N-O-E-L

Thanks to finding this Etsy shop on Artsy Fartsy Shopaholic, this Christmas cheer banner is currently headed my way- so cute!


My Creative Side by Kim

Hopefully it arrives very soon so I can adorn the mantel of the (non-working) fireplace and enjoy it for a few days before we leave. Fa-la-la-la-la...la-la-la-la!

Turkey Day (Week) Recap

We have made it home from our journey across mid-America. Lots of empty fields, an over the highway museum, a "Merry Christmas Eat Beef" sign (my personal favorite landmark), and lots and lots of music and sleeping (the sleeping part is for me, not Brian). Actually, I was quite proud because on the way to Illinois I only slept 3 hours out of 12- that's a new personal low for me!

While in Illinois we enjoyed: time with family, playing Sequence (one of my favorites), Phase 10, Uno, and a new fun card game called "Oh Hell," a holiday show at a dinner theater, the best spaghetti ever, a brief visit to a casino, a stop at a local bar, a lazy day watching a Band of Brothers marathon, and a visit to the Quad Cities Festival of Trees (and mantels, trains, gingerbread houses, and doors)! It was a great few days and the only part I'm dreading about our return in less than three weeks is doing the drive- again.

Always one for finding inspiration wherever I go, I took some photos of these lovely door decorations at the Festival of Trees.







The last one is the one that I used as my inspiration to create my own door of cheer last night. Thanks to a $15 Hobby Lobby find and some little holiday picks that were between $1-$2 each, I came up with something festive for our own front door. Originally it had apples and raspberries stuck in the greenery but I removed those and added the presents, bulbs, stars, and the red picks sticking out on the sides.



Pretty decent if I do say so myself!

This tree was also at the Festival of Trees as a circus theme and was one of my favorites. It rotated around, the clowns moved, and it had these very neat glowing wires that faded in and out. I have never seen anything like it!



I can't believe that it's December 1 already. Only 16 more days and we'll be heading back home!

Ries's Day At The Office

Date: Today
Time: 2:06 PM
Location: Home Office/Guestroom
Subject: Ries working on perfecting her sleeping skills (as if she won't get enough sleep in the car these next two days!?) in her new favorite spot- snuggled up on the layers of pillows on the bed in the office/guest room. It's almost like "Where's Waldo" finding her on top of that dark brown pillow. She sleeps all day long like this. Oh, a dog's life!

Catching Up

Well, let's see, it was a busy work week. I have several little projects going on that are keeping me busy between 8 - 5. On Thursday I started not feeling well with a cough, runny-nose, sinus pressure, etc. I left work early and was asleep by 6:45pm- only waking to take doses of Sudafed. I was thankful that Friday was a work from home day, albeit a full one, but it was nice to get up at 8, stay in my sweats, and take an nap during lunch. I don't care what they say, "non-drowsy" Sudafed certainly makes me tired. I was asleep again by 6 and only woke up to watch Finding Neverland with Brian and go back to bed for 12 hours. Saturday I would say I was feeling about 60% and today about 80% so I'm hoping for a nice big 100% tomorrow! I was sick last year over Christmas and it was the worst ever to be feeling so down in the dumps on a holiday... I'm determined to be well for this week.

Brian and I ran some errands and did some Christmas shopping on Saturday evening, and I was hungry for the first time in two days and had a taste for pizza from The Sink. It was soooo good. Probably 10x better than usual because I was actually starving! I also finally got the Christmas decorations up! Everything is still not put away/sold on Craigslist, so I gave in to wanting to get everything else done first because it just wasn't going to happen... we don't have a "home" for all the extra furniture yet so I just worked around it with my holiday cheer.

Tonight, we were going to see Elton John & Billy Joel but found out on Thursday that it was cancelled because Billy Joel is sick! I'm extremely bummed because I have been waiting to see this for so long but it's been rescheduled for February 22. I just get nervous that they will cancel it for some reason or another. Instead, we were invited by our neighbors to a pre-Thanksgiving dinner with about 25 of their friends. It was such a good time, we met a bunch of people since we only knew the two who invited us, and the host actually passed out Christmas Carol sing along sheets after dinner! We did an actual Christmas sing along, and that right there gives it an A+ in my book!

