Early gift...

When my sweet daughter was home for Thanksgiving break she gave me an early Christmas present.
She is thoughtful like that. I was kinda of surprised by the gift. Why? Because Katelyn thinks I have a problem with collecting and her gift added to my collection! I love it of coarse!

Isn't she pretty

It's a Sophie ornament!

Katelyn thinks I have a Sophie shrine....I only have a shelf with several figurines (3) and pictures of Sophie, and well then in my room is another picture or two and another figurine. And some where is a stuff animal look alike.....problem no.....collector yes! 

Love my new addition......Thanks Katelyn xo

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Joining Joyce @

From this side of the Pond

1.  With that being said I think I need to dive right in to some Christmas related questions, don't you? Which do you prefer-pretty gift wrap with a bow or a pretty gift bag with/without a bow?  What percentage of your holiday gifts are currently (as in right this very minute) wrapped in some form or fashion? 
Pretty wrapped gift with bow...but somethings just make sense to wrap in bag. I have zero presents wrapped!

2.  What is one item on your Christmas list this year?
Perfume...I always seem to run out either at my Birthday or Christmas and again at Mother's Day! 

3.  What makes a home?
A place you instantly feel comfortable in...inviting space. 

4.  Motown founder Berry Gordy celebrates his birthday on Hodgepodge Day-November 28th. Are you a fan of the Motown sound?  If so, who's your favorite Motown artist and/or song? Here's a list in case you're stuck. 
Yes I'm a fan ....love Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5 who's my favorite I'd say Jackson 5- I'll be there.

5.  Red or green-which one is more prevalent in your closet?
Red

 6.  True or false-bacon makes it better? If you answered true, what's your favorite dish made with bacon? 
I love bacon but only have it when in a restaurant for breakfast. I love a BLT! 

7.  Share a favorite holiday memory.
My favorite part of the holiday is decorating as a family. Craig flocks our lovely fake tree, Katelyn is the main tree decorator but usually loses momentum half way through...and Craig steps in. I usually decorate the rest of house with all sorts of opinions flying. It's all done with Christmas music blasting and all of us together. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Like Joyce I grew up with the sitting on the stairs picture on Christmas morning, patiently waiting to see what Santa brought us. We've done the same thing for Katelyn when we can...most years we've lived in ranch style homes with stairs only leading to the basement. 

Here's last years shot! 

It's snowing...I was heading out to do some returns and shopping but...

These kind of days are best enjoyed in the comfort of a warm cozy house! 

Another day! 

Happy Wednesday! 

What I loved about Thanksgiving break....

Having this girl home....

My two babies cuddling on the couch....

I loved cooking for her, shopping with her, decorating for Christmas with her....

Pretty much anything that included her...

We had a wonderful break...

Craig was off all week and actually relaxed!

Lots of family time!

Lots of honey do's checked off! 

We are ready for the holidays..yay! 

 Favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner

Sweet Potato Pie!!

My sister Beth would always make this for me for my Birthday and Thanksgiving.

It's been four years since I've had one.

Living across the US now, it was time to make my own! 

I finally ask for the recipe and gave it a whirl!

Everyone loved it especially Katelyn! 

Katelyn's dorm room all decked out for the holidays! 

She has less than two weeks left of her first semester and home for Christmas break!

Home for six weeks! 

Happy Tuesday! 

Today around the world

Communal Global

Black Friday!

So true! 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 Gobble until you wobble....

Be thankful 

We are truly blessed! 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Joining Joyce @

From this side of the Pond

1. Turkey-love it or leave it?  White meat or dark?  What's your favorite thing to make using leftover turkey?

Love turkey especially the white meat. With the leftovers a cold turkey sandwich is probably my favorite part. 

2. Gotta burn off all those carbs the day after a holiday feast so which would you rather do-run a 10K or climb a mountain? 

How about a mad dash from store to store ....doesn't count I'd pick a 5 K walk/run!

