2012 Rearview

Looking back at this year I had a lot of firsts...Vegas, skydiving, Cancun, zip lining, entertaining at my house both family and friends.  My sister and I also made our first Thanksgiving turkey.  All in all the year had its ups and downs but I am proud of the risks I took (skydiving in particular).  I can't wait to see what the new year brings.

I will leave you with the traditional song for this evenings festivities.  This version used in the first Sex and the City movie is one of my favorites.  

and the lyrics...just in case 

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you'll buy your pint cup !
and surely I'll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we've wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there's a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o' thine !
And we'll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

Have a great night!

Merry Christmas

Hope you enjoyed a wonderful day with the people you love. 

I'm Dreaming...

 Of a White Christmas...While I am not a fan of the cold, there is something about a white Christmas that makes it all the more magical.  I don't know if its how the snow makes everything look so clean or the quiet the white stuff also seems to bring.  It could because it doesn't happen that often.  Right now the forecast is 41 degrees with a chance of rain.  Boo.  One can hope.

Trivia - What is the name of the horse in the song Jingle Bells?

 Images found on {Pinterest}

Favorite 5

Can you believe there are only 5 days until Christmas?  I sure can't.  I thought I would share some of my favorite holiday movies, books and songs with you all.

Favorite 5 Movies

1. White Christmas

2. Home Alone

3. Elf

4. The Grinch (Jim Carry version)

5. Charlie Brown's Christmas

Favorite 5 Books

1. The Night Before Christmas

2. Christmas Carol

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

4. The Polar Express

5. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Favorite 5 Songs

1. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

2. Baby, It's Cold Outside

3. O Holy Night

4. Santa, Can You Hear Me

5. All I Want for Christmas is You

The movies and songs were tougher then I thought.  Those lists could have been much longer and I am sure tomorrow I will want to make some changes.  

Weekend Fun ~ Holiday Party

I had my first holiday party over the weekend.  I had a lot of fun getting everything ready.  So much fun in fact, I forgot to charge the camera battery.  So, iPhone pictures it is.  It was the only option before everyone got here.  I live in a development and since I was going to keep my front door open, I lit the path to my front door.  This way everyone knew where the party was at!

When it came to the food, I only had red, white and green items.  Yes, I am that girl.  I always think I am going to have either too much or not enough.  Luckily, this mix worked out perfectly.  I probably could have had more shrimp, but then again, you can always have more shrimp!

This little stop in my kitchen may be my favorite little surprise in the house.  My front door is a dark green, so the fresh wreath did not show up there.  On a whim I grabbed some ribbon to help make the kitchen a little festive.  

If you are thinking "those look like the clippings from her Christmas tree" you are absolutely correct!  I wanted something to fill the space on the table, but leave enough room for drinks and plates and such.  I don't think you can ever go wrong with candles.  So candles + tree clippings = perfect FREE centerpiece.  Yup, that was made from all things I already had on hand.  

Sorry, you couldn't make it.  I can't believe Christmas is in less than a week!!

When there are no words...

#forsandyhook

Third Tree's a Charm

Finally got my tree up!  It's about time.  Yeah, I know.

But before we get to mine, I'd like to show you the other two trees I did this year. My G-pop (mom's dad) is going to be 93 this year!  I know, right, I can't believe it either.  For the most part he is in good health.  He still lives in the house he shared with my Grandmom.  She passed away more then 20 years ago.  I can't believe that either.  I lived with my G-pop for a few years while I was saving for my house. But even before then, I somehow ended up being the one that decorates his house for the holidays.  I must be lucky, he has 7 kids, 5 of them girls and then 21 grandchildren.  Honestly, I don't mind.  I enjoy the time with him and he always tells me stories.  Back in the day he would get a real tree.  We have since made the switch to a fake one.   But this beauty has 900 lights!  I know this because he tells me every year, oh, and it says it right on the box!  Only red balls on this guy, thats thanks to my Grandmom.  

Next up was my Grandmom (dad's mom, obviously).  She has always had a fake tree I think.  

As long as I remember it was a table top tree.  This is her second Christmas since my Grandfather passed away.   That's them in the pic above the tree, great looking couple, aren't they?   She wasn't even going to put the tree up.  I was able to convince her, thankfully.  Her tree usually had colored lights, I found out that was because of Grandpop.  So, last year for the first time, and again this year, she got clear lights on her tree.  We stuck with a simple color pallet, using ornaments she already had.   It is a little hard to tell in this picture but they are gold, cream and light pink.  A very girly tree indeed.  She's earned it!   Her family was all boys, her husband and 2 boys.   We added some gold bows and an angel on top of course.  I think she was happy when it was done,  I hope it reminds her of all the great holidays with my Grandpop.

Drum roll please...here is mine!

This is the perfect tree for me and I knew it right when I saw her.  This is the best corner to put her so she needed to be on the skinny side.  On the down side, some of her branches are a little flimsy, but I hug the small ornaments on those.  Like my G-pop, I only use red balls and a few small silver ones.  Must be from the years of doing his tree that the red only grew on me.  The tree sits right next to the TV so now I can sit on the couch and enjoy her in all her glory!  Definitely worth the wait!

