7th day of Christmas

Rejoice!  Today is the last day for birds...or for THE birds.  :)

7 swans-a-swimming.  Swans-a-swimming are a picture of beauty and peace and tranquility.  Corner a swan or get near its babies...2 words:  DANGER! DANGER!

6th Day of Christmas

Six geese a-laying...AND WE ARE BACK TO THE BIRDS AGAIN!!!!!  Could my True Love not wait another day before sending me six geese...and not only are they geese but they are geese a-laying.  Have you ever been around a momma goose when she has eggs in her nest? 
A. Geese are not normally happy birds.
B. Momma geese are extremely protective.

I just can't quite figure out why there needs to be geese...geese a-laying at that.  (Sigh.)

Why not six mugs of cocoa...or six pretty roses...or six woolen socks...

4th and 5th Days of Christmas

Puffs Plus w/Lotion, Echinacea & Elderberry, gf chicken noodle soup, Vicks Vapo-rub, and a fabulous vitamin C smoothie drink.  Yep, that's how I spent my 4th and 5th days of Christmas.  No calling birds.  Not even an inkling of anything golden.  Even my personality was lacking in dazzle and sparkle. 

Friday night I forced myself to go and get groceries even though my throat was hurting and my head was pounding.  Thankfully Woodman's was not busy and I was to get in-and-out in less than a 30 minutes.  I'm not particularly fond of grocery shopping when I am sick...mostly because I just want to be home and in my jammies with a mug of soup.  (Sigh.)

Friday night - after grocery shopping - is somewhat of a blur.  I know I managed to watch an episode of two of PBS's Downton Abbey. 

Saturday morning I had to arise from my slumber and take Rosie to get her tire fixed.  According to the little service man at Toyota, I had impaled the tire with a nail.  I must've looked absolutely pitiful in my sick condition as service took pity on me and fixed the tire for free.  Since I was out and bundled-up, I went to Walgreens and looked for some homeopathic cold medicine.  My co-worker claims Walgreens sells something natural that would help me feel better.  Well, I wasn't finding it...so I went back and asked the pharmacist.  I've heard that you can do this...but I've never actually asked a pharmacist.  She was quite helpful and directed me echinacea and extra vitamin C.  [Did you know that for optimum echinacea benefits, you should take 1-2 capsules three times a day for about 2 weeks?  And don't take it longer than 8 weeks straight without a rest period because it will inhibit your immune system.  Never I did know!!!]  I wasn't impressed with the Walgreens echinacea selection so I ventured across the street to the vitamin store.  They had what I was looking for - echinacea & elderberry - apparently they are a dynamic duo. 

By this point in the day, my jammies were calling my name.  My head was starting to pound again.  I ventured home, donned my jammies, and enjoyed a 4.5 hour slumber.  Have you ever taken a nap in the middle of a winter's day and arose from your slumber when it was dark...and then you begin to worknder, Is it evening?  Or did I sleep the entire day away and it's morning?  Happened to me.  I woke-up and it was dark out.  Was it evening or morning?  A quick date/time check on my cellphone told me that it was still Saturday and 5 p.m. 

Thankfully I didn't sleep the entire day away...

Super sweet present

My two favorite co-workers bought me a chronological Bible.  I cannot wait to read through the Bible in chronological order this next year. 

On the Third Day of Christmas...

Three French hens.

Goodness.  More fowl.

I think on this 3rd day of Christmas, I would prefer three warm cups of coffee.  Coffee because you have to sit and enjoy its warmth.  You cannot just get a mug-full and drink it like you would a bottle of water.  Soooo today could be 3 cups of coffee & 3 hours of conversation.  I like that idea.

I like it a lot.

On the Second Day of Christmas...

Two turtle doves.  Hmmmm...since I have no need of feathered doves, I was wondering if I could exchange them for two pieces of Dove dark chocolate...

Also, on this fabulous 2nd day of Christmas, I got to see my sweet friend who now resides in the mitten state.  It was such a delightful little visit.  Oh, how I miss her.

