All posts tagged christmas

30 Day Blog Challenge: My Day

I’m doing a 30 Day Blog Challenge. Why? Because I’m sucky-sucky with keeping up with posting and it’s (the blogging, not the challenge thing) something I really want to keep at.

Anywho, I’m supposed to post a photo of myself and talk about my day. So here’s me (and the baby). Not from today, but unless you wanted to see me all grossed out from cleaning the house, you’ll take this. And well, that pretty much says what I did today: cleaned.

We *finally* got the Christmas stuff down and put away. The tree was a total PITA. I had to help and it really made me wonder how single moms do this crap. I could never do it. NEVER. I’d have to find myself a nice handyman to do it. ;)

So aside from cleaning, I fed the baby and changed her diaper. I also did some 1st birthday scouting. Yep. I’m on a roll. Let’s hope tomorrow is equally exciting.

(And woo hoo to 2 Broke Girls for their Golden Globe! Love that show!)

Busy Moms Choose Coffee

And don’t try to tell me they don’t. Ok, well, I’ll accept some form of caffeine, but I’m telling you, that’s a consolation prize. Coffee is where it’s at.

It’s been 5 months since I became a mom to two. I think—keyword *I*—I’m doing a pretty decent job thus far. I imagine it’s easier for someone to go to two/three/four kids while the kiddos are still young and you’re not out of diapers for quite a few years or set in your ways with various other aspects (like sleeping through the night). However, I will say that this here cutie pie to the left has been sleeping through the night for the past two or three months now. *phew* She even goes to bed on her own! That’s right, she lays down in her crib while awake and goes to sleep. AWESOME. And the best part—knocking heavily on wood—is that she goes to bed about 9:30/10:00 and sleeps until about 8:00/9:00. Yep. That’s right. Now you can see why *I* think I’m doing a pretty decent job so far.

Now, one would think that since I’ve got a ten-year-old and a five-month-old who both sleep through the night I’m functioning at 100% or even better during the day. Au contraire, mon frere (well, mes amis, actually). Half the time it’s like the walking dead around here, and believe when I tell you that’s not so big a compliment for zombies.

I think I’ve just been super swamped since August. We had something every weekend in October and November was pretty packed as well. Funny enough, we’ve only got one thing planned in December.

We did manage to squeeze in buying a new tree this year. Our current/old one is 9 years old and one of the ones you have to put each branch on one-by-one by color codes. No lights either. Pain in the butt. Christmas shopping is just about finished as well. And thanks to our annual trip to Hershey, the baby made out like a bandit with winter clothes.

Unfortunately our dryer is on it’s last leg. It’s not heating up all the time. I called the repair place and they suggested taking the vent tube off and running a cycle without anything on it. I did that and nothing but cold air shooting out. Broken. So it became a game of buy a new one or fix this one (5 years old). We chose to buy a new one. Only, we bought a dryer and a washer, lol. But you can’t beat 50% off! So now I’ll have one of the fancy front loaders with all the buttons and bells and whistles. Geek heaven. Too bad it won’t arrive for 4-7 days. So we’re looking at Wednesday the earliest.

AND I was just told that we’re in charge of crafts for the holiday party. I’ve got something up my sleeve and will be sure to share once I work it out. :)

Now, where’s that 4th cup of coffee?!

In Camera Heaven!

For Christmas this year, I asked for a DSLR camera. I had one eons ago—a 2MP one at that!—that I adored and took a huge amount of photos with. Over the years I’ve had numerous point-and-shoot cameras. From cheap Kodak Easyshares to more expensive Olympus models. Currently I own a Sony Cyber-shot and an Olympus SP560UZ. But this Christmas, I wanted a DSLR. I wanted a Canon Rebel. I’ve been lusting over this camera for ages. Never could justify, but honestly, the lust outweighed the cost in the end.

I’m still learning the ropes and what settings to use for what. Some photos come out blurry as all heck because I’ve touched a setting I shouldn’t have. I am currently trying to learn how to take the best Christmas tree photos. So far, this is what I’ve come up with:

And here is one of our new ornaments that I think is great:


And finally, I wanted to try my hand at a bokeh photo:


I don’t think it’s too bad for a first try. They do say to have a darker background so the lights will pop… I’ll try again tonight!

Also, many thanks to The Pioneer Woman for her Boost action. Love it!

So as Christmas draws near (uhm, hello, 11 days away!! And that’s for Christmas day—we’re seeing family the 23rd and the 24th. So only 9 and 10 days away!) I’m definitely going to be taking more photos. (Especially since the house will be cleaned for the holiday!)

How did we get to 52 days til Christmas?

Imagine my horrified surprise when I went to eBay to look for something and right smack dab at the top it says, “52 Days.” Whoa. I thought I was doing better than that! I thought I had more time.

Now it’s time to scramble and finish various gifts I started and finish the lists for people I don’t know what to get and come up with ideas for others that want to get the kiddo something.

The only positive is that I’ve actually got all the teachers done already! No more last minute on that end. ;)

The Closing of the Year

It’s the night before the night before Christmas.  Both the kiddo and I are stirring.  The husband is at work.  98% of the gifts are wrapped.  I am off of work for the remainder of the week.

When one runs into someone from their past, one is often excited over the reconnection that the reason why they are not in touch any longer is far from the mind.  Of course, that is, until that same issue pops right back up and smacks you, hard, in the face.  Wishing of those better days, one for forgets that those better days were in existence right up until the point of reconnection.  Forget about that person — there is a reason why they remained in the past and never made it into your future.  And once again they will become the past.

There is something comforting about living in a neighborhood where both the local fire department and the local EMT drive around on different nights, throughout the streets, with Santa, waving to the children.  My town is not a small one, by any means, but it certainly gives off that small town feeling of commeraderie and caring.  I couldn’t be more thankful.

Hopefully once the new year begins, I will be better at keeping up with this blog.  That’s going to be my New Year’s resolution — to take more time for myself and do the things I love to do.

So on that note, have a very Merry Christmas!