"From Atlantic to Pacific...

...Gee, the traffic is terrific." There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays by Perry Como

Hello lovelies!

Baby-boo and his Great-Grampa

Apologies for the extended absence! We have had a full and delightful autumn season with birthdays, anniversaries, family visits, morning sickness, job interviews (everything went well; still waiting to hear a decision!), the holidays beginning, and my sweet offspring getting two new teeth this week and on the verge of walking! He is getting to be such a big little boy, and such a clever child, if I do say so myself. I fear that he will outsmart me before too long.

I have a whole slew of posts I can't WAIT to share with you, among them my DIY advent calendar ESPECIALLY for Mamas with little ones! Naturally it's not completely done yet (um, I got the first two finished so I have two more days to complete the set, right?) and it will only take one more trip to the dollar store plus my sweet husband doing a tiny little spray paint project for me.

On a more personal note, regarding jobs, my husband has had two interviews back in my homeland, and both of them went well, and pending final tests/background checks/supervisor approval we have been told that we might move as soon as Christmas, and definitely (if accepted) by mid-January. Naturally this is thrilling news since we've been apply for jobs and pounding the pavement for over a year, now! Back on the east coast, he also has one definite job lead, with similar holdups pending, and they would be ready for us in April! There's a lot of uncertainties about all of these options, so any prayers you could spare for wisdom and the right job to work out in God's good time would be such a blessing! We would love to move as soon as possible, because the longer we wait, the bigger I get with our new baby...and the harder it will be for me to do anything with the move! (Oh yeah, I did mention that we're expecting again, right? Yup. Due in May. Woohoo!)

With all this indecision and possibilities in then next few weeks or months, it begs the question, to decorate, or not to decorate?

Those of you who know me, know that my year is divided into the usual four seasons: Christmas, post-Christmas, un-Christmas, and pre-Christmas. ;) The possibility of living a year of my life where I don't decorate never even entered my mind! At least we have to go get some mistletoe...and put up one of the little trees...and maybe a garland or two...candles...centerpieces...

And speaking of finding out NEWS, on Friday we will have an ultrasound and find out if this baby is a boy or a girl! Too exciting!!!

I hope your holidays are less in limbo than mine, and you get to slow waaaaaaay down and enjoy the season! But even if you feel as hectic about all the details as I do at present, don't miss all the joy coming your way as we celebrate the birth of the King!

"The snow is snowing, the wind is blowing...

...but I will weather the storm!" I''ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Irving Berlin.

Hello, lovelies! Did everyone have a blessed Christmas? Ours was so lovely. The only way it could have been improved is if we could have been with extended family. This was our first year celebrating by ourselves, which worked out well since James and I came down with a sore throat. (I presume his throat is sore. Mine is and he is definitely snuffly and congested. And fussy.)

But back to the blessings! We had a huge pile of gifts from our amazing family, and my husband got to be home the entire day! James and the kitties seemed to enjoy the present unwrapping and a jolly time was had by all. :) I'll post some of our pictures soon.

All our love, and tune in later this week for my New Year's resolutions. Don't forget to start thinking about yours! Mwah!

Update: Christmas pictures!

Christmas cheer.

Izzy enjoying the holiday.

Baby James Loved opening his stocking and finding all these goodies!

Irony requesting her present.

We has a sad - naptime interrupted presents.

Love!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..

...soon the bells will start." It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas performed by Bing Crosby.

Hello, lovelies!

So, I can't believe our sweet baby is SEVEN WEEKS OLD! He's certainly a little character - and lately he's been helping me put together Christmas presents!

Love to everyone, and I hope you're having a great Christmas season!

Mwah!

"I am loved...

...I can risk loving you." I Am Loved, by the Gaither Vocal Band.

Me and Ryan on Christmas!

I am grateful for these 10 things today:

1. Ryan.
2. Irony.
3. A new dishwasher!!!!!
4. My friend HOLLYBERRY whose birthday is today. :)
5. A working heater.
6. Sweet, wonderful friends!
7. Sephora's sample policy.
8. Working Internets.
9. My wonderful family.
10. A craft room in which to create beautiful and exciting things!

Speaking of HollyBerry, here's a great article she authored on the current craziness happening in Virginia over the GOP primary. 

Much love!

Merry Christmas!!!

Happy, happy Christmas, everybody!

"Happy Christmas!" from Irony

The youngest are always the first up!!!!

Much love!

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

...just like the ones I used to know." White Christmas by Bing Crosby

Happy weekend, friends, and Happy Christmas!!!! So much love!

This is a website of pretty books...

Capture the magic of Santa in your house!!!! :)

Snippet and Ink's favorite cakes of 2011.

Gift tags galore.

Happy Christmas!!!!

"Oh the weather outside is frightful...

...but the fire inside's delightful." Let It Snow by Dean Martin

Photo by my Mumsie.

Let's get down the the chilly, shall we?

As the saucy and adorable girls over at Hello Giggles were discussing today, I too suffer from being chronically cold. Although this syndrom does come with the benefit of always getting extra cuddles from my sweet husband (and a pathological horror of all things vampiric because of their lack of body heat...GO TEAM JACOB! Oops, did I say that out loud?) this malady is not all hot cocoa and roasted marshmallows.

