Craft Store Haul

The other day I took the Fam to the craft store to pick up a few things.  We had such a good time, that I thought I would take this opportunity to share what we bought. 

One of the first things we bought were these fabulous little tablets.  We loved how colorful they were and the upbeat messages they carried.

I could not believe the stores are already displaying Halloween stuff.   Don't get me wrong, I love Halloween.  In fact, it is one of my favorite holidays but it continue to be amazed at how quickly the holidays are shoved down our throats so early.  That said, I had to purchase this plague to hanging in our living room.  I figured it would be fun for Dawn to chalk in the changing numbers every morning.

I went to the craft store to purchase this little item.  I have a cable remote for my camera, plus a wireless remote.  I don't like them loose in my camera bag, and this little zipper pouch is the perfect size to house those remotes - keeping them together and safe.  I already have one that is black and says "This & That" which houses my rechargeable camera batteries, so I decided to go back and get this one for my remotes.

This I bought for Mum.  Dawn's the one who collects Beanie Babies (and she has a lot of them), but Mum fell in love with this little Sven from Frozen.

I found this in the Christmas ornament crafting section and wanted it.  Don't ask me why... I just did.  I plan on painting it white.  I don't know why.  I just want to paint it white and hang it on our Christmas tree.

When the Halloween season approaches, we hang a little Halloween-themed ornament on my truck's rear-view mirror.  Usually it is a funky witch's hate, but I saw this skeletal hand with purple ribbon and black spider, and I knew it was perfect for this Halloween's decorate touch to my truck.

I bought these three ceramic Christmas ornaments for a Before and After blog post when it gets closer to Christmas.  Mum picked out the Christmas bell; Dawn picked out the Christmas tree; and, I picked out the snowman.

That's it for our craft store haul.  Just a few bits and bobs to meet a few needs and have a little holiday fun.  What about you? Have you done any shopping lately.  What's a recent purchase you've been prizing on?  Share down in the comments... I'd love to hear about it.

Happy Wednesday!

Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day.  While most of us look at this as a 3 day weekend filled with grilling, camping, and the unofficial start of summer, for others it is a time to remember those who have passed before us and to honor those who fought for our country.  However you celebrate this holiday - please take a few minutes to remember those you've lost and honor those who stood up to defend this country.

Celebrating Mum...

On Sunday, May 10, 2015, a lot of people in this country was celebrating their mums.  Not this family.  It wasn't that we didn't think Mum was worth celebrating, but rather we didn't want to celebrate Mum on the same day everyone else was celebrating.  Why? Because restaurants, parks, and other places we would go are packed with people.  So, this lovely woman was celebrated the next day - Monday.

Lovely, isn't see? She's my mum and a kick-in-the-bum.  Don't let those grey hairs fool you - there is nothing elderly about this woman.  She may walk a little slower, have bad knees, and serious arthritis but she's still as fiesty and youthful as ever.  She is one of the few who, at her age, has no wrinkles.  While she has laugh lines and a little baggage under her eyes from 35+ years of working the graveyard shift, the age spots have yet to appear and her laugh is as boisterous and lively as ever.

So, Dawn and I decided to take Mum out to lunch at one of her favorite restaurants - Calico Cupboard in LaConner, Washington.

Valentine's Day Cards

I remember being in elementary school and having to fill out all those little Valentine's Day cards for my fellow classmates (and teacher) every year.  It was a total event... Mum would take Dawn and I to the store to pick out the perfect boxes of Valentine's cards for our respective classes.  Once we got home, Dawn and I would settle in at the kitchen table and pick out the perfect card and saying for each of the students in the class and carefully sign the card and address the little envelopes.  And we always did it with red pens.  For those students I didn't like (and didn't want to give a card to), I would find the blandest card in the little box to give that person - in the sweetest, most passive aggressive way possible.

Then, on the big day, we would walk to school with our bag of Valentine's Day cards in one hand, and our Valentine's cookies for the class party in the other hand.  We felt empowered and important.  We also felt anxious for the little party planned during the last hour of class.  Admittedly, we also felt a little sugar buzz from the Valentine's Day cookies we ate with our breakfast.  But, I digress... During that last hour of the class, we munched on goodies and went through out little desk mounted mail boxes (which were really just colorfully decorated shoe boxes) brimming with Valentines.  We would laugh, eat, and sometimes wonder if there was any hidden meaning in the cards we received from different students (much like the passive-aggressive act of giving an ugly card to a classmate we didn't like).

