Countdown to Christmas

We had a great Thanksgiving!

We spent Thanksgiving and the day after at my friend from college's farm in Georgia. My roommate from college and her husband and children were also there. The weather was perfect and we had such a great time catching up.

Unfortunately my camera battery was dead so I got no photos! I had specifically charged my battery the night before we were to leave and when I put it in the camera I must have accidently turned it on! But, you would think with everyone else there would be someone that could get a few photos to share...not a chance! It was like we were in the bermuda triangle of cameras! The hostesses camera died after taking one photo and when roommate went to get her camera it just wouldn't take a picture! Daughter ALWAYS has her camera with her, but not this time! There were several opportunities for our christmas card photo and I was so disappointed that I couldn't take one!

When we got home on Friday night husband and I thought we would go to the movies to see Blind Side. Every show was sold out! And not just for that movie, for every movie that was playing except for New Moon! We decided to just head back home, which was really fine with me. I am not a big movie goer. I don't like to hear others moving around and I don't like sitting right beside someone I don't know! I'm weird that way!

The rest of the weekend was noneventful. We did watch the Clemson game on Saturday and were very disappointed in their loss.

This week I have to start baking desserts for the neighborhood women's club christmas dinner. I am making mini red velvet cupcakes, pecan tassies, and molasses crinkles. If I have time I may make some sea-salt caramels.

Can you believe that tomorrow is the first of December?

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

Life has been so hectic here, with Nutcracker rehearsals, school performance rehearsals, volunteer duties, normal life stuff, etc, etc! I am way behind reading blogs and behind in posting!

Life isn't going to slow down in the next few days, so I thought I had better send my wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful day and safe travels!

See ya next week!

~Steph

No More Blahs for Me!

Still dreary here and now it's cold! But I love to be able to put on a sweater and something other than flip-flops!

Got up this morning, grabbed a coffee to go and did some serious shopping! Can you say 3/4 of the way finished with Christmas shopping? YES!!

While I was busy crossing off my list, I just had to pick up a little something for myself! And since I was all out of my favorite body wash, I stopped in the new Ulta that opened last week and treated myself!

I've got to get busy planning the table for Thanksgiving! After the horrible dinner last year with my family, we are doing Thanksgiving with people we actually like this year! We are heading to my friend's farm where we will be met my one of my college roommates and her family.

I am in charge of desserts and the table settings and decorations. We thought since we have such great weather here we would take advantage and plan to put tables outside! I am thinking burlap tablecloths, tea stained napkins that I will paint with some sort of thanksgiving-y thing...just can't decide what exactly I want for the centerpiece(s)

I have always loved this basket of pears with the greenery, so I am thinking I may do my take on this! Decisions, decisions!

One another subject, do you live near an IKEA? Next week I am going to drive 3 hours to the closest one to me with a friend. We are taking her vehicle which has plenty of room to bring back some great things! I can't wait!

Just remembered that I need to order some things online for gifts... have a great day!

I've Got The Blahs!

I rainy and grey here today, same as yesterday.

Would love to just stay in bed and pull the covers over my head!

Is It Friday Already?

Where did the week go?

Oh, I remember...

One day was spent getting ready for and setting up the principal's luncheon at daughter's school. Which went very well! Except for the new beverage dispenser that I brought to put the iced tea in which had a sloooooow leak! If it hadn't been a private lunch meeting and I could have monitored the situation I would have be okay with it. As it was I had to instruct our principal what to do if the leaky spout got worse. Today I am ordering replacement spouts for three of my glass dispensers!

One lunch this week spent at a cute little place in our downtown planning the christmas party/lunch for the middle school teachers. (Paula you would LOVE it at daughter's school! We treat our teachers like they hung the moon! Which they pretty much did in our opinion!)

One evening spent at women's club making arrangements using clippings found in our yards...it's a lot harder than you would think!

One day spent driving to court house in town at the lake to file liens against two properties in our lake house neighborhood. I am HOA president and these homeowners are WAY behind in their quarterly dues and the houses are for sale and don't want to be stuck without these much needed funds!

One afternoon spent with son who had a half day of school. We went to lunch at the restaurant of his choice to reward some good choices he has been making. And since he is 15 and constantly eats, food is always a good reward for him!

Sprinkle in the daily clothes washing and house cleaning and driving kids to and from activities and BAM....the week is gone!

What a weekend!

Friday night the husband and I went to a tennis party. It was a lot of fun! It was held at one of the local tennis clubs. There was so much food.. grilled chicken, BBQ pork, cole slaw, sliced tomatoes, green beans, red rice and rolls! Then, of course, there was all the beer and wine you could want! We enjoyed watching some of the pros play and visited with some old friends. The weather was perfect! Sometimes when it is on the warm side we have a problem with "noseeums", but not Friday night

Daughter had gone to the high school football game and son was at a friend's house. I kept texting son to tell him we were on our way home but he wouldn't answer. Finally when we were about five minutes from the house my phone rang and it was son asking when we were coming home. I saw that the number he was calling from was our house phone and since he doesn't have a key, I asked him how he got in. Um, it seems the dinning room window was open and he just took off the screen and climbed in! I couldn't believe he did that! If we had set the alarm, he would have set it off! What a way that would have been to end the evening!

I spent Saturday morning and afternoon sitting in traffic off and on! It seems that the tree guys thought Saturday would be a great time to come back to clean up the mess they had made over the past few weeks cutting down trees as we prepare for road widening. So everytime I had to go out to drop off and pick up from Nutcracker rehearsal it took FOREVER!

Husband had gone out looking at new cars. He has been looking for over 6 months and couldn't decide what he really wanted. He was gone most of the day and had taken the title to his car with him when he left, so I knew he was serious! Well, finally he found a car! I am so happy that the car hunting is OVER!

Saturday evening we went one street over to a Halloween Block Party. It's an annual event and we all bring our candy to give out over there! This year daughter went to a friend's house to get dressed up in her costume and trick or treat in the friend's neighborhood. We didn't even get to see her in her costume! Husband and I had a great time at the party, even though it was about 85º when it started! Too hot for Halloween!

Sunday morning we all got up and got ready to head to Charlotte for nephew's birthday party. I will just say it was interesting! Big nephew and his wife planned the whole thing since birthday boy nephew's day is a single parent and not really good at that type thing,

The children did seem to enjoy the pinata:

When we got home it was after 8:00 and had been dark almost the whole ride home!

When we walked in the door, 15 year old son looked at me and said "our house is so pretty, don't you think so mom? Look at this nice rug and all the nice things we have." He has never commented on the decor of our home, but after seeing how some other people live, I think he has a new found appreciation!

You can't tell by this photo, but husband ate a cupcake before he was supposed to! I don't think the "party planner" was happy!

Today was a cool day, a big change from the almost 90º on Saturday! Tonight I am going to the neighborhood women's club, we are making fall arrangements. And since I offered to help with our annual christmas dinner I will be reporting to the membership our plans.

Tomorrow I will be at daughter's school setting up for the principal's luncheon. And as soon as that is over I am heading out for a pedicure!

I am hoping for a fairly quiet week, but if I know my life, it will be as busy as ever!

Hope everyone has a great week!