Christmas in May?

It's extremely difficult for me to wait for my favorite holiday: Christmas. I live for it the whole year. Lately I've been thinking" "oh, I should start present hunting and baking goodies...getting out my holiday tunes and all that jazz." However, I will sit here patiently waiting until at least Halloween.

My birthday is coming up and I'm really excited about that too. Like...Christmas excited for it. Today at lunch, I told Steven I wanted a birthday tree of my own and I'm half tempted to put up my little 2 ft tree and put some really colorful not-so-christmasie-ornaments on it. I'm also hoping that the birthday-Santa leaves me some goodies under this tree. :D

I'm still debating what to do for my birthday. I've scheduled a cleaning and orthodontist consultation for the day before...completely boring, but they need to be done. I've taken 2 days off, so I should have a long weekend to myself if the pier is generous and doesn't schedule me. I'm hopeful, but not delusional. I really want to take a day and go to the city either solo or with the Steben. We live 45 minutes from D.C. and we never get up there. Shameful, isn't it?

Oh! Also excited that amazon has informed me that the new Sookie Stackhouse book has been shipped and will, I hope, arrive on the book's release date. Lately, I've lived for book releases. I've done more pre-ordering off of amazon in the past few weeks then in the whole existence of amazon.com. Once Hitch 22 arrives I'll probably disappear for a good week or so until I go to a book meet-and-greet with the author...

Also, in other life events: I have fluorescent orange pee. Yeah, you read that correctly. It's a side effect from one of the medications I'm taking to get rid of a bladder infection. Very nasty and annoying things that completely disrupt your life. I genuinely hope you've never experienced one. I'm trying to take it as easy as I can, but I know that I'm just not getting enough sleep. I never get enough sleep these days.

All work and no play really does make Ms. Domestique a dull girl...I know, I know...

Dear Diary:

I spent my New Years watching Bridget Jones and going to bed early. My tummy hasn't been feeling too swell lately. Bridget Jones' Diary was rather appropriate for the evening since the whole premise of the movie is that she starts a diary for the New Year in order to fix some things in her life. Not only is her character based on Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (a personal favorite) but it's just down right hilarious and I relate to Bridget immensely.

To quote Bridget, her New Years resolutions were:

Resolution #1: uggg - will obviously lose 20 lbs. #2: always put last night's panties in the laundry basket. Equally important: will find nice sensible boyfriend and stop forming romantic attachments to any of the following: alcoholics, workoholics, sexaholics, commitment-phobics, peeping toms, megalomaniacs, emotional fuckwits, or perverts. Will especially stop fantasizing about a particular person who embodies all these things.

Now, I've got the guy thing in the bag, however, I think that numbers 1 and 2 could definitely be added to my expectations for the new year.


So, Amanda's New Year resolutions:
1- will obviously lose 20 pounds
2- make sure that yesterdays panties make it to the laundry basket
3- carry trash from my car when I make it
4- graduate
5- continue growing-out hair: do not cut it
6- add probiotics to my diet
7- take my vitamins regularly
8- find an adult job
9- buy a house
10- strengthen long-distance relationships

What are your goals for 2009? I wish you all the best in what is sure to be an interesting year ahead.

O' Tannenbaum!

Before it gets too late, I need to post some pictures of my tree. Alas, I plan to take it down this week even though I feel I didn't get ample time to enjoy it.
I thought my tree turned out very "Dr. Seuss-esque" this year. The topper is just some spray I got from work last year when every thing went 90%. I just tied it together with some ribbon.

Here are some of my favorite ornaments from this year:

This is a fabulous ornament my sister made. It's available on her etsy, which you can reach on her blog: The Petticoat Pirate.

This is one of four huge red bulb ornaments I got for $1.50 at Lowes. Score.

This is probably my favorite Pier 1 ornament this year: my cute little moose.

This is my German pickle ornament. Sadly, I was the only one who could find it. Since I was also the one who put it on the tree I couldn't get a prize. Oh well.

Relaxing Vacation

I'm sorry that my blog has been on vacation lately. I've had so much going on this past month that I don't know where to begin to recover from it. All these events have significantly taken from my blog time, so I offer my apologies.

