Found

I have caught something.

It's all consuming and makes my heart race.

I find myself nervously bouncing my knees even as I write,

thinking of this thing that has captured me.

It feels like I have {finally} found myself amidst this fever.

Found the self that was hidden for so many years under painful scabs

of infertility and childlessness; under grief and pain.

That self who has finally broken free from the shadows

and let me know of her existence.

This fever that has now encapsulated me was brought by this new self.

This new self that I love;

for she found me.

Mixing Bowls & Stilettos

Ok, so I know it is totally normal (and maybe expected in some circles) in the bloggy world to have multiple blogs.  I used to think those people were narcissistic, self-grandizing know-it-all's.  Now I'm one of them.  Seriously.  (And who knows, maybe we are narcissistic, self-grandizing know-it-all's...it wouldn't be the first time someone has called me any of those)  I've always had this blog and for a while the Unseen Readers was active.  I have my photography blog, but that's just because I like being able to look back at my photos.  Now I've started a cooking blog...but not to convert the world to the way of Holly cooking.  It is more for my mom. :)  We talk on the phone almost everyday and so she frequently gets the run-down of what I'm making for dinner.  She'll ask for a recipe, which I know she writes on the back of an envelope, receipt or other slip of paper and then loses within a day or so...because I do the same thing.   So I decided to put some of the things I make on a blog.  And it gives me something to do...being a stay at home mom to a kitty doesn't require that much time and effort.  Well, except for the daily snuggle hour, which I love.  And the required quiet time before each of Winson's naps...seriously...that cat is like a human child.  I'll have to tell you about it some time. 

Ok, I got sidetracked.  If you want to check out what's been cooking at our house, you can check me out HERE. 

New mantra

I've seen this quote floating around the interwebs the last few weeks and I loved it...but it just wasn't purple enough.  So I made me a "holly" version.  

I just may print it big and put it on my bathroom mirror so I can see it everyday. 

Reunited...

...and it feels so good!

A week ago Friday we came home from the Temple (which we are LOVING btw) and I logged onto my beloved laptop to check my email.  Instead of bringing up my cute desktop photo of Nathan and Winnie, I got this:

This is bad.  Bad, sad, bad.  I used my iTouch and made an appointment for the following morning with the Genius Bar at the local Apple Store.  They gave me the bad news: my hard drive had crashed, taking everything with it.  Sad, sad day indeed.  I actually teared up at the Apple Store...the guy must have thought I was crazy.  Luckily most of my pictures and music were backed up on an external hard drive, so in the grand scheme of things I didn't lose as much as I could have lost, and for that I am grateful.  

Today was the happy day...the day I got the call from Apple telling me to come pick up my baby...er... macbook.  I did happy dances all the way to the car...and all the way through the mall...and all the way back out to the car.  Pretty sure most of the people who saw me thought I was on drugs. 

I'm just happy to have my buddy back.  Boy did I miss you. 

Four eyes

Last time I got new glasses...President Bush was in his first term in office.  I think it's about time for new ones...don't you?

(They are purple on the inside.  Swoon)

And because I'm such a saavy shopper...I went when glasses were buy one get one free.   So I got this second pair (FOR FREE!!  I love a bargain!!) for when I feel like switching it up:

(Yes, that's zebra print paired with red metal frames)

New glasses are just what I needed to help me try to look on the positive side of life.  :)

The truth

A friend had a post that got me thinking. She wondered if the version of us that we post here in blog world is truly that of ourselves, or if it is a sweetened, photo-shopped version. I have often wondered the same thing as I peruse the blogs of friends and family...and I have had people pose questions or comments to me that make me wonder if they know the true me.

I think in my case I fall on the other end of the spectrum. Most people try to polish everything and make their life all bright and shiny. I am not afraid of the ugly. I have no shortage of posts where I show the wounds of my soul, or whine about the unfairness of the world. I think I am a more cheerful person than my blog portrays. I have people tell me all the time that they think I use drugs because otherwise I could not be so happy. I guess I need to work on showing that side of Holly on this blog.

10 years

One of my Senior Pics

My 10 year High School reunion was this weekend. I wasn't able to go, but I wanted in on the nostalgia so I went through a bunch of old pictures and uploaded them onto facebook and had some fun reminiscing. (If you didn't get to see them and want to - because lets face it, seeing 10 year old pictures of Holly was at the top of your wish list this year...right? - then by all means friend me on facebook!)

