{Happy New Years!}

Since I will be out of town for New years and most likly not back to my computer till Sunday afternoon (will explain more in a min!) I would like to say it now!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

I am not one for New Years rezolustions! I think its I just dont like the word! So many people do it and NEVER follow through with ANY of it! So...I am going to give you a list of things I would LIKE to do this year...at the end of the year..we shall

see how far I am on all of them!

1. Get at least halfway through my childrans book I am working on

2. Starting working out with Jillian and B

iggest Looser again

3. Blog at least once a week, if n

ot more

4.Try and meet 3 of my bloggy friends in real life!

5. Finish my wedding planning school!

Thats about it for now! I think thats a good list for me to work on!

Now...I must tell y'all about my weekend/New Years plans! Were gonna go have a BLAST!

My family (mom,dad,brother,and sister) are headed to Fort Worth Texas tomorrow morning and spending through Sunday afternoon with some dear friends!

They always have an amazing New Years Eve party!

The theme this year is Wacky! So my mismatching cloths and all will be coming out! (dont worry i will take pictures and share with y'all so you can laugh)

Were also going to make snowless snowmen, and eat are hearts out!

On top of it all, were staying a few extra days and I can hang out with my 2 amazing friends Cameran and Clarin! I love those girls to death!

What plans do you all have for New Years??

XOXO

{The Saddest Week Of The Year!}

I have always LOVED Christmas! Im the one who decorates right after Thanksgiving, play Christmas music WAY before that, and just itching to get to Christmas like the day after it ends!

I always enjoy the family time, the food, the friends, and the Birth of my Savior Jesus!

But you know..this week were in now....ya..this pictures kinda tells you how I feel :(

Ya...thats right, to me this is the Saddest week of the year! Christmas is done, and thats sad! Sigh...I MUST find things to cheer me up!

So....I went on a small shopping trip tonight and got these!

I have been in need of some nice covered flat shoes! I LOVE them! What do you all think??

Also linking up to Mingle Monday! So if your over from there..WELCOME! If you want to follow I would be glad to follow back! Be sure to leave your blog address in your comment!

XOXO

{Merry Christmas Eve}

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE <3

Im baking cookies for Christmas Gifts and are family Christmas Party tonight with my Aunt,Uncle, Cousin and her kids!

Hope Y'all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

XOXO

{Cookie Exchange Link Party}

I am SUPER excited about this link up part

y! Cause I LOVE baking cookies and am always looking for a new

recipie!

Here is my cookie recipie! Feel free to use it :)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Cookies

You will need:

- 1 Cup all-purpose

flour

- 1/2 cup rolled oats

-1 teaspoon baking soda

-1 stick (1/2cup) salted butter,melted (you dont have to use salted..but I do and then dont put any salt in..I like it this way)

- 1/2 cup creamy peanut

te butter

- 2/3 cup of brown sug

ar

- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1 egg

- 1 cup chocolate chips

(To switch it up I sometimes add 1 cup chocolate chips

, 1/2 cup peanute butter chips,and 1/2 cup butterschotch chips!)

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Cream together the butter, peanute butter, sugar, and vanill

a for 3 minutes. Add the egg.

3. Slowly add flour, baking soda, Rolled Oats, and chocolate chips.

4. Use a cookie scoop(I use an ice cream scoop) and drop dough about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely! Enjoy with large glass of cold milk!

Click HERE for more yummy recipies!

and

{Birthday Recap..and a GIVEAWAY!}

Yes...I have been a very bad blogger but I have a good reason :) We have had a road crew working on are road all last week and this week! There making it wider and that is wonderfull BUT....they keep on ripping up are TDS Line! Thats what we have are phone and Internet with! So ive been using are air card! But thats so slow you can

t even get much of blogger to load! So..Im back blogging now! That is till they rip the line again :)

So anyways.....My 22nd birthday was on

Monday and it was amazing!

