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Christmas is done

December 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Christmas @ Target 2007
Image by Brandy Shaul via Flickr

Well I lived through it.  By the end I was wondering if I would make it.  I cried in Target because my foot (which I broke over the summer) hurt so bad I could not walk anymore.  This left a few people gift-less this Christmas.  I think that they understood though.  Such is life!

All in all it was not as perfect as I had originally hoped.  It was still great.  Seeing the joy in the faces of all of the kids is what makes the entire season and all of its ups and downs worth it.  I think that when we are out looking for the perfect present, honking at other people who are in our way, yelling that people are idiots for driving bad in and out of the mall, these are all things that do not matter in the end.  What matters is being together.  What matters is seeing the child who was sceptical about Santa believing again on Christmas morning.

I think that the thing to do in the next week as many of us have off  is reflect!  Remember all of the good things about the season.  Remember that look of belief on the kids faces and remember that next year we should start earlier…lol

Becca

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6 Days Until Christmas

December 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Snow Job
Image by drp via Flickr

White Christmas this year?

So there are only 6 days left and I can not believe it but I hear that we may have a white Christmas here in NY.  I am so excited about the possible magic.  This snow will be on top of the now we are suposed to get today and the snow that is to come on Sunday night as well.

I wish that I had thought to buy a sled of two for the kids.  I think that we are going to have fun all snug in our beds.  I know that I have been dreaming of w White Christmas and all of our dreams may just come true.  I guess we will see as it gets closer.

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7 Days Until Christmas

December 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Monkey Christmas and a Happy New Year
Image by Stuck in Customs via Flickr

Wow!  This season has gone so quickly.  I would love to say that my planned went as planned and that I was able to get to everything.  I would say that this year has been a challenge.  Perhaps it wa the short season.  Perhaps it was my unhealed broken foot.  Perhaps I procrastinated.  Either way it is here!

One week until Christmas means that there are many things that I have to do in little time.  These things are vital to assuring that I am not stressed on Christmas Eve.

  • I need to complete my shopping.  It has been difficult because I can only shop for an hour or so with my foot.  I think that I have gone out everyday this season.
  • I need to Wrap.  This is something that is vital.  I think that while this is obvious I need to keep in mind that it is important.
  • I need to do my cards.  Although they may be New Years cards I still want to send them out to all of the people who I do not get to see or talk to often.
  • I need to be an elf to my mother-in-law who broke her thumb and cannot wrap this year.  This is important to me.  She would do it for me so how could I not make it a priority.

Well 7 days is enough time.  I just want to assure that I have a reduced stress Christmas.  We are now counting down.  Get ready Christmas will be here soon.

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20 Days Until Christmas

December 5, 2008 By 5 Comments
Jim Carrey as The Grinch
Image via Wikipedia

OK I know I missed a few.  In the last 20 days I have been sick as have all of the kids.  Today is the first day that everyone made it to school and I am breathing a sigh of relief.  Needless to say I am way behind on my schedule.  I had wanted to be so much further along by now.  I have a bit of catching up to do!

I feel like the Grinch has stolen my Christmas! The house is not decorated, pictures of the kids have not been done, shopping is started but not complete, Abigail thinks that I am Santa Clause and no cookies are baked.  This weekend it the big one for us.  I would like to get everything decorated and all set.  This will leave time over the next week or so to do some baking.  I think that this will have me all caught up.  Wish me luck.  I think that I am going to need it!

Becca

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42 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
After the party.

Image via Wikipedia

Have a Christmas Party

This past week I did something great.  I had a PartyLite party.  It was nice for many many reasons.  I want to start by saying I do not sell PartyLite so I do not care if we talk about an At Home America Party, A Tupperware party or a PartyLite Party.  The point is that I had a party.  Why was it so great?