Now that you have see all three, which one is your favorite?  Do any of you have more then one tree?  I hope to have multiple, in my next house. 

Weekend Fun

This weekend went by so fast...well they all do, but this was seemed really fast.  

Friday night J and I did a little shopping followed by a movie on the couch.  

I am not sure who is going to use the Hulk stuff more...Dad or son.

Saturday morning we finished our {Pinterest} inspired chalkboards.  

Sorry no before or during project shots.  Maybe next time...  

We use {this} tutorial, but really it was very simple.  

The one on the floor is for J's mom.  Today is her birthday.  

He got fancier trim and stained it with two different colors, he was so happy with the result!

I am almost done with the decorations.  Still not tree, hopefully this week.

I used a square utility tote from thirty-one to keep as a place for my blankets to call home.

They usually end up all over the couch or chair.  

The question now is will I really fold them up every night?

It was 60 degrees here today.  

Not very Decembery, really hoping for some winter weather soon!

Ultimate Gift Guide

There are lots of gift guides running around the web this time of year.

And I must call attention where attention is due.

The inaugural issue of To & From is fantastic!

These gals thought of everything. 

They also recruited help from some other folks you may know.

There are 150 pages to check out, complete with ideas for anyone and everyone on your list.

Well done, Ladies, well done!

Check it out {here}

Oh What Fun...

It is to change up your art for the holiday!  I am almost done decorating the house.  

I hope to share with you soon.  I still have to get the tree!

I switched out some frames with printable found on {Pinterest} and around the web.

Below are some of my favorites!

this one is from {Little Baby Garvin}.  I just love her chalkboard designs!

Everyone needs a little Elf in their life.  {Found here}

There are several different versions of this one.  Santa and his reindeer were my choice.  {found here}

This tree can go anywhere.  I have it up in my kitchen.  {Found here}

Am I the only one that doesn't have a tree up yet?

Weekend Fun ~ Santa Express

I spent all of Saturday in the car so exciting pictures from Saturday.

Sunday I went to the railroad for the Santa Express with my sis, nephew, mom and other beautiful ladies from the family.  It was a great day, chilly but fun none the less.

Don't you love this time of year?

Thought for the Day

Weekend Fun

My trip to Houston was a quick one.  My sister is the power shopper.  

We were able to take advantage of some more Black Friday deals.

Luckily, I was able to fit everything in my bag.  I left the suitcases I took in Texas. 

Saturday night I got to hang out with my nephew.  

It was my younger sister's 10 year high school reunion. 

We went over to J's house so the boys could play together.

He had a good time and was out like a light as soon as I put him to bed.

I always have so much fun with him.

Sunday was decorating day at Gpop's house.  I help him with the tree every year.

He will be 93 in December!  I lived with him for a few years while I was saving for my house.

He even got off the couch to help this year.  Most times he sits and tells me where to put the ornaments.

Even he was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

This is one of my favorite ones.  It is so old but I just love it.

The plan was to come home and get my house done but that just didn't happen.  Oh well.  

Who else put off Christmas for just another day or two?

Turkey Time

Well, we survived our first Thanksgiving on our own.  I had a good time.

We had more then enough food, but the table looked fantastic.

That was all Vic, she really surprised me.  It was all set when I got there from the airport.

The star of the show was the gold chevron table runner.  It was purchased at {The Paper Source}

(I'll apologize now that these are not the best pictures)

Also loved our Give Thanks plates and owl place card holders from {Crate and Barrel}

Since it was just the two of us, we decided a butterball turkey breast would be more then enough meat.

Texas sized feast for two!

In addition to "the bird" we had green beans, stuffing, twice backed potatoes, salad
and corn bread muffins.  No pies here, only cupcakes for dessert. 

Like most holiday meals, we spent longer making the meal then we did eating it.  

We did take some time to snap a picture using a photo timer app on my phone.  

After several tries we finally got one we both approved.

After dinner and the clean up a.k.a. loading the dishwasher (another perk of a smaller feast), we headed to the tree lighting ceremony downtown.  

Although we never did see the tree (too many people) we did get to see a great fireworks show. 

 It was neat to see the fireworks in the reflections of the high rise windows.  

That was a first for me.

And because we didn't have anything else to do on Thanksgiving evening, we decided to go SHOPPING!

We had to wait in line to get in, but it wasn't that bad.  

Maybe forty five minutes total and there were still shopping carts left when we got in.  

We were able to get everything we wanted and then some thanks to some crazy DVD specials.  

Really DVDs for $4.00!

This was my first Thanksgiving/Black Friday shopping experience, overall better then I expected.

Pretty great day, if I do say so myself.  I hope you all enjoyed as well!

Happy Thanksgiving

Here is hoping you all get to spend the day with the special people on your life, both family and friends. Be thankful for what you have and who you are!

I am spending this holiday with my sister in Houston. We are cooking, just the 2 of us, for the first time. I'll be back tomorrow to let you know how it went!