On the First day of Christmas...

All I wanted was a cup of Gloria Jean's coffee...instead...well, here's what happened.

Last night I hurried to get to the Gloria Jean's coffee at the tollway travel plaza.  Upon arriving at said coffee establishment, I noticed the black cord was draped across the entrance.  The barista behind the counter was closing up shop. 

Me:  "Hi.  Are you closed?"
Gloria Jean's Barista:  "Yes."
Me:  "I called yesterday and was informed that you were open until 8 p.m."
GJB:  "That is correct."
Me (glancing at my watch):  "But it's only 7:20."
GJB:  "8:20 actually."
Me:  "DRAT!!!!  This Eastern Time Zone gets me EVERY time!!!  Stink!"  (Smallish pause...)  "Merry Christmas!"

Merry Christmas!!!

This morning we got up at 7 a.m.  Not quite the 5 a.m. from our youth...but 7 a.m. is respectable.  :)

Turning to Luke 2 and thoughts of the birth of our Lord has made me mindful of His sacrifice to come to earth and live a sinless life...to know NO sin and yet He choose to die on the cross for my sins (and for your sins too!).  He did not have to do this - He is God of the universe and He could've sent something else in His place...yet He didn't.  His great love for us is truly a gift...a gift wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve in Hudson, Michigan

After doing some Christmas Eve shopping and getting our $10 gift cards for the gift card exchange, Bryan and I bundled-up and braved the 30ish degree temps to snap some outside pictures.

 

My favorite part was that the snow had begun to fall and it was those big, fluffy flakes.  What a wonderful Christmas Eve chillin' with my brother.

 

Movie Night

Dark chocolate...

Homemade Vanilla Pomegranate Sugar Scrub

Have I mentioned HOW MUCH I love Pinterest!!!!

Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownies...thanks Betty Crocker!!!

Maggie is more concerned about her beauty sleep...

Chicken Tortilla Soup



A SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I was given the most fabulous Christmas present....a SNOW DAY tomorrow!!!!!  For real - we were given the day off tomorrow because of the blizzardish conditions making their way eastward toward Rockford. 

How fabulous is a SNOW DAY...especially when you are a grown-up.

Tomorrow I will...

...not have to wake-up to the obnoxious beeping of my alarm clock.

...drink way too much coffee.

...watch too many Christmas movies.

...make a saucepan of homemade (as in FROM SCRATCH WITH PENZY'S DUTCH-PRESSED COCOA) hot chocolate.

...maybe venture out to the craft store and pick up a skein of fun yarn!

...stamp and make cards.

...make some peppermint sugar scrub.

...mop my kitchen floor.

...wrap Christmas presents.

...hopefully be able to make it to the post office to mail ornaments to some of my favorite little people.

...stay in my pajamas for most of the day or until the appointed time to venture out.

...read more of my new book, The Christmas Shoppe, by Melody Carlson.

...smile often because SMILING'S MY FAVORITE!!!  And I don't even have to pretend to make my work my favorite.

...probably watch Elf.  (Laughing!)

...and lastly, tomorrow I will blog about my FUN snow day!!!

Great gift idea

I never struggle with what to get my two co-workers...  K is getting a stamping bag o'treats.  M made mention of wanting a wool-blend gray scarf...which I did in the boring stockinette stitch (for you non-knitters, it's the knit stitch over and over and over and over and over...kind of boring, but the scarf is FABULOUS!).  M, however, is always difficult.  I normally opt to get him a coffee mug.  I'm his family's official house-sitter/Fun Aunt Angie to the children/friend of his wife.  Sooo what do you get your FAVORITE co-worker...(see pictures below!)

A build your own snowman. 

And according to Misty, it will then melt. 

I cannot wait to see how this works!!!!!!!

Also, a melting alien.  They had other melting creatures too......

 

Thank you, Cracker Barrel!!!

 

P.S. I love that it says "3+" and I bought this for a grown man.  LOL!

