Thankful Five

1. I'm most thankful in my life for these 2 and this amazing dinner we shared yesterday for Thanksgiving.  Really, I have no idea what I'd do without them - love them to pieces!

2. I'm thankful for a black Friday spent with the same family and a great friend finding all sorts of super awesome deals and fighting the ridiculous crowds together. I gotta say I didn't get many Christmas gifts, but my wardrobe is looking much better after today!

3. I'm thankful for the words Spoiler Alert. These 2 simple words have helped me to successfully avoid all spoilers from the Gilmore Girls which I've been dying to watch since it as dropped at 3 am this morning.  However, Black Friday fun was calling instead.  That doesn't mean that I won't be finding myself in front of Netflix at the very first opportunity tomorrow!  Can't wait!!

4. I'm thankful for the leftovers of yesterday's amazing meal that provided an absolutely fabulous turkey and dressing sandwich at the outlets today.  One of my most favorite meals of the year - leftover Thanksgiving sandwiches on Black Friday.  Dressing is by far the best food part of this week!  So delicious!

5. I'm thankful for nice warm jammies and a nice warm, comfy bed.  Because seriously dude, I shopped til I dropped... : )

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope your holiday was full of fun, family, friends and food!

Countdown to Turkey!

Let's just say I was pretty jealous of all the teachers at my table last night, for not having to get up to an alarm this morning.  It must be nice to get all sorts of days before the holidays off.  That I totally miss.  However, it's a little easier to go to work when you know you'll be one of only 2 people in the office.  And you'll most definitely be the only one there for a good 3 hours before the other person comes in.

That leaves the perfect amount of time to decorate the cube for Christmas, and relax just a little more than I usually do at work.  Christmas music, mid-morning snacks, a few online errands complete. And when Christmas music ended, a few Broadway flavored YouTube videos to make the time pass - work is just too quiet! (Speaking of which, if you need to smile - this ridiculous if slightly risque video will make you laugh out loud!)  I gotta say, work wouldn't be nearly as annoying if all days could be as relaxing as this.

But then again, as soon as 3:00 pm hit, I was ready to leave and start my 4 day weekend full of turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, family and shopping.  Work may have been relaxing, but eating yourself silly is much more fun!

Happy start to the Thanksgiving holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you holiday is full of family, friends and fun.  And may your bellies be full of all sorts of yumminess!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Talking Trivia (&Turkey)

~ Due to the travel restriction around the world, it would seem everyone in Maryland decided to drive rather than fly to their holiday destinations.  Therefore, the traffic on MD roads increased 10 fold which is just what you want to deal with 2 days before Thanksgiving. 

~ Sitting with an entire team of teachers that have off tomorrow, stinks.  It just has to be said.  

~  According to the Trivia Master, in regards to Turkey Day:
           - People eat 13 pounds of turkey in a year 
           - There are 24 NFL teams that were created after the tradition of a Thanksgiving day                   game hosted by the Lions was enacted
           - Swanson overshot the number of turkeys they'd sell in the 50s by 26 tons, so they                     created the TV dinner so as to not waste all that turkey. 
None of these facts are particularly exciting but at least you'll have a chance to feel smart at the dinner table on Thursday.  

~ There's currently a song called "Ex's and O's" on the Billboard Chart.  Seeing as I've been listening to Christmas music for the better part of November, I've not heard this song even once. 

~ My Disney knowledge is sorely lacking, something my team judged me for quite a bit.  (Why on earth would I think that the movie Mulan - about a female soldier - would have included the song "I'll make a man out of you?" Wouldn't that make more sense if it were in Tarzan?  Unfortunately I didn't help my case when explaining I'd never seen either movie...

~ In a Clockwork Orange, someone drinks poisoned milk.  Yet another reason to not watch this movie or read the book.  I don't even want to think about people drugging one of my most favorite drinks (also, the answer to this question was most definitely milk and not absinthe like we guessed...)

~ When the mid game question is on literary characters and the novels they appeared in, it's quite helpful to have an English teacher on your team. 

~ Along with my lack of Disney knowledge, I also have no recollection of the famous poem "Casey at the Bat." What the heck was I reading and watching when I was little?

In Defense of Thanksgiving...

It's November 12th.  Thanksgiving is officially 2 weeks away today. Christmas is 42 days away.  But here's what happened today.  I walked into Michael's and they were playing Christmas over the speakers throughout the store.  I saw a commercial that contained Santa Claus.  Someone on Facebook posted a picture of a Secret Santa gift she received today. 

Seriously?!

I will freely admit I've been doing some serious Christmas crafting.  I've even completely finished cards and made some gifts.  But come on!  What happened to November being for Thanksgiving?  The best part of dealing with the madness on Black Friday is that it's officially the beginning of all the Christmas madness.  That's when Christmas music starts and Christmas decorations go up.  

Who wants to eat Turkey and Stuffing surrounded by Christmas trees and listening to "Jingle Bells."  I just don't get it!  I'm the first one to admit I'm in love with the whole Christmas season.  I love everything about it.  But I'm also a big fan of Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie and being thankful for family and friends.  

