12 Days of Christmas - Day 14

Todays' Topic: Oprah's Favorite Things...What item(s) would you want if you were in the audience?

Since Oprah and her show are over the top, so is my list:

1.) Cruise to Australia and New Zealand
2.) iPad
3.) Some new fancy uggs like these: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3094116?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=2143 I do not need new uggs, especially $200 ones but if they are free then why not?
4.) Entryway table
5.) New chandelier for dining room, entryway and I would like a matching sconce, too, por favor
6.) Remodel our bathroom - what the heck, throw that in there, too!
7.) Kinect game thingy plus the dance game that Rob says I'll never use
8.) Cesar Milan training sessions for Buddy

12 Days of Christmas - Day 13

I know - we have a Day 13 when there are only 12 days, crazy I tell ya!


Today's topic: Favorite Cookie Recipe

My favorite cookie we make are Peanut Butter Blossoms. This should not come as a surprise since I love my peanut butter n chocolate. I do not have our family recipe available, but I googled it for ya:

http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/5191/Peanut%20Butter%20Blossoms.aspx

12 Days of Christmas - Day 12

Today's topic: Show us your decorations!

I grew up in a house that looked like Santa threw up all over it around Christmas time. I'm hoping to provide the same holiday splendor to our kids. I'm slowly building up my holiday decor every year. I have a ways to go but I'll get there. Don't you worry, my pretties.

I let Rob decorate the outside

This is the mantel in the formal living room. This is my little pointed tree collection. Almost everything is from Target except for stockings (online) and stocking holders (kohl's).

I do a variation of this every year. I grab a bunch of random ornaments, throw 'em in a vase and voila! Easy peasy. Just how I like it.

This is our anorexic model tree, long and lean. This year we decided to put it in the living room vs. the family room because we knew Charlie would be ALL over it. I always wanted to have a Christmas tree in the window so when people drive by they can see it. I'm not sure how easy it is to see it from outside unless people are really looking to find a tree, in that case, thats kind of creepy. On the other hand, we live on a cul de sac so there are only two families who drive by our house anyway.

This is something new this year. I decided to hang some ornaments on our chandelier. Again, not sure if anyone notices it but I like it.

I've had these for a few years - an after Christmas special from Crate and Barrel. I hang these from random doorknobs in the house to ensure the holiday spirit lingers around every corner. You cannot escape my holiday spirit.

My mom got me this 2 years ago at a little shop downtown that has since moved to a larger more upscale town - sell outs! Just kidding, kind of.

This is our mantel in the family room. I love the Target ball trees. They have little cranberries and pine cones all over them. I have considered keeping them out all year round. What do you think?

Woof stocking was a hand me down from my mom. My mom made my and Rob's stocking. They are supposed to mimick our wedding day attire (Rob wore a black tux and I wore a white (duh) dress with ruching on the side). I believe she actually used some scraps from my dress on the actual stocking. Charlie's stocking was handmade by Pottery Barn Kids. They are so thoughtful.

I couldn't not have a Christmas tree in our family room so I picked up this $23.99 pre-lit beauty at Target. "Tree skirt" is a Christmas dish towell. Whatever works!

Picture of our first niece, Gracie and basket was a hand me down from my mom. We put the Christmas cards in there.



Not too much going on here but some uber cute snowball candles from Partylite.

And some random kitchen stuff. Another hand me down from my mom (birdhouse) - I think I actually bought this for her years ago when I worked at Hallmark in highschool. The candle is one that an ex-manager of mine made for me. It smells of holiday goodness and I only bring it out and burn it at Christmastime.

That's pretty much it. Whether or not you are participating in the blog challenge, I'd love to see your home decked out for the holidays. My personal challenge to you is to take pictures, post on them on your blog then leave a comment on this post so I can look at your decorations. Please?

12 Days of Christmas - Day 11

Today's topic: New Year's Resolutions

Oh boy. Here we go....

1.) Floss daily (I've actually been better about this lately after I went to the dentist a couple months ago and the dental hygenist went to town on my gums and mentioned the G word)
2.) Cook more. Or I should say, Cook. Cereal doesn't count.
3.) Be better about reserving "family time" on the calendar
4.) Expose Charlie to new environments - sometimes we get in a rut and stay at home a lot. We like our home but our little dude needs to see new things

12 Days of Christmas - Day 10

Today's topic: Favorite Christmas Songs/Carole's


My favorite is Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you". I can't get enough of it!
 

12 Days of Christmas - Day 9

Today's topic: Favorite Holiday Recipe

Unforutnately I do not have it but it would have to be "Grandma's potatoes". It's my grandma's recipe on my dad's side. Luckily my mom had the recipe and makes it sometimes. Its horrible for you, I can't remember how many sticks of butter it calls for but its too much, in a good way.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 8

Today's topic: Least favorite thing about the holidays

I love love love the holidays so its hard to find something that I don't like about the holidays. I would admit I don't like the post-holiday weight gain that seems to find me every year but thats my own doing. I love shopping, I love Christmas music, I love decorating, I love that people seem to be happier around the holidays...I love anticipating the holidays.

I got it! My least favorite thing about the holidays is the day after Christmas when you get the itch to take the decorations down - I love decorating but I do not like putting it all away. I also don't like when the holidays linger - people still have their Christmas lights outside their house too long, or "that" neighbor who didn't get the memo about when the Christmas trees will be picked up so he keeps his tree at the curb for weeks hoping someone will do something with it.

