SWAK

Happy New Year everyone! kiss kiss hug hug

Onederful

Two days ago my baby turned one. How can that be? Where did the time go? He is the most magnificent baby on the planet, ever. He makes me want to have more and not have more all at the same time. He loves blueberries and gives the best hugs you'll ever get. I love that bald head and the callouses on his knees from crawling so much. I can't believe how big he is, didn't I just bring him home all wrapped up in a punkin' seat yesterday? Wow, this is what true love feels like.

gift wrapping

The kids and I have been wrapping gifts for about an hour. You should see what a great job they are doing. Parker really likes tape so his gifts are almost all tape, no paper. My friends who know me and how, I like to do these kinds of things myself, know this is a real step out of the box for me! I am letting it go (it being - perfection) this time, because otherwise, things won't get done. How did I get so far behind?!

Just a little tip to share:
As you are wrapping your gifts, put them into categories so you can deliver them easier. I put my gifts for the kids and Paul (and anyone else joining us on Christmas morning) under the tree of course. Gifts for family in another area (usually large shopping bags for easy transport) and work and neighbor gifts together in their own space. For instance, we will be seeing my side of the family after Christmas day, having our celebration later, so I have all the gifts for them in one bag ready to go. I have other gifts for some other family friends we will see late on Christmas day in a big shopping bag in my bedroom so they won't get mixed in with the things from Santa. It saves me a lot of trouble on Christmas morning when the kids are digging in. Paul was really glad to have all his gifts in a big box to take to work, it fit in his trunk and made it much easier. Our neighbor gifts were baked goods that we delivered this morning so that was easy.

Again, if I don't blog for a bit...

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

only 4 days left

Oh my goodness, can it really be Dec. 21st? Holy cow! I have so much to do, when did time start moving so fast? I am so excited to see my kids on Christmas morning, they are going to be going crazy. Do you remember those days when you were awake at 5 AM counting the minutes until you were allowed to go check under the tree? I really hope Santa comes through with the Mac so I can post some photos here. I am also hoping for a camera bag that will hold my camera and my extra zoom lens, hey, not only the kids have wish lists!

On another note, does anyone else find chocolate things looking at them all day? I just started baking for us and I feel like I am swimming in sweets. I am hoping to log in some extra treadmill time to counteract them, totally dreading the weigh in for December. The kids love baking (I do too) so I am doing it for them, I plan on delivering some goods to my neighbors tomorrow. I have to get this stuff out of the house and out of my sight.

In case I don't get to blog in the next few days...

Merry Christmas to all!

stuff

Some things I am thinking about today...

Sad stuff:

So sad that one of our Bengals, Chris Henry, died today. I was sincerely hoping he was on his way to a solid recovery. I am praying for his family which includes three small children. What a tragic loss of someone who was trying to turn his life around. Life is precious and fragile.

Silly stuff:

Full plastic bottles of Ragu spaghetti sauce do not bounce, but they do make pretty splatter paint picures on the wall if you drop them.

I need to paint my nails more often. I did last night for my husband's work holiday party. My kids are totally facinated and can't stop looking at them. I sort of like them too, my poor hands get all dried and cracked in the winter so it is kind of shocking to see them not covered in band aids. They are however, already chipped from making cupcakes and wrapping presents for hubby's work friends. Oh well.

Nice stuff:

I always give my mailman goodies at Christmas. He is so sweet and he seems to really enjoy his job I have seen him at the grocery before and he said, "I know you, you are _____" and he rattled off my address. Like he knew me based on my house, so cute. Anyway, I gave him his treats early since I had them made and today he was delivering a huge box to us and he was just gushing about the treats. Saying how good they were, what a nice surprise, etc. Giving really does make me feel better. Tomorrow I am taking some to the dry cleaners, the ladies that work there love my kids and they truly go above and beyond to get Paul's stuff clean. Believe me, that is quite a challenge most days so I am excited to give them some sweets too.

