Christmas Decorations

During this whole renting while we are building time it's sometimes felt like we've pressed pause on our lives in some areas waiting to press play when we get in the new house. Traditions, correspondence, even dinner most nights have been put on the back burner. So, when it came to decorating for Christmas, we weren't going to do too much. I really wanted to just get this tree as a joke:

I also wanted to get a live potted tree that we could use and then just plant with our landscaping. That didn't happen, I waited too long to buy it.

My wonderful friend Michele let me borrow a tree and glass balls (she calls them bulbs - what do you call them?). Those things along with some purchased garland, $1 poinsettias, and these stockings I did a little decorating. Jason and Peyton made the star for the tree last night. I also have wrapping paper we bought from Mackenzie's school fundraiser that will match the color scheme. Although I miss a lot of my decorations I have packed up, I'm glad we did a little decorating! I can't believe Christmas and 2009 are right around the corner!!

Gas Oven?

Does anyone have a GAS OVEN? We are considering a range that has a larger electric oven and a smaller gas oven. We'd use the smaller oven more but since it's gas I wanted to get opinions since I've never had a gas oven. If you have one, please comment your thoughts!

Commentary: Schieffer's Vote

I saw this on 'Face the Nation' Sunday and wished I had posted it before Tuesday - I like when he says that we have to give no reason for why we vote for somebody and also that we can tell everyone or no one.

Vote!

Candy Corn Kisses

Peyton won a coloring contest and got a basket full of Halloween goodies for her prize. The basket included these Candy Corn Kisses which I hadn't seen yet but I think are so fun! In talking with friends I guess there are all kinds of things to be discovered at Walmart when you don't run in and out at super speed. Apparently there is also Candy Apple Kisses and Pumpkin Swirl Kisses...but I don't think those are nearly as cute as this:

Movie Trailers

The girls and I went to see High School Musical 3 on Friday. Twice. And I enjoyed it. It was light and fluffy. Here are a few trailers for more light and fluffy movies I can't wait to see.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

17 Again

UPDATE: I am lauging at the conversation we are having on facebook on if it's creepy or not to have a crush on Zac Efron so I had to post this picture of my friend Traci from Friday at the movie. Now, go watch the 17 Again trailer and make your own decision! (I vote not creepy).

I've Been Tagged

Amanda tagged me so here goes (but I'm kind of an open book so most of it won't be a surprise to most)...

1. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, office supplies, organizational supplies, and gadgets. I could spend hours in Staples and when I see areas that are labeled and with matching/coordinating bins and baskets it makes me very happy.

2. My PC has a name and her name is "Dellilah". It's really a love/hate relationship.

3. I wear shoes - with heels - when I'm cooking or cleaning in the kitchen...I'm sure I'm doing some real damage to other parts of my body but I can't tell you what a difference it makes trying to reach things in the cabinets.

4. I love that when Jason and I got married it was just the two of us alone on the beach. But, if my girls even think of not including me at their weddings I will be so sad.

5. Amanda and I have in common that I was raised Catholic (Catholic school and all) and my husband was raised Church of Christ. We also have in common that I went to a super small school (after Catholic school, starting in 7th grade). I graduated with a class of 70 something.

6. I ran over a domesticated duck (coming home late one night from working at The Limited in high school) and was horrified when I saw the car behind me pass the scene of the crime causing white feathers to fly EVERYWHERE... now imagine me knocking on doors trying to figure out who the duck belonged to because I felt so badly about killing it!

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7. I once filed a police report against someone that I think had a foot fetish...this is a crazy (and a little bit embarrassing) story that will keep you in suspense for another time...

I am tagging:

1. Mitzi or Mitzi

2. Lindsay or Lindsay

3. Traci

4. Cammy Jo

5. Wendy or Wendy

6. Stephenie

7. Brandy

Separated at Birth?

Last year when Peyton was in class with Kendall, we started to get to know Kendall's family a little better and I told Traci (Kendall's Mom) that her husband Andy looks like my friend Julie's husband Matt. Well, I guess both the guys get mistaken for each other around town. Yesterday we were at the soccer fields and both guys were out there so Traci snapped this picture - I definitely think they resemble each other (and they both have nice, beautiful wives and children - older daughter and younger son - crazy!). What do you think?

Confession of a "Confessions of a Shopaholic" Fan

I don't read very often. Reason being - if I'm in the middle of a book, I can't put it down! Nothing else gets done. So when I do decide to read a book, it has to be fun and quick. Several years ago this was that fun quick book which was followed by all the other Shopaholic books as they came out. So, my confession is I'm VERY excited about the movie - mark your calendars for February and go see the movie with me (if you haven't read the book you have over four months!). I couldn't find a image from the movie although they've been running those cute commercials for it - have you seen it?

