Happy Thanksgiving!

Had good food and fun with the family today! If only the Cowboys hadn't blown their lead...hah!

Didn't take any pictures, and I couldn't post any anyway...I still can't find my camera cord!

But, on a high note - I'll be in Dallas for Christmas in less than a month --- YAY!!! Annnnd...I can officially start playing Christmas music tomorrow without feeling bad about it!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Share Comments & Graphics - Thanksgiving Layouts - Photobucket

My very first "official" White Christmas!

It's definitely been a while since I've posted and Christmas has come and gone! I was able to spend Christmas in Texas with my family, and believe it or not...

We had a White Christmas!!!!!

It started raining pretty heavy in the early afternoon on Christmas Eve, and pretty soon, I was sure I saw snowflakes. No one believed me.

Until - it started picking up and sticking to the ground! And it got to the point where it was freezing on roads and they had to shut a few down!
So enjoy some highlights from my trip, and I hope you had a very Merry Christmas yourself!!

It wasn't much, compared to snows I've seen in Colorado Springs, but this was the most I had ever seen in the Dallas area where I grew up, and to top it all off, it was actually snowing ON

Christmas Eve!

This is in my sister's backyard in Aubrey, TX...

This is at my sister-in-law's childhood home in Plano, TX...

Christmas morning at my brother's apartment!!

Christmas morning - my brother showing his daughter Allie some of the gifts from "Santa"...
Allie with the snowman she built (with her Uncle Tim's help) in their backyard on Christmas Day...
An up close shot of the snowman - I just couldn't get over the cowboy hat!
My dad learning about a make-it-yourself Crayon maker Allie had gotten.
And Allie with Kat (her mommy/my sister-in-law) and my mom after completing a puzzle Allie got for Christmas...

And I'll leave this parting shot - my brother, in Target, the day after Christmas, pretending to be a cheerleader. Don't ask - it was hilarious!!

It is Christmas yet?

It's my favorite time of year - and its actually the time leading up to Christmas more than the day itself sometimes! This year I can't wait to finally get to Texas! The anticipation is killing me!


A while back, I told them I couldn't make it because I couldn't get a ticket. Then they rallied together and chipped in for a ticket for me (read original post here)!!! It was an amazing feeling to know that they wanted me to be back there for Christmas that much!

In the meantime, I'm waiting for Justin's parents to visit because they wanted to give me my presents before I left. And then tonight, I'm going with my parents to the movie theater at the Broadmoor to see White Christmas! (And I think I've even convinced Justin to go!)

I promise one more update today as to what I've been up to recently - it would appear that I don't blog very often if it isn't National Blog Posting month! And there will be pictures!

And the collection keeps growing!

I stopped by my parents to pick up more cross-stitching supplies for my mom and she graciously donated to my Christmas decoration collection! Check it out!

The tablecloth was too small for her table, so now it's mine! And it has sparkly thread sewn in - right up my alley!!

Justin actually got me those flowers on Thursday. We had a "fall themed" bouquet, and he wanted Christmas themed ones!

My mom also gave me these really cute Santa candle holders to go on the table!

Doing a little decorating...

I haven't lived on my own enough Christmases to get my own decorations, so I'm very limited. But thanks to WalMart and great prices, I was able to add a little touch. After doing a few chores around the apartment, I finally got the chance to be crafty (again!) and decorate the apartment. I still wish I had a more festive home, but it will happen in due time! (And especially at the clearance sales the last week of December!) Check it out!

It snowed for a while last night, and then it's been snowing all day! Currently, I'm sitting at a balmy 9 degrees!

I LOVE SNOW!
(This is out on the balcony)

And this is a cross-stitch I made a few years ago along with a nicely holiday scented Yankee candle!

This is the bookshelf you see right as you enter - the pillow my mom made, the picture is all me, and the doggie is a cute little ornament I found at one of the retail stores at the hotel. It's not specifically a Weimaraner, but it really looks like one!!

Here's the mantle before, with all the materials...

And the mantle AFTER!!! I love all the lights, and glitter, and....YAY!!!

Here's a close-up of one of the ornament balls - here's a hint: they're unbreakable, because they're plastic! Look real, huh?

And me with my creation! Seriously, I took about 12 of these, and this was the best one. Oh well.

And then, of course, all the snow and a nice big mug of hot cocoa. I wish I was Christmas all year round!!

An early Christmas!

I just remembered that I recieved a Broadmoor gift card back in March for being nominated for Employee of the Month. And I never spent it!! Our resort has retail shops and is upping our employee discount this week to kick start the Christmas shopping season off.