I have thought a lot about how much my life has changed since then, and how much I have changed. I thought about the trials I've endured (and continue to endure) and blessings I've received (and hopefully will continue to receive) and all the roads I've seen inbetween. My life is very different than I thought it would be 10 years post high school, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. If I could somehow go back in time ten years to my giddy self and pass on some advice it would look like this:

Don't worry that you didn't fit in. It won't matter in the long run who you lockered with or which table you sat at in the lunch room. The quality of your character is not measured by the label on your jeans or the stitching on your shoes.

Don't stop running. It will help you keep sane and healthy in the years to come. Running will provide a solace in stormy weather. Keeping the habit will be easier than rebuilding it.

Hold fast to the friends you have, good friendships take work but are worth all the effort. The heartbreak of losing a friend is not easily healed.

When the road in life gets rocky, remember that nothing great comes without sacrifice. If it is easy, it isn't worth it.

I'm on the red carpet, in a red robe, smack dab in the middle...curtseying

25 things you never wanted to know

Ok, so this has been passed around more than the easy cheerleader in highschool, and since I have been tagged by no less than seven people here it goes. If you actually knew all these, stop stalking me.

1. I have a slight obsession with shoes...I am currently at 92 pairs. Yep, 92.
   
2. Even though I was born on Christmas, my favorite holiday is Halloween...hands down.
   
3. Six cities in three states have had the distinct honor of calling me a resident. In a month or so, that will be seven cities in four states.
   
4. Never broken a bone, but I did tear all the ligaments in my right ankle in indoor track in 9th grade.
   
5. As of last Sunday I have been married for seven years to the luckiest guy alive. (actually, I am the lucky one)
   
6. I LOVE writing. Actual using a pen writing. I used to practice my penmanship when I was younger...of my own free will and choice.
7. During high school I went through a bit of a Hippie phase. It was nothing but bell bottoms, polyester and The Beatles. (there was also a lot of Purple...so much that someone nicknamed me PG...Purple Gothic)
8. I am the oldest of four and the only girl.
   
9. One of my Christmas presents from Nathan was a notebook that fits in my purse...all so I can make lists any time I want.
10. Nathan calls me a hoarder. I will admit that I have a bit of a collecting problem (see #1)
    
11. When I grow up I want to be a secret service agent, college professor, graphic designer, event planner, professional photographer, psychologist, interior designer, concert pianist, lawyer, stay-at-home-mom.
    
12. Want a slice of the best pumpkin pie ever? I can do that for you. (Apple Pie and Cheesecake too)
    
13. I have OCD. For real. Actually diagnosed and medicated.
    
14. I LOVE to cook...my mom doesn't and hasn't EVER. Not sure where I got it from.
    
15. My outfit of choice would be a skirt and heels.
    
16. One time I chopped my hair off. I went from waist length to a chin length bob in one snip. (well, it actually took a few to get through the ponytail)
    
17. I play flute, piccolo, piano and drums. I took piano lessons for a year when I was ten and other than that I have never studied privately...kinda wish I would have...sometimes I am sad thinking of the talent I could have cultivated. :(
    
18. I sing all the time. Unless there is someone around who can hear...the kitties are my only acceptable audience.
19. I would LOVE to be in a musical...and not in the pit orchestra. But then I'd have to be able to sing in front of people... (see #18) Roxie Hart in Chicago would be my dream role.
    
20. Going to the dentist should be considered cruel and unusual punishment.
    
21. I have an intense desire to run a marathon...but unfortunately I lack the motivation to get my sorry butt out of bed and train.
    
22. My Barbies and I had an ongoing secret relationship until 8th grade. I hope for girlie girls who will want to play Barbies with their mom...I still have 2 large rubbermaid tubs full of Barbies, clothes, furniture, etc...just in case. I also have a Barbie Jeep and a Barbie Van.
    
23. I never wanted children until the summer of 2004. Some switch flipped that summer and now I know I can't have one I want twenty.
    
24. I hate when people use incorrect grammar. Misuse of homonyms (Your/You're and There/Their/They're and Here/Hear) is like nails on a chalkboard to me.
25. There is a constant running dialogue between me and myself and I in my head. It occurs in the shower, driving to work, eating and trying to fall asleep. I keep myself pretty good company.
    

4 Things

Bethany tagged me...so here we go. 

