Here Comes Santa Claus

I love giving Christmas gifts. I love finding the "perfect" gift for someone, and the creativity of putting the gifts together. I think that's why I've participated in the Secret Santa Soiree for the past three years. Georgie always does such an amazing job administering the process and I've had a blast with it.

This year was no exception.

She organized it a bit differently this year. Instead of blogging about what we RECEIVED, this year we were to blog about what we GAVE. How fun! I hope my recipient enjoys what I chose for her! She should be getting it by Tuesday, if "neither rain, nor sleet, nor SNOW, nor dead of night..." well, you get the idea!

Like me, she's a lover of pink, so I decided to make pink the holiday color this year!


She's up in the northwest, so I'm sure she'll be needing so warm winter gloves, in lovely pink and white!


After a day in the cold, she'll love a hot shower with some vanilla shower gel and pink bath scrubbies!


After relaxing in the shower, who couldn't use a little chocolate pick-me-up. In this case, her fave is chocolate and peanut butter...M & M's to be specific!


When decorating for Christmas, everyone needs a little angel watching over her!


And finally, since we're so close to turning the last page on the calendar, I thought she'd like to ring in 2011 with a new year calendar!

Hope she enjoys my gift as much as I enjoyed putting it together! Thanks to Georgie for putting together another festive and fabulous Secret Santa Soiree! :)

The Road to...

Greetings from the Diva Household where Things 1, 2, and 3 (with a little help from Princess the Wonder Dog) have turned our normally semi-chaotic home into complete, utter madness.

While we were all still adjusting to the arrival of Little Darth (uhm, yeah, back in OCTOBER), the holidays decided to creep up on us and land firmly in our home, trampling our precious routines to bits.

I had every intention of blogging daily weekly semi-regularly while on my leisurely maternity leave. As you can tell by my PLETHORA of postings since October 1st, when Little Darth arrived, I have FAILED miserably at that!

I had every intention of organizing my closet while on my leisurely maternity leave. I am SO not showing you pictures of my closet. Let's just call that a big fat FAIL as well. The good news, however, for when I actually get around to doing that particular task, is that I've lost all of my baby weight and am down 10+ pounds from my pre-baby weight, which means I'll be ditching quite a bit of clothing weight as well. Woo-hoo!

I had every intention of taking lots of pictures of Little Darth and his big brothers while on my leisurely maternity leave. You know that theory about having progressively fewer pictures of the children as your family grows. True statement, that. And the whole taking more pics thing? FAIL. So much so that Diva Nana asked if she was EVER going to get a new picture of Little Darth.

So this mass chaos in the Diva Household? I'm blaming it on the big plans I had for my leisurely maternity leave. As the saying goes, "The road to you-know-where is paved with good intentions."

My advice for all of you new moms and soon-to-be new moms? Make no plans, large or small for your "leisurely maternity leave". Just watch your kiddo(s) grow, and enjoy the quiet.

Hopefully your road will end in a far less chaotic place! :)

Men (and Women) at Work (or not)

Labor Day has become one of those holidays that nobody really understands. Frankly, I don't think I was ever really TAUGHT the origins or history of the holiday. For most Americans, it's simply become a date that marks the symbolic end of summer, the time to close up summer homes, close down swimming pools, and pack the white shoes away for the winter.

I guess it's good that we have a long weekend to allow us to do all that, even though for those of us in the midwest, we're as likely to have an 85 degree day throughout September as we are to have 60 and 70 degree days.

Kids get a day off school, parents get a day off work. The federal government shuts down and the US Postal Service doesn't deliver or pick up mail.

I suppose if I'd grown up in a union family, I may have a better appreciation for the meaning of the holiday, but then again, who knows.

Clearly they're still not teaching kids the reason for the school holiday.

Yesterday The Tweenager asked if he had to empty the dishwasher on Monday, since it was Labor Day and nobody had to work.

Diva Nana told him "Sure! But then your mom doesn't have to work at all either. No cooking, no laundry, no cleaning."

I think I'd like a Labor Day like that.

Wordless Wednesday: Everyone's Irish Today!

This one will have you crying tears of laughter into your green beer today!

