Christmas Over Here

Here's a few pictures of the house for Christmas:

Just by adding a few simple Christmas things like pillows and books 

you can transform your regular space into cozy holiday retreat.

 I usually only decorate the mantle for holidays.  Christmas is different.  

The whole house gets transformed.

I love having a mantle, it makes such a large impact with very little effort.

 My darling daughter thought adding gumballs instead of candles would but cute.  

Umm I'm not sure about that but we went with it.  

This display is sitting on my kitchen table and will hopefully encourage people to eat those goodies 

so I don't have too.

I ♥ Christmas!

Today....

It's all Christmas goodness around here.
I know it's January 4th but I'm still enjoying all of it.
So it's staying up.


Usually I can't wait for Jan. 1st to get my house back in order. All of December this year I felt so overwhelmed, stressed out, and rushed I just didn't enjoy Christmas at all and I missed it.  That's why I haven't even asked to get the boxes out of the attic.  It feels good.  Hey!  We may even break out the gingerbread house tonight and get it put together!

 (yes, there are still (fake) presents under the tree - the benefits of throwing a holiday party)

Not to worry, January is looking pretty positive, very organized and even though it's been freezing cold I've been on the happy train.  I have already cleaned out and organized my office, the girls rooms are next on the list along with their bathroom.  I . can't . wait.  When things are clean everything feels brighter doesn't it?!


And just because:

I will be so sad when I don't walk into a room to find a remnant of fun from my girls.  Don't they look like they are having a fun time sitting on the side of the tub?  The one in the blue looks like she is up to something......?  Before we got our girls I longed to have toys on the floor to step on and promised myself I would never take creative fun from my children for granted.  So....the barbies sit on my tub waiting for another play time from Miss Abbs.  And it makes me smile♥

Christmas Card 2010

Merry Christmas from us to you♥

Two More Days

That's all I've got.  I am starting to enter panic mode.  My Christmas cards came today so I hurried and got those addressed and stuffed and tomorrow I will mail them out.  Miss Amberly has asked two different Santa's for a gift that I knew nothing about so I'm off tomorrow to see if "Santa" can bring her what she wants.

I am trying not to feel guilt when people bring me treats and presents and I have nothing to give them.  I had to nix the friends and neighbor gifts this year.  Sorry to all my special peeps but I just can't fit it in.  I'm sending out the good love vibes to you though!  I just have to remember that it's OK to not do it all.  And this year I'm definitively not doing much of anything!  HA!  Pure survival mode with a happy smiling face is what I've got.

I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends, neighbors and family to surround ourselves with this holiday season.  My youngest brother came by today with his darling boys and we had so much fun making a present for their Mama.  My girls have been busy little bees getting things ready for my birthday tomorrow and to top it all off we ditched the stress and guilt and holiday bustle and took off for Disneyland on Sunday morning on a whim.  It was so fun to spend 72 hours with my little family...just us...no stress..no other commitments.  That's what has kept a smile on this girls face as I rush around trying to get everything done. 

So here's to hoping I manage to pull off a brilliant Christmas, make everyone's dreams come true and remember the reason for the season.  The Spirit of Christ.

Joseph, Mary and Jesus - Christ.org  watch the video!



The True Spirit of Christmas - LDS.org
“Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit,” taught President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor in the First Presidency. The spirit of Christmas helps us become “more interested in people than things,” he said.

Teaching about the true spirit of Christmas, President Monson said, “To catch the real meaning of the ‘Spirit of Christmas,’ we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the ‘Spirit of Christ.’ When we have the spirit of Christmas, we remember Him whose birth we commemorate at this season of the year.”
As we turn our hearts outward, President Monson promised we will find that “opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless,” but warned that “they are also perishable.”

Following the Savior will lead us to serve others, and serving others leads to knowing the Savior better. “If we are to have the very best Christmas ever, we must listen for the sound of sandaled feet. We must reach out for the Carpenter’s hand. With every step we take in His footsteps, we abandon a doubt and gain a truth. …
“One line of holy writ contains a tribute to our Lord and Savior, of whom it was said, ‘[He] went about doing good … for God was with him’ (Acts 10:38). My prayer is that at this Christmas season and all the Christmastimes to come, we may follow in His footsteps. Then each Christmas will be the best Christmas ever.”

Merry Christmas! 

Love Cara

Deep Breath In and.....Let It Out.........

That's how I feel right now.  

Why?

Because I have finally gotten my head above water.