3.  Do you feel like social networking has made your relationships better or worse?  Explain.

I say better I'm more in contact with people. Between twitter, FB and texting, email and blogging I know what my daughter, sisters and family is doing on a daily basis and vise versa. I love it. And believe it or not I still call and have actual conversations with people too! 

4. How do you find and express gratitude for the hard things in your life? 

Thats a hard one to answer and I'm working at that. 

5.  In the US, the day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed 'Black Friday'.  Is most of your holiday shopping done live and in person, or is it done more through the magic of the Internet? How do you feel about stores opening at midnight Thanksgiving night? Will you be out amongst the masses on Friday? 

I've done a lot of my share of Black Friday shopping and will miss going with my sisters this year. I have done a lot of online shopping the deals have been hard to pass up. Katelyn informed me she wants to go Black Friday shopping but not early....some how I don't think she will feel like it come Friday! 

6.  Speaking of the color black-which black item in your wardrobe would you say is your favorite?

I just bought for my Birthday a new black puffy vest, I love it! It's tailored and flattering. 

7.  What do you appreciate about your life today? 

My family

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We picked up Katelyn yesterday...so happy to have her home. We left early and drove into Pittsburgh to go to Ikea. Katelyn had classes so we ran to a few Pittsburgh shopping hot spots. By the time we got to Ikea I told my hubby I'll just run in and get what I want. I know exactly what it is.....first of all it's been years since I've been to Ikea! There is no running in quick. I felt like a rat in the maze looking for the cheese. I got so lost and finally ask a worker for help....just follow the arrow...I just wanted to secret short cut! But I was glad I got lost and found a few treasures along the way. After I was done I felt like a ran a 10k! I love Ikea! 

Happy Wednesday! 

Happy Birthday to my man....

Happy Birthday Craig

You are the best husband, dad and friend a girl could ask for...

I love you with all my heart!!

Reminiscing today...

Today I've been reminiscing some....I think the holidays do that! It's hard to believe how fast time has flown by in life.

Four years ago this month I started my blog....828 posts ago! I looked by at my early post clearly my spell check didn't exist and editing what's that! Also did I really not know how to make my pictures bigger! I started my blog when we moved to Germany, a way to document our experiences and a place our family and friends could see what we were up too. Though it's changed moving back to USA and especially since we didn't move home but to another foreign place, Western NY. Some days it's hard to write a post, life is less exciting and adventurous now.

 One of my favorite shots from Germany

Our country walk

 Our ride....boy did I miss having a car

Sophie loved bike rides...how she fit was beyond me! 

Twenty seven years ago this month I went on my first day with Craig....I remember it like it was yesterday! I remember what I was wearing, what he was wearing, every detail. It was the day before Thanksgiving. My family and I went to friends for Thanksgiving, I remember all I wanted to do was leave and get home. Craig said he'd call me and this was obvious pre cell phone probably pre answering machine and even call waiting days! I was so excited when he called and invited me on a second date.....skiing! The rest is history...been together ever since! 

Gotta love the hat and omg I do believe I have makeup on! lol! 

I'm really excited for Thanksgiving this year ....Katelyn will be home. It's been almost seven weeks since we've seen her. After break she has two weeks left of the semester and she is home for Christmas break for SIX WEEKS! She doesn't have to be back until the 20th of January!! 

This is one of my favorite Thanksgiving shots, I think she was a year and half in this picture. She is with her cousin Allie who is also a Freshman at college and coming home for the first time since August. I'm not sure why I dressed her in a comfy casual Simba turtleneck, jeans and keds....maybe thats how we rolled back than....from two years old on she was all about the dresses! I remember this Thanksgiving it was so warm I think we ate outside. Keep in mind this was in Salt Lake City, Utah where they received 25 inches of snow last week! I think I was reminiscing about these two because I miss my family and Utah and the days when these two were inseparable. 

Happy Sunday!  

Friday Fragments

Happy Friday!!
Joining Mrs. 4444's
@Half past kissin time


It's time.....

