Christmas gifts ...

Christmas in our house is kind of a big deal. I spend hours upon hours searching for the perfect gifts for all of my friends and family. My husband is no exception. Except this year. I'm getting close to our pre-set limit, and I still haven't gotten him anything AMAZING. So I am racking my brain to try to come up with something awesome that fits within the remainder of the budget. I just can't seem to think of anything that will make his jaw drop ...

Let me preface this story by saying that I don't like surprises. Yes, I know gifts are supposed to be surprises. But I'd rather not be surprised. I don't go so far as to snoop in e-mail or around the house (we share our e-mail passwords - we have nothing to hide from each other and some bills come to mine and some go to his).

Last night, he decided to torture me a little bit. See, this time of year, we are not allowed to open packages that are not addressed to us. We both do a lot of online shopping - him because he hates going in stores, me because some of the things he wants/needs aren't available locally. So yesterday he got 3 packages. I was a good girl and didn't open anything. Proud? You should be. It took AMAZING amounts of self restraint.

So where does the torture come in? He mentions how excited he is about what is in the box. Apparently it is something I've wanted for a while, but it isn't exactly made anymore. Apparently it is still made in one form or another, but not the same. Well, he was able to find one new in the original packaging and he's super excited about it. Seriously, this package is less than 10 inches x 10 inches x 10 inches, and I cannot for the life of me figure out what the hell it could be. Why did he have to tell me all of that? Seriously ...

So now all that I can think about is what is inside that box ... for the next 26 days ... this is going to slowly kill me.

Oh, and one more addition to my Christmas list for anyone that wants to buy it for me. :)

Sometimes and Always ...

Stealing (well, not really stealing because I told her about it) this idea from the Lovely Megan over at Mackey Madness ... it's just too good of an idea not to use!

Sometimes ... I get bored when I'm home alone with a day off of work.

Always ... I wish I could go back to being at home once I get to work.

Sometimes ... I really want a baby.

Always ... I change my mind (however briefly) after spending time with my nephew.

Sometimes ... I take vacation days because I need a day away from work.

Always ... Once I get back to work, I regret taking that day because no one else does my work and I'm now an entire day behind ...

Sometimes ... I feel so far behind because I don't have time to check out twitter and all of the blogs I want to read.

Always ... if there is something I'm missing, PLEASE @ me on twitter, e-mail me, or text me. All 3 go right to my phone, which is always there. If I haven't commented on your blog, I apologize (and if there is something you really want me to see, e-mail, tweet me, or text me). I've been so caught up trying to get Christmas shopping done ASAP so I can relax and enjoy the rest of the year, and frankly, I'm still recovering from Black Friday.

Sometimes ... I think I'm stupid for going out shopping on Black Friday.

Always ... I go out and do it anyway. And don't regret it, because it's fun. My mom and I spent 9 hours out this year. I got home at 8:30 AM, relaxed with hubby for a few hours (but didn't sleep more than 15 minutes), and then hubby and I went out around 4. :)

Thankful

Saving this for the day before Thanksgiving ...

I am THANKFUL for ...

... my amazingtastic husband, the love of my life. There is no one in the world that I can even imagine wanting to spend the rest of my life with. He's supportive, loving, protective, encouraging, perfect. He's the best man I know, tied with my daddy.

... my family. I am blessed with 2 loving parents, 2 brothers, nephews, 2 sisters-in-law (one brother's wife, one hubby's sister), a brother-in-law, 2 in-laws, aunt and uncle, cousins, and numerous grandparents. Around the holidays, I always get a little sad, thinking about the family that I've lost in the last 9 years - my Nana (mom's mom), my Grampop (dad's dad), My Nannie (great-grandmother, Nana's mom), and my Uncle Barry (mom's brother).

... my kitties. My cats are my children, and I love all of them. I am so thankful that we were able to rescue them and give them homes when they needed them. My biggest wish is that one day I can have enough money to open a HUGE cat rescue with free spaying and neutering so that no more cats are homeless and hit by cars.

Autumn

Einstein

Zeppelin, RIP 5/5/07 ... we still miss you baby boy

Callie

Mittens

... our home. I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and love in our hearts.

