FLASHBACK valentine's day 2012

REPEAT: originally posted to provide christmas gift options, but valentine's day is only 10 days away. if you're too lazy to make this super easy gift, you can always buy one of the gifts i've linked...extra bonus: a hilarious video of ideas!!
"there's the strangest excitement today...if you're awake then you're welcome to hear...i got a gift and it blew me away" 
the bk and i don't really do valentine's gifts...#1~i hate roses. i HATE roses. not knocking you girls that love them, they just aren't for me...and #2~what do you get someone that feels like they have everything?...besides. st valentine's day is about celebrating love. so we do just that. this year we get up before the sun and go to valentine's day breakfast. we are the only people in cracker barrel at 6am, when it opens. we sit by a crackling fire...sip on bottomless cups of hot coffee...and i get to hear about how beautiful i am with no make~up, a messy bun and my glasses on...
but, the bk is unaware of something. i have tucked a small gift in his work bag. something i know he doesn't have. and something i'm sure he will think is stupid, but i do it anyway. i found it on pinterest...a book made of playing cards entitled "52 reasons i heart jamie"...
all you need:

• a full deck of cards (preferably worn and tattered, but you can rough new ones up with sand paper)
• a black sharpie marker (or a computer and printer labels if you're too lazy to write)
• labels
• a hole punch
• binder rings
• your brain

make a cover for your book with the jokers and simply write the title on one with your marker. use your brain (and heart) to come up with 52 reasons why you love him/her. write them on the labels and attach one label to each card (fronts only). punch two holes in each card (make sure they are aligned). and clip together with binder rings. voila!!!

FLASH FORWARD today

we are only 23 days away from christmas...every year it gets harder and harder for me to find the PERFECT gift for my bk. and i know it's gets harder for him. our answer every time one of us asks "what would you like for christmas?"? i have everything i need. which is completely true. this year got a little easier for him...my day job has turned me into a bit of a handbag queen. truth is...i always have been, but i've always been able to find the trendy bags for very cheap (let's not talk about how) so i refuse to pay full price for a designer bag. so, when macy's had their friend's and family sale, this week, i got a michael kors bedford bowling satchel. eek!! merry christmas to cardinal!! but, now...NOW!!...i have to find the bk the PERFECT gift. and he is still saying "i have everything i need/want". DILEMMA!! i m sure many of you are in the same boat so, i googled ideas and found these great gift ideas for under $100:

PARA ÉL:

j. crew classic spread collar shirt: $68 (reg $88); because every guy needs a classic white button up in his closet...

sunspel boxers: $39: come on...your guy needs to get out of the tighty whities...and you don't want to get him hanes at christmas!!

kenneth cole new york watch: $95; help him keep track of the time this christmas so he's not late for the schmancy fancy holiday party!!

art of shaving chrome futura safety razor: $95; because it's no longer NoShavember!!

coach bleeker bull usb keyring: $98; it's a keyring AND a 4GB usb flash drive...cool

                 

                           

         

PARA ELLA:

coach madison op art sateen large wristlet: $98; because sometimes all we need is a lip gloss, a credit card, and our cell phone.

michael kors holiday watch key fob: $48; because, if you aren't gonna have a jag in the driveway on christmas morning, at least make our keys look fancy!

guess multichain bracelet watch: $85; cause it's a watch AND a bracelet!

victoria's secret pillow talk tank pajama: $49.50; because we like to be cute when we lounge around...bonus! free slippers with every pair!

lady gaga fame perfume gift set: $84; because every girl should smell like a rock star...(actually, i wear this and it smells delicious..)

                   

 

                          

happy shopping!!!

