and now this . .

just call it a comeback . . .

just the little things or "today is a good day"

we got the official acceptance letter today - the divine little q is headed to the preschool that is our first choice starting sometime this summer or early fall.  it feels bittersweet - in that we LOVE our daycare provider - but we know that it is impossible for daycare to provide the kind of structure that is needed for a 2.5 year old. even our beloved provider tells us the same.  so one of the little things is that our first choice matched with us AND it is a 5 minute drive from our house - which will free up big daddy and give me a little more control (which we all know i love) about afternoon pick-up.  so crazy - it seems like she was born yesterday - but she will be 2 in march and preschool in the fall . . . where does the time go . . .

Hi Santa

I had that moment today.  A moment of mortification when a heavyset older gentleman with a beard in a red down vest today rode the elevator with us at whole foods.  the divine miss q looked at him and said in a very clear voice " hi santa".  he looked away and his wife just smiled.  out of the mouth of babes.

deja vu

i am back . . . i feel like i say that a lot these days. but the good news is that i am actually making peace with the chaotic, scattered, " color outside the lines" life which is currently mine.  it kills me that i am not blogging daily - then i remember that sometimes i choose to do different things with my time.  i have stopped all the junk television and there are still not enough hours in the day.  oh well - i appreciate the fact that folks keep reading and i thank you for your support.  i have a couple of interesting topics in the hopper - i promise.

new look is coming . . .i know it isn't christmas anymore

My design team (doesn't that sound cool) over at designer blogs is in the process of getting my next design processed.  i wish i could take credit for these designs - but i have put my faith in erin and her team and have never been disappointed.  maybe it is the working full time outside the home mommy /too many hobbies and not enough time thing - but i am proud to outsource blog design.  even i have limits.  headed out of town on business tomorrow - not excited about 3 nights away from my people - but so it goes.

Has it been a week?

 

I was doing so well with the blogging everyday - then I got distracted by my life.  I want to get back on target - but of course with holiday plans - not sure that is realistic.

You would think that being snowed in meant that I would have plenty of time to blog, think big thoughts, paint my nails and such. But no it has been a crazy few days. With almost 2 feet of snow -the Federal Government shut down yesterday - which meant my office was closed.  I have to admit that I took my first shower in 3 days this morning - I have enjoyed being a slob in a jammy suit.

No holiday cards being sent by us this year - be on the look out for a surprise early next year.  I am starting a new tradition - you'll see. 

Still reading Shimelle's prompts - but realized that this year was more like a test drive for the December Daily idea - while it is not a lot of work per se - you need to know what it is to fully grasp what it entails and how to make it work.  Luckily - I have more than enough paper crafting and scrapbook supplies to do the project in 2010 - so I am not sorry that the book won't see prime time this year.

Gotta go - I hear the divine little q stirring.

where to start . .

 My Mom flew to California yesterday - you see we are at a crossroads. My 91 year old grandmother is not doing well - she is tired, her body is failing and she is close to the end of her life.  Even typing this is odd - as my grandmother and I are incredibly close.  I barely remember my life without her - we lived in New Jersey with her when I was a little girl and she has been one of the constants in my life.  I was thinking today that she was 48 when I was born 5 years older than I am today. That probably explains why we are close - in this day and age - she could be my mother.  She was my brownie troop leader at Ft. Monmouth, she taught 6th grade for a number of years and she made me laugh. She is incredibly stylish and as smart as a whip - she is also incredibly sarcastic and very witty. Some people say we look alike - I am flattered.  She is a woman who until recently got her hair and nails done weekly - that is what I am talking about!  I am not sure how much longer I will be able to talk about her in the present tense - but I am at peace knowing that when she passes on - she will join my grandfather who she misses greatly and her sisters - in heaven - where they will continue to look down and make sure that we are all okay.

all is calm . .

i have had almost 90 minutes of solitude. granted it is 7:15 in the morning on sunday . . but the lesson is that if i get up before everyone else - i can do 2 loads of close, surf the internet, sync my iPod, drink a forbidden diet pepsi or two and think about how much i love the morning.  impossible to do this on a weekday - but i should try it.  the idea of waking up at 5:00 am - just to have some me time seems bizarre - but it must be the norm for women who want to be sane and are not night owls.  regardless - it has been a a GREAT 90 minutes and I here the people stirring upstairs . . 

bye bye santa

So much for the photo with Santa for the divine little q's memory book.  She has been saying "Santa" as in Hi Santa and Bye Bye Santa for the past couple of days.  She was even willing to wave at this Santa from a distance - but when it was time for our photo - well see above.  Having a child is so humbling for those of us who are control freaks.  Perfect outfit, well rested - I can visualize the PERFECT holiday shot - so this is what I get.  Ah the benefits of the past 20 months though - I just smiled and there are a lot of shots like this which will make it into the scrapbook - instead of the fantasy photo of my little girl tugging on Santa's beard.  Maybe next year . . .

ah brr day day

This morning I lit the tree before I brought the divine little q downstairs.  As we came down - she looked at the tree and said " ah brr day day". Translation from 21 month old speak = Happy Birthday. Whenever she sees lights or shiny objects - she immediately thinks birthday.  I love the innocence of a child and the more I think about it - we really are celebrating the birth of Christ - so instead of a cake with candles - he gets a tree. How cool is that?