I told you this was "Hell Month"

Here's an update with a full detailed post and pictures coming.  

Amberly's birthday party - done

Cassidy's birthday party - done

16 year anniversary - done - but a make-up date still needed

Ward Christmas party - done - and it was more than fabulous!

Cassidy's birthday - not as fabulous as the ward party but we made up for it.

Amberly's birthday - done

Christmas tree decorated - done

Christmas cards made and ordered - done!

 

(via tumblr - crumpledenvelope)

I now have been married 16 wonderful years and I have a 12 year old and a 7 year old.  Where does the time go?  I miss my babies but I sure do love my girls no matter how old they get.  Miss Abbs and I decorated the tree tonight while Tom and Cass were at YM/YW (at church).  The front room looks so pretty and I finally have the tree in the front window.  It's never worked out before to have it there and I have to admit.....it's found it's home and it's perfect.  I have a gazillion presents under the tree which makes us look like we are having one amazing Christmas but alas....they are all just props from the Ward Christmas Party.  It still makes me happy to look at them.  Is that bad?  Does that say something about myself? hmmmmm...

The front room is decorated, the floors are vacuumed, the kitchen is clean, the laundry has been started, and I'm pretty sure that I am going to sleep good tonight!

Tomorrow I promised myself to start enjoying the season and by-gum I am going to start having fun!

Night♥

Favorite Holiday Treat Ideas

Thought I would post some holiday treat ideas so when life slows down for me next week I can hunker down, decorate for Christmas (I don't have ONE thing up yet....) and bake.  Until then - enjoy

via food exhibitionist

via soupdejour

via earthboundwinglessdream

via earthboundwinglessdream

via acottageinthewoods

via acottageinthewoods

via jims pancakes

via one charming party

via prettyfoods

Happy December!

I'm obsessed with this tea. Candy Cane Lane...it's not just peppermint tea it also has vanilla and cinnamon and it is heavenly.  Best tea ever!  I need to go back to Sprouts and buy them out or I will be one sad Mama when I run out and can't get it anymore.  It's the perfect thing to put me in a festive mood (and boy do I need all the help I can get)

This weekend I started to feel the pressure of the next couple of weeks.  Want to hear what I have going on?  It's not for the faint at heart:

Piano recital, family pictures, ward service project, Cassidy's birthday party, editing family pictures (for a friend) 2nd grade school musical, ward dinner party with Santa (that I'm in charge of) decorate for Christmas, ugly sweater party, 16th wedding anniversary, work, shopping, make neighbor/friend gifts.....OK I just can't go on.  I'm getting depressed.

The good news is that I'm feeling great so I can get this all done.  I do it every year and I can do it again.  I need to focus on one day at a time and plow through this holiday season with a happy heart and a positive attitude.  It can be done!

For now, I'm off to drink my tea and make a shopping list of what I need to feed dinner to 300 people.
Adios♥

Hell Month x 2

I think Hell Month has crossed over to November.

I just sat down to organize my calendar and see what I have going on and it's already full!

Here are the major events:

Amberly's Birthday Party

Cassidy's Birthday Party

Thanksgiving

Planning the ward (church) Christmas Party for Dec 3rd.

add to that all the "normal stuff" like:

work, volunteering, other birthday parties, piano, gymnastics, Cass starting volleyball, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, dishes, family dinners, homework, book club, ahhhhhh!!! 

I'm already overwhelmed and it's only the 4th.

Yes, Hell Month has crossed over but I'm going to be positive.......

I'll get everything done this month and I will have the whole month of December 

(the original hell month)

to enjoy the reason for the season.

For now...I'm going back to bed♥

(btw I call it hell month because everything happens in Dec. for us: anniversary, my b-day, Cass' b-day, Abby's b-day and Christmas.  a few years ago I started doing their parties in Nov. to free up Dec and it has been a HUGE blessing!  So please take no offense that I call Dec that, it's just I'm just so busy I don't enjoy any of it)

52 Blessings - Week 4

My bike is my blessing this week.

Are you sick of hearing me talk about it?

I just love it so!

This week it has helped me:

♥go find my children in the pouring rain,

(they were down in the greenbelt playing in the lake that had formed from all the rain)

♥take Abby to gymnastics around the corner

♥go for a ride with Abby and Cassidy to activity days (girls church group)

♥have a ton-O-fun yesterday riding with my followers who I have dubbed

"The Bike Brigade" (all the neighborhood children).  We pretended we were in a parade and waved to everyone we saw.  I had about six kids on bikes with me as we rode around the 'hood for about an hour.