FLASHBACK september 2012

"in ev'ry job that must be done there is an element of fun...you find the fun and snap! the job's a game..."
we move in to our new apartment...we, carefully, unpack boxes and put everything in its proper place. it takes about a month, but we get there.
FLASH FORWARD november 23, 2012
the day after thanksgiving. all the christmas boxes come out of storage. up goes the tree. up go the lights. christmas gifts are being purchased and placed all over the house. ugh! i can't find anything i need.
FLASH FORWARD january 6, 2012
the epiphany. time for the tree to come down. time to cut off the lights. all the christmas boxes go back in storage. wait? where is that packing tape? where are my scissors? where? where? where? ugh!! I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING!!!
FLASH FORWARD today
january is "get organized month" and i certainly know why! we have only been in our apartment 4 short months and, already, we need to reorganize. the beginning of the year is a great time to do it...out with the old and in with the new. need some help making the job less tedious? i have a suggestion...break it down to one task a day. 

GET ORGANIZED IN 15 DAYS 

day 1~medicine cabinets: check expiration dates and throw out old meds. make a list of things you may be running low on and be sure to replinish (tylenol or ibuprofen, band aids, neosporin)

day 2~coat closet: get rid of coats and jackets that don't fit, or never get worn (donate to a shelter). got hats and gloves loose? a cute basket or box for the shelf will come in handy OR that dust bag that came with your handbag you got for christmas makes a good catch all for them. 

day 3~under beds: do you use the space under your beds for storage, like i do? get under there and go thru all that stuff. get rid of anything that's unnecessary...those shoes you haven't worn in 5 years? guess what...you aren't going to ever wear them again! DONATE!!

day4~laundry room: go thru all those cleaners on the shelves. toss old bottles of detergent and fabric softener that don't even have enough for one load in them (i know you have them...don't even lie!). a heavy duty tote is a great way to keep cleaning products organized. and BONUS!!! you can carry it around the house as you clean, as opposed to trying to carry them all in your arms, or making several trips!

day 5~hand bag: take the time to go thru your bag. get rid of all those gum wrappers...take all loose change and put it in a jar to save for a special weekend or item you've been wanting. rule of thumb: you don't need a ton of change in your purse, you'll only weigh yourself down...i keep 4~quarters, 2~dimes, 3~nickels, and 4~pennies, all other change goes in the jar! also, take this time to get rid of near empty lip gloss, and lip sticks you know you'll never wear.

day 6~under sinks: get rid of near empty bottles of hair spray...gels you haven't used in so long they've become solid. that curling iron that broke 2 years ago? toss it. while you're at it, check your hair appliances...are the cords frayed or broken? time to get a new one.

day 7~fridge/freezer: check the expiration dates and toss any out~of~date items. leftovers? if you don't know how long they've been there...toss them. replace any often used items you're out of.

day 8~kitchen cabinets: spices that are over a year old may need replaced...broken pots/pans? why are you holding on to them? toss! and why are you keeping all those margarine tubs? they aren't microwave safe and they just make a mess! toss them and invest in a food storage set.

day 9~makeup case: mascaras and eyeliners really should be replaced every 6 months, but we all know that doesn't happen. at least do it at the new year!! take this time to get rid of old foundations (face it, you are NOT going to get that drop from the bottom of the jar). look at your brushes? can they be cleaned or maybe they need replaced. 

day 10~bedroom closets: now is the time: donate clothes you haven't worn in a year. but...but...i DO wear this member's only jacket?! no. no you don't. having trouble remembering if you did wear something in a year? try this: as you hang clothes back up, turn the hangers backward...as you wear and wash pieces, hang them back correctly. next year, anything on hangers that are still hung backwards get donated to charity.

day 11~linen closet: frayed towels? they go to the laundry room to become dust rags. pillows that have seen better days? toss them and get new ones for guests. sheets and blankets that have holes in them...TOSS! 

day 12~bedroom dressers: socks and chonies have holes in them? toss them...unless you're gonna darn the socks, and no one does that anymore! and holey chonies?! really? remember what your mama always said about having clean chonies in case you're in an accident...same thing with tee shirts and sweaters. AND, again, if it hasn't been worn in a year: DONATE!!

day 13~living room: magazines on the coffee table need to be up~to~date. you should NOT have last january's sports illustrated or good housekeeping sitting out. do you have remotes that you aren't even sure what they operate? or you have 45,000 remotes for all your electronics? maybe you should invest in a universal remote...

