Oh how I love you, Christmas season. I adore you. Really, I do. All the baking. And card creating. And gift making. And wrapping. All the packages to mail and stockings to fill and cookies to deliver. Yes, yes, yes, I love it all.
But... Oh Christmas season, you are exhausting. Someday, I would really love to learn balance. To learn to leave time for sitting back to relax and enjoy you peacefully. Not that I want to give up the self-imposed bustle entirely, mind you. But honestly, there must be some happy medium. Isn't there?
Look, I'm not blaming you, Christmas season, for it's ultimately my own fault... *sigh* I haven't finished a single book this month. I hit the "mark as read" button so many times it's scandalous...I haven't even a clue what my dear friends are up to these days. I haven't had a good kitty pet session in ages. And scrapbooking--ha!
Oh, if only you weren't so tantalizing, Christmas season. But since this has obviously not been the year for me to tame my obsession with you, I will just have to settle for wishing that all my so very deeply loved friends are enjoying all you have to offer. (And trust that they all still remember me when I finally escape your clutches.)
Before I go though, I really want to thank you. Because, yes, despite all the hustle and bustle, you bring so much joy to so many. And for that, Christmas season, you have my undying gratitude.
With love,
Debi
Showing posts with label holiday hoohaw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday hoohaw. Show all posts
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
day 2...for real...
Okay, it's pretty darn pathetic how ridiculously proud of myself I am for keeping up with our December Daily for two days straight. Just think how I'll feel if I actually make it through all 25. Yeah, yeah--no need getting ahead of myself now, is there? :P
(Day 2)
*****
Because he is absolutely as sweet as they come, Chris agreed to Christmas-a-thon with me again this weekend. Either that or he was sick of my whining and just wanted to shut me up. :P My goal is to get the darn Christmas cards made and addressed, do some more wrapping, bake at least two kinds of cookies, and crochet and/or knit my ass off. It's scary to think that there's really only about two weeks left to get gifts finished that must be mailed. No, scary is not a strong enough word...if I counted correctly, I have ten gifts to complete by then. And then a pile more that need to be done by Christmas itself. Will I ever freakin' learn? Ever?
How about you? Are you all prepared for the holidays yet?
*****
Because he is absolutely as sweet as they come, Chris agreed to Christmas-a-thon with me again this weekend. Either that or he was sick of my whining and just wanted to shut me up. :P My goal is to get the darn Christmas cards made and addressed, do some more wrapping, bake at least two kinds of cookies, and crochet and/or knit my ass off. It's scary to think that there's really only about two weeks left to get gifts finished that must be mailed. No, scary is not a strong enough word...if I counted correctly, I have ten gifts to complete by then. And then a pile more that need to be done by Christmas itself. Will I ever freakin' learn? Ever?
How about you? Are you all prepared for the holidays yet?
Friday, December 2, 2011
more of that happiness project...and the start of December Daily...
Leave it to Jean to go above and beyond. :D
While I will, of course, be adding this list to the master happiness project list found here, I just had to share the list that Jean made for me. I asked Jean for a list of creativity prompts...and damn, did she deliver. Not only did she email me the list, but she made me little cards that I can randomly pick from.
And here's the list itself. Her sons helped a bit by adding a few interesting suggestions of their own. :P
1. Look out a window. Write a haiku about what you see there.
2. Write a limerick about someone or something that upsets you.
3. Draw a picture with your non-dominant hand.
4. Wash your hair, put it up in old-fashioned pincurls, and let it dry. Take a photo of the resulting ‘do.
5. Open a cookbook to a random page and select a random recipe. Make it.
6. Make a pie combining two (or more) fruits that you have never eaten together.
7. Design your own mixed drink. Make it.
8. Graffiti your name on a wall (or a large piece of paper, posterboard, etc.).
9. STEVE: Make an illustrated children’s guide to more than one way to skin a cat.
10. Make a figure from things you would otherwise recycle or throw away. Take a photo of it then recycle or throw away the items.
11. On a round plate, make a face out of food items. Eat it yourself, or share it.
12. Devise a code or cipher. Write a love note to Rich using it. If he can’t decode it, you can give him a clue to help him.
13. Dye some wool yarn or fabric using KoolAid. If you need directions, see http://www.thepiper.com/fiberart/koolaid/basic-howto.html
14. Make greeting cards based around a knock-knock jokes you get from Max and Gray (one joke from each). Let each of them decide to whom the card should be sent.
15. STEVE: Make a dinner that is against the teachings of as many major religions as possible.
16. DON: Plan and execute the perfect crime. (Jean says that you don’t have to do the “execute” part unless it’s a victimless crime.)
17. DON: Become the supervillain “The Noodler.” (Jean’s alternative: Choose a superpower and design your own superhero or supervillain. Be that hero or villain for an hour.)