Tonight we packed up the car to begin our journey to Illinois. We'll make it about 4 hours tomorrow night to North Platte, NE- woo hoo! Here I come Holiday Inn Express! I researched and researched to find the newest hotel in each city for our Thanksgiving and Christmas drives home and it happened to be Holiday Inn Express each time. Mind you, my choices were nothing even of the Marriott and above caliber. We're talking Best Western and Holiday Inn on the top of the scale.... Microtel and Super 8 on the bottom. Lovely options!

To all of the friends and family in Michigan that I will not be spending Thanksgiving with- I miss you and hope that you have a wonderful day, I will be thinking of you! Not a holiday goes by that I don't wish I was there with you. I'll be home in exactly a month now, I can't wait!!!

I need to to get my "road trip" playlist created and get off to bed so I can be up for work tomorrow. So for now I leave you with some pictures of the Christmas decor...


Coffee table display that I set-up on a white serving platter.




My feather tree and a sparkly reindeer I found at Hobby Lobby.












Yes, wrapped presents! All ready to head home for the holidays!

Picture Post

Some pictures from the last week, as promised. Nothing too exciting. I'm actually steadily busy at work right now which is a welcome change- I thrive when my entire day is jam packed. That leaves not much time for anything else! I can't wait until next Monday night when we leave for vacation for Thanksgiving- yahoo!


Dinner at Colterra


Yummy dessert from "Whole Pay-check"


Playing with the Macro (or is it Micro?) Digital setting on my camera, this is the wine from Germany.


Door desk, as is for now!


I "made" all three things in this corner. The lamp was re-painted, the charging unit was re-papered, and the file holder was painted and fabric inserted from an old CD crate.


Thanks to Tiff for that neat painting. Currently residing on my desk until I can figure out if it needs to hang on a wall somewhere.


I love my new Anthropologie cup holding my writing utinsels and my Capri Volcando candle in the pink jar. I've managed to even keep my succulents alive, as you can see. What an accomplishment!


I've also managed to cram the closet full- it was a challenge to get everything in there. Is that a problem? Probably.


Results of my 2am decorating spree last Saturday night.

Oh Boy

That pretty much sums up moving weekend. Where in the heck did I acquire so much stuff from in 2 years?? Let me remind you, when I moved out here Brian moved me out in a mini-van. I understand I didn't have any furniture, but I only lived in a one bedroom 700 square foot apartment these past two years! How much stuff can one fit in there? Apparently a lot. Whew!

We rented a 10' truck becuase that's what they said you needed for a one bedroom apartment. We showed up and both took one look at it and said no way. So, a 14' truck it was. Filled to the top and to the door. Mind you, it also snowed 8" here between Saturday and Sunday, so moving was just a real joy.

We finally got the beds all swapped around, the washer and dryer installed (2 trips to the store later) my couch upstairs, my office 80% set-up, and of my closet is 90% organized! Tonight Brian built another pantry shelf which should be ready to paint tomorrow and install on Tuesday. I have my desk area all set-up and will have to take some pictures tomorrow to share. I have some "makeshift" legs on the desk until I figure out what I would like to do with it permanently but it works for the time being. I love the "door desk," it's going to work out perfectly and it goes well in the room too! Of course, the first priority of last night was for Brian to install my TV. I think that's the only thing he's happy I brought with me!

The sad part of today... no Christmas decorations went up. I did, however, get to listen to Christmas tunes all day long! Hopefully this week we'll get everything arranged and unpacked and I can put up some decorations after work.

The rest of our weekend was great as well. Brian's surprise dinner reservations on Friday were up in Niwot (which is an adorable little town I've discovered... a return trip to the three antique stores is planned!) at Colterra. It appears to be an old house (or houses) turned into a charming and cozy restaurant with a huge and adorable patio for warmer weather- I can't wait to return for Sunday Brunch outdoors next Spring!



