A Christmas Date

On Friday evening we had a Christmas date! Since we never found the time to go pick out a Christmas tree this year, we decided to go view the 25 Christmas trees that the Hotel Roanoke had on display.

Each year local businesses decorate Christmas trees and display them throughout the hotel's large lobby and conference space to raise money for United Way. As visitors pass through the hotel, they have the opportunity to vote on their favorite tree by paying to vote. Talk about some elaborate trees! Most were so heavily decorated that you couldn't recognize there was a tree underneath.













More scenes from the hotel.




Mr. Price suggested I take the following two pictures.



After quickly browsing through the lobby, we headed to Carrabba's for a special Christmas dinner. (Thanks B B!) I love gifts that help create fun experiences and lasting memories. I don't think I will forget sharing this decadent triple chocolate fudge bread pudding dessert with the person I love the most! Oh my!



Could this pregnant woman be any happier?

Gifts that Give Back: a purchase from 2nd helpings

2nd helpings is one of Roanoke's hidden treasures. It surprises me to find out that either 1) people haven't heard of 2nd helpings, or 2) people haven't visited. For those of you who live in the Roanoke Valley, purchasing a gift from 2nd helpings is a great way to give back to your local community. Because the business is owned by the Rescue Mission of Roanoke, the profits earned help provide shelter, food and medical care for the homeless and recovering addicts.

2nd helpings is a unique place. It features an upscale resale shop, an art gallery featuring local artists and a cafe featuring delicious food. You can feel good about making a purchase at 2nd helpings because you will receive a unique item plus help support the homeless.

Want to know how the Rescue Mission helps those in need? Take a look at these statistics from 2010. Then browse some pictures from the gallery, shop and cafe below.

Meals served: 320,917
Clothing & Furniture Help provided for Families: 24,845
Nights of Shelter: 112,267
Volunteer Hours: 82,969
Professions of Faith: 808
Family Shelter Classes: 679 hours
Recovery Classes: 17,271
Learning Center Classes: 8,212
Clinic Patient Visits: 14,004
Value of Healthcare Provided: $2,306,190
Case Management Visits: 4,989
Legal Clinic Visits: 30
Toured the Mission: 3,435

I've got quite a wish list at the 2nd helpings art gallery. They have such a variety of art that you are sure to find something you love!

From the print bins:



Stained glass:



Pottery:


Mixed Media:


You never know what you might find at the 2nd helpings upscale resale shop.







The cafe also has a variety of food to satisfy your appetite.

Favorite Links

Happy Monday! Today begins the seven day countdown till Christmas. It feels a little different this year. For one thing we don't have a Christmas tree, and we won't be putting one up this late either. And guess what? We are totally fine with it!! I kind of like being a rebel about it. So glad we don't feel burdened to put one up just because "it's the season and that's what we are supposed to do."

How will you be spending these last few days before Christmas? Baking? Shopping? Traveling? Decorating? Relaxing? If you have any down time, check out a few of my favorite links.

Have a MERRY, MERRY Christmas!

The Pioneer Woman has done it again. Can the second cookbook be as good as the first?

This is a really awesome app. Mr. Price's new job actually has him waking up before me. But the alarm is on my side of the bed. Just check out this new technology for waking up! Be sure to watch the video!

Some good advice.

Please note that asparagus is a finger food! I love info like this.

Can Christmas be fun without Santa? Heck Yeah! Read these opinions: 1, 2 and 3. Glad this trend is catching on!

Gifts that Give Back: Punjammies

Punjammies are a premium brand of pajamas created by the women of the International Princess Project. Shannon Keith founded the IPP after a life-changing trip to India, where she saw the realities of women and children trapped in sex trade.

The Project seeks to restore hope and dignity to women formerly enslaved by prostitution. Punjammies is a self-sustaining enterprise the IPP uses to provide needed jobs for women, and resources for their healing and restoration.

Purchasing a pair of Punjammies helps support these women in two ways.

