Indulgences and Resolutions

I love a relaxing bath on a cold day.
Okay, I confess, I love a relaxing bath on every day.
Really.
It is an indulgence I take.
Every day.

Nothing quite goes as well with a relaxing bath as

Dove Dark Chocolate

and a Diet Coke.

Every day.

I'm not normally a fan of the quotes on the Dove candy wrappers.

I think they are kind of feel good "light."

But I did ponder this one:

Too bad all it made me ponder was,

"So does one's nose."

All this pondering led me to remembering Kasey's
"welcome to reality" photos.

After some deliberation it has been determined that I do not have a nose hair showing.  
That suspicious "strand" is actually the earring on the woman behind me.
Really.
Not that my nose hairs never show...

This is not the nose I remember from my youth.
Good thing I am so wise.

I think a great New Year's resolution would be:
"give myself an indulgence every day."
Really.
It would sure beat the:
"eat less chocolate and drink less Diet Coke"
I resolve to do every new year.

What indulgence would you give yourself?
And, what has grown with your wisdom?

Really.

All I Want for Christmas

I didn't really have a Christmas wish list this year.

Because I wasn't planning on wanting anything.

You see, we are Real Estate Refugees.

We signed away our Christmas fund (and paycheck) to pay for mortgages...

and new stoves...

and shower doors...
and carpet...
and decks...

elsewhere.

Want to buy a million dollar home?  On sale?  Half -price?

 But when Eddie asked what I wanted for Christmas,
I didn't want to say,

"Nothing."

That's what my mom used to say.

And she said it in kind of a grumpy way.

And I didn't always believe her.

Then I thought about what I really wanted.

I told Eddie that what would really make me happy on Christmas

was to see happiness and joy in his eyes
(in spite of the meager gifts this year).

This is what Eddie gave me:

 Enthusiasm.

Surprise.

Delight.

Compliments
(Liv makes Eddie a calendar every year--this year it was kittens).

 Pleasure
(Rose chose a selection of albums he would enjoy).

Laughter.

Thanks, Eddie.

I love my present.
I love being your mom.

You bring me joy.

                     --Mom

Let earth receive her King

lib-art.com

Madonna and Child with the Milk Soup circa 1515

GERARD DAVID

We Have a Winner!

Steve is the lucky one.

He is dreaming of boots for Christmas.

Sparkly boots.

Zappos: http://www.zappos.com/old-gringo-eagle-swarovski-brown-genuine-swarvoski-crystal

These have swarovski crystals.

These are on sale.

Once $1260.00.

These are now only $1134.00.

So...maybe Jenny is the lucky one.

Steve's second choice was a bracelet to match his wife's earrings.

I happen to know Jenny has the Creme Brulee Earrings.

The Vanilla Frosty Bracelet is a lovely compliment.

Steve, you'll have to ask Santa for the boots.

Zappos:  http://www.zappos.com/mia-moonshine-red-leather

These match Santa's suit, so he'll surely think they are fine.

These may be more within Santa's budget.

Of course, if Steve's house is anything like my house,

when Jenny is lucky, Steve is lucky.

Lucky Christmas!

Hurry, hurry, hurry

Don't forget to enter the give away!

Leave a comment here.

Choose a bracelet (or earrings) here.

Dewdrop, from the Meryle Collection, is my favorite.

I love the tough and tender play of pearls and blackened silver.

I love that the crystal quartz sparkles without being too flashy.

I love the way it drapes on my wrist and dangles on my arm.

I love the way it moves when I use my elaborate hand gestures

(Barb says it's impossible for me to play poker and wear bracelets.

They make too much noise when I get excited about a good hand.)

Enter now.

Deadline is Sunday, December 19th.

You do want it in time to go under your tree, don't you?

Peace on Earth?

I don't know what all this "save the world" stuff is about.

I guess I was not very specific.

When I asked what you were dreaming of this Christmas,

I was thinking more along the lines of "fabulous shoes."

 

B.Makowsky Sasha at Zappos.com.  Who loves Zappos as much as I do?

My wishlist post last year was full of things I wanted.

Material things.

And, one year later,

I'm embarrassed to say how many of those things I have acquired

(mostly through my own generosity).

However, if you are wondering,

I did not get the dining room chairs...

 In case you don't get what you are dreaming of this Christmas,

enter the giveaway.

