5 Question Friday

Here are this week's questions and my answers to them:

1. What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?

Three years ago, my mom surprised my oldest brother and I with a cruise to Mexico for Christmas. I'd have to say that was the best present yet...:) I was just about to turn 21 and my brother, Nick, was graduating from high school that year. I'll never forget that spring break trip to Mazatlan, Cabo, and Peurto Vallarta! 

2. Worst/Funniest White Elephant gift ever received?

Hmmm..I have to think about this one. It has been many years since I have received a completely awkward or odd White Elephant Gift. I participated in an exchange my freshman year of college and received a lava lamp- pretty cool gift! However, I know I received some funny gifts doing this as a kid, but I just can't remember what they were.

3. Is your Christmas tree plain and simple (white lights and matching ornaments) or is it wild and crazy (colored lights with lots of ornaments collected over the years)?

Our Christmas tree is a "memory tree". My MIL started that term years ago with my husbands Christmas trees growing up because they were full of random ornaments that brought back special memories to them each year. So, our wild and crazy tree has colored lights, random ornaments we have received throughout the years, candy canes, snowflakes that complete our "memory tree". 

4. "How" do you iron your clothes? The old fashioned iron/ironing board way, the shower, back in the dryer, etc.

We do own an ironing board and an iron, but I have to admit that I have never used either of them. If something is wrinkled I just toss it into the dryer. Although I am funny about drying my own clothes- most of them get hung up to dry. This started back when I was young and became frustrated when my mom accidentally would shrink my clothes. My solution to this problem was to hang everything up and I haven't stopped since. I do dry my socks and sweats and a few other things, but that is it. Almost all of hubby's clothes go straight into the dryer though. He doesn't care and plus it's easier that way. :)

5. How much baking do you do for Christmas and what are your "must make" items? (I'm looking for recipes here, peeps...)

I love to bake, especially at this time of the year. Some of my holiday favorites are Gingerbread cookies, toffee, cinnamon rolls, and Muddy Buddies. So far I've only made the Gingerbread Cookies this year, though. But that is about to change! 

Today has been a great day so far. I've loaded up on coffee, got my Christmas cards in the mail, and am excited for the weekend. Hubby is now off for two weeks from school. I am so jealous!! Thank you to my new followers who have left sweet, encouraging comments on here. You make me smile!

Happy Friday, everyone! Only 9 more days until Christmas!

Stream of Consciousness

Today was a long day and I could hardly wait to get home to my hubby and enjoy our evening together. I only live 8 miles from work but I drive into Portland so it usually takes me 30-40 minutes to get home at night. Tonight? It took me 2 hours. I am beat and very, very frustrated. I have no idea why there were so may cars on the road. I know tomorrow is the last day of school, so why were the roads so busy tonight?

Hubby dragged me to the store to buy ingredients for his eggnog that he has started to make every year. He is now making it in the kitchen as I sit and struggle to keep my eyes open.

Christmas is only 10 days away...let the countdown begin! 

I opened the mailbox today to find that I received my annual angel ornament from my grandma. Meet Viola:

I am so glad it is almost the weekend! And, my best friend is home for the Holidays from Boston!

Time for bed, Night!

It's OK Thursday

It's OK...

...to wake up (extra) tired Thursday morning because of a fun date night to Zoolights the night before.

...to watch and wait for the mail man to arrive so I can explain that they stuffed my box and it wouldn't open.

...to wish today was Friday.

...to still have not sent out Christmas cards. Or purchased them yet. Oops! Better get on that...

...to have mixed feelings about my little (21 year old) brother getting accepted into the business school at my rival college. I'm proud. But, really?!

....to wake up ten minutes early for work and end up leaving five minutes late. Rare for me. I'm always early.

Head over here to learn more and linkup your own It's OK Thursday post.

Merry Christmas...to us!

Hubby and I decided to get ourselves a flat screen t.v. this year for Christmas. You can read the story here.

We also did a makeover on an awesome desk that we turned into a t.v. stand. It works perfectly!

Our t.v. arrived yesterday while I was at work, and I arrived home to it all set up! We watched a couple of shows last night to enjoy the beautiful picture and sound. We love it.

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by Mckmama.You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

It definitely was not me who got in a fight with my husband over a meal he made me Friday night. I had a bad headache all day long and did not whine and complain about the dish since (it was something I previously had not cared much for). I would never be so ungrateful and rude. It most definitely was me who asked for forgiveness later. I felt horrible since he had spent days preparing the meal and was so excited about it.

