Tids... Bits... and a HOLIDAY FUNNY

Can you BELIEVE this time NEXT FRIDAY The Jolly FatMan will be visiting???...


I tried REALLY REEEEEEAAAALLLY HARD to watch the FAREWELL to LARRY KING LIVE tonight... but after about 10 minutes I wanted to hang myself... so I switched over to REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS... (wonder if BILL MAHR will catch any slack over his "little" slip-up???? And you SHOULDN'T be able to TELL YOU ARE READING A TELEPROMPTER "Mr. President")...


Our last snow melted pretty quickly (after a TROPICAL 40* weekend)... just in time... we got ANOTHER 9" earlier this week!...


When you go to the PO at NOON... You should KNOW there will be a LONG LINE... WHY were you surprised???


I have to wonder if I scavanged for some SWAG to REVIEW... could/would I get all my Christmas Shopping done???...


DON is HOTTER than LANE... but NOT HOTTER than ROGER...


I buy my own Christmas Gifts... give them to my husband... he wraps them... and I am TOTALLY HAPPY on Christmas morning...


Why is it that SOME PEOPLE look TOTALLY CUTE bundled up... and OTHERS... well... just look like the STAYPUFF guy off GHOSTBUSTERS???...


I get REALLY ANNOYED when Michael wears SHORTSLEEVES in the winter... I'm COLD!...


We think the CHRISTMAS LIGHTS outside look MAGICAL with SNOW covering them...


We can't hear the song DYNOMITE without wanting to SPIN THE DREIDL!!!...


MY BESTIE (who I miss SO MUCH!) is a FABULOUS card picker outer!!!! (see below)

8 MORE DAYS! HOPEFULLY the WEATHER will cooperate with me until then... I STILL have shopping to do!!! (UNLESS of course SOMEONE... ANYONE... wants to send ME some SWAG???)

OK...

We've had ENOUGH...





SERIOUSLY???...

Please make it STOP!

Tids and Bits and I SPY...

I MISS MY BESTIE!!! OH YES YOU DID... and I AM!!!


Christmas morning this house is going to be ROCKIN' to SELENA, MIRANDA, and TAYLOR... and HOPEFULLY ANNIE too!


Green Tea at 9AM, 2PM, 4PM, and 10PM RELIGIOUSLY...


SNOW SNOW and more SNOW... and more expected until WEDNESDAY...


I've known him for over 1/2 of his life... and I am a bit FREAKED OUT by that!


I HIGHLY recommend reading THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER by GLENN BECK...


GO RAVENS... ESPECIALLY TONIGHT!!!


I SPY a STAR... CUPCAKE... HEART... BEAR... BUTTERFLY... FLOWER... PANDA... and CANDY... and so did the TODDLER that was having a MELTDOWN at the PO this past week... who knew that Lilley-Kate's coat would make for a FUN distraction???

TIDS... BITS... and SPONGETOM...

CAM is hotter than MITCH... but NOT hotter than PHIL


We stopped watching DWTS when AUDRINNA was voted off... I actually thought my Husband was going to cry that fateful night... My BESTIE has been keeping me "up" on the show... we hope ANYONE but BABY wins the mirror ball trophy...


PLEASE... THANK YOU... PARDON (EXCUSE) ME... SORRY... words to REMEMBER when BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING... I will NOT be shopping on Friday... I have found over the years it's just NOT worth the HASSLE


KOURTNEY is hotter than KHLOE... but NOT hotter than KIM... and who DOESN'T KNOW NOT TO GIVE A BABY PEANUT BUTTER???


The temp here hit 70* today... is it NOVEMBER or JULY???... yes... in these here parts 70* in July is NORMAL


MANMEET is hotter than TODD (TOAD)... but NOT hotter than ASHA


I see NO REASON for the kids to be out of school for Thanksgiving WEDNESDAY THRU MONDAY... OH WAIT... it's HUNTING SEASON... WHOOOOOOOOOPIE


STUFFING STUFFING and MORE STUFFING... THAT is my "Turkey Day" Dinner FAVORITE


OLIVIA is HOTTER than TRACEY... but NOT hotter than GIGI


A HOLIDAY TRADITION at Lilley-Kate's school is the FAMILY TURKEY PROJECT... It's something we look forward to every year... Weeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllll... THIS YEAR "our" FAMILY TURKEY was one of (five) the WINNERS!!!


