Category Archives: life

I Think I’ve Changed My Mind

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And now I regret not decorating for Christmas *sigh* Not enough to go pull out all those decorations now, mind you. But enough to wish I had actually put up the tree and hung up our holiday cards.  I kind of miss just that little bit of the sights and smells of the season.

Of course, this was all brought on because we had a sweet and mellow (read: inexpensive) date night last night.  First we went out to for a late lunch/early dinner.  From there, after indulging in the world’s best tapioca pudding (Brent’s in Northridge – get the large and bring home the leftovers, you won’t be disappointed) we headed on over to Galco’s Soda Pop Shop to check out all the off beat names and brands of soda from around the US (and some international brands as well).  I picked up a CheerWine (made with cane sugar – even better still!) since I love that stuff and it didn’t let me down – though I do wish I’d picked up two.

We ended the night doing my favorite Christmas event…checking out the Upper Hastings Ranch neighborhood to look at their holiday light displays.  I love driving around, with the widows down, sipping on the requisite hot cocoa admiring the decorations.  If I was a kid, I’d think I’d have died and ended up at the North Pole.  Some folks do a really great job (and yes, some are totally lame as well).  Before heading back home, we drove by what I refer to as the “Ice Cream House” (the Balian house)where they go crazy insane with their decorations.  They even end up with street vendors!  I have to say, this is the first year since I’ve been doing this that there wasn’t a pro-Bush banner hanging front and center. Interesting.

So now you can see why I’m regretting not decorating this year.  It took a while, but I do believe that I might finally be getting into the holiday spirit.  In fact, I think I need a Peppermint Mocha and a Cranberrry Bliss Bar to celebrate!  And yes, as a matter of fact, I did run out without my camera.

Don’t Do It!!! Don’t Go Out There!

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I just got back from running a few last minute Christmas errands and great balls of Santa! Do not go out there! Everything, even the grocery store is a crazy mess. There are lines of cars just trying to enter the shopping centers! People are cutting each other off and not saying thank you (and you just know how that irks me!). They’re bumping into you and pushing and shoving, and well, downright rude. It’s mid-day, mid-week people – what the hell?!?

Luckily my first stop was at a small, local shoe repair and luggage shop – new luggage for the pre-teen nieces. That only left my nephew so I headed over to Tilly’s. Of course I had a helluva time just getting anywhere near Tilly’s. I finally found parking and headed in to find yep, you guessed it, a line. Not just any line mind you, but a long line with people with their arms full. Slow moving lines. Which of course meant a gift card. Which is fine since we got the HIM CD the other day so we’ll just hand it off to him and he’ll be fine.

So now, I am officially finished. This of course is great news since I’m not sure how much more abuse my credit card can take (stupid Amex is still acting up so we’re not using it while it sorts itself out). Tomorrow I’ll wrap and maybe take a photo or two and whooorah! I’m done.

Mind you, I haven’t yet heard from any of the in-laws as to which house we’ll be meeting at or how we’re divvying up the food prep. No worries for us though, I’ve got at least our Christmas morning taken care of – eggs, sausage & cinnamon bun-like strips. Just the right amount of protein and sweet 😀

I was still hoping to pick up a decanter for this awesome bottle of wine that our friend gave us so we could enjoy it either Christmas Eve or Christmas night, but I’m not about to deal with parking at the local mall or strip mall just for that. We have a bottle of prosceco we can enjoy instead 😉

So consider yourself warned & stay away, far away from any store, mall or strip! You can thank me later!

Next up…Wordless (or Not-So-Wordless) Wednesday – it may take a while to get them out of my camera, uploaded and published, but I assure you, it’ll be soon-ish.

Speaking of Christmas Shopping

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I tend to do all of the holiday shopping for us.  Even for the gifts my hubby buys me,  I usually have to create a very precise online list (or give him a slew of options for something specific, like a watch, through Amazon).  So while I’m out and about shopping for others, I often find things that I’d like for myself.

