O Christmas Tree... (and Friday fav)

Here are some pics of my tree and its ornaments.

Before you go further, I should mention that my tree is very "sincere". In "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown", Linus talks about needing to find a sincere pumpkin patch. Well, this is a very sincere Christmas Tree. None of the ornaments match, my 2-year-old has clumped many together, there is no ribbon or garland for fear of what Bubby might do with it, and there are many homemade ornaments, but it is full of love and memories.

This Snoopy ornament was given to me by a very dear friend. It is really small, which makes it even cuter.



I had a holiday party years ago when I still worked and a co-worker gave me this Santa. I LOVE the style of it.


I try to get ornaments when we go on vacation.


I decided that I love Old World style ornaments...so shiny and breakable. I have decided to treat myself to a new one every year. This is the one I bought this year...on sale at Michaels for less than $3. :) I wrote the year on the back.


This one was given to me by good friends last year...we were neighbors at the time. I just love this style ornament!


I got this one the year hubby and I got married....isn't it cute?


When MissyMiss was 2, my husband took her shopping for gifts for me. They chose this Lenox Snoopy and it is one of my absolute favorites. Now the two of them choose a day every year to go Christmas shopping together. I don't know what she chose me, but I do know they went to the quilt shop...yeah!


We all went to a craft fair a few weeks ago...MissyMiss surprised me by buying this ornament for me....I put it at the very top of the tree, so Bubby can't reach it. He has been removing all of the ornaments down low and then carrying them around, arranging them on the floor, loading them in his dump truck, etc. Ya gotta love 2 year old boys!


I bought this Mickey and Minnie one on my honeymoon...we went to Disney...it was my first time there!


This little bear is from my childhood. There are five little animals and they always bring me back to my childhood days. My mom used to line them up on a shelf.


Here is the tree...in all its glory. As you can see...it is very sincere. There is a large empty spot toward the bottom. Note to self: go look in Bubby's dump truck...


Here is MissyMiss. She and I decorated the tree while Bubby was napping...or at least in his bed. She did a great job helping and wanted to know the history of each ornament.

I get each of my kids a new one each year to reflect what they are into that year. This year MissyMiss got a cheerleader and Bubby got a handyman. I told them that when they move out, they will each have a nice set of ornaments to get them started.


This is a bit early....but I am doing a guest Friday fav!!

My friend, who I shall refer to as D-man, is a faithful reader of my blog. While he does not have a blog of his own, he likes to tell me each week what his Friday Fav would be. D-man has chosen.........


Peppermint Ice Cream!

Has anyone else tried it? I have just added it to my grovery list and shall report on what I think.

Friday Fav...a day late

I apologize for being late with the Friday Fav. Things have been busy here and I have been sick with an awful cold. I meant to get on the computer last night, but ended up on the couch watching Elf...which brings me to my Friday Fav...

This week's Friday Fav is....


CHRISTMAS MOVIES!!!

I LOVE Christmas movies. I have ever since I was little. I love seeing them in the theatre, buying them on DVD, even watching the cheesy ones on Lifetime. I buy 1 (or more) Christmas movies to add to my collection every year.

Here is a list of the Christmas movies that I own. It is not quite completel because I am just too tired and lazy right now to get up and check to see which ones I missed.

Home Alone
Home Alone 2
Miracle on 34th Street (new one)
Elf
Christmas with the Kranks
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original)
Prancer
Deck the Halls
Snow Globe
Snow
Holiday Inn
All I Want for Christmas
Polar Express
Santa Clause
Santa Clause 2
Santa Clause 3


We also have a bunch of kiddie Christmas movies. I just can't help myself when I see one I don't have. I don't own many DVDs in general...but I just can't resist a good (or not so good) Christmas movie.

Here is some trivia...can anyone name which movie each of these lines is from??
1. "Don't push me down Clark."
2. "These toilets are ginormous!"
3. "Denny's...they're always open!"

Hint: The answer to each one is one my above list. Anyone got them???

Friday Fav!

I pondered for a while over this week's Friday Fav. In light of recent events in our house, this week's Friday Fav is.......

My Carpet Cleaner!!!

I clean all of my carpets every 6 months. I have a thing for clean floors. Everyone has their "thing", and mine is clean floors. We are a "no shoes inside" house. My kids are so well trained that the moment they step on the door mat they take off their shoes...it's a good thing.

So...the 2 recent events that prompted this one are Bubby being sick with a cough so bad he vomits and Bubby removing his dirty diaper and trying to out a new one on himself. I swear, nothing gets vomit out of carpeting better than a good carpet cleaner with rotating brushes.

The other day Bubby was meant to be napping. When I opened his door to check on him, he was sitting on the floor. He had removed his poopy diaper and was attempting to put on a clean one. It was kinda cute, until I noticed the lovely brown marks that his little bare tooshie left on the carpet....yuck!!!

So...there you have it. If you have small children and carpets, you need a carpet cleaner (with rotating brushes!) :)

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fav!

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O.k...time for another edition of "Friday Fav". This week's Friday Fav is.......

APRONS!!!

I realize that it is just completely domestic, but I LOVE aprons!! I just can't help myself...I see a cute apron and must have it! I love new aprons, vintage aprons, homemade aprons. I even have a book all about aprons. Here are some of my favorites:

I picked up this cute vintage one at a yard sale. I just love the pink and black combo.



I just got this one at a craft fair. I thought it was perfect for "cookie season". I could have just made it myself, but I wasn't sure I would finish it in time, so I just bought it.



I made this one myself! The pattern came from "The Apron book". I was so pleased with the results.




This one is really special to me. My mom handed it down to me. She used to wear it at the holidays...now I wear it at the holidays. It is nothing fancy, but one of my favorites.