Hope EVERYONE has a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!

"Trick or Treat"...

Lilley-Kate and her "country bestie" Kylee had a blast Trick or Treating in the neighborhood this year...




An 80's girl and a 50's girl (although most people thought Lilley-Kate was LAVERNE from LAVERNE and SHIRLEY... LOL)

The Daddy's took the girls around this year... and us Mom's stayed back and handed out candy...

ToT was a bit "early" this year... 5 to 7pm... kinda nice with it being a school night...

The girls had a fun time and Lilley-Kate is ALREADY thinking of NEXT HALLOWEEN!!!

OH... and our pumpkins were a BIG HIT!!! Hope EVERYONE had a nice evening!!!

A HELLO KITTY HALLOWEEN SURPRISE...

About a week ago Lilley-Kate and I were scoping out all the pumpkins people had carved for Halloween... and happen to come across our FAVORITE KITTY ON A PUMPKIN!!! Lilley-Kate was so excited to show Michael the pumpkins...

Little did she know... her Daddy would give her a HALLOWEEN SURPRISE!!!

Her VERY OWN HELLO KITTY PUMPKIN...




Michael spent most of the evening last night in the garage listening to FOOTBALL on the radio... and carving the SURPRISE!!!!

ToT is tonight around here... Lilley-Kate is SO EXCITED!!! Hope EVERYONE gets LOTS of treats (and maybe even a few tricks!!!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Hope EVERYONE has a SAFE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Things That Drive Me BATTY...

People who wear PAJAMAS (and YES... those DISNEY CHARACTER LOUNGE PANTS ARE CONSIDERED PAJAMAS) to the GROCERY STORE...

People who "allow" their CHILDREN to ride in the FRONT SEAT of a vehicle... UNBUCKLED (noless)... I understand that you drive a "tank"... BUT still...

People who let their trashcans sit out at the curb EMPTY... trash pick-up was THREE DAYS AGO...

People who "allow" their CHILDREN to run RAMPANT through a "resturant"... YOU may think it's CUTE... but I don't... and I can prety much GUARENTEE other people don't either...

When LIVE broadcasts run "long"... and then mess up the schedule on my DVR

WIND... WIND that makes the temperature PLUMMET

TALKING the TALK.... but NOT WALKING the WALK

COLD Leather CARSEATS... and on the FLIPSIDE... HEATED SEATS

Getting STUCK behind someone who is OBVIOUSLY chatting it up on their CELLPHONE at a RED LIGHT (that turned GREEN 10 seconds ago!)

STATIC... I don't like getting "zapped"...

Asking a SALES ASSOCIATE a SIMPLE question and having them look at you like you have just spoken to them in CHINESE...

Coming home from the GROCERY STORE and realizing we DID NEED MILK... *sigh*

NAME DROPPERS

BRAND WHORES... I can TELL by the COLOR of your "cutesy" sweatpants WHERE they came from... I DON'T need to see the BRAND NAME plastered across your bum!

DISRESPECT

PEOPLE who will undoubtedly CARRY their INFANT up to my FRONT DOOR (dresses in an ADORABLE DISNEY COSTUME... hold out a PILLOWCASE and say "TRICK or TREAT"... are you REEEEEEEEEAAAAALLLLY going to let your INFANT eat the candy? Or are you going to SAVE IT until their teeth come in???

I'd Already Seen AVATAR... 17 YEARS AGO!

Did ANYONE ELSE make the CONNECTION?

New Friends...

BUTTONS... and BUTTONS

THESE are BUTTONS (one of Lilley-Kate's FAVORITE THINGS)...