Although you may think this is merely a cute ploy for attention, we cold-blooded girls are suffering, people--suffering! It doesn't matter what the thermostat is turned to...if it's cold outside, I'm COLD.

I literally spent all day yesterday wearing leggings under flannel pajama bottoms, a long-sleeved thermal tee, a fleecy robe, fluffy no-slip socks, slippers and a scarf I pretended was a headband but was actually keeping my ears warm...and on top of that, I sipped no less than 4 cups of peppermint tea, 3 mugs of hot cider, and 2 cups of coffee. Irony sat on my lap for an hour, and I think that was the only hour of the whole day that I didn't shiver perpetually. There is nothing less cute that fluffy no-slip socks AND slippers, people. Also, having to go to the bathroom sixty times in one day because of all the hot liquids you are drinking to keep warm is somewhat counter productive.

So cold!

Irony taking pity on her frigid human.

And it hasn't even snowed yet.

Anyone else feeling the same way as we enter this frostbitten season?

Here's some of my favorite ways to beat the only bad thing about Christmas time...WINTER!

1. Hand Warmers; 2. Heart Warmer Hot Water Bottles; 3. Candles (image from frontporchgifts.com); 4. Amish Fireplace  (if you can't have REAL fire, this is the next best thing...); 5. Bubble Bath (photo via thebeehiveblog.net)

Ok, I'm off to go put on another pair of socks. Love!

"With little tin horns and little toy drums...

...rooty-toot-toot and rummy-tum-tums." Santa Clause Is Coming To Town by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

Hello, friends! So I know I already posted what I want for Christmas...but I thought of more. Ha. Here are some fun objects of desire...possibly inspiration for you in case you are having trouble finding the perfect present for someone. :)

Small carry bag for my laptop (Obviously Fossil is pricey, but there are tons of under $50 ones too!)
Awesome "Secret Passageway" switch

Also, sneak-peak photo from our recent adventure...more to come!!! (P.S. these photos are completely undoctored.)

Mwah!

"Oh Santa, I can't wait for you to come...

...I just can't wait for you to come and I've got cookies!" O Santa from Silly Songs with Larry.

Dear Santa,

I’ve been very, very good this year, you can ask Irony or Ryan (oh, wait - you don’t have to ask, do you). I have a short (ahem) list of things I would adore if you would care to bring them when you come Christmas Eve. We’ll have cookies and milk out regardless. Thanks for all the lovely crafting stuff and other fun things last year.

Christmas List: 

Design*Sponge At Home book

Star Projector/nightlight

Anne of Green Gables Boxed Set
The Once And Future King
A new The Wind in the Willows
Any C.S. Lewis (except Narnia, because I already have that) 

The Muppets OPI Nail Polish Shades (Especially Meep-Meep-Meep or Gettin’ Miss Piggy With It) 

32GB iPod Touch (Any iPod would be incredible, Santa, I'm not picky)

While I’m dreaming, an iPad would be totally amazing

Amazing (and totally overpriced) teal skin for my MacBook 

My favorite scent: Beyond Paradise Estee Lauder
The S9100 Nikon Coolpix digital camera. (Update - Ryan got me a camera! What an angel!)

And you know, Santa, that I just love surprises, so not sticking to the list is clearly fine by me! (and I know the economy troubles reach even the North Pole). I love anything vintage or classic movie era, my kitchen is black and white and bright turquoise, I love jewelry, music, accessories, gift cards, crafting stuff, pretty paper, and other such girly nonsense. 

Love, 


E.

P. S. Irony says to tell you she's been good too. <3

"Say it's only a paper moon...

...sailing over a cardboard sea, but it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me." It's Only a Paper Moon by Ella Fitzgerald.

Irony helping us set up the tree...

On my "Pre-Christmas" playlist right now:

It's Only a Paper Moon by Ella Fitzgerald
Bubbly by Colbie Callat
The Nutcracker: Russian Dance by Tchaikovsky
No Holly For Miss Quinn by Enya
Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Bing Crosby
Return to Me by Dean Martin
The Long Day Is Over by Norah Jones
If Ever I Should Leave You performed by Gene Merlino
Show Me Your Glory by Third Day
The Christmas Song performed by Nat King Cole

Love!

"Overeating, merry greeting...

...from relatives you don't know!" Mistletoe and Holly by Bing Crosby.

I just discovered the Merry Newsinator from Plaid Creative. Be warned, it's not always in the best of taste, but it was amusing for Ryan and I to sit down and newsinate our own little letter.

Happy New Year!

"Oh by gosh by golly, it's time for mistletoe and holly...

...overeating, merry greeting from relatives you don't know." Mistletoe and Holly by Frank Sinatra.

So I got up early today and opened my computer with every intention of working.

But I got sidetracked as I checked my email and saw a 24-hour-limited coupon for online shopping that would drastically impact my Christmas shopping capabilities. I quickly utilized this coupon and made several very good purchases (if I do say so myself--I think everybody will like their presents this year!) that I could not have otherwise made--yay for cyber Monday!

