One of my wishes for Christmas this year:

So this wish is just based on something that I keep seeing that has been bugging me more and more, and what better place to get it out of my system than in Blog World!

What I wish for Christmas this year, and every year after, is that people would stop putting so much importance on the financial aspect of the season. This time of year is meant to celebrate the birth of our Savior and to share the blessings he has provided to us with our family and friends. I am not going to preach here about how the reason for the season has veered away from the truth, but I am going to gripe about the fact that there is such an emphasis on money during this time of year.

If people aren't complaining about the fact that they have to spend money on gifts, then it seems they are bragging about just how much money they did spend on gifts. The amount of money spent on a gift should not be a focus at all during the holidays.

When I get a gift for someone, I think about that person and look for something that I know they would really like or need, and when I give it to them, I do not make a big deal about how much it cost, even when it is expensive. The cost of the gift is not the importance, but the thought and love that went into choosing and giving it, THAT is what matters to me.

I see people give gifts and then brag to each other about how they went all out, and "It was expensive, but you're worth it." Trust me, if someone is "Worth it", then most likely, they already know they mean that much to you and don't need to be reminded of the financial worth of their friendship. And at the same time, I don't think people realize how inferior that can make others feel.

I will stop whining now, but I will keep up hopes that at some point the focus will go back to the love and the magic of the season and that the main "Green" symbol of the season will become a beautiful tree, not dollar signs!

Christmas is here!!!!

Pre-Christmas Day Festivities
Yesterday was our "Housie's" Christmas Party. We have five peoples in our home, Mom, Dad, My Handsome Hunny, Myself and my Best Friend BlueRose. Since BlueRose is going to be traveling to her parent's home for Christmas, then out to Missouri the day after to spend the holidays with her boyfriend's family, we all decided that we'd do our own little Christmas last night. BlueRose's boyfriend Panther came over and we had KFC dinner (easy and yummy) then opened the gifts and then had some apple pie for dessert.

It was a really special evening and we were all spoiled by each other's gifts. Mom, Dad, Handsome and I will have our main Christmas events on Christmas Day, but this was a nice little teaser! =-) I can hardly wait to read the book BlueRose gave me. The interesting part about it...I am the lead character and the crazy best friend is BlueRose and the lead stud is Handsome...NICE! BlueRose comes up with some awesome gifts, I tell ya! I think she was pretty pleased with the Simon and Cheshire cat shirt that I found for her, as well. =-) Its great when you can find the perfect gift for the people you love.

Anyway, since I am at work and need to get back to projects, I should go, but I do want to wish each of you the most MAGICAL of Holidays. Don't forget to make the most of each moment and treasure each memory. Oh, and NEVER forget the true reason for this season.

Just checking in!


Hi, Everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting lately. Between the holiday rush and finding a lovely cold that seemed to settle in like it belonged to me, I haven't had a lot of time to blog!
Oh, just a quick update on my thumb, as a couple people have asked...its nearly healed. Yay! Now I am going through the peeling skin stage...kinda like a huge hang nail...ick! I can't complain too much, though, cause it could be a lot worse.
Things are going ok around here. Just rushing here and there to get the holidays all in order. This year is going to be a family Christmas with my hunny and my parents. That should be really nice. Our house is absolutely gorgeous this year. This is my first year in a house that we actually put lights up outside and all. I'll have to get some pictures and share them with you all.
The bummer bit is that Handsome came down with a cold last week, and even with airborne around the clock, it seems to have found me, too. Icky! There was one nice thing, though. Both he and I ended up coming home early from work yesterday because we weren't feeling too well, so it was great to spend some unexpected time together, even if we weren't feeling 100%. It was one of those "Awwwww" type of days! I tell ya, I am lucky to have him!!!

Anyway, I can't stay long today as I have a bunch of work to catch up on. Oh, and yes, I know I've been tagged...I'm putting that on hold till I catch up from work, then hopefully tonight or tomorrow I can fill my duties of being "It"!

Take care, Everyone!

Thursday Thirteen-Thirteen Tough Thumbless-Things To Try

OK, I am brand new to the Thursday Thirteen (not to mention the whole Blogging adventure), but I figured I'd give it a whirl. Oh, and I don't know how many consecutive Thursdays I'll be successful at creating the thirteen, but hey, one is a start, right!

So I determined that since I have had fun for more than two weeks now trying to avoid using my primary thumb (which is doing much better and healing quite nicely, thank you!),I would list the 13 most challenging actions that I have had to try.

