Love these words...

Words to live by in the New Year......

This year, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.

My friend Somer from LOVE TO BREATHE posted this toast from a recent book club of hers and I loved the message. I decided to repost it as a New Year resolution or a way to live the new best year of your life or what have you for the new year! 

Happy New Year to all!!

 May 2011 be the best yet!

My teenager is officially employed....

She loves to ski 

She is really patient 

Day one on the job....

Taught two lessons 

Her words...I like it!

Tomorrow she teaches the little cruiser kids....

I hope she still likes it after tomorrow! 

Thank goodness

Thank goodness they are gone....my favorite Christmas candy.....spiced gum drops....oh and candy canes too....they are all gone!

Fresh start, detox......cleanse......a new year!

I hope I make it before my next favorite holiday candy hits the stores....

Cherry JuJu hearts...oh and red hots oh and cinnamon lips....

I'm doomed!

Photo taken by Katelyn

Toys...

Sophie woke up Christmas morning full of excitement, like she knew it was Christmas! Craig helped her with her stocking....she got a new toy bunny, chew bone and treats.

Hours of entertainment for her...the bunny was destroyed within the first hour....it's now a one eyed bunny! Her new bone is her favorite toy now and keeps her busy for hours....I hope it helps her breath!

Craig received a toy too.....not sure what we were thinking giving him that....remote control helicopter. Poor Sophie has been the target of torture.....the two of them love their new toys!

Our Christmas....

We had a wonderful Christmas, despite our first without family. Woke up early 7am...enjoyed Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer....my favorite! The babies woke up full of joy, Sophie knew something was up and she was full of energy. Katelyn came down to see what Santa brought her, prepared with all her electronics in hand....computer for Christmas music, cell phone for any early morning texts and camera to catch all the shots!

We opened presents than enjoyed a breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Stayed in our Pj's all day...made cookies, watched movies, relaxed. Prepared a turkey dinner, our first solo and learned a lot....like start the turkey earlier if you want to eat before 8 pm!

It was wonderful !

Sundays in my City-Fisher Price

Fisher Price headquarters is located in my small town, I thought I would share some of their holiday display. It was quite a site in the day, with Christmas music playing vintage toys on display and a musical Santa's workshop. At night a display of lights not to disappoint, unless you are me taking pictures in which they didn't turn out, sorry! They have a toy store you can shop and a museum on their large campus. 

Stop by San Francisco where UNKONOWN MAMI lives and say hi !

Happy Sunday!

Merry Christmas!!

My Man has a cold

Not just any cold but a MAN COLD! I'm totally sympathetic to his disease illness, even drove him to the Instant Care. He was sure he had pneumonia, typhoid fever or worse yet......but he emerged from seeing the Doctor with a diagnosis of a COMMON COLD or what I'm calling a severe MAN COLD.
I hope with a lot of care, rest, fluids and the right amount of football he will be better in time for Christmas!

 My Paper Whites popped! 

It's my first time buying the kits I see every Christmas. The bulbs in a box...seems easy! I bought Paper Whites and Amaryllis patiently watched and watched, waiting and more waiting! One minute nothing and next look a Christmas beauty! My Amaryllis is close to being ready. Next year I'm going to plant earlier say when I decorate outside the day after Halloween!

Happy Tuesday!

Joining the ladies at Communal Global today! 

Sundays in my City-Caroling

Last night was the 38th Annual Carolcade in our little town. They close off a part of main street in front of the famous Viddlers 5 and dime. Lot's of people gathering singing carols, free hot cocoa and supposedly Santa was there somewhere. But the high light for most including me was two of the most adorable Llamas. One had reindeer antlers and the other wore a Santa hat and had Christmas lights on. They were so mellow and didn't seem to mind the crowds. It was good small town fun. After the caroling the movie theater did a free showing of It's a Wonderful life.
We came, sang a little, drank hot drinks, posed with the LLamas and headed home to a warm fire and called it a good night!

Me pretending my Hot Cocoa is Hot Spiced Wine!!

Stop by UNKNOWN Mami for more wonderful Cities.

Happy Sunday All!

More collections...