A confession, a chair, and snow

I have a confession for you.  And I want to begin this post with my confession and then move on from there. 

I've been kind of overwhelmed the past two weeks.  First with my role in the Christmas cantata.  Ann.  Overwhelmed, negative, and quite a downer.  The biggest hurdle for me was her incorrigible lines to the "nice" couple about their lack of children.  Saying these lines (and yes, I am aware that they were fictional lines!) outloud caused me quite a bit of grief.  It wasn't until I figured out who my "Real-life Ann" was that I could finally get in-to-character.  It took some pondering...but once I figured out who she potentially could be in real life, I was set!!!  [It still made me sad that she "said" these hurtful things outloud...but I told myself, "Some people don't filter and consider their words before they speak them."]

My second stress was my mom's surgery today.  The Lord worked a wonderful miracle and she was able to have the entire surgery (pardon my phonics :)) lap-row-scop-ic-ally.  I taught 2nd grade.  I break things down phonetically.  It's what I do.  :)  And don't lie, you like it!!!! 

Currently I am sitting in my living room at my desk...but not in the traditional way that one would assume that I am seated at my computer desk...you see, I've not found a computer chair that I like.  I'm looking for a wooden chair.  Are you wondering, Why in the world does Angie want an uncomfortable wooden chair???  The answer is two-fold...A) I don't want a super-comfy chair as I will end up spending too much time blogging (GASP! She said that outloud!!!) and/or pinning fabulous crafty things on the Pinterest website.  [Did you know - 27,000 people joined Pinterest in the month of November?  It was one of those early morning trivia things on the radio.]

Where was I?  Oh, yes the chair.  Soooo not having a computer chair, I dragged in a taller cafe-style chair from my kitchen.  I'm seated in the kitchen chair with my feet propped-up on the ottoman.  The keyboard is in my lap and I am typing away.  And actually it's quite comfy.  I could go for this set-up...but I do think I'd like to find a wooden chair BECAUSE...... B) I saw on Pinterest a cute painted chair idea.  I could coordinate my chair with my living room decor.

I cannot believe that there is only one week until Christmas.  I'm going to miss having my tree up.  My favorite thing to do in the morning is pour a mug of coffee, plug in the tree, and sit in my over-stuffed comfy chair and wake-up.  I will miss those soft white lights.

A big winter storm is headed out way.  It's estimated time of arrival is Thursday, December 20th at 9 a.m.  They are calling for anywhere from 2 to 20 inches of snow.  Nice.  I am trusting the Weather Bug website and my co-worker's aching back.  Something is a-brewing and it ain't my coffee.  I am hoping we get around 6 - 12 inches of snow.  You see, I LOVE SNOW!!!!  Tonight at the gym, the guy next to me was talking about the weather and I informed him, "I love it that it's going to snow!!!  I hope we get a foot!"  He looked at me like he was a small child and I said, "There's no Santa."  There is a Santa.  Technically, there was a Santa.  :)  The gym guy about fell off his elliptical which would've made for a lovely blog post and I have a feeling I would've nervous laughed.

I love the snow.  I love waiting for snow.  This snowstorm reminds me that I should go to Woodman's and make sure I pick up some more coffee, supplies to make hot chocolate, and ingredients for soup.

Tomorrow night is Christmas caroling!!!!  ...and there's a chance of flurries.  How perfect - caroling and flurries.  (Be still my beating heart.)

I hope you've had a lovely Tuesday!!!!

Us

Yesterday's dress rehearsal was rough but I honestly believe Trudy...when lamenting to her about my off dress rehearsal performance, she said, "Oh honey, if you didn't throw-up or pass-out, you had a great dress rehearsal.  The performance tomorrow will go great!  Don't worry!"

I like this picture of Ann and Evelyn.  Throughout the program, Ann looks to Evelyn for affirmation about her over-booked/over-scheduled/over-Christmas frenzied state.

