Three

Yes, that is the number of times that I've posted before today, in December. I'm still highly unmotivated to write right now, but I know that if I don't "just do it" that I'll never post again, so here I am.

Christmas was lovely around here, and I'm not just talking about the weather. (Which, by the way is sunny and in the 70's. Don't be hatin'.) My parents were here for 10 days beginning on the 18th, which gave us plenty of time to get things done and have some fun, too. HD and my dad got to play golf before Christmas, we had a great Christmas Eve dinner with my BIL and SIL, and I was even done with all of my shopping by 2 days before Christmas. Amazing!

Christmas morning was nice... we didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn! We opened our stockings and found that Santa had brought a new iMac. (Thank goodness! Now Mama has her laptop back!) The boys got some great gifts that they were excited about: Skyrim for XBOX, new sweatshirt jackets, gift cards and money, among other things. HG got various travel goodies, including money for another summer in Africa. HD was the recipient of almost everything that he asked for in the way of clothes, etc., but I think his favorite gifts were the 2 books on the history and windows of St. Patricks' Cathedral in New York City. (The reason for the books is another post entirely. It's a great story.) I had a really great Christmas. HD employed a friend to help him find a zoom lens for my Canon that I have been desperate for, and threw in the bag and tripod for good measure. I've started playing with it, but I now can't wait to head to a local shop with a friend to take some lessons to really learn how to use it properly. Think I'll be able to get a good picture of the kids now? I sure hope so! I also got a new battery for my laptop, a pair of Broncos plaid flannel pj pants, a couple of sweaters, and a jewelery tree for my bathroom that I've needed forever.

The day after Christmas we went to see Hugo, my first movie in over a year. We all loved it, and if you haven't seen it yet you should before it is out of theaters. Then? Head right to the bookstore to treat yourself to the book. It is typically in the children's section but adults will also be mesmerized. I loved it when I read it a few years ago and now can't wait until I can pick it up again as well as read another book by the same author. I'd bet you'll want to dive into them, too.

I guess that my only disappointment of the season was that I didn't get to do my usual baking. Time just kept getting away from me and that's what had to go. I'm in luck though. My kids don't go back to school until January 9th, so maybe we can get a few things done next week and they can take treats to their teachers then!

That's all for today. Missed you guys. So tell me. How was your holiday?
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If it wasn't for the Last Minute, I'd never get anything done.

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.walgreens.com/beauty




'Tis the week to freak out about all of those people that are on your list that you forgot to get something for.



That's only me? *ahem*


You can do it all in one place. No lie. At Walgreens.


A swing through my local Walgreens yesterday had me brimming with ideas. Check this out:

• For the college student/young adult with a small apartment: small appliances by Sylvania $14.99-26.99, all with a $5 rebate. I'd go with the rice cooker for $10.99 (after rebate.)
• For the tween girl: feather hair extensions, 2/$10.
• Various girls/women on your list: super soft fuzzy socks. For girls, with Dora the Explorer on them, ($3.99 each or 3/$10) So cute! Or for teens/women, 3 pack, 2/$12. That's 6 pairs, y'all!
• For the tween boy: AXE body wash, $6.49.
• For the 'local' enthusiast: sweatshirts with your city name, $19.99.

This year I've been shopping for myself a little. (I'm the only shopper in my house, so if I don't do it, no one will!) So if you happen to be an adult, male member of my family, here's what you can get for me, or the sister-in-law that you don't have no idea what she wants:

• Waterproof tote, in Burberry plaid print, $5.99.

(Not the plaid, but the same tote.)

• Fill it with: the above fuzzy socks, 
• Wine! (Walgreens sells wine here in California. Score!)
• Anything (or everything?) from the Yes to Carrots line ($2.99-$20.49 regular price, on sale this week buy one, get one 50% off!) See also: Yes to Blueberries, Yes to Cucumbers.
• Any thick body moisturizer, like those by Eucerin, Udderly Smooth, Cetaphil, or Palmer's Cocoa Butter.

Wanna fill some stockings? In addition to your Great Aunt Matilda's favorite Chocolate Covered Cherries, get some of these:

• Chapstick or Carmex
• nail clippers
• fingernail decals
• toothbrushes/toothpaste
• perfume/cologne
• eye shadow/mascara
• makeup remover wipes
• multi-vitamins
• fleece baby blankets (only $1!)

Want more savings? There's some great Walgreens coupons in this flyer/shopping guide.

So? What will you buy at Walgreens this year? You can tell me. I can keep a secret.

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Behind

And thus begins the portion of the show where I freak the heck out.

I've got 3 tons of stuff to do and less than a ton of time to do it.

Please, if I'm missing something major in your life or on your blog direct me to it. Know that it's not you, it's me. I'm going to spend the next several days offline (except for shopping!,) and try to get caught up.

Do you have any tips for me for getting caught up? Right now I need a clock that goes back in time!
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The Wind

Unless you've been living under a rock, you heard about the terrible winds that hit Southern California last Wednesday night. I have lived all over the country, been in 2 tornados, one hurricane (inland, anyway,) and lived through almost 20 winters in Colorado and I have NEVER been that scared in my life. The wind was coming out of the north and whipping down the mountains. Our master bedroom is on the north side of the house and I don't think that HD or I slept more than about 30 or 40 minutes at a time after about 3 am. Our chimney and bedroom window creaked so bad I was almost shocked that they didn't have any damage. The power went out around 2:30, and when we woke up with first light we found that we had lost both of our large shade trees in our back yard.

Look at my view out of the kitchen window. This tree landed about 3 feet from the window. The usual view is just grass with the tree above.

The canopy on these trees seemed to act like a parachute and lifted them out of the ground. You can't even tell in this picture where the tree was. It actually snapped about 8 inches underground.

Same tree, different view.

This is the close-up of the hole, and how far underground that the tree snapped.

This tree is on the opposite side of the yard, and the one that fell close to the kitchen window.

A close-up of the roots still partially attached, same tree as above.

Different view of tree #1. The upstairs window you see in this picture is our bedroom. With nothing to block the wind, it was s.c.a.r.y. Locally, the highest gusts were clocked at 97 miles an hour. Hurricane strength. This is not normal for our area. Yes, we have bad, damaging winds but most people I've spoken with have never seen anything like the winds on Wed./Thurs. of last week.

The above Chinese Elms weren't the only trees on our property that had damage. This branch off of the junipers was 6-8 inches in diameter. We also lost 2 large branches off of our pepper tree in the opposite corner of the yard.

This is the side of the yard where tree #1 was laying, now completely empty. This was taken on Saturday morning after the tree company came to cut the majority of the wood. HB#1 is up there helping to stack wood and do other clean up. All 3 of my guys worked really hard to get it finished. OH! Headless girl pitched in, too! (I let them do it all and cleaned the inside of the house, instead.)

The other side of the yard. It's so bare! You can, however, see the mountains very clearly now. Bright side, right?









I can't let this whole topic go without telling you how devastated Headless Dad is about these trees. He literally moped around for 3 days.

I have more pictures from around our neighborhood that I'll post tomorrow. If you thought our damage was bad, you ain't seen nuthin' yet!

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