Hopefully you've survived your Black Friday wrestling/shopping excursions and you're now wondering how to select just the right remaining Christmas gifts without ever setting foot in another store again. Have I got the perfect solution for you!

SHOP SMALL SATURDAY. That's tomorrow, November 26.

Lots of us small businesses are patiently waiting for you, and we're right in your neighborhood. We may not have huge selections at ridiculously discounted prices, but we DO offer unique items and customized services that you just can't find at big chain stores.

Take me, for instance!

I would love the opportunity to work with you to create beautiful, personal portraits during the coming year. And I would be willing to bet that you have at least one person on your shopping list who would love to have those beautiful, personal portraits.

Contact me at laurieheath@sbcglobal.net or 979.215.6924 anytime between 12:01 am and 11:59 pm tomorrow (11/26) to purchase one of my Shop Small Saturday gift certificates:

- $400 portrait session with 20x30 canvas wrap to be completed by 5/31/12 - $670 value!

- $315 senior portrait session with 7 digital files to be completed by 4/14/12 - $525 value!

- $195 portrait session with $200 print credit to be completed by 5/31/12 - $325 value!

- $60 2-hour private photography class to be completed by 8/31/12 - $100 value!

I can't wait to hear from you! Just don't show up on my front porch tonight with your sleeping bag and ice chest.

"Welcome to Sunny Hearts! How may I brighten your day?"

Those aren't just words for the folks at Sunny Hearts, Angleton's one-of-a-kind coffee bar within a gift shop nestled into a grand old two-story house. Kathryn and her cast are experts at providing just the right flavor, just the right gift, and just the right welcoming smile to brighten any visitor's day.

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I am a coffee appreciater (appreciator??). I love to breathe deeply and inhale all of the wonderful scents filling every nook of this old house. I'm also not much of a stuff buyer, but I am a Sunny Hearts merchandise admirer and gift shopper. I am continually amazed by the beautiful and unique items Kathryn finds for her customers.

One of Kathryn's greatest gifts (and there are many) is her ability to display merchandise strikingly. For this year's Christmas season, she decided to convert their outdoor room into the Christmas House and fill it with items from the Round Top Collection as well as other special holiday decorations.

Caution: this series of photos may cause you to leap into your car and drive to Sunny Hearts (405 E. Mulberry, Angleton TX) as fast as you can.

The Christmas House is a true work of art, with countless details to discover and enjoy.

And if you're like me, you just want to buy the whole display and take it home because you KNOW you could never create your own. But maybe that's just me.

Be sure to stop by Sunny Hearts sometime as the sun is going down so you can enjoy all of the twinkling lights. They'll help you pretend that the temperature is at least a little below 80.

So Kathryn and Amy devoted hours upon hours decorating the Christmas House ...

... but they certainly didn't stop there. Every display indoors is just as intricate and eye-catching.

And there's truly something for everyone. Take your time exploring and no telling what you'll find.

Kathryn's goal from the very beginning has been to feature carefully crafted items that speak to the heart.

Fun hobby and college-themed items are abundant here as well. Sunny Hearts carries an extensive Life Is Good collection.

I'm not sure whether Santa actually shops here, but I did spy him at the coffee bar chatting with Conner this past weekend.

You should treat yourself to a visit, too. Sunny Hearts is open for extended hours during the holiday season: 7:00am-7:00pm Monday through Saturday. You still have time to stop by and pick up last-minute Thanksgiving decorations, but you'd better hurry - I've got my eye on several things in this display.

Thanks for brightening not only my day, Sunny Hearts, but our little town as well. What a treasure you are!

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.

He gives us grace and glory.

Psalm 84:11

Since I'm doing a horrible job of posting session peeks in a timely manner, I figured I'd get even further off-track by sharing some personal photos from this weekend. My parents have been visiting and we went on a little road trip to Bastrop, San Marcos and Lockhart. Yesterday we made it to all three places in one 11-hour period. Talk about your excitement!

First up, we drove out to look at some property near Bastrop that my dad has a hankerin to buy. (Excuse me -- we been practicin our Texas-speak while nosin around them thar parts.) No, this property is not really near where the big wildfire was, but it's been suffering from the drought just the same.


It's still really pretty though. I enjoyed wandering around with my camera while Daddy talked with the realtor and Mom muttered under her breath -- I mean, listened thoughtfully.

When I looked straight ahead, I mainly saw dry and dead underbrush. Another name for that is wildfire kindling. But when I looked up, I saw greenery too stubborn to give up just because of a li'l ole thing like too little rain.

Lots and lots of cedar trees here.

Also surprising little bits of cactus peeking through every now and then.

After Mom and I dragged Daddy away from "his" property, we headed to San Marcos for a visit with our girl.

She put her sparkly gold shoes to good use while showing us around some of the Square and taking us to dinner at The Trailers. That's what it's called, right Mag? We considered all of the fare offered by each food trailer, then settled on an assortment of tacos at Mr. Bigotes. Yum. Meeee.

We then bid our tour guide adieu and drove back to the surprisingly gracious Lockhart Best Western Inn. On our way into town I asked Daddy to turn around just so I could get out and snap a shot of my Friend:

I'm not really a good snapshot taker, but hopefully these shots give you an idea of the kinds of things that grab my eye while I'm out and about.

Ears to hear and eyes to see -- both are gifts from the Lord.

Proverbs 20:12