Holiday Decorations

January 1, 2014

Trim the trees and deck the halls

Christmas night at home.

This year the bottom quarter of our tree was bare because of Clark.

Our tree lights also stopped working so we had to use the lights that normally go in the windows.

Only problem was that they had white wires, so they looked kinda tacky.

I refused to buy more lights though because I wanted to wait until the after Christmas sale when they would all be 70% off!

Which they were, and I got some for next year already!

This was the first year with our little fireplace we got from Nona’s house.

It worked perfect for our stockings!

Except Clark pulled them down, holder and all…..twice.

Luckily nothing hit him in the head, the silver holders shattered and left big gouges in our wood floors though.

Now I know what my bff Amy means when she says ” This is why we don’t have nice things!”

To add height and fit more decor on my little mantel I stacked books and empty cigar boxes in back.

There isn’t as much room under the highchair as there used to be

December 31, 2013

Photos of

Then and Now

My sister and I decided to make a gift from the heart this year for my parents.

It took a little planning and some contortion moves like a bad game of Twister but we got it done.

Here are the results of our efforts.

The fruits of our labors, if you will…..

Recreating childhood photos

1988

Clark wanted to help

1985

Here it is in the frame with some jazzing up

Some other kids with time on their hands:

Dinner on parade

December 30, 2013

Celebrating 2 Birthdays before the Holidays is tough.

I think I am liking our new tradition of the Traveling Dinner though.

You may remember last year’s soiree’

Or the year before that

This year we started at my sister’s house for appetizers.

Then headed to my parent’s for the main course

and finished at my house for dessert.

I made a spice cake with molasses cream cheese frosting

Recipe can be found

Here

In a December issue of Relish

And Caramelita Bars

Recipe Here

Which were rich and delicious but a lot more caramel like than a bar cookie, which is what I was expecting.

Clark’s first photo bomb

That night Clark and I came down with the stomach flu and threw it all up.

It wasn’t as good the second time around.

True story.

Ghosts from Christmas’ past

December 16, 2013

Thought it would be fun to take a little walk down old memory lane.

I dug out the Santa photos that my darling mother displays every year on the buffet in her house.

I wanted to share their awkwardness ………… with the rest of the world.

Because nothing says Happy Birthday Jesus like a young girl sitting on some stranger’s knee every year.

There are a few missing, I don’t know why I couldn’t find them.
This was a pretty well enforced December tradition.

Let us begin

1984

1985

1986

1987

1989

1993

1996

1997

1998

Don’t judge me

1999

I am wearing my aunt’s vintage sweater from when she was in Elementary school.

I still wear it too!

2000

Thought we would spice things up this year.

I dressed as my sister and she dressed as me.

( A slightly exaggerated version, I wasn’t that preppy)

2001

Boyfriend Santa photos!

Awww young love

I am also sensing a pattern here with the skirts and boots

2002

We chose to get our “Santa” photo at the Nutcracker Ballet with the Rat King instead.

We thought he was much creepier looking.

2002

I ended up with a Santa photo anyway with my Best Friends

2003

We thought Mom would enjoy this one.

Not sure if she actually did.

Aren’t you surprised we haven’t taken any with our cats in them?!

2005

This was my first year in California, no photos were taken with Santa this year, but for the sake of continuing the walk down memory lane I found my best representation of a holiday photo for the following corresponding years.

2006

Spoke too soon about the cat. There she is! On the beach no less.

This photo was taken in December btw.

We used them on our Christmas cards this year.

2008

Back home in Seattle

( Only 2.5 weeks away from meeting my husband on a blind date!)

2009

Cutting down our tree

2010

Newly weds

2011

Just found out we are expecting Clark

2012

You might be thinking

Is that the same black dress from 2008?

Yes, it is.

Obviously a great purchase

And the more things change, the more they stay the same

I just can’t stop buying my own gifts

December 13, 2013

Gift shopping for the holidays is a tricky business.

You send me out into a mall that is bursting at the seams with sales and gift sets and I am suppose to stick to a list and buy things …..for OTHER people.

This is a true test of will.
How am I suppose to pass up all the amazing deals and one time today only for the next 30 minutes door buster sales!!!?

In years past, I have been pretty good at taking photos of amazing finds I “need” and then passing on the request to Santa.