4 Things I was doing 10 years ago

~ Finishing my Senior Year of High School

~ Planning where I was going to go to college

~ Dating Mark

~ Being a band geek

4 Things on my list to do today

~ Finish burning the band DVDs

~ Get some sleep

~ Laundry

~ De-stress

4 Things I love about my husband

~ He lets me pick the restaurant

~ He does the dishes

~ He loves me for who I am

~ He's excited about adoption too

4 Jobs I've had

~ Nanny

~ Smoothie Maker

~ Cherry Picker

~ Waitress

4 Movies I have seen more than once

~ My Fellow Americans 

~ Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

~ Legally Blonde (I & II)

~ So I Married An Axe Murderer

4 Places I've lived

~ Pleasant View, Utah

~ Virginia Beach, Virginia

~ Newport, Rhode Island

~ Logan, Utah

4 Places I want to visit

~ Europe

~ Africa

~Prince Edward Island/Halifax/New Foundland

~ Malaysia

4 TV shows I watch

~ Grey's Anatomy

~ Desperate Housewives

~ Lost

~ Seinfeld

4 Things you may not know about me

~ I snore.  Bad.

~ I drink the juice out of pickle jars

~ I have never broken a bone

~ I hate wearing socks

If you want to be tagged, consider yourself tagged. 

OCD

Sometimes my OCD comes in handy...take for example our move from RI. When we packed our house up, (because I didn't trust anyone else to so it as good as I could) I had a system. Each box was packed according to what room it would go in at the new house. Each room was assigned a color (kitchen was red, family room was orange, bedroom was blue, etc). When the box was packed it was assigned a number, which was printed on little circle tabs in the assigned color and placed on three sides of the box. Then colored tape was wrapped around the box so we could identify quickly which room it belonged in. Each box was also listed on a spreadsheet. I recorded the box#, room, contents and date packed. I also had a column for date unpacked. My obvious display of OCD helped once we got here, as I was able to unpack very quickly.

It also helps when planning parties or any other event. Nathan will tell you that I am queen of lists. I makes lists for EVERYTHING. Some things get more than one list. (You should see the ones for our Halloween Party...) I have one notebook all full of lists/notes about baby things. Like a list of what to take to the hospital for the birth, people we want to send announcements to, projects I want to complete before the baby is born (all broken down by trimester too), wish lists of things I want to buy, etc. The ironic thing about that whole notebook is we aren't pregnant...and now that we are going to adopt, many of those lists will not be needed. But the exciting thing is that new lists will have to be made (yay for lists!!)

The OCD makes things tough for me too...especially when I have no control over a situation. It stresses me out and causes insomnia, headaches, etc. I actually keep a notebook and pen at my bedside so I can write lists in the middle of the night...which is {supposed} to save me from the insomnia. Putting my thoughts on paper {supposedly} gets them out of my head so I can sleep...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. That is where Ambien comes in.

That brings me to our current situation: I lost our camera. Well, I'm not sure if I lost it or if Nathan lost it...but it is lost nevertheless. Not my new Nikon (thank heavens!) but our little point and shoot digital. Now, I know it is just a camera, but it is FULL of stuff from the football games. Videos, interviews, pictures...all of which have not yet been downloaded. I am freaking out that I may have lost all that stuff and I will have not enough material to do the band video. We have torn the house apart, checked every inch of both cars and it remains nowhere to be found. This creates quite a problem for my OCD brain. I cannot sleep, I cannot work, I cannot focus on anything else...I'm not even hungry (which is ASTOUNDING)... all I can think about is that blasted camera.

So last night at about 2am (so I guess technically this morning) I thought about something that could help me {maybe} find our camera. I got up and went online to look at our bank statement (yes, at 2am...) and found something that helped to narrow down our search. But my mind was still racing, I had to consciously stop myself from waking Nathan to talk to him about it, you know, because he had to get up in two hours to go to work.

Here's to hoping we find it soon - or I think my brain may explode.

(Oh, you know how on Excedrin bottles it says to not take more than 2 in 24 hours? How important do you think it is to actually follow that? I just took my 5th and 6th tablets in 48 hours...this headache WILL NOT go away)

I am...

All About Me Survey Take This Survey at Quizopolis.com I Am indecisive I Want a baby I Have a great hubby I Wish to be debt free I Hate judgemental hypocrites I Fear never having children I Hear the radio next to my desk I Search ebay multiple times a day I Wonder if I made the right choice I Regret not finishing my degree in 2002 I Love my hubby and fur babies I Ache from my run Saturday I Always need more sleep I Usually wear wicked cool shoes I Am Not fond of spiders I Dance to the beat of my own drummer I Sing whenever no one is listening I Never stay as organized as I want to I Rarely finish my to do lists I Cry way too much I Am Not Always friendly...yes, really. I Lose emotional control I'm Confused about where to go next in life I Need to win a million dollars I Should get back to work ;) Take This Survey at Quizopolis.com

If you read this - consider yourself tagged.

