I Always Hate This Part

It's that time of the year when I always go through my kids stuff to make room for the new things that Santa brings. But it always makes me so sad...to see the things they once treasured go by the wayside because they are getting bigger and their interests change. There are some things I just can't part with...I stash them up in my attic to save for my grandbabies someday. These are the things Cubby decided to part with this morning. They were the mainstays of his day for several years and it makes me sad to see Tech Decks, Hot Wheels and Pokemon cards take their place.



He was sooooooo in to them he wanted costumes to match!!!! He got each of them for his birthday in October and for his birthday/Halloween portraits we would bring them to Target with us and have a few pictures taken.



Ahoy Matie!!! Here's my little pirate....he was into pirates for a long time....and still busts this costume out every now and then.



Hey Batman!!!! The Bat Cave is being retired too....but even Cubby was having second thoughts....he wanted to be assured that if he changed his mind I could go up and get them out. Of Course!!!!

Finally!!!

Wheh!!!!!!! It took me almost TWO days to decorate the tree this year!!!!!!! The only thing Chip had to do was get the tree out and set it up....well...it's one of those "pre-lit" trees and the bottom 2/3's wasn't working. He got very frustrated...as most guys do when it comes to those little white christmas lights. And left it up to me....it took over 6 hours to get the broken lights off.....my finger tips were raw prying off the clips and wire that held them in place. Then it was a trip to Home Depot to get new lights.......thankfully getting them back on was a ton easier.




Then Cubby and I spent all morning putting on our favorite ornaments. I looooove all of my ornaments but my tree just isn't big enough for all of them so have have to rotate a few. So for the next few weeks we'll be loving the warm glow of our tree...I just love being all tucked in at night with the tree lit. Before too long it will all be over. :(

What is it Wednesday????

I know they don't look like much....but they mean a lot to me. Cindylou and T. glittered up these pinecones in 2000...when they were 3 and 4 years old. It was a cold, snowy day and we were looking for something to do. We tied thin gold thread on them and hung them on our tree....I made one just like it in the 3rd grade and still hang it on our tree. I love the simple things about this season....that's what it's truly all about.

Happy December!!!!

Happy December to all my favorite peeps!!! Sorry I've been slacking on my cute little blog lately....I've been BUSY!!! First...let's recap Thanksgiving...I went away for five days with all of my relatives on my Dad's side...we all met at a big, huge seven bedroom house...arriving from New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama and Dubai! Here's the recap for that....we ate, we drank, we played games, we laughed....repeat for November 24,25,26, and 27th. What a blast!! And we got six inches of snow!!! Upon arriving home....I unpacked, did laundry, got the wreaths up outside, the decorations up inside, finished my christmas cards, got a big chunk of my shopping done...I just need to put the tree up when Chip comes back into town and do a few fun crafty things......I must say....I'm feeling pretty good about the whole holiday situation....which is how I like my December....get as much done before the 5th, so I can play, have fun and enjoy the whole season...and as you can see Cubby found his favorite Santa hat as we were unpacking the bins.



Here is one of my favorite things at Christmas time...a cookie jar my sister in law gave me in 2005. I'm so excited to really bake cookies this year. Since I've gotten my pink Kitchen Aid mixer "Minnie" I've been having success in the baking department....with of course the inspiration and special instruction from one of my soul sisters, Marzipan. I will share my progress over the next few weeks....I have a few goodies I'd like to whip up..unil then,I just put a box of Keebler Jingle cookies in it....I always have to have just one box of those every year....it brings me back to when I was little.

What is it Wednesday????

This is the first batch of the season.....Sugar Coma Caramel Popcorn!! Waaaayyy tooooo addicting!! Really super duper easy to make....click here to get the directions....but I'm warning you....you won't be able to keep your hand out! I'm off to visit with family for the rest of the week......Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Blessings to you all.