Overstimulation

I'm finally to the point where looking at my Christmas pictures doesn't give me the cold shakes.

You know what I'm talking about, right? I mean, I love Christmas. Love it. But frankly, it's stressful. So I take the pictures, then don't look at them again until my Christmas decorations are packed safely away until next year.

Of course, that means that half of the toys you'll see in the following pictures are probably down in the land of forgotten toys playroom already.

Just kidding.

These pics are actually some pre-Christmas celebrating with our nieces. Here is our youngest niece, Cutie Pie, with DH. She was fascinated by DH's train around our tree.


Once The Manimal realized that someone else had captured Daddy's attention, he quickly tried to capture Daddy...

...and the spotlight.

SS#1 isn't really defying gravity here. For some reason, Blogger decided to rotate my picture.

Our older niece, The Amazing B., took some time to work on a craft. Just like her Auntie, that one! :)
Thanks to my wonderful Aunt J., a lovely Diva herself, we had some TO DIE FOR, chocolate ice cream over the holidays. If you like chocolate ice cream, you absolutely MUST get your hands on the Zanzibar Chocolate from The Chocolate Shoppe. It's not in any way healthy. In fact, their nutritional information disclaimer reads as follows:

"Don't even ask. This is the best ice cream made in Wisconsin, and it tastes so good because it has gobs of rich Wisconsin cream, tons of real ingredients for boat-loads of luscious flavors. This means it's not low-fat, low-calorie, or low-anything, and that's why everyone loves it. You want nutrition, eat carrots!"

The Manimal demonstrated our collective love of this ice cream.

I got to display one of my favorite Christmas decorations this year. My Grams (mom extraordinaire to Auntie J. and Diva Nana, as well as two fabulous Uncles) made this ceramic Christmas village.

Princess the Wonder Dog even got to celebrate with her gift from "The Bacon Lady" (aka Diva Nana).

Diva Nana has a loathing dislike is not especially fond of dogs. Princess, of course, sensed this right away and took a liking to her. One day when Diva Nana was cooking breakfast, she was feeling generous and gave PTWD a piece of bacon.

The "liking" became a full-blown obsession, and Diva Nana has joked ever since that PTWD must smell bacon every time she sees my mom.

While I love to take pictures, I don't often get the "wow" shot. This is SS#1 opening our family gift, a Wii (Papa & Diva Nana got us the Wii Fit Plus to go with it).


A very intense game of "Hungry, Hungry Hippos" between The Manimal and DH.


Did you know that while you are playing H3, you must yell "HUNGRY, HUNGRY HIPPOS" at the top of your lungs?

It's a rule.

Or so I've been told by a very bossy knowledgeable nearly four year old.

Preschool board games are great for venting one's frustration. Witness our resident police officer and his Whack-a-Mole game.


Be warned, though. Venting one's frustration can also be painful.

Or maybe it was just a massive case of overstimulation.

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

Let the stable still astonish:
Straw ~ dirt floor, dull eyes,
Dusty flanks of donkeys, oxen;
Crumbling, crooked walls;
No bed to carry that pain,
And then, the child,
Rag-wrapped, laid to cry
In a trough.
Who would have chosen this?
Who would have said: “Yes,
Let the God of all the heavens and earth
Be born here, in this place?
Who but the same God
Who stands in the darker, fouler rooms
Of our hearts
And says, “Yes,
Let the God of Heaven and Earth
Be born here ~
In this place.

~Leslie Leyland Fields

Six Word Saturday

Third weekend of Advent. Still preparing.

Many Thanks

(image courtesy of mediabistro.net)

I'm proud to say that I'm an Air Force brat. My dad served his country for twenty years. That experience gives me empathy for all those who grow up in military families. When mom or dad serves, the whole family serves.

It also gives me a strong sense of patriotism. Today we honor all of the men and women who have served and continue to serve in defense of our country. Whether in wartime or peacetime, at home or abroad, we thank you.

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~Cynthia Ozick

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them. ~Chinese Proverb

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot. ~Gary Hart

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thanks to all veterans, and especially to my favorite veteran of all...

Tuesday Top Ten

It's not Letterman's Top Ten, but welcome to Ten on Tuesday!