Ok there you have it. I guess in a nutshell, the thing I like the least is when its over. :)

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6

Today's Topic: Gift Ideas...For Me!

Rob is done shopping for me so I'm going to opt out of this blog post challenge. I'm sure whatever he got will be great! Well, maybe I'll just put some gift ideas that I know will never happen but it would be great if they were possible.

1.) The loss of 20 pounds
2.) A full-time massage therapist/make-up person/hair dresser that was available on call
3.) What the heck, lets throw in a personal chef, too!
4.) An all expense trip to Italy for us and all of our family, nanny included

That's all, I'm a pretty simple gal. ;)

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5

Today's topic: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special


I have a few favorites from my childhood and those are Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
 
 

 
and Frosty the Snowman
 
 

 
and A Christmas Story
 
 

A mid 90's favorite is The Ref. This movie is so funny ("hysterically funny") but perhaps not one for little ones.
 

 
A "modern" favorite would have to be Elf
 

12 Days of Christmas - Day 4

Today's topic: Tips/Tricks for a Budget Friendly Holiday

Every year I create a spreadsheet of who we are shopping for and how much we are to spend for each person. This way there are no surprises when the bills come. I also include what was purchased so I can look back at the spreadsheet and not buy something for someone that I already bought them in prior years. I typically stay to the budget or may go over by a little bit but for the most part I stay on track. I try to create a budget then come up with gift ideas instead of buying stuff and working it into the budget (unless someone has a larger budget than others, like Mr. Charlie). ;)

P.s. I feel like the Christmas season has officially begun and we are going to put up the Christmas decor today. I can't wait!!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 3

Today's topic: Meaningful/Memorable Gift(s)

I am very easy to shop for, I love everything. Its sort of a problem, but I'll save that for another blog post. Growing up, my parents Santa gave some pretty kick ass gifts. We got our "normal" wrapped gifts but on Christmas morning, Santa would leave us a "big" unwrapped gift.

Here are some of the big gifts I remember: my first big girl stereo, pager (ha!), dvd player, skiing gear (boots/poles/skis), nintendo, etc. Santa doesn't leave me big gifts anymore but my parents are still spot on on their gift giving. This year we have decided to forgo big kid presents and focus on the little ones so now its Charlie's time to get spoiled!

Rob has done well with giving me some great and special gifts. I think last year he gave me a pretty meaningful gift by giving me a digital frame. He knew I would be going back to work in a few months and he loaded the frame up with pictures of Charlie so I can look at him while I'm at work. Super thoughtful and I still use it everyday. However, I've been meaning to bring it home and take out a couple pictures because there are a few graphic ones (like them holding him up all bloody and stuff and one where they are weighing him and his man area is exposed).

What have been some of your most memorable gifts?

12 Days of Christmas - Day 2

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Hmph. I do not really have any Black Friday tips/tricks and I typically do not venture out to the mall if I don't have to. I went once and that was one too many times for me. Last year I did go to our local target and it actually was not crazy but we live in a small town so maybe thats not the norm. I might venture out to Target again this year or Wal-Mart and see what kind of toy sales they have going on.
 
I do most of my shopping online and I'll admit I often get swayed to go and buy something from those email ads you get in your inbox around this time of year that say "Extra 30% off PLUS free shippping!" or "Pre-Black Friday Sale!" I'm all about a good deal and if I think I found one, I jump on it.
 
In the past, I think all the good online deals were on the following Monday or also known as Cyber Monday. But I feel like the past few years the stores try to get a jump start on the sales so they get the business so I'm not sure if prices online are typically better on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. If anyone knows, please do me a solid and leave a comment and let me know.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 1

One of the blogs I read mentioned a 12 Days of Christmas blog challenge that another blog was promoting. I thought it might be a good way to get in the holiday spirit! I do not know these people but thats ok.






Yesterday was day 1 but I'll play a little catch up today.

Today's topic: Christmas/Holiday Traditions

Growing up our big Christmas tradition was baking dozens and dozens of cookies with my sister and my mom. We continue to follow the tradition but now we only bake everyone’s favorites instead of every single cookie known to man.

2004

Baking with my sister Ashley and brother in law Jim. Jim technically wasn't baking but was part of the Quality Control.

2005

Baking with Ashley (again) and this time Rob was the Quality Control guy. Its a position the men fight over every year.

I also remember decorating the tree to big a big deal when we were little ones. I looooved decorating the tree and my mom and dad had eggnog for us (non-alco of course, sheesh). I never really liked straight up eggnog (eggnog lattes are another story), but I sipped it anyway because it was fun and Christmasy. I still like decorating the tree, but I wouldn’t say I love it. Probably because these days I do it alone. Hint hint, Rob.

A semi-new tradition that was put into place maybe 5-8 years ago was fondue. Every year is a fondue Christmas and we have dinner/dessert fondue style with chicken, filet, shrimp, bread, broccoli, cauliflower along with all different types of sauces and cheese. And of course, chocolate fondue for dessert. Oooh, I think my stomach just rumbled.

I asked Rob the other day about Christmas traditions we want to create with Charlie and the problem is not coming up with ideas but having too many things we want to do with him. We are both very excited for this Christmas. Rob confessed he listened to Christmas music in the car on the way home from Sacramento last week. ‘Tis the season!