day 14~cars: go thru all the compartments in your car and get rid of trash...check registration and insurance cards and make sure you only have the CURRENT ones...also, check that you have jumper cables, a flashlight, flares, and a blanket for emergencies. or, better yet, an emergency kit.

day 15~jewelry box: broken jewelry? get it repaired. if it's beyond repair, take it to a respectable jeweler and have them purchase the gold...extra money goes in the jar. jewelry you never wear, and does not have sentimental value? donate it, or sell it.

if you have other spaces to organize (a garage, playroom, craft room) it may take you a few extra days. but, by breaking tasks down to 1 per day, it makes it far less painful!

HAPPY ORGANIZING!!

FLASHBACK january 7, 1966

"on the twelfth day of christmas my true love gave to me...twelve drummers drumming..."
our christmas decorations start to come down (okay...okay...it might not have been january 7th! it could have been the 8th, 9th, or 10th!! but it definitely wasn't december 26!). why wait so long? because january 6 is the "epiphany"...the day the 3 wise men came to visit the baby jesus. 
FLASH FORWARD february 2010
the bk and i are driving thru town. oops! those people forgot to take down their icicle lights! well? maybe not? it's been pretty cold and snowy...maybe they're just waiting for the weather to break? but...ugh!!! THOSE people still have a christmas wreath on their door!!! okay! that's just tacky!! and no excuses! i know it's cold...and there's tons of snow on the ground...but you can open your door and take off the wreath!!
FLASH FORWARD today
i have started taking down some of our christmas...i've taken the candles out of the windows...i've cleared the bedrooms and bathrooms of any small decorations. my tree is still up...and the lights are still burning. my deck is still decorated with twinkling lights and garland. why? because it's still the christmas season.

when should we be taking down our decorations, you ask? well...i did a little research so that you don't have to...
first, you should know that the day after thanksgiving is not REALLY the christmas season (i know! i know! i'm guilty, too!). the season begins with advent, which is 4 sundays before christmas (so...this past christmas would've been dec 2). and, traditionally, people did not put up their decorations until noon on christmas eve day (that's just MADNESS!!). christmas day is the FIRST day of the twelve days of christmas...the twelfth day falls on the epiphany. fact is, if we stuck a little closer to tradition, we would not be in such a hurry to take it all down after the presents have been opened and all the family has gone home.
armed with this information...you know it's safe (and traditional) to leave them up thru january 6. take them down december 26th, you might be a bit of a scrooge. but, if you still have them up on valentine's day...and have not found some sort of way to incorporate them into the february holiday...you might be just a tad bit lazy...or a redneck...or a lazy redneck.
HAPPY UNDECORATING!!

^candy canes and inflatables should be gone before the grass starts turning green^

^be sure you've gotten all the ornaments...poor lonely little red ball^

                                                        

FLASHBACK april 2009

"don't you know about the bird? well everybody knows that the bird is the word..."
queenie and i talk everyday. she tells me about her friend "bird" which leads to a facebook friendship. bird and queenie dub me cardinal, because cardinals are the north carolina state bird. fortunately for me, they are, also, the state bird of ohio and 5 other states. i can safely live in north carolina, ohio, west virginia, virginia, kentucky, indiana, and illinois without changing my nickname.
FLASH FORWARD december 
i go running out of the house to run an errand. i hear a strange noise and assume the gardeners are working on the grounds of our apartment complex. i step off the porch and SPLAT!! bird doo on my neck!! ewwwwwwww!!!! i quickly realize i am dead center in a humongous flock of birds. i run to my car and watch in amazement as this flock swarms a berry tree and, then, in complete unison, flies on to the next...inevitably dropping doo on the next person to mistakenly walk thru them. 
FLASH FORWARD december 14, 2012 thru january 5, 2013
the audubon society sponsors a yearly christmas bird count. during these 3 weeks, tens of thousands of volunteers will brave rain, wind, and snow to go out and attempt to get a count of bird populations in their area. this information will be collected to help guide conservation efforts and assess the health of bird populations. click here if you would like to get involved...