So I decided to search for it when I got home tonight. I remembered it being in an old wallet, I just had to find it. And once I located it - BAM! I hit about 4 different gift cards! I don't even remember getting them, and I must have left them in there just in case I found myself at those stores. Then, I switched wallets and forgot to transfer the cards.

It's like I had an early Christmas! Wonderful little treasures! Just wanted to share my happiness!

My first Christmas Wreath

Over the years, my parents have, of course, bought wreaths for our houses. But this year, I found a great deal on Christmas items, and decided to make my very own, first homemade wreath! Check it out!

First of all, I got these really cute Christmas socks, and they have sparkly thread! They're keeping my feet warm right now! (And just in time - it's supposed to start snowing tonight!)

So here are all the materials: a wreath, 3 attachments, and a box of little ornaments to fill in the spaces.

Here's the "staged" wreath, so I could see where I wanted to put the attachments.

And here's the final product, with the ornaments added in arrangements intended to look like berries!

Then, finally - the wreath made it onto the door, and fit so perfectly that I can still see through the peephole!

So the Christmas story goes...

So the story goes…

I didn’t feel that I would be able to buy my own ticket to Texas for Christmas, and after finding out my parents had already bought theirs, and we hadn’t talked about them getting a ticket for me, I figured I definitely wouldn’t be going.

My dad did call me and let me know that he was feeling sad that I would be the only one not with them at Christmas, and he’d be willing to go halfway on a ticket with me. Unfortunately, things are really tight for me, as well as most other people these days, and I couldn’t even do that. Keep in mind that it would have been a $200-250 ticket, which doesn’t seem like much, but that’s just half!! And the later you buy, the more the prices go up.

So I had come to terms with being the only one out of state for Christmas, and was making plans to do things up here with Justin’s family and trying to get a seasonal retail job. But one day out of the blue, the younger of my 2 older brothers called me. He wanted to let me know he had read one of my Facebook updates where I wrote I wasn’t going home for Christmas. He explained that he really wanted to see me, and wanted to know what days I’d be available to visit, because he wanted to participate in buying me a ticket. I was actually speechless – I didn’t think they would do this. I know they love me, but I was really blown away by the nice gesture.

A few days went by and I wasn’t really expecting to hear from them because money is tight for my siblings as well, and my parents had already spent about $1,000 so far on just getting themselves down there. However, my dad called me last weekend and said, “Did you know your brother was leading a campaign to get you to Dallas for Christmas, and is getting everyone to chip in and buy a ticket? Well, everyone loved the idea and we’d love to buy you that ticket”.

I tell you what; I’ve never felt more loved by my family then when I found out that they had done this. I mean, they’ve come to graduations, and plays, and marching band competitions and things over the years – but this was huge, and really meant a lot to me. I finally purchased the ticket last night at my parents, and I will only be there about 4 ½ days, which is not nearly as long as my parents 8 days, but I’m still grateful that I’ll get to see them all and grateful that I even get to go.

I will see some at Thanksgiving, but this Christmas trip will probably be the last time I will see any of them until Thanksgiving next year. Once a year – that’s how often I get to see my brothers and sister and their extended family. Makes me sad to go, because then when I leave I know it will be another year, but even happier because I get to make the most of it. And leave with memories to last a lifetime. I’ll be telling my grandkids about this Christmas!!!

Ghost of Christmas Past

I'm at my parent's house tonight - booking a flight to Dallas for Christmas!!!! That's right! My brother heard that I wasn't able to get a ticket to go down there, and my siblings started a ticket "round-up" and chipped in with my parents to get me a ticket to visit! Such an amazing family!! So more to come on that as it progresses...

So in the spirit, tonight I stumbled across my parent's pictures , and saw some of Christmases past. So bear with me for my trip down memory lane!

2001:
My most memorable Dalmation doggie (no longer with us), Oliver!

And this is a picture outside our house in Plano, the first year our dad actually let us put "colored" lights outside!! (The lights outlining the yard are white and green).

2002:

This is inside the house. I picked one with me in it as proof I was there, but where you couldn't see my makeup-less face. This was my first Christmas home from college!

And this is my brother Brian, with Oliver and my parent's dog Baxter - but Baxter is a puppy here! I forgot how adorable he was!!

2003:

My niece Emma (who is now six) and I at my sister's house. She fell asleep in my arms. I could have stayed like that forever!!

And Brian and I playing cards after all the gifts had been opened!

What will Christmas 2009 look like? You can bet you'll find out - just keep following!!

Living in a Starbucks Wonderland

One of my most favorite things in the world is flavored coffee. I don’t drink it black and it has to have creamer and sugar in it. The coffee can be flavored or the syrup that goes into it, or both, but either way – it can’t taste like “just coffee”.