Sometimes, like today, I just buy it (new PJs from Old Navy – 50% off, very cute and quite comfy).  But it’s got me thinking…should I just wrap it and put it under the tree and you know, pretend it’s a gift?  When you think about it, since it comes from First National Bank of Husband it’s as if he’s buying it anyway, right?

Or is that just too goofy?

Santa We Have Ship Off!

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I did it! I spent a couple of hours last night wrapping like a fiend.  Today I boxed it all up and headed to the post office.  Overall, the line wasn’t so bad.  Granted, I’m not so happy about having spent nearly $40 on top of the gifts to ship the box to my former roomie.  But whatcha gonna do, right?  If I’d been on the ball, I could have shipped it last week for probably half the price (damn that Priority shipping!)

But it’s done.  And that’s just half the Christmas battle.  Now I just have a few things to pick up for the nieces- and nephew-in-laws and I’m completely done shopping. Far from done wrapping, but hey, it’s a start and I do still have a week until I need to present the presents (hehe) live and in person.

Now if only I could find some elves to come and do my dishes and clean my kitchen.  Then I’d be a happy Christmasy camper!

A Christmas Quandry

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So if I just spent the past 45 minutes looking for something inexpensive enough to help me to qualify for free shipping (through Sears, not Amazon*) and ending up spending $6.30 for a three pack of socks and ended up saving $6.25 on my shipping (therefore making my socks a whopping $.05)…I ask you, is it all really worth the free shipping???

 

* when looking for that inexpensive item to qualify you for free Amazon shipping, check out FillerItem.com.  Seriously, bookmark this site! 

I’m Admitting Defeat

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I tried, but I’m still way, WAY behind on catching up on everyone’s blogs.  Instead of freaking myself out, I’m just going to zero out my Reader and start over.  I just refuse to get stressed out over catching up, you know?

I’m thinking that I also need to admit defeat in regards to Christmas.  It’s a little over a week away and I still have shopping, wrapping and shipping to do.  I also forgot about a few friends and cards.  I just seem to feel a bit over my head this year.  Of course, it doesn’t help that we got a little turned around financially this last month and are just now clearing up that mess.

So I’m thinking it’s going to be a simple holiday this year.  The hubby is getting some camera stuff from me and I’m getting the Ladies Who Launch program from him (he might throw in a little trinket or something else, but I’m really not counting on it).  All is good though.  We’ve had a busy and fun year and we’ve done quite a bit of traveling (not to mention the beautiful necklace I bought myself in Healdsburg last month).  So we’ve truly been blessed and I’m okay with that.

I guess I can’t admit defeat with the wrapping & shipping though, huh?  Guess I know what I’ll be doing from now until it’s time to get dinner ready.

I Need a Plan

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I have over 300 blog posts to read!! *eek*  That’s not counting the few I’ve already read or the shopping/product related ones that I’ve already deleted!  I guess a lot goes on in a week.  Thankfully we’re no longer on daily posts, so it’s really only a couple posts from each person that I’m behind.  But still, that adds up y’all! (I feel so Britney today)

So hopefully, in between housecleaning and doing laundry (a butt load of sheets – thank goodness they’re all white!) I’ll catch up with everyone.  Though I can’t make any promises for witty or thought-provoking comments ;-)

While running errands this morning, I made sure to smile a lot and thank anyone that I spoke with.  I even shocked the guy at Borders when I wished him a great weekend.  Yay, for thanks!

Michelle – you can buy the Boots’ Olive, Almond and Sage Wonderbalm at CVS and at Target (both carry the Boots line now).  It’s a small jar over in the “Mediterranean” section.  Don’t be surprised if it’s sold out, it’s that good!

Thanks!

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Is it too much trouble these days for people to say thank you? Instead of fighting with the guy next to you during a lane merge, you let him in. Does he give a little wave or say thanks? Uh, no. You notice the gal behind you at the check out line has only two items and an infant so you let her go ahead of you in line. Does she say thanks? No, but that doesn’t stop her from taking you up on your offer. You hold the door open so that guy or gal can step through it as well. Do they give you a smile or thanks? Nope, they just breeze on by.