I have several Nativity Scenes...I would like to collect them from everywhere I've traveled. They are hard to find and often expensive. So here are a few.....

My first a gift from my Mom given many years ago

my second 

from Rome, Italy

from Amsterdam

from Mexico

from Germany

Can't wait to add to my growing collection

Oh Honey Oh Honey...

I heart HONEY CRISP APPLES

My bootcamp trainer said eat lots of fruits and veggies, before reaching for the holiday goodies! Easy for him to say Mr. Zero Body Fat non coffee wine drinking MAN!!

My goal is not to gain over the holidays. Try and exercise daily and enjoy the holiday and all it's offerings like these babies my friend sent me.

Sea Salt Chocolate covered Caramels

OMG....have you tried them? Amazing!! 

And there gone!! :(

I heart Sea Salt Chocolate Caramels more then Apples!!

So excited....

I heard on one of the Entertainment Shows last night that one of my favorite books is being made into a movie. Coming out this Spring and I think they did really well in casting the characters for the movie.
If you haven't read Water for Elephants do before the movie comes out!

I can't wait to see this book come to life on big screen!! Have you read it? If so what do you think about Rob Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon as the main characters?

The battle was fought....

This is me heading out to battle the snow.....

I totally lost 

Snow-1

Kathy-0

Chai Tea nursing the warm back to my cold wet self!

Stay warm and be safe!

Really?

I want to makeover my Master Bedroom. It's the only room of the house I don't like. It's odd shaped and has too many windows and not enough wall space. Right now it's painted yellow, I'm not a fan but thought I could make it work.....It's not working. So over Christmas I hope we can paint it and when I say we I really mean my husband!! I should probably let him know my plan for his two weeks off of work!!! You can't really ski everyday can you?
So I started looking for new comforter for our bed. I have something in mind, now the chore is finding it. I'm overwhelm with the selection out there and shocked by some of it.

Like these two-

WOW REALLY!!

Not gonna happen, never, not a chance! But who, why, wow! Can you imagine sleeping under that! Search continues!!!

Themed Christmas Trees?

Do you have one? I really like a mix of all kinds of ornaments on my tree. I have homemade ones, ones from the dollar store, lots bought from our travels and many are gifts. If you looked at my tree one my think we have a theme.....skiing! We have so many skiing Santa's and skiing snowmen. Plus skiers,skis and snow shoes! Most have been given to us, few bought also. But when you have a daughter and husband that love skiing I guess you end up with a theme tree without trying!

Here are some of my favorites-

German Skier and Newest Ornament Vintage German Camera from my sister, Beth (thanks xo)

 Bremen Town Musicians 

Santa climbing Eiffel Tower

Jim Shore Ornament-My mom has gotten me one for the last 4 plus years. I love them! I think she joined a club without knowing and doesn't know how to stop them from coming each year.....So now I have a collection and look forward to them each year! 

Eleven Days Until Christmas!!

Happy Monday!

Sundays in my City-Kissing Bridge Ski Resort

Kissing Bridge Ski Resort located in Western New York just celebrated their 50th year. It's located half an hour from our home and where my family will be skiing this winter. Katelyn is doing training there to become a instructor. She has another week of on mountain training and an interview for her first job. 

She is really excited, it's funny she will be most likely teaching the little kids ski groups. She will be off her skis teaching more than on. She is really patient and loves kids so should do good. She loves to ski and is her happiest when on the mountain racing down the slopes with her Dad. 

It's a big change skiing in little resorts of WNY with 500 vertical feet when you are used to the Wasatch Mountains of Utah with 3,000 Vertical feet and high speed trams! But skiing =smiles!

Join my friend Unknown Mami and other city around the world this SUNDAY!

A one of a kind

This is Somer Love, the gorgeous blond in the picture! I used to babysit her hundreds of years ago. She is a fellow blogger and Starbucks fan, Painter/Artist, expert on fighting germs and an adult living with Cystic Fibrosis. She has the most amazing attitude and positive outlook on life, she radiates happiness....just look at her smile!