  1. It was fun.  The ladies and I had an evening to relax and unwind.  There was no pressure to buy.  I told everyone I do not care either way.  All I wanted was a night full of friends, laughter and fun.
  2. I Christmas Shopped.  You know what the best part of this for me was?  I did it for free!
  3. There are good deals.  This is the time of year that these companies are trying to make their extra money.  The are all offering deals.  My guests had two pages of half prices items to choose from.  They also could pick out any half priced item they wanted with the purchase of just one regular priced item.  Even if the regular priced item was $1.  They could also choose from a few other offers.  This made Christmas shopping for them discounted!
  4. I gathered some orders from outside the people who came.  This is a great way to boost what you will get for free.
  5. It was nice to entertain.  I never get a chance to have people over.  I am usually too busy.  I was able to have a nice time and enjoy.  We had some great snacks and cakes and laughed.  We all needed it.
  1. Other then the baby throwing up in the middle of it the party was a great success.  I was able to cross three people off of my list without spending anything and the whole time I was able to enjoy!  I would suggest you have a party this month and you will be able to Christmas shop for free too.
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43 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Little Drummer Boy, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Pa...

Image by docnad via Flickr

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just about two weeks away. It is a holiday that often gets overshadowed. I think that it is quite unfair but I also fall right into it. I do not rush though it and start my Christmas season early but I still look forward to all that it brings because it is Christmas.

What are the things I love about Thanksgiving?

  1. It is a sit back and enjoy kind of holiday. We usually eat somewhere else so I have virtually nothing to do other then assuring my kids are dressed an in the car after the parade. We sit and chat while the men watch Football and the kids play outside. It is a holiday where you do not have to buy anyone a present, you do not have to be dressed to the nines and you can relax. It is really a day OFF!
  2. We have a chance to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and see all of the floats and balloons. It is the most special part as far as I am concerned. It is a Thanksgiving tradition and one that I never want to end. I love it.
  3. Most stores are closed. Thanksgiving is a holiday for EVERYONE. It is not based on being from a certain racial or religious background it is all about being American. Some store have ruined this tradition and I want to say that I think that it is wrong. People in America should all have the ability to go home and enjoy this holiday with their families and any store that stays open, yes I mean you K-Mart, are un-American.
  4. It is a time for family with little stress. There is no hustle and bustle yet. You can take it all at your own pace. You can enjoy each other. Family is not always traditional. I have a few friends who are “family”. They know that they are always welcome for any holiday to be a part of our family! You can have discussions with people you only see a few times a year.
  5. It is a time for giving thanks. How may other holidays do we have where we sit all together and talk about what we are Thankful? I can not think of any!

All in all I would say that Thanksgiving is a special day that comes only once a year. Make sure that this year you sit back and enjoy all that it has to offer.

Becca

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44 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By 1 Comment
Collage of various Christmas images, made from...

Image via Wikipedia

Holiday Survey

Today I would love to do a few quick surveys:

  1. What is your favorite Holiday Movie? Mine is Miracle on 34th Street. I just love how it makes me feel by the end. There are some others that come in a close second but that is the winner.
  2. What is your best holiday memory? Mine is the first Christmas I was married. We were married on week before Christmas. We lived with my Mother-in-Law. Both she and Rob were sick. I had hurt my wrist and was in a sling. By 9 at night we had not opened presents. I was in bed crying when my mother-in-law opened the door and said are we going to do this. She then dumped bags of unwrapped gifts in the center of the room and we looked through them. This Christmas was not a good Christmas but it was my favorite. It made me realize for the first time in my life that it would all be alright if Christmas was not perfect. It certainly had not been that year and by the end of the night it was alright again. I was happy at the end of the night and that was what was important.
  3. What is your most loved holiday song? I love “Baby it’s Cold Outside” It is not about Christmas but is so nice and makes me want to belt it out. There are many many others because music is so vital to a holiday season.
  4. What Tradition does your family have that is closest to your heart? I think that the best tradition to me is Elmer the Elf. As I discussed a week or so ago he is special because not only is he magical but he also is an heirloom which has been passed from generation to generation.
  5. How do you stay sane during the holidays? I cannot answer this one because I so do not stay sane. I am a nut time and time again. But it is all a great time in the end which is all that matters.

I would love to hear where everyone stands with each of these. I find it fun to share where I have been and how I have been impacted and why things are so special. I hope you will take a moment to do the same.

Becca

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45 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Christmas Santa 2006 - 044F

Image by krisdecurtis via Flickr

Santa Clause

We all know him and love him. Some of us know him as Saint Nick, some know him as Father Christmas and some know him as Santa Clause. The point is that we all know him. Young or old, Jewish or Christian we all know who he is and what he is about. He is about giving.