Christmas was crazy. Since I work in retail that meant very long and strange hours. When the day arrived, Steven was here to celebrate the day with me. As you know, he tends to usurp all of my free-time, especially now that he lives in Northern Virginia. On Sunday night, my friend from London called and said she was in the states. Since I had Monday and Tuesday off from work I hopped in the car and made the 5 hour drive home to see her. I spent most of Monday with her, saw my mother for 30 minutes, slept, saw my best friend and her sister, shopped, hopped back in the car to make the drive back, stopped in Richmond to have dinner with my Dad and then got home at 10pm last night. So I'm exhausted!

I wish that I could dazzle you with news of fabulous New Year plans; however, I'm working today and tomorrow, so no plans.

Anyways, game back on here at Ms. Domestique. Yeehaw.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Holiday Survey

Because Steven has my camera (our friends Eugene and Andrea had a baby 2 days ago and he obviously needed to get pictures for me) I haven't been able to blog about anything I've been planning to blog about since Thanksgiving, e.g. my tree, the new doll I made, my B Moss adventure, and Steven's graduation. So that means that you will be bombarded with all that as soon as he gets in town tomorrow.

Until then, I feel the need to complete this survey:
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love to wrap, however, wrapping does not lend itself to being very environmentally friendly. At least bags are reusable.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial for me. We had real ones growing up and they were too much work. Had to hike out into the woods, chop one down, drag it home, water it, and then watch it shed all over you. So I just keep mine in my closet. That way I get a little tinge of a wish for Christmas every time I see it.

3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving day

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years day

5. Do you like eggnog? Negative

6. Favorite gift received as a child? um...I remember a really cool doll once with black hair. No...I think my favorite was my barbie mini-van complete with car-seat.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Steven

8. Easiest person to buy for? That's probably me. I leave hints regularly.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? no

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I remember my grandparents on my mother's side getting me something very lame one year, so lame I can't remember it. 2 Christmases ago my parents got me a remote-controlled VW bus. Awesome since I love Volkswagons, but I couldn't do anything with it, so I returned it for the money.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yeah, I probably have.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My grandmother's mashed potatoes. They were the best.

16. Colored or Clear Lights? Colored, my tree is a tacky mess and I love it! I really want some bubbling lights. Steven has never heard of them, can you believe it?

17. Favorite Christmas song? O holy night, or Little Saint Nick by the beach boys.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Every year, while my father's parents were in good health, we used to go to their house. It was amazing and I looked forward to it all year. In future I intend to be the house every one goes to. This year it's just me and Steven and I wouldn't have it any other way.

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star, I've just got some multi-colored spray on top.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. No one has let me open any at night.

21. Favorite ornament theme or color? non-traditional. I like pinks and teals and greens and silvers

22. White or Warm Christmas? White

23. Favorite Christmas Tradition? Waking up everyone super early after I've been trying to sleep until it's officially Christmas. My kids will get me back for this: hello mom, it's 1 a.m. officially Christmas. That's what I did to my parents, after I had been sitting up in the living room since 12 just looking at my presents. ;)

24. Favorite Christmas Location? Charlotte, N.C.

25. Who do you tag? Anyone

Bummin' Holiday

I came to the realization tonight that I had not sent out all my Holiday cards. I sent out the ones to the parents during Thanksgiving break and I made Steven sign all the other cards. So I've had everything signed, thoughtful notes written, return address stickers adhered, and they've set here waiting to be addressed. The delay was caused by Steven, who has been promising to get the addresses of his friends for like a month.

So my apologies if you get your card late. I'm a bum who was busy trying to graduate in the Spring. However, you were, and are, always in my thoughts.

Snowflakes

The big snowflake is finished and I did a side one free-handed. It's coming together. I have no idea what to put at the top to line it. I need to go hunt around in the fabric store. Faux-fur seems kind of cheesy to put with snowflakes so I'm at a lose.

Happy Holidays...early...

