The new polka-dot hat

I cant get a new polka-dotted hat without showing the evidence.
Sheesh, that would be pure blasphemy....
So, me thinks its the best Christmas present eva' in the whole wide world and I am the luckiest girl who is the proud new owner of my favorite hat of all time. *whew*

Was that considered a run-on sentence?
You know you want one, and I can't reveal my sources....
But if you were me, you'd be coveting your new polka-dot hat too.
So, thank you Secret Santa, you make me smile;)

Alot.

The Christmas Village.....magical

My favorite part of Christmas is putting up my lighted Village.
Its like visiting a far away land, full of hope, dreams & pretend.
Typically, Im not this late in putting up our tree & christmas decorations, but sometimes my bad back is in charge.
Sometimes my back screams at me, in the same fashion that I scream
at it.

Then those crazy men in the 'white coats' threaten to put me in a jacket that I can hug myself in. Its such a fashion faux flubber, plus I hate that it ties in the back. What were they thinking, anyway? *winks*

So, what usually takes me a few hours, took ALL weekend, but who's complaining? Oh, right. Me. (laughs)






We set up all the people in the village and it comes out different every year. I love that.
Its what my children love & yet remember more than anything.
The lighted Christmas Village seems to always trump everything else, as it holds a magical quality. Just like Santa Clause. The power of believing is magical in of itself. You dont have to see to believe.

But this year....oh this year, there's a new memory in the making.
I dont recommend it, but if you want memory power, I'll tell the little booger to come visit YOU *snickers*
That way, you will have the memory, instead of me.
And really, I'm ok with it. I share, so your in luck;)

What was the new memory?
I thought you'd never ask.....but, it was a MOUSE!!!!
We never saw Mr. Mouse, but we know he was there. We saw and we believe, because he nibbled & shredded a WHOLE roll of wrapping paper.
Oh, and part of our Christmas tree. That little booger.

The tiny rascal decided to nest in our tree box to stay warm.
I must admit, he proved himself to be a smart little mouse.
He must have spent months, building his home inside our christmas tree box.

I hated to uproot the little guy, no one likes to be forced to leave their home, c'mon.

And so, the countdown to Christmas is on.
I'm feeling the Holiday stress of needing to get out to do my shopping.
You too?
I keep saying, "I'll do it when my back stops screaming. I'll do it when I feel well enough to physically stand in the Holiday lines"
I can get near tears with back pain, and no one likes a big, fat crybaby.
Especially at Christmas. Plus, I hate to have my mascara run.

Then it started to snow today. And I thought...its beginning to look
ALOT like Christmas....I dont dare blink, because it will be over.
I dont want to miss it, because I blinked.


I also dont want to run out of excuses to eat chocolate covered pretzels. I'm just say'n.

Mmmmm....smells like cinnamon!

If you love the smell of cinnamon as much as I do, which might not be possible, because I love it more than you do, na-na-na-boo-boo....
Sorry, I digress.

But, if you add cinnamon scented pinecones from Michaels or Joann's Fabrics (which are pure heaven on earth) & a dollar store 35ct. strand of Christmas lights, the subtle heat from being warm will make your pine cones smell even MORE cinnamon-ny.
(Please note: I am not responsible for any fires if your dollar store lights get too hot or if you choose to fall in the store while getting your cinnamon pine cones, I'm just sayn'...)

Plus, Joann's has all Christmas-related items 60% off this week, so thats a double bonus. I don't even set foot into that place or my local Michaels store without at least a 40% off coupon. I'm sure they know me by name or by the shoddy ink job my printer insists on spewing out, when I print the coupon.

Oh wait, I might be almost outta ink. Damn it.

And when Christmas is over, you can pop your cinnamon pine cones in a clear glass vase with the lights and have a beautiful year round lighted display.
This is NOT one of those reasons to leave your Christmas lights up year round, I know whatcher thinking, so just dont do it.
Please please please refrain, its really a trashy look.

Unless it smells like cinnamon of course;)

Sometimes you just improvise...

When your too short to see out the door, sometimes you just improvise...
But, we dont tell Kady she's short. We tell her she's "Fun Size"....

Bits & Pieces of H-O-M-E

Too much cute!

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas.....!