While I Have Some Down Time

Well the big day is over.  I am exhausted but fulfilled.  Thank goodness I still have another week to catch up on rest before it's back to the grindmill.

Christmas Eve with my family was another joyous moment for the books.  There was lots of laughter, singing, dancing and good conversation. The best part was that I actually got to enjoy my company from the first arrival to the last person to leave.  All thanks to prepping and cooking all my dishes the day before.  That was a first for me as I am usually still cooking on Christmas Eve.  I had so much time on my hands, though, before guests started arriving that I didn't know what to do with myself.

On Christmas Day I went to my moms and spent the day with her and my stepdad.

Today as I lounge on the sofa, I am already thinking about Christmas 2015.  But first I need to do my debreifing for 2014.  You can find the form and many others on Organized Christmas.  The best part is you can fill it out on the computer, then save or print it to keep for future references.

Well I had better get started while everythings still fresh on my mind.

From My Home To Yours

Blessings to one and all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Cards

I love receiving Christmas cards in the mail. It's like getting a special treat each day in December. These were sent to me from my friends over at Magical Holiday Home.  Great group of women (and a few men).

Gifts and Giving

One of the things I love about Christmas besides being with family is giving gifts.  When I am able to give it just fills my heart with so much joy.  Each gift is a representation of the person receiving the gift.  And so far, every gift I have given has been well received.  I am so glad as I put a lot of thought into what I give.

Today I was the recipient of a nice gift.  There was a knock at my door and when I opened it, there stood my neighbor with a big bag in his hand.  First he thanked me for the gifts and treats I gave to him and his mom, then he handed me the bag.  My neighbors know I am a big Christmas nut and so every year I get something really nice to decorate my little palace with.  This year it was singing snowmen carrying a Christmas tree, from Hallmark.  This makes the third one I have received from my neighbor.  I found the perfect spot for it right in front of the television.

Yup, just 5 day til Christmas.  For me, I have 4 days til my family gathers at my house for our annual Christmas Eve dinner.  

I have been up since 6:00 this morning and am getting a lot done.  First I went to the mall to pick up the last of the gifts.  Macy's opened at 7:00 this morning.  They have a spectacular sale going on.  I found a nice men's watch, three ladies tops, a ladies sweater, two mens dress shirts and a wallet.  Everything came up to only $97.  The lady at the register commented how I sure know how to search for bargins.  I told her, "Indeed I do." 

All that's left to do is little tidying up: clean the bathroom, vacuumed, put away clean laundry and clear off the dining table to get ready for the party.  That shouldn't take much time.    My baking is all done, food is purchased (will start preping on Monday), gifts are bought (will wrap tomorrow).  I even have some down time to take a little nap before I head out this evening for a Christmas party.  

Oh Christmas Tree!

How lovely are your branches.

Thought I'd show off my tree.  I'm so happy with how it looks this year.

Christmas Carols

I didn't have anything to post on Tuesday as it was kind of a dull day.  I have been dealing with a nagging cough from the cold I had two weeks ago so I was not in a festive mood.  I ended up going to bed soon as I got home from work, to rest.  Today, however, was the complete opposite.

When I arrived at office, I was given this mic and song book to play with. I told the lady who handed these to me that she would regret it LOL.   Also we were treated to lunch by one of bosses.

The mic can be used several ways.  It plays Christmas tunes that you sing to either using the elf button which makes your voice sound like an elf, or you can sing using your own voice.  Or you can just talk through the mic with out using the music in the elf or your own voice.  The book has 5 or 6 carols.  One side has the original words to each song and the other side has a different/funny version. It's a really neat gadget.

My voice is still a little hoarse so my singing, let's just say it was something you've never heard before.  I sung both the original versions as well as the funny versions.

Every now and then when people would congregate around my desk, I would just grab the mic and burst into song.  Some even joined in.  I had everyone smiling and laughing.  A few told me not to quit my day job lol.   Yep today was a good day.

10 days til Christmas and I still have lots to do: finish shopping for gifts, wrap gifts, purchase groceries for my Christmas Eve dinner.  Hmm. Now that I see it in print, there really isn't that much. Thursday  at noon I will officially be on vacation. Whoo hoo!  So my plan/goal is to get these tasks completed by the weekend.

Funday Sunday

Every Sunday during football season, my friends get together to watch our team, the Baltimore Ravens, play.  We always have a blast, screaming at the tv, throwing temper tantrums, you name it.

This Sunday was very special as one of the ladies surprised us with an early Christmas gift...this beautiful pin.

She has a co-worker who is very talented make this.  Wish I was this crafty.

Spreading the Christmas Spirit

Today I grabbed some extra decorations from home and decided to decorate my office.  My co-workers all loved my little setup, especially the tree.  Some even expressed getting the Christmas spirit and they were going home to put up a tree or do a little decorating.  Just call me Ms. Claus!

They're A Hit!