It's half of our yard and garage. Sorry, don't have a picture of the actual house.

and last but not least ...

... my friends - "real-life" and blog. Juli, Ashley, Tara, Ashleigh, Ashley, Kate, Megan, Erica, and so many more. If I interact with you through blogging and/or twitter and/or text, I consider you a friend, and I love you.

What are you thankful for?

The Halls are Decked ...

I mentioned last week that hubby finally caved and agreed that we could decorate this weekend. And decorate we did! Below is just a quick peak at our decorations in the Living Room.

Our tree. and yes, there is a wrapped present already under it

Our cat angel tree topper. My grandmother always had one growing up, so I knew I had to find one. Searched for 2 years to find it.

My village. It's hard to see but I've got about 9 houses and a bunch of smaller accessories

My nativity scene. Yes, they're cats. I love them.

Oh, and this bracelet was laying on the tree skirt this morning. Some klepto kitty thought the tree skirt needed bling apparently.

Rally to 1000

 

So what are you waiting for! Go and follow Tara!

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Look Alike Friday

Linking up with Mrs. Monologues for Look-Alike Friday. For today's look-alikes, I raided the blogs of my favorite bloggers to show their twinnies!

First up ... Ashley from Run with Me

and her twin ... Bianca Kajlich from Rules of Engagement

Second up is Christin from A Classy Southern Wife

and her twin, Kate Middleton.

And last, but certainly not least, two bloggers ... Pink Lou Lou from Confessions of a 20 Something and Carissa from Carissa Explains it All

And their twin (if Rissy dyed her hair blonde), Carrie Underwood

So do you agree with my look-alikes?

It's OK and Eff, Marry, Kill

I can't choose between my 2 favorite linkups ... so I'm going to do both! :)

First things first ... linking up with Neely and Amber for It's OK!


It's OK ...

... that I have been listening to Christmas music since the summer, but I am doing it openly now.

... that I finally convinced hubby and we're decorating the house this weekend! Yay! :)

My little village that I do every year. I have more pieces now, so I have to find a new location

... that I am contemplating a career change ... more on that later.

... that I could care less about the Twilight movie. Yes, I'll probably watch it once it's out on DVD, but I have no desire to see it in theaters.

... that my Christmas list is growing after looking at the Black Friday ads. What? You haven't seen them yet? Go here. They have them every year.

... that these weeks with one less day are taking forever to get over. Today is Thursday but it feels like I've already worked 5 days this week, and this is only day 3!

... to be really disappointed that the Target Black Friday commercials are recycled from last year. I was looking forward to new ones with the Target lady.

... to think that the Target lady looks like an older version of Kelsey Nixon from Next Food Network Star and Kelsey's Essentials on the Cooking Channel. Check it: (OK, it's really hard to tell because I can only find a picture of Kelsey smiling and the Target lady being her crazy self, but trust me)

And now with Heather and Michelle for Eff Marry Kill ...



Big Bang Theory edition! Big Bang Theory is my favorite show ... and it's on tonight, so lets see the main "boys".

Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Theoretical Physicist

Howard Wolowitz, Master of Engineering

Dr. Leonard Hofstadter, Experimental Physicist

I would ... EFF Sheldon, just because I'm so curious what he'd be like in bed. and I'd want to be his first. I would MARRY Leonard, because he is very similar to my husband, and I just have a soft spot in my heart for him. He's my favorite character, and I really want him and Penny to get back together. I would KILL Howard. Legit, the guy annoys the crap out of me. I have no idea what Bernadette sees in him. I don't think I'd miss him if he wasn't on the show anymore, not gonna lie.

So there you have it! Go linkup with these lovely ladies, but before you do ... what's OK with you today, and of my 3 BBT guys, who would YOU Eff, Marry, Kill?

Three Things I MUST Do

Christmas is quickly approaching! It is just 8 days until Thanksgiving, which is one of my favorite holidays. It is only 9 days until Black Friday ... and YES, I am one of the crazies that starts at midnight ... with my mom! :)

The radio on my drive to work is full of advertisements for all of the Christmas things to do in the area. So I'm compiling a list of the 3 things that I MUST do before Christmas. So without further adieu ...

