Oh Sleep why do you not come easily??

So I am exhausted and finished with work for the semester or well for the most part I am done.  My wife has been gone since Tuesday afternoon and I will be joining her Friday morning after I take care of everything here tomorrow. And here I am beyond tired as I have been for the last oh forever and I am not sleeping.  I am extremely tired but my body is like yo, you are usually just getting home about an hour ago, use this time.  But my mind is saying dude you need to get up tomorrow and get a lot done why not sleep and be refreshed, and in the morning I will be like wow why did I not go to bed, i would feel a whole lot better now.  So for those of you who did actually want to hear from me on our blog as well, this is for you and it is some good literature!!!

Peace out

I am trying to think of something more profound to write like an analyzation of the mind and body conflict that is going on, but I think this serves its purpose.

Hallelujah Chorus: Monte Vista Christian School Musicians

You know the angels that appeared to the shepherds? It must have sounded something like this.

Honey Honey, How You Thrill Me...ah huh...

I love honey

Someday in my dreams I will be a bee keeper. But for now, I will enjoy our local honey suppliers at Pacific Crest Apiaries

Its so delicious and if you have allergies, local honey can work wonders. 

Backyard Birdwatching

I came home from checking our mail and noticed a lot of movement behind our shed where the bird feeder my dad made for me is located. So I ducked inside to grab our camera and switch the lens.

And armed with the bigger lens I snuck up on them.

Slowly step by step I got closer...

And I watched them enjoy their food in the cold weather.

Then I realized I wasn't the only one enjoying the view.

And I think the birds knew too, in fact I think these were on look out.

And I think he realized that lunch wasn't coming anytime soon.

Oh, Christmas Tree...

I love hodge-podge Christmas trees with long loved ornaments and glittering with tacky, gaudy mis-matched Christmasness. It is the only way in my mind to have a tree. I love looking over the ornaments and reflecting over the Christmases that have passed, the experiences remembered over the years. 

 I love tucking non-ornaments into the tree because they are beloved memories.

 I love the ornaments gifted by family and friends the best.

 The ones made by my grandmother move my heart the most. Oh how I love her and cherish everything that she makes for me.

 and she is so multi-talented.

 Here is the tree that Dom and I picked out together and that my mother and I covered in ornaments and tinsel.

 Oh and I love the mystery and small hope that comes with wrapped presents.

 And I love this plaque-turned-ornament made for me by one of the girls I work for. I love them all very much. They are forever burned in my heart. I hate to see them moving on and graduating. I would never hold them back if I had the choice. But I will miss them dearly. I don't think my heart can handle this for very long.

 and I love our international ornaments..here is Taiwan.

 and India...

and there are others from Czech and a few other places. 

Christmas Songs You Should Give a Chance

Last Christmas- Taylor Swift
Oh Holy Night- Christina Aguilera
Bring Me Love- Marie Digby
Mele Kalikimaka- Bing Crosby
30 Days- Never Shout Never
All I want for Christmas is You- My Chemical Romance

I think there is something for everyone here. Try one. If I had to pick a 2010 favorite. It is Bring Me Love.

Black Friday Favorite Loot

We braved the Black Friday crowds. We started at 11 pm on Thursday night because that is when everything started opening. For two reasons, well three.

1. Social Observation

2. Great Deals on things we need and some we don't

3. and to feel like we are interesting and exciting people that actually do things (we didn't realize this until we were halfway through the night of no sleep, so that could be the no sleep talking)

On Part One: We noticed a lot of truly ridiculous people. Out of control. Running with carts and knocking you over, almost. Then there were an abnormal number of international people, we would estimate 85 percent of the people at the outlets (our first stop) were international. Asian, everywhere but Tommy Hilfiger, there they were all European. And although we thought many people were ridiculous (like the 200 plus people waiting in a line outside of Juicy Couture in 30 degree weather) we had to admit we were one of them, hard pill to swallow but it is good to learn about yourself.

On Part Two: We bought a much needed vacuum, some more towels, a few Christmas presents. All good useful purchases. Then I spied a $5 dollar rack with these beautiful babies.

