Holiday Shopping and Christmas Decorations

Most of you know that I recently moved. I have a nice bin of christmas decorations for the inside of the house, but I didn't bring any of the thousands of lights with us in the move... because they are so cheap..... and because they are so cheap, they don't last long.

I picked up 500 (5 boxes of 100) of those little lights at Home Depot. They were only $2.00 a box. I also picked up some big gold bells for the door knob, larger lights (600 feet in all) for the outside, and 2 rakes. (That reminds me... the cashier at Home Depot made a point of telling me to log onto the Home Depot website and enter the code on my receipt so that I can enter to win $5K. He leaned forward and almost whispered it, like it was our secret and I was gauranteed to win... do they teach that in Home Depot School... very effective)

In addition to docorating the house, the girls and I are going to rake up the yard. My lovely HUGE yard is a beautiful yellow blanket of leaves. I might. (and I stress might) get out the ladder and clear out the gutters, which I can see from the ground are CLEARLY filled with the gorgeous yellow folliage.

Yesterday we made 24 jars of "chili mix gifts". The kids had a great time filling the mason jars up with the dried beens, while I put together the chili mix flavoring packets. Then I made 8 jars with the dry ingredients for Banana bread (that will go to my friends with kids... as we with kids always seem to have rotting bananas) and with the last 4 jars, I think I may make some home-made granola.

Yesterday at Target I picked up the greatest little gift bags, they were made out of recycled paper and had holiday pictures on them that looked kind of antique. SO... I will be dropping the mason jars in those bad boys, and handing the gift over. DONE

So, when all is said and Done... I have 36 gifts for about $2.40 ea. ..... The fun making them.... priceless. (of course, not everyone would consider dried kidney beans all over the floor the makings for of a fun afternoon! I guess you would have to be under 7 years old to appreciate the bowls full of beans.)

I figure these 36 gifts will be appropriate for teachers, co-workers and neighbors. Pretty much everyone, but my friend Mary who tries to stay away from gifts that come in jars. (not to be confused with gifts that come in bottles) In fact, I believe she will go to great lengths to avoid a "gift in a jar" including but not limited to crying "FIRE!" at an office party as a Gift Jar baring co-worker approaches....

Yesterday I also did ALL my christmas shopping. OK, who am I kidding. I got the bulk out of the way. MOST I did online at www.etoys.com, JC Penny.com and target.com. The rest I did in person at Target. I ALMOST bought a TON more stuff at Kohls.... where I went to buy a cute little dress for my work office party... and although I didn't find anything I liked, I found a ton of stuff I could give to the kids for christmas... for 1.5 hours I shopped.

Then.... I walked to the cash register... (or should I say the huge line waiting for an available cashier) and I realized... that I didn't get what I came into the store for... and here I was about to spend a ton of money... MY new method for curbing my spending is... if I can't find what I came in for... then I can't get anything.

It worked well in Costco, that afternoon where I went to find some large containers of spices for the Chili Mix. Costco (like BJ's) usually sucks me into it's web of bulk products for reasonable prices. It is not often that I escape that store (and I do mean escape) without dropping a couple hundred. Of course, once I leave I have all the meat and poultry in the land... but still.

Anyway, getting back to me and my cute black dress....

I didn't find ANYTHING. nothing. And, who the heck is Daisy Fuentes... AND WHY OH WHY are people putting those leather belts around their waist... I feel.... It looks.... Does anyone else remember the 80's?

I watched a couple hundred episodes of "what not to wear" and although I'm not as bad as some... I am still a fashion nightmare... And... How come no one told me shoulder pads were out.... Yes, I noticed no one was wearing clothes with shoulder pads... But I just checked out my treasure trove of "skinny clothes" (you ladies know what I'm talking about) and most of my gems are.... at the very best, classic 80's..... at the very worst.... classic 80's.

Excellent you might think... however, apparently Daisy Fuentes forgot about the shoulder-pads and I haven't seen any "flock of seaguls" hair cuts walking buy... so, I'm thinking only parts of the 80's are back.

That's it for today. I have breakfast to cook and coffee to drink.

Have a great day!

OH, stay tuned for the latest installment of Rosie the Wonderdog - Unassembles Plush Toys II

Homemade Holiday Gifts

In another life, I was a crafty bead stringing, glue gun wielding, glass painting maniac. Now, my craft projects focus primarily on one word: WASHABLE

Back in the day, there were a few notable gifts that were bestowed upon my friends.
remember......

The Banana bread that was so dense you could use it as a wheel chock if you parked your car on an incline?

The 5 been soup in a mason jar?

The flavored instant coffee... also presented in mason jars?