And dream of lovely Tallulahs jewels around your wrist.

At least you stand a chance of getting something you really want...

Dreaming of a white Christmas?

I think it's time for a holiday give-away.

To enter, tell me what you're dreaming of this Christmas.

I will pick a winner on December 19th.

If it's you, choose a bracelet or earrings from Tallulahs.
A lovely package will arrive in time to slip under your tree.

(Make sure I have your contact information!)

I yam what I yam

Kasey took a photo of me. 

Then she presented it to the world on FaceBook.

I wasn't very fond of the picture.

I tend to have a rosier view of myself.

But when she gave me a lovely compliment about my eyes,

I decided to accept reality.

In the words of the immortal Popeye,

"I yam what I yam."

 image from xtrvaluedvds.com

Still, I'll save my rose colored glasses.

For politics.

Well that was fun

The Tallulahs Holiday 2010 Sample Sale came and went.

It was a treat to be with friends
who helped set up,
and made us soup,
and wrapped pretty packages,
and helped customers,

and made us giggle.

Laura's Rethunk-Junk furniture displays were a hit,

and her bulletin boards,

and her jewelry pegs.

Doug asks if we could keep our house like this.

I'm working on it...

I love our customers.

They always become friends.

(Why wouldn't we love someone who loves what we make?)

 

The whole family gets into the entrepreneurial spirit.

Olivia set up her own shop, selling out in the first hour.

Her label is "Livvylulahs." 

She is happy to cross out the "tal" part of our tag to make it her own.

 

Doug and sons sold "Pet Portraits."

 The best part?

Laughing until my face hurt.

And spending time with Barb.

Those two always go together.

Oh, and reminiscing while eating Mexican food after a long day's work.

A dirty word

Lorinda asked me how I make time to exercise.
But the question I answered is why I make time to exercise.

I wish I could say that it is because I love it.

It's not.

I will confess this here in confidence...

 most times...
I exercise...
because...
I am afraid to not exercise.
I am afraid it is a slippery slope.
I'm afraid I won't ever climb that slope again if I slip down.
I am afraid I won't like myself if that happens.

There.
It's out.

 This AM, as I gathered my earmuffs and gloves to run with Doug,

I (bravely) reminded myself I wanted to exercise.
I wanted to feel strong.
I wanted to be outside.
I wanted the vitamin D.
I wanted the time with Doug
I wanted to feel good when it was done.
I wanted the mind boost (see vitamin D).

And, I reminded myself that sometimes I do love to exercise.
And I remembered one of those times.
And I tried to keep that thought with me.

Ocean Isle, NC.

I do love a run on the beach.

Two exercisers I love, even when I don't love exercise:

 

 (They made me a great running playlist.)

Sidenote:

It was a lucky run today.  

I got a little bonus endorphin boost.

From chuckling.

Doug had his running shorts on backwards.

A chuckle and Vitamin D.

That's a pretty good run.

Nothing but blue skies

Blue skies

Smiling at me.

Nothing but blue skies

Do I see.

View from my office.*

Words from Irving Berlin.

Sky from God.

*well, mini-van.

Little Richie Rich

I made a salad.

sweet ripe red pear

moist roasted chicken

sugar toasted almonds

buttery bibb lettuce

salty smooth feta

I feel rich.

In this season of Thanksgiving I'd like to give a shout out to Costco.

Snooze Button

She creeps onto me

in her cloud of silken mink.

I am kitty trapped.

                            Signed,

                            Freaky Cat Lady

Birthday Love

All I can say is that she must really love this teacher.

It's Ms. Strickland's birthday.

And this is what Olivia made for her:

Happy birthday Ms. Strickland.

You are an important person in this 5th grader's life.

Thank you for making a difference.

Another Day in Paradise

Lorinda asked if we have Fall in Atlanta.

I don't mean to rub it in...

but it was a lovely day at Piedmont Park,

on an ordinary Autumn afternoon.

Driver's Ed

Slow Down!

Don't hit that mailbox!

Watch out for the other car!

timesignsmfg.com

 We've been doing a year of driver's ed at my house.

My boys will be eligible for their driver's licenses any day now.

I need some traffic signs for life.

I don't always know when I need to stop.

Or yield.

Or merge.

Or detour.

Or watch for deer.

manishpandey.com

I need a sign saying, "enjoy the ride."

And drive in the center of the lane.

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