Holiday gear-up time

Does anyone else start feeling weird this time of year? Maybe it's the time change ... or the weather. I feel like I can't get anything done! I've had a load of laundry sitting in the dryer for 2 days now. No real reason. 

I also feel super restless (in a contradictory way.) I can't just sit and watch a movie. I HAVE to be doing something else. 

It's like the time is ticking away for the year.

And there's gift shopping ... and the car insurance payment ... and TAXES. Oh taxes.

I guess it's a normal "holiday craziness" that can't be avoided.

ANYWAYS.

Here are some new vintage ornaments that are sparkly and good. 

Pine cone ornament 

Butterfly ornament

Beginning to look a lot like you know what.

(I just thought this was cute. It has no relation to the rest of this post ... except that maybe I want a kitten for Christmas!)

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Well, It's officially the Christmas buying season. Again. I know I say this every year now, but (SERIOUSLY) didn't Christmas JUST happen? 

I've gotten organized, bought some stuff ... but I still have a lot more to find. 

And by find, I mean THINK OF! Why is this always such a problem for me?

You get the entire year to think of a great present for someone, and then you leave it up to the last 15 days to find it. RIDICULOUS. 

Whatever. Gift cards all around.

But really, I've been trying to buy exclusively on Etsy and local shops in the downtown area here. I'm pretty lucky since there are a lot of super cute boutiques and specialty stores. I know a lot of places only have a Wal-Mart and a mall. 

It just seems so much more special to get something that isn't mass-produced. Or, then again, maybe it is mass-produced, but it's just really marked up in the boutique store. Oh well. Buying local and supporting local business owners is almost like donating to charity. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside like you're doing something nice for your fellow human being. :)

Here is something that always gets me in a Christmasy mood. It's an old Disney cartoon about the night before Xmas and the toys come alive and all that. Classic!

Ballet shoes

Rich and I went shoe shopping this weekend. He has (or had) this DISGUSTING pair of vans shoes from like, 1996, that were about to fall apart. After much complaining from me, he agreed it was time.

SO--- this is where is got a bit crazy. We went to just about every place to buy shoes in town. And at just about every place, I found a cute pair to buy, and he was much too picky to find anything he liked!

Finally, after much cajoling, he decided on a cute pair of beige pumas! yay!

Meanwhile, I came away with a nice new pair of red felt blowfish flats, and ... BALLET SLIPPERS!!!

I made a squeal when we entered the Payless and went right to them!! How fun!! I think I will dance around my apartment when the mood strikes. Wouldn't they be cute for an occasion outfit?

Any who. Check out my new MISTLETOE COMB in the shop! :) hehehee YAY for holiday kisses!! Oh, and yay for me and Rich's 1-year anniversary!!!

P.S.S.

Last night there was a frost scare, so I brought my plants inside and I THINK with them, a praying mantis!!!

I am naming him Manny....but I don't know what to do with him!! I think If I put him outside, he'd definitely freeze. He's really cute though! I'll get some pictures up later :)

Jumping the gun

I know, I know.... there's still like 3 months 'til Christmas, but I can't contain my excitement for holiday hair accessories!!

Here is the first one: Holly and Ivy

It may be too soon, but I like to dream ..

Here is the song it was inspired by (it's one of those cheesy YouTube songs...)

christmas is OVER.

Lucy's new hat!

She doesn't look too happy here...and she wasn't really :) But soooo cute!! Poor pup.

The family and I (minus Amanda boo) had a nice day---pancakes in the morning, then presents, then chicken poprekash for supper! Yummers.

Then on Saturday, Rich and I had our fancy dinner date. Here I am like I'm going to prom! 

All I want for Christmas

(Disclaimer: I do not actually expect any of these items from friends or family---simply wishful thinking!)

— This dress from Anthropologie: It is my favorite. Ever!

— This is a close second:

— An unlimited supply of vines to make my crowns. I went to my "source" today and almost peed my pants when a deer jumped out of the woods. I hear they can attack people--so I booked it out of there. It was totally cold and muddy, too.