18. Make a name bug. (Fold a piece of paper. Write a name in cursive using the fold as the line. Be creative with letters with tails. Cut out the name including any openings in letters. Open the fold. The resulting shape is the name bug.)
19. What can you put into a cookie (bar or round variety) that you’ve never put in one before? Make them.
20. Write a love note to Rich in Pig Latin.
21. Create your own clown persona. Be that clown for an hour including making one phone call.
22. Save the seeds from all the fruit you eat in a day. Plant them and see what comes up.
23. Make and decorate gngerbread people. Eat them creatively.
24. Design some mutant animals ala Jean’s Beanie Baby Mutations (on paper is fine).
25. Make a fruit sculpture. Serve it.
26. Using torn tissue paper and white craft glue, make a collage.
27. Take a photo upside down, looking between your legs.
28. Write a letter in a circle, from the outside to the inside.
29. Make up a song even if you can’t write the music to it.
30. Take a white-on-white photo (e.g., a white cup sitting on a white saucer on a white countertop).
31. Step in paint and make footprints on a large piece of newsprint, posterboard, etc.
32. Tie-dye a shirt. (You may use a kit.)
33. Origami something.
34. Make a list of things or people that annoy you. Destroy it creatively.
35. Take a funny-walk walk (ala “Walk Like an Egyptian”).
36. Do a self-portrait. Oh, you only have two minutes in which to do it, so you had better get started.
37. Make a meal that can be served and eaten without utensils.
38. The Soundtrack of Debi’s Life. What songs would be on it? What would the liner notes be? The cover art? If you really get into this, burn it onto a CD and add the liner notes and artwork.
39. Come up with a family motto and devise a family coat of arms.
40. Write a song parody ala Weird Al Yankovic.
41. Take a night-time photo, painting with your camera by moving it while looking at the lights of a city, a Christmas tree, etc.
42. Take 26 photos, one for each letter of the alphabet. Example: A rolled-up hose hanging on a wall can be an “O.”
43. Make a sock puppet. Have it be your voice for an hour.
44. Draw or otherwise make a maze.
45. Randomly choose one herb or spice from your herb/spice cabinet or rack. Randomly choose a vegetable from your supply. Google them along with “recipe,” and make one of the top three recipes the search yields.
46. Make a purse out of a bra. For help getting started, see http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bra-Purse
47. Make a greeting card based on a sentence diagram or the art of sentence diagramming.
48. Open a dictionary to a random page and choose a random word. Make a greeting card based on or using that word. Let Annie decide to whom the card should be sent.
49.Make a greeting card based on a rebus.
50. Discharge dye something. (A bleach pen is a great way to start.)
Looks like I definitely have some fun in my future, doesn't it?
*****
And changing gears, I am so proud of myself! I actually started our December Daily album!
(the front cover)
(Day 1)
Yep, last night we put up our tree so that definitely trumped anything else I might have wanted to document for December 1st. As usual, we had a ton of fun. The kids carefully(?) hung all the ornaments as we talked about who had made this one or that one. We had Christmas music playing, and we contributed some not so professional singing to the mix. And the trimming was followed by the traditional eggnog. And there was the bonus prize of fresh-baked Snickerdoodles. And as usual, it took Lucky all of three seconds to plop himself in his favorite cozy spot.
While I will, of course, be adding this list to the master happiness project list found here, I just had to share the list that Jean made for me. I asked Jean for a list of creativity prompts...and damn, did she deliver. Not only did she email me the list, but she made me little cards that I can randomly pick from.
And here's the list itself. Her sons helped a bit by adding a few interesting suggestions of their own. :P
1. Look out a window. Write a haiku about what you see there.
2. Write a limerick about someone or something that upsets you.
3. Draw a picture with your non-dominant hand.
4. Wash your hair, put it up in old-fashioned pincurls, and let it dry. Take a photo of the resulting ‘do.
5. Open a cookbook to a random page and select a random recipe. Make it.
6. Make a pie combining two (or more) fruits that you have never eaten together.
7. Design your own mixed drink. Make it.
8. Graffiti your name on a wall (or a large piece of paper, posterboard, etc.).
9. STEVE: Make an illustrated children’s guide to more than one way to skin a cat.
10. Make a figure from things you would otherwise recycle or throw away. Take a photo of it then recycle or throw away the items.
11. On a round plate, make a face out of food items. Eat it yourself, or share it.
12. Devise a code or cipher. Write a love note to Rich using it. If he can’t decode it, you can give him a clue to help him.
13. Dye some wool yarn or fabric using KoolAid. If you need directions, see http://www.thepiper.com/fiberart/koolaid/basic-howto.html
14. Make greeting cards based around a knock-knock jokes you get from Max and Gray (one joke from each). Let each of them decide to whom the card should be sent.
