2009!

This has been a long, difficult year for many and personally, I'm eager to say goodbye to 2008. I hope 2009 brings happiness and prosperity to us all.

I wish you a healthy, safe New Year!

Highly Recommended

After my pajama day on Saturday, I was eager to get out of the house yesterday, and there's nothing better than going to the movies during the holidays. The place was packed.

There were a few movies we wanted to see but we chose The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It was the perfect choice. It's a long movie but worth seeing. I highly recommend it.

(Brad and Cate have got to be two of the most beautiful people on this planet. They're truly stunning.)

52 Blessings

Have a beautiful day...which our Beautiful One has created!

(It is Sunday right!?! This holiday at the end of the week thing has got me so confused! I've had to ask my family everyday "what day is it?")

Whew...I Need A Vacation!

After the whirlwind of the Christmas season, I need a vacation...and guess what, I'M NOW ON ONE! We thought we'd visit family in Colorado or even go back to Oregon again but we're not doing either. The bad weather all over has made us decide to stay home and get stuff done, spend New Year's Eve with friends, visit my FIL in Palm Springs, and overall just enjoy the time with no schedule. It sounds like heaven to me.

Our Christmas was dramatically different this year yet enjoyable. No family came into town (due to bad traveling weather) so it was unusually quiet. My sister Kim and her husband came for Christmas dinner which was nice. We all helped out in the kitchen and worked together to get dinner prepared. This is new for me. I'm learning to let go of things and enjoy the moment more, trying not to be so in control of everything. I don't have to "do it all" and I'm finally realizing it...and it's sure making life more fun for me and for everyone else in the process. We all helped out with the preparations but here is a picture of my two cute sidekicks and myself...




We originally had planned on more company coming and my thought was to include all of the women with the cooking so I bought aprons for everyone. We ended up only using 3 of the aprons but I thought it would be a cute "party favor" gift idea. My sister kept saying "you mean this apron is mine, really!?!"

Friday, bright and early, Kim and I hit the ground running. We were at our first store by 8:00am and I didn't get home until after 8:00pm. It's all caught up with me today and boy am I tired. This has been a pajama day...and I don't plan on getting dressed. I NEVER do this but I am today!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and that you are making time to relax too. I've thought of you so much over the holidays and wondered how you've all been. Each one of you have enhanced my life tremendously and made my Christmas so much more meaningful and festive. I appreciate you so much!

Speaking of appreciation, thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas cards and good mail that was sent my way. I loved it all!

Thank you Kacey!

Thank you Deb!

Thank you Jan!

Thank you Bren!

Thank you Jennifer!

And finally, this is what happens when your daughter gets a hold of your camera. I'd say she's got the SPT idea down pat wouldn't you!

From My Home To Yours...

Hope you all have a wonderful, fun-filled Christmas!

With Love,

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Do you open your presents and celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve or do you open your gifts Christmas morning?

My little family has always opened our gifts Christmas morning. The kids go through their stockings together, then we go into the living room and open gifts. It's tradition.

By early afternoon, family has arrived and dinner preparations are underway. After dinner, we all exchange gifts.

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I'll be working today and Saturday but by the time I get home from work today, little sis will be home for winter break! Now it will really seem like Christmas with at least one of my kids home!

I Love Productive Days

These last few days have been very productive ones for sure. Besides becoming the new dog groomer of the household, here are some samples of what's been keeping me busy lately...


This didn't keep me a little busy, it kept me ALOT busy...but boy does it feel good when everything is all packaged up and dropped off at the post office.

A few things for friends...


A little gift wrapping...



Little goodies for the dialysis techs/nurses/secretary that will be working in my unit with me on Saturday...


And now for the really good stuff...


I finally got some baking done. I've got a slew of things I plan on making but yesterday I made these yummy treats. Man are they good and they couldn't be any easier to make. Jan, thanks for posting about these. I also made sugar-coated pecans. Today I'll bake cookies, make more candy, and just maybe I'll get my Christmas cards done!?! Hopefully it will rain all day, it makes for perfect baking weather!

