Freak-out Friday: Two days until Christmas!

So, hopefully you're sitting at home, in your gorgeous pajamas (from Garnett Hill), sipping an adult beverage and watching the fire crackle. You're admiring your beautifully adorned Christmas tree and are feeling confident in each thoughtful gift that you've hand wrapped beneath your tree. All you have to do now is wait for the big day.

right?

Well, if our local Meijer is any indication: wrong. The number of bleary-eyed adults, wandering aimlessly through the aisles, haphazardly throwing items in their carts was staggering. At times, I felt afraid that I would be cart-jacked--not because the items in my cart were particularly desirable, but because I had already made the effort of hunting and gathering through the crazy maze we call a grocery store. 

In light of the fact that I do, in fact, have all my gifts purchased and wrapped, I thought it would be entertaining to poke fun at all the last-minute shoppers out there. 

Enjoy!

Ten Ways to Identify the last minute gift:

10. Everything in your 'gift' could be purchased at the counter of the local gas station

9. While the up cycled "Congratulations, It's a Girl!" bag is beautiful, Great Grandma is so 

confused she's insistent there must be a mistake

8. You quickly realize your gift looks very familiar--so similar in fact--it was regifted back to you

7. While you're all for the homemade gifts, the random hodgepodge from the

 junk drawer does not qualify

6. The garment that is not your size--but strangely--is the size of the giver

5. Anything "As Seen on TV!"

4. Socks and/or underwear--this is especially painful when the gift isn't given from your significant other

3. Do you really want an oil change or a gas gift card for Christmas?

2. Diet Pills or a gym membership. Need I say more?

and the number one, worst last minute Christmas gift:

booze & lottery tickets.

Stay classy blogworld. 

Schaeffer Jo's acting debut: Angel Gabriel

Schaeffer Jo looking particularly angelic in her Gabriel outfit

one last practice of her line: "Do not be afraid!"

Decked to the nines in her gorgeous fur coat

An entire row of proud family

Schaeffer Jo telling 'Mary' to not be afraid

Angel Gabriel & Mary

 Angel Gabriel & the Shepherds

giving daddy the thumbs up 

(little stinker!)

 Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, Gabriel & the angels

Angel Gabriel and her proud daddy

When Schaeffer Jo's teacher pulled me aside a few weeks ago to confirm our attendance for the Christmas program, because she was going to assign Schaeffer Jo the part of Gabriel, we had no idea SJ would be the only child with a speaking part. 

We couldn't be more proud of her confidence and her leadership. God has instilled wonderful qualities in her that we know He will continue to use for His glory. What a wonderful 'line' to memorize "do not be afraid!". 

I'm sure this will not be the last time we have the privilege of watching her preform. 

What to wear Wednesday: Christmas Morning Attire

So listen, blogworld. Everyone has a family member who is notorious for wearing inappropriate "loungewear" in family settings. Perhaps it is the grown adult who continues to wear nightgowns with teddy bears. Or, maybe it is the man who struts his stuff in his tank top and boxers--with a bathrobe.

Whatever the eye sore your family possess, I'm making the claim that with a little pre-planning, Christmas morning can be both joyous and non-scarring.

Here are my tips:

1. Surprise! Open "Christmas pajamas Christmas Eve (for the whole family!)
2. Take a moment to realize what you put on your body as you're hitting the bed Christmas Eve will be what you're picture is taken in Christmas morning.
3. Don't get sloshed Christmas Eve, falling into bed in whatever was laying on the floor of your bedroom.
4. Set an alarm for Christmas morning. Comb your hair, brush your teeth and (for heaven's sake!) put on a bra before greeting unsuspecting family.

If you're still in the market for some fab Christmas jammies for the whole family, check these out:

              

 

 The breakdown:

Silk Velvet Robe: Garnet Hill $168 here
Eileen Fisher Twist-Neckline Pajamas: Garnet Hill $108 here
Girl's Polka Dot Ballet Slippers: Garnet Hill $39 here
Glitter Charm Sleep Set: Gap $29.99 here
Long Johns in Organic Cotton: Hannah Anderson: $38 here
Broken-in long sleeve tee: JCrew $29.50 here
Utility fleece out-of-office pants: JCrew $59.99 here

What to Wear Wednesday: Just-because-no one-sees-it-doesn't-mean-it-shouldn't-be-pretty!

how GORGEOUS is this slip? 

you couldn't help but feel beautiful in it. 