Childhood Toys

Mom recently sent me one of these "getting to know your friends" e-mails. Question #34 was "What was your favorite toy owned as a child?" Two of my toys that are at the top of my memory are a blue penguin refrigerator and Peaches 'n Cream Barbie. If only this refrigerator isn't over $100 on eBay, I would own it. Especially with Peyton's love of penguins. Oh, and Peaches 'n Cream Barbie with her iridescent top - I wouldn't enjoy her at all now since peach is one of my least favorite colors! What toys do you remember from your childhood?

Calling All Wanna Be Bloggers

I'm thinking about having a little get-together for anyone that wants to start their own blog. I am no professional by any means but I do think I could get someone started and thought if any one, a few of you, or hundreds of you (ha ha) wanted to get one started I'd love to help. Please post a comment below (you don't have to have a google/blogger identity to leave a comment, just click name/url under identity) or e-mail me.

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Once I know if anyone is interested we can pick a day and you can just come over with your laptop (or you can use mine), pictures (either loaded on your computer or on a memory card) and yourself and you can start one.

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It really is unbelievably easy (and free) and a great way to keep friends and family near and far updated on what you (or mainly in my case - my girls and my television) are doing.

Christy Needs

I really need to be out the door, running errands but I made the mistake of checking e-mail and blogworld before I left so here I am...laughing at this from Mitzi's site. Go to Google and type in "____________(your name in the blank) needs".

Here are mine and you will probably laugh! I kid you not, these are four from the first page!
1. Christy needs to blog. (I promise this was number one!)
2. Christy needs a new computer. (Well, with all that blogging, two would be better than one)
3. Christy needs an intervention. (For all the blogging?)
4. Christy needs help. (Again, for all the blogging?)

And a couple more interesting things listed (I only looked at the first two pages):
5. Christy is dying (did someone take my blog away?)
6. Christy needs to breed, breed, breed. (No thanks, I think - and hope - this Christy is a dog).
7. Doug Christ(ie) needs to grow a pair.
8. Christy needs to take a picture of her new socks.
9. Christy needs to take a good long look in the mirror (again with the judging about all the blogging).
10. Seriously - a link that takes you to a place that talks about googling "Christy Needs".

Your turn, what do you need?

The Internet is Getting Out of Control...

...and I love it! Do you ever blog about the twitter on facebook at myspace? Probably not but you probably could!

Blogs

I've been blogging for about a year and three months. What originally started as a blog for family and friends to keep caught up with the girls turned into three. I call them all therapy (does that make you my therapist?).

Myspace

I joined the myspace world last summer (I think). But you probably can't find me and I'm not at all active there. I only did it so I could see pictures from my brother's car accident. Seriously, my only friends are Tom and my brother Neal. I don't like myspace because I think it's busy. All those things that go blinky and flashy and that moving animation - stroke inducing. Even if you keep your page all clean and simple, someone might send you something that is blinky and flashy. Am I getting old?

Facebook

Added a few months ago. Similar to myspace but not so busy. Even the "busy" stuff is packaged nicely (okay, I AM getting old!). I am a little active on this so add me as a friend if you are too!

Twitter

Fun. The site describes it as "Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?". It's like "Status" on Facebook but you can also text what you are doing. You also have option to receive texts of what your friends are doing.

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Who says we are all losing contact with each other because we are sitting at our computers? I know a lot more about some of you than I ever would BECAUSE of the computer!

My Own Version of an Awards Ceremony.

Thanks Mitzi for this award! I LOVE reading everyone's blogs so it's hard for me to choose who to pass it along to. I have to break it down into my own subcategories:
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Lifetime Achievement - Lindsay and Mitzi

Both were my inspiration for starting my own blog (mentioned here in my very first post). Who knew that my one blog would turn into three (and be the subject for endless teasing from a certain friend's husband - you know who you are, how about teasing to my face!). They also are so great about leaving comments which I LOVE.

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Best New Blogger - Traci

Seriously - I dropped Kendall off, showed her how to get started and I truly think she had it up and going by the time I got home (about a minute away).

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Congratulations ladies, and feel free to take all the time in the world for your acceptance speeches, I will not cut you off with music!

A YUMMY Giveaway!

I'm giving away a wonderful cookbook! How you ask? Keep reading this post about Touch a Truck and Add Another Place Setting and leave a comment for one entry. If you refer a friend to enter and they mention you sent them you will get another entry (and they will be entered too). The winner will recieve a copy of Add Another Place Setting cookbook. It's as easy as preparing the yummy Baked Spaghetti on page 38!

Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you don't have your comments set up where they leave an e-mail for reply. Comments must be left by Midnight on May 1st. Winner will be announced as soon as I can after that (I'm without internet because of the move so please bear with me!!).

Break out your hard hats and get ready for another great time at Touch a Truck 2009! Kids of all ages can climb, discover and explore vehicles of all types including helicopters, construction vehicles, emergency vehicles, motorcycles and big rigs. Kids can build items with the Home Depot crew or talk with SpongeBob Square Pants and Strike with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals too. Attendees can win great prizes including bicycles, a family campsite set and gift certificates. Touch a Truck is Saturday, May 2, from 10a.m. to 2p.m. at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. Admission is $5/person or $20/family and can be purchased at JuniorLeagueNWA.org, by calling 479.751.7054, or at the gate the day of the event. Proceeds from this event will help fund various projects sponsored by the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas.Need a unique Mother's Day, Wedding, or Graduation gift to show how much you care? I recommend Add Another Place Setting; a quality, award-winning cookbook with more than 200 of the best recipes from the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas. This book tells the story of Northwest Arkansas through full-color, professional photographs, recipes and interesting sidebars.The title (as explained on the back cover) is based on the incredible growth and thriving economy of our area. Our response to this growth is one of timeless Southern tradition and hospitality. When someone comes to the door at dinnertime, we Add Another Place Setting.Cookbooks are available at http://www.juniorleaguenwa.org/ as well as the following fine retail locations:
§ So Inviting, Fiesta Square, Fayetteville
§ Party House, Fayetteville
§ Richard's Meat Market, Fayetteville
§ Barnes & Noble, NW Arkansas Locations
§ Signed, Sealed & Delivered, Rogers
§ Borders Books, Rogers
§ XNA Gift Shop, Bentonville
§ B Larue, Bentonville
§ Occasions, Siloam Springs
§ Smith Drug/The Corner, Gentry
§ Shelby's Gifts, Harrison
§ Betsy's Antiques & Gifts, Fort Smith
§ Inscriptions, Fort Smith
§ Creative Kitchen, Fort Smith
§ Millynn's, Dardanelle
§ Copper Pig, Russellville
§ Catering To You, Little Rock
§ The Full Moon, Little Rock
§ WPR Auxiliary Gift Shop, Little Rock
§ Vintage Cargo, Eureka Springs
§ Slaughter House Gifts, El Dorado
§ Wooden Spoon Restaurant, Gentry
§ Jepson Drug, Siloam Springs
§ Washington Regional Hospital Gift Shop
§ Melody's Choices, Fayetteville§ B&J Jewelers, Pine Bluff

Can Someone Please Like This Sweater Vest?

It was so cute on display in the store. I'm begging for someone else to like it!

Mackenzie and I were doing a little shopping the other day and I saw this and loved it. She, did not. I liked it so much that I showed it online to Peyton because I really wanted one of my girls to like it and wear it. She, also, did not.

Kool-Aid Man Strikes Again

I found this on Goodyblog and they found it from someone else...but it made me smile and I thought it might make you smile too!

Swatch Phones

Raise your hand if you had a Swatch Phone! I did and it looked like this one (but I don't remember it having purple buttons). I have got to find pictures of it. If you didnt' have one, the neat thing about the Swatch Phone was that you could talk on the handset OR pick up the base, flip it over and use it as a handset. Perfect for sleepovers and people talking over each other. I've been wanting to get a corded phone for when the electricity goes out and I think I'm going to track one of these down. I may have to go with the clear version where you can see the inner workings!

To the Woman in the White Toyota in the Walmart Parking Lot Chatting on Her Phone

First of all please take note of my new spelling of Walmart in the title to reflect their new logo, in the past I've always used the hyphen but these times they are a changing.

No back to you - Phone Chatting, White Toyota Woman - Yes, I saw you moseying up the aisle as I was about to back out and yes, I could have stopped and waited for you to pass before I continued to back out but not only did I not wait, I decided to back out anyway just because it was you. I know, I know - "Do Unto Others" - but I kind of do wish someone had done this to me, especially if I had just done to those other people in the parking lot what you did. When you came up on that long line of cars in front of Walmart did you really think they were just stopped there for the fun of it? That they were all waiting for their spouse that ran in for a loaf of bread real quick? No, there was a reason they were stopped. There was NO reason for you to just pass them all by so when the first car was able to go (after waiting for a car to back out or to let a pedestrian walk across, or some other valid reason for being stopped) everyone else had to wait for you to finish passing them all up. Seriously - I know Walmart just repaved the parking lot but I don't remember seeing a passing lane.