I got several books,an amazing bling braclet, a willow tree figure, and some Bath and Body Works! For my birthday dinner my mom made me lasagna and I mad funfeti cupcakes :)

Me with my Cup Cake :)

Ok...and now on to the Giveaway!

Its a Birthday/Christmas/Finally Open Giveaway :)

Hehe...We will just call it Happy About Everything Giveaway :)

I FINALLY opened my shop on Etsy and am so excited about it! So this giveaway is coming from there!

Here is what you can win!

A 5x7 Bottle cap Picture Frame ( Looks like this one, or one with whatever bottle Caps you want...Of the once on

this frame!)

and

6 of these 4x6 Photo Cards! (Its a real photo on it that I took)

PLUS...I will be throwing in a few goodies!

So Here is how it will work!

- Please leave seprate comments for each thing you do and how many entrys that gives you!

Entrys Include:

-Become or allready are a follower of me = 1 entry

-Add my Etsy store to your favorites HERE = 1 entry

- Tell me what Bottle Caps you would get ( or just what I have on there) = 1 Entry

- Follow Dance and Dream 4 Ever on FACEBOOK = 2 Entrys

- Add my Blog Button to your sidebar = 3 Entrys

-Follow me on twitter @JoannaNoel88 = 1 Entry

And last but not least

-Blog about my Giveaway = 5 entrys

A request!

There are so many givaways going on right now its crazy! LOL! I have entered in several so maybe ill win one :) hehe

My post tonight is going to be short...ill post more tomorrow....but...I have a request of my bloggy friends.

I am working on a fundraiser right now..and I have an amazing basket pulled together of allot of amazing stuff from some amazing people ( tell you more about them in the next post) but here is were I need your help.....I need people to "buy" to get there name in! I am still working on getting paypal set up and all..but i am going to charge $15.00 to enter...let me tell you about my cause!

Its called Secreats Christmas Gift

A friend of mine from Washington state rescued her a month ago! She was standing in 3 plus feet of mud manure and pee she could hardly move when my friend went and got her! she was severely emaciated and in rough shape. She had a BAD tendon infection to her front right leg. and was not putting any weight on it. (hoping on three legs is hard on a horse).

She was starting to get better and my friend had put allot of money into vet bills and I wanted to help her pay them by doing a fundraiser! Sadly a week ago Secret took a turn for the worse had to be put down.

I would like to still do the fundraiser and donate the money to The Apache Junction Horse Rescue(AZ) in memory of Secret! I dont want to have the same thing happen to other horses as what happend to Secret! Because someone did not want to take care of her she was not able to know love or care till her last 3 weeks of life, I want to help stop that...and The Apache Junction Horse Rescue does that!

The idea for Apache Junction Horse Rescue Corporation was conceived in 2006 by James (Jim) Moyle. Jim had come across many under-fed and neglected horses. Feeling that he could not stand idly by and do nothing, took in those horses for which AJHR could provide. Over time AJHR found many more horses that were no longer wanted. Though AJHR had limited resources, AJHR decided to raise funds and formed Apache Junction Horse Rescue Corporation in 2007, hoping that through donations they could improve the lives of as many horses as possible.

This is what im wanting to raise money for...would any of my bloggy friend be interested in helping me??? Here is how I need help:

1. could use a few more donations for the basket

2. When I get a good post up on the fundraiser I need to get it promoted on others blogs

3. Buying a spot to win!

If you get a chance please also go to Secrets Christmas Gift on facebook!

Once I get some more stuff done ill put a better post up of all this and ill have a button for all who want to help promote it....encourge your friends to like are fan page on facbeook!

{Christmas Card Swap}

Go HERE to Join!

I found this and really wanted to join in! I think it will be a blast! I would LOVE for you to join in with me...just like above :)

If you are sad at the thought of holiday e-cards and not part of a big community of holiday card senders and want a card sent to you then this is the thing for you.

Even if you do send and receive a bunch of holiday cards and want one more this is perfect for you too.

All you have to do is send an email with your address to

cooking4him (at) gmail (dot) com

and you'll get an email from me back with my address in case you want to spread the love and send a card back.