Back in town . .

Back from a quick trip to Delaware for a 24 hour scrap-vacation with my crafty girlfriend Liz.

If we were fellas - I would say Liz is my road dawg - we like to travel around the country for scrapbooking weekends and we call each other from the aisles of Michaels, A.C. Moore and JoAnn's if there is a good sale.  One of  the highlights of last Spring was our trip to Hot-Lanta for a scrapping weekend at The Crowne Plaza Ravinia.  It was a blast.  So here is a shout out to Liz.

Starting tomorrow - back to my regularly scheduled programming of Journal Your Christmas - but tonight we are decorating the tree and I am catching up on Gossip Girl.

Oh yeah- one more thing - check out my boy Matthew who is dropping some serious thoughts about Tiger and his "issue".

On The Road

The Perfect Christmas

My perfect Christmas is not hard to imagine, but it is not an exercise I have ever tried before.  I definitely remember Christmas at my grandparents house in New Jersey when I was little and those memories are my favorite.  If I can recreate that feeling for my family - I would be so happy.  So with the NJ Christmas in mind and a willingness to add my own touch - here is my perfect Christmas:

During the week leading up to Christmas - we would make divinity fudge, chocolate fudge with walnuts and decorate sugar cookies.  We would also make Reindeer Food - so that the divine little q can sprinkle it on the grass in front of our house - so that the reindeer have something to eat while they are waiting for Santa to deliver her gifts. On Christmas Eve - we would deliver assorted cookies and fudge on trays to the people we love in our neighborhood and a few friends that require a car trip.  My grandma and I used to do that and it is one of my favorite holiday memories.  A new tradition that I want to start in our family is that on Christmas Eve - we all get new pajamas - maybe even matching ones! I then want to take a family portrait in our jammy suits in front of the tree ( thank goodness for a tripod and a timer on the camera). We will leave cookies and milk for Santa on a special plate and I purchased an ornate key to hang on the front door for Santa (see photo above) since we don't have a fireplace in this house.  Once miss q goes to bed, DH and I will set up a few gifts that Santa will leave (they have to be unwrapped and ready to use immediately) and then we will take a bite of the cookie - drink the milk and leave a thank you note! On Christmas morning - I want us to wake up at the crack of dawn - to drink hot chocolate and open presents.  I don't believe in sleeping in on Christmas morning - that just seems wrong.  Once the gifts have been opened - we'll have a nice family breakfast, get dressed and go to Mass.

Dear Santa

I remember writing to Santa when I was a little girl.  I can see the lined notebook paper supplied by my grandmother and remember sitting at the table trying to get it just right.  Ah the innocence of a child - I wish I still had that today.  Really,  I wish I still had copies of those letters - they are a part of my history and one I'd love to share with my daughter.  I know that when the divine little q starts writing letters to Santa - I will be saving those letters so that when she is 43 - she will look back at them and smile.

But for today, I am going to write a new letter to Santa - one that might make me look back and smile in a month or two . . and one that I am sure q will enjoy one day.

so here goes:

Dear Santa,

Fair to say I have been a little naughty and a little nice. Not saying that I need coal in my stocking but not thinking that you should deliver the Volvo XC90 on Christmas morning with a bow either.  How about we meet in the middle? I'd like some new perfume - Serge Lutens Daktura Noir if you can get it.  I'd also like a charcoal grey turtleneck and a black turtle neck.  I am good on jewelry, books, clothes, shoes and underwear.  I have decided to lay low on scrapbooking supplies - so no need to raid Michael's, A.C. Moore or Hobby Lobby on my behalf.  But any chance you can work with the man upstairs to get a Sonic in my neighborhood?  A girl needs a Route 44 Cherry Limeade to start her day right - you know. I feel compelled to ask for world peace - because it seems like the right thing to ask for - but we both know that there are a whole lot of other folks we need to engage in that process.  So whatever you can make happen on that front - would appreciate it.  Do you really want cookies and milk the night of the 24th? Or would you prefer a hot toddy?  I can even swing some nice champagne - again - say the word. I hate to be greedy - but I wouldn't mind another baby or two. Motherhood is the best thing I have EVER done and the chance for one more bite at the apple would be appreciated.  I am flexible - a trip to Ethiopia or the Fertility clinic is fine by me.  See - not too heavy a lift - I think you and your workshop can help me out - thank you in advance.