Nervous

Tomorrow is our Christmas program at church.  Honestly, I wasn't nervous at all about the program...until yesterday.  It didn't hit me until I was skipping out of work at 12 'noon.  My first stop was the mall...(sigh).  I parked out in Timbuktu.  I figured the walk would be excellent exercise and since it was 50 degrees and sunny, I didn't view the lack of parking places as an issue.  It was beautiful outside and I was not stuck in my cubicle!

My only mall stop was Yankee Candle.  Their votives were half off...and I wanted to purchase 5 Christmas Eve votives for my centerpiece.  While in Yankee Candle, I saw two familar faces - Lori and Lanie!!!  It was soo nice to chit-chat with these girlies.  :)  When I went to check-out, I told the Yankee Candle employee how thankful I was that the votives were part of their "12 Days of Christmas Sale." 

After Yankee Candle, I meandered through Barnes and Noble.  I'm such a sucker for bookstores.  I perused the games and puzzles.  There's a fun game I'd like to get - it's called Coffeetalk.  I added a couple other books to my wish list... 

Hobby Lobby was my next stop.  As I was wandering from department to department, I picked up glycerin, a Christmas present for a crafy friend, and 2 plastic bottles for homemade stamp cleaner.  As I was nearing the end of my wanderings, I ran in to Trudy!!!  What a blessing it was to see a friend. 

Hobby Lobby was my last "fun" stop.  After HL, Woodman's.  Not that I don't love getting groceries, but clearly groceries aren't as fun as arts & crafts.  I'm just being honest.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The program is tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow morning as in...this is my last sleep before the big day.  Ahhhhh!  There, I feel better.

You know how I know that I am getting more nervous about the program...

A)  Today while running errands the song "Do You Hear What I Hear?" came on the radio.  Not a big deal, right?  Well - have you ever listened to the second verse?  A little lamb talks to the shepherd and asks if he (the shepherd) saw what he (the lamb) saw.  Now, call me "Crazy" - but sheep/lamb do not talk.  I do think animals communicate with one another - but I don't believe a little lamb spoke audibly to a shepherd.  It's not in the Gospel of Luke.  And so that (all that you just read) was what I "discussed" with the song on the radio...

B)  I dream about the program.  Friday night I had a dream that I went to bed on Friday night and did not wake-up until Sunday night.  And when I woke-up in my dream, I had several (as in 30+) voicemails...most of them were from the choir director and he was quite irate.  Note:  Our choir director is a nice guy.  Thankfully I realized in my dream that I was probably dreaming.  Does that ever happen to you?  You are dreaming and it's something completely ludicrous and you realize in the dream that you are probably dreaming.  Maybe I am the only one.

C)  I laugh for no apparent reason.  Tonight I completely cracked-up at the carol-sing because Trudy was going on and on about an Alderman saying the wisemen brought "Gold, Frankenstein, and Myrrh."  SERIOUSLY -- Frankenstein?  And the best part of the story - this Alderman said this mis-quote of the gifts at a Christmas program...in public...and outloud.  For real!!!!! 

As soon as Trudy told us the Frankenstein story, I lost it...lost it as in laughed outloud uncontrollably.  My laughter was only amplified when a little boy went in to the bathroom and started singing LOUDLY while taking care of business.

It's never good when I get stressed and laugh and cannot stop...it happens.  It's my nervous laughter.  It is what it is and I am afraid that on Monday, I am going to laugh and laugh and laugh...and so on and so forth...  It may be epic!  I'm scared, laughed the girl with curly hair.

A fun craft project

Last night Julie came over and we covered composition notebooks for our Sunday school kids!!! 

I must confess - the owl notebook is my favorite.  This is the first time I have used this stamp.  I love the intricate detail and her fabulous eyes!!! 

My next owl-ish craft is to make notecards.  And what do you think about stamping the owl on tea towels?  I have recipient in mind for the tea towel project. 

It's Him.

"You don't need candlelight and fireside glow to make Christmas happen.  Trees, ornaments, gifts, and all of it are splendid embellishments.  Not necessary, but so very nice.  It's Him...  It's priceless to discover the pleasure of His company...  May your home know something of all this glory during these days."  ~ Jack Hayford

A fabulous Saturday

Technically it's a FABULOUS weekend...but I shall start with today and flit-around randomly about my weekend events. 