My favorite, the hand painted hot plates?

And of course, the homemade Bailey's Irish Creme

This year, I am trying to work it out... but I am toying with preparing and gifting... Martini's. Here's how it goes. I get a bunch of holiay Martini Glasses, then I make a bunch of martini's I use that wrap & Seal stuff, to seal the top of the martini... then I put the instructions.. which read: Place in Freezer for 2 hours, then drink. (that will chill the glass and the alcohol...)

The alternative, is to prepare the drinks and give them out in mason Jars... why mason jars.. because those are the only jars I can ever find.. that are reasonably priced.

The other thing... I was thinking about making is some after dinner liquore. (spelling?) Liek Annisette or Frangelica or something. (well, not frangelica, because that takes like 3 months to actually get the finished product) but the other stuff, only needs to steep for 10 days.

SO..... If you were on the receiving end of an homemade alcohol gift... would you like a single decorative drink.... or a couple of drinks in a mason jar... or a fancy after dinner sipping kind of drink (also in a mason jar)

Of course... if you insist, I can also put together another 5 bean soup medly! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA AH
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Oh yeah, I need a analyst to come forward and analyze my poll data. Thanks in advance.

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Today is Thanksgiving! My kids have been drawing Turkey's all week! it's really funny. last night I made the Candied Yams, yum yum and today I am making Apple Pie. Home made.. ok, not so homemade, well... real apples... anyway. And later we are going to all get together to celebrate!

I have come to terms with the fact that I will NOT be getting up tomorrow morning in the wee hours to go shopping... primarily because I don't have anyone to watch the kids. I will have to make other arrangements to get out shopping... or I will probably end up doing what I always end up doing... shopping online.

I love the internet!

OK. Have a great day! Be Thankful. Eat Lots. Drive safe!

Black Friday List

I jotted down most of these while watching the TV commercials... and found some others online, but you should still check with the store before scooting off at 4:00am.

Black Friday Shopping is slowing encroaching on Thursday...


Best Buy 5:00 AM
BJ's Wholesale 6:00 AM
Home Depot
JC Penney 4:00 AM
KB Toys 5:00 AM
Kohl's 4:00 AM
Macy's 6:00 AM
Office Depot 6:00 AM
Old Navy 5:00 AM
Radio Shack 6:00 AM
Staples 6:00 AM
Target 6:00 AM
Toys R US 5:00 AM
Walmart 5:00 AM

If I could just find someone to watch the kids... I could actually be done with my christmas shopping ... before 8:00am! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Poll Results....

Are not in... we have a couple more days.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful thanksgiving.. and I hope that you can find at least one thing to be thankful for!

And remember.... The day after thanksgiving marks .... the first day of Christmas Shopping!

Rosie and I are working on ... one of a kind... christmas ornaments. They will be handmade and comprised primarily of plush toy and doll parts. They will be wondrous and beautiful, perhaps a little scary. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

OK. Enjoy your holiday.

Oh, a well known state worker remarked the other day that he doesn't have Friday off. He claims, "We used to have that day, but "they" took it away from us"

All I could do was look at him and think... Tutt Tutt... poor baby, only has 65 days off this year! HA HA HA HA HA HA

I have some real suggestions for Corzine on how to cut taxes.

By the way, I have recently been dubbed.... "Mommy with the gorgeous pajamas..." I guess my ratty old sweats were not impressing the girls or atleast they didn't notice anything UNTIL I actually got a pair of pajamas that have flowers and have a top and bottom that match... The kids think I am a super model.

Maybe I can do an add like the one that Alicia Silverspoonsteinawitz did in an endorsement for PETA (People Eating Tender Animals... right?) Whhaaaaaaaat? Don't you read Yahoo News?

First of all... it's interesting to get the two points of view, Here is the report from

The Cattle News: http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=175085

And From Peta: http://www.peta.org/feat/alicia_psa/index.asp

Sooooooooo all of that is to say... that I think I should be modeling my new cotton PJ's to support... the "cotton pickers coalition on pausing time management" or more commonly known as the "wait one cotton pickin minute" movement.

Have happy holidays.

Welcome back

I don't want to make this a big entry... because I don't want to distract from the poll. (pause to spell check -- I dont' want anyone to think by poll I mean a small bald man from polland.) Shout out to Rosie and Idaho!

---Don't forget to vote!---

Rosie, email info@myfriendcooks.com with the "info" (wink wink) I'll get it and send it.

POLL - Is it cheating if....