And as most people, my favorite place to get flavored coffee is Starbucks. Year round, any day of the week my drink of choice – Raspberry Mocha, hot. I don’t do anything special to the drink, but occasionally will make it low fat or non-fat milk, if I’m feeling guilty. Otherwise, I like it just the way it comes. A Mocha with a shot of Raspberry, and I’m a happy girl.

But the BEST PART??? Seasonal drinks!!!! It starts with the Pumpkin Spice latte. They usually bring it out in late September/early October, and every year, I just can’t wait until it’s finally back on the menu! The nicest surprise happened to me this year – I was just going in because I had a late night the day before and was taking Bailey to the dog park and needed a little kick. I looked up at the menu for one last chance to change from my “usual” and happened to see the Pumpkin latte!! Apparently, they had just added it a day or two before. Perfect timing!

And finally, Christmas drinks. You can pick from Gingerbread, Egg Nog, Peppermint – all just heavenly. Peppermint is actually a shot available year round, but why would you want to? Apparently, according to a co-worker, they’re also selling a non-coffee seasonal option. It’s hot apple cider, but they mix caramel and cinnamon in, and it tastes exactly like you’re drinking a caramel apple! Ohhhh myyyyy…

This wonderful co-worker went to Starbucks on her lunch break (she likes their sandwhiches) and without any prior knowledge to me, brought me back a Pumpkin Spice Latte! Just because she wanted to! I shared this story with my boss because she’s about 10 times more addicted to Starbucks than I am, and I knew she would appreciate the nice gesture. And then, to top it all off, my boss calls in the next morning to say she’s running late, but because she was making a Starbucks stop and wanted to know if I wanted an Egg Nog latte! She remembered me mentioning in my “story” that it was my favorite Christmas flavor, and what was I supposed to say – no thanks??? No way!!

I just can’t wait until we get into the “snowy season” and I can walk down the street (not even a mile!) and get a nice, warm Christmasy latte and warm up while watching the snow fall. Sounds wonderful.

Holiday Hodge-Podge

This is me and my niece Emma, last year on Christmas Eve.

I would be the first to profess my love (and maybe obsession) with the Christmas and holiday season. But, I can honestly say I’m surprised at how early Christmas is being advertised this year. I know the economy is in a slump, and retailers are trying to get people to start spending money earlier so that they can maximize their profit and stimulate the economy again…but still - It’s like there’s no such thing as Thanksgiving!! No one’s even talking about it! We just all skipped over it and jumped right into Christmas. I can’t even find any Thanksgiving decorations anywhere. Back when I was looking for a door hanging in early October, the store I was in had approximately 70% of it’s merchandise as Christmas decorations. But even though I’m shocked, don’t think I’m immune to the “attack” - even I’m guilty of buying materials for my Christmas wreath in early October!

I liked when things were spaced out a month or so before they happened. Halloween decorations came out in early October, and Christmas used to come out right after Thanksgiving. And what’s so wrong with Thanksgiving anyway? You get to cook and eat great food (and buy tons of it, for all those retailers out there), plus all the money and costs associated with family traveling around the world to spend the holiday together. And yes, the time spent with family is priceless. Which is why I’m so pumped that my sister and her family gets to make it up here for Thanksgiving this year! I still miss my brothers though…

This is a picture of my two brothers and my sister and I in November 2007.

It looks like I’ll be staying in Colorado for Christmas this year, so I’m looking around for places hiring extra staff for holiday hours to earn a little extra money, but so far no bites. I’ve applied to a few Blockbusters in the area because I have experience, and they’re pretty close to my apartment. Plus, that job in high school was actually one of my favorite jobs I’ve ever had, so I would love to do it!! I’m thinking I may start just walking into places close by, whether I’ve worked there before or not, and seeing if they’re hiring. Extra money is extra money! (And a few free rentals a week never hurt anyone!)

And since I’ll be staying in town, I get to dog sit for my parents for a week! It will be a week-long Weimaraner slumber part for the holidays! It may get a little tricky if we visit Justin’s parents at all because they already have 3 dogs and none of them like either 2 of “my dogs” and vice versa. So we might leave the big guys down in the Springs for those visits. But my favorite part is cuddling with both of them at the same time because they either get on either side of me to divide and conquer, or try to beat each other to see who can get closer to me!

And this one is of Bailey (on the couch) and Baxter (on the floor) the last time I dog sat!

Tonight is going to be Game 6 of the World Series, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a looong night at my house. Justin is a rabid Phillies fan, and I mean RABID! He puts any loyalties I (or any of you) may have to shame! But, it would be nice to see them come back and win Game 7 and keep another Championship from the Yankees, and get a “repeat”. So I guess you could say I have become a Phillies fan myself! (Just probably never at Justin’s level!)

Have a great night!