I'm a little embarrassed to hop on here and realize that I haven't posted a single thing since Thanksgiving. On the other hand, I've been crazy busy with so many things. Here are just a few quick takes on what I've been doing instead of keeping up with the blogosphere:
-1-
When Li'l E was on the way, I made a special Christmas stocking for her from one of the awesome Bucilla kits, so I knew that I wanted to create one for Li'l Bear as well. I found a really sweet one with a Sugar Plum Fairy theme, and then my mom decided that the queen princess would be upset if she didn't have a princess-y themed stocking as well. So some how I got guilted in to making TWO stockings. One sugar plum fairy and one Christmas princess. I felt pretty good about it when we ordered them, but now that I've spent an obscene amount of hours slaving over the intricacies of the first one, I'm getting a wee bit nervous that they won't be done in time. It has now consumed most of my waking hours. I'm going blind from threading the beading needle and my hand is turning into the dreaded, cramped up Claw... but it will be worth it, by golly! So far this has been my progress. It seems so close to being done, but then again I've thought that for the past 6 working hours. Ha!
-2-
I've also been plotting my baking comeback! For years I would be creating some tasty and fantastically decorated treat at least every other week, but after the whole exhaustion of barely keeping down ice chips for 6 months during the last pregnancy my poor arsenal of bakeware has languished in my cabinets. When Li'l E and I happened upon these while heading down an aisle to the check out in Target, I knew that I had stumbled upon the Best Impulse Buy EVER. So, now I just need to put the finishing touches on my idea to out-do the three dimensional "Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer Gingerbread Scene with a Tarantino Twist" that my sis and I created a few years ago. Tarantino wasn't actually part of the original plans, he just got an honorary mention after a couple of the deer fell and legs broke off. Silver linings, people. T'is the season!
-3-
In the midst of the general holiday chaos, we are also dealing with what I have dubbed "Six Going on Sixteen." As she approaches her seventh birthday, Li'l E is starting to flex some of those independence muscles. Some things are quite cute and helpful ("taking care" of the baby by reading books and playing games, insisting on running her own bath time, going on organization kicks in her room), some are less adorable (drama sighs, rolling eyes, stomping up the stairs). Mostly, I've managed to nip the dramatics in the bud, however she's getting quite creative at making her feelings known without the head on confrontational sass. A few nights ago, The Hubs had asked her to go upstairs and put on PJs. When he went up to check on her, she was sprawled across her bed reading. He sternly told her to do as he asked, and walked back down stairs. When he returned the door was closed and this sign had been affixed with a deceptively happy little penguin sticker: "Do not disturb."
Every day an adventure, y'all.
Every day an adventure, y'all.
-4-
In an attempt to do something (anything!) that is not finger-numbing, headache-inducing, microscopic embroidery on Christmas stockings, I've picked back up my long-neglected mandolin. Upon mentioning this, a dear friend of mine, lent me a whole stack of mandolin technique DVDs. I haven't so much as put the stack near the Blu-Ray player yet, but I'm doing a little before bed picking and looking forward to the new year when I will have time to do more earnest work with my sweet, little mando!
-5-
I would feel worse about not writing as much (having let both private and public work fall by the wayside lately), but I'm too busy feeling guilty about my lack of exercise. The day before Thanksgiving was the last time that I made a concerted effort to workout when I went to a great Body Flow class that my friend was leading at the nearby gym. It was an absolute blast, and while I was still having a bit of movement restriction from that busted toe, it felt great to be warming and challenging my muscles again. Since the baby has given up all but a short nap and requires a mama-heavy entertainment regimen, I haven't figured out exactly how to sneak my workouts back into my schedule. To be honest, I'm trying to let myself just relax about it until we survive the Christmas stress fest. Healthy eating and my green smoothies should hold me until then... I hope.
-6-
Adding to the seasonal stress and my personal sense of Advent failure, I've apparently lost my Advent wreath (though the brand new candles I bought at Thanksgiving are sitting on the island in the kitchen!) and I haven't had all of us well enough or together at the same time long enough to take our Christmas picture, and therefore I haven't designed or sent Christmas cards to the printers. I think I had them MAILED by the first week of December last year. Last minuting this kind of thing makes me completely crazy.
-7-
And yet, thankfully (knock on wood), we all seem to have surmounted the crazy coughs/allergies/drainage debacles, so I'm hoping that we will be celebrating this coming Gaudete Sunday by successfully completing all of our planned events: Christmas pictures and cards, getting the tree and some greenery up in the house, going with friends to see the local Gangnam Style Christmas Light house (because what would celebrating the birth of our Lord in the year 2012 be with out a little Psy), and finally heading to my parents' to hand make tamales with my dad for our first of the family Christmas events.
I can make all of that happen! No worries! Right?
I can make all of that happen! No worries! Right?
Here's hoping that everyone is staying on top of any Christmas crises and overcoming the seasonal stress! Put off that next round of to-dos for a little while and treat yourself to more 7 Quick Takes over at Jen's!
Happy Advent, y'all!
Happy Advent, y'all!
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