Now maybe it’s just the stress and frazzle dazzle of the holiday season. But I don’t think so. I have noticed that less and less people seem to appreciate when someone does a kindness. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they do indeed notice, but they sure as hell don’t seem to show their appreciation.

Why is that? Are we so busy? Have we become so entitled? I don’t know the answer and to be honest, I really don’t care. I’d much rather someone smile or say thanks than give me 1001 reasons why they can’t. It’s such a small thing, I know.

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Speaking of saying thank you, when did it get to the point that merely saying “thank you” just wasn’t enough? When did folks become so used to people saying thanks or showing appreciation that they now demand more (see above – I’m my own contradiction, I know. In my defense, I’m speaking more like the random acts of kindness and every day niceties above).

I work with people that volunteer their time to help me and I appreciate it so much – especially how it often helps to save my sanity – that I do my best to say “thank you” every chance I get (and I don’t doubt that it’s still not often enough). But to have someone (or sometwenty) talk about being used or unappreciated is tough to hear (this was something that happened over the last year or so ago). I mean how many times can you say the words “thanks” or “thank you” to someone for it to finally become thanks enough? How many personal emails, cards, gifties or tokens of appreciation does it take nowadays? When did a mere “thank you” stop being thanks enough?

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Which of course reminds me of all the small things in my life that I’m thankful for…

  • the internetz – oh lordy how I’ve missed you so!
  • modems – can’t access that world wide web without you
  • hot water – I don’t care how drying it is for your skin, nothing beats a scalding hot shower when it’s cold
  • chocolate – ’nuff said
  • nail polish – who doesn’t feel pretty and happy with bright, shiny toe nails?
  • Boots’ Olive, Almond & Sage Wonderbalm – where have you been all my chapped-handed life?
  • a cup of hot tea – I may loves me the lattes, but nothing works for me like a hot cup of tea!
  • fresh baked bread with butter – yummy!
  • Bare Escentuals’ Lip Savor – I feel in love with this lip balm 10 or so years ago. A couple of years back, BE stopped making it. Now it’s back and I’m lovin’ the hell out of it. Best.lip.balm.E.V.E.R. (and only $5!)
  • Netflix – what else was I to do while I was without the internet? Why, how about I watch some Veronica Mars?!?!
  • Library – I’m saving a small fortune in books thanks to the library. I’m loving it so much I’m going to look into volunteering at my local branch. So worth it to give back like that.
  • the wonderful ladies from Ladies Who Launch that found my plea for more information and took the time to share their own personal experiences with me. I can’t wait until January!
  • Blogs – blogging is fun. What did I ever do before blogging the minutia that is my life?
  • My new blogging friends – I’ve met some pretty cool people through this online world of blogging (even if I have been way too busy to catch up or comment).
  • and of course, my friends, my hubby and my boys *sigh* such love!

So to everyone out there who reads this post, to you I say “thank you.” My hope is that you will take a moment to thank someone (or something) in your life today. What a way to start a weekend!

The Christmas Spirit

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Well, I’ve decided, I’m just not going to bother with decorating this year.  While I’m still all for finding the perfect gift for someone, wrapping the presents and doing the card thing, I just don’t feel like lugging in all the boxes this time.  So instead, I’ve picked up a live little tabletop tree from Trader Joe’s.  And if the stockings are accessible I think I’ll hang those up.  But really, that’s it for me.

Funny thing, I was feeling a little, I don’t know, maybe guilty about not decorating (though we don’t have kids and we don’t really entertain at home, so really, no one but me would miss it) and I mentioned it to friends over the weekend.  It took the I-go-all-out-and-decorate-for-all-holidays friend – the one you can’t help but be jealous of because well, she decorates for all the holidays and come on, that’s just cool as shit – to admit to having those occassions where she didn’t feel like decorating either.  That’s when I finally took that breath and just admitted to myself that it’s just fine and dandy if I don’t want to decorate this year.  That doesn’t really make me Little Miss Bah Humbug.