{Happy} New Year! New Look & New Name!!!

I'm so happy to announce that along with our official name change from "Life with the Baxtrons" to simply "Baxtron{Life}" we are finished with the redesign!!

Here is the Before {Click Here for the After}:

Come by and take a look!  Leave a comment and let me know what you think!?

Also, if you've redesigned your site, I'd love to see it, so leave me a link!

P.S. The winners of my January Ad-space Giveaway are:
{Extra Large Feature} Annie from Letters to Mo
{Large Feature} Ronni from Anywhere Is
{Large Feature} Kristina from City Corporate to Suburb Mama

STILL OPEN!:




 

Our {New} Christmas Traditions

I had intended to post pictures along with this post, but I'm suffering from serious laziness today (recovering from yesterdays highs) and drained from dealing with a random power outage this afternoon/evening at our apartment.  Power has been restored, but energy has been drained.
Our first Christmas together {just the 3 of us} was so memorable.  We are usually home in Seattle with my family, but despite being bummed to stay home, I knew that this year would be special.  Jerry and I had been discussing traditions that we would start in our family going forward.  I'm pretty happy at how it has all turned out.
In our family, the gifts we receive come from the true source of all we have, our heavenly father….not Santa.   Santa is just another character like Frosty and the Grinch, and he does not deliver to our home.
We only open one gift each on Christmas Eve…and it is the same gift every year…a new pajama set for each of us to wear that night and lounge in Christmas day.
We will sometimes attend a Christmas eve service with our spiritual family.  {This year, we decided it was too cold, too far and a little too late in the evening for our little lady.}
Bedtime on Christmas eve will include the story of Christ's birth from the Bible, as well as readings from our special Nativity book and singing carols for lullabies.  
Christmas morning starts with fresh brewed coffee and cocoa, and the emptying of our stockings.
Our traditional Christmas morning breakfast is Chicken & Waffles with Maple Syrup.
After breakfast, we open the rest of our gifts to one another.
We spend time together as a family, playing games, watching movies, listening to Christmas music, enjoying the gifts we've been blessed with.
We have a nice family dinner together.
We celebrate Jesus' birthday by baking him a yummy cake and singing "Happy Birthday" to him.



REMEMBER!!:






 

Merry Christmas! Glory to God in the Highest!!

REMEMBER!!:



 

Wordless{ish} Wednesday ~ Oh Christmas Tree!

You may remember this post here, where I was hoping to have a turquoise, gold and purple Christmas! I'm happy to say I got just that!  The biggest win was the price…we were starting from scratch this year, and I spent $75 total!!  ($25 Tree, $30 Ornaments, $20 Lights)  I have extra ornaments to make a garland for the windows in our front room, plus icicle lights.

Her reaction made all of our hard work (and sacrificed sleep) the night before worth it! :)

I'll be scheduling some posts in advance this week, and not around a lot, but look forward to catching up with you all after Christmas!!  
Much love,

 

Pinning {Wk. 4} - Winter Whiteout

Welcome to Pinning {Wk. 4} Winter Whiteout:

Before I share this weeks finds…just a reminder that following the theme is optional, the linky is for any Pinterest finds you'd like to post.  The theme is only necessary if you want to compete for the award of "Pinning-est".  Also, don't be afraid to get creative with your interpretation of the themes, just keep it simple and have fun!  :)  

1} 2} 3} 4} 5} 6} 7} 8} 9}

Are you dreaming of a White Christmas?  Do you love or loathe snow??   

THANK YOU for Linking up last week…

What are you pinning this week? 

Are you "Pinning"?  

Come on, everyone is doing it.  

Join me MONDAYS for weekly sharing of Pinterest finds.  

After all, together we are "Pinning!"

{Rules}

This Week's Theme: Winter Whiteout

Next Week's Theme: All that Glitters (Holiday Party Fashion)

Week After's Theme: 12 Days of Delish (12 Mouthwatering Recipe Pins)

Let's Connect!

       

Oh December!