BUT at $198, I find it a little pricey. Anthropologie (here) 

and, these? ah-mah-zing. 

they're also from Anthropologie --of course (here). 

$36/$42 

 this romper? with a robe? 

Beyond. 

You guessed it, Anthropologie (here). 

$120 

this romper looks super soft. 

And, it's affordable at $39.95. Gap (here)

I'm thinking this slip would be perfect for when 

you want to be comfy and pretty

Victoria's Secret on clearance (!) $29.99 (here)

So, a few weeks ago I was at a Christmas party for our church adult bible study and was alarmed to discover two things. 

1. My humor was completely lost on an entire group of my peers

because

2. My peers are ignorant when it comes to high-end undergarments

Here's what happened. While filling my plate at the mexican buffet bar, a friend was refilling the (delicious!) guacamole. He happened to mention that the guacamole was made by a local authentic mexican restaurant, La Perla. 

While chuckling, I said, "I've always found their name to be strangely ironic."

"Why?" He asked.

"Because La Perla is the name of expensive panties--and I wouldn't want people thinking about panties while they ate my food." I said. 

You know the look of three heads? That's what I got from everyone standing at or near the buffet table.  I'm still not sure what I find more alarming--the way I was totally misunderstood or the fact that I'm still mulling over my friend's panties--which I probably could have let go as a totally disturbing fleeting thought until a Viagra 'power lunch' box was opened as a white elephant gift.

Not ok.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Papa Al & Schaeffer Jo ready for the big preformance

MeMa Laurie & Papa Al waiting for the show to begin

Schaeffer on the Sugar Plum Parade

Schaeffer and a bon-bon

Schaeffer and one of the angels

(who she asked if she could borrow her outfit for her school play)

'tea' &  'candy cane'

 one of the chinese dancers from the 'tea' segment

 

                                                                        Schaeffer and a solider

 a mouse from the Mouse King

Clara & the Nutcracker

Clara

Clara signing SJ's 'clara' ornament

We had the great joy of taking Schaeffer to the Nutcracker Ballet on Saturday. She had been looking forward to it for weeks--and it did not dissapoint. The live symphony music was amazing and the dancers were outstanding. (You know I was taken by the costuming.) 

After the performance, we went on the 'sugar plum parade' backstage, meeting the dancers and seeing the stage first hand. 

It's a day that we'll not soon forget, the anticipation and excitment in Schaeffer, and her total captivation by the graceful dancers tip-toeing across the stage. 

Let it snow!

It seems this is one of the latest first snows I can remember--and Schaeffer has been desperate to watch the first flakes fall. Needless to say, when we woke Friday morning to a wintry white world, she was beyond excited.

Enjoy the pictures.

a well equipped home: kitchen

My beloved LeCreuset in the early stages of toffee

How do you make sense of the swirling jumble of crazy in your head? Three years ago or so, my sweet husband has realized that if I'm in the kitchen stirring up the 7th batch of cookies (in the same day) or finishing the 3rd pot of soup, I'm probably trying to put the crazy to order in my mind.

One of my favorite kitchen tools--pictured above--is my Le Creuset enameled dutch oven. Some have said it's like a second child. I love it. Simply said, there is nothing else in my kitchen that distributes heat as evenly, maintains temperature as well--or is just pretty to look at. And, as if all that wasn't enough, it makes me happy inside. There's no better assurance than knowing when I take the lid off the pot--the plain-jane food I'm putting in will be transformed into melt-in-your-mouth, shovel-it-in-as-fast-as-you-can kind of food. Now that's a good deal.

It's not too late! Add this to your Christmas list immediately. You--and those who eat with you--will be glad you did.

Cut-out Cookies with Great Grandma Jean

One of my most favorite days of the year is the day we gather ingredients, put on the Christmas music, tie on an old apron and make cut-out cookies with Grandma Jean. As Schaeffer Jo gets bigger, she has become as fond of the tradition as I am, and it is great fun to watch her interact with Grandma as they roll and cut they dough, ice the cookies and sprinkle out the perfect decorations.

They lick their fingers, sample the cookies, and giggle together--all of which adds to the ambiance of the afternoon. How blessed I am to have so many generations of love gather in my kitchen!