Have your last few days been productive...or are you really really BEHIND!

Jake

One of the things I really miss about Jake's old life is being able to take him to the groomer on a regular basis. We have a great shop nearby that I'd take Jake to about every 8 weeks and we'd have the works done. Boy would he be mad at me when I'd pick him up. He'd usually give me the cold shoulder in the car on the way home.

This shop has the sweetest groomers and they do an outstanding job. They even have a photographer that comes in to take pictures at the holidays. Here's a picture of Jake a few years back...


Jake's been looking pretty scruffy here lately so today was the day...like it or not, I was Jake's new groomer. I gave him a trim then gave him a nice bubble bath in the sink in the laundry room. Nothing is good about his paralysis but at least he can't move around and try and hop out of the sink...


A bath, his hair blown dry, a little more trimming, and finally we were all done. It's definitely not as good as the professionals but it looks so much better. He's such a good dog.


Another thing I can now add to my resume...Dog Groomer.

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If you haven't already done so, become a "follower" so that you can be entered in my 200th post giveaway (see Tuesday's post below).

200th Post and A Giveaway

Somewhere along the way during the last couple of weeks I reached my 200th post. Unbelievable isn't it. It seems my 100th post giveaway and (Jennifer's 100 cupcake extravaganza) were only a few short months ago. Truthfully, where does the time go!?!

200 posts is a big deal and I think it calls for a celebration...a giveaway celebration!

But I'm going to do something different this time. I'm going to offer the giveaway to my followers. Soooo, if you've signed up to follow this blog, consider yourself entered. If not, there's still plenty of time to sign up as a follower.

I'm thinkin' a box of Christmas goodies would be a nice way to show my appreciation to you...my friends.

Courtney will be home from college at the end of the week so I'll have her pick a winner Friday night, that way we can have it in the mail Saturday morning bright and early. Hopefully it will reach you by Christmas! Courtney really got into the giveaway last time so I'm sure she'll be game.

No Spicy Marilyn Here...I Guess I'm A Grace

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Grace!

You are a Grace -- "I need to understand the world."

Graces have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be independent, not clingy


• * Speak in a straightforward and brief manner


• * I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts


• * Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable


• * Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity


• * If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place


• * don't come on like a bulldozer


• * Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people's loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy

What I Like About Being a Grace
* standing back and viewing life objectively
* coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects
* my sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure
* not being caught up in material possessions and status
* being calm in a crisis

What's Hard About Being a Grace

• * being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world


• * feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all


• * being pressured to be with people when I don't want to be


• * watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally

Graces as Children Often

• * spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on


• * have a few special friends rather than many


• * are very bright and curious and do well in school


• * have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers


• * watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information


• * assume a poker face in order not to look afraid


• * are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict


• * feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected

Graces as Parents

• * are often kind, perceptive, and devoted


• * are sometimes authoritarian and demanding


• * may expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate


• * may be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

52 Blessings

A Baby Changes Everything...



We often get so caught up in the festivities of the season that we forget the real reason for the season. Yes, a baby changes everything...especially one particular baby, the Son of Christ. He is the reason for the season!

Finally...I've Made Some Progress!

I've spent each day this week cleaning, decorating, cleaning, and decorating some more. It's all finally coming together and looking festive around here. It has taken me longer this year because I've changed things up a bit. I've seen so many neat ideas this year that I'm trying ideas out in different places, forever "tweaking" my decorations. And it seems each day I need more greenery...and another trip to Michaels ensues!

Today, in between all the cleaning and the decorating, I had the perfect treat...


A Pepsi on ice and sugar cookie from a local bakery. DELISH! That husband of mine sure can be a thoughtful guy sometimes.

And speaking of treats, I've received some good mail this week too! I was in an ornament swap and was sent a beautiful white glittery seashell ornament (now that's a mouth full), all the way from Kara in New Hampshire. Noooo, you can't have it...but I'll let you take a peak...