And THIS is BUTTONS (one of Lilley-Kate's NEW FAVORITE THINGS)...






Hope everyone is enjoying the SUMMER!!!

Catching Up...

WHEW! We are full sprint to the end of the school year! 2 Field Trips... EOY school carnival... teachers gifts/cards to prep for giving...


RECITAL is fast approaching... Lilley-Kate's last "Studio Lesson" is next Tuesday... formal portraits scheduled... then starts a week of "Stage Lessons"... Dress Rehearsal and finally RECITAL DAY!!!


"Shy Child" got a Summer Job at a neighborhood Convenience Store and has been coming home every evening with the most HILARIOUS stories...


Just when I thought GLEE couldn't get ANY BETTER... IT DID!!!


Our Annual Multi-Family Garage Sale is set for June 5th... My Dining Room has been taken over with all the "STUFF" for the sale


Michael INSISTED that the AC be turned on this past WEDNESDAY when the temp hit 88*...


Lilley-Kate is becoming quite the HULA HOOPER, JUMP ROPER, and BADMITTON PLAYER... now if we can just get her on her BIKE we'd be set!


The "Bird War" continues between Michael and the neighbor... it's a "friendly" war... but a war none the less!


We've been enjoying dinners out on the patio every evening...


Time has been flying by so fast... it's hard to believe the end of SECOND GRADE is here! Lilley-Kate is excited to see WHO her teacher will be (it's a toss up as our district does not (formally) allow "requesting") for THIRD GRADE... SHY CHILD will begin his SENIOR YEAR of COLLEGE (how did THAT come so fast?)... I've decided just to "hang on tight" and enjoy the ride as best as I can... THANKFULLY my calendar... and a cabinet front of sticky notes keeps everything is order!!!


Have a nice day!

Puttin' On The Ritz...

Lilley-Kate had CLASS PICTURES taken at dance this past week... this is the first year the CLASS PICTURES will appear in the RECITAL PROGRAM!


Every once in a (great) while... I surprise myself... and snap a HALF-DECENT picture! I've decided to use this one in the PROGRAM AD that we placed... (and THANK YOU to my BESTIE for pimping it up a bit for me!)


One month to go!

Just Stuff...

Last night was SENIOR PROM... Lilley-Kate LOVED seeing her FAVORITE SENIOR all dressed up!

I remember MY Senior Prom... and how disappointed I was to arrive and see TWO OTHER GIRLS wearing the SAME GUNNE SAX DRESS that I had on!

We'll be planting our annuals this weekend... although we still have 2 weeks of possible FROST to contend with... Last week the temp didn't get above 55* all week!

Michael has taken up a friendly "bird feeder war" with the neighbor... Michael is NOT "winning"

Recital is a MONTH AWAY... and Lilley-Kate and I are getting VERY EXCITED! (Gotta make her PORTRAIT APPT.)

I have started switching over to our "warm weather" favorites for meals...

Since my "shy child" arrived home for Summer Break our grocery bill has DOUBLED...

I need to price all my Garage Sale items...

Hope everyone is enjoying warmer weather!

SEVEN LAYERS

Layer ONE... Hemmed 3"



Layer TWO... REMOVED



Layer FIVE... Hemmed 2"



Layer SIX... Shortened to length



Layer SEVEN... Shortened to length



Ready for PROM!!!

SWEET DREAMS...

I've been busy... catching up on some sewing projects...



SATIN PILLOWCASES... for promoting BEAUTY SLEEP (using satin pillowcases helps minimize facial wrinkling)... HEALTHY HAIR (using satin pillowcases helps keep long hair smooth and tangle free) and SWEET DREAMS (using satin pillowcases promotes sweet dreams... just because WHO doesn't have sweet dreams sleeping on a SATIN PILLOWCASE?)... Made for MY FAVORITE GIRL (who is growing her hair to her WAIST) and me... and our BESTIES!!!



The pattern is pretty "straight-forward"... you can use a premade pillowcase as a guide... OR use THIS GREAT TUTORIAL!!!