Let's just slow it down a little, people.  The quicker we wish Christmas is here, the faster it will be over.  Let's be thankful before being merry!

Caution: Scrap in Progress

Over the last few weeks, I've been in a seriously scrappy mood (see what I did there? : ) I've been Pinning, and searching and dreaming and list-ing.  So I've also been stealing some seriously cool ideas - well, stealing is a harsh word, more like scrap-lifting - to make my scrappy ideas just as cool as theirs.  I've also been focusing on what my personal style is.  

I've realized, the major problem with making myself scrap is that the things I've been finding are too intricate so I get burned out quite quickly.  My personal style is more simple.  Pretty much every design I've loved on Pinterest, are ones that are simply a few stickers and some cute cards. So with this in mind, I purchased an actual Project Life core kit, and an awesome 9"x12" album by A Beautiful Mess and will be attempting Project Life yet again in 2016.  The goal is to make it way past March this time - all the way to December 31 if I'm lucky!

With Project Life, the main idea is to scrap at least weekly - more like daily.  That's hard to get in the habit of doing.  So, with that in mind, I've planned 2 projects for the next 2 months in an effort to be:

1. More positive
2. More crafty
3. More prepared for Project Life
& 
4. More organized.

For the month of November, I'll be using this gorgeous kit - not as personally crafty, but I love the design and honestly, I don't think I could make something better - to create a 30 days of Thankful album.  I whine a lot about what's not right, but in all honestly there are TONS of things that are in my life.  How can I not celebrate them?

Then after 30 days of Thankfulness, it's time to start 31 days of Christmas - otherwise known as December Daily.  I have to say, I'm a little out of my depth with this one.  I'm not even entirely sure what most people document during this process - but I do know what I plan to. I started the fun part of getting that album together tonight.  Thanks to scrapbook.com, I got a great little kit a few months ago for $2 - gotta love a good sale.  So far, I'm LOVING it. Let's just hope the photos will be as lovely as the daily pages are so far : )

Friday Five

1. I love Black Friday Shopping!  I should have spent a whole lot more money on Christmas gifts for people other than myself but honestly, how can anyone resist the deals?  50-70% off at Talbots, Loft and Old Navy?! It was a very, very good day for my wardrobe.

2. Speaking of great deals - I'm now the proud owner of a sewing machine.  I've been wanting one for months now but they're super expensive.  And quite honestly, I'm not sure how to use said machine so I was a little leery of purchasing one for so much money.  But thanks to Target's great deals, I've got a beginner machine that will hopefully work on paper and some beginning quilting.  Can't wait to get started!  

3. With the purchase of the sewing machine, I feel it's that time again to sing Pinterest's praises.  Within about 10 minutes, I've already found all sorts of sites that will teach me to use my new toy as well as hundreds of new projects! It is by far the best website for crafters, bakers, sewers, etc.  The only issue I have is the more I explore, the more toys and contraptions I feel the need to purchase to complete even more projects.  It's a bit of a never-ending cycle.

4. If I was ever going to get a tattoo and let's face it, I will most likely never because I'm a big old ninny who's scared to death of all things needle, permanent and possibly-dangerous. But if I was, number 8 on this list would totally be it.  Though not in the same position, ouch!

5. I'm not sure if this week was Dog week on the internet but each day, there seemed to be some ridiculously too cute for words group of puppy photos on Buzz Feed.  While every single dog was super adorable, this group of first Thanksgiving puppies, I thought was appropriate on the day after Thanksgiving.  If BuzzFeed keeps this up, my resolve to not get a dog, may just take a hit!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and food!  I hope you're bellies are stuffed and your hearts are full, and you've enjoyed the holiday as much as I have!

Wishful Wednesday

Is it wrong that I've been dreaming of this for about the last week?  All I can think about is turkey and stuffing - the absolute 2 best things about Thanksgiving.  In less than 24 hours I'll be very happy, probably 10 pounds heavier and  super stuffed, but it'll have been all worth it.  Gotta love a great meal!  Bring on the turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving!

So much to be thankful this year and these are just a few.  Hoping you and yours are enjoying the holiday with family and friends and everything that matters to you most.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh and PS: Go Ravens! : )

Friday Five: Thanksgiving Edition

A few (well 5 technically) of my favorite things about this particular time of year.

1. Stuffing: I know everyone goes ga ga over turkey, and I do love turkey, but my favorite part of the Thanksgiving feast is most definitely stuffing.  Stuffing patties, baked stuffing, stuffing in a turkey, and the best, turkey and stuffing sandwich.  Delicious!

2. A feast with family: You have to love a holiday that encourages you to share thanks with those you love and eat until your heart's content.

3. Black Friday sales: Although, the sales weren't as good this year, the whole craziness of Black Friday is infectious.

4. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: It used to be all floats and marching bands which was fun, but got a little old.  I'm loving the new addition of all the musical guests and performances of the show casts.

5. The official start of the holiday season:  I'm stressed as all get out about what to buy for pretty much everyone, but I suppose this time of year is pretty much perfect.