Or should I say "Marry" Christmas??? That's right, our first Christmas as husband and wife is upon us and I can't wait. We leave for the Mountains in the morning, so I hope you all have an amazing time with your friends and family! See you soon!
This time it's the Times Magazine and not so much about politics, but Etsy and the crafts movement!
Handmade 2.0
I found the article via a post on Apartment Therapy....good reading..
Despite the fact that he is the one candidate I can stand to listen to without cracking a joke (believe it or not) I don't know much about Mike Huckabee. What I do know is that when I first heard of him on NPR at the beginning of summer, I thought, wow this guy is so well-spoken. Too bad he doesn't have a chance.
Now, some of his policies notwithstanding, I have to admit that I am enamored with Huckabee. Aside from the obvious I :heart: huckabee shirts that will surely surface (if they haven't already), it would be nice to see the underdog get ahead. I don't mind admitting that I am a registered republican. In fact, I used to flaunt it. But that said, there are a lot of things about "my" party that I completely disagree with. In fact, at this point the reason I haven't changed parties has more to do with the fact that I disagree with more on the democrat side and becoming "independent" is just a waste of paperwork. Just because I am registered to a party doesn't mean I have to vote straight line.
Then there's Huckabee. He has become a "thing". He's the rising star in an otherwise dim jog to the White House. The New Yorker had a good story about him recently. Check it out here. Now, I think that 2008 is definitely the year of the Democrat. Lots of star power over there. But if we're honest, lots (and LOTS) of anger. If the recent Congress turnover is any indication, we won't see all this change we keep hearing about until double digits. But that's just my opinion.
I'll definitely be paying closer attention to Huckabee as the next few weeks go by though. If only so that I can keep saying that word.
That's right boys and girls...it's almost the WEEKEND! The time when cleaning and laughing and playing is boundless! (Except by that pesky 48 hour thing)
This weekend we will be finishing up our Christmas shopping, getting our festive cards out in the mail, and getting ready for our trip to the mountains! Only one week to go and we are out of here! Since we'll both be working all week, that doesn't leave a whole lot of time to get ready so hopefully we can get a lot done in the next couple of days. I am excited! The countdown is upon us! What countdown you ask??? Well,
7 days until we leave for vacation!
10 days until Jerry's Birthday!
11 days until Christmas!
I can hardly contain myself! So much to do! Hooray for the holidays!
So all this reading about design makes me want to get my ideas on paper...err...internet. I have had a lot of ideas for the spare bedroom floating around in my head, so I decided to make a storyboard! This way, even if it takes me weeks and months to finish, I will have the big picture on record. I am considering adding touches of pale green and yellow to the palette, but I don't want to overdo it...What do you think? I'm definitely open to ideas...thanks!
Now that I am old and married (going on 4 months here folks), I no longer feel the need to scour my grocery store and internet for wedding porn. No, I have graduated to house porn. Decorating ideas, organization, cool tips and trends. I can't get enough! And I just fulfilled my new unhealthy obsession with browsing over at Apartment Therapy.
Don't be fooled, this isn't just for apartment dwellers. It's for anyone interested in good style and fun ways to spice up your digs. I also love that they feature "real houses" (I use that term loosely) with very detailed tours. It's pretty much like taking all the pictures out of years of Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, and Domino magazines without the articles. I could go on.
The site also features about a million useful links to other amazing sites, and pages dedicated to kitchens, nurseries, technology and green living.
**all images courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com
Well, we finally got our tree and now it REALLY feels like the holidays! Thursday night I got my decorations down from the attic and had a lovely time decorating the tree and the house and I even made some cookies! Yum!
Our tree!
The Nativity :-)
The Christmas corner
The countdown is on friends! Christmas is only 2 weeks aways (at least that's when my vacation starts) and my wish list is growing! Aside from all the boring and obvious gifts that will always make me happy and be 'useful', I thought I'd spice up the list a bit more. If you liked smencils, then you are going to love these.....Ladies and Gentlemen, the Cell Phone Headset. Yes this is just an old school phone that plugs into your razr or krazr or whatever tiny sliver of a device that you (ahem, I) constantly drop! This is GENIUS. I would love to be seen driving down the road with this behemoth on my ear. Bet I wouldn't drop it either.
