Category Archives: Christmas

WIWS Vol.7…and some thriftin’..

You can blame it all on Emily and Kendra @ Fine Linen and Purple. Sunday has become the Mass Fashion show….raising the bar on how we present ourselves in Jesus’ house, how we prepare ourselves mind, body and spirit for Mass and snapping some photos along the way.

Warning, soap box moment: Once upon a time dressing for Mass was dressing in one’s Sunday best and there wasn’t even a second thought or argument about it; these days its anything goes (and in our warmer climate…believe me…ANYthing goes). On the one hand, we should just be grateful people are PRESENT for Mass and disregard their dress (maybe pray that the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to their cleavage bearing/thong showing/ripped jeans/flip-flop selves); however, there is the just-coming-from-work-and-straight-to-Mass-dress and there’s just-popping-by-Mass-before-I-hit-the-beach-club-BBQ-dress. Big difference. This is where this lovely little link-up comes in….a way to remind us to take the time in all areas to properly prepare and present ourselves for Mass, time spent with Our Lord, one measly Hour completely His and to give Him the respect He is due. Ideas borrowed from other women and men and encouragement in taking a little extra time with our appearance. Stepping off the soapbox now….

Submitting my little collage…trying out a new app…of the girls and I ready for Mass.

Deets: Collage, meh…not loving it so much so I gave you the bonus head-to-toe shot so you can get a little better look at that animal printy shirt…Rarrr…

Shirt: Kohl’s, few years ago, Pants, Christmas gift years ago, Shoes: Kohl’s

Necklace and earrings: gift from my girls a while ‘go

Ring: Lia Sophia fave

Mini-mes: Sporting yesterday’s thrifty finds, dresses AND shoes…and a sweet little Christmas necklace on the Diva daughter.

Blessings, y’all…We are off to do nada…or maybe hit the movies…

Friday…and all mixed up!

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With Christmas and New Year’s falling on Tuesdays it is really wrenching my brain on what day it is….Off 2 days, work one, off one, work 3, off 2, repeat…what?!?! It will take me until mid or end of January to get straight. Sheesh. Thank goodness I have the day/date feature on my watch to keep me straight…Gotta love the 20+year old Seiko, baby!

However…let’s cut to the chase. It’s Friday. Joining in with Jen and the humongous throng o’ bloggers doing the end of the week “7 Quick Takes” so jump on over and check ’em out…it’s always fun and interesting and good for hours of screen time…no joke!! Without further adieu…here I go:

Christmas was GOOD. You can refer to this post for the deets, but overall, somehow the chaos felt “manageable” this year, less rushed, time to enjoy each other. A win for us.
My mom is home from the hospital post surgery for her Christmas Eve fracture (see #1 insert for the dirty…), so now she just needs to manage the walker, the snow, the dogs, getting around, getting ready to host her daughter and 2 grand-daughters in a few weeks and potentially re-plan her trip back to the Sunshine State or learn to drive in a boot….tricky. Time will tell. Drink lots of milk, Mom!!!
Colds stink. Hubby has one. (far worse than mine…go figure). Hopefully, the kids are immune since they’ve all had their opportunities at being sick this past month. So cough, sniffle, blow, repeat….Chicken soup is on the menu.
In TV news January 6 is a BIG, BIG day….(and I’m really just NOT a big viewer of the tube, but…..) I have a couple of favorites and the best is that JANUARY 6, 2013 DOWNTON ABBEY RETURNS……I’m so excited. So is Hubby. (maybe not all CAPS excited, but excited) In anticipation, we’ve been rewatching some of Season 1.
Once Upon a Time ALSO returns January 6!!! What??? Our girls think Hulu is playing tricks on them and holding back…they are going to flip out when they find out they have ANOTHER week to wait!
Biggest Loser returns WITH Jillian (sailor mouth) Michaels on January 6!! ACK!!! The girls and I love this—Hubby and the boys can’t take all the tears and boo hooing….personally, it coincides with my annual giving up of food and another effort at losing the baby weight (the baby is now 9—you do the math). Exciting!
And that’s all I got folks….my stuffy head is ready for bed and hope this winter cold nonsense hits the flippin’ road. And I mean soon!

Blessings and don’t forget to visit Jen et al.

Merry Christmas and all that comes with it!!

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Santa and Mrs. Claus making a pre-run/last warning call on behavior…

Wishing you a Merry and wonderful Christmas. Winter white (Mid-ish West and Northeast) or rainy and dodging tornadoes (Southeast) or just lovely and balmy (our neck o’ the woods), may your day be lovely.

My Christmas present to you:

In your downtown and sugar induced coma I have some GREAT links to keep you busy and up your screen time….aaaaaaaafter you have sufficiently spent Quality time with the fam,K? K.

First, you can check out all the Christmas decorations with Katie @ NFP and me. I love checking out other people’s homes and decorations, super fun and done in my jammies.

Best PG view….with a “white” top it’s just not really “general public” kind of viewing…ya know?

Second, you can check out all the Christmas fashion you can stand and then some with the lovely and very preggo (and ridiculously tiny) Grace @ Camp Patton, also done in the PJs if you’d like….

My ‘fit….super similar to Sunday, ‘scuse the look…this was 1a.m….Mama’s done.

Except for the super awesome necklace my sis gave me last year….jelly??

Orrrrrr, you can read MY recap…because it’s my blog, right? 😉

Christmas Eve: Work until 3. Quick “last minute stocking socks” and caffeine stop. 6 o’clock Mass with the family.

Making our way…like herding cats.

