It's a SECRET!

My hubs is such a big kid at Christmas.  He carefully shops, picks out special wrapping for our gifts (not from the giant pile of accumulated wrapping over the years) and strategically starts to place them under the tree the week before Christmas.

Let the taunting begin.

"I know what this one is...." as he happily shakes and dances around the room with a beautiful package.  Or if it's heavy, he'll just hang out under the tree pointing and mocking me that I can't have it yet.

He can barely contain his excitement.  But somehow he manages to keep it in check, even if I beg him to let me have one early (because I am completely impatient).

Flash to the big Navy boy.  Oh Lord that boy is a mess.  Not only can he not contain his excitement much like his Dad he takes it to a whole new level.

He can't even get the gifts wrapped before giving them away.

The WC kids (west coast) have done a fantastic job of furnishing their new home.  They have purchased furniture, art and momentos to make their space their own.  They have replaced almost all of their "hand me down" furniture with their own style and with no surprise have picked out some awesome stuff!  For Christmas, they gave themselves a joint present of new bedroom furniture to accompany their new bed and no doubt it will be absolutely beautiful.

So like all of us marrieds, they told each other they would just buy one gift for Christmas since their big gift was purchased together.

How's that going?  Right.  My son CANNOT buy a gift, wrap it beautifully and allow Sassy the feelings of excitement and anticipation.  Nope.  He can't do it.  Usually he gives her gifts on Christmas Eve, if he can make it that far.

Not this year.  

Her present came to her in the parking lot after he bought it.  Yep, didn't even make it home.  Didn't even get the price tag off.

Oh Lord.  I'm gonna kill him.

I know that our nugget doesn't quite get all of the Santa stuff yet but my son has forgotten the element of surprise.  The excitement a person has when they open that special gift and know how carefully it was selected.  The appreciation and gratitude when a person opens socks that they REALLY, REALLY needed.

Yep, he has forgotten that.  Somehow I swear I will give it back to him.  I should have mailed their gifts late and had them arrive right on Christmas Eve.  For all I know he will tear through those before the big day!

He loves when I blog about him about as much as he loves brussels sprouts but the truth hurts sometimes.  Maybe my public outing and embarrassment will help him change his ways a bit.

But I seriously doubt it.

Happy Monday, friends!

Jen

One Party Down, One More to Go

This weekend is BUSY as I'm sure most of you are this time of year!  Holiday parties Friday and Saturday night, basketball tournament with three games somewhere tucked into there and (hopefully) final shopping for the little guy.  Oh yeah, and those "last minute gifts" for the hairdresser, teachers, etc... can't forget those.  Oh, and at some point I need to make Christmas cookies.  The boy is looking at me with that face... "where are the sweets, mom?"

I have the privilege of being part of our associate committee at my office and the holiday party was definitely a fun experience!  Along with 5 other people, we have been crazily shopping for the past month purchasing over 50 gifts for our hard working associates to be given.  As most of you know, I am a serious purpose shopper - I go into a store with intent and purchase exactly what I need and get out.  I've never been that girl that "goes shopping" for 8 hours and doesn't buy anything.  That whole concept just kills me.  It has never been something I've been interested in doing.  But I did have two great partners in my portion of the shopping.  Here's one of my partners in crime:

JD and CG

But I learned a few valuable lessons in this experience:

1.  It's hard to buy for people you don't know.  Not only that, but gifts that will be picked (meaning you don't know who will get them).  That's HARD.

2.  Electronics still seem to win in both men and women in terms of gifts.  Interesting.

3.  Cold hard cash is always good :)

4.  When you walk around a look aimlessly at stores you can actually find things YOUR people will like.

5.  Shoppers are rude at Christmas.  Period.  But we were really lucky with fantastic salespeople for the most part.

The party went off without a hitch and I'm pretty sure everyone had a good time.  The food was good, the guitar player was cute (yep, I said that) and the white elephant and Madlibs games seemed to make people smile.

And after the tragedy of yesterday, we all needed a smile. I can't blog about it right now.

I need to run and make my list for the day.  Time to get some stuff accomplished.  I hope you have a great Saturday, friends!

Jen

FRIDAY FAVES!!

11 days until Christmas.  Ugh!  Where does the time go?  I still have a ton of running to do to prepare which makes me oh so happy.

But for the first time EVER I got in a little trouble for my blog post Monday (Bah, Humbug!).  Davis is such an optimist.  He absolutely, positively LOVES Christmas.  He loves shopping and giving thoughtful gifts to me.  So my little negative rant definitely got me a stern look over the glasses.

Oh well, I'm only human.

This week has been another crazy week - I have had NO time to blog which totally depresses me.  And for those of you that read faithfully - I am so sorry!  I promise to get back on the wagon very, very shortly.  Just hang in there with me, please!

Below are my loves from around the web this week.  Enjoy!

FAVE HOLIDAY APP

Oh yum!  I am a big fan of tortilla roll ups with cream cheese, black olives and green chilies but these look just as scrumptious!  I think I need to give these a try!  Click here for the recipe -->  Cream Cheese Roll Ups

FAVE HOLIDAY FUNNY

Yep, this needs to be my mantra this time of year.  I find my blood pressure raising with idiot drivers, rude shoppers and stressed out get togethers.  We should all try to keep this in check!

FAVE FASHION

Although not super "holidayish", I totally love this flowy dress.  Reminds me of Grace Kelly.  A fantastic throw around the shoulders and some awesome jewelry and it could be the perfect outfit for generally any party.  Ooh - and some giant sparkly heels?  Love it!

FAVE WARM TUMMY

Ah, I love tortilla soup.  So what is better than throwing it in a CROCK POT?  Fantastic!  I think this one is on the list if the weather ever cooperates.  I know it's winter but I just cannot eat hot soup when it's 65 outside!  Click here for the recipe --->  Chicken Crock Pot Tortilla Soup

FAVE HOLIDAY PARTY DESSERT

Okay - clearly I could NEVER get my frosting this smooth... but I totally love the idea of this tree border!  And so easy!

FAVE HOLIDAY GIFT

I love making cookies and treats at Christmas and passing them out to my friends, neighbors and co-workers.  How great are these?  And super, duper easy!  I think this may just be on the list this year.  We shall see!

FAVE COCKTAIL

Yes, please!  I'm sure only one of these would be needed (plus I'm not sure about all the junk around the rim... that may make it weird).  But these look delightful!  Click here for the recipe ---> The Candy Cane

FAVE TREE ORNAMENT

I absolutely love this idea!  This is a homemade ornament, obviously with a map.  It can be done to represent your home town, your fave destination... anything!  Love it!

FAVE QUOTE

My family will love this the most.  I absolutely love this quote!  

FAVE ENDING

Who doesn't love cheesecake?  Okay, not everyone I realize.  But this might change their minds.  How cute are these nuggets of creamy goodness??

Have a fantastic Friday, friends!!


Jen

Bah, Humbug!

That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's always been *about*. Gifts, gifts... gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts. You wanna know what happens to your gifts? They all come to me. In your garbage. You see what I'm saying? In your *garbage*. I could hang myself with all the bad Christmas neckties I found at the dump. And the avarice... 

 The avarice never ends! "I want golf clubs. I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make glue." Look, I don't wanna make waves, but this *whole* Christmas season is... 

 ...stupid, stupid, stupid!

The Grinch

I am so sad that I have fallen so far behind reading other's blogs.  It's something I vow to catch up over the holiday season as best I can.  I love reading stories of family togetherness, seasonal celebrations and overall joy being spread all over the place.... even when I don't always feel that way.

 

Christmas is by far my hubs' fave season of the year.  He absolutely LOVES giving gifts, watching the surprise and excitement when they are opened and the true adoration we all have when he gives us something we love.  And he's a REALLY good shopper.  He gives complete thought to every single purchase it makes, its intended use and meaning and purpose.  He doesn't buy "stuff" that will sit on a shelf, sit in a drawer or be unused.  It's just simply not his style.

 

Which is one of the biggest things I love about him.  We don't buy for each other often but when we do, I always win.  He, unfortunately, seems to always lose.

 

I suck at presents.  And shopping.  And wrapping. 

All of the above.

 

Christmas, much to hubs demise, is my least fave holiday.  In many ways I actually hate it.

 

The shopping can kiss my ass.  I hate consumers running around stores grabbing up crap to give away hoping it will be liked.  I hate spending money on basically everything unless I can see the end result directly.  I hate guessing what someone might want or need.

 

 

And that's about it.  I'm a NEED based girl.  I only buy what I actually need.  I don't spend hundreds of dollars on my hair, nails, clothes, shoes or even car.  I just don't do it.  But this time of year, I'm supposed to.

 

Which is why I love hubs so much.  Because he gives me things he knows I would NEVER buy for myself, things that I don't need, things that I will love.

 

Just as I've done in years past - I will promise to try really, really hard this time.  I will buy presents without worrying if the other person will love it or not.  I will try to be jolly all of the days and not scornful about the stupid returns lines, rude shoppers and zombiefied sales clerks.

 

This year was already going to be rough on me with Bubba and fam out west but I recently learned my brother and fam are moving out east... in a week.  We didn't see each other often but somehow knowing he will be gone and I can't go visit him easily will be somewhat strange to me.  At least we all have cell phones.

 

Bah humbug, friends.  I'm trying - really I am!  Have a great Monday (being jolly).

Jen

FRIDAY FAVES!!

It's FRIDAY again!!  SO freakin' excited!

The season is in full swing, both at work and at home.  Christmas is all around!  I have been feverishly shopping for work associates as well as my own fam, hosting gatherings and trying to keep my house clean in the process.  I'm exhausted (which is nothing new, really).  Oh, and throw in basketball tournaments every weekend and it makes it hard to get everything finished!

But somehow, by the grace of God, I have my Friday Faves!  Here you go, friends... enjoy!

FAVE APP(etizer)

Love snowmen, always always always.  So no surprise that I fell in love with this hunka hunka burnin' love!  Cheeseball delight.  Gotta make him!