So I delivered a big tin of cookies to my co-workers today.  It is my first time bringing in treats for the folks (I transferred to a new office last November).  Those cookies were gone before lunchtime - LOL.  At my old office, they would last a few days.

This is what was left when I took the picture.  When the tin was returned to me it was completely empty.  I am so happy everyone enjoyed the cookies.  I love making people happy, even if it's the little things.

Special Delivery

Today I am delivering cookies to my neighbor, co-workers and friends.

Wrapping Paper - Photo-A-Day

Did you know that wrapping paper has many uses other than for wrapping gifts?  There's lots of ways to use wrapping paper.  You can use it as a table cover.  Or frame it as nice wall art.  Even use as book covers for kids holiday books.  Another really great idea, and I want to hopefully do this next year, cover an old picture frame or mirror to look like gift boxes.  And of course I'm sure you know about wrapping your door with it.

Each year I decorate my front door with wrapping paper.  Kmart is the only store I know that sells wrapping paper specifically for doors.  It's the perfect width and length covering the entire door.  Unfortunately the last known Kmart in the tri-county area recently closed for good which left me stuck with how would I decorate my door this year.  Most of the paper out there either is not wide enough and would leave the edges of the door exposed or the pattern flows horizontal and you find yourself trying to put the paper on like wall paper (which can be stressful trying to match the pattern exactly, not to mention paper being wasted).

Well a few weeks ago I was in Walmart and I found a nice roll of wrapping paper to use on my door. And the pattern was simple snowflakes.  It's not as heavy as the paper I used to get from Kmart, but it was cheaper, $2.97 (half of the cost I normally pay) and there's enough on the roll to use maybe another two to three times.  The Kmart paper was just enough to cover the door once.

And here it is:

I like it!  I like it very much!

Photo-A-Day Catchup

It's been quite busy 'round these parts.  Shopping, baking, hanging out with family and work.  I've barely had a moment to breathe.  As a result I've fallen behind on my photo countdown.   So now I will attempt to catch you up on what's been going on.

The 4th day before Christmas I was putting the very last touches on the decorations in my little palace.  The tree outside my front door needed dressing up.  I wanted to add poinsettia garland but could not find anymore at the dollar store, and I just did not want to pay a lot of money for garland at Michaels or AC Moore.  So what did I do, I just added a bow.

Before

After

On the 5th day a co-worker and I decided to get the office into the holiday spirit.  So we wore our silly hats.  

The 6th and 7th I spent the weekend baking.  Didn't even get to hang with the crew for Sunday football, but I would peak at the tv while home baking my little heart out.  I made ten kinds of cookies:  Chocolate chip, pecan shortbread, peanut butter, almond-cinnamon, oatmeal-raisin, eggnog, sugar, gingerbread, Santa thumbprint and oreo balls.

Santa Thumbprints and Oreo Balls

On the 8th day before Christmas I took pictures of the decorations in my apartment.  Well I had taken them a couple weeks ago but decided to do them over again (a wonderful thing, camera phones).  If I can keep myself still for more than five minutes maybe I will finally get all the pictures up.  But for now here's a sneak peek.

Living/Dining Rooms

I kind of fell off following the actual photo-a-day that I found on Pinterest and decided to do my own thing.  It works better for me, I think.  Anyway that's what's been going on around here.  Hope your holiday season is going fantastic.

Something Red

Today's photo is something red.

For as long as I can remember, red has been my favorite color.  In fact, the majority of my holiday decor is red...ornaments, table cloths, Christmas stockings, you name it.  I love all the new color choices you have now days, but they just aren't for me.  I am truly a traditional Christmas lady.

Like my socks?  A find from my favorite dollar store, Dollar Tree.

I decided to put these on today and wrap myself up in my red fleece blanket while lounging on the sofa watching the lighting of the tree at Rockefella Center on tv.

Photo-A-Day

Back in July I mentioned that I wanted to make the countdown to Christmas more special this year.  What better way than taking pictures, making memories the entire month of December.  The only times I take pictures during the holiday season is when I decorate my little palace and on Christmas Eve when I'm with my family.  Unfortunately I was not feeling my chippers yesterday (sore throat) so I didn't get to post the photo of the day.  So today you'll get to see two.


December 1st was 'Your View of the Day'.  Coming home from work yesterday I saw the lights on my balcony so I pulled over to take a picture.

My apologies the picture's a little distorted,  I was too lazy to get out and get closer to take the picture.  Tonight as I drove down the road, I see that several neighbors have turned on their lights.


December 2nd is 'Your Favorite Holiday Movie'.  For me that will be Christmas Vacation.  I love, love, love that movie.  I watch it a lot during the holidays...on dvd and whenever it comes on television.  Today's photo is not a photo but a little clip from the movie.  It's the scene when Clark thinks he finally gets his bonus check only to discover that it's a membership to the jelly of the month club.


Hilarious and cousin Eddie is a riot lol.  Can't believe this movie is 25 years old (1989).  A classic!