Love, 

Miss K

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas - sort of.

While I love snow at Christmas, but because I grew up in Southern California, it was not a routine occurrence - in fact I think it snowed once in Los Angeles (not on Christmas) and folks thought armaggedon was about to happen. 

Somewhere, I have a picture of me on Christmas Day about 25 years ago sitting on the couch in my Mom's living room. You can see out the window behind me the sun shining and a palm tree blowing in the wind.  I love that photo.  Lack of snow did not make it less " Christmasy" but since I moved East "permanently" some 15 years ago - I have become addicted to the idea of the change of seasons and frankly get disappointed if there is no snow on Christmas Day.  

Mind you, I don't drive in snow and I am always terrified about slipping and falling on the ice - so my great affection for snow just means that I think it is pretty.

This year we are headed to Colorado for Christmas - so I will definitely be getting my snow - too bad that the divine little q is too young to learn to make snow angels.  I used to make them in NJ at my grandparents house and thought they were so cool. 

A shout out of thanks to Shimelle  for suggesting some great prompts for holiday memories - I never would have thought about the weather and Christmas. Yet it makes me smile thinking about all the places I have spent Christmas and whether or not there was snow . . . or at least cold weather!

Step Two - The Christmas Tree

For the past 6 years - since DH and I started dating back in 2003 - we have purchased our tree from the same vendor in the same location.  The local Kiwanis Club in our old neighborhood sets up a trailer and sells trees to raise money for their programs.  While it is not the cheapest tree in town and it is no longer even the closest tree lot in our neighborhood - this is one of the traditions that we have established.  Last year - I decided to make a note about the height and type of tree we like/want that will fit in our living room - I was so proud of myself.  You can see our beautiful fraser fir  tied to the roof of our car. Funny how it looks so small - when it is 7 feet tall!

We actually talked about heading out to a Christmas Tree Farm this year, but when it came to decision time,  we decided to wait on that for a couple of years when it will actually mean something to the divine little q.

When I was growing up we would head to the railroad tracks in downtown LA to get our tree.  I used to think that was the coolest thing.  That was the tradition of my uncle's family and we happily followed that tradition and made it part of our own.  I wonder if I had stayed in Southern California if that tradition would still be a part of my December?

Journal Your Christmas

One of the hardest things for me in recent years has been figuring out how to make it all work - "all" meaning my marriage, my professional life, motherhood and then finding time for me.  I have a wonderful supportive husband who would give me the world if he could - but it is hard to ask for the world if you don't know what it is.  One of the things that we have identified that I love to do and that makes me happy is  scrapbooking, paper crafting and any other creative pursuit that I can test out.  

So for this month - in pursuit of what makes me happy - I am participating in an online workshop called Journal Your Christmas. It starts today and goes through January 6th.  I have not decided whether I am going to blog it,  written journal it or craft it - but I am just happy that I am doing it.

Today's prompt is to write your manifesto - the "why" that you joined the workshop.  I am going to blog mine - with soft plans to go back and create a layout later.

My Manifesto

Starting today, December 1, 2009, I will keep a Christmas Journal.  In it I will capture the holiday traditions that my family honors - both those that we brought as individuals to our marriage and those that we are creating in the family we created in 2005.  I will also use this journal to remind me how much I love Christmas - selecting and decorating our tree, getting the ornaments out of storage and remembering the stories of how they arrived in our home and this year in particular - celebrating the joy of the lights, glitter and love through the eyes of our child.  And last but not least, remembering that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus - a gift more precious than a pot of gold.

So there you have it - day one of Journal Your Christmas - how cool is this?

My Name is Miss K and I Have A Problem

I am addicted to scrapbooking and crafting supplies.  There I said it.  Above is a photo from this time last year.  Not much has changed - while my stash is better organized now - i have double the amount of supplies.  2009 has been the year of hoarding dangerously.

Seriously, I could invite 100 -200 people to my house today and host a "make a few layouts" event and they would each leave with 5 pages completed.  The only thing anyone would need to bring is their photos and I probably have a few extra 100 prints sitting around that they could use anyway.

Alas, I need to stay out of craft stores, off the internet sites and away from all vendors when I attend crops in 2010.  I am SERIOUSLY thinking about making this my ONLY resolution for 2010.

Some people try to stop drinking, some people want to lose weight - I just want to use up my scrapbooking stash in 2010 - so my family can reclaim a lot of floor space and I can shop with abandon in 2011. Does the shop with abandon thing defeat the purpose of crafting rehab?

what do you think? it all sounds reasonable to me.