If you had any doubts about how large my 6 month old cat actually is...just know that he fits in a Dog's medium t-shirt designed to fit a pet 13-20 pounds. Yeah...

Stocking Skeleton and Cat

So far this is what I've gotten done for Steven's stocking. That snowflake took me forever to cut out! It is actually two overlapping pieces. I have a feeling it's going to take me forever to do the bead-work too. I have all the supplies I need for it so that's a start.
This is my "smile-for-the-camera--Oliver--and-make-Mommie-happy" face. Needless to say, he wasn't impressed.

Stocking Hung By the Chimney With Care

My grandmother, and crafting hero, had a tradition where she made everyone in the family a stocking. When she was still well the whole family met up at her house for a huge Christmas celebration. Aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters and cousins that I haven't seen in years used to come. Basically, it was my favorite time of year and my Maw-Maw is the reason I love-love-love the holidays so much.

This year I'm making Steven and myself family stockings to start our own tradition. For mine I've drawn inspiration from a stocking at work that has ruffles on the front. I got some fun quilting fabrics to make my ruffles out of. I think it's going to be pretty precious. I'm going to give Steven some felt and beaded snowflakes I think. His vote was for something from Portal his favorite video game right now. I've vetoed that.

Pumpkin Carving

I ended up doing a silhouette of Jane Austen! I'm such an English dork and I love it!

I woke up a few days ago with a desire to have a Buddha ornament. I don't do many things traditionally and that includes my yuletide. I love laughing Buddhas. How can you have a bad day when a fat happy man is grinning at you? If they're cute and inexpensive chances are they will come home with me. Surprisingly, Buddha ornaments do exist but they are expensive. So I decided I should just make one.

He has some bangin' earlobes, huh? A friend of mine just got his ears gauged and I can't help but wonder...will he have Buddha ears when he's 80?

Polkadotted Tree Skirt

I've been on the hunt for a tree skirt after last year when I used a bunched up red tablecloth. It was so Charlie Brown's Christmas. Yesterday I was in Kmart and I came across this beaut! $19.99, Martha Stewart Festive Confections. Pure, polkadotted love.

The whole Festive Confections Collection is adorable with little teacup, bunt cake, Tiffany blue, and candied ornaments. There are also balls that match the skirt so Amanda might be going back to Kmart later for those...

Pickled Presents

As the holidays get closer I've had pickles on the brain. We got them in at work and when we play "what's your favorite ornament" the pickle always wins for me. Even though it seems the traditional "German" pickle did not come from Germany, I still love the idea of it.

Step 1- Get yourself a pickle ornament
Step 2- When you are trimming the tree put this baby on last and make sure to hide it
Step 3- The person who finds it gets an extra present come the morning of December 25th.

Pumpkin Carving

I'm throwing around the idea of doing an Obama pumpkin carving this year. Even if I don't end up doing it, I found some great pumpkin carving templates for both sides of the fence at Associated Press.

Check them out!

Oh Great Pumpkin!

I finally got to go to the pumpkin patch! I took Steven and his parents (who are so freaking amazing...I mean I love everything about Steven and that includes his incredibly cute family). Again, I'm sorry the pictures turned out grainy. Apparently I needed the flash on because it was overcast even though my camera was giving me the green go-ahead for light. Grr... Lesson learned: always take extra batteries. My camera died before the petting zoo portion of the trip. Steven's dad got a lot of pictures so I'll post them when they send them to me they are sure to be amazing because he has a professional grade camera... gimmie.

And yes, that is a picture of me "milking" a fake cow... I was the only one with the guts. Laughs.

FIND

Target has Holiday cards printed on recycled paper with soy inks! They're cute and the same price as their less eco-friendly counterparts. Jump on that people!

Needless-to-say, I got my Christmas cards today...

I know a lot of you have moved with-in the last year so message/e-mail me those new addresses!

I am so ready for Christmas!

I really want to get my shopping done. Next paycheck I just might have to go out and spend it on the people I love.

I want to know everyone's plan for the holidays and what are your favorite jingles of the season?

One of mine is Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon.

If you've never heard it or want to listen to it again, check it out: