"2010. How will you begin?".

2010.
"How will you begin?"

One friend goes shopping to buy new Kitchen linens.

She says it refreshes her kitchen and gives her mood a boost!

Me?
I usually spend part of the day revamping
our monthly budget.
I'm always looking for a better way
to do things more efficiently.

However,
Lately I've began planning our Summer vacation
on Jan 1.  If I don't plan it, it doesn't happen.
Also, my husband LOVES to have something
definitive to look forward to.
Anticipation is part of the fun.

My JANUARY PROJECT for this year
will be to rearrange my kitchen cabinets.
I need to rid myself of some glassware
and make the cabinets more
"user-friendly".

NO New Year's Resolutions for me.
I plan to meet each day with joy
and with God's help
do the very best I can.
(was that a resolution??!)

What will you do?
Spend time with family?
Watch Football games?
Plan a Spring Garden?
Take a nap?
Clean a closet?
Make resolutions?

Dear Santa

Suisse Army Make-up Pen Knife

Dear Santa,
I don't mean to seem unappreciative of this years plunder, but would you/could you please put this at the top of my Wish List for Christmas 2010?
I'm just sayin' . . .

1) Miniature hair-dryer to coiffure her hair.

2) Selection of lipsticks for that kiss-me-quick look.

3) Eyebrow pencil for that sultry look.

the game of "Things"

"The game of Things"  was our new family game for this year's Christmas season. 
It did not disappoint. 
It helps if you're family is a little left of center, and aren't they all?  BTW, I'm totally not selling this or getting any $ for this blog, I'm just throwing this into cyber space in case your family loves games like ours does.  The game made for lots of laughs and insight into the strange humor of those gathered around the kitchen table.
Here are just a sampling of the questions
(feel free to let your imagination go wild - we did!)

"Things you shouldn't attempt to juggle. . ."

"Things you shouldn't do

when you are naked. . ."

"Things that confirm that your life

is going downhill. . ."

"Things that would probably

keep you out of Heaven. . ."

"Things that shouldn't be passed from
one generation to the next. . ."

Now it's your turn to give it a try -
Here's your quesion. . .

"Things paramedics shouldn't say to a patient on the way to the hospital. . ."
*I'll be watching the "Comments"
for your goof ball answers response.

Christmas is over. Now what?

Hmmmmm?

Now it's time to make plans for our Summer vacation!!
Have you made any plans yet?

My gift to you -

If you are in a Great Christmas Mood
you're gonna LOVE this.
If you're tired, stressed, and finding
it difficult to find your Christmas Spirit
then you NEED this.
Trust me on this one.

Get ready to smile.
This will melt your heart. . .

DO YOU? or DON'T YOU?

I am mega busy today,
BUT,
I just gotta tell you -

Last night I indulged myself with some much needed grooming - "waxing" to be specific.  My husband entered the room just as I was beginnning to pick up my waxing supplies. 

Then I had an idea - "Manscaping". 
Do you Manscape?
"Do you Pluck/Tweeze/Nair your man?".
I want NEED to know.

My poor, tired, unsuspecting man allowed me to "work" on him.

I soooo wanted to document this moment with my camera, but he said "NO" and he meant it.  Darn!
His one fear and concern was that perhaps I would make him look like -

He feared the guys on the pipeline might not take to this look.  So with this thought in mind I began my work.

"BEFORE"

"AFTER"

Just kidding -
I told you he said
"no camera".

BUT, I did sneak a picture of him as he left for work this morning -

I don't know why he thought this disguise was necessary!!

Seriously, his brows had grown down onto his eyelids!!
Why had I never done this before?!!
When I finished with him he looked 10 years younger!!
Just FYI - you might ought to take a really close look at your guy tonight.  He too, may be in need of some "manscaping".

Just Keepin' It Real!

Today was the designated day for us (the Griswald's) to put up the Christmas Tree, so as we do each year, Princess crawled into the attic. I positioned myself midway on the ladder leading to the attic and dh stood at the foot of the ladder to catch all the Christmas "stuff" as we passed it downward, in assembly line fashion.
We had hardly begun when I left my position on the ladder (for some reason; can't remember why) -

Princess went to heave the BIG Christmas Tree Box

down but the box accidently made contact with a bucket of paint and the bucket went hurling from the attic right into DH's face. He saw it coming and quickly turned his head and the bucket CONKED him above the ear on the boney part of his head..