News Update. Headlines from Across the World

Dear Readers it has come to my attention that I haven't been well rounded enough in my blog. So, in an effort to increase your reading pleasure I will periodically insert
THE DAY IN NEWS - Which will just be a blog entry dedicated to news.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--There was a "worlds biggest liar" championship.
Read about it here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071116/od_afp/britainliaroffbeat_071116093714


LOCAL NEWS
--Corzine prepared to offer a plan to cut NJ's debt in 1/2
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/11/corzine_says_he_has_a_plan_to.html

MOB NEWS
Yo Antney, youse guys weren't too .....uuummmm.... youse guys got caught.
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/11/14/gambling.arrests.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText



WEATHER - EXTREME, MOSTLY COOL SLIDE SHOW

Europe
http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/03/weather-europe-biz-cx_tvr_0806euroweather_slide_2.html?partner=msnbc

America
http://www.forbes.com/2007/07/20/weather-storms-united-states-biz-cx_tvr_0720weather_slide_8.html?thisSpeed=15000

CELEBRITY NEWS
http://video.accesshollywood.com/player/?id=170474

http://video.accesshollywood.com/player/?id=158293

OK... enjoy fun...

Couple of things this week:

#1) My kids are learning the words to all of the Queen songs on the Queen's Greatest Hits, just because it's the only CD I loaded onto the mp3 player... AND T. Berri (3) loves to sing Fat Bottomed Girl... at the top of her lungs, in the bathroom... while going potty. silly silly kid

#2) Thank GOD for Grandma's and Grandpa's. THEY ROCK!

#3) MC is right, Grandmas have a thing about seeing kids in clothes that actually fit... they don't like the hand me down, almost fitting, but still a size to big, crap.

#4) Coffee Rules

#5) Due to the week of free, HBO, STARZ and ENCORE, I have been up watching TV until the wee hours of the night, I toggled between "the Holiday", "The English Patient", and something else with gay men, a pregnant girl and murder and mayhem... and I am here to say, I should have been sleeping

#6) Sometimes it isn't easy, but it is worth it. (you may insert anything hard but worthwhile for the word "it")

#7) Coffee still rules and the Juan Gill 2006 Jumilla wine I picked up at the bottle king could remove tar from your wheel wells.

That's it for today.

I just want to address one serious item:

To MC who wrote: (well, actually, she didn't write, she just spoke) "People are actually avoiding me because of the 2 year old strapped to my leg" or something like that....

I say to you.... NAY I CHALLENGE YOU, to go find those people.... ask them to watch the 2 year old for a second while you go to the bathroom... and head out the back door. AT LEAST give them a reason for running when they see you! HA HA HA HA HA A AHA HA I actually know what you mean... with kids that have nick names like: The Snot Bullet, Phlem Fillies and Walking Petri Dishes of Virii... visits to my house are few and far between... in fact, you and my sister are the only ones that brave the Germ Barrier.

And so...my friend. You may bring your entourage of one, to visit me and the kids any time you want! .... cough cough.... but I'll be keeping my eye on the back door! HA HA HA HA HA HA

Have a great day!
Enjoy my little Rosie Collage below!
Hugs all around!

Ahhhhhhhh Stopping to Smell the Rosie

I hope you enjoyed my little collage of pictures...

I used the classic Tim Burton headless doll as the intro... because .... I think it sets the tone.

My next production will be a "Search and Find" piece. Where I will challenge you to find the missing parts of toys from the pile of disfigured and maimed items on the carpet.

Have a great day

Enjoy

(there is music, so crank up your speakers)

Introducing..... Rosie the Wonder Dog

Today she ate off Jo-Jo the Clowns foot and mangled several sippy cuts containing various stages of ... yogart. When asked why she eats everything she says, "Tastes like chicken.."

As you know I have retired the Slag boy adventures and am completely moving on.

I decided that although not every entry will focus on my dog... she's as good a name for a blog as any.... especially since my mother just ... (are you sitting down) bought her some clothes.

My father has referred to Rosie as ... The devil dog. (This is coming from a man that has 2 Standard Poodles) He was not referring to her behavior... but referring to her appearance. (which is a little scary if you don't know the love ball behind it) AND AGAIN, I remind the reader that my father is the owner of 2 Standard Poodles... names: Belle and Bridget.... PPPPPPLLLLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEEEEE

So my little satan spawn is curled up in bed with my three year old, I used to think that she like that bed best because she like sleeping with that chidl best... which I believe she does, but not because of that childs disposition, but because of that childs size. Smallest child....more room for Rosie.

And so... a new era is upon us.

It's all about the happiness that is... a house, a dog and 3 kids (with lots of toys... that taste like chicken)

Don't forget to look up.
.....It will make your neck feel better.