Oh well, even if you are reading this I'm sure it doesn't mean anything because you were in your own little world and probably don't even realize you were so rude. I'm also pretty sure the person you were chatting on the phone with got an earful about the person that backed out in front of you since it was your own little parking lot playground. But I am sorry - to my children. Girls, "Two wrongs don't make a right".

Crazy Food Hankerings

What is your crazy food hankering? Mine is Lauging Cow ORIGINAL spreadable cheese on French bread - so far, not so crazy. Here's where I lose my mind...I like to dip the bread with the cheese into soy sauce.

What crazy food combos do you enjoy?

We Saw Hancock (Twice - Kind Of)

Yesterday, the girls were at the lake with Emily and Ashley and Jason and I didn't have anything to do now that the house is sold (no projects around the house, don't want to start packing quite yet) so we went to the movies. And what is a July 4th weekend without a Will Smith movie? Can you believe it was 12 years ago when Independence Day was in the theatres? Right after I graduated high school.

I thought it was a pretty good movie (although I must admit I'm not nearly as particular about my movies as I am my television shows). What wasn't good? The woman sitting behind us that repeated all the words and recapped all the scenes. UGH! Seriously, can we add to the millions of "don't use your cell phone" reminder a "don't be stupid" reminder? (I do find it funny that when you are waiting for a movie to start there are a million ads for cell phone companies followed by a million of the "don't use your cell phone" reminders).

Oh well, it gave me something to post about.

Fingers to Keyboard ("Pen to Paper" Sounds So Much More Thoughtful)

No, I didn't get salmonella from the tomato in my last post and I really do have random thoughts on things besides my family and television...hopefully I'll put fingers to keyboard (pen to paper sounds so much more thoughtful) and prove that soon.

Where have all the Tomatoes Gone?

I should have known something was going on when Jason and the girls returned from a trip to Wal-Mart and said there were NO tomatoes...but no, I insist we stop at another grocery store because what is a home grilled hamburger without tomatoes? The second store had them and the hamburgers were delicious. After dinner we are watching the news and wouldn't you know it..."Salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has spread to 16 states".

Nice.

But What Will Happen to Chad?

Having always only been an Alltel customer (we celebrated our 12th anniversary last month), I'm interested in what is going to happen now that Verizon owns them. But, the big question here is: what is going to happen to Chad? I think the Verizon/red shirt guy in the commercials should adopt him. Looking forward to having that huge group of people following me around!

100 MPG

I was just having a conversation about gas prices and vehicles and then came home and watched a little CNN and saw a piece on this car. I NEED one of these to run around in during the day when I am alone. I don't LOVE that I drive a gas guzzling giant SUV and I know that a lot of time I am alone (anyone remember the part on Over the Hedge?) in it, but I also know that a lot of time I need the passenger capacity. We have lots of friends in the car with us a lot of the time and it's not like it used to be..I remember driving around when I was little with about 5 or 6 of us in the back seat and getting the "hump" was gold! But now it's a seatbelt for everyone and everyone in a seatbelt so what do you do?

So, problem solved - I'll just get one of these for when I am all alone or when I only have one of the girls with me. Either that or I'll wait for the day they make SUVs with a pod that comes off for one person...

Gas

Lindsay had this on her blog and I had to add it because it's so true! It's a sad, sad day when you see gas for $3.67 and are EXCITED!

Welcome

I really am going to try to make this my very last personal blog. Why ANOTHER? My other "random thoughts" seemed to only be posts on television shows so I wanted to be able to organize my blogging thoughts into three categories...Family & Friends, Television, and Everything Else. Even if NO ONE reads it, I can always pretend and I like having a place to vent.

From Wikipedia:

"My two cents" and its longer version "put my two cents in" is an American idiomatic expression, taken from the original British idiom expression: to put in " my two pennies worth" or " my tuppence worth". It used to preface the stating of one's opinion. By deprecating the opinion to follow — suggesting its value is only two cents, a very small amount — the user of the phrase hopes to lessen the impact of a possibly contentious statement, showing politeness and humility. However, it is also sometimes used with irony when expressing a strongly felt opinion. The phrase is also used out of habit to preface uncontentious opinions.
For example: "If I may put my two cents in, that hat doesn't do you any favors." (More polite way of saying, for example: That hat is ugly.) An example of the shortened version: "My two cents is that you should sell that stock now."

"Two cents" and its variations may also be used in place of the noun "opinion" or the verb phrase "state [subject's] opinion", e.g. "You had to put your two cents in, didn't you?" or "But thats just my two cents."