Christmas, the remix.

Is anybody else tired? I am having a very intense bout of blog-apathy right now. I just ain't feelin' it. I'm hoping that I'll get a surge of inspiration soon. For now, the only thing that is keeping me hanging on is the idea that I am doing this whole blog thing for the purpose of posterity. So with that... Here are a few things you missed.

We made a cute Christmas train with "Titty" (that's Katie, for short.) Good times.
(But please forgive my scary comb-over... it was a long day.)
Thanks, Titty!

...And then came Jack's school Christmas party. He was so dang cute and was LOVING that I was there. At HIS school, on HIS turf. He had a blast. But, um... as for me.... um. Well... I don't want to look back on this and think- "Gah! Why was I such a whiny butt...?!" But I have to keep it real. It was less than fun. A tiny room filled with screaming sugar-induced 3 year old tantrums, anti-social mom's, bossy teachers.
Yeah.

But one look at this face, and I forget.
And last, but most certainly not least... Christmas DID come at the Harrison's! Jack was really into it this year, all about Santa, and saying his prayers to Jesus every night before bed... in the hopes for some loot!
Well, he made out pretty well, I must say! Trains trains trains.... candy, candy, candy.....
It will go down in our memories as a super sweet time. Andy was home from work all week, and there was some significant male-bonding going on... I know it had a profound effect on Jack. (and Andy.) (and Me.) Sweet times.

So here's hoping you all had just a fine a time as we! And a very Happy New Year to you!!! I'm off now... I have a date with my own Santa surprise... our new KINGSIZE baby!
Yeah, I'm uppity now. I'm big time.

G'night, my darlings.

A Christmas list of sorts...

Wherein I will disclose to you some of my favorite things about this time of year.


1. Candles that smell of things like clove, snow, cinnamon, fir trees or peppermint. (my FAVORITE candle of all time being this one.)
2. Putting up big, colorful, Charlie Brownish Christmas lights.
3. Scarves.
4. Boots.
5. Fleece pajamas
6. Drinks like mulled wine, spiced cider, silknog, and pumpkin spiced lattes.
7. Having my family together, under one roof on cold rainy nights.
8. Outdoor fire-pits (and the people who fall into them on New Years Eve... teehee).
9. Chocolate chocolate chocolate is everywhere!
10. Watching It's A Wonderful Life.
11. Crying while watching It's A Wonderful Life, even though I've seen it over 100 times.
12. Remembering how it felt to (truly truly) believe in Santa.
13. Woolly hats.
14. Getting hand-written Christmas cards in the mail every day.
15. Crafts, crafts and more crafts.
16. Watching Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer with Jack, and trying to explain that The Bumble is actually a "sweet monster with a toothache."
17. Peppermint brownies.
18. DOMINATING in the gingerbread house competition! (Yeah, I said it.)
19. New Christmas socks.
20. Singing my favorite carol: O Holy Night. (And choking up at the "Fall on your knees..." part. Unable to go on.)
21. Keeping these albums on repeat.
24. Feeling the humility and joy that come with knowing it's all about Jesus.
25. Constantly being reminded of Number 24.


I know it's been said... Many times... Many ways.
Merry Christmas to you.
See you back here after the Holidays!

Over the river and through the woods...

You can call off the dogs... Contrary to what you may think, I am indeed still alive. Sorry it's been sooooo dern long since I've written anything (that is, if you actually care, which you may not, in which case you may not have even registered my absence at all. And I guess that's OK.... just don't let it happen again. What? No. I'm not reprimanding you, I just need you to care a little more. Ok? OK.)

Ahem, Moving on...

Don't let my lack of posting lead you to believe that we have not been busy around here. We been busy. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family here. Followed by a precious visit to the farm and the warm and much-needed arms of my sweet Mama. Jack played 'til his little heart's content. Out running in the yard with his cousins from beginning to end, red-cheeked and dirty, just like a true farm boy. We decorated the tree and the house. Ate yummy T-day leftovers. Slept. It was a great time. Yep, that would be me in the above. 1984 y'all! Cute as a freakin' button. I just L-O-V-E pulling out all these old ornaments. Floods of memory. So bittersweet. That's Jack and the apple of his eye, his cousin Sofia. He was absolutely rapturous the entire time having her as a playmate... It was so fun watching them. It reminded me of how my favorite part of any holiday was getting to see my cousins. The best. One morning, while pouring myself some coffee I glanced out the kitchen window into the back field and saw this: Yeah. I freaked. There were two of them just loping around back there. Coyotes! The first time I've ever seen one, I've only ever just heard them. Cool (and scary.) Since getting back, we've all been a bit under the weather and haven't done much of anything... However, I did manage to whip up a new wreath. I wanted it to be wintry instead of Christmasy so I don't have to take it down in a few weeks. It was super-easy to assemble and I dig it. Felt is my favorite thing ever. I hope you all continue to have a pleasant week (if that is indeed what you are having.) And if you find yourself needing a little bit of a lift, I recommend you watch this. It made me laugh SO hard the other night.