Although I may not have needed them, I have had my eyes open for a pair of black heeled boots with a bit of a gun metal, " I am tough" look. And at 5 bucks, who can complain???

And although we were not among the crazies that waited outside of Target for it to open, Dom somehow managed to wrangle one of only 4 of these in the store for only 7.99!

On Part Three: It was rather an exhilerating and fun experience, kinda a stupid American thing to do. But it was fun spending time together, people watching and catching some deals.

Cookie Exchanged

I feared the cookie exchange would be pretentious. That my cookies would be inadequate, that I would not fit in. It was none of that, it was small and warm and fun and yummy. Best first experience at a cookie exchange ever. 

and here is all the yummy exchangedness (yes I know that is not a word)

Delicious and thankful to have gotten out into the world outside my campus community. Feeling refreshed and warm and Christmasy inside.

Cookie Exchange

Going to a cookie exchange tonight. Only problem is I am terrible at cookies, ask my husband.They never taste right. So I decided to go with nothing fancy as even the classic chocolate chip cookie alludes me.
I chose a full proof sugar cookie, cooked it for two minutes less than I should have (because I always burn the bottom).

And the first frosting recipe that popped up on the internet.

It was a long process for me, the cookie illiterate. Very long.

But I got to use the the sprinkles I had to order from England (because the US has something against them)

And I got to decorate them, again, it takes me forever. Literally 3 hours on 7 dozen. But that part was fun.

In the end they actually taste alright. If you like sugar cookies. And the best part is I get to come home with some truly wonderful cookies!

Ahhh.. Christmas is here.

Black Friday

Anyone out there going to face the early morning crowds?

Well we are. We have planned our attack on Target. Check here for the Black Friday flyer.

Although neither of us are super into it this year we did find the ultimate of cuddle blankets last year and it is still as wonderful as ever. And it is big enough for too blanket hoggers. (and it's only 20 dollars this year.)

But it's time to stop borrowing the dorm vacuum and buy a small one for ourselves, and I need a substitute mixer until my kitchenaid is fixed. Or if it can't be fixed, someday, replaced. A moment of silence please. sniff.

And whatever other movies and random stuff suit our fancy at 4:00 in the morning.

Or area all you smart people going to wait for Cyber Monday?

Happy Day Before Thanksgiving Everyone!

Things I am Thankful for:

My freshly broken dishwasher, because it reminds me that a dishwasher is a marvelous luxury and that many people don't even have dishes.

My ear infection, because it reminds me how blessed I am to have health insurance.

Painting and sanding furniture in near freezing weather, because it reminds me that I am blessed to have a healthy capable body.

Having near freezing weather, because it reminds me of how truly mild the climate here is and how blessed we usually are.

Not having a working heater, because it reminds me of those that are truly cold.

Both of our DVD players not working, because it connects in new, non-comatose ways.

As I am typing this. I realize how truly overloaded we are with worldly possessions. It is time to separate the wants from the needs and to care for those who have unfulfilled needs.

Art Show

So our school is having a staff/faculty art show. I am thinking about entering just for the fun of being in an art show. But I just cleaned out my portfolio of random paintings and I am not feeling inspired enough to paint.

So I guess photography it is...

But I'm not sure what to submit. A little help friends?







And I think Dom should submit one of these...





Can we get a vote?

What We Really Did...

And although it may have looked like we were super sightseers, all we really did was relax and do nothing together and it was awesome!

Although we made the fatal mistake of buying the same pants, but it was fun!

And we drove around Deerfield
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And ate Dunkin Donuts

And watched stuff on Netflix

It was perfect.

Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago was amazing...even at 50 mph

I had no idea what I was in for and at about 30 seconds a master piece painting...it was worth the aching pain in our calves (I guess I can only count for mine)

Does this little girl remind anyone of anything?

I am dying, I can't remember the name of this one or even the artist... I think it is Berthe Morisot but I can't remember. Can anyone ease my pain and help me out?