Thankful Thursday

Yes... I am thankful that I actually managed to make some progress on the Christmas to do list between last night and today.  Today? I actually got some baking done!  Amazing what monogirl can accomplish once she finally gets some sleep.  See with this stinking cold/bronchitis/crud stuff I've got going on I haven't slept thru the night in probably 2 weeks.  Last night?  I slept for 5 straight hours.... woke up and took more cough meds and slept for another 5 hours... and then?  I think I slept for another hour and a half while I was just watching TV and resting.  Felt SO good to sleep!  Once I finally got myself awake and vertical I actually felt the baking mood find me so I figured I'd better take advantage of it before it disappeared again.  So far completed are the Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip and a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies.  YUM.  Both quite good if I do say so myself.  Can I also be thankful for the dishwasher? Cause um thank you God for the dishwasher.  NO fun to finish all the baking fun only to be faced with a sink full of dishes am I right?  This was my cookie assembly line....

At this point the oatmeal were about finished baking and I was ready to start putting in the chocolate chip.  I like to go ahead and scoop all my cookies ahead of time so then all I have to do is place the next batch on the pan, and while the baking is taking place I can clean up my bowl and other utensils.  So now we have 2 batches down.... and oh, probably another 5-6 things to go.  Hopefully this weekend will be full of the Christmas baking mood. 

As far as the wrapping goes progress was made there as well!  I got all of Darrel's gifts wrapped and also got his stocking filled... as you can see. I was rather pleased with myself this year with the stocking fillers I managed to find! And... as you can see the candy selection isn't too shabby with a Godiva bar peeking out the top and Godiva truffles hanging outside.  I couldn't let Darrel be the only one with stuff hanging off the stocking this year!  Now... is it a bad thing that when I ran out of scotch tape for wrapping I decided to finish Darrel's last 2 gifts with a glue stick?  Some of my facebook friends said that was genius... however a few others thought since it was for a guy I should have used duct tape!  Bwa ha ha ha... A glue stick did seem to do the trick.  But as we all known patience is not my best thing so I really didn't like wait a long time for the glue to dry before filling the stocking so at this point I am thinking everything in the stocking could be quite stuck together.  Stocking opening time may be an adventure....

OK... in current events my husband has been busy wrapping my gifts as I am writing this post.  First... he walks by with my usual stocking and it has a PINK snoopy sticking out of the top.  I thought that was cute, but also told him it was new for him that it didn't have stuff hanging off of it and falling out of it.  Well little did I know, 2 minutes later here he comes with the stocking his Mom made, also full of stuff!  He filled 2 stockings!  TWO.  I am amazed and OK... kind of excited like a little kid at Christmas.. well OK.. I probably am a little kid at Christmas. Look!

OK... how fun is that?  We love to fill our stockings FULL as you can see, and we always fill them and hang them out so we can enjoy the anticipation of the opening! So thankful for a husband who spoils me and who loves to celebrate Christmas with me and really gets into the spirit of our traditions. 

Also so thankful for.....

• this day at home today.  Really needed it and like I said.... the sleep sure helped.
• antibiotics! 
• Darrel's new camera... cause he likes to share. 
• freshly manicured nails... and yes... they look Christmasy
• vacation time coming up! 
• our beautiful Christmas tree.
• Celebrating the birth of Jesus. So thankful that He came.
• Christmas cookies!
• cold meds!  Would not have survived the last month without them.
• a new coach purse.  Well OK, I got it a few months ago, but I am just now using it. 
• favorite Christmas movies
• date night
• my Dad still feeling better and food tasting normal
• Answered prayers for my Dad
• heat!  It's cold and windy out there tonight!
• and on that note... also shelter!
• did I mention Christmas music?
• my pink Christmas tree
• dinner with my husband
• Christmas cards
• our advent tree
• chocolate.. it goes with the whole Christmas theme don't ya think?
• good friends
• Miss Sophie
• the Christmas to do list being mostly wrapped up... pun intended
• the new highway

So much to be thankful for, this time of year, and always.  God is good.  He sent us His son to be Emmanuel.  God with us.  And for that... I am most thankful.  Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) Yes, I have actually made progress on the stitching.  Are you amazed?  You should be because I am amazed.  I can't even remember the last time I scrapbooked anything, let alone stitched anything.  Perhaps there is still a creative girl here inside Monogirl somewhere? 

