I should never have started...

These are seriously too fabulous!

Best Nanaimo Bars I've EVER HAD!

No I'm not exaggerating.

I know I'm prone to that but....

no..

not this time.

I'd take them out of the bag to take a better picture

but then I'd eat them all for sure.

It is in their best interest

--as well as mine--

for them to just stay put!

MMMMMM.....

I didn't make them.

Our bible study does a cookie exchange every year

and for the last few I've organized it.

I also put a little recipe book together each year of all the recipes brought.

I have this recipe

and I'd type it out here except

my fingers are s-t-i-c-k-y

and I'm licking them...

so if you'd like the recipe

just let me know in the comments and I'll stop eating long enough to send it to you....

mmmm...

so good...

Dear John...

It's coming on Christmas...

they're cutting down trees...

I love Joni Mitchell's song the River.

Her voice reminds me of you dad.

I don't know if it's the era she sang in or the words, but it's so calm.

so soothing.

I used to love it when you would sing to us each night.

After doing our prayers and before you gave us each a kiss.

This song means more to me this Christmas than it has in past years.

I'm missing you, for starters.

And life,

well.

It's in a bit of turmoil.

Last Christmas we didn't have you for the first time.

This Christmas someone else will also be missing the festivities.

You were a devoted father, husband and friend.

May we all remember and learn before our lives take a hard right.

Love you dad,

Missing you,

your daughter.

thank you everyone

Thank you to those who took the time to write their well wishes

I am feeling MUCH better!

I was beginning to feel like a PEPTO-BISMOL commercial

As well as I am now feeling,

life has taken a hand

and I am up to my elbows this week

But do not fret!

I will be back in full swing next week!

chow!

p.s. I leave you with the beauty of my decorated house...

so.VERY.sick...yuck!

I've had the flu...

not H1N1...

more like the

coming out both ends
lying on your bathroom floor
crying when your friend comes to the door
have daughter make toast for herself and her 2 year old brother
have friend get your daughter ready for school
have same friend change sons diaper, dress him and take him to her place for the day
have another friend make your daughter a lunch and send it to school
order pizza for your kids dinner and have your 5 year old pay the delivery guy
have your 5 year old put her brother to bed (she sang "Silent Night" and knew all the words)
eat leftover pizza the next night for dinner

all while hubby is away on a conference in Toronto. (he felt sooo badly)

I've lost 10 pounds.

Today I'm thankful for good friends and food that stays in my stomach....

p.s. no pictures necessary, i'm sure

christmas ball placecard holder

Aren't these fabulous??!!!!

I totally love them...

however I don't love the price tag

$$$$$

----------------------------------------------------

so I got to thinking....

and came up with a pretty comparable idea

First gather your supplies:

tape

rice/sand

christmas ornament

funnel

name tag (I used old paint swatches)

Carefully take the top off your ornament

seriously. be. careful.

I almost lost a finger.

well... not really...

but I did cut myself!

(I'll spare you the photo of that)

fill half full with rice
or sand from your kids sand box.

I actually felt the sand worked better--

but the rice is fine

and you don't have to put your shoes on to go outside to get it

That is, as long as you keep your rice indoors--I do.

replace the top and cut up a swatch card as your name tag.

I chose the one that was called Rosemary Green

because it reminds me of Rosemary Clooney

which reminds me of the movie White Christmas

(Songstress Rosemary Clooney with Bing Crosby and Danny Kay)
Tell me you've seen it!

if you haven't you need to!

okay so where were we?

oh yeah.

put a piece of tape across the back of the card to adhere it to the ball...

unless of course you're lucky enough to have a ball that has a double ring hanger

that you can slip the card between...

To make them stand at the position you want just tap it gently
or rub it on the table to even out the sand/rice inside.


TA DA!
----------------------------------------------------
now I came up with some ideas to mimick the inspiration ball

I just need to get the supplies...
a clear ball ornament

some of that awesome sparkly white decorator's sand

and some white acrylic paint to make the snowflakesI can see it now!

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas!

To Snuggie? or not to Snuggie?

Snuggies seem ridiculous to me.

Ugly.

A waste of polar fleece.

Especially after reading this post

I was sworn off of them...

until now.

I mean, come on.

They wear them on the TODAY Show!

Even the crew!Look at the "ease"(?) of which they could work--

and Matt Lauer was quoted as saying that they are "toasty warm"...

You've seen my "sewing studio"...
yeah.

don't you love the concrete floors?

So cozy.

how about no walls?

Heat?
Wherefore art thou HEAT!

I want to sew.

Alot.

But I'm FREEZING down there!

The Snuggie is looking awfully tempting all of a sudden...

Anyone own a Snuggie?

Yes, you can wish me a Merry Christmas!

Have you seen these buttons?

Pumpkin's school is selling "something like them" to benefit a charity in Russia that takes orphans to McDonald's for lunch.

Good cause. I'm not complaining.

I just think it's sad that I have to wear a button so that someone can feel comfortable wishing me a Merry Christmas.

I am not okay with taking the "Christ" out of Christmas.

I am not okay with the political correctness of our culture either.

Example:

In our house we don't do the whole dress up for Halloween thing.

We don't hand out candy.

I take my children to a "costume free/gory stuff free" Harvest Party.

People still wish me "Happy Halloween".

Am I offended? No.

It is Halloween, after all.

They're being nice.

Even if I don't celebrate it.

So why is wishing someone Merry Christmas so offensive?

It is Christmas after all.

hmmmm....Just my thoughts...