A little sap for the holidays

Hubby and I went to see P.S. I love you last night. I know, I know... I drag him to chick flicks all the time, but this one started at 7 and that was really the time we wanted to go and Juno isn't on here yet. While it's a little predictable at times, it really was a sweet and charming movie. I may be a little emotional right now, but I did find myself tearing up from time to time.


I have also found a new guy to add to my list! Hubby told me that since I was now married, the list had to be closed for new additions, but anyway. Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Apparently, he's been on Grey's, but I've missed him. I don't use this term much, but he's hot.

So, if you're looking for a good cry or a good chick flick, go see it.

Ready for Spring

My little purchase at Williams-Sonoma has me ready for Spring! Well, crap. The ones I bought aren't available on their website. Any way, picture these pot holders, but in a bright yellow, green, and white stripe. I have old ones that have seen better days & I believe caught on fire once or twice. Also, if they are sampling their lemon poppy seed cake with lemon curd, try it. So yummy.

The holidays were busy - my parents leave tomorrow after a week long visit, we traveled to visit Hubby's family for Christmas, and have been enjoying some time off from work and much needed R&R. We had dinner at one of our favorite Italian places tonight - good bread with olive oil of course, and I enjoyed the smoked chicken ravioli with tomato cream sauce. Yum again.

Merry Christmas!

The packages are wrapped, stockings are hung,and my family is here. We're off tomorrow for more family & holiday fun.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a New Year full of joy and happiness!

Love,
Susan, Hubby, Zeus & Zoe

Blogger hates me

I have a nice little holiday post to share, but I haven't been able to upload pictures. Hmmmmm.

So, I did remember milk for my cereal today.
I am on the major countdown of 3 days until vacation and I'm hoping that we leave early on Friday.
My parents arrive on Friday as well - first time to see the new house and then we will all travel together to my inlaws (first time we've all been together since the wedding).
Cards are mailed.
Some presents bought, but if I can ever post a picture of my tree, you will see that nothing is wrapped & underneath!
It's finally cold like it should be in December, but of course now it's fa-reezing and rainy outside.

Hopefully, a holiday post later today.

I need a vacation

Blogger ate my last post, I sat down to eat my cereal & had forgotten to add the milk. I need a vacation and it can't get here soon enough!

White Elephant

Do you guys play White Elephant? Today is our holiday work luncheon and we have all been asked to bring a wrapped, untagged present. The gift should be something that we already own - nothing that you have to go out and buy. It's really fun - everyone chooses a number and that is the order in which you choose your gift. From there, you can steal a gift, pick a new present, etc. It makes for loads of entertainment and a few good laughs.

I decided that the wrapping should really look good, so people would really want to choose my present.

The actual gift is a regift... sorry Aunt M., if you're reading... It's a Santa shaped cookie jar. We didn't personally love it, but hopefully one of my co-workers will!

Menu ideas?

I'm throwing a little birthday party for Hubby this Saturday. Big 37! Whoo! I'm keeping it simple - heavy h'or dourves, wine, beer, etc. I feel like I need one more substantial dish & another vegetarian/light dish. (Clearly not for Hubby - he's anti-vegetarian, but for our friends).

Here's what I have so far...
Paula Deen's sausage cups - phyllo dough cups filled with a mixture of sausage, ranch dressing, cheese, olives, etc... baked in the oven. Yummy.
Paula Deen's cheesy shrimp on grit cakes - small grit cakes topped with shrimp, cheese & probably butter. Have never made them, but sound wonderful.
Meatballs - the not so secret, secret family recipe - the sauce is chili paste and grape jelly. Delish.
Crudites - or as my mama used to say, a relish tray
Red Velvet Cake from our favorite bakery
Crack rock aka Cookie candy, a favorite sweet with chocolate, toffee, butter, and sugar

Any ideas? I'm looking for relatively easy and yummy. Please post any of your ideas in the comments and I will happily share all recipes in one collective post. Thanks for your help!

This "winterlike" weather...

Isn't it wrong that my car thermometer read 80 degrees today? Hello!?! It's December 11 - it should be cold and crisp and I should be singing Christmas carols. Nope, I was driving around with my windows down hearing Sheryl Crow's "All I wanna do is have some fun."I realize it's North Carolina, but still. So, so wrong!