2) One problem with the stitching.  I bought this little kit in um like 1982.. well OK.. maybe not quite that long ago but close.  So I carefully place my design on the plastic canvas so all the little pieces fit like they are supposed to. Except... all the little pieces won't fit like they are supposed to because whomever put together this kit apparently cannot count the little holes.  You see... my piece of plastic canvas is NOT big enough to fit all the pieces.  I mean this was supposed to be fun and relaxing and counting and recounting and measuring to try and figure out how to fit arms and legs on the canvas are NOT my idea of fun.  So now... 20 years later I have to drag myself to Walmart... and then when I discover they have next to NO stitching supplies these days... off to Joanns where finally I locate 2 pieces of white cross stitch plastic canvas so now I can happily finish my "flapper reindeer" in peace.

3) Did I mention I have decided my reindeer is quite important.  I think he is perhaps helping me keep my sanity when I am tempted to completely wig out because a) I am STILL sick and coughing my head off.... b) I am trying not to think about all the things I am not getting done because I am sick and coughing.... So then c) I can zone out in cross stitching land and ignore both a and/or b. 

4) Due to the relentless coughing the I asked the DR for something stronger to STOP the coughing so I can get some sleep!  I have given the mucinex, Nyquil and Dayquil people quite enough of my money thank you very much.  So the DR gives me some of that Cheritussin stuff that has Codeine in it.  Do you remember my Cheritussin/Codeine story from last winter when I took a swig out of the bottle because it was late and I was tired and sick and I didn't feel like getting the spoon and then like an hour later woke up in bed screaming from a nightmare?  Um... Darrel so did not enjoy that.  So... I had strict orders before he would hand over the bottle - NO SWIGGING from the bottle.  I agreed and properly and promptly took my first dose.  Shortly thereafter I totally tried to plug my phone charger into the TV remote....   Perhaps Codeine is just not a good thing for monogirls in any dose? 

5) The week before Christmas was supposed to be fun... and stress free.  What a nice fairy tale...am I right?  Cause um I have nothing wrapped, nothing baked, and I have LOTS of office work to get done before next week.  The plan was to calmly enjoy baking a little at a time... wrapping a little at a time... which was a good plan, but I didn't figure illness into that plan.  Monogirl does not like curve balls to her well ordered plan.... and its hard to dive in and get stuff done when you just need to sit in your recliner and try not to cough up a lung.  Good thing monogirl has a calm, supportive, rational husband.  He... along with the cross stitching... is helping her to survive pre-christmas week. 

6) And... with #6... I am going to have to say that 10 on Tuesday is to be continued!  Monogirl needs to hit the bed so she can tackle that work list she mentioned above... plus it is definitely time for the cough medicine again. Let's hope for a whole night of sleep!  It could happen right? 

Tune in tomorrow for 6-10... Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) The  Christmas cards... they are done.  Thank the Lord for mail merge.  Soooo much easier to print the return address and mailing address rather than sit and copy everything out of the ol' address book.  Plus... when one prints them one can add pretty little pink ornaments that just happen to match the card inside.  And I ask you... who will not spot that pink ornament in their mail and not say to themselves " I bet that's from Deanna...."  See... I'm smart like that. 

2) While getting my lovely Christmas cards ready to mail I was oh so not happy to discover the people at Tiny Prints managed to short me two... count them two envelopes.  A fact I did not discover till my printer was sitting there waiting on me to feed in two more envelopes.  Not a happy girl about that one.  Of course I have no other envelopes on hand that will fit the cards.  What is scrappy monogirl to do?  Well she has to head to her trusty scrapping supplies and locate her create your own envelope templates and quickly make two envelopes.  Just what I wanted to be doing at the moment I should have been done printing and stuffing!  Not so happy with the Tiny Prints people... but I am thinking I already mentioned that. 

3) It's time to pick a new Sunday School Bible Study.  This can be so hard when you need to pick from online choices and therefore can't preview things very well.  Sometimes its good to stick with a trusted author so currently I am wondering about another Lysa TerKeurst study such as this one.  Anyone done that one?  Looks pretty good.  The story in the first chapter about giving her Bible away already had me in tears.

4) Is it a bad thing that a few Coach items made their way onto my Christmas list... They were small things.. trust me cause I know Santa just isn't that rich these days.  Little things like say this... or this.... Now how fabulous is that pink wristlet?  I mean who wouldn't love to find that under the tree... OK.. perhaps who that LOVES pink wouldn't want to find that under their tree? 

5) Now see.... I just noticed on Coach's site that Nina Garcia of Project Runway fame... she says "It's all about color...make a statement with color." So there you have it.  Yet another very good reason that the Fuchsia clutch/wristlet is not only fabulous but a wise choice, well at least according to Ms. Garcia... and Monogirl.  Monogirl definitely agrees. 