The Last Stop

Well.....this is it...the last stop on The Boss' Working on a Dream Tour, which started in the fall of 2007. My Dad has season tickets for the Buffalo Sabres and they emailed him at the end of the summer to see if he would want the tickets for the Bruce Springsteen tickets....and of course I chimed in that he never knows what to get me for Christmas.....well...Merry Christmas to me!!! :) Look at this super cute tote bag I found at Walmart for $5!! I have been excited for days and jammed to constant Bruce the whole 3 1/2 hour ride up to Buffalo.



Chip didn't want to go with me this time......So my cousin, the Gerberagirl was happy to come with me.



This man is the hardest working man in the business.....He played the complete Greetings from Asbury Park album...as well as Sunny Day, Rosalita, Thunder Road and BTR.....Requests came in for Merry Christmas Baby and Santa Claus is coming to Town and he was happy to oblige.



Eveyone has eluded that Buffalo being the last stop is significant.....this is where he very first played.....is this it for Bruce and the E Street band??? To watch him rockin' at 60 I sure hope not!!!!



It was Little Stevie's birthday and we all sang as they brought him out a cake.



And as always.....I got teary eyed at the end just ebracing the moment...always thinking.....this could be the last time......

I Love My Boots

I first have to say this is my first post where I am in all the pictures...I took them all myself! And I was sweating putty balls as I was running up and down the stairs changing my outfits and boots...because I had my camera set up in the dining room. But anywhoo......I love my boots!!! I lost a bunch of weight two years ago and had to re-create my a whole new wardrobe for myself...it was fun...but now I have been concentrating on my footwear...can you believe my feet got smaller as well???anyway I am in love with my boot collection! It is perfect! This is my most recent pair....I just got them two weeks ago when I was away with my soul sisters. I tried them on and they were as comfy as slippers. I thought about them all afternoon and stopped in and got them on our way home. I llloooove them! I've worn them almost everyday.....they look great with skinny jeans.



They also look great with this cute corduroy skirt I got at Walmart. It was on sale for $7!!! I loved it so much I got a brown one too :) For $7 dollars I couldn't not!



These are my new hot weekend boots. I am waaaay taller in them.....and I think even a smidge taller than Chip when I have them on...but I don't care!



I saw them a month or so ago....I had been looking for a dressy pair of black boots for the holidays. I kept looking, but I went back for these after I had been all over town. They look so awesome I had to show them up close.



These boots are from Nine West and I wear them ALL.THE.TIME. I learned from my cousin, Gerberagirl...."If you love them, buy them in black and brown."



So I did!!!




I did for these boots too! They are also from Nine West...I fell in love with the black ones at Macys and wanted the brown ones too...so I went down to the Nine West store and they were on sale there.....so I got BOTH pair for the price of one.SCORE!!! They are great for walking all day....or for a concert when you're on your feet all night. Like I will be when I go see Bruce Springsteen Sunday night in Buffalo :)



These are hand me downs from my sister. I didn't care for them at first...but a friend wore a similar pair a few weeks ago when were were out and I remembered I had these in my closet....they are Frye boots and I actually saw a similar pair brand new at the store...So thought I would get them out and knock around in them for a while :)



These are my lucky football boots. They're from Target and they are terrific for all of those rainy and muddy football and soccer games. The Chiefs won their playoff and Super Bowl games because I had these on :)



These Uggs are THE.COZIEST!!! With my sister living in Vail, Co. it's always a great Christmas gift suggestion...she treated me to these last year.



And these Uggs were from two years ago....I love to throw them on when I'm running around town.



Cindylou just asked me if she could borrow these little short ones for school tomorrow. Now that we're the same size....it might get a little crazy around here.



These Havana Joe's are great for knocking around on hikes or football practices in the fall....with the heel, even though they are construction boots, they look a little bit more girlish and fun. Wheh! I didn't really realize I had the perfect boot collection until today. Ummmmm....and I don't think Chip does either....and I'd like to keep it that way....don't be blabbing about it if you run into him....I'm pretty sure he NEVER checks this blog.....and I'd like to keep it that way too!!! :)