Do you hear what I hear?

I always joke that my favorite Christmas carol is "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" but I have just found another one to add to my list.


Seriously though, I particularly like "The Christmas Song" especially when it's by Nat King Cole. For some reason, it reminds me of my dad. I also like "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Luther Vandross rules with this one!

The year that I was born graduated from High School, is the year that "Do they know it's Christmas" came out. All my big hair favorites came out for this one!



What is your favorite Christmas song???

Lazy to the 10th Power

I hate housework, that is no secret. But I throw a fit & kick & scream hate when my house is messy. Fortunately, we have a lady that comes in every 2 weeks to do the major stuff. But I still vacuum every.single.day. Once we have to cut back on stuff, she will probably be the first to go. Hopefully that won't happen any time soon. But just in case, I got a new toy. I'd like to introduce you all to Rosie.

Remember my dream of living in the Jetson's house? Well this is as close to it as I will ever come. Yep, now I don't have to vacuum every single day. Rosie will do it for me. PLUS, she goes under all my heavy a$$ furniture that only gets vacuumed about 2x a year since it takes a small army to move. Today was the beginning of her probation. So far so good. I can just sit back and watch TV accomplish other productive tasks while she vacuums. But did I do that? No! I followed Rosie around! Gotta make sure she's not slackin' ya know! As of right now though, looks like we will be very good friends!

Christmas Tree & Kettle Corn

The day is absolutely gorgeous today. The weather is great and a road trip to Naples was in my plans for today. Drive up with the top down, enjoy a beautiful day by the water, some shopping, some lunch and drive back home. Well you know what they say about the best laid plans. Danny had to go in to work. Overtime. And unfortunately, we need the money.

So instead, I attempted to clean our pool deck. Didn't quite work. I need to either rent a pressure cleaner or hire someone to do it. The latter is probably the better option, as Danny doesn't really have the time.

Then I decided to try to decorate out tree. Unfortunately, I am. as most of you know a bit vertically challenged. Plus that ladder scares the beejezus out of me. So I decided to wait for D to get home. I can decorate 2/3 of the tree on my own, but the top is impossible. That ladder weighs a ton!

Since all my attempts at doing productive things backfired on me. I decided to just veg in front of the TV. So I popped in a dvd and popped some kettle corn. I love this stuff! Not exactly like the fair. But very good none the less. I even get pieces of crunchy sugar which makes me oh, so happy!

Hopefuly, D won't get home too tired and we can finish the tree. My living room is full of boxes and fake pine needles. It's driving me nuts. I hate clutter!

So are your decorations up yet? Is your tree real or fakey like mine?

Here's an easy way to make Kettle Corn:

1/2 cup unpopped kernels

1/4 cup veg oil (or a bit less works ok too)

1/4 cup sugar

Heat oil over medium and add 3 kernels. Once these pop, add the sugar and let it melt a bit and stir. Then add the rest of the kernels, stir s they are all covered, put the lid on the pot and shake over medium until you don't hear alot of popping. Dump in a bowl and add a bit of salt.

Plop yourself in front of the TV and enjoy!

* I use a stock pot

Thanksgiving

Well, our 1st ever non-traditional Thanksgiving wasn't bad at all. Actually, it cost less than a "traditional" meal would have cost. Meaning me buying all the ingredients, using up my electricity, then on top of that having to clean up! We went to Texas de Brazil, a rodizio restaurant. A carnivores dream. I had filet mignon & garlic mash, plus tasted a bit of practically everything. Talk about non traditional! I also only had one diet coke as they bring out the tiniest bottle that I have ever seen and charge $2.50 for it! I took a picture but you really can't make out the size:

Then I had this:

Heaven on a plate I tell ya! It's cheesecake with fudge on the bottom & caramel on top! Yummo!

And, just for fun, here are my girls being silly:

For the record, the place was packed! And we thought that we were going to be the only ones there! I hope everyone had a great day yesterday. Did an of you go out to the madness that is called Black Friday???? Not me!

Motherisms

I just got this by email. Thanks Nancy! And since I have nothing better to post, I decided to share with ya'll! You're welcome...

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE: "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION: "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL: "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC: " Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC: "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT: "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY: "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS: "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM: "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA: "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER: "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY: "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION: "Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY: "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION: "Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING: "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE: "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP: "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR: "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT: "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS: "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS: "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM: "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

And my favorite:

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE: "One day you'll have kids, and I hopethey turn out just like you!"

We're Elves!

For some weird reason, I enjoy doing this!
Yes, I do have a life. But during my down time, I have to find a way to enterain myself!

I'm probably just unleashing my inner elf!

Check us out!

Leave Santa Alone

Santa Claus banned from Ho Ho Ho
By Renato Castello, Sue Hewitt and Andrea Burns
November 11, 2007 12:00am
Article from: Sunday Herald Sun

SANTAS working in shopping centres across Australia have been banned from bellowing "ho ho ho" because it might frighten children.
Recruitment firm Westaff, which supplies hundreds of Santas around the country, yesterday confirmed the edict.

Westaff national operations manager Glen Jansz said the company's Santas had been urged to tone down their use of the "ho, ho, ho" phrase. "

The reason behind that is we find that in some cases the little kids can get a little bit scared of the deep 'ho, ho, hos' and we ask them to be mindful of keeping their voices to a lower level," he said. "

And kids are probably more inclined to understand 'ha, ha, ha', than 'ho, ho, ho'."

Thirty trainees at a recent Santa course were instructed to replace the traditional Christmas greeting with "ha, ha, ha".

A Santa veteran of 11 years told the Sunday Herald Sun the instructions were clear: "No 'ho ho ho'.""We were told to say 'ha ha ha Merry Christmas'," he said.