I was sure I was about to become a Widow.

The paint can then veered off, hit the garage floor and flipped over. The lid popped off and paint spilled everywhere.

The Griswald's have nothing on us.

Can you say
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Part Two"?

It's a good thing DH has a thick skull or he could have been seriously hurt. .
.All's well that ends well.
The tree is up & beautiful
but it looks as though
a herd of Reindeer have
partied all night in our living room.

Just keepin' it real.

Ode to Charlie Brown

I love Jesus.
I like wrapping gifts.
I like baking.
I like sipping Cider.
I like candlelight.
I like the movie "It's a Wonderful Life".
BUT I don't like
decorating for Christmas.

I know it'a not PC to say this, but I'm
guessing there are others like me - somewhere.
It just doesn't make sense (to me) to go to all
this trouble only to turn around and take it all
down in a few weeks.  I'm a little OCD and
it makes me crazy trying to get things "just so"
for such a short time.

BTW, Yes, our tree is up and the house is

decorated, but someday, when Princess is

grown, I will have a Charlie Brown

Christmas Tree and call it "done".

This is my Christmas dream.

6 Word Saturday

Six Word Saturday

Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does each week with their entries.  Details can be found here.

"Cold Hands.  Cold Feet.
Warm Heart!"

Reality punch

Sometimes getting confirmation of something you've only suspected can be very upsetting, especially when the changes happen over time and are gradual.  At first I thought it was just my imagination working overtime, but perhaps it was a simple case of Denial.  Like it really matters anyway.  Now.
What "is" IS the reality.
No matter how much I deny it.
No matter how much I wish it wasn't so. . .
Today my Dishwasher took it's last bubbly gasp of Cascade. . .and DIED!!
It left me a broken woman,
with a sink full of dirty dishes.

Sobbing into my dishcloth.

(I know I need to get a grip.)

Don't believe for a minute that dishwater is good

for your hands. 

It's a Myth.  A Lie.

A total Fabrication.

Here's the brutal truth of a household

without a Dishwasher.

Thinking back to when I was a kid and my Mom did dishes by hand after every meal.  Can you even imagine doing that now?  I do not long for "the good ol' days".  If it comes to a matter of doing without either Toilet Paper or my beloved Dishwasher - it's gonna be a tough call for me.

My Mom used to have a set of Copper Bottom Cookware.
Have you seen these?
They require constant maintanance after each use to keep their shiney bottoms "coppery".    It is beyond my comprehension as to why anyone would want these things, but they were quite the "thang" in their day.  I don't know if  Mom still has these but if that should be the case, "no thank you very much" you can pass these beauties on to my Sister!

My husband, God bless him, said we can go buy a new Dishwasher tomorrow.  But who wants to wrestle with the Christmas shoppers if it's not an emergency.  I've decided to "rough it" and eat out all weekend, then I'll buy the Dishwasher Monday when there should be less shoppers.

Now.
Which kind to buy?
It doesn't have to be a Cadillac,
just a good, solid, reliable workhorse of a Dishwasher.
Got any ideas?
I'd love some suggestions.

BTW, could you pass the hand lotion please.

*giggle giggle **wink wink

My wonderful, loving, devoted, kind, caring, sweet, helpful, selfless, hard-working husband only wants one thing for Christmas -

But it's not gonna happen!

I called her but she is busy Christmas Day
and I am waaaay too cold natured
to even consider his request.
Maybe a Barbie with a well placed bow
would do the "trick".
Ya think?

"MaMa and Me Pajama Party"

Me and my "baby"!
She worked with me at the party.

I'm like a proud Mama Hen - struttin' proud

of all the women in our women's ministry
(at church) who worked
so very hard to make this party happen.
I love them all.
It was pure joy to watch so many
Moms/Grandmoms/Aunts
"party" alongside their children.
 HERE'S a photo glimpse of our party -

"MaMa and Me Pajama Party"
The photos say it all!!

And you will have joy and gladness, and many
will rejoice at his birth
~Luke 1:14