Once I hit junior high, however, that whole thing stopped as did those fabulous celebrations I had for every holiday.  Junior high meant I was a teenager, and those Scooby Doo Valentine's Day cards were for little kids.  In junior high, Valentine's Day began to take on a more adult appeal as I began to identify with crushes and "go out" with boys.

I admit, as an adult, I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day.  I liked it as a kid because it was about those little cards and goodies.  It was about that hour off from studies to just laugh and have fun.  As an adult, I've found Valentine's Day is all about spending money on nonsense and separating the coupled from the singletons.  Singletons feel bad because they aren't coupled, while the coupled feel pressure because they're coupled.

But, on the brighter side, adulthood brought me back to Valentine's Day cards and goodies.  Even to this day, I still send cards to family and some friends, and I love receiving their cards in return.  No pressures - just sweet sentiments.  It makes me feel young and happy.  Even better? Those Valentine's Day cookies make me feel hyper and bouncy.  So, here is to all those sweet sentiments held within their colorful paper confines.  And here's to the vanilla sugar cookies with pink and red frosting... They are a joy!

Happy Thursday!

Top 50 Predictions for 2015

It's 2015!  That sure happened quickly!  At least far more quickly than I expected or can appreciate.  But since the new year has arrived, I might as well finish my five stages of grief with some restructuring.  So, I am embracing this new year with all the pomp and circumstance this overloaded brain can muster.

While most bloggers and vloggers seem to be celebrating the arrival of 2015 and bidding good bye to 2014 with a recap of the passed year, I have decided to take a different route.  To recap my 2014 would be redundant since capturing my year is the purpose of this blog; however, I admit my attempts in 2014 were haphazard and sporadic.  Instead, I thought it would be far more interesting to do some predictions for 2015.  And when I say predictions - I really mean predictions. I don't mean resolutions.  I believe resolutions are weak and do not always provide the necessary motivational trigger that pushes us toward success.  No, I believe resolutions come and go with the ease of a whim and are taken with the seriousness of a fad.  I don't do them.

However, I would like to give predictions a go.  So, here are my predictions for 2015.  Keep in mind, they are in no particular order.  They're just written as they come to me.  Here we go...

1. I will get incredibly frustrated and will possibly throw things.
2. I will have frequent moments of joy.
3. I will laugh so hard I either cry or pee a little.
4. I will hold my sister's hand as often as possible.
5. I will be crafty.
6. I will take tremendous pride in my craftiness - no matter how lame the craftiness.
7. I will have my heart broken.
8. I will have many adventures that will make my heart strong again.
9. I will grow to appreciate my relatives and the drama that ensues.
10. I will try harder to forgive.
11. I will try harder to give the benefit of doubt.
12. I will fail in giving the benefit of the doubt (many times).
13. I will walk along the beach, with my toes in the sand, and the Pacific hugging my feet.
14. I will take a photograph so perfect that I smile with pride every time I think of it or see it.
15. I will learn... a lot.
16. I will have moments of spontaneity that I will regret.
17. I will have moments of spontaneity that will flourish in.
18. I will have regrets.
19. I will be humbled.
20. I will be generous.
21. I will do something I have never done before (many times).
22. I will cook more with Mum.
23. I will be frivolous.
24. I will be cheap.
25. I will cry for no reason.
26. I will be brave.
27. I will take many deep breaths.
28. I will work on big, fun projects.
29. I will write something very profound.
30. I will make a new friend.
31. I will fail (big time).
32. I will get up after I have fallen.
33. I will discover.
34. I will reinvent the wheel (figuratively speaking).
35. I will ask for help.
36. I will commit random acts of kindness.
37. I will be brilliant.
38. I will be absent-minded.
39. I will worry.
40. I will lie.
41. I will be so honest people will resent me.
42. I will experience incredible disappointment.
43. I will celebrate.
44. I will be lazy.
45. I will be sarcastic.
46. I will be grateful (many times).
47. I will try to stop time.
48. I will struggle.
49. I will smile (frequently and broadly).
50. I will be me.

There you go... These are my top 50 predictions for me in 2015.  Simple and real.  What about you? What are your predictions for your 2015?  Leave a comment and let me know.  I would sure love to read them.

Happy 2015!

Pier 1 Holiday Haul

Recently I decided to do a little Christmas shopping.  There is so much awesome stuff out there to shop for/at that it isn't always easy to settle on a purchase.  However, a favorite go to place for me is Pier 1 - especially at Christmas.  Keep in mind, this is not a sponsored post.  Pier 1 has no idea that I'm writing this post, nor did they provide any of the items I'm going to show you.  These purchases are mine.  I used my money and made the decisions on what to buy (with a little help from the Fam).

