CHRISTmas, Yes I said it.

It's finally starting to feel like Fall in our area with just a touch of winter in the air. But being from the North you know we can't help but sleep with our windows cracked open ;)


So have you started your Christmas shopping? I have gotten as far as compiling a Christmas list of gift ideas. I'm late this year. Usually I like to start in October and be done by early November. I hate crowds.I love to shop but hate having to wait in long lines and even more settling on something I know the recipient will not love but having to get it because there isn't much left to choose from. So I'm planning on getting in the Christmas spirit this weekend. To start off, we're going to see this:

Disney's A Christmas Carol starring Jim Carrey.

(Photo courtesy of Disney)

I admit, I'm not a huge Jim Carrey fan but his rendition of The Grinch was amazing! I seem to like him better animated. LOL. I am so excited to see this movie!

Then its off to do some shopping! I love the Christmas Season. Things seem more magical, people a little more friendlier. Strangers seem to try to extend hospitality to those around them a bit more than usual. Trying as we might to be a "good neighbor" I think may have bite us in the butt just a tad, wouldn't you say? I mean, to omit the word Christmas from it's very holiday because we as a society are aiming to be politically correct, in my opinion has gone to far. Least we forget why it's called CHRISTmas in the first place? Schools are now closing for "winter break" and no longer "Christmas break". I am a big believer of the saying, "live and let live" but to say that we can no longer merrily say "Merry Christmas" to each other in the malls or in public places because someone within earshot may not celebrate it? I don't see it as an insult to those that don't celebrate but as a celebration for those that do. It's Christ's birthday, and for me I'm opting to keep Christ in Christmas. If that doesn't make me politically correct, I apologize, I don't mean to offend, but I do mean to celebrate the holiday for what it is.

OK, I'm done ranting! What we were talking about when I got side tracked? Oh yah, shopping! What are your favorite stores to hit up? Do you have a special go to place you know you'll find great deals, great gift ideas? I know for sure I want to visit the Disney store for my niece and nephew. Otherwise, probably the mall and the outlets. Anyone care to share their fave stores?

~ Marcia

Making due

Our morning walk was a beautiful cool crisp one where the aroma of breakfasts seep through closed doors and out into the streets. That aroma brought with it a memory that I hold close but never realized it's meaning until this morning. It reminded me of days gone by. We'd all pack into the car and head over to my grandparents house where we'd meet up with aunts, uncles and our cousin and settle in for a grand holiday feast. My grandparents had 7 children, those children had childen so to say there was a lot of us is an understantment. Yet my grandparents house wasn't really a house at all, it was a two bedroom apartment where they lived for the majority of their lives as my grandparents.

Their home may not have been a house but there was no denying it a home. It was filled to the brim with love, laughter and gatherings. It was a standard issued apartment, a two bed, one bath, galley style kitchen and little patio. Yet on many a holiday or simply a Sunday, they'd add the leaf to the dinning table (if you were seated by the patio door you'd know to use the washroom before settling in, otherwise there was no getting back up)! The kids had the "kids table", which on every other day was their coffee table. Yet we didn't mind it at all! It was a grand! Grandma would deck out our table as prettily as the big table. Our napkins would be rolled into our "wine" glasses (only years later did we realize they were stemmed orange juice glasses). She would set our table with large plates, salad plates and we had the same knives, forks and spoons set up around them as the big table did. Even her olives had their own silver platter and little spoon! My grandparents hosted many a holiday and no one wined about having to share one bathroom, ok, ok so I do recall telling my sisters to hurry it up from time to time, but my point is, they made due with what they had. They opened their door to family and weren't shy about the lack of space their home offered. No one complained about having to sit at the kitchen table while others sat on the couch or piano stool. We made due, and enjoyed each others company. This realization stopped me in my tracks. I have been living a life of "when we have this...we'll be happy".

Once again, my Granny has been an invaluable part of my life and my inspiration. So from now on I promise to open my door to family and friends and invite them to gather around our little table or squeeze onto our sofa and make memories.

~ Marcia

You gotta know when to fold them...know when to walk away

I know Kenny was referring to a game of cards but I think his words can be used to describe relationships as well. Sometimes we gotta stop making excuses, and see what it is we're looking at, with new eyes and an unbiased opinion. Life is to short to pretend it away. We can only hope, pray and try so much, when it ain't fixing, it's definetly broke.

Most people have assumed I was referring to my husband or an old friend, and would be behind me to change my situation, "stand up for yourself", they'd say, "be strong", they'd cheer. Yet, when I say no, it's neither of those, but the relationship I have with my mother, the reaction is always the same. Ohhh, "give her room, give her time, she needs you". Why? Why is it ok for someone to treat you with no respect, no love, no understanding, because your veins share the same blood? When is enough, really enough? And why do people think because its your parent that you need to be the one to bend? That you need to forgive, forget and keep the line of communication open? Even though every turn remains unchanged.I have tried to find the source of her dismay but to no avail. I have finally faced the truth, that lay in front of me, for years I overlooked it. She never offered to share her thoughts, her feelings or her truths. So I must accept it for what it is. The only truth I have is to decide what to do with this information. So yes, Kenny, you're right, you really need to know when to fold them, and simply walk away.

