Friday, December 16, 2011

She Just Needs a Name

One of the projects I made last night is a handy dandy wrapping cart.  The most difficult part was finding the cart.  I went to many shops and asked, "do you have one of those market carts, the ones you see little old ladies pulling down the street?"  
"Like a bag lady?"
"Uhmm, yes."
"No."


 The Santa hat is for fun, just in case the wrapper is feeling festive.
 I used curtain clips left over from another project to attach tape, scissors, a bag of tags and more ribbon.  Most of the ribbon can be rolled out from the front ribbon bar.  The sharpies are attached too.  Inside the cart are rolls of paper, mailing boxes, packing tape and gift bags.

 Isn't she pretty?  I feel as though she needs a name.  Ideas?
 I added the battery pack snowflake lights for fun however; thank goodness I did.  They came in very handy when Sheryl and I blew the breaker while using the Cricut last night.  It would have been just like one or both us to trip in the dark and go sprawling.
After I finish wrapping I can leave the cart in the hall upstairs.  The guys can roll it into their rooms and take care of their wrapping.  After Christmas I'll either make a general wrapping station or go and get my groceries.  It's all good.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Three Parties

Three parties in one day.  Yep, I'm just a party girl.  My Thursday morning started at the museum.  Since I knew I had Leslie and Marjean as docents I decided to have a last minute random sale.  I sent all my email customers a quick note that everything in the store would be 25% off for three hours.  I texted friends and family and it turned into a party.  Holly stopped by to do some shopping and brought me some shiney brites.  
Party number two was at four o'clock when Emily picked me up.  First stop was Starbucks, then on to our pedicure appointments at Phaze II.  The Christmas pedicure tradition started three years ago and it's one of my favorites.  It's a totally relaxing time during the rush of the holidays, I get to catch up with Em and my toes look and feel great.  
Emily does December Daily on her blog and I do an album so I wasn't surprised to get her text, 'pedicure is my dec daily, so look cute Missy!'  That's a little pressure.  I took my camera too.  One of the girls at Phaze II gets finished with another customer and so Em asks if she would take our picture.  Sweet girl agrees, keep in mind she speaks little or no English, and I point out my camera and try to explain.  It's a point and shoot.  Much gesturing, giggling and explaining in a loud voice because as everyone knows it really helps to raise your voice if you're talking to someone that doesn't speak English.  Right?
So she goes to take the picture and uhmm, points it the wrong way, nostril shot, the girls giving us our pedicures are giggling hysterically and I am about to pee my pants.  The salon is in an uproar.  Finally she turns the camera around, goes to take the pic and she turns it off.  Do over.  Okay here we go one more time, oops my camera turns off if you take too long to get the shot...

After we finished our pedicures Em ran into Costco, wearing the spa supplied flip flops.  She forgot her own at home.  Now everyone knows that one should wear armor to shop at Costco in Bellingham but Em runs in wearing paper shoes.  This can only end badly.  But Little Miss Sunshine come hopping out of Costco all kinds of excited.  Apparently there is a new guy working at the photo counter and he's gorgeous.
Then on to Micheal's for something cute with owls for me.  I'll explain later.  I have an idea.  I lose Emily and by the time I find her she has made a new friend.  Bekah, the amazing clerk, who totally gets us and gives amazing customer service.  She agrees that Micheal's will soon be called Bekah's.  She learned all about december daily, and plans to have an aisle just for december daily.  She comped me a coupon, opened a till to check us out which allowed us to skip the snaking line.  Bekah is my new BFF.
And I coined a new phase, instead of there's an app for that... how about, there's an aisle for that?
Hubby had a board meeting at our house so my plan was to keep a low profile in the master suite.  I told Em, I just going to "make things".  Really?  oh yes...  
Sheryl stops by and the third partay begins.  She was just going to drop off some goodies and run but I had an open bottle of wine so she texted her hubby and he went home for two hours and then came back for her.  

I made things and since Sheryl was trapped in the back bedroom I gave her jobs and she made things too.  I set her up with a paint station in the bathroom.  A work party so to speak.  We had so much going on that we blew a breaker, it was the cricut and all the Christmas lights.  It's hard to craft in the dark.  So at the risk of interrupting the board meeting I went to switch some breakers.  Lots of giggling at this point.
Later today I'll post some of the projects Sheryl got roped into helping me with while trapped in my bathroom.  It may not sound like a lot of fun but it was.
The theme of all of three parties was good friends and lots of laughs.