Lot's of fun I tell ya!  LOTS!

♥my favorite thing so far was giving this little guy a ride in our "bike brigade".  He couldn't have been happier and neither could I!  Just look at that smile - I love him! (my nephew Will)  Doesn't he look so cute in my bike basket?

3 Things

1) I tried on pants today at Target. They have a two mirror thing going on in the dressing room. One in the front of me and one in the back. I realized that the holidays have not been good to my backside. I also realized that if Target uses skinny mirrors I'm in deeper trouble than I thought!

2) My girls mopped the floor today while I was gone for a few hours. I love them♥

3) I realized that racing a 7 year old (named Santiago) who is riding a motorized scooter that goes 15 mph isn't a good idea. My hip hurt all night and I was so worried that I might not be able to ride my beautiful bike anymore. But today it's fine and I'm for sure going to keep my racing at a snails pace♥

Christmas Eve

Every year we go to my brother Kurt's for Christmas Eve. We have a program that’s all about the Savior and the kids act out the night of Christ's birth while we read Luke 2. It’s a tradition that we wouldn’t miss for the world! This year Abby and Garrett were Mary and Joseph with baby Will as Jesus. If you notice in the pictures below there was a slight baby change when Will had a fit and didn’t want to play out his part. Luckily we have had a baby every year to fill the roll. The pressures on for next year! Who will have the next baby to fill the roll?????

Abby and Garrett – cute as can be!
These two are still best friends which makes me so happy!

They are so cute♥


Baby William happy now that Mama is holding him and he doesn’t have to be wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Below is the new baby Jesus – baby Taylor. She’s a girl but we’ll let it slide.

Is Berkeley the cutest Sheppard ever?

The cast and crew – they did a great job. Our narrator had a hard time keeping a strait face – he did more laughing than talking. It was so funny – not sure why he was laughing but funny none-the-less!

Then we had the kids sing some songs. Zac sang "10 Little Reindeer", Cass and Abby sang "Joy to the World", Garret sang "I'm getting nothin' for Christmas" , Morgan and her sister sang and Harley stole the show (he’s 3) by singing "Bringing Home My Baby Bumble Bee" – all the verses! I think he is going to be in show business some day. We then watched an amazing video that Pam had made. It was so wonderful! Great Job Pam!!

Grandma Patty (Aunt Pam’s mom) gave all the kids pajamas. The kids look forward to this every year! We are so thankful for her and her sweet generosity. Abby was so excited about hers because it had frogs on it just like the ones I gave away a few months ago! (Cassidy didn’t get in the picture because she was the 1st one to open hers and ran into the bathroom to change.)
We are so thankful for Christmas traditions and for Kurt and Pam for hosting this wonderful night for us to enjoy.

Today's List

Just a quick update on what's going on around here:
1) Cass is sick again - the throw up kind of sick - yuck!
2) Since it was a half day and the girls were just going to be watching movies anyway I let them stay home. Well.....Cass was staying home since she's sick but I let the munchkin stay home too.
3) Regis and Kelly (I mean Mark and Kelly) were hilarious today! I was laughing so hard at the list of worst gifts received. Watch it on Monday and it will put a smile on your face! You might be able to watch it on their website I'm not sure. If you have loads of time on your hands this will give you something to do.
4) I cleaned the house and got my cards all ready to be dropped in the mail. Yipee!!!!
5) My computer is finally all up and running with every program working to perfection. I am loving Windows 7 and my computer guy who made it all come together. Let me know if you need him to come over and fix yours.
6) I have another fabulous blog to share with you. It's my blog friend Crystal in Utah. Love her! We both wish we were each others neighbors. She is doing a daily Christ-Centered Christmas and gives you a new idea each and every day! I told you she was fabulous!!! Go check her out! Oh and read this post too it's so funny!

1 Happy House - A Christ-Centered Christmas

7)I went delivering goodies last night and realized that I am a talker. I mean, I know that I like to talk but I think I may be turning into one of those people that are "talkers" if you know what I mean. I don't want to be annoying - please help me! Am I a too-much-talker? Jeez, I think I have given myself a complex.

8)I'm off to make Tom an ugly sweater for a party we are going to. Can't wait!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Yesterday I wasted 4 hours trying to merge my outlook contacts into word so I could make mailing labels. My nerves were fried and I'm embarrassed to even be telling you this. I'm hoping to make someone feel better through my pain. By the way - it didn't work very well so who knows if everyone will be getting a card. I'm so lame.