First off, did I mention how cool the store is decorated? I love all the festive, colorful bits and bobs that are strategically placed throughout the store.  I want to just wrap myself in a soft, fuzzy blanket, nestle into my sofa, and watching faery lights blink on and off for hours.

And, of course, what Christmas tree would be complete without ornaments?  Many folks theme-up their trees, but we just throw all our ornaments on that we've collected through the years.  It is now getting to the point where we're going to have to put up 2 Christmas trees every year.

I just love their displays, though.  Santas, snow folks, and  many, many others galore.  So, let's start with the purchases...

Top 15 Favorite Holiday Movies

There is a lot of debate out there on which are the best holiday movies.  Some find the choices as sacred as their political affiliations, coffee choices, or football teams.  But, I thought I would share, with all of you folks, my top holiday movie choices.  These choices are not in any particular order.  That would make this post far too difficult for my brain at this time of the year.

Of course, the Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol is fabulous.  This version is not the original, but it far surpasses any prior or after (and that includes the creepy Jim Carey version).  I remember watching this movie when I was a kid, and I still watch it (it doesn't count that I consider myself to still be a kid).  Alastair Sim will forever be Scrooge.

An American classic! To not have this movie on a top holiday movie list is a criminal action, and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law (not matter what country you are in).   Anyone who cannot relate to this simple fact is not human.

Christmas in Connecticut... Okay, I first saw this in my early 20s when I was an aggressive feminist and the very thought of the 1940s reality of a woman's role made my physically ill.  As I got older, I have found the humor in this little ditty and a deep understanding of Barbara Stanwyck's attempts of trying to be a successful single woman in a world where a woman's success was measured by her husband.  Sure, there is a mushy love story in there, but I'm certain you'll appreciate it like I do.

Uh? What planet are you from?!?! Elf is a bowl full of spaghetti topped with maple syrup.  This movie actually deserves rock star status amongst the holiday movies.

And then there is Fred Claus... Right up there with Elf.  Vince Vaughn pretty much plays the same character in every movie, but in this one - it is the other character s who make this movie a bright star and holds a solid place on my holiday movie list.

A classic.  'Nuff said.

I do love this movie.  A precocious child, bumbling robbers, and plenty of hi jinx.  The movies that followed pushed the formula too far and became ingratiating.  However, the original still is a must watch during the holidays (and after the holidays too).

Mum's all time favorite.  We end up watching this movie several times during the holiday season.  It typically starts around Halloween, and it doesn't end until Valentine's Day.  At least I can say Mum knows what she likes.

I like this one.  It is a bit of a ketchy storyline, but Queen Latifah is fabulous in it. And, quite frankly, is sends a great message... Life is too short, so life it!

A childhood favorite that turned into an adulthood favorite.  Dawn and I grew up on these puppet and clay-mation movies.  When I watch them as an adult, it reminds me of what a great childhood I had.

This movie is, in a word, poetry.

Hammered by the critics, but I believe this little ditty is severally under-rated.  

I LOVE this movie.  I love all the supporting characters, how Sandra's Lucy talks to herself, and how the story just slowly falls into place like snow.  I love they used Chicago as the backdrop of this sweet story, and I love how Peter Gallagher's character is so profoundly shallow - even when he's in a coma.

Danny Kaye? Check! Rosemary Clooney? Check!  The song "Sisters"? Check! A total classic that epitomizes the holiday season.

How can you go wrong with the Miser Brothers? You can't!  Mickey Rooney's Santa Claus is totally upstaged by the bad guys... I'm convinced this is what set the foundation for Alan Rickman's work.

Now many of my friends will have an issue with me not including the British classic, Love Actually.  And I will tell you why I didn't include this movie...

Liam Neeson becomes the wing man to a 10-year-old; Hugh Grant has an inappropriate relationship with his employee; the husband and wife of Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman have a dissolving marriage thanks to Rickman's behavior toward an employee; and Kiera Knightly's character is being wooed by the best friend of her husband.  Not to mention the weird dynamic between two body doubles on a movie set, where the majority of their interactions are in the nude (the guy being played by Bilbo Baggins... Martin Freeman).  This movie is creepy, weird, and an HR Manager's nightmare.

So, what are your favorite movies? Is there anything I missed? Share, and if I haven't seen them before - I'll definitely check them out.

Craft Store Haul

The Fam and I recently headed to the craft store to purchase a couple of things.  However, our "couple of things" quickly multiplied.  Do you experience this interesting problem? Step into a craft store intending to spend a few dollars, but you walk out spending at least $50.  So, I thought I would share a few purchases we made.