Thank you so much Kara. Our tree is decorated in white, red, and silver so it will look beautiful on it! Also, take a look at the card she made. She took a picture of a glass jar full of ornaments and made it into a card. Perfect for an ornament swap wouldn't you say. Very very cute!

Do you like fudge? I LOVE FUDGE...and no you can't have this either! My blogging buddy Jenn sent us the most awesome fudge ever. Talk about DELISH! She also sent Jake some dog treats too. Jenn you're so thoughtful...thank you!


I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a few pieces of this amazing fudge today, in addition to the cookie...my excuse, "it's the holidays!"

Just Call Me Mrs. Gadget

I'm really not a "gadget" person by any stretch of the imagination but I did find two nifty items this week that make life a whole lot easier...well one of them does anyway.

I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to look for a lampshade for my new reindeer lamp (I didn't find one by the way) but I came across a gadget that I had to have. You may have seen these already but they were new to me. Remote controls for your Christmas lights outside/inside. It came with two separate plug-ins that you put right into an outlet, then you plug your lights directly into that. There was one for outside use and one for inside the house. We put the outside adapter plug on the side of the house so that we don't have to go into the backyard, late at night, with a flashlight, to unplug Christmas lights. We just use the remote and it works like a charm. Believe it or not, we can stand in our bedroom and aim it towards the plug outside and it shuts the lights off! Howard and I just laughed and laughed over that one...after all these years of traipsing into the backyard to unplug lights! We can even turn them off while we're in the bathroom for pete's sake!

The other adapter plug I'm using for the Christmas tree lights. You can't beat it. Here's a picture of what the package looks like in case your interested in picking some up for yourself...


And here's the cute little remote that is now our new best friend...


The other gadget didn't work good for what I intended to use it for but it still works excellent on other things. Take a look at what this looks like...


It's a dual magnetic wreath holder. My thought was to use these on my front doors to hold my wreaths but it didn't work well on the doors for some reason. The idea is to place one part of the magnetic wreath holder outside on your front door and then on the inside of the door you match up the other magnetic piece so that both magnets are attracting each other. It didn't work so good on my doors but it works great on glass. You could use these on glass doors or windows easily. I used it to hang a wreath from one of the glass panes of my china cabinet. Easy as pie.

Have you ever seen either of these gadgets before? Do you have them?

A Little Greenery Goes A Long Way

There's still alot of Christmas "tweaking" going on around here and greenery is going everywhere. You've seen some of these pictures before but look at the difference a little greenery can make...


This tree needed a topper so I just added some greenery to the top. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't do it justice. It looks much better in person.


Greenery...


Greenery...


Greenery...


And if you can stand it...a little more greenery.

I've mentioned before that I love Christmas trees. I made this one many years ago and thankfully the lights on it still work. This tree has so much hot glue holding it together that once the lights go, there's no turning back. I was really into decorating with fruit about 6-7 years ago so this tree has a fruit theme to it.


I also thought I'd show you how I display the photo Christmas cards that we receive each year. I've used this holder for about 10 years now.


I keep it on the built-in bookcase in our family room and it's one of the first things that people look at when they stop by. My mom and sisters especially like looking at the pictures, it allows them to see updates of our friends from year to year too. This picture holder gets pretty full by the end of Christmas and I love it. I love being able to look at the faces of friends and family that I care so much about...friends from the past and the present.

Camping Club Weekend

This past weekend was our Camping Club get-together, Christmas style. We even had international guests visit us after dinner...



It's really a cute idea what they do each year. If you have a child or grandchild that you would like Santa to give a gift to, you bring a gift wrapped with your child's name on it to the campout. After dinner, Santa and Mrs. Claus pay a visit and they hand out gifts. Each child sits on Santa's lap, gets their picture taken, and is given the gift that their parent/grandparent brought. The kids love it. Even this big kid (hubby) wanted some of Santa's attention, although the jury's still out on whether he's been good or bad this year!


It was alot of fun and dinner was delicious...but the best part is spending time with treasured friends.