I did however get all my friend and neighbor gifts ready and hope to have those delivered by tonight. Cards are going in the mail today and teacher gifts went to school with the girls this morning. I have 26 hours until the girls are home for the holiday and I have to get crack-a-lackin'!

Yesterday my friend Lisa
brought me these for taking her family pictures. She is so sweet - I love them! I keep walking by them sitting on my counter and they make me smile. I'm going to have to bake something today and try them out! I also just wanted an excuse to post this picture of her on my blog. Is she stunning or what? I call this "Glam Lisa". She's going to kill me♥

My doorbell kept ringing all night with friends bringing goodies.
For dinner last night I had:
1 tamale
3 pieces of fudge
2 chocolate dipped pretzels
1 piece of homemade toffee
And this morning I had a i crev truffle in Edward Cold Mint for breakfast.
I'm a winner dont-cha think?

I'm off to clean off my desk, cut out tags, take a shower and do my hair (yesterday I didn't do my hair and it was a scary mess), run to the store and find something to eat other than sugar. Ooooh maybe some chicken?

Here's a link to more Christmas ideas - Crap I've Made I love the 3d snowflake (we've made these before) and the crystal tree science project!

Helpful Ideas

I don't know about you but I can use all the help I can get right now.
Cassidy and Tom have been home sick which has eaten up time that I have little of.
How many days till Christmas?
I don't know - I do know however that I am down to the wire and time is running out!
Is it for you too?
I thought so.
Here are a few helpful tips and ideas I have used in the past or am going to use this year.
Let me know if you have any tricks you want to share♥
Reindeer Food - I have done this every year and the kids LOVE it! Abby made a huge batch last night by herself and I printed the tags off tonight. She's giving one to each kid in her class.

Ugly Sweater ideas - who knew this was a HUGE deal? I didn't until this year.
you are going to laugh your hiney off when you look at these photo's!

Making the world cuter - there are tons of ideas on here!

Sisters Stuff - I love the hand sanitizer idea - there are lots of ideas on here - one of which I am going to steal for my neighbors (wink)

Clover Lane - my newest blog crush. She's always got something clever and I'm digging her photo ornaments. I just ordered mine for this year from Arts Cow. They are another great site. My brother and I are HUGE fans of arts cow.

One of my favorite daily e-mails is from todays creative blog there's all kinds of goodness flowing from this amazing blog. Everyday she features a different crafty blog. I'm sure you have heard of it - if not - hop on over and enjoy tons of great ideas.

Some ideas from my blogging past:
The birthday tree
Friend and Neighbor gifts - easy and may happen again this year.

Things I have gotten from friends and neighbors that I love that might inspire-I'm all about sharing the ideas♥

Mexican Vanilla, treats of any kind, chocolate dipped pretzels, holiday bingo game, Christmas Video, LDS General Conference on CD for the car (our friends gives us this every year), Christmas videos, a nativity set, Christmas Music CD, Jingle bells for our front door, an ornament (I love getting ornaments), family cookbook & an apron. There's more but my brain is about dead so I'm stopping here.

What's some of your favorite gifts to give and get?
Have any blog links to share?
Are you ready for Christmas?

Blessing #47

This week has been a very good week, so many blessings to choose from. I had a hard time deciding on only one. I guess I could have done all six that I am behind in but I don't have that much time.

So, without further ado my blessing for this week is:

Christmas

I love Christmas for many reasons:

I love how people change during the holidays. They become more aware of the people around them, more helpful, kind, giving. There aren't just strangers out there rushing from point A to point B. They become friends if only for a few weeks.

I love the spirit of Christmas. Thinking of others instead of ourselves, friend and neighbor gift giving, Christmas caroling, secret Santa s. I love going to see the Temple lights, hearing the beautiful Christmas music and bringing out Baby Jesus to set in the manger of our Nativity. Think of how peaceful our world would be if we had the spirit of Christmas all year long.

I love the feeling of Christmas. The excitement of the children, the cold winter nights, the warm clothes we get to wear. I love the Christmas tree and it's smell as I walk by, the houses with lights (even if they aren't straight) and the yummy Christmas food that we get to eat but once a year.

I know it gets hectic at times, stressful even but in the end I love it all. Every last bit of it!

After Christmas.........

SALES????

I don't think so.

This morning I turned on the news so I could see what happened with the storm last night. The wind and rain kept waking me up it was soooo loud! We found out that a lot of rain was dumped on the valley and snow in the mountains is heavy but nothing major.