Thursday This, That and Things

*My brother Ken and I share a birthday, well, close anyway.  Mine is the 13th and his is today, the 15th.  Mom made the happybirthdaycake, because I make it for everyone and she wondered if it ever gets made for me.  Love that cake and my Mom!
*Hubby and I shopped all afternoon and evening yesterday.  We're almost finished with the list. YaY!  We went to Burlington to get away from you know who.  Fabulous!
*Today I'm having a three hour sale at the museum gift shop.  This morning, until one o'clock actually, everything in the store is 25% off.  You won't want to miss it.  Come see me and Leslie and Marjean and score some great deals!
*I had to change my calendar system for 2012.  I'm a little freaked.  More on this later.
*This afternoon I am going to a Christmas party.  Partay of two for pedicures with my friend, Emily!
*Sam was out in the field so no he didn't go to President Obama's speech at Fort Bragg yesterday.
*Tonight I am going to work on a project that I have been trying to put together for a month.  I'll share!
*My life isn't too exciting but I sure have used the !'s in this post!
*Have a great day and see you at the SALE!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I'm Starting to Freak, a Little

Yesterday I ran errands in the morning.  The plan was to do all of my baking yesterday.  It didn't go so good. After going to the grocery store I got home and wasn't feeling it, but started anyway.  The only thing that I completed were the Cherry Bing Bars and I'm not sure if I melted enough chocolate chips for the top layer.  Then I moved on to Jean's Bars, my graham crackers were stale and I just could not go back to the grocery store.  So, that didn't happen.  It spiraled down from there.
I need the Keebler elves to show up and help me.
 While on errands yesterday I stopped at Grandiflora and picked up a few things.  I loved this snowflake and I love it hanging from the chandelier in the sitting room.  The guys think it would be fine if elves lived in the Stone House.  Do I take it down or listen to them grouse about it for the rest of the season?
 While shopping at Grandiflora I was reminded of their Christmas tree contest so I ran home and took a bazillion tree photos and couldn't get one good one.  Pretty hard to win if you can't get it together to enter the contest.  I need the Snapsister that is my sister.
 Christmas casualty.  Poor guy lost his head when my guys were moving the tree in the sitting room.  I don't think his girlfriend is too broken up about it.  
Yes, there have been some seasonal casualties here at the Stone House.  'Tis the season...
Oh well, today is another day.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Tolo 2011

Saturday evening was tolo.  Max and Kassie and their friends came to our house for pictures and dinner.  I was having so much fun with everyone's parents I kind of wanted to tell the kids to go out for pizza and have the parents sit down for dinner.  It was a little crowded but so fun.
 This picture cracks me up, I think they are intimidated by the beauty across the room.

 "MoM, help her, Kassie just stabbed me!"



 Blossoms did the flowers and they were so pretty.  The wristlet had a pearl bracelet instead of elastic, 
much prettier.


Kassie's parents, Ron and Idalia and Hubby and I served dinner.  The girls each brought something.  The guests all had such nice manners and were so gracious.  I made extra chicken cordon bleu and so Ron, Idalia, Hubby and I enjoyed dinner in the sitting room.  With wine and the door closed.  
It is fun to see the girls and guys dressed up.  We were happy that we could host, with three boys it was our first and only chance.  Last tolo for our family...

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Nostalgia

So, this week as Hubby and I were trimming the live Christmas tree with all of the boys' ornaments we got a bit nostalgic.  I mentioned that it was too bad that the Lego train was in a zillion pieces because it would be great to have it zipping around the tree.
 Hubby took that comment to heart.  While I was out on the town with the girls Max and Hubby decided to bring it back.  They got all the Legos out of the attic and worked nonstop until I got home to surprise me.  They had so much fun.
Max moved the train to under the tree and got the other zillion Lego pieces picked up and put away.  But first he had to build just one more thing...  Those Legos are addicting! 
Just in time too because tonight is Tolo.  We needed our dining room table and our floor back  as Max and Kassie and their friends are having dinner at our place.  I guess I better get cookin'...  
Have a good Saturday!