15. STEVE: Make a dinner that is against the teachings of as many major religions as possible.
16. DON: Plan and execute the perfect crime. (Jean says that you don’t have to do the “execute” part unless it’s a victimless crime.)
17. DON: Become the supervillain “The Noodler.” (Jean’s alternative: Choose a superpower and design your own superhero or supervillain. Be that hero or villain for an hour.)
18. Make a name bug. (Fold a piece of paper. Write a name in cursive using the fold as the line. Be creative with letters with tails. Cut out the name including any openings in letters. Open the fold. The resulting shape is the name bug.)
19. What can you put into a cookie (bar or round variety) that you’ve never put in one before? Make them.
20. Write a love note to Rich in Pig Latin.
21. Create your own clown persona. Be that clown for an hour including making one phone call.
22. Save the seeds from all the fruit you eat in a day. Plant them and see what comes up.
23. Make and decorate gngerbread people. Eat them creatively.
24. Design some mutant animals ala Jean’s Beanie Baby Mutations (on paper is fine).
25. Make a fruit sculpture. Serve it.
26. Using torn tissue paper and white craft glue, make a collage.
27. Take a photo upside down, looking between your legs.
28. Write a letter in a circle, from the outside to the inside.
29. Make up a song even if you can’t write the music to it.
30. Take a white-on-white photo (e.g., a white cup sitting on a white saucer on a white countertop).
31. Step in paint and make footprints on a large piece of newsprint, posterboard, etc.
32. Tie-dye a shirt. (You may use a kit.)
33. Origami something.
34. Make a list of things or people that annoy you. Destroy it creatively.
35. Take a funny-walk walk (ala “Walk Like an Egyptian”).
36. Do a self-portrait. Oh, you only have two minutes in which to do it, so you had better get started.
37. Make a meal that can be served and eaten without utensils.
38. The Soundtrack of Debi’s Life. What songs would be on it? What would the liner notes be? The cover art? If you really get into this, burn it onto a CD and add the liner notes and artwork.
39. Come up with a family motto and devise a family coat of arms.
40. Write a song parody ala Weird Al Yankovic.
41. Take a night-time photo, painting with your camera by moving it while looking at the lights of a city, a Christmas tree, etc.
42. Take 26 photos, one for each letter of the alphabet. Example: A rolled-up hose hanging on a wall can be an “O.”
43. Make a sock puppet. Have it be your voice for an hour.
44. Draw or otherwise make a maze.
45. Randomly choose one herb or spice from your herb/spice cabinet or rack. Randomly choose a vegetable from your supply. Google them along with “recipe,” and make one of the top three recipes the search yields.
46. Make a purse out of a bra. For help getting started, see http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bra-Purse
47. Make a greeting card based on a sentence diagram or the art of sentence diagramming.
48. Open a dictionary to a random page and choose a random word. Make a greeting card based on or using that word. Let Annie decide to whom the card should be sent.
49.Make a greeting card based on a rebus.
50. Discharge dye something. (A bleach pen is a great way to start.)
Looks like I definitely have some fun in my future, doesn't it?
*****
And changing gears, I am so proud of myself! I actually started our December Daily album!
Yep, last night we put up our tree so that definitely trumped anything else I might have wanted to document for December 1st. As usual, we had a ton of fun. The kids carefully(?) hung all the ornaments as we talked about who had made this one or that one. We had Christmas music playing, and we contributed some not so professional singing to the mix. And the trimming was followed by the traditional eggnog. And there was the bonus prize of fresh-baked Snickerdoodles. And as usual, it took Lucky all of three seconds to plop himself in his favorite cozy spot.
Friday, November 18, 2011
and so it begins again...
A winter tradition. Okay, a silly winter tradition. But still, when Max and I walked out to wait for the bus this morning, I could not help but smile when I saw the window on the van:
All winter long, Rich writes messages in the snow. And Max takes great delight in somehow transforming the message. As here, where he simply added "not":
*****
I am so. damn. excited. about this weekend. Chris, who is just as sweet and thoughtful and freakin' awesome as they come, emailed me about a month ago with this super fantabulous idea. He told me that it just made him so sad how stressed out I was last Christmas season. So he came up with the idea of a Christmas-a-thon, where we'd pick one weekend in November and spend the entire time working on Christmas stuff! Is that not brilliant?!! Not to mention ridiculously fun. :D And this is the weekend we settled on. I'm starting this afternoon--when Rich gets home from work, we're headed out to do a pile of Christmas shopping. Sans munchkins. And we're going to eat supper out, just the two of us. And then do more shopping. I have lists galore made, so hopefully I'll put a major dent in the shopping I have left to do. If I've any energy left when we get home tonight, I'll knit or crochet away on one of the bazillion gifts I'm hoping to get made. And tomorrow...well, I'll just wait and see what I'm in the mood for--wrapping? making Christmas cards? crafting? deciding on what I'll be baking this year? putting up some decorations? a little of each? Oh yes, the possibilities are endless... :D
*****
I haven't finished much in the way of gifts thus far this week, but I have been working away (mostly while watching Doctor Who episodes with the family and watching "school" videos with Gray).