                    

^three little birds and my artwork^

         

                                      

    

FLASHBACK the first christmas

"noses so red...poinsettias in a vase...my pillsbury dough boy, gingerbread tough...now kiss me did you miss me mistletoe for some luck"

a history lesson!!
the poinsettia. in mexico, it is called flores de noche buena (flowers of the holy night). legend says that a young girl wished to give the baby jesus a gift, but had no money. as she headed to visit the baby, she picked up weeds along the roadside. as she approached the manger, the weeds suddenly transformed into the vibrant red flower.
FLASH FORWARD 14th century(ish)
aztecs use the white sap stored in the plant (mistakenly thought to be poisonous to humans) to reduce fevers. also, they use the plant to make red dye.
FLASH FORWARD 1825
joel robert poinsett...the united states first ambassador to mexico (who also happens to be the founder of the smithsonian institute!) finds a plant that blooms in the short days around christmas, in southern mexico, and brings them to the united states. 
FLASH FORWARD today
the poinsettia is now a holiday favorite, symbolizing a wish of good cheer, success, and celebration. but, do you know how to care for your poinsettia? i don't...which is why i did some research...so here's a bit of advice from me...the queen of black thumbs:

1. light: your poinsettia is a tropical plant and will appreciate as much direct sunlight as you can give it...
2. heat: again, your poinsettia is a tropical plant. try to maintain a temp of 65-70 degrees...and don't let it touch a cold window or be exposed to a draft.
3. water: water your poinsettia whenever the surface feels dry to the touch. water until it pours out of the bottom, but don't let it sit in the water.
4. humidity: because homes tend to be dry, especially in winter, you may find you have to water your plant every day.

it's possible to keep your poinsettia alive through the year, and re~bloom for the following christmas...but, if you are anything like me, that's just NOT going to happen...however! if you are braver than me click here for more info...

happy planting!!

^poinsettias...responsible for the death of frosty? yep^

FLASHBACK christmas 1992

"a sack full of toys means a sack full of joys..."
the boys  wake me up with giggling and squealing. it's 5am, christmas morning. not only has santa been by and loaded them down with presents, but the grandparents, and their uncle, have sent a box full of gifts. they rip through all the paper, sticking bows on each other's heads. "oh! wow!! this is cool!!". "this is mine!! i love it!!". "look at this mama!!". then, they open them. large packages from my lil bro. machine guns. machine guns that make LIFE~LIKE noise. machine guns that, upon inspection, have batteries that CANNOT be removed. ack! all christmas day....BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!! early the next morning...RAT A TAT TAT TAT!!! on...and on...and on...and on...and on...ugh
FLASH FORWARD today
i am perusing the internet and notice an article about unsafe toys this holiday season. what makes a toy dangerous? lead paint continues to be a problem. phthalates, used to soften pvc, are known to cause changes in hormone levels and birth defects. extremely strong magnets can pinch fingers and are a choking hazard. obviously, small parts pose a choking hazard. and, the surprise to me...noisy toys! did you know that there is a limit of 65 decibles for toys? if a toy exceeds 85 decibles, prolonged exposure can cause gradual hearing loss! i am NOW blaming my lil bro for the hearing loss in my right ear...instead of rock concerts, blaring my stereo, the scarring on my ear drum (caused by a combination of q~tip and jumping toddler), or the ear canal that is smaller than it's supposed to be. nope...it's all lil bro and those stupid NOISY machine guns...

so...what toys should you avoid this year? the 2012 trouble in toyland reports the following:

• dragster cars (toys 'r us): small parts, choking hazard
• bowling game (dollar plus store): small parts, choking hazard
• toy food (walmart): choking hazard
• dora backpack (target): contains phthalates
• morphbot (dollar tree): contains lead
• snake eggs (dollar tree): choking hazard
• dora guitar (target): noisy, exceeds 85 decibles
• car wheel/horn (toys 'r us): noisy, exceed 85 decibles

happy shopping!!

