Christmas 2012 Recap

I had SUCH a good Christmas season, y'all.  Season, not just day (though Christmas day was absolutely wonderful), because I had a week and a half of Christmas events.  When I was looking over my calendar to see what all had transpired I was blown away by the goodness and kindness of the Lord.  My heart was/is so so full.  Now, as my Scottish friends say, getting on with it...

Celebrating with Brookie!

We had Thai food!  And went to Aromas!  And had quality time!  Yay!
*The package decorating is part of the Black Friday wrapping party efforts--brown paper, stamps & yarn.  Wee!

Staff Christmas Party (Tuesday afternoon)
Catered by Momma's Boy, with a hilarious gift exchange.  Done and done.

School Christmas Party (Tuesday evening)
We had a pot-luck dinner party, and white elephant gift exchange.  I made my first caramel cake for this party.  I didn't know caramel was what it was to make, but I was way satisfied with the results.  The white elephant gift exchange was hilarious.  Best gift ever--a lightbulb, that at the end was paired with a bottle of wine.  Haha!

Moore's Christmas time (Wednesday evening)
I just love being with them.  That's all there is to say about that.

House Christmas (Thursday evening)
Tiff, Z & I had a fun Christmas celebration.  We picked up salads and exchanged presents.  We were going to be watching Home Alone, but present opening got in the way.  Here we are with some of our gifts...

As Brookie said, hot pants (for Tiff), hot strings (for Z), and hot home decor (for me).  Let's talk about this guitar for a second.

Z came home from Mozambique saying how much she wanted a guitar.  That's all she talked about wanting, etc.  I found one for super-cheap (AKA free), and went and bought all new accessories for it, a case, asked Kel to re-string it, etc.  And that all happened the first week of December.  We all didn't celebrate Christmas until almost Christmas.  That was a LOT of time keeping my mouth SHUT.  I almost caved numerous a few times, but I kept it in.  The night of present exchanging, Z and Tiff went to get the salads while I hid the guitar and put out a note leading her to the hiding place.  We ate, and then Z started with her presents.  She sees the note, goes running, and Tiff & I are so excited.  Then Z comes back downstairs, no guitar in hand.  I'm incredulous, and say, "did you look upstairs?!?!"  Z goes running back upstairs and we hear her squeal and we think "Finally!"  She comes back downstairs holding the guitar in its case and says, "you believe in me!  Wow, this is heavy for a case."  She.  still.  didn't.  know.  I sarcastically retort, "you know, it's not full of bricks."  She then realizes what's going on, there are a couple tears, and much squealing.

Admin Girls Christmas Party (Friday afternoon)
On Friday we had a Christmas party which also turned into a going away party for Emily at work.  It was the healthiest party ever!  We all brought a different item (I brought vegetable soup), and I organized a cookie exchange.  And there were presents.  Fun times!

Girls Group Christmas Party (Friday evening)
This group of us gathers on most Friday nights to hang out and pray, and this Friday we had a Christmas party!  Everyone brought 2 appetizers to share, I provided drinks, and we all brought a pair of earrings to play a gift exchange with.


And there was insane sugar induced fun picture taking.




Christmas Eve

•  Floyd's Brunch--Always love this time!

• Multiple services at work church (photo time)
• Christmas Eve at the Waffle House-yeah!

Christmas Day
Sweet-sweet-sweet time with my Athens families.  So blessed, and so thankful.

christmas home tour 2012

*This post was originally titled "christmas home tour 2013."  Dates foil me everywhere.

The decorating grinch in me is dying a slow death, and is almost dead!  This year I did more than the half-thought-out, poorly executed, lame showing for decorating I've done in the past and actually did something!    A foil in my decorating is that I thought that I actually had purchased some decorations last year in after Christmas sales, only to discover that I hadn't.  But, making the most with what I had...

the mantle
For my birthday I was given my first creche, which is from Germany and darling.  I love it.  On the stockings I hung a couple ornaments, including some book ornaments hand-made by Katie.  I am big on the idea of getting all-season items, so I picked up a couple of clear holders from the Dollar Tree, and filled them with red & gold ornaments.  On the staircase behind me I wrapped the banister with clear lights.  Yay, effort!