Just one of many

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 192 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Yep there are 192 other people in the good old US of A with my same first and last name...thanks to RYANN for tipping me off to the site.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 27 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

This is how many of me there are with my same maiden name.

Here are some stats on my first name:

There are 177,766 people in the U.S. with the first name Holly.
Statistically the 340th most popular first name.
More than 99.9 percent of people with the first name Holly are female.

So what about you?? (Some of you I already know because I played with it and searched your names already...sneaky me) Not sure how accurate this info is, or what their source is...but it is fun.

Just what you wanted...

...Kristen tagged me and so I must post...feel free to read if you want and if you don't, ah well...

Where were you born? Ogden, UT

Middle name: Dawn...just like my mother's and (hopefully) just like a daughter some day

How old will you be this year? 28 in December

Nicknames: Hollywood, Mouse, Holly Hobby and Holinator

Are you taller than your mother or father? Yes, poor short mom

Do you cry often during movies? Yes...I cry over sappy commercials

What is your biggest pet peeve? Eating noises and when people misuse their, there, they're, your, you're, to, too and two

Favorite color: Green and pink

Favorite foods: Prime Rib, Green Goddess salad dressing, See's chocolate

Favorite restaurants: PF Changs, Gold's & Pickles

Favorite beverage: Diet Coke (I know it will kill me...I don't care, if I could 'drink' it via IV I would)

Favorite cold cereal: Cinnamon Life

Favorite smells: Right after a rainstorm, crisp fall evenings by the ocean, kittens

Favorite time of day: Anytime I am not working or on my way to work

What brand of shampoo/conditioner do you use? Pureology - I LOVE the conditioner, it smells minty... mmm

Favorite make-up products? Mary Kay moisturizer, and my teal eye shadow :)

How many pillows do you sleep with? One stiff one under my neck and one fluffy down one tucked under my chin.

Do you play an instrument? Yes: flute, piccolo, piano and an amazing assortment of percussion instruments

Have you ever been skinny dipping? Yes

Did you do any sports in High School? I ran track for a week (I had to quit the team...big misunderstanding with the coach)

What was the last movie you saw in the theater? 27 dresses

What is your favorite article of clothing? Any one of my shoes :) But this week it is the Bandolino red patent leather peep toe pumps.

What is your dream vacation? On a beach, with a book and a Pina Colada

What was your first impression of your spouse? I thought he was cute - I even asked him out but he rejected me (he 'claims' not to remember this...)

If you were an animal what would you be? A cat - hands down....someone feeds you, cleans up your poop and I get to just sleep all day... sounds good to me

What is your favorite “me- time” activity? Shopping...especially for shoes.

Favorite TV shows: Sex and the City (can't wait for the movie!!), Seinfeld, Grey's and Desperate Housewives

What is your dream car? 1967 Ford Mustang convertible. Cherry Red with white leather interior and red leather accents.

What is one of your weaknesses? I get my feelings hurt easily. And I am a sucker for a good deal on a great pair of shoes...I'll eat Mac and Cheese for a week instead of buying groceries if it means getting those Bandolinos... :)

What do you fix for dinner when there’s nothing to fix? Fancy Shmancy Belgian Waffles in my Fancy Shmancy new Belgian Waffle maker. Top them with syrup and butter and chocolate chips and you have a meal!! ;)

If you could live in a different decade/era which one would it be? I love the 20's for the music and clothes and I love the 70's - talk about some great shoes!!

Do you consider yourself outgoing? Yes

What is something you are constantly working on? Losing weight...it is a battle I fear I may never win. Damn chocolate chip Belgian Waffles.

Any hidden talents? I am a WICKED fast silverware polisher...and I can walk in 4" stilettos

What is a word or phrase you overuse? Like. It has gotten tremendously worse since we moved here...I don't do it as bad when I type, but in person I am beginning to sound "Like a total Valley Girl"

What is the worst thing that happened to you this past year? Lost two babies

What is the best thing that happened to you this past year? Learned that Nathan would finally graduate, mom's heart surgery went good and I found Frank on the side of the road.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year? Run the 5K in May.

The best piece of advice you learned this past year? Be patient...impatience is just too stressful

Who are the 7 people you are going to tag to do this survey? Erin (yea for new bloggers), Kim S & Lisa (put it in the comments), Cindy, Sheila, Briana, Janus

Five Things

I have been tagged by Kimberly so here it goes....oh and I tag Abby, Ryann, Joy, Briana and Sheila.