My hubby sent me this altered photo from his I-phone today. How sweet he is to take time out of his busy day to send me a little something. Hey, how is it that he has time to do that but I am running around like a maniac!

watchin' my weight Wednesday

In the last six days we have been to three parties and eaten dinner out once. So, four out of six days was not "normal" for me. I am a creature of habit and routine, so these kinds of events really throw me off. "Counting" my food points is still a very important part of my Weight Watchers journey. I rely on knowing exactly how much food I can eat every day, it makes me feel in control and I don't get down on myself for indulging, as long as it fits in my plan. Finger foods, appetizers, cookies, and restaurant portions are big food stressors for me so the past few days I have had some anxiety. To compensate, I have been doing a little more running on my treadmill (instead of walking) and eating vegetarian lunches (salads, steamed or sauteed veggies) and avoiding sweets and snacks if at all possible. I am hoping to weigh in next week for the month of December. Whether I am up or down (or the same) will be interesting but I am not going to get myself all upset, they don't call it "Lifetime" member for nothing!

magic

We are taking the kids to see Santa tonight. I am trying to focus on the magic of this time of year that is all around me: visiting Santa, making wish lists that actually come true, spending time with my family, eyes lighting up, the whole nine yards. I can't believe "it" will be here in 10 days. Holy cow! I am stressed just thinking about it, so much I want to do, so much I have to do. I am so excited to see my kids on Christmas morning, I think they are going to lose their minds, seriously, they have been pretty good, so I predict that Santa will be generous. Now I am off to get ready to visit the Big Guy, gotta make sure my camera is ready!

my computer is sleepin' with the fishes

Hi, I am back, sort of. Our computer died. Seriously. Dead. Caput. Finito. Cement shoes, the whole nine yards. Bad news. I swear, I live Murphy's Law. Doesn't it just make sense that my computer died the same time I was trying to get all my final Christmas stuff ordered? And Santa knows we want/need a new computer so it makes even more sense that it died last week. Oh well, my wonderful mommy has passed on her old laptop, which is now my new laptop. I am trying to learn how to use it, I feel like a giant typing on a fairy's keyboard and the whole "no mouse" thing is throwing me off. I am soooooo not a techie person. I don't know when I will get some pictures on here (I know that is everyone's favorite part of blogs) probably not until Santa brings us our new Mac. In the meantime, I'll be here.

Onto a better subject...

I have a new obsession, besides Mad Men, Martha Stewart, and counting Weight Watchers points, it's Celestial Seasonings Holiday Tea, the gingerbread spice flavor. OMG! It is the best stuff I have ever drank, well besides Diet Dr. Pepper and margaritas. But seriously. I am trying to drink more tea and less DDP and I stumbled upon this at the grocery and now I am hooked. I went to the grocery last night at 10:00 PM hoping to find some, stinkin' Krogers doesn't carry it. I have issues with Kroger, but now I am really grumpy with them. So I am going to go to the Celestial Seasonings website and order a case before it is all gone. You've got to try it. So yummy. (here in Cincinati- Meijer has the holiday teas :) )

My weekly menu:

• spaghetti and salads
• baked tilapia and potatoes (chicken nuggets for the kids- you think they eat tilapia?!)
• chicken wraps
• office Christmas party food- red alert! ruining my figure as I think about all those finger foods!
• shredded bbq pork sandwiches
• homemade pizzas

fa la la la la

Just sharing a few holiday photos...
This house is in a neighborhood by ours, we love it. These people have about 700 light up things in their yard for Christmas. It is unreal. I swear they should be on that HGTV show about over-the-top holiday displays. My photo doesn't do it justice but you get the idea. (this is their back yard)
All our stockings hung by the chimney with care. I keep thinking I want to get matching stockings or make some cute ones, but the kids like to see the same ones each year.
This is my favorite mini tree. It is sparkly green with little red felt balls I made. Again, my photo doesn't show its true loveliness.
Our Elf on the Shelf, Buddy (named after the Buddy in the movie), he is so magical. If you don't have one, you need to get one. My kids totally know he is reporting their behavior, good and bad, to Santa every day.
One of our wreaths, this one gets blown all to heck because our house sits on a hill and the wind whips like crazy. It sounds like burglars are trying to get in at night, it bangs and clangs. I'd like to get a prettier one but considering it sometimes is laying on the grass from getting blown off, I'll stick with this one.