1.) The proceeds from Punjammies provides wages, living expense and savings for the women who make them.

2.) Creating the pajamas helps build self-esteem, and is an integral part of their emotional healing.

Punjammies is another great gift that gives back. The pajamas are made from beautiful Indian fabric and are available in many different prints. The recipient of Punjammies is sure to feel great! Not only will she be lounging in style and luxury, but she will also wear them with fondness, knowing the purchase helped empower another woman to live in freedom.

Shop for Punjammies here. And please leave a comment with your favorite style.

Gifts that Give Back: Mission Aviation Fellowship

If you know Mr. Price, you know he has a passion for aviation and has a career in technology. So it's no surprise that he is very interested in the Christian organization Mission Aviation Fellowship. The goal of MAF is to share the love of Jesus through aviation and technology, so that isolated people may be physically and spiritually transformed.

People who serve with MAF provide aviation and technology support for mission teams, humanitarian teams and government organizations in remote locations throughout the world. They use a fleet of planes to transport medical supplies, Bibles, and respond to disaster relief. Their technologies help provide distance learning tools.

They state it best on the their website: "Mission Aviation Fellowship maximizes the effectiveness of mission organizations and indigenous churches in their effort to extend God's kingdom on earth."

MAF is the organization working behind the scenes making sure mission teams have what they need to reach people for Christ!

If you are looking for a Christmas gift that not only helps those in need, but those who serve people in need, please consider looking through the MAF Gift Catalog. You can give a gift in honor of someone you love! The gifts are categorized as follows: Fly Help, Fly Hope, Fly Relief, Fly the Plane, Gift of Water and even Stocking Stuffers.

There are gifts in all price ranges. Fly vaccines to children or Bibles to remote villages for only $36. You can fill plane's fuel tank or even help purchase a Caravan airplane for $55-$1,800.

A Christmas gift from MAF is a gift that is sure not to be forgotten or eventually given to Goodwill! It's a gift that keeps giving!

Check out the MAF Gift Catalog and let me know what gift strikes you most! MAF also has an online store. Check it out here.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving meal: take one

take two

take three
Mr. Price and I had three Thanksgiving meals this year. We traveled home to Georgia the week before Thanksgiving and celebrated with two Thanksgiving meals. And then our cousins here in Virginia hosted us for dinner on Thanksgiving evening. Three thanksgiving meals!! We surely have a lot to be thankful for. By now, your Thanksgiving is probably just a distant memory. You've probably moved on to decorating your tree and making Christmas gift lists. However, I would still like to share a few things I am thankful for...

my husband. i'm thankful that we have the same views about marriage. i am thankful that we communicate with each other more than fairly well. i am thankful that our relationship has just gotten better after each passing year.

food. i am thankful that i do not have to worry about where i will get my next meal.

i am thankful that my needs are met. i have shelter, food and a closet full of clothes. i even have a car, which makes me rich! richer than a large majority of the rest of the world.

for this baby that God created, and i have the privilege and responsibility of bringing into the world.

i am thankful that God never leaves me, and loves me no matter how many times i turn from Him, or how many times I belittle his existence by trying to bargain with Him.

i am thankful for my family, and i am thankful that i now recognize their importance in my life.

i am thankful for hot water. boy do i love hot showers.

i am thankful for my health, although i could improve it.

i am thankful for our extended family in craig county, who makes us feel like we're not so extended by including us in their family get-togethers.

i am thankful for this earth and universe that God created for our enjoyment.

i want to be thankful for the trials that are yet to come my way, but sometimes i am a little fearful.

i am thankful for all the friendships I have enjoyed over the years. even though I've lost touch with many friends, i look back on our times together with fondness.

i am thankful for the word of God. the bible is truly an amazing book. we don't have to wonder about God's love or how we should live our lives - it's all right there for us to read. how it would enrich our lives if we just took time to read and apply.

Did you make a list of things you were thankful for this Thanksgiving season? If so please feel free to share below in the comments section.