 

FAVE FUNNY

I do have to admit that I am loving all the Elf on the Shelf pics my friends are posting on Facebook.  But honestly - we are totally lying to our kids and it is a bit creepy!  Oh well, add it to the list of stuff they will seek therapy for later in life!

FAVE REMINDER

I love my family but I am very lucky to have people in my life that aren't blood relatives that love me unconditionally.  I feel very blessed!  (But I wouldn't put this on my wall... well, maybe next to my bathroom mirror as a reminder...)

FAVE TEE

As winter approaches I find myself drinking more of both of these items... so I totally need this shirt!

FAVE SNOWMAN

Okay - so I have to admit that as much as I absolutely LOVE snowmen, I HATE building them!  They never look good and I hate the way the snow used leaves big bare spots on the yard.  Yes, I'm that anal.  So this is a PERFECT solution for me!!

FAVE FASHION

All of it.  And there's no scarf :).  But there ARE leg warmers!  Go 80's!

FAVE SNACK

Oh my goodness... yes!  I love chocolate covered cherries anyway (was my momma's fave!) but these kick it up a notch!  Soak cherries in amaretto overnight, then dip in white chocolate.  YUMMO!!!

FAVE WREATH

What a GREAT idea!  Different sized pvc pipe cut into equal lengths, put together and balls strategically placed.  Love it - very creative!!

FAVE MOVIE QUOTE

Ah - I miss my little nugget.  I need to see him... stat!!  Go on... say it.  You know you want to!

FAVE ANCHOR

Yep, I love anchors.  And Sailors.  Found a good one this week.

Have a fantastic weekend, friends!


Jen

Give me some SLEEP!

Oh blog, how I miss you!

 

I am absolutely, positively SWAMPED right now.  Every day and every night... all day and all night.

 

With no end in sight.

 

And I'm way tired.  And each day keeps snowballing into the next day, making me more and more tired.

 

I'm the kind of girl that REQUIRES sleep.  If I miss it, I have to make it up.  And lately I've missed a lot - and not made up any.

 

I see a desperate crash in my future of a 14 hour sleep fest.  Eventually that is what happens to me.  Or this will happen.

 

 

 

I have no idea where this need for sleep comes from but I've been this way my entire life.  I loved nap time as a child.  As a teen, I would come home from school and take naps.  When Bubba was little I would nap with him.  Even today, if I ever get the chance on a weekend, I will take a quick power nap in the afternoon to keep me running the rest of the day.

 

Lack of sleep impacts me dramatically.  Not only am I cranky, short and pretty much unpleasant to be around, I feel lethargic, unorganized and essentially useless.  I can't make decisions.  I'm a hot mess.

 

And I'm WAY behind on my B12 shots, which I've convinced my brain are the only thing that give me any energy nowadays.

 

Sometimes I wish I had a sleeping disorder so I could check into one of those swanky clinics and sleep for a week while they study me.

 

Nope.  Not gonna happen.  I must trudge on.

 

My dad used to get angry with me as a teen for sleeping so much.  "You can sleep when you're dead" was one of his much used quotes.

 

I wonder how close to dead he meant by that saying?  Because right now, I feel pretty darn close.

 

Oh well.  One of these days I will feel rested again, I have faith.  Until then, here's to coffee, 5 hour energy and learning how to operate in a zombie-like state.

 

Happy hump day, friends!

Jen

Party, Party, Party!

I have officially survived another Annual Holiday Open House!  Whew, what an event!

Five years of this event, and somehow it came off without a hitch once again.  Well, if you don't count my dismount from the kitchen counter.  And the fact that I had to run the air with the windows open on November 30th.

Hubs gave me the best present ever:  he took off on Friday to help me prepare.  I'm honestly not sure how I did it in year's past without his help.  Aside from all the decorating, shopping and cleaning,  the preparation of food and cocktails is a serious feat.  I'm never quite sure how many people will drop by to share holiday cheer but I'm always pleasantly surprised to see new faces each year.

This year was no different!

I had a great opportunity to visit with previous co-workers, friends, neighbors and family... all in one night.  And a great night it was!

I swore at the beginning of the night that I would take pictures since I typically don't.  I was lucky to get in just a couple of shots before the night went underway.  Thank god - in true fashion I was far to busy hosting and visiting than documenting the fun!

So here a few shots for the memory book.

Dining Room.  Thanks Pinterest for the chandelier!

My friend Sarah's beautiful clothes!

Some of Sarah's beautiful fabrics!

Queen Seamstress Sarah!

Michelle and her beautiful jewelry

And an event isn't the same without fun and cocktails with the Gallagher Girls!

The rest of the weekend was spent putting the house back together, moving furniture and washing stemware and serving trays.  Woo hoo!

In the midst of all this fun, we somehow managed to slide in 3 basketball games.  I'm so proud of Coop and his team.  We are constantly challenging ourselves with some of the best Division 1 teams in the city and each week I'm watching the boys improve both on and off the court.  It's always an amazing thing for me to witness growth in an individual and this coaching staff certainly isn't letting me down!

We are quickly moving into the full swing of December, bringing this week Coop's Christmas Program, a holiday party with the Book Club girls and another weekend of family and friends.

'Tis the season!  Have a fantastic week, friends!
Jen