Santa was always a special part of Christmas for me. He is where all of the magic of Christmas starts. He is Christmas to so many kids. I know he is in our house. We make sure to give him his cookies and eggnog. We watch out our windows as we fall asleep. I know that I have seen Rudolph the red nosed reindeer out my window many times in the past. It was what always made fall asleep quicker because that meant that Santa was just a few houses away. I remember laying in bed feeling the magic as a child.

The truth of the matter is that I still lay in bed and feel the magic. As a child Santa came and visited me one year. I was quite sick with pneumonia and was feeling down. On Christmas Eve. Santa walked right into my house and told me to feel better and with a blink he was gone. I am not sure if it was really him or a helper but that night I was convinced that it was him. It was one of the times as a child I felt special and felt the magic that Christmas has to offer. Perhaps that is what I feel such a love for Santa.

Santa will be checking his list soon. I am trying to be extra good this year. You never know what Santa will place under the tree for you this year! Be sure that you make it onto the nice list this year!

Becca

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46 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Sugar Plum Snowflake

Image by CaptPiper via Flickr

White Christmas

I am dreaming of a white Christmas. Aren’t we all though? We look at pictures of snow men, movies with that magical snow falling just as you are falling asleep, and Santa Clause needing a sleigh. I can hear the song in my head right now as I am typing this. These things are what keep the magic around. For many people though a white Christmas in unlikely. I think that the portion of the country that can expect a white Christmas is far less then those who have no chance. Here in New York it has been known to happen from time to time. I remember one year, and I can not tell you which year it was, that it snowed. It was not too many years ago. Here in NY it was a very white Christmas. I think that there but it had its downfalls.

  1. We were stuck at home. While this could have been nice we had plans for the evening and afternoon that were to be quite enjoyable.
  2. We could not get all dressed up to go trudging through the snow. It would have been too wet and messy.
  3. We had not planned on cooking a special Christmas dinner ourselves so we had no food in the house.
  4. It was not what I had planned for. I like to plan, as we all know, and I HATE when things ruin my plans.

I guess that what I am saying is that we have to be careful what we wish for. Sometimes we get more then we bargain for. A nice blanket of snow can be beautiful and magical. Anything more can be a downright bummer. Trust me I know. So when you are all dreaming of a white Christmas this year remember to dream small!

Becca

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47 Days Until Christmas

November 13, 2008 By 1 Comment

Christmas Tree

What would Christmas be without a Christmas Tree? This is a question that some people do not even understand. Of course you have a Christmas Tree. It is what symbolizes Christmas in our homes, our malls, Rockafeller Center and even the White House. There is even a whole Christmas Carol dedicated to it. “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree”. We all sing its praise year after year. It is what you first learn to color and decorate as a child and what you dream that there will be presents under. So where did this Christmas tree come from is an important question to be answered.

  • The Christmas tree has been said to have first brought about in Germany. A monk had traveled to Germany to teach the people there the word of the lord. This monk used a fir tree, a triangular shape, as an example of the holy trinity. This the became a German tradition at Christmas time. People would even hang their trees upside down. As trade evolved so did the Christmas tree. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who was German, are said to have made the Christmas tree what it is today. Queen Victoria was well liked and people did whatever she did in order to keep up with the times. When people had seen that she had decorated her tree people followed. Ornaments at the time were all home made. From there the Christmas tree has evolved into what we know it as today. Thank goodness we do not put candles on our trees. I would be far to nervous!
  • Real Or Fake? This has been a debate that I have struggled with for years. Do I want a real tree or a fake one? Each year we go for the real one. There is nothing like smelling a fresh cut Christmas tree when you walk into your house. It is magical. For those who are happy getting that scent from a candle they may be just as happy with a fake tree. I will say this for a real tree, it is magical. Look at your child’s face when they come on a Christmas tree hunt with you. The joy hand magic they have at that moment becomes contagous. It is not lugging a big box out of the basement and assembling a tree. It is real. Part of what God gave us on this earth. It is magical.
  • Going Green: I know that many people out there are into a going green kick. It is the new cool thing to do. I know that cutting down trees is not good for the o-zone and who knows what else. There is something to consider though. These trees would not have been here if it were not for Christmas. They are all so perfect now because they come off of tree farms. So please put the green aside and just decide to recycle or reuse your tree when you are done. It will still be used as wood chips, fire wood to cut down on heat or to carve something special out of.

Becca

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