Then the news people kept talking about the after Christmas sales. They said it would be better than Black Friday! Well after hearing about it for about a half an hour we decided to clean up the house and head out to see what all the talk was about.

Um, yeah. This after Christmas sale stuff is a farce. I was looking for another great deal like an $8 vacuum and a $130 Kitchen aid. (Which I am still mad I didn't buy either at the black friday sale!) No such luck. In fact, we didn't really find any good deals. We were very disappointed and we went to two malls, a Lowes, Costco, Sams Club, Sports Chalet and Hobby Lobby. I have to say Hobby Lobby WAS pretty good. I would have bought some stuff but we spent our extra money on a Christmas tree for next year. They had beautiful real looking Christmas trees and they were 50% off. We decided to save a tree and go for the fake-y even though it looks like a real-y. Hee-Hee! I would really like to know the secret to the after Christmas sales. Is it just Christmas stuff? Winter stuff? What? I am at a loss here.

We stopped in at Build-a Bear to use the gift card the girls got from Uncle Jones and Aunt Joni. We got about as far as the store next door because there was a line out the door at build-a-bear and it kept going past the next store front. Can you believe that? Who knew Build-a-bear was such an after Christmas hot spot? Poor Abby, she has been saving her money for weeks to go and I keep putting her off. The day finally came and we didn't even go in. (there was no way I was going to wait in that line!) So we went to a movie instead. The Tale of Despereaux. It was cute- not as cute as the book but still cute. That cheered her up! We ate popcorn and red vines for dinner and washed it down with soda. Yes, I know - I said no more junk. Tomorrow I guess!

We came home to a clean house with our tummies full of movie food and got snuggled up in our p.j.s. I'm off to snuggle up in my cozy bed and hopefully have a good night sleep. I'm crossing my fingers I am not woken up by storms, Flower the cat, a little snuggle bunny named Abby or too many trips to the bathroom! (getting old has disadvantages!)

Sweet Dreams ♥

Merry Christmas

I hope your Christmas was merry and jolly just like mine. We had a lot of fun - with each other, with our family and eating yummy food. Tom and I start our diet tomorrow, it's been decided! NO MORE JUNK!

Favorites and Not-So-Favorites from today:
1. Getting woken up at 5am. (NSF)
2. Hearing the girls excited voice. (F)
3. Cleaning up the mess. (NSF)
4. Listening to my new ipod. (F)
5. Eating monkey bread for breakfast. (F)
6. Waiting for family to show up 2 hours late!!! (NSF)
7. Watching the kids play in the rain. (F)
8. Spending time with family once they got there (F)
9. Having Zac sit on my lap and tell me the cutest things. (F)
10. Having Berkeley sit on my laugh and giggle. (F)
11. Watching For the Love of Willadean with my brothers. (most favorite!)
12. Having Tom and Cassidy help me cook and clean up this morning. (F)
13. Being blessed with more blessing than I can count. (F)

Merry Christmas!

It's Getting Closer............

For some reason this year I am having more fun sending out my cards and little goody bags than anything else. As I write each name on the envelope or go put a little treat at someones door I can't help but think how lucky I am to have that family in my life. Friends are such a blessing and blessings are the best!

I have gone through all my cards (100) and had to go print 30 more today. I have updated all my addresses in Outlook on the computer and can't wait for next year when I can just hit PRINT. What a feeling! I'm almost giddy about it! Facebook has helped me find old friends these last few months and seeing their cards is so much fun. Who knew so much time had passed since I spoke to some of these people? I love keeping in touch with people but it's always been so hard. Now with Blogger, Facebook, E-mail, Texting (which I am lousy at BTW) it's so easy to keep up on what's happening with everyone, even if it is kind of cyber-spacey. I'll take it!

Tonight the girls and I made another run around the neighborhood delivering goodies (homemade kettle corn) to Primary teachers, friends, neighbors. Only two people were home. It's so much more fun when the person is home to receive the gift. The girls were cute dressed in their jammies and robes, hats and slippers fresh out of the bath. I hope they will create a memory from our little jaunt tonight.