6) In cross stitching news... the reindeer now currently has 2 full antlers, the cuff on his hat and the beginnings of a face.  Once I got going guess what I found out?  I like cross stitching.  Ha!  When one only participates in a hobby say once in a decade, one tends to forget these things...  Now I am all excited to work on him... or is it a her... so I can see more what she is going to look like! 

7) As I am sitting here blogging I hear my email inbox click that I have just received an email.  I go... I look... it says "your order confirmation from Vera Bradley..." I'm thinking Hmmm I didn't order anything from Vera.... perhaps Santa has been shopping and I shouldn't open that.  On the heels of that thought my phone text tone went off... I thought I bet that's my Mom.  It was and she says... DO NOT READ ANY CONFIRMATION EMAILS FROM VERA BRADLEY! And on that note... I busted out laughing.  And please don't worry.  I didn't peek.  And it didn't ruin my Christmas.  Just made me more excited.  I love presents.  As far as presents are concerned I don't think I ever matured beyond the age of oh lets say 6. 

8) When my husband got home today he took one look at me and stares for a moment and says "Your hair looks really good... it's like the picture."  I'm like what picture?  A picture of me?  He says no... a picture I showed him when I first started growing my hair out and said that I want my hair to look like this!  I am taking this as a good sign and was happy for the compliment but am also pondering why those compliments tend to coincide with days when I am asking myself what on earth am I thinking growing my hair out cause it looks like a mess.... Wouldn't it be nice if I could see me... and my hair.... thru my husband's kind eyes?  I am thinking this would solve lots of self esteem issues!

9) Have you ever read Max Lucado's Cosmic Christmas?  LOVE that book and absolutely must read it every Christmas.  His way of telling the story of Christ's birth totally captures your emotions and heart and wow... LOVE it.  If you haven't read it?  You need to!  It now comes in a collection with 2 other Christmas stories for your Kindle!  So why wait right? 

10) So where are we at Christmas wise?  Um... the cards are done!  Most of the gifts are purchased.  No wrapping has happened.  No baking has happened.  Plan to set up a wrapping spot and start that this week... we have decided the pool table will be the perfect wrapping spot.  Might as well use it for something.  Bwa ha ha ha... The baking I had planned for next week so with that, we shall consider Monogirl on schedule and for Monogirls that is quite an accomplishment.  I am sure I am making Monogirls everywhere proud. 

Wow... an actual 10 on Tuesday ON actual Tuesday.  Incredible is it not?  Another point for Monogirls everywhere.  Maybe its like a Christmas Miracle? 

Blessings!

The One With The Reindeer Ornament

So this is what I have been trying to cross stitch.  Granted, I have only worked on it twice so far... but um it wasn't twice for only 5 minutes.  Is cross stitching just this slow and I forgot?  Or am I just so not speedy like that cause um usually going slow is not my best thing.  Now... a few observations on cross stitching... those holes are tiny!  And threading a needle, well that is either way more complicated than I remember OR perhaps my eyes got old.  Nah... .that couldn't be it.  I told Darrel that apparently I needed to add one of those old lady magnifying hang around your neck so you can stitch thingys to my Christmas list.  Something like this.  Or perhaps I am in need of one of these. Of course if am ready for one of those than I am thinking the orthopedic shoes can't be far behind and I am thinking those don't come in platform so count me out.  Maybe these days cross stitching comes in a large print version?  I mean a lot could have changed since I bought this little reindeer ornament kit... cause I am thinking it was purchased back in um oh... 1980 something.... I know.  Sad isn't it?  Apparently I am a crafting hoarder in more areas than just scrapbooking. 

In other news we had date night at home this past Friday.  Monogirl was/is still trying to fight off a bad cold so running around the mall Christmas shopping did not seem like the best idea.  We had ourselves our favorite pizza and some pretzels from Bdubbs and watched several episodes of The Apprentice, season one and then a movie, The Expendables 2.  Ok.. in that movie I think they were speaking some macho guy language that I could NOT understand.  I had to keep asking my husband, "what did he say?"  ha!!  I kid you not.  There were all talking in this deep  I'm a super action hero kind of guy voice and it might as well have been in french...Or perhaps my ears are plugged from this cold and I could not hear their manly frequency?   The movie was basically how much can we beat up, blow up, or shoot in 2 hours but if you were or are an 80's action movie kind of person, the tongue in cheek references were entertaining... Bruce Willis was one of them and as soon as I saw him with a machine gun slung around him... it went thru my head "come out to the coast.. we'll have a good time..."  Remember that from Die Hard?