There is a lady who makes the CUTEST aprons and sells them at a craft fair that is held here the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I go every year with my mom and daughter and whoever else joins us that year. I bought this one from her...it is just too cute!

I also got this one from her. Actually, I told my mom I liked it and she bought it and gave it to me for Christmas. It is reversible!

I also bought this one from her. I LOVE to bake, but am not a very good cook and always am hoping for takeout. :)

This is one of my daughter's aprons...isn't it the cutest?





I have hooks in my dining room to hang 4 aprons at a time. I rotate them whenever I get bored of the current aprons. (I must add a disclaimer here...I did not choose that wall paper. The people we bought the house from did. I am not a wall paper person. We are leaving it there for now, as we had other more important projects when we first moved in. At some point that will all come down)

Happy weekend!

Friday fav!

O.k....time for another Friday fav! This week's is.....

My Blue KitchenAid stand mixer!

I just love this thing. Since I bake a lot, I use it often. It got used it last night for both the cupcakes and the frosting. We got this 7 years ago when we got married and it is still going strong. During Christmas cookie season, I use it nearly every day. If I bake after the kids go to bed, my daughter will come down the stairs and tell me she can hear the mixer and would like to know what I am making. It is not cheap, but worth every penny. :)






On a completely different subject...I am always surprised and amused by things that kids say. We have been potty training Bubby. When he goes on the potty, he gets lots of "Good job!'s and high fives. So...today we were shopping at Wegman's when I had to use the bathroom. He was in the stall with me and just as I started to go, he yelled "Good job Mama!! Go pee pee! Good job Mama!!" It was so funny, also a bit embarrassing!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Friday Fav!

So...many people have asked me how I have the time to run and train for races, since I am a stay-at-home mom of two young kids. Well....here is one of the ways I can do it...my "dreadmill". We have a love/hate relationship...I don't like having to run on the treadmill. I much prefer running outside. But...if it is pouring, or late, or there is a foot of snow on the ground...then the treadmill it is. Here it is, in all its glory.





Which brings me to my Friday Fav. I love to run outside best...but since my husband doesn't always have the most consistent schedule sometimes the only time I have to run is when I am home alone with the kiddies. This week's Friday Fav is......

My BOB double jogger!!!

I LOVE it. It easily fits both of my kids, rolls smoothly, turns on a dime, folds up to fit in my trunk, and has a space for a waterbottle and iPod....what more could I ask for? When I was first looking at double joggers I was a bit turned off by the price of this one. But..it was the only one that got consistently good reviews. So...I ordered it and LOVE it. Now that MissyMiss is in school, I usually have just Bubby with me. He uses her spot for snacks and toys.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Friday Fav!

I know you all have been looking forward to this all week...time for this week's Friday Fav! This week's is.....


Drum roll please...........


STARBUCKS!!!!

I can't help it...I just love that stuff!!!! My usual drink is "Tall, non-fat, no whip, no foam hot chocolate". I am rather embarrassed to admit that I am in there nearly every day! They actually know me by name.....they know my drink...they even know my kid's names!!! I know....I know...I have issues. It is just so yummy!

One time my husband, who despises Starbucks, drove through the drive-thru with me. We pulled up to the spot where you order (they have a camera there)...and the girl said "Hey Sarah...do you want you usual?" My husband turned to me and said "They know you???" Then...we pulled up to the widow to get my drink and the girl said "Hi MissyMiss and Bubby!!!" Hubby then turned to me with a look of shock and said "How often are you here???"

So..there you have it. If you like hot cocoa and haven't had it at Starbucks yet, try it for goodness sake!!! You won't be sorry. :)

Friday fav!

O.k....so I am about an hour early...but I have a crazy day tomorrow...so here it is, my Friday Fav! This week's is..........



King of Queens!!!!!!!!

I can't help it...I love that show! I didn't discover until after it was over, so now I have been collecting the seasons on DVD. So far, I have 6 of the 9. Part of the reason I love it is that I grew up on Long Island and hubby grew up in Queens. I have been to many of the places that are seen on the show...Lemon Ice King of Corona, Queens Center Mall, etc. I also love it because it is hysterical!

I just got seasons 1 and 3 from Amazon and have been getting little done at night, because I have been curling up the on the couch with my hot cocoa and laughing my tush off...if you have never seen the show before, give it a try! Hope you love it as much as me. :)

Friday Favs

So...I am starting something new today! Every Friday I will be doing a "Friday Favs" post. I will highlight one of my favorite things. I always love it when people say things like "This is my favorite recipe!", or "These are my favorite socks!". To be deemed a favorite, something must be pretty darn good.

So, here is my first Friday Fav...........

My Janome Sewing Machine! Here is a pic of it in all its sewing machine glory:



My wonderful husband surprised me with it this past fall! MissyMiss was in on the surprise and was so excited to give it to me. About 3 years ago, I decided that I wanted to learn to sew/quilt. I bought an inexpensive Brother machine from Wal-Mart and taught myself. Once I got really into it, I thought about an upgrade....and then my wonderful husband surprised me with one.

See the table the machine is sitting in...also a surprise from Hubby...for Mother's Day. He is so thoughtful...sometimes. :)



Below is a pic of my cutting table. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.


This awesome cabinet I got at a garage sale for $20! It is from Pier 1...it was marked $35, but they were starting to close up and I offered $20 and got it! It works great for organizing all of my little stuff and my scraps.


This is my fabric cabinet. It is a reproduction icebox that I got at a local furniture store...I LOVE it!






This is the cabinet opened up. Look at all that fabric!!! Sometimes I just open it and stare at it all. If I am having a bad day, it makes me happy just to look at all of my fabric...seriously.



This little shelf has all of my sewing/quilting books. Nothing fancy either...


Well...that is it for today. Tune in next week for my next Friday Fav!