Ten Fabulously Easy Holiday Decorating Tips

1. We'll start with one of my favorite holiday centerpieces ever! Find an inexpensive cut glass bowl or glass trifle dish (often already living in your kitchen or pantry) like this:


and fill it with glass/plastic ball ornaments like these:
2. Do you love holiday wall decals like these? Me too! Unfortunately, we'd rather not spend that kind of money on them. Check out Walmart, Target and your local grocery stores. I found some smaller Christmas themed decals for...are you ready for this?

$2.00 each!

3. If you're having guests for the holidays, try to put a bit of the holidays in every room. In our powder room, I have a square laurel wreath with a brown velvet ribbon. During the holidays, I put red berry picks in the wreath. Before our guest room was otherwise occupied with a certain preschooler, our holiday guests enjoyed small candle groupings and holiday potpourri on the bedside table.

4. Stock up on Command Strips and Hooks. Trust me on this one. It will make your holiday decorating SO much easier!

5. Decorating is much more fun if you set the mood. A nice cup of cocoa or glass of wine, along with some fabulous background music will really make for an enjoyable time. I'm partial to a nice sparkling moscato and one of these new Christmas music collections:


6. Let the kids help. When I was little, Diva Nana used to let Baby Brother and I make window decorations. We'd draw and color to our hearts' content, then she'd tape the snowmen, candy canes and Christmas trees in the front window. They may not have made the cut for Pottery Barn or Martha Stewart, but we loved them and loved that we got to help!

7. Take a bow. You'll be taking bows after you show off your incredible bow-making skills. Several years ago I happened to be in a Container Store where they were giving holiday bow-making classes. That fifteen minute class and some practice with wired ribbon has served me well over the years. Pre-made bows are pricey, and it's amazing how some sale ribbon can be transformed into beautiful bows for stairwells, mantles, gifts, wreaths and more! Check out your local Michael's or Hobby Lobby, or ask a florist friend for their secrets!

8. Go back in time. Have a hot air popcorn popper in the depths of your cabinets? Pull it out and make some popcorn garlands. Be sure to use a fairly fine needle and make LOTS of popcorn, so you've got enough to string, even if some breaks. If you're really ambitious, alternate with cranberries or even red beads.

9. Remember your outdoor friends. Make some popcorn bird feeders with pinecones, peanut butter and birdseed. Hang them with some red string and deck the outdoor halls!

10. Pick up an inexpensive solid color tablecloth for everyday use. Even if, like me, your china doesn't match and you tend to use paper napkins, and your cuisine is more Rachel Ray than Julia Child, everything is a bit more festive when served with a tablecloth!

Happy Decorating!

Deck the Halls

I love to think about holiday decorating.

Yes.

THINK about holiday decorating.

With recent economic circumstances in the Diva Family, we've not had a lot of extra cash, and let's just say that things like a working refrigerator take precedence over pretty decorations.

I also love being artsy-craftsy. Stores like Michael's and Joann's call out to me with their siren song of pretty papers, inks, beads and glass ornaments.

Enter Etsy.

For those of you who aren't crafty, have been living under a virtual rock or have your computer time limited by your Club Penguin-addicted children may not be familiar with this incredible site, it's basically an online shopping mall of handmade treasures.

I've made two Etsy purchases and absolutely love them both! One was a mother's bracelet from Nina Gibson Designs, and one was my beloved Beatrice from Siansburys.

Recently I discovered another Etsy Shop that combines my love of decorating with my love of all things artsy craftsy.

My friend Bumblebee makes these absolutely gorgeous garlands. They're made of heavy paper and STITCHED onto the string! None of this gluey, sticky, come-off-the string cheap paper garland stuff for her!

Look at this darling Princess/Diva garland. I may have to buy it and put it in my office!


And this party pennant garland would be sooooo cute for a party or get-together!



And can't you just see these sweet little blue butterflies flitting around a little girl's room or kids' playroom?


And the best part is the price. Right now no garland in her shop is more than $10! Very affordable on the home/holiday decor budget!

Go check out Bumblebee's shop on Etsy and pick up one of her garlands for yourself!