Here's a great photo of the girls!
Aren't they cute? Being with them just makes me miss them more! :(
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Babies, Babies, Babies
On Saturday, I spent my time with 3 nieces and 3 great-nieces. Always great to see them, but also very exhausting! :) The middle niece (of the 3 sisters) had a baby shower (thrown by her older and younger sister)--fun time had by all. Check out the cute diaper cake--and no it wasn't edible...
Here's a great photo of the girls!
Aren't they cute? Being with them just makes me miss them more! :(
Here's a great photo of the girls!Aren't they cute? Being with them just makes me miss them more! :(
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...
With Miracle on 34th Street (1973 version--and one I've never seen) on TV, I finally got some decorating done. The tiny tree (3 feet tall this year) and mantle have been half-finished since Saturday.I love the fact that I can now take photos without flash! I did take a few with flash just to compare, and the ones without the flash look so much better.
Taking pictures this Christmas is going to be so much fun! I wonder how many I can take? I'll definitely have to remember to charge the battery the night before!
Family and friends--watch out!
Love how the photo of the candles on my coffee table turned out! And yes, they are peppermint-scented.
I even put a real wreath on my front door--a first since I've lived here. But, no lights strung around the outside since I didn't want to deal with the ladder. It's cold out there anyway!
Now, I just have to tackle wrapping gifts and writing out my cards!Sunday, December 9, 2007
Rules for Christmas Shopping
Rule #1: Go to a store where you want to buy all sorts of stuff for yourself.
Rule #2: Buy what you want--after all, aren't you worth it?
Rule #3: Take out your Christmas list.
Rule #4: Review your financials.
Rule #5: Create IOUs for everyone to let them know you'll get them a Christmas present after you win the lottery.
Just kidding! ;)
Suz and I braved the morning crowds and went Christmas shopping today. We did really well--hit 5 stores in about 4 hours. That includes the time that we spent at her house before and after the shopping expedition.
Our first stop...Sephora, located inside JC Penney's. No, it probably wasn't a good idea to go there first since the only presents we would buy there would be for ourselves! But, we also got a 20% off all purchases coupon (good for today only), so we couldn't walk out of there empty-handed.
Then, we stopped a Build-A-Bear, which is always fun, even if you don't buy anything. However, Suz didn't leave without bringing home a new addition...
Yes, it's the Grinch (which happened to be on TV last night)! I didn't even know Build-A-Bear had licensed characters, but you could also make Shrek, Rudolph and Clarice, and Cody (from Surf's Up). Of course, I also found something I'll eventually take home with me...
I've always had a little thing for stuffed monkeys. I think it's because they remind me of one of my favorite people. (Just teasin', M!)
Isn't this monkey cute??? I didn't buy him today (cha-ching at Sephora!), but I figure I'll adopt him sometime next year.
Suz and I also made it to Toys R Us. It wasn't that crowded when we arrived, and although the line was long, it moved quickly. It's so much fun being in a toy store at Christmas time, with the exception of screaming children. Now tell me why parents bring their kids to a toy store at Christmas?!?!? Are you really going to be able to shop with them tagging along? Anyway, we both managed to cross several gifts off our list with this visit.
The last two stores were completely spontaneous. Walgreen's is the only store I know of (oh, except for maybe Rite-Aid) that sells mini candy canes (or baby candy canes, as Suz calls 'em). Of course, they weren't on the shelf, so Suz had to ask for them--and yes, they did have them, but they hadn't re-stocked the shelves). We also had to ask for help getting some butter cookie tins down (who the heck puts that stuff on a HIGH shelf?!?), and I had a special request to be checked out at the cosmetic counter. Can you say high-maintenance shoppers??? I'm sure the assistant manager and the two other people that helped us with all our questions were quite happy to see us leave.
Oh, and it snowed while we were shopping! Nothing too big--just snow flurries, but so much more fun than rain. It only lasted for a little bit on and off today, but I always love seeing the flakes come down.
Suz and I also stopped a Bi-Mart, a store I've never been in until today. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. As Suz put it, who sells guns right down the aisle from tampons??? Yes, an eclectic store (as Shawn called it) is probably the best description! Just don't put a woman with PMS down that aisle!!! Hee, hee!
I also met up with my friend Linden. We finally got to see The Jane Austen Book Club at the movie theater. However, this wasn't just ANY theater. The movie was playing at the Living Room Theaters, which is the best experience I've ever had during a movie! The seats are wide, plushy, and comfortable. There are big drink holders on the chair arms, which also happened to be padded and wide. Best of all--we shared an ottoman! And, you can also order food when you first walk in, and it will be delivered to you at your seat. Isn't that awesome??? I definitely have to go back to this theater! It's like watching a movie at home, but better because of the service, which I didn't actually try out, but we got to watch some other people take advantage of the the ordering process.