Also below is the slowly-diminishing pile of decorated presents.  On Black Friday I hang out with Mary W and we wrap our presents in brown paper and decorate them.  I really look forward to that fun time!

the butler/side-board/what-do-you-call-this?
I got a Christmas tree!  Well, sorta.  An allergy to real trees slowed me down in getting one, and for me I don't like fake ones, so rosemary it was!  It smelled delightful.  It would probably still be going strong if I'd actually remember to water it.  This piece of furniture is also where I post Christmas cards that come in.  I also have my cute little book tree that I learned to make from Erika.


the dining room
Or, as you can see, where all of the effort is concentrated in.  Ornaments on the hutch, festive napkins, etc.  I had a Christmas Party on Friday (pics to come), and it was so fun.
 

to claim or not claim.

On Sunday morning I had to go to work-church to well, work for a while.  Shoot some pictures, be an extra set of hands, etc.  All good things.  One task was to help with a reception and while greeting people I was asked something that I never really wanted to be asked.

"Do you work out at ?"

Oh gosh.  Y'all.  When I look around at the gym after I get done exercising, or even when I just walk in really, it's clear to see I'm not one of the "cute ones."  My (5 year old+) gym clothes rarely match and are a little threadbare at points.  Since it's at 6 or 7 a.m. when I'm there I certainly haven't washed my face, there is definitely no make-up on, and I usually have the funky top-knot going on to keep my hair of my neck so I won't have to wash it.  And the post-cardio work out diana--let's just say she's red and pouring sweat.

So when I'm asked "do you work out at " my first thought was, "ugh."  Fortunately, I don't think my moment of dread & panic showed on my face, and what came out of my mouth was a bright and perky, "Yes sir!."

Oy.

wisdom from my aunt, part one

While in the Bahamas my aunt and I had a lot of quality chat time, information sharing, et cetera.  

One thing that she shared with me was how to fall.  Not how to properly enjoy the fall season, nor how to keep from falling emotionally, but how to fall physically in a way that you won't get hurt.

Seriously.

She told me to just go with the fall--once you start going, keep going with it until you stop moving.  That when you catch yourself (or try to catch yourself) you hurt yourself.

Well, today I got to put that into practice.  I was helping boss man hang up Christmas lights in his office and I was standing on a chair.  I needed a few more inches so I went to hop up on the chair arm.  See where this is going?  I hop up with one foot and the chair starts flipping.  I drop the Christmas lights, and try to aim for the couch.  I fall into the couch but then bounce off of it, landing flat on my back on the floor.  Katherine who saw said demonstration said it was the most graceful fall ever.  I got up (with no bruises) before boss man was even off the couch end to make sure I wasn't broken.

Score one hundred for my aunt!

some favorite etsy spots

There is not a single thing decorated in my house, other than a heap of presents!  I absolutely LOVE giving gifts, and I wanted to share some of my favorite sites of where I've gotten them at, particularly Etsy shops.  I know that I went through a lot of blogs looking for Etsy shops, and I wanted to highlight some of my favorites, in case you're still looking for gifts!

My NUMBER ONE favorite Etsy store is linenlaid&felt, run by one of my BFFs Katie.  I've bragged on her a ton, referred her like crazy, and always know it's a good decision to get a gift from her (and to receive a gift from her).  The work is excellent and the products beautiful, and Katie is amazing.  You should go buy from her now.

Another Etsy find is Kristin, who makes baby teething necklaces.  I ordered a necklace and it looks so good!  I hope my SIL isn't reading this, because that may be what Georgia santa is delivering this year...

To thank some dear ladies for doing different events I selected some necklaces from this seller.  Because the necklaces come from South Korea they take a while to arrive (2 weeks or so instead of one), but they are beautiful and worth the wait!  I was (am) so pleased with them.