Ten Favorite Gifts

It's time for ten of my favorite things.  My shopping is almost finished and of course, I cannot share my very favorite things to give this year because then my guys  and their girls wouldn't be surprised on Christmas.  Hubby and I are making some gifts this year.  I love it when that works out.  Sometimes it's painful, remember last time?

1.  The Microplane is great for zesting citrus or for zesting ginger.  We drink a hot "tea" of fresh ginger, fresh mint, fresh lemon and honey before we go to bed and so our Microplane gets used a lot.  It's also great for topping a chocolate pie with chocolate shavings.  Doreen gave me one for Christmas and I had no idea how badly I needed until I owned it.

 2.  Sheryl got me started on Aveeno whipped souffle.  I love the texture and the smell.  It is great for tired, dry, winter skin.  I like not having to pump or squeeze a tube.

 3.  I haven't gotten one of these scarves yet but my Old Navy cart is full of them.  Two bucks!  Hello, these are great stocking stuffers for all of your friends that walk for exercise.

4.   As much as I love flannel pants the thermals are taking over.  They are just cozier.  Wear them with a thermal top or a tank and a soft cardigan.  I think my jersey knit cardigan is my new bathrobe.  These are from Old Navy but Gap has some great colors too.

5.  For guys that work outdoors or spend time enjoying the outdoors on the weekend the fleece lined work pants from Eddie Bauer are fantastic.  I bought some for Sam for his birthday last year and Karen bought some for Braden, we weren't sure they would like them but they got a thumbs up.  Eddie Bauer also has flannel lined jeans for men and women.

6.  Do you give gifts with the formula of something to wear, something you need, something you want and something to read?  Some of my favorite books include The Education of Dixie Dupree.  Get out the box of Kleenex and settle in because you won't want to stop reading.

I also enjoyed the Winter Street Trilogy by Erin Hilderbrand.  Sometimes an easy Christmas read is just what we all need.

I'm going to start reading Uninvited this week and it looks interesting.  I'll keep you posted. 

7.  I love my little Chatbooks app.  I keep my Instagram account connected to the Chatbooks app.  Every 60 photos I get a book in the mail for $6.  Besides connecting your face book or instagram photos you can pull photos from your phone and create a book.  I made one of our restoration of Huaka'i Annie.  Last week I was watching the football game and quickly made a photo book for friends.  The custom ones are $8 and include 60 photos.  It works on your phone or your computer.  It's nice way to get some of your photos actually printed.

8. I {love} my Fitbit tracker.  Even if I am slacking with my walking or on tear and walking twice a day, I love the accountability.  I like the tracker attached to my bra strap but many people wear the wrist Fitbit.  Hubby got me one for Christmas two years ago and it gets used every day, all day.

9. Trader Joe's treats, snacks, nuts, cheeses, beer, soaps, and more.  Honestly, Trader Joe's seasonal selections are fantastic. 

The candy and cookies make me want to forget to bake and just buy a selection.  Their cheese case!  The beer aisle where you can create your own six pack combos. The soaps, lotions and skin care aisle, I love it!  Stuff the stockings at Joe's cuz they have the treats.  Even for the the granddoggers!

10. Paper mouse pads are the bomb!  I love making lists, jotting down my order numbers, flight numbers and hotel confirmations on my paper mouse pad.  They aren't always easy to find but I've found them at Anthropologie, Kennedy Watson and Amazon.

I need a new one so hint, hint guys.

Enjoy your gift giving.  The shopping, the wrapping and particularly the thought and love this time of year.

*Reminder, I do not get paid to write this drivel and have no sponsors.  Nada. Zilch.

Good Times

 We had a nice Thanksgiving Day.  Everyone fit in our house, we all enjoyed good food and a good family time.

Jonny is so important that he gets phone calls on Thanksgiving, at the dinner table.

 On Monday it was the annual Sisters in Seattle shopping trip.  We shop on our own and then always meets up at Pottery Barn.  That way we can sit on one of their sofas until everyone arrives.  Most of us have owning a Pottery Barn sofa on our bucket list so until that day arrives this is a good time to enjoy a PB sofa.  They are the best.  Of course, surrounded by all of their beautiful Christmas decor is nice too.  Another bonus is that Pottery Barn stores have really nice bathrooms. It's my shopping tip.

We had a fun day yesterday and now today I need to get my Christmas decorating game on!

Bye, for Now

Yes, I wore my petticoat on Saturday.  I had a great show and loved seeing so many of you!

Thank you for coming out to Van Vino.

Hubby and I have Thanksgiving dinner here at The Stone House.

There will be 21 of us.

My house is a BiG mess and I have a lot of cooking to do before Thursday.

I'll be on a blog break for a bit, but I wanted to wish each of you a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.  Aren't we blessed? 

'Tis the Season

'Tis the Season Craft and Vendor Market is tomorrow.

The market is November 19, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Van Vino Hall.  Van Vino Hall is located at 9029 Markworth Road, Blaine, Washington.  If you're coming from Lynden or Bellingham on Guide Meridian, turn west on to Badger Road, in about 2 miles you'll turn right on Markworth Road, it's half way up the big hill, on the left side.

I am having a booth at the show with a lot of vintage Christmas items and wreaths.

 I will have a sample of the train cases I restore.  They can be ordered.