I think the holidays are a great time to reach out and get to know people better and make some real connections even if it's just through a thoughtful holiday card.

XOXO

Christmas Blog Challengehi: Fav Christmas Gift!

Day 3:Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received.

This is so easy...and this gift has been with me for 3 years now!

Yes...My Canon Rebel XS! This is my pal..we go EVERYWERE together! This poor guy has several dents and chips on him now..and may even still have sand deep inside from the beach trip this past summer...but he still is up and running!

What was your favorite Christmas gift??

******************************************************************

IN OTHER NEWS:

So I dont make several post a day, I am just going to add on other things at the end of these post!

Family did a last min family outing last night and we went to the Grand Opening of the Festival of Lights in Chickasha! It was awsome! Ill have pictures up soon! :)

Going to be busy doing allot of baking here soon! Making some apple Pies for Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Im also way excited to have gotten my swap partners for both the Ornament Swap and the Warm Winter Swap! I am heading into town here shortly to get there gifts!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

XOXO

Blog Challenge Day 2 {Black Friday Shopping}

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

I LOVE Black Friday shopping! I have never been to these stores so early that you have to wait in line outside, never camped outside the store, and never Black Friday shopped in a big city ( was going to OKC this year but plans have changed) and I maybe not buy a ton..but still!

I love the rush of Black Friday Shopping and the mass amount of people! Ive always shopped in smaller towns but its still been crazy!

This year were heading into Chicasha (OK) and hitting up Atwoods, Staples, Cato's, and Bath and Body Works ( maybe Wal-Mart..not sure yet!) I am way excited about Bath and Body Works cause there having some MASSIVE sales and im gonna get my Christmas shopping done!

Here are a few tips I have found to be helpfull when I Black Friday shop!

I look at all the sales from the stores I want to go to FIRST! Then I know what I want..go right for it..and get it before its sold out. Plus it helps the budget!

Shop with more then just yourself...you then have more body mass to push through the crowds!

Who else is going Black Friday Shopping???

UPDATE:

Dont forget about this awsome Mitten Mixer going on! It ends Tue ( a week from today) and you dont want to miss out! Im doing it! Click below for more info!

New..and Christmas Blog Challenge!

To start out with...I GOT A BLOG MAKEOVER!! I LOVE it! What do y'all think? I was in great need of something new and so went to the great Jenn over at Munchkin Land Designs! I have used her before and still love her work! If your looking for a new design you really should go check her stuff out!

So Its the first day of this cool 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge! So...here we go!
Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditionsI'll go with Christmas since im so excited for it to be here!We always set are tree and stockings and all that good stuff up close to Thanksgiving! Its actually all going up as I type :)!On Christmas Eve we allways do a fun dinner as a family..Sparkling Grape Juice, and fun fingers foods and such! We then whats The Christmas Box and we each open one present!My sister and I sleep in the same room that night..listing to Josh Groben. drinking tea and eating cinnamin toast and leaving the tree lights on!Christmas day we all get up whenever and we read the Christmas story from the Bible and all sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!We then go from youngest to oldest and each open one present at a time!
XOXO!

{Christmas Cards!}

I almost forgot about this offer..and just found it in my inbox..Im a way excited :)

How can you not love these cards! I am a BIG christmas card person an

d when I saw Shutterflys offers and the things they make I must say my mouth fell open! I was very happy! I am big into photography and love what they have come up with!

This one is very cute...would work even for somone who is not just married!

And this is great for a family one! Simple yet cute!

And last but not least..This is my favorit! I do belive that this will be my card for this year! I love how it has one simple picture and then all the amazing colors around it!

I would highly recogmend Shutterfly to all my readers! Y'all will love there stuff..and they have great prices as well :)

Giveaway help...Plus more!

Lets start with...I AM SO SLEEPY THIS

MORNING!

I slept so sound last night..and when my dad came in and woke me up..it was harder to get up then what it is when I dont sleep well! Sigh...I may just fall asleep at work today..and that is NOT good!