 New reading glasses....oh and driving glasses too!
Stinks getting older!

 There here...yay!!!
The Girl Scouts delivered my goods!
My favorite is the Samoas aka Carmel DeLites
Whatever you do DON'T read the Nutrition info on back!!

Yup the only place I sing is in my car alone.....
CD's are loaded and radio station is set!
Christmas music baby!!

What are you doing this weekend?
We are painting our garage door....yup the orange spray paint is still noticeable!
I can still see it on our driveway too, but I hope over time it will fade.
They spray painted over the two penises on street with a black square...you can still see it!
Our neighbors are still gone

This is my view from my office window

It ticks me off to still see the work of those hooligans!

Happy Weekend! 

My Monday....

We live in what I call rural area....not as rural as other places but rural enough for me.

A place where farmers leave product in their stands and no one steals it. A place where you can leave pumpkins on your porch and no one smashes or steals them. A safe place a quiet place.......

Until this morning I put my kitchen shades up and saw my neighbors garage door painted a bright orange OG and than went outside to check our garage door and found the same on ours and also on my daughters truck and than our driveway.....

 Our driveway

 Neighbors garage

 Katelyn's truck

Our garage

We got hit the worse, our neighbors mailbox is orange now and we have several orange penis painted on our street now! The sheriff came and think it's random bored kids. There is no school today in celebration of Veteran's Day......I think with some power washing it will come off, it's on Katelyn's truck body I'm not sure if that will come off....so that's what I'm doing today! How about you?

Happy freaking Monday!!

Happy Friday!! 

Joining Mrs. 4444's from Half past kissin time 

*Sorry to be a whiner, but I'm still sick and I'm sick of being sick!! Enough on that!

* Soooooo happy the election is over....lets all just get along and move forward! Enough on that!

* I had a job interview this week...it was intense! It's for an Administrative Assistant position and I repeat it was intense....over 3 hours long! If you missed the part it was for an ADMINISTRATIVE position. Enough on that just glad to have it behind me!

* Six Fridays until Christmas!! I'm starting to freak! Enough on that ...now you are freaking!

* 10 more days until Katelyn is home for Thanksgiving break!! Do I hear a Woot Woot! Can't wait!

* I haven't put up my Thanksgiving decorations....should I just skip and go right to Christmas???

* I finally went to eye doctor this week and have glasses on order! I'm blaming this on word verification! Any one else find it blurry? Sometimes it takes me three time before I see it correctly...I swear each attempt they make it clearer! Seriously what gives!! Please tell me this happens to you and it's not my old eyes!! I'm not sure who to blame on the pair I need for driving but as soon as I think of someone I'll be back! 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Seven on Seven

Today Sophie is 7

From this little cutie 

To this big girl cute!!

Extra treats for her today!!

Happy Birthday to my doggie baby! 

Sniff Sniff Happy Monday...

Meet my companions for today.....

I'm sick

It feels like an elephant is sitting on my head! 

I hate being sick

Happy Monday...blah! 

Hello November

Hard to believe it's November 1st !

Five more days until the Election.

19 more days until Katelyn is home.

Three more Thursdays until Thanksgiving.

 Seven more Thursdays until Christmas....just saying! 

TODAY is my blogging friend Tami's Birthday!!

Woot Woot Happy Birthday!!

Stop by Tami's house and wish her a Happy Happy!!

TONIGHT is my theater group night we are seeing

For you American Idol viewers it's featuring none other than,
Constantine Maroulis from season 4!

I'm really excited....I hope it lives up to it's reviews!

I'm going to try and do a photo a day for the month of November....
I can't remember the last time I picked up my camera...
I hope it renews an old passion

Here is day 1

Something beginning with "C"

Another rainy day in WNY but that is nothing compared to those in the path of Sandy.

Watching the news and seeing the devastation is so heart breaking....keep them all in your prayers.

Happy Thursday and November!!!