I cut them all out and sewed then "assembly line style"... and it went lickety split! I bought FLANNEL BACKED SATIN (at JoAnn's)... so the pillowcases "stay put" on the pillow... I'll definitley be making more of these!!!

A REMINDER of HOME...

Right outside my window...



Who says you can't "go home" again? Even if only in our memories?...

Home Again Home Again...

We enjoyed a nice change of scenery for the Easter Holiday... lots of flowering trees, shrubs and flowers...

Some relaxing "deck time" watching the birds...

Some FABULOUS SHOPPING (and a new housekey!)...

Good food...

SUNSHINE and WARM temperatures...

A LONG car ride home...

Hope everyone had a nice Holiday!

Just Sayin'...

My FAVORITE seamripper has went missing... I'm suspicious as to WHERE... I miss you FAVORITE SEAMRIPPER... PLEASE reappear soon

I'm going to have to take Lilley-Kate to have her feet measured... she's wearing shoes ranging in size from 13 1/2 to a 3... It's really got me curious as to WHAT her "true" shoesize is

I found out (quite by accident) that EASTER is NEXT WEEKEND... Hmmmmm... I thought it was 2 weeks away... so once again I am totally NOT PREPARED and have 6 days to get it together

Willard Scott STILL CREEPS ME OUT... and AL ROKER is starting to

Michael asked me how I was liking "being a FOLLOWER"... and then commented "how can you TYPE that fast?"... PRACTICE sweetie... LOTS of practice

Guest Blogging/Blog swapping... is it the newest trend? I'm thinking... but it's just too much clicking and backreading for me to enjoy

We're expecting SNOW... but have had a few "teaser days"... it gives me HOPE

Cleaned out my closet and drawers... got rid of a shirt I have had for over 10 years (and miss it almost as much as my FAVORITE SEAMRIPPER)

I really DON'T like it being "ALL ABOUT ME"... I'd MUCH RATHER it be more about someone else...

A VERY HAPPY Girl...

OK... FIRST... I have NO IDEA why the picture won't upload RIGHT SIDE UP... so crink your neck to the side... and I'll tell my little story....



I gave Lilley-Kate the opportunity a bit back to get her ears pierced (I now realize I SHOULD'VE just had them done when she was a baby)... and she has been BACK and FORTH... "Yes Mommy... I want my ears pierced... will it HURT?"... "Um... Yes... it will hurt... but just for a little bit"... "I'll think about it"... "OK... you tell me when you're ready"...



"OK... I'm ready... will it HURT?"... "Um... Yes... it will hurt... but just for a little bit"... "Hmmmm... let me think about it some more"... "OK... you tell me when you're ready"...



BACK AND FORTH... BACK AND FORTH... even an offer from her (much) older brother to ENTER CLAIRE'S and hold her hand hasn't "sealed the deal" for her...



So... we were at the mall... and just went into CLAIRE'S to look at the earrings... and LOOK... CLIP EARRINGS for LITTLE GIRLS!!!! Lilley-Kate was SO EXCITED...



Until she makes up her mind... she is MORE THAN HAPPY to sport "clip ons"

Sparklie CHERRIES... Sparklie BUTTERFLIES... and Sweet DAISIES... (all her favorites)...

One step closer...

"HUMP DAY" Again... ALREADY???

WHEW... can you BELIEVE how FAST the time is going???...

Willard Scott ("Uncle Willy" as "Al" refers to him) give me the creeps...

I have RELUCTANTLY become a "follower"... and am SECRETLY LOVING IT!!!

LINDSAY... YOU are NO OPRAH... MADONNA... OR PRINCE... so GOOD LUCK with that!

I am LOVING "RANDOM TOPIC CHAT"... BEST conversations with my BESTIE...

61* here today... according to the display on Dr. "BackCrackers" office sign... WOOHOO!!!

LOTS of meliting snow... DIRTY DIRTY streets though... we need a hard rain to wash it all away!

OC REUNION TONIGHT!!! THAT should be good!!!

Happy WENDESDAY everyone!!!