Five things on my to do list:

Run

Pay the bills

Iron my work shirt

Christmas Cards (do you think it's too late for this??)

Brush the kittens

Five jobs I've held:

Nanny

Cherry Picker (for real...this was my first job)

Smoothie Maker

Jewelry Saleswoman

Waitress

Five Places I've Lived:

Virginia Beach, VA

Newport, RI

Logan, UT

Pleasant View, UT

Smithfield, UT (Almost Logan...)

Five of my favorite snacks:

Claussen pickles

Dark Chocolate

Garlic Triscuits

Popcorn - homemade, with Parmesan Cheese on it ...mmmm

Cinnamon Candy

Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Buy some kids

Pay off our debt

Build a new house

Go on a long trip somewhere IT IS NOT SNOWING

Save the rest

p.s.

As I was sitting on our bed writing the post, Frankie came and snuggled into the pillows next to me...SO CUTE...

Also, I finally found someone who cut my hair RIGHT...I got it cut on Saturday and I colored it darker than I usually do...plus it has PURPLE streaks in it (yes, I wanted it that way)....and I guess if you want to get technical they are more "Red-Violet" ... you can't see the streaks in this photo, but you can see the overall color... cute?? yes, no?

It got me thinking...

For those of you who weren't around last year...I posted something about my birthday and someone left quite a rude comment...that person still checks my blog every once-in-a-while. I know this thanks to the freaky little tracking thing I have :) I have been thinking a lot about that person and their comment the last week or so.

I have also been reading some other people's blogs who share the Christmas Birthday with me and I am finding an overwhelming amount of us who feel slighted... So if you don't want to hear my venting...close the web browser now and go back to making your holiday cookies or wrapping presents or whatever, but please don't read on and get pissy and leave a nasty comment...I don't have the patience for you this year. :)

You know how some restaurants, stores, etc will send out postcards that say 'Come in on your Birthday and we'll give you a free _____' ?? I never get to use those - I tried once in Rhode Island...on the 26th, but because it wasn't my actual birthday I didn't get it...which sucks because they weren't even OPEN on my birthday... I do have to say that some places will accomodate us, but not all...their excuse? "If we did it on a different day for you we'd have to do it ona different day for everyone..." Um, ya, because JimBob whose birthday is on May 2nd and chooses not to go out is totally different from me who CANNOT go out on my b-day. :(

My old boss started a policy that you get your birthday off with pay - I asked her about my brithday, if I could take the 24th or the 26th and she said 'No'...her excuse was that if your birthday falls on a weekend you don't get to take it off...and I should be happy because I always get the day off... So ya, once again, NOT THE SAME THING... I am happy to get Christmas off, but I just want the same treatment everyone else gets...grrr

I know this is dumb, but I would like to have a birthday party every once-in-a-while...a nice, sit-down dinner - NO PRESENTS - but fun and food and games and whatnot...but that will never happen, because December is the WORST month to try and plan a get-together because everyone else is so busy. And I could do it in May or January, but then it isn't my birthday.

Just once I would like to know what it feels like to have a REAL birthday...one that is not overshadowed with tinsel and lights and Ho Ho Ho...

Getting to know you, Christmas Style

1). Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper

2). Real tree or artificial tree? I love real ones - it is just too dry here...Plus the previous owners of our home left an awesome 7' pre-lit artificial tree in the basement!

3). When do you put up your tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving

4). When do you take the tree down? Before New Years...usually

5). Do you like eggnog? Usually..but I had a bit of a 'rough' experience with it earlier this year...so I haven't been able to stomach it again yet :( Note to self: DO NOT eat a dozen chocolate chip applesauce cookies and then drink a huge glass of eggnog.

6) Favorite gift ever received? My big, thick purple quilt Nathan made me...not sure if I got it for Christmas or B'Day...they both run together...

7) Favorite gift ever given? The wedding album I gave my parents last year

8) Clear lights or colored lights? Clear on the tree...colored on the house

9) Hardest person to buy for? Dad

10) Easiest person to buy for? Nathan

11) Do you have a nativity? Yes, two. One Willow Tree set (with a very cool backdrop made by my dad) and a small porcelain set.

12) E-mail or regular mail Christmas Cards? Mail...except this year - I have been too busy...maybe everyone will get New Years cards. ??