                               

FLASHBACK 8 dec 2012

 i wake up and post a blog. i realize what day this is in history...a glimpse around our apartment will tell you this is a true statement...yet i post about the history of christmas trees. i get a text almost as soon as i post. "i'm surprised your blog isn't about john lennon today". i thought about it but it's also jim morrison's birthday so i was torn. "yeah, i get it". bridgette KNOWS me...she may not always UNDERSTAND me, but she knows me. so, then, it bugged me all. day. long. so i came up with a solution. two...two...two blogs in one. and a day late...so neither of them can haunt me over picking one over the other...
FLASHBACK 9 oct 1940
"you may say i'm a dreamer..."
john winston lennon is born. in liverpool, in wartime england. to julia and alfred. though he lives with his aunt and uncle, julia visits often. she introduces him to elvis records and teaches him the banjo. first song he learned to play? "ain't that a shame" by fats domino.
FLASH FORWARD 8 dec 1943
"no one remembers your name...when your strange"
james douglas morrison is born. in melbourne, florida. to clara and (future rear admiral general) george. when jim is 4, he witnesses a car accident in which a family of native americans dies. he considers this the most formative event in his life and will mention it in spoken word (dawn's highway) and song (peace frog and ghost song). as a navy brat, he will spend his childhood moving from base to base. he loves to read and is greatly influenced by philosophers and poets.
FLASH FORWARD february 1964
beatlemania strikes the united states. formed in 1960 by john lennon and paul mccartney, the beatles also include george harrison and ringo starr. they will become the most successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music, releasing 12 albums and producing 20 #1 hits in the united states. all of the members will have successful solo careers.
FLASH FORWARD the summer of 1965
jim morrison forms the doors after graduating ucla with a degree in film. in june of 1966, the doors are the opening act at whiskey a go~go...opening for van morrison's them. van morrison will be an influence on jim's stage performance. the doors receive national recognition in 1967, when they sign with elektra records. and the single "light my fire" (ps...my least favorite doors song) spends 3 weeks at #1 on billboard's hot 100. 
FLASH FORWARD 3 jul 1970
jim morrison joins the 27 club. he is found dead in his paris apartment bathtub. with no evidence of foul play, no autopsy is performed. he is buried in pere lachaise cemetery in paris and his grave is one of the cities biggest tourist attractions.
FLASH FORWARD 8 dec 1980
returning to his new york city apartment at 10:50p, john lennon is shot in the back, four times, by mark david chapman. he is pronounced dead upon arrival at roosevelt hospital. 11:07p. his ashes are spread in central park, where the strawberry fields memorial is later created.
FLASH FORWARD december 2007
the boys are playing with a ouija board. they swear they have talked to frank zappa. now they try to talk to jim morrison. the spirit keeps asking to speak to "sofa mama". who the heck is "sofa mama"? duh doy!! i'm a mama! AND i'm sitting on a sofa. he wants to speak to me. so i do. andrew and i sit on either side of my coffee table. the only lights are from the glow of the christmas tree. we stare into each other's eyes and ask the lizard king questions about rock 'n' roll heaven. cody stands above and tries to follow the planchette, repeating back the letters it points to. we get really strange and poetic answers. also, the lizard king hits on me. and, seriously. i. did not. just make that up. 

                                        

                                        