The first thing I bought was some of these wooden signs.  They were $1.50 each, and my plan is to put them in the corners of the bulletin boards of my office to make my office a bit more festive.

These gift boxes were also $1.50 (for a package of two).  I thought they were decorative enough to use throughout the year for little gifts.

I bought this night light for $8.99.  My sister picked out a Santa Claus one last month, but I wanted the snowman.  Of course, Dawn got her way.  This time, I got my way.

I bought a roll of wrapping paper.  I bought this because it was decorative enough to use any time of the year, and generic enough to use for both guys and gals. This cost a total of $1.50.

Calendars! Yes! I needed calendars.  And at 90 cents each, how can I go wrong? One is for Dawn and the other is for Mum, but I plan to use one of them for a blogging calendar.

 I LOVE these babies.  They're compact mirrors - one size magnified.  When I do photo shoots, I like to give little compacts to those I'm photographing.  I needed to rejuvenate my supplies, so I bought a few more.  At only $1.50 each, how can I not?

We use an artificial tree.  While an artificial tree has its perks, it doesn't have that great pine scent that contributes to the Christmas mood.  So, we bought these pine scented Scentsicles.  They hang from the branches (we hang them deep in the branch by the trunk, so they're invisible) and the tree smells like the real thing.  It cost us $3.99 but I believe we got them on sale.

I bought a couple of these big, metal plates for Mum.  She loves baking to begin with, but at Christmas time... She goes crazy.  So, I bought her these plates for $2.99 so she can use them for the neighbor's goody plates.

Of course, we head to purchase a couple of holiday decorations.  This one has a prized place in the living room and cost $12.99.

This one we bought for $12.99 also, and it sits on the dresser in Mum's bedroom.  It adds a little flash of festiveness to her otherwise dull bedroom (yes, Mum knows her bedroom decor is dull).

The craft store we did our haul from was Michael's.  The haul post is not sponsored by Michaels.  It just happens to be our go-to craft store.

Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving! The holiday to give thanks for all you have and eat a lot of food.  For me, this year has provided plenty of reasons to be thankful.  Those reasons include...

• Family...  Mum and Dawn are a great source of fun, comfort, and inspiration.  They're always game for an adventure, and I love adventures.
• Health...  I've been healthier this year than in many years, and I am hoping to carry that over into 2015.  But in 2014 I've managed to dodge flu and cold seasons, and I've had any major injuries.  The family's health has also been relatively positive.  Rock on, Health!
• Work...  Work has been good.  Clients have been calling, and I had many opportunities at the universities I teach at.  I'm actually looking at cutting back on work, so I can focus on other things in 2015.
• Travel... We had some travel opportunities this year.  I love travel, especially road trips.  We took two major road trips and several little road trips this year, and we had a blast on the road.  There were a few hiccups on our last road trip, but nothing that we couldn't work around.

 How about you? What are your reasons to be thankful?

Easter Time!

Merry Christmas!

This is the Christmas card we went out this year.  We thought we would do something a little different this year, so we went with the simple 5 x7 card with front and back printing.

But I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Christmas! I hope your day is filled with plenty of family, food, and festivities.

This blog is going on hiatus until January 2013, but I promise lots of fun and surprises for the new year.

Christmas Trees Galore

A tradition in my little family is to head down to Lynnwood, Washington and visit Wight's.  Wight's is a garden store that bursts into a bustling  Christmas shop at this time of year.  They take dozens of trees and decorate them with all sorts of lovely lights, baubles, and bits and bobs.  And no tree is ever the same, nor do they repeat their trees each year.

There are big trees bursting with all sorts of extensions...

And smaller, more delicate trees with intricately placed decorations.

This tree reminded me of Clare - who has gone from big city girl to acclimating herself into a cowgirl lifestyle.

While the colors of this tree reminded me of New Orleans and Mardi Gras.

I immediately thought of Maggie over at Do These Shoes Match This Purse? when I saw this pink creation.

While the colors in this tree reminded me of candy, cupcakes, and cookies.

This dog and cat tree was Dawn's favorite...

While Mum's favorite was the purple creation... Probably because purple is her favorite color.

My favorite was this baby.  With a life-size Santa sitting comfortably in front of it, this tree was the tallest in the store and loaded with all sorts of baubles and lights. 

If this doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit... Nothing will! So when you get a chance... head to Wight's in Lynnwood, Washington.  You won't be disappointed by the Christmas spirit.  We never are!

Happy Christmas Eve!