This Book. Regardless of how I feel about Strangers with Candy (sorry baby), I like the Sedaris folk and this book seems to be right up my alley (references to alcoholism notwithstanding)The Catapult . Do I care that this is completely silly and insensitive? No. I'm ready to start flinging some cats.
If you go anywhere worth going with our circle of friends, you will not have a lack of cameras. Surely, you might hear someone say, OH crap, I forgot my camera. And as if you were looking to light up a smoke, ten cameras would be in your face sooner than you can flick a bic.
We love taking pictures and our friends do too. Just witness this Hollywood moment as portrayed by Bliss after the Whale Watchers show last Thursday...
Well I have to say this is one of the most amusing blog entries in a long time, and quite informative :-)
The 9 most racist Disney Characters
Enjoy :-)
Last weekend was going to be awesome. Jerry and I had a list full of festive fun ideas and great friends to spend time with. On Friday, we scheduled dinner with our friend Nicole who was having a viewing party for her 22 minutes of fame on Wheel of Fortune! Then we were to go to another friend's house for old school game night and fun.
Saturday would be full of yard work and floral design, fetching our christmas tree and spending the evening with friends at an open house/craft show where I could try my luck at selling the flowers. Sunday we would sleep in, go to church and come home to decorate the tree, play christmas music and finish the yard work.
Did you hear that?
It was the sound of the needle scratching across the record that was playing A Barry Manilow Christmas. It was the sound of $$$ flying out of our wallet, and the gasp of air I took between bouts of sickness.
No, this weekend did not turn out as planned.
Jerry and I made it to dinner with Nicole and while she didn't win the game, it was super fun to see her on tv (and in person) and catch up for a while. We also got to chat up the lovely Beth who ever so eloquently blogs about her life's adventures over at Onward Hoe (hi Beth's mom!) It was a good time and we were set for some games! We noticed that the battery light came on while we were driving to dinner and hoped that we wouldn't have any issues. That was not to be however. As we were making our way down I-40 and back toward Raleigh, all electrical hell broke loose and we were stranded on the side of an exit ramp. There we waited in seemingly below freezing weather for over an hour for AAA to come and tow us to the shop. Thankfully, I realized that we were near where my folks meet on Friday nights and I called them to see if they could come and take us home instead of having to go to the mechanic and then find a ride from there. It's now after 10pm. There will be no games this weekend. No siree. Mom and Dad came to the rescue and AAA came about 30 minutes later. Their one hour window magically became 1 and a half and we were finally out of there.
We tried not to let it get to us. It was only Friday, we had the whole weekend ahead of us right??? Saturday morning, despite the previous evenings' mishaps, we awoke in good spirits, put on some Christmas music and got to work. About 2.5 songs in, the phone rang. It was the mechanic. And when I say mechanic, I mean sleezy liar who smoked in my car. But I am getting ahead of myself. Jerry had already planned to have music practice so through the course of the morning we were calling each other, our families, the mechanic and friends trying to decide how to take care of the car. We ended up with a new battery and alternator and a bill that would make your head spin. Basically, we got hosed. Again, we chalked it up to the fact that we both drive cars that are paid for and things don't go wrong often so it was time to cough up some dough. What I did not expect, was to start coughing up my lunch.
As we were on the way to pick up the car, I said, man, that pizza isn't sitting too well. I don't think I feel very good. Fast forward a couple hours and you would find me hunched over in the bathroom, a position I would be in for the rest of Saturday and Saturday night. I'm guessing food poisoning of some kind, but it may actually have been a cruel trick of the weekend destroyer that was wreaking havoc on us for no good reason. Jerry graciously continued his yard work and took my place at the craft fair (he even sold a couple things!) I was more sick then I have been in years and stuck at home.
Sunday we made it to church and back and I was pretty much useless for the rest of the day. Jerry worked really hard trying to get the house clean and got some laundry done. And of course, more yard work! I tried to help blow leaves in the front yard and it wiped me out after about 30 minutes. So I went back inside to bed. We never did get our Christmas tree.
Now it's Tuesday and after a half day at work yesterday (I left early to rest more) I finally feel like myself again. Hopefully we will get our tree tonight and get back to normal! Last night we had home group and being around such great friends reminded me that even though we have down times, the ups are always worth the trouble :-)
For Thanksgiving, Jerry and I traveled to Alabama to visit his family. We always have a great time there and come home feeling relaxed, refreshed and fatter. Yes, as in plump. I could go on and on about the Thanksgiving meal, the fried turkey, the casseroles, the spinach dip. But instead I want to tell you about Friday.
No, this isn't a post about shopping. In fact Jerry and I stayed warm in our bed until at least 9:30am on the busiest shopping day of the year. However, amidst a sea of leftovers, we were treated to the most fabulous seafood feast I have ever had (outside of our first night in San Fransisco). We're talking grilled halibut, shrimp and scallops in a basil cream sauce, rice, sourdough rolls, broccoli casserole, asparagus casserole, and last but not least, Alaskan King Crab legs.
Yes I said crab legs. On. The. Day. AFTER. Thanksgiving. I don't know that I have the guts to order crab legs in a restaurant. I love the meat, but the whole shell cracking ordeal always overwhelms me. Not so on this chilly November 23rd day in Alabama. If you ask my about Thanksgiving, I will tell you about crab legs.
Of course I am thankful for much more than the food. I have a wonderful husband who loves me, amazing friends and family, a church that I love and a God that provides for me. I am blessed to live in a Country that allows me to be free, and grateful to understand that true freedom comes with boundaries. I can be serious and silly and still be me. I can eat crab legs from Alaska while in Alabama in November. Who could ask for more?
No, this is not a post about The Simpsons (sorry Joe), but the fact is, I have burned my hand.
I have been very fortunate to not have had very many injuries in my life. I've never broken any bones or had surgery. The worst I've had to endure thus far are dental issues. Therefore, please forgive me as I brag on my nice juicy burn.
I was reaching into the toaster oven to load up the rack with garlic toast. I'm not quite sure why I felt the need to push the slice all the way to the back with my hand (as opposed to using the other slices for that) but I did and I made contact with the heating element.
I heard a sizzle and then yanked my hand out and thought. Wow, that could have been bad. Then I looked down and saw this:
Click the picture to make it bigger
Chances are I am being selfish or greedy or moody or whiny. But honestly, I just need to work through some things. I don't know what the result will be. Today I feel like boarding up my windows and turning off my phone.
Maybe it's the rain. Maybe not.
I do have a lot of good things going on so it's frustrating to feel this way. Maybe I just need a holiday...and some more Calvin & Hobbes.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that means Christmas isn't far away! This year is going to be particularly special for me because not only is it the first Christmas I will have as an old married woman, it is our year for the family trip to the Mountains! AND (drumroll please) because we are newlyweds, Jerry and I get to have the bedroom!
Let me explain a little bit about the bedroom. It all started in 1983 when our family first traveled to Roan Mountain Tennessee to check out a state park they had heard about. Said park offered cabin and campsite rentals and they thought it would be perfect for a church-wide summer retreat. And lo, tradition was born. For roughly eleven years, many families from our FL church would pile into their cars and minivans and make the trek to Tennessee. We would play games and go hiking and climb mountains and play volleyball. Some of the brave would go white-water rafting and exploring the trails behind the cabins. There was a pool near by, and many a summer was spent flirting with the lifeguards, deciding if I was too chicken to jump off the high-dive (I wasn't) and trying to eat those Popsicles that come in a little plastic sleeve without either getting a horrible headache or letting them melt all over you, resulting in a cold cold shower before you could get back into the pool. There were mudslides and family meals and injuries and even a couple weddings! Throughout the years, I went from a 5 year old who slept on 2 chairs pushed together, to a ten year old who shared the pull-out couch with another friend, to a teenager who secured her rightful space in a twin bed in the open loft. Never, NEVER have I been granted access to the bedroom. Sure there may have been a time or two that I slept in one years ago, but nothing so momentous as this year.