Well now that our power has returned, yes, it was out for 2 hours today after one particularly loud and close clap of thunder, I think I'll make a few more cross stitches before bed.  Do you think there is any hope this will hang on my tree this year?  Should we take bets on that one? 

Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Do you crochet? I crochet... well I used to.  Haven't done much of it in the last 10 years... I blame scrapbooking. Even though I am a crocheter I did not make these... these were handmade by my Mother-in-law, before she was my Mother-in-law.  OK first... you are going Dee and Bud... who in the heckfire are Dee and Bud?  Is that little Santa guy on the stocking named Bud?  Did someone forget the husband's name?  Is he really Bud Darrel.... or perhaps you thought Bud was only on the Cosby show.  Remember Rudy and her friend Buuud?  The answer would be D... none of the above.  Bud is a nickname Darrel's Mom had for him growing up.   She always called her older brother Bud and she also called Darrel Bud.  Me? Um I've never seen him as a "Bud"...just does not roll off my tongue...  but I am glad he has that special memory/connection with his Mom.  Anyway... back to the stockings.  Darrel's Mom had made stockings for each member of their immediate family.  When I came along as the new girlfriend she made me a stocking too and filled it for me for Christmas!  How amazing is that? I just might have the best Mom-in-law ever.  From the beginning she has made me feel like another daughter.  As we grew up and got married and stopped having Christmas mornings with the parents, she sent our stockings home with us.  They are a treasure and they always make me smile and remember how she included me in those early days of our relationship.  I am so thankful for Darrel's Mom and for her beautiful crochet work.  I mean she is good right? How cool are those handmade Santa's?   

I am also thankful you are still here reading.  You ARE still here reading right?  Don't get too many comments these days and I've been a little lax in posting so a girl begins to worry.  It has just been a rough year.  I am trying to get back to my old self... but I admit... I am having trouble finding her.  Have you seen me anywhere?  If you do... would you point me in the direction of home?  Thank you.

I am thankful I have survived the week.  Why?  Because I am sick again.  Yes.  I know.  I couldn't believe it either.  I got mowed down by a bad cold starting last Friday.  Today I am just thankful that I have not yet coughed up a lung... although I think I was close a moment ago. 911 had not yet been called although I am beginning to wonder if monogirl is EVER going to feel like her normal 4 mile walking self again?  Trying not to be Deanna Downer here but I must admit... pretty sick and tired of being sick and tired.  Let's call it done and move on. 

And on that happy note... lets turn that frown upside down and think of some more reasons to be thankful.. I know.. that was so cheesy... You'll forgive monogirl won't you? 

• Thankful for my husband's work Christmas party.  Even though this cold had me in its clutches I downed me some cold meds, put on my pretty red dress and wedding shoes and we headed to the party last Saturday.  We had a nice time and it was a fun date out.
• A quicker commute to the Big City!  We headed there last Friday for date night and got there in 1/2 hour instead of our normal 45+ minutes.
• Cheddars restaurant.  We tried it on date night.  YUM!  They are not stingy with the food there are they.
• All the Christmas decorating is done!  yay! 
• Almost done shopping for my husband.  Need to finish stocking, and maybe 2 other gifts.  In pretty good shape compared to the shape we are normally in at this point.
• My new Kindle Fire.  Loving it.  Still prefer reading on my Kindle touch but loving the fire for its other tablet applications and that I can read in the car in the dark without an added book light. 
• Getting to look at all my pretty and favorite ornaments.
• Our snow globes!
• Miss Sophie.  Even though she is totally in love with Darrel and oh yeah... I am here too. 
• Several nice talks with my husband this week.  He is so kind and supportive.
• A very understanding job.  They have been so good to me and understanding thru so much illness and fatigue this year.
• Advent season
• Christmas music
• Christmas movies
• Did I mention my new Kindle Fire has a pretty pink silicone skin and a new Vera case?  They were on sale.  You didn't think I could pass that up right?
• China Wok.  On Monday one of us was sick.  One of us was tired.  NO one felt like cooking... thank goodness for China Wok. 
• The fact that cross stitching could happen in this house... should I ever get around to it again. 
• Yoga pants and favorite sweaters.. yes again.  Especially when I am not feeling well.
• Our home
• Family and friends
• Having a reasonably clean house...
• That it's once again bed time and tomorrow is Friday and sick Monogirl can rest some more after she gets her work done. 

Thanks for stopping in.  Assuming you have stopped in.... I hope so.  I promise to be back again soon.  Honest.  I know.. I'm like the girl who cried blog or something.... ;)