I cannot believe that December is here.  Wow.  What a whirlwind of a year!  I feel like I've been going non-stop since this same time last year, and at the same time during the actual days it often feels like time is at a standstill.  I honestly can't wrap my mind around it.  How are we a month away from chiming in another New Year?

I think if I were to pick a favorite holiday it would most definitely be Christmas.  I love the decorations, the activities…the family gatherings.  I love the glow of the lights on trees, an excuse to drink gallons of hot cocoa and the snuggling together to keep warm.  As this year comes to a close, I am reflecting a lot on what I want 2012 to be like.

Will I finally finish the novel I've started?  Will I drag my heels into 2012 instead of completing the last 4 lessons in my counseling coursework?  Where will I take this blog in the next year?  What will Zion be like a month from now?  Will we actually make the switch from not-trying-not-preventing to trying-to-conceive or will I find myself entering the new year knocked up?  Will I finally switch to a more healthy eating style? Will I finally lose the extra 20lbs I'm carrying around?

While I may not have all of the answers to these questions…maybe not even a single answer, I do have an idea about some wonderful things that are happening in 2012.

• I am currently working on an extensive re-design of my blog (will go live 1.1.12!).  

THIS…

...is a sneak peak!

• I'm launching a comprehensive FREE blogging tools website (basically a ton of links that have helped me immensely), hoping to have that live by 1.1.12 also!
• I'll be doing Medifast for 2-3 months starting either January or February with a goal to convert to a modified vegetarian diet (fish,dairy,eggs) after that.   
• I AM going to run a half-marathon…I don't know which one yet, but I'm GOING to do it!
• I am going to BlogHer 2012 in NYC (hey I live there…score!)  I'm thinking about having a slumber party at my apartment for those interested in inexpensive lodging…interested? Shoot me an email!

I'm not really big on New Year resolutions…so the most you will get is goals and objectives from me.  :)  I have more but for now I am going to take this month slowly and enjoy all that the holidays have to offer.

Have you stopped to reflect on this past year?  Excited for Christmas?  I'd love to hear what you are contemplating this last month of 2011!


Let's Connect!

       

"Pinning!" {Wk. 3} Dear Santa

For Zion:

1. Cabbage Patch Toddler (aka Zion Look-a-like) 2. Veggie Tales Library 

3. Modern Dollhouse 4. WCF Membership (NYC Zoo/Aquarium)

1. Eco Friendly Toddler Table Set 2. Jesus Storybook Bible

3. BOB Sport Utility Jogging Stroller 4. Kokopax Carrier

For Jerry:

1. NorthFace Jacket 2. Atari iPad Dock

3.  Calvin Klein Ribbed Cap 4. Long Wool Jacket

1.  Power Stays 2. Turtleneck Sweater

3.  Chunky Sweater  4. Boxers

For Me:

1. Power 90 Set  2. CWG Writing Course

3.  Canon PowerShot  4. Lenses for iPhone

1. Babyliss Hair Dryer 2. Floral Pendant Ring

3.  Birchbox Membership  4. Peacock Feather Earrings

Did you finish your holiday shopping? Have you been Naughty or Nice?  

THANK YOU for Linking up last week…

The Award for Pinning-Est goes to:

Kimberly at From A to Sneed, for this candy-licious collage:

Grab the button for bragging rights!

<a href="http://www.baxtronlife.com/search/label/Pinning" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h377/spunkdiz/Pinning-EstAward.png" />
Other Pins I loved:
Kristina from City Corporate to Suburb Mama pinned this simple ornament decor idea:

{source}

Sara from Seeing Purple Stars pinned these gorgeous legwarmers:

{source}

What are you pinning this week? 

Are you "Pinning"?  

Come on, everyone is doing it.  

Join me MONDAYS for weekly sharing of Pinterest finds.  

After all, together we are "Pinning!"

{Rules}

This Week's Theme: Dear Santa

Next Week's Theme: Winter Whiteout

Week After's Theme: All that Glitters (Holiday Party Fashion)

Let's Connect!