I am sorry this post is more on the personal note. I didn't intend to share this with you, but it needed out of my brain. And my friends, God love them, can easily start sending me bills as I've talked their ears off for years. ;)

Here's to change, to a new season, a new day!
~Marcia

A little procrastinating goes a long way

So I've been itching to do something creative. Pull out the paints, get my hands dirty and turn something unused into something grand. OK, OK so my conscience keeps pulling me towards that half painted desk I purchased at a yard sale back in July!! I got the top painted, and a bit of the side then ran out of paint. I finally bought more (gulp), back in August! Sigh....I think I saw a notice of a procrastination party but was, yes, that's right, procrastinated to long and missed taking part. I swear, I'm my own worst enemy.

But with Fall and Halloween, and soon Christmas decorating I don't feel like painting a desk. I feel like getting into the spirit of things. No, not buying it? I'm just being lazy aren't I? I know, deep in my heart, I know that too. I also want to paint Cinnamon's wooden food stand. She is a messy drinker and there's starting to get water stains on it and it's looking yucky. But I can't for the life of me decide what color to paint it? I have a bit of red in my kitchen, should I do that? Or should I go with pink being that she's a girl, but that it wouldn't match my kitchen decor? Seriously, these are the questions that stump me! (If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them. I'm going for the country cottage-y look).

OK, so back to my half done desk. I'm posting a very embarrassing picture, just to hold myself accountable. I hope you talented ladies can help keep me in line!

P.S. Yes, my goal is to eventually paint the chair as well and get a cushion for it.

Wishing you a great week!

~ Marcia

My Husband Rocks -

I wanted to participate in My Husband Rocks Friday Parties presented by Katey Lyn over at The Great Adventure. I really like this idea as it makes one focus on the good of their partner and not the bad as it is so easy to do. My hubby rocks because he somehow knows when grief visits me during the night. He was fast asleep, snoring softly and yet I felt his hand reach for mine as tears silently rolled down my cheeks. How could he know I needed his touch? It amazes me that somewhere in his soul he knew I needed him. To me, that rocks.

For this post I wanted to add a photo of my handsome hubby. This is one of my favorites. He is with a baby Cinnamon a couple of months after we brought her home. Too cute right?

Wishing you all a great weekend!!

~Marcia

Thrifty heirloom find

As I got dressed yesterday I realized I hadn't shown you my most recent heirloom. Shame on me! How can an heirloom be recent you ask? Well, one day this past summer my MIL went out on one of our most enjoyed adventures. Rummage sales. I was running late because our car was at the shop but she saw this gorgeous pendent and snatched it up right away. It was all of .50 cents. She knows me well, and knew I would love it.

The photo doesn't do it justice. It is a rose, encircled by a jeweled frame. Atop sits a large bow. It's gorgeous.

THEN she turned it over.

Try as I might, I could not for the life of me, get a photo of the inscription. But it is beautiful. It's inscription was beautiful. It's meaning to me was so precious. If you have read my blog before you know that I adore my grandma. She has recently passed on but this piece of jewelry is exactly what I would have purchased for her. It's inscription reads "Grandmother, I love you." The seller, was a young woman who had inherited all her grandma's jewelry and had kept what she wanted and was selling off what she didn't. She didn't know where the pendent came from.

When I arrived to the rummage sale we quickly hightailed it back to the girls booth, and I found a matching necklace for my new found heirloom. It's price, was a matching .50 cents. That day I received a .50 cent pendent and purchased a .50 cent necklace. But in all honesty, it's priceless.


~ Marcia

Comfort foods

Hi All!

I hope you had a warm weekend! It was a rainy windy one where I live, but we didn't have to utter the horrible four letter word...s.n.o.w. Hubby and I are from the North, born and raised but one distinct difference between us, he looooves winter. I loathe it. Ok, so loathe is a strong word but I highly dislike it. Except for when it's big fat snowflakes, and my whole family is gathered safe and sound around the fireplace all cozy and warm. Oh, and for the other reason that tornadoes are not common in winter. I have a large fear of them, but that's a whole other post.

Anywho, since hubby and I are northerns we sleep with the window cracked open, even on nights with frost warnings! Even Cinnamon loves snow. But as I said, all we got was rain. It made for the perfect weekend of cooking and watching Football (hubby) and reading CountryLiving magazine (me).


So, I made some chili and as a foolish girl that I am, forgot all about the pics. Sorry. But I also made a roast in our crocpot. How we got along without it is beyond me. I just add my ingredients then kick back on the couch with my cup of joe and my magazine. Ahh, the life. The picture is kinda hard to see and we didn't eat it for supper cuz I like to cook it on slow for 9hrs. It'll be our lunches during the work week.

Then we bought us a little snack ;)

Isn't the box cute? The Pillsbury marketing people are genusies, it sure got my attention! And it came out sooo goood too! Yum!!

I hope you had a cozy weekend too.
~ Marcia