Slept in.  I didn't think I had it in me.  Normally I intend to sleep-in and then the ball o'fur (affectionately named Maggie) leaps on to the bed and wakes me from my sweet slumber.  On work days when I forget to click the alarm clock "ON" - I am thankful.  On weekends when said alarm clock does not need to chime, I'm not so thankful.  On the weekends, threats of "you can become the lining for some nice slippers" slip forth from my lips.  I'm not nice when I am forced awake from my slumber before the appointed time.  Also, you should probably let me consume one cup of coffee and take a shower before speaking to me.  You've been warned.  (Ask my mother!)

8:01 a.m.  - it was a beautiful thing to read those numbers on my alarm clock.

This morning I have a couple errands to run...and then play practice this afternoon.  Other than that -- nothing but watching Christmas movies and making some soup.  Isn't this grand?  (Contented sigh.)  I love my simple, little life.

Yesterday I was able to go shopping for our Adopt-A-Families.  What a fun day out...fun but tiring.  Wow!  My 5-1/2 hour marathon shopping trip was exhilarating and fun...and I do feel that I spread some Christmas cheer down East State Street.  At each store, the clerks and cashiers were sooo helpful!  A shout out to the Target cashier that rang up 6 separate transactions so as to help me keep everything straight and in order.  Only one gift was unable to be purchased...which with the help of Amazon on Monday, I intend to check that off my list.

How in the world does Santa do it?  That's what I want to know.  The big guy in the red...man, kuddos to him for all that shopping.  I bet he knows his way around internet shopping.

Last night was game night!!!  Funny store about game night...
At 4:30, I was all out of sorts - mostly because...
A) I had consumed a VENTI hot chocolate (sans vanilla and whipped cream) at Starbucks.  For you non-Starbuck's drinkers [GASP!  I know of atleast one blog-stalker!!!], Venti means "Large"!!!!!!  It also could be translated, "FABULOUS!"  Just sayin'...
B) Upon returning to work, I was thrown in to a meeting about our filing system.  Exciting times.

...at 4:30, my sweet co-worker yelled over my cubicle wall, "Have a great weekend!  See you on Monday!"  I replied, "Wait - WHAT?  It's 4:30???"  I, then, proceeded to put on my coat. 

While putting on my coat, the new guy (who will call "Wayne") said, "Do you have big plans tonight, Angie?"  Too which I replied (as I turned away from Wayne), "Yes, it's game night."  Apparently my voice was muffled because when I turned back around, Wayne was starting at me - that dumbfounded kind of stare.  I asked, "What?"

He replied, "You are in a GANG?  Gang night?"

Insert me laughing.  "No, Wayne, GAME night!"

The window girl interjected, "Wayne, Angela only talks like a gangsta!"

And I skipped out the door.

Clearly - do I look like that kind of girl that it's a gang?  Ummmm...unless this gang is a rowdy bunch of Baptists that love Jesus and Christmas...oh, and knitting...and coffee...and dark chocolate.

Honestly - do I seem like a girl who is a gang?

I laugh everytime I think about it.  It's great.  I will no longer be able to look at Wayne without laughing -- which could be bad because his cubicle is directly across the walkway from mine.  Oh boy.

Now I shall skip ahead to tomorrow...Our Sunday school lesson is based on Luke 2.  Yeah -- the birth of our Lord Jesus!!!!!!!!  After church, I intend to pop in a Christmas movie and relax.  It's something I started doing when our choir practices became extended.  After choir - evening service - which I absolutely love.  It's very family-ish on Sunday nights. 

And this brings us to Monday...work and then the gym.  Next week should be a week of normalness...meaning "back at the gym" like a good girl.

