Warning: This Blogger is not a decorating aficianado

Yay for Christmas Trees! Last year we opted to get a fake super amazing tree that doesn't need water! I never remember to water. This tree looked amazing (and big) last year in our super tiny(old old navy housing) dwelling. This year, with the wonderfully tall ceilings, the tree looks mighty small.

On another note, every other day of the year, I am so very thankful that we don't have windows (downstairs) in the front of our house. This is especially nice when you have a dog that likes to gaze out the window waiting for things to bark at. All the windows for our house (and every other house) are on the side, and only ONE side. (Do not worry, I have a many beautiful windows at the back of my house for lots of natural light).  I have two side of house windows in my dining room, and because of fence placement outside of the house, one window is "inside" the fence, and one window is "outside" the fence. This Christmas tree is conspicuously placed in the "outside" window, and looks marvelous from the outside. Yay for sharing holiday happiness!

Presents have yet to migrate to their designated location, but I will be happy to share my address with anyone who would like to add something to this photo. We have barely begun our Christmas shopping this year. Though, we have good ideas of what everyone is getting. The husband wants video games !?! What to do about that? I have mostly requested some quilty books this year, and I tried to explain to the husband that the beautiful custom bundles form Fabric Worm would look beatiful under the tree, no wrapping required.....

Do you think if I put a "job" on my Santa List year that Santa has any pull with that?

Best Christmas Movie Ever

The husband and I discovered that this movie was not present in our movie collection, so we got it this weekend, and watched it last night. We were surprised to see that Johnny Galecki was in this movie. I have seen this move a hundred times, but never really noticed him. We have been watching The Big Bang Theory recently, so it was interesting to see Galecki SO FREAKING YOUNG in the Vacation role. As we have also recently gone through the entire Everybody Loves Raymond series, we also noticed the wonderful and magnificent Doris Roberts.

It doesn't matter how many times I watch it, I cannot help but cracking up!

My next all around favorite is "While you were sleeping" with Sandra Bullock. She is just so goofy, and she is just so lovable! I was recently trying to tell the husband that this is a Christmas movie, since it centers around the Christmas Holiday. The husband says the requirement for anything to be "labeled" as a Christmas movie is the the "presence of a mystical being" or something ridiculous like that. WYWS doesn't count, according to him, since there is no Santa Clause.

And, last but not least, my favorite version of a Christmas Carol is the Muppet Christmas Carol. Who doesn't love Kermit?

What is your favorite Christmas movie, and/or favorite version of a Christmas Carol?

Armistice Day

Armistice Day is on November 11 and commemorates the peace agreement signed to mark the beginning of the end of WW1. This  took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. Veterans Day is an American holiday, but the rest of the world (Europe, at the least) will call it Armistice day.

Lately I have been reading some fun books about Queen Victoria, the Romanovs, the Kaiser, and many other subjects of this era. My recent interest was first peaked after watching the movie The Young Victoria. It certainly is a marvelous story, but it becomes even more amazing after digging a little deeper into the true story.

My genealogy interests were also peaked because I have German ancestors that emigrated in the late 1800's and the husband's ancestors were living the pre WW1 struggles daily in Russia. History is such a facinating topic, but it becomes even more awesome to think about how you could possibly be different because of how history treated your great great grandparents.

When you hear the name the Romanov, everyone thinks of Anastasia. If you are smarter than a fifth grader, you might possibly remember that her father's name was Nicolas. Everyone vaguely remembers that they were victims of a brutal murder, but do you know about the Tsars that came before? Do you know what horrible things left the Russian population feeling as they did? The decades before WW1 were filled with all sorts of turmoil, and its amazing how understanding these conflics can lead to a great appreciation of the struggles we don't face in 2010.

In a way, its "cool" to support the troops. For some its "cool" to not support the troops. But however you choose to mark November 11th this year, take this opportunity to learn more about the event that marks this date, and perhaps some history of your own.

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas....

Everywhere I go....well, the husband and I are in PA this week, and all the stores are starting to bring out the Christmas goodies and decorations. I love this time of year, everything seems so happy! My favorite thing to do is bring out my holiday music, even when the artists all play the same fifteen songs in the same way, I never get tired. What is your favorite part of the holiday season? Could it be the baking, wrapping presents, unwrapping presents? Love to hear it!

The Quest for Cinnabon....

I have been craving a cinnabon for a while now. This was originally satisfied very briefly with  Grands Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls w/ Cinnabon Icing, but only with the knowledge that a drive by the Vince Lombardi service station on I-95 would have Cinnabons waiting for me. This plan went to the dogs when we opted for the Tappan Zee Bridge instead of the George Washington Bridge from New York to New Jersey. When we finally made it back to I95 we were well passed the Vince Lombardi. I am sure there were other stops on the NJ Turnpike that was host to a Cinnabon, but it was not the one we stopped at for gas on Monday night, and there certainly were not going to be any other stops before we arrived at our destination.

Tuesday was the day we planned to finish our Christmas shopping. We chose the mall that I remembered hosting a Cinnabon. Though it was no longer present at the Willow Grove Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

Cinnamon rolls are deeply ingrained in my holiday traditions. When I was younger, the family would always sit down for a good holiday movie on Christmas Eve, with an assortment of holiday treats. This assortment always included cinnamon rolls with yummy icing. In recent years we have always picked up a Cinnabon on the way down to his parents house.

On Saturday we trekked down to Baltimore to see David, Becca, and Lucy. We did see a service station that contained the very elusive, warm, and sticky Cinnabon, but we had no plans to stop. We were also on our way to a very yummy Carraba's dinner, so we drove passed. With the traffic (averaging about 30mph) had to drive by many signs very, very slowly.

Today we will venture out again. These our the three closest options.

Plaza @ King of Prussia
160 N. Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-337-9880

Gallery Satellite
9th & Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-0838

Gallery @ Market East 1101 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 592-8551

Thoughts of future Thanksgivings

My favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving is Snowy Mashed Potatoes. They are yummy and smooth. And so far I have always been able to just contribute these to the meal. I will be in poor shape on some day in the future when I am responsible for making the entire meal. Do you think the husband will mind if I make just potatoes?

So really now...today I am making a couple things.

I was assigned Potatoes (because my friends know how much I love these) and Apple Dessert. I am going the extra mile to make Candy Bar Fudge Jumbles (think oatmeal cookie, chocolate, an candy bar pieces all mixed up into one delectable dessert. I am also making spinach dip. This is not so bad though, because it is a crock pot dish. It takes about 15 minutes to prep all the ingredients and then it cooks it self.

I am thankful today that I have wonderful family that misses me. I am thankful for friends who invite me to join their family festivities.I am thankful that though my husband is not here to share the meal, he is happy, healthy, and will return home soon. My heart goes out to the many families who will never get to share the holiday with their soldiers or sailors or loved ones.

A Gloomy Turkey Day

Since we started dating, Drew missed our very first Thanksgiving, and that was all. I will miss him. This will be Thanksgiving for friends and no family this year. I send warm wishes  and happy thoughts out to those who don't get to be with their sweetie on this Thanksgiving day. I will be thankful good health and good friends, and hopefully the husband's quick return!