Somer, Me and Preppy

She was a guest writer on a  CF Website for the 12 Days of Christmas. I thought I would reprint her article because she has really great advice for all how to beat the cold and flu season. She is also an advocate for CF and is educating others about CF through her blog and website. If you know anyone with this disease you know how important it is to stay healthy. We are lucky to have her in our lives and I hope someday soon a cure is found.

On the Third Day of Christmas...

 By Somer Love

 Is it just me or are the years getting shorter and shorter? Or is it that they are just starting the Christmas cheer earlier and earlier? Don’t get me wrong I love the holidays as much as the next person. But what I can’t stop thinking about is that with the Holiday cheer comes the ever so dreaded flu and cold season.
 
I guess I should introduce myself for those of you that don’t know me. My name is Somer Love. I try to live each day to the fullest by keeping my hope high and dreams big!! I am a 31-year-old adult living with Cystic Fibrosis, and I am an active advocate in the CF community. I make it a priority to raise awareness and help educate everyone on CF. Being diagnosed at 11 months old I was unable to make my own decisions. However, I am fortunate enough to have fabulous parents who chose to help fight my disease. When I was old enough I adopted my parents philosophy and joined the fight. I have a blog and update it often. Come join my fight over at LovetoBreathe.com

 I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this newsletter. I want to share with you some tips that I do daily to rid my body of any airborne ailment that may have found its way in despite my best efforts. I do these all daily and swear by them:


 1. Of course we all know the power of clean hands. Use soap and water when you can and when that isn’t available then a little hand sanitizer goes a long way. I have that stuff everywhere; coat pockets, handbags, car, every room in the house…. You get the picture.
 
 2. At the end of every day, I gargle with hot salt water, and I also do a sinus rinse. This prevents any bug from proliferating and settling in.

 3. Drinking hot liquids can also knock any germs loose and send them down into your stomach where they cannot survive.
 
4. Try not to touch your face. If you have an itch use the inside of your shirt or sweatshirt, that’s what I do.
  
 5. And last, but not least, some say dogs are a man’s best friend and trust me its true. I love my babies! However, during flu and cold season vitamins are also man’s best friends. You can get Vitamins through supplements or vitamin-rich foods, like fruit and veggies. So stock up and eat healthy.
 
 Wishing you all a HAPPY and VERY HEALTHY Holiday season!
 
 XO
Somer Love

Burrrr......

Today it was in the low 20's, the sun showed it's face now and than but it remained freezing!

View from the warmth of my Kitchen

I hope you all don't get tired of snow/icicle/winter pictures I think I moved to the Arctic!

Have a wonderful weekend!

What if....

You were one of the hundreds of stranded motorist stuck on the Thruway in the middle of a blizzard for 14 hours. Would you be prepared?

I wouldn't have been but I am now. After hearing report after report about the stranded motorist and road conditions here, I started to worry about the what if's.......

So now my car has a emergency road kit and I'm ready for old man winter!

1. Blanket

2. Hat and gloves,scarves

3. Shovel

4. Hand Warmers

5. Water

6. Food

7. Pen and Paper

8. First Aid Kit

9. Flash light

10. Phone Charger

Need to add 

Old pair of boots and coat

Flares and matches

Now I just need to remember the snickers bars are for emergency only and an emergency is not a long wait in car pool lane! 

Mantel Madness

Remember how I have five fireplaces...which means five mantels. I was so excited to decorate the three main ones. Heres how they turned out:

Our Kitchen one, I did simple and generic. I like how it came out but the lighting in this picture stinks. It's just candles with greenery and red berries with little pine trees and a Christmas plaid ribbon on top. Simple for the kitchen.

Kitchen

Family room

This fireplace is the opposite side of kitchen one, it's a see through fireplace. I collect snowmen so here is my collection. I also saw on Eddie Ross's Blog December 1st. and decided to copy him and add a lighted wreath to my mirror and I'm really happy I did. 

Living room

I also collect Santas big and small......here is my collection on display. The stocking garland is Katelyn's Advent calendar and were the Advent fairy has been leaving her little treats and gifts. I tradition that followed us home from Germany. This fireplace is one of two electric ones we have, they look pretty cheesy but on a cold morning Sophie and I are cuddled in front of this one and happy! 

Mantel Madness continues hopefully we will get the Christmas village up on the last mantel this week!