I finished a Cthulhu (awesome free pattern found here...and still have two more left to make...
I also made a crocheted cowl for my Mom. But when I asked Annie to model it for me so I could take pictures, she fell in love with it. So I think I'm going to surprise her by giving it to her instead and making my Mom a different sort of scarf.
*****
I so hope you all have a lovely, lovely weekend!!!
All winter long, Rich writes messages in the snow. And Max takes great delight in somehow transforming the message. As here, where he simply added "not":
*****
I am so. damn. excited. about this weekend. Chris, who is just as sweet and thoughtful and freakin' awesome as they come, emailed me about a month ago with this super fantabulous idea. He told me that it just made him so sad how stressed out I was last Christmas season. So he came up with the idea of a Christmas-a-thon, where we'd pick one weekend in November and spend the entire time working on Christmas stuff! Is that not brilliant?!! Not to mention ridiculously fun. :D And this is the weekend we settled on. I'm starting this afternoon--when Rich gets home from work, we're headed out to do a pile of Christmas shopping. Sans munchkins. And we're going to eat supper out, just the two of us. And then do more shopping. I have lists galore made, so hopefully I'll put a major dent in the shopping I have left to do. If I've any energy left when we get home tonight, I'll knit or crochet away on one of the bazillion gifts I'm hoping to get made. And tomorrow...well, I'll just wait and see what I'm in the mood for--wrapping? making Christmas cards? crafting? deciding on what I'll be baking this year? putting up some decorations? a little of each? Oh yes, the possibilities are endless... :D
*****
I haven't finished much in the way of gifts thus far this week, but I have been working away (mostly while watching Doctor Who episodes with the family and watching "school" videos with Gray).
I finished a Cthulhu (awesome free pattern found here...and still have two more left to make...
I also made a crocheted cowl for my Mom. But when I asked Annie to model it for me so I could take pictures, she fell in love with it. So I think I'm going to surprise her by giving it to her instead and making my Mom a different sort of scarf.
*****
I so hope you all have a lovely, lovely weekend!!!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
regrouping
Annie's lunch has been packed, the bed has been made, this old body has been showered, the dog has been fed, the boys were awoken only to be tucked back into bed because they're both sporting fevers, the school has been notified, the laundry has been started, and the bread dough is currently mixing in the bread machine. And now I thought I'd take a minute to babble before reworking my to-do list for the day. So yes, I need to regroup for the day.
But I've been giving serious thought to regrouping in another area. Years ago, I used to make/give a lot of "just because" gifts. And it really gave me great joy. But somewhere along the line, I started saving the projects I made to give them all at Christmas. Not there's anything wrong with that, of course...but I truly miss the days of "just because" gifts. And I'm thinking about going back. Not that I won't give Christmas gifts anymore, of course, but maybe they'll be less elaborate, fewer in number, etc.
You know, I guess what really brought this idea to a head is the fact that I have sooooo many crafty ideas I'm dying to try out right now. So many things I'm excited to dive into. And what's the first thing that comes to mind when I discover a new project to try--"Ooooh, I could make this for so-and-so" and "OMG--I bet so-and-so would love this" and "This would make the perfect little extra for so-and-so for Christmas." But I don't want to wait for Christmas!!!
And to perfectly honest, I'd really freakin' love to simplify the holiday season anyway.
Surely nobody minds getting a little something for no reason at all, right? And surely no one will mind if they get a little less in the month of December either, will they?
But I've been giving serious thought to regrouping in another area. Years ago, I used to make/give a lot of "just because" gifts. And it really gave me great joy. But somewhere along the line, I started saving the projects I made to give them all at Christmas. Not there's anything wrong with that, of course...but I truly miss the days of "just because" gifts. And I'm thinking about going back. Not that I won't give Christmas gifts anymore, of course, but maybe they'll be less elaborate, fewer in number, etc.
You know, I guess what really brought this idea to a head is the fact that I have sooooo many crafty ideas I'm dying to try out right now. So many things I'm excited to dive into. And what's the first thing that comes to mind when I discover a new project to try--"Ooooh, I could make this for so-and-so" and "OMG--I bet so-and-so would love this" and "This would make the perfect little extra for so-and-so for Christmas." But I don't want to wait for Christmas!!!
And to perfectly honest, I'd really freakin' love to simplify the holiday season anyway.
Surely nobody minds getting a little something for no reason at all, right? And surely no one will mind if they get a little less in the month of December either, will they?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)