1. Visit Murdough's Christmas Barn. Yes, it is a barn. and Yes, it is everything Christmas. It is open year round, but they've just started their extended hours for the holidays. Hubby and I go every year to pick out new ornaments (we have a tradition to buy a new ornament with the year every year) and add pieces to my village and just to look. When you walk inside, the first thing you see is trees on both sides. Each tree has a theme, and everything is able to be purchased that day. I'm super excited to get my Ornament Swap partner so I can go shopping! :)

(all pictures VIA Murdough's Christmas Barn Facebook page)

They have every nativity scene (and accessory) you can imagine!

This is literally less than 25% of the display for the village pieces.

Just ONE of the dozens of trees with baskets of ornaments

2. Visit Christmas Village. Like Murdough's, this place is less than 5 miles from my house. However, I haven't been here since I was a child. The LINES of cars to get in on the weekends stretch for MILES and back up traffic everywhere. But there is nothing like walking around to see all of the lights, have a nice warm cocoa, and visit the little shops.

3. Visit Christmas Candy Lane at Hershey Park. Y'all, these commercials are ALL OVER every radio station in the area. I can't help but sing along ... "Christmas in Hershey ... the Sweetest Place on Earth ..." Definitely gets stuck in your head. This is a little further away from my house, but only about a 35 minute drive. Yes, I live THAT close to Chocolate Mecca. :) Jealous yet? Like Christmas Village, I haven't been here since I was a kid, but I really want to go back. Hubby has NEVER been here because he grew up in Pittsburgh, which is 4+ hours away.

(all pictures VIA Hershey Park's website)

Is there anything that you ABSOLUTELY MUST do at Christmas time?

Merry Catmas!

Hi evewyone. My mommy doesn't know that I'm on here, so iz be our secrets, K? I is Autumn. I is the littlest girl in the house, and mommy says I is spoiled. I don't think so. I is going to talk bout the winter and the Catmas.

The only thing nice about winter is that the big heat monster starts to work again. This year mommy put my bed aside of the heat monster's window, so that when he is working, he blows all of his heat on me. Sometimes my mommy puts my bed in the sun so that Mr. Sun can recharge me.

I loves Catmas. Is my favorite holiday. When I was just a little kitty, my mommy put me in a stocking because she thought it was so cute. I is not thrilled.

I also loves my Polar Bear. Pwease tell my daddy to let mommy get out my Polar Bear. I miss her, and I don't want to wait until after the Turkey Day. She keeps me warm when I cuddles. Mommy says that she can't bring Polar Bear to play until Daddy lets her put up the tree. So pwease talk to Daddy for me?

When I was little, I used to climb the tree. That's why mommy and daddy don't buy a real tree.

Iz better go ... I think Mommy is coming.

Yubs,
Autumn

I'm Thankful ... and little Bella

I'm thankful for my guilty pleasures ...

my Keurig ... even though I'm not a big coffee drinker (my ulcer can't handle it), I LOVE hot tea. Yes, I realize there are cheaper ways to make tea, but hubby drinks coffee, and I wouldn't trade this for the world. It was a Christmas gift last year from my Mother-in-Law (who always gets me kitchen stuff, because she loves the excited look on my face when I get it ... if that doesn't make me a housewife, I don't know what does!)

My iPad and iPhone ... yeah, I'm addicted. I love all Apple products. They help me get done what I want to get done, and quickly. My iPhone stays with me all the time ... I'm fairly certain I'd be lost without it.

Books ... both on my Sony Reader (hoping for a Nook for Christmas ... nudge, nudge hubby) and in paper. Reading is how I relax

online shopping ... I love online shopping, which also brings me to my last subject. Sweet, little Bella. Her momma is making hand-painted mugs and bracelets to help raise money for this little lady's surgery. I've already bought a mug and a bracelet (and gave a donation in addition), and I'm planning to get at least one more bracelet. So if you're interested, please stop by Ashley's Etsy shop, Fetch & Co, and check it out!

my bracelet, with the sweet little kitten charm

the mug - which I'm giving to my momma for Christmas