I'm pretty much done decorating around here. I still have a couple trees I might get out and decorate if I have the time/energy. Ha ha ha, right now I am thinking it won't happen. Just letting perfection go, enjoying what I have done to this point. Now let the baking/card making/wrapping begin!

movie recommendation

Go see "The Blind Side." It is such a great movie, I went with my hubby on Saturday and I just keep thinking about it. I hope Sandra gets nominated (and wins) for her performance, she was great.

my weekly menu:

• umm, not sure, just found out hubby will be gone almost every night this week, so I'll probably be flying by the seat of my pants

• for sure: baked salmon and sweet potato crunch (a new Weight Watchers recipe)

I have to go work on my Christmas cards, I want to get them mailed this week... just a little behind.

good

All is well with the world:

• finished grocery shopping
• finished ironing
• watched Rudolph with the kids last night
• house is kinda cleanish, but in a little disarray b/c of decorating for Christmas
• found a really cool thing I want to get for my mom, the hardest person on the planet to buy for
• my aunt is taking presents to my Alabama family for Christmas and their birthdays, thanks Desi, now I don't have to schlep it all to the post office :)
• I resisted the urge to buy candy at the grocery check out
  
• going on a date with hubby tomorrow (he chose Sandra Bullock movie- his favorite girl besides me of course, I wanted New Moon)
• we're putting up our Christmas trees tomorrow- I just love looking at all those old ornaments
• I am taking the kids to buy their Hallmark ornaments tonight
• Best of all.... I JUST GOT TWO TICKETS TO SEE MICHAEL BUBLE (in March) AND I AM SOOOOOOO..... EXCITED, YES, I AM YELLING, WOO HOO I guess that will make up for having to watch my hubby drool over Sandra tomorrow ;)

ooey gooey

Um, don't try to melt chocolate chips on a TLC granola bar by putting the whole thing in the microwave for 20 seconds. It just turns into an ooey gooey mess, it's yummy, but messy. Don't ask, bad day, needed chocolate.

watchin' my weight Wednesday

I keep this little basket of goodies on my counter all the time (except when we are having a house showing!). It contains my 3 month journal where I track everything, my points calculator (which I also keep in my purse for shopping days), a pen, and my pocket guide and food companion that holds all the points values for foods. Now this is specific to my weight loss program (Weight Watchers) but I think any thing you need to help you in your healthy lifestyle should be front and center. I think if you need a menu plan, a motivating picture, the food guide pyramid, Jillian and Bob from "The Biggest Loser", whatever is the key for you, don't hide it. Keep it visible and unforgettable. I keep my scale and measuring cups and spoons handy. I keep cookbooks and recipes within arms reach. Out of sight is definitely out of mind for me. This might be particularly helpful this time of year. Just because Santa is fat and jolly doesn't mean we all have to be as well, fat that is.

P.S. Doesn't everything look better in a Longaberger basket?!

December scrapbook

I have a little project to share that I am really excited about. It's a December scrapbook. I plan on taking pictures of the holiday happenings around our house every day until Santa comes. I will document the pictures and forever preserve them in a scrapbook. Sounds easy enough. I dug around in my scrapbooking stash, ah come on girls, you know you've got one too! I found this album from way back, it was a wedding gift from Pottery Barn, no joke! I got out my Christmas scrapping supplies, I keep them all in this pink box and went to work. It took me about an hour and a half to gather and compile and assemble.
I used a page kit (from Hobby Lobby) to put patterned paper on each page. The first and last pages will not be a two page spread, just a single page (can't find refill pages for a 8 year old scrapbook!). There are just enough pages for 25 layouts, how convenient!
I basically just cut up the paper and put it randomly on the pages. I plan on adding photos and other stuff (receipts, tickets, lists, drawings, whatever) as I go.

Here is the title on the front. I like the mirrored front of the album, that made me choose this retro-looking page kit. This is a sticker mounted on green paper, simple, I like it.

Then I made 25 tags (one for each day until Christmas- all using scrap patterned paper and black number stickers) and gathered a bunch of premade journaling squares and tags. The journaling pieces are not all matchy matchy, some are cream, some are white, some have red, some have green. I figured it was more important to document the story instead of match.

It is my plan to journal as I take the photos (on the journaling tags or papers) and then print photos, when Walgreens has a sale of course, and I think it will be easy to stick everything down. I wrote myself a note to take pictures every day and hung it to the fridge. I am excited to see this album. I do not think I'll have it done before Christmas but I think it will come together quickly afterwards. I am excited to have this documentation saved for years to come, especially when the kids are older and they can see what we did, where we went, etc. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out. I cannot take credit for this idea on my own. I saw it on Ali Edwards' Blog for the past couple years, you should check hers out, way better than mine. She is a professional scrapbooker and her stuff is awesome.