Buh-bye.

Our Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas. Jack had a blast. The family time was much needed and greatly enjoyed. I feel a little guilty about not having already posted anything about our wonderful holiday... I have just been so pooped. We've literally been hibernating these last few days, and it has been loverly! I had been trying desperately to work up the motivation to document all of our happenings... but I still just don't have it in me. So in an attempt to at least post something, here's some eye candy to tide you over. I hope everyone had a beautiful, blessed, and peaceful Christmas. ...And will have a fun, fabulous New Years Eve!




(ps... here's my "gingerbread" house. I wanted to do a whole blog dedicated to our Gingerbread House Party Extravaganza and show what everyone made... but "someone" never got their butt in gear to send me the pictures... (ahem... You know who you are...) So I will settle with just showing off my own masterpiece!

Life lessons...

OK...
I know this time of year, more than anything, is not the time for making fun of people. ...We should all be full of Christmas spirit, love, acceptance and overall jolliness. ...But I have to keep it real for just a minute. I just had an eye-opening experience that warrants a blog... and you'll all just have to give me the benefit of the doubt that I am actually a good person. (I'll even try and re-route what I'm about to tell you into some kind of good-natured Christmas lesson...)

...So, I was about to check out at my regular grocery store today, and as I was starting to place my items on the conveyor, I glanced at the cashier. Only long enough to take in the basics... You know what I mean?...Just getting an overall image of someone...
Female, older, red-hair, smiling, slightly-trashy(-sorry).
I finished emptying my cart, and walked up to pay. The cashier had started talking to the bag boy. She was complaining that her back hurt so bad, and that she swears she feels like she's 90 years old... She just couldn't believe that she was actually only 30.

WHAT!

At this point I took a closer look at her. I swear, if I had not heard her say her age, I would have pegged her at about 55.

The bag boy said, "When's your birthday?"
"July {something}...", she replied, "I was born in 78. GOD, I'm so old!... I just feel like I'm falling apart."

At this point I was literally gaping at her, and trying to see a thirty-year-old. It was very hard. She had the wrinkled, leathery skin that comes with way too much sun, and the harsh voice from too many cigarettes. Her hair was dyed beyond an inch of it's life, and now had a hay-like quality to it. But behind all that, I could see that she was, in fact, a young person. She had started talking to me then, and asking if I was ready for Christmas, and whatnot... just small talking, and I was answering in like kindness. At one point, I even wanted to interject that I also was almost 30... and then, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It seemed taboo to me, like if I said it, it would only draw attention to the vast differences between us.

I left feeling a strange sadness. ...and a strange thankfulness. Life is lived so much harder by some people. It takes such a toll. I've seen that same look on many people, and it always just makes me sad. There's no telling what they've gone through to have left them looking so much worse for the wear. I've had such a blessed life, and I am so thankful. It only makes me want to show more kindness, and more love to those less fortunate than me. ...and maybe by doing so take some of the weight from their shoulders.

...Lesson learned.

I heart LUSH!

So, I don't get around much anymore.
I mean, there has definitely been a significant change in my definition of "shopping". Where once I would freely roam the malls, drive across town to go to a specific shop, stay updated on what stores were opening, and what the latest and greatest were... now, just going 3 miles down the road to Target, making a quick lap around the store, buying only what I absolutely need, and getting the heck out before Jack flips his lid.... is my version of shopping. (That's also my version of a run-on sentence...)

I digress, I'm a little slow on the uptake these days, and must rely on the footwork of others to keep me posted on what's what in the world of retail.

This past couple weeks have been quite a treat, however. I am proud to say that I have been seen on more than one occasion showered, dressed (in something other than pj bottoms), hair coiffed, and out and about town! This is progress. ...Shoot! This may have even been the "change" Barack was talking about!

I've been to the mall several times here recently, and I must say... I've enjoyed myself. There's one store in particular that I have now become totally enamored with...

LUSH!