FLASHBACK the 16th century

"oh tannenbaum...oh tannenbaum...wie grün sind deine blätter..."
so...way before christianity, evergreen plants and trees held special meaning for people in the winter. they would bring them into their homes for decoration...and hang evergreen boughs over the doors and windows. they believed evergreens would ward off witches, ghosts, evil, and illness. in the 16th century, the christmas tree tradition begins when devout german christians bring decorated trees into their homes. they are typically decorated with apples, nuts, and dates. the protestant reformer, martin luther, is credited for the addition of lights. he is walking home, one evening, in awe of the twinkling stars. to bring this brilliance home to his family, he wires candles to an evergreen tree. 
FLASH FORWARD the 19th century
americans find christmas trees strange. the first tree to be displayed, on record, is by german settlers to pennsylvania in the 1830's. as late as the 1840's, christmas trees are seen as pagan symbols and unaccepted by MOST americans. why were they so backward? new england puritans (you know, those guys responsible for the salem witch trials?) believed that christmas was sacred and that decorations, carols, and joyful celebrations mocked the event. they actually made it a penal offense to observe christmas in any way other than a church service. but...in 1846, queen victoria is sketched, with her family, in front of a beautifully decorated tree...and, just like that...the christmas tree had arrived. 
FLASH FORWARD today
tis the season...people all over the country are decorating trees in their living rooms. maybe they've cut their own. maybe they're aluminum. maybe they're plastic. people are stringing lights...we've definitely learned that it's not safe to use candles!! some will be covered in carefully selected ornaments...some in ornaments the kids have been making since kindergarten. but they will all have one thing in common...they are a sign that christmas is just around the corner...

                        

                           

FLASHBACK sometime after 1965

"hark the herald angels sing...."
i can't really tell you how old i was the very first time i watched "a charlie brown christmas", i can just tell you i have watched it every single year since. it just cannot be christmas without it. you can watch all the rudolph and frosty and grinch and shrek you want...if you haven't watched charlie brown, you don't really know what christmas is all about. 47 years after it originally aired, i still get teary~eyed when linus takes that stage and says "and there were, in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. and lo, the angel of the lord came upon them, and the glory of the lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. and the angel said unto them, 'fear not: for behold, i bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. for unto you is born this day in the city of david a savior, which is christ the lord. and this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising god, and saying, 'glory to god in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' that's what christmas is all about, charlie brown." 
*a few things to note next time you watch "charlie brown christmas", and the bk knows because i point them out every year: linus never ever lets go of his security blanket, EXCEPT at the very moment he says "fear not: for behold, i bring you good tidings of great joy"; lucy always calls charlie brown by his full name, EXCEPT right before her rant about christmas being a commercial racket...she just calls him charlie then; pay attention when they are singing "hark the herald angels sing"...#1~all the characters take deep breaths while singing and #2~dirt flies every time pig pen takes a deep breath.

FLASH FORWARD today
i still watch "charlie brown christmas"...and still point out everything i notice even if the bk heard it last year...and the year before that...and the year before that...and the year before that, but i have added a slew of must~watches. so, what other specials and movies make my holiday perfect, you ask? here's my top 10 (in no particular order):

1. a christmas carol (1938): you can catch it on turner classic movies and it will always be my very favorite. it's, obviously, black and white, and a little cheesy. but i dare you not to get choked up when black and white tiny tim says "god bless us, everyone".
2. it's a wonderful life (1946): i know...i know...it makes everybody's list at christmas, but, did you know that it was a flop when it was originally released?
3. a christmas story (1983): everybody loves this movie. EVERYBODY. LOVES. this movie. fun fact? ralphie says he wants a red ryder bb gun 28 times.
4. elf (2003): "the best way to spread christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear". and that's all i have to say about that.
5. scrooged (1988): because nothing says "christmas" like bill murray acting like an a$$ and being terrorized by buster poindexter, carol kane, and bobcat goldthwait.
6. home alone  and home alone 2 (1990 and 1992): because macauley culkin is super cute and joe pesci is hilarious.
7. the santa clause movies (1994, 2002, 2006): don't judge me...
8. miracle on 34th street (1947): watch the original...the santa is better. trust me. 
9. christmas vacation (1989): clark griswold reminds me of my dad...he tries to make everything, from vacations to christmas, perfect. and my dad takes great pride in his holiday decorations. 
10. nightmare before christmas (1993): tim burton. that is all. 

of course, i will be watching all of the specials. rudolph the red~nosed reindeer. frosty the snowman. and anything that comes on abc family's 25 days of christmas...bring some popcorn (i'll provide the hot chocolate) and join me?