Abby got her haircut today after school. She has been asking to have a haircut for weeks and I have been putting her off. I want it to grow out long so I can put cute ponytails and braids, ribbons and clips in it. Who am I kidding. She's just like her sister. She doesn't like things in her hair. So after seeing Lisa's little girls Kate this morning with her cute new 'Do, I gave in when she asked for the same haircut. It's cute - short and sassy - just like sis. ♥

I'm checking off my list of Christmas things to do:

House Decorated - check
House cleaned up - check
Goodies made and mostly delivered - check
Cards sent - check (mostly)
Book club Parties - check
School parties - check
Kids out of school tomorrow - check

Still Need:

Christmas outfit for Cassidy
75% of my Christmas Shopping still to do!
Grocery shopping so we can stop eating candy all day
Stocking stuff
Presents made but not sent to out-of-towners
Take back a few items and get different items

All-Righty-Then I think I may have a lot to do this weekend what do you think?
How's your list coming?
Checking it off?
Adding more?
I'm going to bed - I need to make a list and check it twice and hope for the best!
(Really, I'm o.k. I'm not stressed for some reason?)

Black Friday

Today Elena (my SIL) and I hit Wal-Mart at 4am. Yep you read that right 4am. I thought the sales started then but that was at Kohls. I was very surprised how empty Wal-Mart was when we got there. We walked around the store scouting out the items we wanted then buying piddly stuff.

About 4:24am the workers started unwrapping the big door busters towards the front of the store. I happen to be right by the dishes I wanted so I grabbed them and sent Elena to the printer and chair she wanted. We were done in no time!! I couldn't believe the deals. A crock-pot $4 a vacuum $8 and it wasn't cheesy! Too bad I was on a budget. There were great deals!! When we got in line there was only one person ahead of us! The Wal-Mart we went to was not crowded and there was plenty of deals for everyone. Very positive experience. (my 1st Black Friday at Wal-Mart)

Then we headed over to Game Crazy and got a couple of things on our list. They were open at 5am. We then met up with Gena, Mindy and Monica in line at Target. They had a great spot! There were people at the front of the line in tents! Can you believe that? I don't care how good the deals are - tents?? No thanks!

This year we divided and conquered. It was great. I headed off for my list of playdough, Mindy got the cameras, Elena got the Rip sticks, Gena got the GPS' and Monica the sheets. We met back up after we had gotten everything and more and divided everything into carts and wha-la BAM! We were done.

While we were waiting in the nice quite purse isle for everyone to finish up I saw this beautiful girl with long curly strawberry blond hair. I looked at her more closely and I swear it was the actress who played Victoria (the bad vampire) in Twilight. I froze. What do I do I asked myself? She wouldn't be shopping at Target on Black Friday like the rest of us would she? So I ran (oh yes I did) and grabbed Mindy and drug her over to the infant section and she looked and her eyes got huge and ran to get Gena. We were all hiding behind the clothes peeking out at this girl trying to decide if it was her or not. We decided we had to call in the expert. Monica. I got her on the phone and had her come find us. She took one look and said, "Not Her!" I asked if she was sure and she said, "I've seen it 3 times I would know." So no movie star at Target today but it sure was exciting there for a minute. Later I went up to the Vampire clone and asked her if she's seen the movie twilight. She hadn't so I informed her that she looked just like one of the characters and even though she was the evil vampire she was very beautiful. She said she will have to go see it now.

After Target we headed to Kohls for more great deals. I was hesitant because last year the lines were horrendously long. Not this year, they moved very fast and wasn't so bad. I'm sure the people behind Elena and I weren't too happy when we finally got to the front and Monica, Mindy and Gena came and cut right in. I was afraid to turn around and see if we were getting evil eyes?!

Elena, Me, Gena, Monica, Mindy

We then headed out for some food with one last stop at Sams Club. There were some pretty good deals there. Who would have thought? I'll have to post a picture of us later while we were at Sams Club. We found this nice vignette set up with a couch, two chairs and huge TV playing a movie and a fireplace with fire. We parked it there while we were waiting for Gena. I asked for popcorn and some hot chocolate but no one brought me any. The nerve! I also asked for a different movie but the workers just ignored me. jeez!

All in all it was a great day. I came home and took a 3 hour nap and feel ready to go again.
I'm sold on Black Friday. The key is to go with great friends, have a plan and laugh a lot! It's also a great idea if you can somehow get an endless supply of money. Being on a budget really cuts into the fun! But we managed♥

I Have a Confession...............

I
have
been
secretly
listening
to
Christmas
music


and liking it!


There is something WRONG with me!!!

(I think my brain went haywire when I was shopping at Wal-Mart the day BEFORE Halloween and on one side of the very long candy isle there was Halloween Candy and on the other............
Christmas candy. It's all been down hill from then on! Where is the Thanksgiving stuff???)