13. Washing dishes (oh darn!!!)
12. Shoelace tying (another figured it out...but still...ugh)
11. Eating-Either with or without utensils (think big juicy (sloppy) hamburger...one handed)
10. Picking up the cat (she prefers to just be petted, anyway)
9. Shaking hands with people (Oh the comments a big ole' wrapped thumb can invoke)
8. Driving a stick shift (Mom and Dad had pity on me and let me use their car...styling in a Lincoln...NICE!)
7. Writing (remember, its what preceeded typing...some may remember this lost art)
6. Decorating my cookie snowlady at Disneyland (Still came out cute...then again, I am biased)
5. Washing/Rinsing my hair (all one handed---takes at least twice as long...AT LEAST)
4. Blow drying/styling my hair (hmmm...Curly looks great...the frizzy look is coming back, ya know)
3. Delicately put...powder room activities (no explanation needed)
2. Typing (hence the lack of Bloggin)
1. Zippers and buttons (figured them out, but still...not easy)

Magic is in the air! (Not to mention moisture)

Well, I just got back from a quick trip to Disneyland with Mom! What a blast we had. The park is gorgeous, as it always is this time of year. The first thing we did was head over to the Haunted Mansion and got our Fast Pass so we could return at the designated time to ride it, then it was over to the Pirates. All I can say is WOW! Oh and WET! I'll describe those in order of appearance. "WOW"-The ride looks great since they have refurbished it, complete with several appearances by Captain Jack Sparrow! I'm amazed at how Johnny Depp has time to get from one scene to the next and not look winded at all! HAHA---I know I know, its just animatronics, but I am amazed at how well they can make those guys to look just like him. You have to see it to believe it! Ok, so on to the wet...We get to the front of the line and the kind matey asks us how many people in our party and after we tell her, she tells us to take the front row. Nice...first hand view. As we are sitting down Mom says, "Am I going to get wet?" Of course I assure her, "No Way, Mom! This is the pirates! You don't get wet on the pirates!" She gives a little "If you say so" expression and we sit back to enjoy the view. As we approach the talking Skull and crossbones warning us that Deadmen Tell No Tales and that there be squalls ahead, I notice that the impending drop is now completely dark, as opposed the past trips having pretty little lights to show that there is a bottom to the pit of doom...now you have to hope for the best and wait for the results. One last glance up at the possessed skull and Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Down we go! Now let me assure you...there is still a bottom to that doomed drop, and at the bottom, there is water...and lots of it! For the first time ever, the water found us. Mom scoots forward quite quickly and looks over at me and I know instantly what she is going to say (you'll soon learn that I am a bit psychic like that) "You don't get wet on the Pirates, huh, Daughter?" I grin sheepishly and shrug my shoulders. After we disembarked our boat and walked into the sunlight of warm southern California, I see that Mom didn't just get wet, her skirt was soaked in the back. Luckily it was a colorful skirt and you couldn't tell that she was soaked if you didn't know better. Also, lucky for me, the weather was beautiful (three days before Thanksgiving and it is sunny (no clouds in the sky) and 86 degrees and warm Cali weather...can't beat that. The skirt dried quickly, but the reminders of my wrongness will never die. This will be one of those stories that haunts me for a while, I'm certain.


The rest of our adventure in Disneyland was quite enjoyable. We got to go on the Haunted Mansion twice (my ultimate favorite) and we decorated Christmas Cookies and saw Mrs. Santa (Mr. Santa is resting up for his upcoming travel arrangements). The Fireworks were magical, and it really snowed on us. Right there in 70something degree clear weather, snowflakes fell from above! Disneyland truly is full of magic and I'm glad to say it hasn't lost any of the magic I remember from the past. It had been over 4 years since I had visited, and I hope to not let it be so long before the next time. Soooo Much fun!!!


I love my Mom!

Me with my "Before" Snowperson

My "After" Snowlady (the first on the left...Mom's is the pretty Gingerbread boy...guess she forgot to pass that talent on to me...sigh!)

Gotta start Thumbwhere!

Ok, so here I am, finally starting my own Blog, and when do I choose to do this? Right after I chose to "Re-sculpt" my thumb with the help of a mandolin! Just trust my advise on this one...It's so not worth it. Yes, some people will do anything to lose weight, but the ounce you may lose in this method is made up for by the bandaging...not a fair trade. Plus the blood-loss and pain are side-effects that some just may not find worth it. Me, being one of them now.

So, I am on "light work duties" for the week and let me tell ya, typing is not the easiest thing to do without the use of your Primary hand's thumb. OH...and zippers...there is another fun one! I just wont even go into details about how much fun it is to lose the use of one of you digits...don't want to make you all jealous or tempt anyone! =-)

Due to the fact that it now takes minutes to type what used to be merely seconds, I will be keeping my bloggin on the short side for the next few days, but who knows what the future with a healed right thumb may hold!

So, in keeping with this week's theme in my life...THUMBS UP, everyone!!!!