An hour and a half later, I started work for real. That is, I opened IMDB, and you can imagine how quickly my work-train of thought was derailed when I saw this movie ad.

Oh. My. Goodness.

For those of you who did not go to a certain private liberal arts college between the years of 2003 and 2005, and listen to an online radio production of "Ambassador Ickalok," this may not seem like the earth-shattering, mind-blowing, eyeball-melting event that it is. This storyline was thought up YEARS ago by my schoolmates, and now Disney is making it into a movie!!!!!! I can't wait to watch and laugh.

You see, we had a history professor who taught us that one of the major problem in early american history was the attempt of Europeans to settle without women--they made little camps and fought Indians--er, Native Americans--and tried to create a "society" with only 50% of the necessary sexes. Hence, the realization that they "need more women."

This amusing phrase captured the imagination of some of our more artistically inclined students who turned it into a comic web-radio bit about a martian, Ickalok, who came to earth in peace as an ambassador requesting women to come to Mars and help their society fully colonize the planet. I wish I had a link for you all, the original is truly hysterical, but this rough remembered sketch will have to do:

'Ello, earthlings, this is Ambassador Ickalock! I come in peace!

I am from very far away, on the planet Mars, and I am here for one thing.

We Need More Women!

We landed in Russia, and they had women, yes, and I looked around, and there were fat women and skinny women and short women and tall women, and blonde women, and brunette women, but there were no con-ser-va-tives!

So I heard of this small school in America because I realized we needed con-ser-va-tive women! So, if you will all make your way here, onto my space ship, we'll be on our way back to the planet Mars...

Uh, right this way ladies...

Um, anyone? No sir, you are not a woman, and we need more women.

Um, ok, I'll be back.

Please talk amongst yourselves...

Yes, surely some of you would love to come help colonize Mars...

I told you sir, get back!

Women?!

Please!

Anyone?

Aaah!

Etc. A few weeks later, a sequel was revealed. I forget the preliminary scripting, but a superior to Ickalock evaluated his record, and found that no women had responded to his plea. We pick up there.

"Didn't you tell them we need more women?"

"I told them, but they would not come with me!"

"Did you check in Russia?"

"Yes, sir, but there were no con-ser-va-tives!"

"Ah. Then why did you not force them to come?"

"Sir! Con-ser-va-tive women have guns!"

"There is no excuse for your failure. Heads will roll for this!"

"I am an Ambassador! I have diplomatic immunity!"

"Ickalock, you are hereby stripped of your Ambassadorship!"

"Oh no, please sir!"

"I will find con-ser-va-tive women, and your head will roll and roll and roll and land in the muddy dirt!"

"No, not the muddy dirt!"

"Muddy dirt is your destiny!"

"Aaaaaaah!" (rolling noise, squelching mud noise).

Etc.

And now you understand my surprised delight at this Disney movie!

Anyhow, now I REALLY need to get to work. Love!

"Rockin' around the Christmas tree...

...let the Christmas spirit reign." Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Donna Fargo.

So, Jolly Berry and I went and bought our tree today, and lights, and decorations...and we've put it up. Tonight we'll put on OUR stuff, but this is the generic base on which to create our seasonal masterpiece.

We've also created a mores, (which I would call a tradition, but this is why Jolly is in Law School and I am unemployed...or well, merely interning instead of pursuing a real-paying career) of drinking sparkling cider and eating Pringles while we decorate the tree.

Yay.

Merry Christmas!

"Over-eating, merry greetings...

...from relatives you don't know." Mistletoe and Holly by Frank Sinatra.

In no particular order...

51 Things For Which I Am Thankful:

1. Christmas lights.
2. Pie.
3. People who make pie.
4. Teddy bears and other comforts.
5. The Thnikkaman!
6. Cozy blankets and Nat King Cole music.
7. Family.
8. The Boyfriend.
9. Good fiction.
10. Fred and Balesy lending me good fiction.
11. Fred's baby--coming soon!
12. Friends.
13. Christmas trees.
14. Christmas decorations.
15. Christmas.
16. Country Music.
17. Rock Music.
18. Christmas Music.
19. Ok, fine--all music.
20. A working vehicle.
21. Friends' hospitality.
22. Foggy days.
23. Chocolate.
24. Sunshine.
25. Colors.
26. A working cell phone.
27. Broncos win yesterday.
28. Good movies.
29. Things to laugh at.
30. People to laugh with.
31. Sleep.
32. Colorful umbrellas and polka-dot galoshes.
33. Balesy's pineapple-and-coconut creation.
34. Psych
35. Big, fluffy quilts.
36. Candles and other forms of fire.
37. Flowers.
38. Comfy shoes.
39. Sweatshirts and hoodies.
40. Clever people (because I'm not one of them).
41. Changing seasons.
42. Sharpie shirts and the people who make them.
43. People playing the piano for fun.
44. Pictures.
45. Hugs.
46. Hot buttered rolls.
47. Health, and relative health.
48. Opportunities.
49. Cats.
50. Grammar.
51. God's grace.