Its only 36 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!

36 days till I can bake these (well..ill start earlyer!)

I am so excited!

And on the Christmas note...I need your help!

I am going to do a 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway and I need to know..What would you like to win? For real ladies...I am going to do one ( or maybe 2) things a day for 12 days, and I need to have some ideas!

An Early Christmas Present for my Bloggy Friends!

I am very excited to be able to write this post for y'all! For one reason..its the first time ive ever been able to do this..and second..y'all are

gonna love there stuff!

So...I got an email from Overstock.com to do a link up for them..and in return they would give me and all my readers a 10% coupon code! YA!!!

So..I went to Overstock.com and checked it out! WERE HAS THIS SITE BEEN HIDING ALL MY LIFE?? I had to run and make sure my credit card was locked up! wow...they have some awsome cool stuff!

Before I hand out the coupon...here are a few things I just love that they sell!

LOVE this....they have some great Digital Cameras!

Yes please...you have to look at all there Engagement Rings!

And you really MUST check out there Black Friday Sales!

Ok...Now for the code...listen...here is what your getting!

The discount code is: 121728 , good for 10% off all Overstock.com products.

AND THERE IS MORE....

202234 ** - free shipping promo code for electronics

Ahem.....

All the ideas and opinions expressed are my own. No monetary compensation was received for doing this post, however, I was provided with a discount code.

Sending out an SOS..Please Read!

BLOGGY FRIENDS I NEED YOUR HELP!!

I am going to do a fundraiser and I am in need of some help! First things first..let me tell you about my fundraiser! ( Just a small bit so I dont give it away too much!)

My Friend Dayna in Washington State rescued "Secret" 2 weeks ago..this is her below!

She was in a small pen maybe 30 by 50 with a quarter pony mix. They where standing in 3 plus feet of mud and manure. The fencing was the wire square stuff they could have very easily gotten hung up in. There was old pieces of metal and trees in the pen. She was wearing a rain sheet that was dripping wet. was very lame on front right and has some proud flesh going on on the back right aswell. Dayna got her to the barn She is boarding her at and took her 3 and a half house to wash all the matted mud and manure from her legs and under side.
She has had her almost 2 and a half weeks and in that time her front right seems to have gotten worse. had the vet out and he took X-rays and she has a tendon infection. she's on a high dose of antibiotics and bute twice a day.

As you can guess...vet bills are crazy high on larger animals and the care Secret is needing right now just makes it higher!

I am going to call this fundraiser "Secrets Christmas Gift" I want to see how much I can raise to help with her vet bills!

Here is what I need from my bloggy friends!

1. I am not really sure how to do a fundraiser on my blog...any help would be AMAZING! I need to know how to do one, and things like that..cause I really have NO CLUE!

2. I have e-mailed a few of you already but...I need people to donate stuff to this! I have asked a few bloggy friends that are donating stuff from there etsy shops! ANYTHING works!

3. Advertise! Once I get things going I need your help to push this! I want to make it big if I can!

If you have any info for me..you can leave me a comment..or you can email me at cooking4him [@] gmail [dot] com

Ill be emailing a few more of you as well..but if i dont email you...and you would like to donate..please let me know!

Thank you all so much <3

Christmas Shopping???

I know that allot of us (me included) start some Christmas Shopping now! And one way I love to shop is through the catologe and home shows that people put on! Maybe thats why I do so well being a Pampered Chef Consultant!

So..I have a friend who just started her Thirty One Buisness. So I wanted to help her some..and I love the cute stuff they have! So im doing a catologe show! And I thought I would give all my awsome bloggy friends a chance to see some stuff..and order if they want!

Here are just a few of the cute things they have!

If your interested in getting some cool stuff, helping my friend out, or helping me out..stop on over to her site HERE click on My events under her photo and click shop on the line with my name ( Joanna Sterrett )

Love y'all bunches even if ya dont! Just thought I would throw this out there! Oh...something from here MAY be part of my 12 days of Christmas giveaway! :)

XOXO