We had never been to this restaurant or Niwot before so it was a perfect choice. We started out with some cheeses, then tomato soup, and for entrees I had steak and Brian had scallops. This will be shocking to hear, I know, but I didn't order Riesling for dinner! I love Moscato and it's not very common on everyday menus at restaurants so I was thrilled to see it there and enjoy a couple of glasses. It must have really been my lucky night because not only did they have Moscato but Colterra makes Molten Chocolate Cake which is my favorite dessert ever! And let me tell you, it was the best one I have ever tasted!

Saturday, after the move, we were exhausted and didn't have anything quick to make for dinner. Even so, I'm almost embarassed to admit that I made Kraft mac n' cheese straight out of the box for dinner. It's embarassing mostly becuase of what I paired it with. I had been saving a bottle of Riesling that Brian brought back from Germany a few years ago and had decided we would open it last night. I went to Whole Pay-check on Friday to pick up some yummy desserts and then served wine and dessert with Kraft mac n' cheese... uggggh! It certainly was memorable, we had a good laugh, and pretty much only ate the dessert and drank wine.

Some pictures to come tomorrow. Good night!

Another Weekend Closer to the Holidays!

Whoooo hooo! There's only 5 weekends until Christmas! At least until our Christmas starts, with our drive home beginning on December 17. And we're busy for each and every single one between now and then.

Starting this weekend...

First up, tonight, Friday the 13th! I went for a fabulous hair-cut this afternoon and was, what I like to call, "Robi-fied." I love it when I leave the salon with shiny, straight hair, chock full of good gossip and feeling all laughed out by my "mane man" (bad joke, I know) Robi.

Tonight Brian and I are going to dinner... he won't tell me where and we all know I'm like a 4 year old when it comes to surprises. I can't stand being told there are plans but not knowing what they are... I ask a million questions trying to get some details leaked out until I just need to be told enough- stop asking because I'm not telling! It's the planning nature in me, I just feel better being in the know, that's all. But, I didn't really ask any questions this time... I must be getting so mature, that's it- I just know it!

We're celebrating a special little thing called "A + B Have Been Together for Three Years." That's kind of a big deal, right? We've done a lot together and separately in those three years and it's nice to mark the date our lives changed for the better with a little celebration, don't ya think? What's even better is that he remembered... and even called earlier this week from Atlanta to just let me know he didn't forget. Sweet guy!

That's what is on tap for this evening. Then we're picking up the moving truck at 9 am tomorrow to move me in... during the snow and 30 degrees- oh boy! I'm so excited for that, can't you tell? For the weather that is... I'm excited for the actual moving in. I'm pretty sure that will consume the rest of the weekend. Oh, and Christmas decorating on Sunday + Christmas music- I cannot wait!

Hope that you have a wonderful weekend! It's about time for me to dash home and figure out what to wear for tonight. Pictures of our weekend to come soon, I'm sure.

Ugly Holiday Sweater?

It's official, we have something every weekend night in December, until we leave for home, and it's only early November. Yikes. I'm sure we'll end up being double booked, being the "social butterflies" that we are, haha! Filling in the last open night we had is an "Ugly Holiday Sweater" party. Fun!


I'm totally going to ask Brian to "rock" some reindeer antlers, haha!

But, I have to wonder, where does one get an "ugly" holiday sweater? People always just say, "Oh, Goodwill. Salvation Army." Uhhhhh, nooooooo. First off, why do people think that those places have a pleathora of ugly holiday sweaters? Tons of bad looking sweaters I'm sure, but I don't know that they are bursting at the seams with holiday ones?? And second, I can't bring myself to buy a sweater from there. I just can't. Even though I know you wash it and blah, blah, blah.

So, where does one get an "ugly" holiday sweater? It's funny because I was just going through the dollar spot at Target and they were selling "ugly" holiday sweaters for dogs- and they were hideous! So, help me out. These humans are going to need some snazzy sweaters for this party!

Mom, have any of those holiday "teacher" sweaters that you used to wear many moons ago? Send em on out!

An Elf-tastic Greeting- V.1

Below is by far one of the silliest things I have ever seen. But, you better believe that I was just sitting here on my couch laughing out loud because it's so crazy! Starring my Mom, my Dad, brother Dave, and Brian and I. For your viewing pleasure!

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