After the church trips ceased in the mid-nineties, our family decided to start a new tradition. Instead of summer vacations, we would make Christmas, every other year, a Roan Mountain Tradition. This will be our 4th Christmas there, and my very first in the bedroom with my new husband. And our dog :-)
To commemorate this occasion, I have decided to post some frivolous items from my Christmas wish list (obviously knowing my dream has already come true - ie, husband/dog/bedroom)...that being said, here you go!
Nellie's Dryer Balls. These things are just cool And useful! Plus, "pass me the Dryer Ball " is a phrase that I have waited far too long to say.
The Make Your Own Duct Tape Wallet Kit. Seriously do I even have to explain this? Amazing.
Man do I love some hard candy. I go through phases of forgetfulness that it even exists, but when I remember...MAN it is soooo good!
Seriously, it gets better with age. I remember throwing it aside as a lesser sweet in my youth. Oh the foolishness. These days I am all about some jolly ranchers, Werther's, Starlight mints, lifesavers....you name it, I'll eat it.
Jerry and I went to a costume party a couple weekends ago and it was a rousing good time! I even attempted a martha stewart moment with some boolicious cupcake petit fours! We didn't win any prizes, but we had a great time with friends. Thanks friends!
Here are a few pics of the craziness :-)
When Jerry and I got married, we knew that the first year had the potential to be really tough, or really awesome. I think it is safe to say that at least so far, it has been comfortably in between with trend toward awesome. I seriously want to credit Jerry with this. (gag alert)
There is definitely something to be said for a patient man. And though we all have faults, one thing I can definitely boast about my husband is his patient heart. He has honestly engaged in my issues and outbursts with such care and concern that I don't even know how I could complain about anything!
Marriage is teaching me to focus on the important things. It is so easy to get caught up in the 9-5. But those are the least important hours in the day to me now. Of course one needs to be actively growing and learning at their job, but the old saying "work to live, don't live to work" has never been more true to me. I have all these lists of "who" I want to be or "should" be or some other "word in quotes", but I am going to learn patience. Things happen in their own time and what better way to wait it out than with the love of my life???
I am learning to trust in God for the rest and I know it will happen in His timing. To quote Joyce Meyer, " The good news is that no matter how real our pain may be, or how big our problems may seem, we can overcome all of them with the Word of God."
I'm so thankful that He has brought us this far and looking at how many blessings we have, it would be crazy to think God is not going to continue to care for me. So yeah, pretty awesome.
When Jerry and I were at Alcatraz, we saw this old Chevrolet Truck. I thought it would make a good pic so I played around with my camera settings a bit. One day maybe I'll start a photo blog, but for now, here you go!
When chatting online do you feel the need to "wrap it up" like ending a phone call or do you just sort of stop commenting? I have done both and while I lean towards the 'wrap it up' I get socially awkward about it once several minutes have passed.... do I say something? Have they already closed the window and it would be odd for me to say goodbye now?
These are the things I think about.
Aside from the flack I know I will get for daring to access this website, I just have to ask. WHO did they get to do the graphics on the Fox News Decision 2008 site???
What if you won the lottery and could do anything you wanted in the whole world? There. That's what your career would be.
If this is true then my future would consist of the 3 C's:
When will I figure out what I want to be when I grow up? I feel like I am a mouse on a wheel. The wheel might change, but I am that same mouse going nowhere. I need to stop finding wheels.
Anyone have have an open road for this old mouse?
I did my time at the Social Security office and I am the proud owner of a new last name! Hooray!
1965 US Social Security Poster in Spanish "9 out of 10 people have Social Security"
Well my good friends Joe and Jessica just celebrated their one month wedding anniversary! In honor of this special time, I decided to dedicate this post to them and finally write about their wedding!
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