I know, I know, it's been around for a while, but as I said, I haven't been around in a while... so, I only just had my first experience with it the other day. I'm in love!

I love original ideas when it comes to ordinary things. I had pretty much felt like, how much more could really be done with bath products that hasn't already been done... right? Wrong.
LUSH has so many awesome products. Bath Bombs, Bubble Bars, Emotibombs, Shower Jellies, Solid shampoos, even Henna Hair Dye.... and SO much more! I love everything!
I bought a couple lucky gals on my shopping list a gift or two the other day, and took the free gifts home for meself. (heehee)

I scored a Christmas Party Bath Bomb... and a Holiday Bubble Bar...Divine!

I love the company's motto of using fresh ingredients, avoiding the use of synthetic preservatives, making their products freshly by hand, not testing on animals, protecting the environment, and supporting the community as well. All beautiful things!

I could go on and on, but would never be able to give you the experience.
Go. Enjoy. Breath deeply.
And bring me back something!

To the trees!

Thanks to my lovely sister, Jennifer, I did manage to get that tree up yesterday. She helped me pick it out, haul it home, decorate, cook, and entertain me all the while!
I love her.


While at the tree place, I asked the guy with the chainsaw if I could have some of his stumps. With a curious expression, he said that was a first, but that, yes i could. Once again, I was seen dumpster-diving in public. But I ended up with about a dozen round stumps that we turned into ornaments with the help of a drill and some raffia.




I decided that I wanted to do a rustic, harvest-y, bird tree. I used dried wheat, tiny birds, pheasant feathers, and other ornaments I already had that looked kinda old world. No one else could manage to understand my vision... (and some even laughed when they saw my bag of feathers, and grass, and stumps...) But I like the way it turned out!




Thanks again, sweet sister!
......................................................................................................................

And here are some pics of Jack's tree...


Now, mama needs a hot toddy! (heavy on the toddy.)

Out of the woods.

I seriously need to recharge and recenter!
The last week I've spent holed up in this house with sickness has me itching to GET OUT!!! Andy is still very sick, and is shuffling around the house hacking like a dying moose. We took Jack to the pede yesterday, and I'm so glad! He did have an ear infection, and so now he's on antibiotics. I think we caught it early enough that he's going to be out of the woods soon. He already seems to be back to normal. We've literally spent the last 48 hours cuddling, watching winnie-the-pooh, and remaining in a constant state of drug-induced doze.

...But as I said, Mama's ready for a time-out!

I had plans to go pick out a tree today, and finish up on the decor... but since The Man is out of commission, I've enlisted the help of my sister. We're heading out in a few to pick it up.

As I said in a recent post, I always want to go all out and do a really awesome job with the christmas decor. This ill-timed sickness has set me back. I've managed to get a lot done, despite that... but I have plans for more. I decided that I would put up two trees this year: a family, keepsake-ornamented, fun, Jack tree in the "play room" (AKA den), and an artsy, themed, grown-up, tree for me in the dining room. Jack's tree's been up for a week, now it's time for mine. Yay.

Hopefully I'll have some good pictures to show by next time! Till then, lovies.

inspirations

I LOVE holiday decorating! who doesn't???
I spent last evening flipping through one of my favorites...

Cottage Living

Every year I say that I am really going to go all out decorating our little cottage... but somehow it's never really happened. There are so many project ideas bouncing around in my head, and I really want to see them out. The hard part is making it all kid-friendly. With Jack charging full-steam-ahead into the (Terrible)Twos... and wanting to put his hands on everything, it's going to be a challenge. Both of the Christmases we've spent in this house have been with a sad little fake tree. And, that was OK.... but I need that Sprucey smell! I LOVE a real tree, and this year, I am putting the foot down, and getting one!... (And, undoubtedly, also getting the sap-smeared walls and pine-needle scatterings that come with.)


I digress....

I am really looking forward to getting that tree. I'm already looking for decorating inspiration. I like simple, old-timey, crafty things... I liked this little yarn tree.



...Also, I love these beautiful wreath ideas...

An herb wreath with sage, rosemary, oregano and bay.


This one would not be hard, with the raw materials that are currently littering my yard.



I love moss on anything... so these are some of my favorites.


Newspaper flowers.
I thought this was a cute idea for something a little different. (And, you're recycling. BONUS!)


Antique silverware. Beautiful.


I just can't wait to get started, and make our little home a beautiful, warm and festive place for the coming season.

Happy Thursday, y'all!