com to receive $10 off the software AND $10 towards the mymemories digital store!

4. there is still a melissa and doug giveaway going on-Click HERE to enter.

5. laylay STILL hasn't adjusted to the time change....which means 6 oclock wake up calls every morning (sometimes earlier). so off to bed i go! 

happy friday, friends!! 

18 months...because 1 and a half sounds too old...

laney james, you are 18 months old!!!! now, excuse me while i hide in a corner and cry. ;-) how in the world you are officially a year and a half old is beyond me. i still feel like you are my little baby, but i can see evidence of the toddler you've become more and more each day. these past few months have been *big* for you.... for all of us, really. you've experienced quite a few "firsts" (some of which were looooong overdue!)

you spent the night at buddy and mimzy's for the first time. this.was.huge.
for both of us! seeing as how you weren't technically fully weaned when i left you with buddy and mimzy for the weekend, it was a major leap for me to feel okay about leaving you. and you know what? you were awesome! you had the time of your life! and i can now officially say that you are 100% done nursing. although there is not a doubt in my mind that you would love to pick it right back up if i let you. but, believe me when i say, it was time. :)

you wear mostly 18-24 month clothes, a size 4/5 diaper, and a size 5W shoe..... when you wear them. you are not really a fan of shoes. and socks completely push you over the edge. we've gotten a few "looks" recently when we've been out in public in the freezing cold and you're wearing shoes with no socks. i really want to tell people, "look.... YOU try to put socks on her and then we'll talk." ;-)

not only do you look completely different from your sister at this age, your personality is one of a kind as well. libbi was a curious toddler and somewhat sneaky at times. you.... well, you are a wild woman! you have STRONG opinions and you make them known. i'm not really surprised though since you've basically been giving us fits since before you were even born - ha! it's safe to say you have perfected the art of the temper tantrum and animal growl when you don't get your way. it's a good thing you are tough, because you have thrown yourself down on some pretty rough surfaces lately.

you are a daredevil. you have no fear and will pretty much try anything. if it's in your way, you'll climb it. if it's elevated, you'll jump off of it. if it's not bolted to the floor, you'll move it. i never knew a little girl could get into so much trouble so fast. just the other day you dumped my makeup bag in the bathtub and then turned on the water. i was just trying to go to the bathroom.

while you can be quite temperamental at times, you can also be the sweetest, funniest little girl. when you're happy...we're all happy! you make us laugh with your funny faces and silly personality. and there's nothing sweeter than when you grab my hand to lead me where you want me to go (minus the screaming of "GO!") :) we all still call you "lay-lay" and you don't seem to mind. :)

your vocabulary is increasing by leaps and bounds and we're so proud of how much you've learned! some of your words include: "go, no, momma, daddy, bu-bu (buddy), baby, dog, shoes, sock, cup, thank you, hey, bye, night-night, i love (love you), up, jump, uh-oh, i got it, all gone, all done" and a few more. you know lots of animal sounds and love making them on command. libbi likes to ask you in the car, "yay-knee...what does a horsie say?" and "what does a monkey say?" and it never fails to make us smile hearing the two of y'all go through your repertoire of animal sounds.

you love dancing and music of any kind. "i like to move it, move it" is your jam! you will bust a move to that song any time you hear it. no matter where you are in the house if that song starts playing, you stop what you're doing and start dancing. and it is entertaining every single time.

you have (finally!!!!) started sleeping through the night...although not consistently. of course you started sleeping through the night the week before the time change. and unfortunately, you still haven't readjusted. i'm extremely happy if you'll sleep 8 consecutive hours. you go to bed around 7:30 and will typically wake up around 5:45. (although sometimes it's 1:30, 3:15, 4:30....). and when you wake up, you're ready to go. when libbi was your age, i could get away with sneaking in an extra 20-30 minutes of sleep because she'd lie in my bed and watch mickey mouse clubhouse. not you. no lying in the bed watching cartoons for you. you are ready to "GO!" you take one nap a day. typically from 1:30-3:30 or 4. and 95% of the time you wake up from your nap grouchy. sometimes you snap out of it, sometimes you don't.

you love your sister. and you love to irritate your sister. :)
you love your daddy and you get so excited to see him each day. nothing makes you smile as big as when your daddy walks through the door. you love your momma, too though. and we (still!) have a bit of a meltdown anytime you are left in the nursery. but i'm sure easier drop-offs are right around the corner... right?!!?!

laney james, we love you more and more with each passing day and we are beyond thankful that the Lord blessed us with you! our family just wouldn't be the same without you. we love you precious laylay girl!