I have even gone as far as placing things on hold and calling Santa to let him know.

This year, I have a weakness… I am not sure if it’s my age, or the fact that I am now a stay at home mom who doesn’t get to shop like she used to,but I have been buying myself gifts all season long.

Maybe it’s a subconscious worry that since Clark is here now he will get all the good gifts.

I will get a saggy stocking and a Christmas mug filled with taffy.

Wow, that just sounded really greedy.

But let’s be real here,

I have always been a bit spoiled on Christmas.

Not my fault. Blame my family.

So, now it’s time to pass the torch to my well deserving son.

Don’t get me wrong, I want him to have everything he wants.

It’s incredibly hard to walk out of Target these days without a new toy for him.

I mean, you should see his face when he stops and plays with the Tickle me Elmo!

It melts your soul.

With that said though, it’s a little rough making the transition from daughter to mother.

So I guess to ensure that I have a fulfilling holiday engagement, I have been stockpiling…. gifts…..for myself. Is that so wrong?!

Now, I have done my best to thoughtfully forget what it was that I have bought, so that I will be surprised when I opened them.

Because that’s part of the whole experience.

It’s not just the gifts… its the surprise!

The excitement of Christmas morning and the anticipation of

“Will I get that new pony I want or will it be another calendar?”

I can’t be sure till I open it!

Judge me, I know you are.

But please tell me I am not the only one who is guilty of this crime!

Misery loves company.

(And Joanie loves Chachi )

Sacrilege you say

December 12, 2013

I know this video has been out for a while.

I saw it months ago and then forgot about it, until it popped into my head this morning.

I had to look it up and watch it again.

The first time was the best though.

It’s creepy and disturbing but also kinda awesome.

Enjoy!

Sacrilege by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

What are your thoughts?

I’m kind of a big deal

December 6, 2013

I don’t know if you have looked at the Seattle Met magazine this month yet….. but if you haven’t, let me save you some time and cut right to the chase.

Yep, that’s yours truly.

Right there on the top corner.

It’s not a national commercial or anything….but Hey, us ~~housewives,~~ nay Domestic Goddesses, gotta get our kicks somewhere!

You’re welcome.

Cranberry Fiesta

December 5, 2013

Last minute I decided to take cranberries to Thanksgiving at the In laws.

Last year there weren’t any, apparently no one is a huge cranberry fan on that side of the fam.

So this year I took matters into my own hands.

I found this delicious looking recipe on another blog that I follow.

Everyday is a Holiday

It was easy to make and it yields about 1.5 mason jars.

Plenty to feed my berry cravings.

I showed up with my creation and no one was quite as excited for them as me.

And by quite as excited, I mean no one cared.

Of course since I decided to bring some cranberries this year, it was no surprise someone else also showed up with them.

More left overs for me!

I put them on my day after thanksgiving waffles.

My leftover turkey sandwich.

My pumpkin pie….

My fork.

They are so good.

Make some and shame the shit out of other side dishes.

Taking home the tree

December 4, 2013

This year our tree was free again!

Yay for old property that used to be a tree farm.

The day after Thanksgiving we went out in the woods and found us a keeper!

Bonus:

Gift with purchase ( or….not)

A mini table top tree for even more decorating!

Which upon returning home Steve gave away to my friend Angela without asking me.

I guess she needed it more than me though.

I didn’t really need two trees…..

You better use that tree Angela!!!

Clearly Clark enjoyed himself

Isn’t it obvious?

He’s a real stone cold fox

As the Family tree was hoisted up into place in the Lodge, Clark sat in his easy chair and read farming magazines.

I made him put down his pipe for the photo.

Many givings of thanks and the horse said Neigh

December 3, 2013

First of all, you may have noticed I have new forehead curtains.

I am still not sure how I feel about them.

Welcome to my Fall Photo shoot!

It almost looks legit huh?!

Clark wore his cute little vest and tie that he only wore once before.

Which was to a funeral and he barfed all over it.

So I was glad to get another wear out of it.

Bonus- He didn’t puke this time!

Let’s eat!

I made a pumpkin and wild blueberry pie!

Unusually nice weather for November in Seattle

Burp.
Hope everyone had wonderful eats!!