Oh, and the movie, The Jane Austen Book Club, which is based on a novel by Karen Joy Fowler, was funny and smart. (I have a feeling it will end up in my DVD collection once it makes it out on video.) Since Linden and I love Jane Austen, we had to see this movie. She had already read the book and heard the movie was even better than the book--a rarity. I hadn't read the book yet. But, right after the movie ended, Linden and I walked across the street to the mother ship...Powell's. We LOVE Powell's! And of course, there happened to be used copies of The Jane Austen Book Club in the store. Sold to two buyers. Yes, as Linden pointed out, we could have bought one copy and just shared it, but being the bibliophiles we are, we each got our own copy, along with some other books that were screaming to be taken home. Sigh...I never walk out of Powell's without something! I swear I'll have to donate the 300 million tons of books to a library in my will. After all, no one in their right mind would want to take them after I die...LOL!
OK, must go finish reading a book that I have to return to the library tomorrow and start on my latest purchase so Linden and I can compare the movie with the book!
BTW, if you're looking to be remembered by that someone special, you'll find this diamond ring at Costco.com. Yes, that REALLY is the price! Insanity!
Have a good week--if I'm not back sooner!
Rule #2: Buy what you want--after all, aren't you worth it?
Rule #3: Take out your Christmas list.
Rule #4: Review your financials.
Rule #5: Create IOUs for everyone to let them know you'll get them a Christmas present after you win the lottery.
Just kidding! ;)
Suz and I braved the morning crowds and went Christmas shopping today. We did really well--hit 5 stores in about 4 hours. That includes the time that we spent at her house before and after the shopping expedition.
Our first stop...Sephora, located inside JC Penney's. No, it probably wasn't a good idea to go there first since the only presents we would buy there would be for ourselves! But, we also got a 20% off all purchases coupon (good for today only), so we couldn't walk out of there empty-handed.
Then, we stopped a Build-A-Bear, which is always fun, even if you don't buy anything. However, Suz didn't leave without bringing home a new addition...Yes, it's the Grinch (which happened to be on TV last night)! I didn't even know Build-A-Bear had licensed characters, but you could also make Shrek, Rudolph and Clarice, and Cody (from Surf's Up). Of course, I also found something I'll eventually take home with me...
I've always had a little thing for stuffed monkeys. I think it's because they remind me of one of my favorite people. (Just teasin', M!)
Isn't this monkey cute??? I didn't buy him today (cha-ching at Sephora!), but I figure I'll adopt him sometime next year.
Suz and I also made it to Toys R Us. It wasn't that crowded when we arrived, and although the line was long, it moved quickly. It's so much fun being in a toy store at Christmas time, with the exception of screaming children. Now tell me why parents bring their kids to a toy store at Christmas?!?!? Are you really going to be able to shop with them tagging along? Anyway, we both managed to cross several gifts off our list with this visit.
The last two stores were completely spontaneous. Walgreen's is the only store I know of (oh, except for maybe Rite-Aid) that sells mini candy canes (or baby candy canes, as Suz calls 'em). Of course, they weren't on the shelf, so Suz had to ask for them--and yes, they did have them, but they hadn't re-stocked the shelves). We also had to ask for help getting some butter cookie tins down (who the heck puts that stuff on a HIGH shelf?!?), and I had a special request to be checked out at the cosmetic counter. Can you say high-maintenance shoppers??? I'm sure the assistant manager and the two other people that helped us with all our questions were quite happy to see us leave.
Oh, and it snowed while we were shopping! Nothing too big--just snow flurries, but so much more fun than rain. It only lasted for a little bit on and off today, but I always love seeing the flakes come down.
Suz and I also stopped a Bi-Mart, a store I've never been in until today. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. As Suz put it, who sells guns right down the aisle from tampons??? Yes, an eclectic store (as Shawn called it) is probably the best description! Just don't put a woman with PMS down that aisle!!! Hee, hee!
I also met up with my friend Linden. We finally got to see The Jane Austen Book Club at the movie theater. However, this wasn't just ANY theater. The movie was playing at the Living Room Theaters, which is the best experience I've ever had during a movie! The seats are wide, plushy, and comfortable. There are big drink holders on the chair arms, which also happened to be padded and wide. Best of all--we shared an ottoman! And, you can also order food when you first walk in, and it will be delivered to you at your seat. Isn't that awesome??? I definitely have to go back to this theater! It's like watching a movie at home, but better because of the service, which I didn't actually try out, but we got to watch some other people take advantage of the the ordering process.
Oh, and the movie, The Jane Austen Book Club, which is based on a novel by Karen Joy Fowler, was funny and smart. (I have a feeling it will end up in my DVD collection once it makes it out on video.) Since Linden and I love Jane Austen, we had to see this movie. She had already read the book and heard the movie was even better than the book--a rarity. I hadn't read the book yet. But, right after the movie ended, Linden and I walked across the street to the mother ship...Powell's. We LOVE Powell's! And of course, there happened to be used copies of The Jane Austen Book Club in the store. Sold to two buyers. Yes, as Linden pointed out, we could have bought one copy and just shared it, but being the bibliophiles we are, we each got our own copy, along with some other books that were screaming to be taken home. Sigh...I never walk out of Powell's without something! I swear I'll have to donate the 300 million tons of books to a library in my will. After all, no one in their right mind would want to take them after I die...LOL!
OK, must go finish reading a book that I have to return to the library tomorrow and start on my latest purchase so Linden and I can compare the movie with the book!
BTW, if you're looking to be remembered by that someone special, you'll find this diamond ring at Costco.com. Yes, that REALLY is the price! Insanity!
Have a good week--if I'm not back sooner!
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