— Speaking of which---an unlimited supply of shipping boxes and bubble wrap.

— A new job.....

— A way to make the hour-long drive to Rich's house in less time.

— My sister (and her family) to move to the East Coast so we can all be together more often.

— For the mouse that is living in my apartment to peacefully leave on his own--and to stop biting little holes in my cardboard boxed food stuffs. (I don't want to get a trap!!)


— A Lotus Elise for my dad.

— A cool greenhouse for my mom.

— An iMac for myself.

— This virtue tea set:

— AND last but not least----this monkey:

lucy in the sky with diamonds

(From Wikipedia:)

In Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Finland, Lucy (called Lucia) it is venerated on December 13 in a ceremony where a girl is elected to portray Lucia. Wearing a white gown with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head, she walks at the head of a procession of women, each holding a candle. The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take St. Lucia's life when she was sentenced to be burned. The women sing a Lucia song while entering the room, to the melody of the traditional Neapolitan song Santa Lucia; the Italian lyrics describe the view from Santa Lucia in Naples, the various Scandinavian lyrics are fashioned for the occasion, describing the light with which Lucia overcomes the darkness.

Just thought this was cool---it's a crown for one thing---and it kind of goes along with the solstice/light thing. Kind of neat.

Speaking of lights: One cool thing about living downtown is all the lights!! I have 2 little candles in my front windows, but the light from outside kind of out-dos them :) hehe

Getting excited for XMAS!!!! WHEE!! So- me and Rich aren't doing presents--but we are doing cards. Any ideas? What should I write?? eep. 

P.S.----more hats coming in the UGLY HATS series :) hehe

Holiday road

This is the time of year when I have HAVE to have a day of mandatory movie-watching. Amanda W.? Crafts?

It is the true signal to the start of the Christmas season for me when I can watch the old favorites all bundled up with perhaps a cup of cocoa (or Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.)

Here are my top 10 (in no particular order)


1.) A Christmas Story — Ralphie's BB gun quest is the pinnacle Christmas gift lust. This movie is best watched on Christmas Day when TBS runs it for 24 hours straight.

2.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — Everything that can go wrong will go wrong for Clark Griswold (aka Sparkie).

3.) A Muppet Christmas Carol — This is such a sweet and funny movie. Even if you're not a muppet fan---Miss Piggy as Ms. Cratchit is pricless. It has a good mix of human and muppet actors--plus a few really cute songs.

4.) Home Alone — I love the plot line with the old man in this movie. It always makes me cry when they're sitting in the church watching his granddaughter singing. Plus--it's got that great techo-mix song.

5.) Meet Me in St. Louis — This movie is not really a Christmas movie persay. BUT the Christmas scene in it features the first time anyone (Judy Garland) sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" --and she does it best.

6.) The Preacher's Wife — My mom and I both love this one. It's got Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington---he's an angel who falls for the preacher's wife at Christmas. Turns out happy in the end though :)

7.) It's a Wonderful Life — Had to through this one in there. Gotta love Jimmy Stewart.

8.) How the Grinch Stole Christmas — This is the one that reminds me of my childhood the most. That little dog with the antlers is the sweetest.

9.) A Charlie Brown Christmas — the tree. Plus, I love the soundtrack.

10.) A Very Brady Christmas — Okay, don't laugh. It has all the Brady's grown up for a reunion!! It's really touching. Well, maybe you can laugh....

Dear Santa.

I've been telling myself that I need to get started on my Christmas shopping early this year.

Then, they fired about 20 people from my work this week, and now I am panicked. Do I save money "just in case?"

It was already going to be an "Etsy" Christmas this year--but now--It may be a "Baked Goods" Christmas :) 

I don't know. I guess it does no good to worry and plan...I need to live without reservations. 

I think a large purchase of lottery tickets are in order, or, a really nice letter to Santa.