I'm becoming one of "those" moms...

Our Christmas card photo this year is just of the dogs. My mom told me that no one really wanted to see just a picture of just them, but I really don't think that anyone wants to see a picture of Hubby and I after he's had the marathon day of raking leaves and yard work, and I have had the marathon day of dropping off a rack full of clothes to the Bargain Box, shopping at Lowe's, the local nursery/garden store, a trip to two different Target's, and a visit to Michael's. Oh, and both of us sans shower!

I thought they both looked particularly handsome and posed very well, until our neighbors guests to a baby shower started leaving, but that's another story.

Zeus & Zoe wish everyone a Merry Christmas, in advance!

Channeling my inner Martha

I have this little craft project that I wanted to do last year, but never got around to it. So, this year, I've started collecting....

Can you guess what it will be? Obviously, I need to visit Starbucks more frequently if I want to finish. I feel a grande non-fat sugar free vanilla latte in my future!

Tree & Weekend Update

Just to let y'all know, I've used 10 strands of lights and just sent Hubby to Target to buy 4 or 5 more. I like a lit tree - my mother was always the Christmas Tree nazi & would do a "squint test" on her trees. This was some kind of scientific method that she developed to determine if you had enough lights on your tree. I think when you squint and you don't have any holes aka dark spots, then you're OK. And, she never let us kids decorate the tree, but that's another session!

We had a good weekend - very nice to getaway and the place we stayed is gorgeous and crawling with history. We were lucky to have a room in the Main Inn that is also the original part. You take a elevator, complete with attendant, that is literally built inside of the grandiose 14-foot fireplaces. This was done to conceal noise and they are still used today.

Here were a few pictures of the room - love the little details. While not very large, the working windows are a plus. We loved all of the craftsman style furniture. The room picture really doesn't do it justice, but should give an idea.

On Saturday afternoon, we found this great little wine bar where I found a great Spanish wine called Heredad Sol i Terra and Hubby found a new Belgian beer called Leffe Blonde. Both were great and probably our new favorites.

It was a relaxing weekend - a little shopping, eating, drinking, and a pedicure to round things off.

Big A** Tree

Our friend's dad brought our Christmas tree back from Western NC last Sunday, but we finally had time to bring it in the house this afternoon. Oh. My. God. This tree is huge. Since we moved, we wanted to have a "larger" tree for our back den, but I think we overestimated a tad. Of course, my batteries died when I was trying to snap pictures of Hubby and Friend tackling this sucker, but I hope these capture the size a bit.

I think a trip to buy additional lights is in store, because I think what we have will only cover about half. Wish me luck that Hubby doesn't kill me over the course of this week when we actually decorate the thing!

Hubby is on the floor, while B holds her steady.




Without the tree mesh bag... waiting on the limbs to drop.

We're off...

The "Z" dogs are headed to doggie camp, and we're headed here in the moutains. Hubby has a conference and I'm going to play. Have a great weekend!

Oh Saint Joseph, we love you.

We listed our house about two months ago and accepted an offer on Sunday. Whoo-hoo! When we first listed, I ordered a Saint Joseph statue on eBay and buried him like the instructions said. Now, I'm not Catholic, so I probably haven't said my prayer every day (forgive me, I'm Methodist - we do everything in moderation), but I guess it's been enough to work.

I hope Saint Joseph will see us through a clean inspection and our January closing.

Le Mutt R.I.P.

I've had a Le Mutt dog since I was a little girl. He has survived many a hug, pre-teen tear, and several boxes that he was sequestered to when it wasn't "cool" to be seen with a floppy-eared stuffed dog.

This morning, I walked into a crime scene. Unfortunately, most of the scene was vacuumed before I had a chance to properly document it.

Exhibit A: An ear with stuffing strewn on the floor.

Exhibit B: Poor Le Mutt shows signs of attacks on both legs and also the missing ear.

The Accused: Zoe D., age 3.5, loves swimming, squirrel chasing, and napping on hvac vents.

The Accomplice: Zeus D., age 3.5, loves belly rubs, barking at innocent by passers, and sun baths.