It was not  me who photographed my cute husband reading last night. I would never take such a random picture.

To read previous Not Me! Monday posts click here.

Happy Monday! ~Christina

A Little Weekend Project

This weekend we headed 80 miles south to visit my in-laws and catch up with everyone. We stayed Saturday night at Stephen's grandparents house, but we also visited with his dad and step-mom and his mom and step-dad while in town. His grandpa's birthday is on Wednesday this week so we went out for lunch on Saturday to celebrate. I should have taken some pictures..silly me.

This morning (Sunday) we woke up to homemade biscuits and gravy (I won't eat it anywhere else..his grandparents make the best!) before the Stephen and his dad set up the Christmas lights on his grandparent's house. His grandma and I were keeping warm inside and drinking our coffee.I mentioned that our new tv was arriving tomorrow and that we still didn't have a stand for it. Hubby's grandma is the queen of good deals and fixing up furniture. She has a space in a local antique shop and purchases many items, fixes them up, and resells them. So when I mention that we need a stand she instantly replies "well, let's go look at Goodwill" and before I know it we are in the car headed there. 

At first I did not see anything that I liked or that I thought would be sufficient. But right before we were about to leave we spotted a few more pieces of furniture. We found a desk and discussed the potential it had with a little spray paint and the addition of a shelf (for the cable box and such). Plus, it was only $9.99!  I was still slightly skeptical as we headed back to her place to show hubby. I wasn't sure if he was going to like it. But surprisingly, he knew that with a little work it would be perfect. 

This is what we started with:

Just a plain old brown desk without drawers or shelving. We decided to paint it black and also add a shelf and a hole for cords to go through the back. Oh the transformation that occurred!

Stephen, his dad, and his grandpa made a shelf and created this beautiful t.v. stand for us.

I am SO excited about it! I just love it. I can't wait for our t.v. to arrive tomorrow!

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Randomness & 5 Question Friday

Happy Friday Everyone! It has been a L O N G week for me and I couldn't be happier about the weekend being so close.

It's a chilly but sunny beautiful day and as I write this I am drinking a much-needed cup of coffee. 

This weekend we will be visiting my in-laws and staying Saturday night with Stephen's grandparents. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, catching up, and having a chance to just relax.

I mentioned previously that my grandma was sick and in the hospital. She has been home for about a week now and is slowly regaining her strength. After being in the hospital for 10 days, her body became very weak. Somehow, she picked up E.coli which got into her bloodstream and messed with her organs. I am thankful she is recovering. 

I am jealous of my husband who has practically had today and yesterday off. From noon until 9pm he was home without me yesterday and he only had school until 9:30 am today. I want to be home too!

Today I am participating in Five Question Friday today and you should too! Just hop on over to Mama M's blog to find out more and link up. 

1. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

My favorite Christmas cookie has to be gingersnaps! This is a recent trend since I found this recipe.. Hubby has been requesting them often. He loves to put ice cream in the middle and make ice cream sandwiches out of them.

2. What's your favorite holiday movie & why?

Four Christmases! It is absolutely hilarious and reminds my husband and I of our crazy families (both of our parents are divorced so we have many different stops on Christmas day). In fact, we have watched The Holiday and The Santa Claus already this year but we know that we love Four Christmases so we are waiting to watch it until closer to Christmas.

Source

3. Is there a gift that you bought for your kids that you wish you hadn't after they opened it?

Well, I don't have kids yet, so nope :)

4. What is the messiest room in your house right at this moment?

Easily our second bedroom which is our office/guest room. Man. It looks like a tornado went off in there. There are books, left over wedding decorations, my wedding dress in a huge box, Christmas presents and wrapping paper, and who knows what else. Basically, it needs some attention stat!

5. What is the furthest you have driven for the holidays?

When I was a kid, my grandparents on my dad's side lived in southern California. I remember many Christmases where we all loaded into our minivan (four kids and our parents...fun!) and made the ~20 hour drive to Cali. This was obviously before portable dvd players and such, but my dad was creative. We had a very small t.v. which he would place on a wooden stand (that he made) in between the driver and passenger seats upfront. This made our drive bearable. My mom was in charge of putting in the vhs tapes and was thankful for the silence they provided.