I do need to work on a Wild Hydrangea scarf...and here's hoping Ebay will deliver the skein of Magic Potion yarn.  [I've not ever knitted with the M.P. colored yarn.  It's Starbella so I imagine it's going to be FABULOUS!!!!  It's pink, tan, black, and white...I have a very bad feeling that I will become smitten with it and then log back in to Ebay and purchase another skein...  Which leads me to a semi-rant of why doesn't the local yarn store carry this color???  I had to purchase it on Ebay...and thankfully shipping was free and it was 50 cents cheaper than at Michael's....50 cents cheaper AND delivered to my doorstep!!!!  Technically NOT my doorstep as our mailbox is down near the street...but you know what I mean!!!]

The purple-silver-sparkly scarf is going in the mail today!!!!  I hope the recipient loves it.  I think it turned out delightful.  Oh - and yesterday when I was Christmas shopping, I found more colors at JoAnn's...which I refrained from buying.  You see, here's what happens...when I see yarn, I don't see the actual skein...my friends' faces pop in my head...soo instead of red variegated, I saw a former student.  Instead of seeing a pretty gray, I saw my bestie's face.  It's a wonderful gift.

Have a delightful weekend.

Terrible Dream

Sooooo last night, I had my first dream about the Christmas cantata.  Honestly, it seemed like I dreamed about it all night long...I'm not sure how dream sequences go...but SERIOUSLY - it felt like it was all night.

First of all the setting:
There was a huge wooden floor - similar to the layout of Fireside Dinner Theater, if you've ever been there.  

There were round tables set up (kind of like a wedding reception) surrounding the stage.  The tables were covered with white sparkly tablecloths and the centerpieces were red and green.

The stage had a huge red curtain.

In the beginning of my dream, I noticed that I was wearing a red Christmas dress.  When I say "red Christmas dress" - I mean that I was wearing a dress similar to Rosemary Clooney at the end of White Christmas.  Pretty, yes, it was.  Not following the "Dress like a Christmas caroler"  instructions of my fearless Choir Director.  (Sigh.)

I was un-nerved about the dress especially when I looked on stage and noticed my fellow actors/actresses wearing Caroler-ish clothing.  It's at this point that I noticed Lauren was wearing a cute outfit and not her SPECIAL outfit so I said to myself outloud (because apparently, even in my dreams, I talk to myself outloud), "Angie Good - this is a dream.  Lauren looks normal.  I wonder where she got that fun Christmas outfit!"  

Another sigh, you know - for good measure.

The dream continued. 

I, then, had to work through a maze to get to the stage and I kept getting lost and confused.

The dream - at this point - turned into a nightmare.

I spent the rest of the time wandering around.  I ran into all kinds of characters...

Right before waking-up, I found my spot on stage and then I realized I had forgotten all my lines.  ALL my lines!!!

The thing is - I'm not stressed out about the program.  I know that it's going to go well.  The Lord is going to help us.  Apparently subconsciously, I need to process my worst fears.  (Sigh.)  I just wish it wouldn't happen in my dreams.  I prefer visions of sugarplums and warm & cozy Christmas dreams.

Ornament Exchange

* Homemade peppermint chocolate brownie concoction that the master baker warned, "Angie, these contain gluten.  Sorry."  * Homemade guacamole & blue corn chips (safe for the author of this blog) * snowman cupcakes * Christmas punch * Hot coffee and peppermint coffee creamer * Veggie tray * No-Bake Peanut Butter Cocoa Oatmeal Cookies (say it 5 times fast, I double-dog dare you!) * and sweet friends...

Add in the mixture an ornament exchange and you have the makings of a fabulous Monday evening.

It's so weird to me that it's 60 degrees out and we just had our Christmas ornament exchange.  I remember a couple years ago, the roads were iced-over and several of us dared not to even go out.

My ornament contribution was the fabulous hippo - from a few posts ago.  She was won by my friend Stephanie.  :) 

The ornament I selected has a vintage-looking lady holding a coffee cup and it reads, "Behind every successful woman is massive amounts of coffee." 

Isn't it funny that out of all the ornaments, I selected the coffee one...  :)