The Verdict: While there has been no official confession from the accused, upon initial questioning, the accused actually took Le Mutt into her mouth again and returned to the crime scene. She was also found with stuffing in her fur. With this type of behavior, we have no doubt as to guilt of the accused. Showing little remorse for her victim, she has since taken a nap, eye-balled a turkey sandwich, and looked slightly guilty when receiving behind-the-ear scratches.

Why?

Why can I not find the picture that my mom took of Hubby & I after running the Half Marathon this April? Mom has not yet caught on to digital photography, so I'm actually looking for the sleeve of negatives! Our plan was to use the photo for our Christmas cards this year, so it would be most helpful if this picture and little plastic sleeve of negatives appeared.... I'm not sure if it could have anything to do with the fact that we packed, moved, and still have an assortment of boxes in various stages of unpacking that could be the reason. Hmmmmm. I'm off to search another drawer. Wish me luck!

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

My pies didn't turn out nearly this pretty, but hopefully will still taste yummy.

Short week

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is my "Friday". We have a 1/2 day at work, followed by an office luncheon at a great Italian restaurant as a treat. Our boss figured that since most of us would have a traditional southern Thanksgiving, it would be a nice to have a little rigatoni before the annual Thursday feast.

Other than that, I am baking two pumpkin pies to take to the In laws for Thursday, cleaning the house for a visit from our friends tomorrow evening, possibly taking a walk in this crazy 70 degree weather we've been having, and hopefully getting a manicure. I've totally copied Giada and started wearing Bubble Bath by OPI. I love it. I used to be a Catch the Garter gal, but I think this one is more neutral. Yes, I had always wondered what color Giada's nails are painted, because they always look so good. I googled it and found a great blog where a girl had met her at a book signing & asked the shade. So smart!

Why Hubby hearts Swoozie's

Our 2-year anniversary was last Monday and Hubby, being the ever so thoughtful Hubby that he is gave me a gift that I've been asking about for a while.... (oh, and he's a good listener) A stationery embosser, with our new name and most recently our new address.

When I opened my gift, I found an embosser and a nice note from the employee at Swoozie's explaining that my actual embosser was late - that they were sorry, but it would arrive shortly. Apparently, Hubby and strong-armed the employee, telling her that he couldn't show up gift less on his anniversary, so the employee wrapped up the store model & included a hand written note. A nice touch.

The embosser arrived on Friday, so Hubby stopped by and picked it up. Excited to try it out, I immediately found some scrap paper and began embossing... to find out that while our name was right, they also had our last name listed as our street address. Hmmmm.

Needless to say, Hubby paid another visit to Swoozie's on Saturday - again, more apologizing, and they said the new one (with the right address) should arrive next week. Let's hope. I will say with all of the mix-ups, they have been extremely apologetic and accommodating... I'm just glad it's not the week that I'm mailing out Christmas cards! This is what it will look like!

Organization

Just spent the last 2 hours putting away summer clothes, and separating the other clothes into throw-away, consignment store, and thrift store for the Junior League piles, oh and the pile to actually hang up in the closet or put into drawers. I really put a lot into the giveaway piles, which makes me feel good, but also feel like I need to shop! I did pick up a few things over the weekend...This outfit, but I won't tuck the turtleneck into the skirt (ewww) and I'll probably throw on a blue jean jacket as well. I also found another skirt and top from a little boutique without a website for photos.

Since Hubby and I moved into the new house, 2 months ago, I've kind of been living out of a clothes basket, a dresser that is downstairs and a few other stacks in between. Pain in the ass, so I finally decided to do something about it.

We have decided that while we have ample closet space in the two upstairs bedroom closets, the space is kind of awkward and really needs California Closets or some similar business to tell us what to do. Our house was built in '39, and our bedroom is in what used to be the attic, so about 1/2 the closet is at an angle. There is a long pole and one shelf, but nothing else. I think I failed the spatial relations portion on the ACT, so I really need someone else to figure out how to arrange it. Since we aren't using the other upstairs bedroom closet, I went ahead and set up my stuff in that one until we figure out the master. Fun & games, I tell you!