Two Santa hopefuls reportedly left the course after the edict. Family Council of Victoria spokesman Bill Muehlenberg described the ban as "nonsensical". "Potentially any big guy in a red suit with a white beard is scary but I don't think him saying 'ho ho ho' would damage a child's psyche.

"Let's just concentrate on the kids having a good time." A survey of Melbourne children yesterday found universal support for Santa's "ho ho ho".

"It's silly, we love hearing Santa's laugh," said Briony, 8, of Mitcham.

"It doesn't frighten me at all. It's what Santa is supposed to say," said Byron, 9, of Melton.

Yesterday in the Bourke St Mall, Santas appeared to be ignoring orders to stop the 'ho ho hos'. David Jones's bellowed to a delighted group of children and rival Myer's Santa also kept up the jolly tradition.

Early Thanksgiving

We will be having Thanksiving Dinner tomorrow. We're not even having turkey. We are having ham, which is fine with me. This is the first time EVER that we do not have our regular family Thanksgiving. My parents and my brother & nephew are going to freeze their butts offColorado Springs to visit my other brother & his family. I wish we could go too, as we haven't seen them in over 2 years. I have another brother who is staying here but will probably go to his in-laws. Plus Danny, may be working that day.

We will probably end up at a restaurant. I always felt sorry for people who would go to restaurants for Thanksgiving. I don't know why. I just figured they didn't have family to have a big family dinner. This year I will be one of them.

So yeah. Tomorrow is our dinner day. I give thanks every day that I wake up to see another day. I am always thankful for my family, our health and the life we have together. So in reality, Thanksgiving is everyday.

Pointless post. Just my babbling.

Shop Therapy

We took a short road trip to the new Ikea store in Sunrise. Just for a litle looks see. Needless to say, Danny is counting his blessings that this tiny little store is not right around the corner from us.

The place was packed at 11 AM on a Tuesday. Like I tell Danny, people don't work. Betcha that's what they say about us too!, he says. At least we didn't have to park n the over-flow lot and take the Disneyesque shuttle. Weekends must be a nightmare. I like the store, butI will not battle the masses, risking life and limb for a plastic spatula! It's bad enough that I almost lost an ankle to the commando shopping cart lady! I hate to see her driving on the highway

Happiness is:... Giveaways!

5 Minutes for Mom is hosting a fantastic Christmas Giveaway! They will be posting several contests until Nov. 24th so be sure to check with them daily!

Also, Kailani at An Island Life has several contests going on. One in particular that I would love to win, is an inspirational sign from Prim & Proper Sign Shop.

I would choose this one: Hurry on this one though. Contest ends on the 13th!

Kailani also has a contest for $50 worth of jewelry from Lisa Leonard. She specializes in hand stamped jewelery which is sure to please anyone on your holiday list. Or you can be selfish like me and keep it for yourself! I LOVE this one:

And this one:

Hurry on this one too. Be sure to enter before Nov.15th!

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day. You wouldn't know it by reading the newspaper though. No mention there. Front page news was about Miami Ink. Definitely more important than honoring our vets! I'm sure that it will get more coverage tomorrow since it is the day that it is observed. But it's not about the sales, or the day off work or the 3 day weekend. It is about remembering the sacrafices of millions of veterans and expressing our appreciation for their service.

So on this day, and every day, I thank you.

Vicky's Got A Secret!

Well, I have yet to discover the "look gorgeous" secret, but I am quite happy with this deal!

Let me start by telling you the total of my order. I paid $16.91 including shipping.

Now for the good stuff.

I got this sweater for my daughter:

No, her b00bs will not hang out like that!

Then I entered code GIFTSET and got this:

Then I entered code SHINE and got this (or similar):

I then entered I entered code SHADE4 for a Gift w/ purchase Lip Gloss!

And Finally I entered code FA78137 for $5 OFF!

How fun is that!!!!!

Then I called my mom and had her do the same exact same thing for my other kid! Now they each will have 3 extra presents under the tree!

NYC Marathon

The 26.2-mile course travels through all five boroughs of the city,

starting on Staten Island and finishing in Manhattan's Central Park.

This year, 39,085 runners started the race. Paula Radcliffe,

of Great Britain, who had a baby just 9 months ago,

won the women's race in 2 hours, 23 minutes, 9 seconds.

I guess my 15 minute mile on the treadmill is not very good at all! Even if 15 minutes per mile was adequate, there is no way on earth that I would make it non-stop. I figure that for every 3 miles I would need to stop for say, ... an hour. Gimme a break. I just had a baby 17 1/2 years ago for crissake!

Winner

OK, I have to do this earlier than I planned because we are not going to be home until late tonight. So I have just deleted the Mr. Linky and am drawing based solely on comments. Counting down from the 2nd comment since 1 & 2 are the same.

The winner is:

Amy Grant Bayliss

Thanks to all who played along! Good luck with all the other giveaways!

Until next time......

Organizing Chaos

I have spent the last 3 days trying to organize my craft room. It's a never ending battle. I have also been removing pictures from those evil, picture eating sticky photo albums. I have over 25 years worth of pictures that I have peeled off. Most have survived some got a bit torn but nothing really bad. They come off curled, so I have to flatten them out.

I need to put them all in order now. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't very diligent about dating the pictures. So, here I sit, trying to figure out my kids ages in the photos. You know how hard that is??? I am guessing based on outfits, missing teeth, hair length, etc. Fortunately the birthday cakes have numbers so I can more or less figure out that entire year based on the above mentioned details.

So yeah, my dream is to scan them all & scrapbook them. My reality is that I'll be lucky to just organize them in a nice picture box and scrap a few. Geez, I have a gazillion pictures! (The picture above is only 2 years worthof pics). But after losing a bunch during Hurricane Andrew, I at least want to scan my favorites. This narrows it down to 1/2 a gazillion!