13) Worst gift ever received? Underwear (when I was little)

14) Favorite Christmas movie? Grinch...old or new

15) When do you start Christmas shopping? November

16) Favorite thing(s) to eat at Christmas? Pecan glazed ham...and all the treats

17) Favorite Christmas song? You're a Mean one, Mister Grinch ...and there is this one song that has the line "And the prettiest sight you'll see is the Holly that will be on your own front door"... I like that one too ;)

18) Travel at Christmas or stay home? Depends on the year, in the past we have traveled a lot but this year we'll stay close to home.

19) Can you name all of Santas' reindeer? Sure, what do you take me for...some sort of Christmas novice?!?

20) Do you have an angel or star on your tree? Nothing...the tree is too tall, we had to fold down the top branch so it would fit...but I do have a really beautiful star that I'll use someday

21) Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? PJ's Christmas Eve...and yes mom, I know that's what's in that bag...

22) What is the most annoying thing about this time of year? The commercializaiton of the holiday

23) Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Growing up, Santa usually set each of ours out on a different chair...some wrapped some not. Now, wrapped on the couch.

24) Do you hang mistletoe? Yes

25) Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Loading all of us kids in the truck and driving around to see the lights, then coming home to have homemade ice cream... and when we were little we all used to sleep in the same room together and 'watch for Santa'

26) When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth??!? Does he wear a fake beard?? I can't believe I have been decieved all these years... sheesh

27) Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it...love shoveling it, love watching it, love eating it (as long as it isn't yellow...)

28) Can you ice skate? Yes...I miss the outdoor rink in Newport...that was so fun. SHEILA - you need to take the kids... :)

29) What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Remembering why we have the season in the first place...and it isn't about reindeer or a fat man in a red suit...


I am tagging:
Ryann
Briana
Sheila
Janus
Kristen
Cindy

Merry ... Birthday?!

Not sure how many of you know this...my b-day is actually ON Christmas....not within the month, or close to but DEAD ON the 25th of December. And that is NOT why my name is Holly...

So some years are ok...but most of the time I kinda feel greatly overshadowed by all the festivities and such...not that it is a bad thing to celebrate my b-day the same time they celebrate the birth of Christ...but...

The worst thing is when people say: "Well everyone celebrates your birthday!"....actually not...roughly 33% of the population of the world is Christian...so not everyone AND they are not celebrating MY birthday, and I would dare say a majority are not celebrating ANY birthday....but rather a 'buy-me-stuff-day.'

It's not that I want a parade or a national holiday named after me...but a "Happy Birthday" that is not immediately prior to or following a "Merry Christmas" would be nice... :( and if someone should choose to get me a present...that it would be wrapped in pink or brown or purple or even plain green or red...but not green AND red...or be adorned with reindeer or santa or candy canes or any other Christmas things.

Does this make me a scrooge?

Christmas Survey

feel free to copy this 'survey' and post all your answers in my comments section...I'd love to hear them!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? paper, I LOVE to wrap presents!

2. Real tree or artificial? I prefer real - but artificial is just more practical in the dry climate where we live.

3. When do you put up the tree? The last few years it has been about a week before Christmas, but this year we did it the weekend of Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Nathan is itching to get it down the day after

5. Do you like egg nog? mmm...eggnog...

6. Favorite gift received as a child? bikes

7. Do you have a nativity scene? We have 2. A Willow Tree Nativity and a miniature porcelain one.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad

9. Easiest person to buy for? Winston - Greenies, a box and a fluff and he's good

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail of course...you can't stamp an e-mail!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmm...underwear used to tick me off when I was little...

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The original Grinch (the new one is good too...but nothing beats the classic!)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? August :) I love to shop!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? All the peppermint flavored things

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song(s)? Once in Royal David's City, and big band arrangements of Christmas tunes

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Usually we travel, but we will be home this year.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Of course!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Usually a star, but the tree is too tall and so just a big bow.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open PJ's (yes mom, I already know what is in that sack...) on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas - but we do my Birthday presents first in the morning...then cake...then Christmas presents.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Walmart...and how you have to say 'Happy Holidays' so you don't offend anyone.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Our ornaments are a deep crimson and gold...and I must say our tree looks FABULOUS!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Spiral cut Honey Pecan glazed Ham, with all the trimmings

25. Do you have Jesus in your heart this Christmas? Absolutely...isn't He the reason for the season?

I am a freakin smarty pants!

So after my Economics class, the professor called me and two others up and told us we were excused from taking the final - because there was no way we could drop below an A even if we bombed the final, so there was no point in taking it! Woohoo!