Then off to the brother’s casa to feed the grumbly in the tumbly….

Papa and the clown-boy

Papa and almost as tall as him boy….

Popop and his girls

Pensive and handsome in his new jacket…

Dinner @ brother’s with extended family. Or is it dessert with a side of dinner?

My sugar jumps just looking at them again….is there such a thing as too much chocolate? A question to ponder…

Back home to get kids set up for their annual “campout in brother’s room” and a movie and Christmas Eve present (new pillows and 3 new Christmas movies….I was told they had enough PJs….the usual gift!) and then back for Midnight Mass with our French horn player.

Midnight Mass roundup

Stockings filled, Presents out. Bed @ 2 a.m.

Pretty….for a few short hours

Girl loves this “hamster vest”…

Christmas Day: Up at 6:30 a.m. with LOTS of coffee and present time and cinnamon buns, visit from the grands and walk around the ‘hood. Now it’s chill time and then on to the In-laws for lunch. I am officially breaking up with food (again) after today and if the weather keeps up I’m thinking a bonus walk around the ‘hood. Or some more Dance4….because I just whooped my girl at Rock Lobster…Please….years o’ practice…Mama don’t play. Or a nap. BCuz I am LOVE, LOVE, LOVING these cozy jams…

Can you feel the cozy awesomeNESS?!?! Huh, can ya, can ya???

Blessings abundant to you all!! And be careful and don’t break your leg…like my Mom did last night. Surgery today or tomorrow…keep those prayers comin’ ya’ll!!

It’s the end of the world/week…whatev…

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Even though it’s Saturday, I figured I’d go ahead and jump in with Jen and her crew for the

— 1 —

Clearly the world didn’t end. My son says they found another Mayan calendar dating to 3025. I haven’t had time to research his claim, but clearly THAT explains it…or the whole Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. “ Yes, apparently even the Mayans didn’t know…

— 2 —

I FINALLY watched Minor Revisions this week. Episode 1 AND 2. All in the same night. The best part was that Hubby watched, also. He NEVER watches TV. Ever. Thinks TV and Technology are the downfall of society. Books are the best. And yet….he watched.

— 3 —

Our youngest had yet ANOTHER round of strep this week. Guess we’ll be paying a visit to the ENT this coming year. Joy.

— 4 —

Our youngest son clearly jealous of his sickly sister, decided to pull a “complications from the flu 2 weeks ago” stint and develop an ear & sinus infection with diminished lung sounds the next day. Translation: not contagious, on antibiotics and an inhaler=much better. Adding to the stress of finals week.

— 5 —

Mama’s spidey senses peaked on our son’s health the same night we were to go to our church’s reconciliation services. Hubby took the rest of the gang whilst son and I trekked to the Pediatric After hours. Translation: He and I will make a visit to reconciliation this afternoon.

— 6 —

I am reaching my annual “officially OVER food” quota that generally accompanies December and the glut of goods brought into the office, luncheons and my desire to bake and share. Perhaps Santa will bring me some willpower for Christmas. Although Hubby did promise to “help me out” after Christmas…y ‘all pray for me and our marriage on that one, K?

— 7 —

On that last note, I am lacing up the kicks for a quick walk since we aren’t covered with snow in our area!! And then off to Publix for our supplies for our (8th?) annual “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” luncheon with my grandparents! More food. And quality time. So that surely balances, no? Blessings!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

It’s the most wonderful (busy) time of year…

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The girls and I at the Nutcracker

Here we are: 12 days until Christmas. Which would explain my semi-absence from the blogsta world. So much is packed into this month. I love it. It’s hectic and chaotic, but it is fun!! The anticipation of Christmas, Advent activities, baking, shopping, it’s awesome! I figured it’s Thursday night so I’d tie this into Quick Takes @Conversion Diary and now TV Fame with Minor Revisions! Woot, woot!!

With so much packed into this month there are things I’ve neglected or have yet to find the time/energy to deal with yet (7 off the top of my head):

hanging Christmas cards up (they are still in the basket we collect them in)
Passing out Advent Anonymous cards (need to print up the notes)
Finish baking (it’s an ongoing process and a tasty one at that!)
blogging
reading blogs
watching Christmas shows
watching Minor Revisions…Plan B is Saturday night @ 10p.m….

However, there is so much I HAVE done with the time I’ve not spent on the above (more than 7):

Walking several times a week (at least 20 minutes…I need some de-stressing)
Maximizing my hour-long lunch break (can you say Power Shopping!)
Burned up the internet with my online shopping (a working mom’s best friend—heck, EVERY mom’s best friend!!!)
Peanut butter buckeyes x 2 (cookie swap and prepping for neighbor sharing)
Attended the Nutcracker with the girls
Working at my J.O.B.
Sent my Christmas cards out
Made a PLAN for the coming week (before the kids get out of school and are in my way at lunch break!)
Picnicked with Hubby and the girls one Sunday afternoon
Prepared kids for various upcoming concerts, Christmas programs, Girl Scout sleepover and birthday parties
Planned for Christmas Eve, dinner, Mass….
Thrift shopped (a whole post really needs to be devoted to that…serious fun!)
Participated in the #AdventPhotoADay contest/photo sharing

Day 13, Feast Day of St. Lucy…The Eyes have it..

And now I shall wake the minions (those still remaining…..the high schooler and Papa are already gone for the day)

So get on with your busy elf….and I’ll check back intermittently! Blessings and Make way for the Lord, Christmas is coming!!!

making the trek

Trekking through life: Faith, family, friends and a whole lot of coffee!