 I've had fun getting everything set up and ready.

I've had fun crafting, sewing, using the glue gun.

I've had a lot of fun and now,

I am hoping all y'all show up and have fun too.

 There are some great booths set up for Saturday.  CW Happy Creations - Liberty Moccs - Arbonne -

Olive Mae Designs - Rustic Ruffle - Doterra - Dirty Lace Designs - Vintage Christmas Decor - Rays Rags and many others.  Jodi and Meik have some clever canvases.  There are some darling baby items too, for those of you with grand babies.

Right next to my space Narlene will have Dutch pastries.  Her almond tarts will bring a tear to your eye, they are so delicious and buttery.

Today, I am finishing up a few items and trying to decide if I should wear my Christmas petticoat tomorrow or jeans like everyone else.  What do you think?

See you there!

Friday Random

Good Morning!  If we didn't agree about the election  results, I still love ya!

Here comes some random and non election blogging.  Yay!

I know there is a calendar on my iphone but I still like a paper calendar that fits in my purse and that I can check while I am talking on my phone.  Last year I waited until the new year to find one and had to pay close to twenty dollars.  This year I found a comparable calendar at Dollar Tree.  Yes, one dollar.  Dollar Tree for the win.

 I also recently purchased a keeper.  It's an alphabetical book to keep your passwords written down.  As I careen toward 60 I realize I can't keep all of this information floating around in my brain.  I plan to use it for airline, cruise, rental car company reward plans too.  I think this will be a big improvement over the piece of cardboard I have everything scribbled on presently.  Yes, cardboard.

 I did some Thanksgiving prep yesterday.  I cleaned the fridge, inside and out.  I kind of like no having pictures, invitations, announcements tacked up on the fridge.  What do you have?  Cluttered or clear fridge?  Let's vote and agree to disagree.

 A little Thanksgiving vignette is set up in the dining room.  I'm not a fan of the light switches but I do like electric lights.

 Still crafting...  Wouldn't  she be cute in a teen girl's bedroom or the boudoir or a bathroom?

 I have been inundated with my library requests all showing up at the same time.

Curling up with a good book in November is the best.  I have a lot to get done here and I just want to keep reading about Dixie.  The struggle is real.

 I am still ordering household goods online from Walmart.  It's free shipping at $50.  I have an ongoing cart for Starbucks coffee, toiletries, laundry soap etc.  Pioneer Woman has her Christmas line out for the season at Walmart.  These Christmas napkins jumped into my cart.  The green plate is from Tag.  I also have the red plates from Tag.  These combinations will be pretty for buffets this Christmas.

I've been asked why I don't just go to Walmart.  Uhmmm, I live on the Canadian border so it's very crowded at my Walmart.  I am going to Costco tonight.  They have an early Black Friday sale and there are two things we need, plus we buy our meat at Costco.  Are you doing any Black Friday shopping?  I think Costco on November 11 will be as close as I get.

 Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served.  As Sam's buddy, Zeke shared this morning, it's the day they all get half price appetizers for giving up 4+ years of their lives. Sad but true! 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Weather, Christmas and some Random

Not going to lie, I am a little  tired of the rain. I filmed a video of the torrential downpour that we had on Saturday.  I wanted to share it so that readers living outside of my area could see that I wasn't exaggerating about the rain.  Suffice it to say, it's wet here.  

Here's is a question, can someone do so little walking that their Fitbit goes backwards?  I've been doing some data research on that question.  I am walking on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.  That is all.  That is it.  It's like I know I should walk but I just cannot make myself do it.  It's wet out there and I have zero motivation.  If there is a break in the rain, I quickly find something else to do or make some excuse.  

Such as read a good book and drink coffee, it needs to be done!

Hubby and I went to a birthday party Friday evening and I got a gift.  No, it wasn't my birthday.  Holly gave me a new mug with my favorite saying, it is what it is.

Coffee in a pretty mug with a Christmas book. Yes please!

Christmas is coming...

 I am not decorating for Christmas quite yet but I did put out my new pillow and there's a bottle of Christmas ale in the ice bucket.  

I am a vendor at 'Tis the Season craft show at Van Vino on November 19th.  I am busy crafting and prepping.

  

On November 21, I will begin decorating in full force.  Thanksgiving is at our house so I'll wait to decorate the kitchen and living room.  I wait because of space issues.  I do not care if guests are offended by Christmas at Thanksgiving.  Uhmmm, do you want to host?  The dinner table will be very autumn and Thanksgivingish.   I'm thinking about some Christmas decorating changes this year.  Less is more kind of thing.  Yeah. that won't happen.

Hubby and I are making some gifts this year.  Remember last time and all of the angst?  Yep, I need that kind of pressure.  We have some good ideas and I am almost finished with my part.

We are going to Trailer Trash Christmas in Anacortes with Huaka'i Annie in December.  I'll be decorating our '57 Aloha for Christmas, you can only imagine how excited I am about THAT!

Our church's Christmas services and cantata are on the calendar. 

Sisters Seattle shopping trip is on the calendar.

Sirius radio has their Christmas station, Holly playing as of last week.

I can't control the weather but if I was in charge the temperatures would be getting lower.  The rain would turn to snow in a week or so and then I'd really be getting my Christmas game on.

And I might even go for a walk in the snow!

Nah.  Just not feeling it.