Christmas Music

Another Rudy Day Moment:

I think I've mentioned this once or twice before that for token gifts this year, I'm giving out a holiday mix CD.  There were a lot of songs I wanted to add to the playlist but only a few made the cut - 19 songs to be exact. 

I printed the labels (free printables) from the HP Acitivity Center.  I had to improvise on the label for the actual cd as there was no ready-made label to use.

They will be displayed in a nice basket and handed out to family on Christmas Eve. "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way!"

Gift Idea for Friends

While chatting with my MHH friends Saturday, a thought came to me.  What to give my friends this Christmas season.  And I thought, how about a  movie of our trip to the Poconos.   My bestfriend wanted to go there for her birthday so sixteen of us packed into cars and took the trip.  It was a memorable event.  Everyone really enjoyed themselves. 

So once again I find myself sorting through photos. I downloaded everyone's photos on to my computer one evening while we were altogether playing cards.  Whew! There are so many pictures.  It's going to take me a couple of weeks to make this movie.  There's even some video that one of my friends took unbeknowns to us.  I was watching those videos and I was in tears.  I could not believe how crazy we were acting. 

They don't even suspect that I'm doing this.  They think I am just collecting pictures as I am know as the 'picture lady.'  Heeheehee  I love collecting memories.

Happy Rudy Day

For Rudy Day Saturday, some friends from MHH and I got together for a little chat.  We talked about any and everything.  It was quite fun.  While we chatted, some of use listened to holiday tunes from Christmas Music Radio on live365.com .  One of our MHH member, RadioJonD, has his own  show on the station. 

Today, I continued the celebration by making peanute butter cookies - yum, yum.  So here I am, chomping on cookies, with a glass of ice cold milk, blogging all while watching my favorite program Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

Christmas Journaling - Eggnog

I love eggnog.  I don't remember when I started drinking it but every year I make sure to keep it in the fridge.  I start looking for eggnog to appear on the shelves around Thanksgiving.  My favorite brand is by a local grocery chain, Giant.  I will also by Turkey Hill when the store runs out of their brand.

Not only do I like the ones found in the grocery store, I also have a favorite alcohol brand too.  My all-time favorite is by Engle Brook.  I would love to one day make some homemade eggnog with rum in it - yummy.  Maybe I'll give it a try this year (Hmmm, have to think about that). There are so many recipes that I'm sure I'll find one that is simple and easy.

At Christmas I used to fill a big punch bowl with non-alcoholic eggnog and add vanilla or French vanilla icecream.  The kids loved it.  So did the adults except they would add a little rum to theirs - lol.  I haven't done that in years and don't know why.  I think it's making a comeback this holiday season.

Creating a Christmas Activity Center

For weeks I have been working in the guest room trying to set up a holiday activity center.  It took longer than I estimated. 

First I had to get rid of some old furniture - a dresser and computer hutch.  Once that was done, I brought in a table from the kitchen to use as my new work station.   I then needed something to store my books and things but that didn't take up a lot of space so I bought a new book case.  I also picked up some collapsable storage cubes from Dollar Tree to hold/hide everything. 

This area is right next to the bookcase.  Soon this table will go out and a new smaller one will go in it's place along with a nice comfy chair.  (FYI:  Those pictures all came from Dollar Tree.  The larger frame was a bargin at Kmart. I paid $10 for two of these frames.)

The room is still not finished.  The wall above the desk is completely bare. This is where I want to hang a shelf.  Looks like another trip to Ikea is in order.  In addition a futon (my cousin was nice enough to give me) will also go in this room for more seating and sleeping quarters for overnight guests.

100 Day Mark

Well it's here! The day we hit 100 days to Christmas.  I'm excited, are you?  Soon I shall be receiving emails from BHG counting down the days with loads of decorating, cooking and gift ideas.

Singing: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... Everywhere you go......"

A Nice Day to Have a Rudy Day

It's been raining all day.  I love the rain this time of year.

So I am spending the day indoors and have Rudy Day.  I got my Christmas movies playing while I work in the guest bedroom.  I recently got rid of an old dresser and computer chest.  I brought in small table which will be used as a work station/Christmas activity center.

Christmas Journaling

Members at Magical Holiday Home are keeping journals of their Christmas memories.  "The goal is to share your thoughts with yourself first and then if you choose, others in perhaps the future. " - Pixiestick.  I thought that this was a great idea and started my own journal.  I will be sharing some of my memories from now til Christmas. 

If you would like to start your own journal, you can find the list of questions here. 

Happy journaling.

Everyday Will Be Rudy Day!

From this point on I will try to have a Rudy whenever I can and as much as I can.

One thing I did was pull out my collection of Christmas movies so when the mood hits me, I just pop one in the DVD.

It's Coming!

Yes, yes, Christmas is coming. Only 108 days.  Will you be ready? I sure hope to be.

With my trusty notebook in hand I've been going over everything I need to do before the big day arrives.  So far I have my budget, gift list, shopping list and holiday menu done.  I really need to get on the ball shopping for gifts. So starting this week I plan to start shopping. I spent the day Saturday with my nieces and nephews to find out what they wanted for Christmas.  My niece is into the Whimpy Kid books.  She already has two so I will get her the other two I saw in Walmart.  She also wants some games for her DS.  My nephew just wants games for his XBox.   I want to have all my gifts purchased before Thanksgiving.

Then there's those craft projects to complete.  Today I finished putting together a holiday mix playlist then burned them on to CDs.  I'm also making photo calendars for the second year. They were such a big hit last year.

Yesterday I was in the mood to bake so I made some shortbread cookies.  I decorated them with color sugar for a festive look.  The cookies  turned out good but would have been better with icecream.  So I went to the store today to pick up a pint of vanilla icecream.  I know what I will be snacking on tonite.

Long Time No See

Good day all!  Yes, I've been a way a long time.  So much has happened.  During what was the called the worst winter this area has ever seen, I joined Facebook and to my surprise, reconnected with nearly all of my highschool classmates.  Many of us got together for Game Night back in February which was so much fun. It was great laughing and  reminiscing. Several classmates have formed a committee and are planning for our 25th reunion next fall.  I was extremely excited to reconnect with my best friends from school, Joyce and Latoria.  We lost contact with each other a few years after graduating.  Since reconnecting, we have been hanging out together ever since.   The class is having a fund raiser in October. A 70's gathering to help raise money for the reunion next year.  We would like pay for our teachers come to the reunion.  I think that is a nice gesture.

I also  became a great-aunt.  My oldest nephew and his girlfriend have a beautiful baby girl.  She's so adorable.  So you know she's going to be spoiled rotten by the grandparents (and great-aunt).