Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Loving Life

Yes I am, even though it's a crazy busy life right now. The gift wrapping job is going just dandy. The other gift wrappers are delightful and I enjoy working with them. I guess I've forgotten how much I do enjoy people! Today I wrapped some gifts for men to give their wives, for little old ladies, for Mothers and Grandmas. There must have been a special on heavy hooded sweatshirts today because I wrapped a bunch of them!

Yesterday we had snow! It wasn't much but enough to make me nervous. (It doesn't take much!!)

It does look pretty.
 

Gina cleans off the car.
 
 

Gina and I left extra early for work. As we got closer to the mall, we realized we were really early....so we made a stop st McD's for takeout breakfast!

Gina changed departments at Boscov's this week. She was offered full-time in young men's and seasonal. Isn't that wonderful? The manager for those departments is a really sweet girl. I know Gina will like working for her.

I've been spending time after work this week, at church. The Christmas Brunch is Saturday. I'm decorating 4 tables and I also do some decorating of the church. I love doing it. I always have way more ideas than I have time to do. Or the money to do....I don't like charging the church for all my hair-brained ideas =) I'll take some pictures and post them.

Last evening I made my first Craigslist purchase. I was looking for a doll bed for Zoe. Corey suggested I check Craigslist. Sure enough, I found a cute handmade wooden cradle complete with handmade bedding. When we went to purchase it, she had a baby doll in it. I said, that's not included, is it?  She said it was! It's so cute and I know Zoe will be thrilled!

I had a first today, too. I bought a powerball ticket! I never did that before. Shoot, I never even purchased a lottery ticket of any kind. They sell them at Boscov's. Fran, one of my co-workers, also bought one....she said it was the first she ever bought too! We both joked that if one of us didn't show up for work in the morning, everyone will now that we won, hehe!

Well, I have laundry to fold, more laundry to wash. I don't have many dishes to wash because we ate McD's for dinner. I don't like doing that but my day was way too full to add cooking to it. I even had a chicken sandwich instead of a salad.....because the only thing I ate today besides my breakfast smoothie was some dark chocolate covered raisins that I picked up at Dollar Tree today!

It does not look like Christmas around here yet. Maybe after Saturday...........

I love Christmas, don't you?  Blessings, my friends!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Thursday to Saturday

Thursday -
Thanksgiving day was another beautiful day. We had several of those this week. The temps were warm for this time of year and the sun....love the sunshine! We had a wonderful dinner and ate too much!

Something funny was said just as I was snapping the pic!
L - R
Carol (friend of Mary Ellen), Mary Ellen, Gina
 

Ellen and Dale
 
 
These were the only pictures I took. Neither one is that great. Oh well! Later Greta and Lynn came. They brought a peanut butter pie, yum. Corey Christy and the kids came too. We had a great time chatting. I was so tired and confess to falling asleep while they were here. Yes I did.
 
 
Friday -
I was up by 4:15 to be at work (Boscov's gift wrapping seasonal job I started this week) by 6. I drank a cup of coffee on the way and didn't feel too bad by the time I got there. I wrapped gifts till 11. We were busy! From the mall I headed to Corey and Christy's to pick up Gina and the kids. Gina stayed overnight to be with the kids since I was working and both Corey and Christy were working too. I took Gina to Greta's house and they went to work together. I.went.home. Was sooo happy to be doing that! Dale was home painting the front door. Aidan was happy to play outdoors while Pop Pop worked. I was happy to be indoors with a sleeping Zoe where I could kick back and do nothing!!
 
Saturday -
A cold, blustery day. Gina did some cleaning and I worked on some things for the Women's brunch at church. It is next Saturday. I have lots to do before that day. It seems like it's not suiting very many ladies this year. Sigh. I'm struggling to keep a good attitude....everyone is so busy. Me too. Sometimes I think maybe it's time for me to let someone else do this. Something for me to ponder and pray over for sure! Later this afternoon Gina, Ellen and I went shopping. Gina bought a few Christmas gifts. I looked for boots for Ellen but we didn't find any. Tonight I made a pot of Chili and a kettle of turkey corn noodle soup for lunch tomorrow. Also made cranberry applesauce. I haven't made it in a long time. It's just a can of jelled cranberry sauce and a cup of applesauce mixed together with an electric mixer. I thought it didn't seem as red as usual. The recipe calls for a pound can of cranberries...my can was 14 oz.  Were they 16 oz. cans at one time? I don't know....could be why the sauce isn't a nice red! Now I have dishes to wash then I'm going to bed! Will feel so good!
 
Good night, my friends. Sunday is on it's way =)


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

Don't you just love a Holiday? Even if I'm moving along at break-neck speed, I still love a Holiday!

I have wrapped gifts at Boscov's today and yesterday. I have kept Aidan and Zoe Monday and Tuesday too. I have made fruit salad, cupcakes, onion pretzels, hard boiled some eggs for the salad and prepared the turkey thighs in the crockpot to be started very early in the morning. Yes, we are not having a whole turkey. Please don't judge =)

My recipe for making boneless, skinless turkey thighs is from Women's Day magazine. It is so good. It has lots of onions, some garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, chicken broth and red wine vinegar. I will make mashed potatoes and baked corn too. My sister is bringing a turkey breast, sweet potatoes, filling (that's what we call the dressing or stuffing around here), cranberry sauce and 2 pies. There will be 6 of us to eat this feast! Some of our kids will show up later in the day.

Blessings to each of you, my friends who read this little blog. You have expanded my world in ways I could not have imagined. Enjoy your day!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

So much going on!

Busy, busy! I'm sure you are too. With Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas activity already started.....whew!

I started Christmas shopping this week. The stores are getting busy already. I was going to order two things from Amazon but found both toys at Toys R Us for less!

Last evening Dale's boss took us out to dinner and to see the show, Jonah, at Sight and Sound Theater. Wow, that show is outstanding! I loved it! I would love to see it again.

Today I did some cleaning and some furniture moving. Hubs painted and cleaned up the yard. I need to take a pic of the little shed at the end of the barn that he has been working on. It looks very nice!

This afternoon I went to Boscov's for an orientation. I will be wrapping gifts for them again this Christmas. It's a free service to their customers. I did this two years ago. It can be a crazy time but fun too! I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week.

I've been working on some ornament crafts this week for our Women's Christmas brunch. I'm not very crafty but I'm trying. So far I've made 10 button (buttons from my attic) snowflakes and 10 music sheet (music sheets from my attic) decoupage ornaments. I have 20 more to make....cinnamon cut-out ornaments.

I will be making a Thanksgiving dinner. My sister Mary Ellen will be joining us. She will bring a friend too. I don't think any of our kids, other than the 2 that live here, will be joining us. Mary Ellen is bringing a new game to play. Should be fun!

I did some shopping after the orientation today. And stopped for a few groceries. And ordered a pizza for dinner. I was almost home when I remembered the pizza! Getting a bit forgetful in my old age!

I have dishes to wash and I soon must go get Gina at work. You bet, busy, busy. I.Will.Survive!

Blessings!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Chocolate Chip Whoopie Pies - take 2

After the tragic event which destroyed our hard work on Monday, Aidan and I got to work to make another batch of chocolate chip cookies for our whoopie pies. He said he would not throw a ball this day =)

Aidan, the Baker Man is ready to give this another try!
 
 
Hard at work!
 
 
Zoe got comfortable and watched
Charlotte's Web

While the cookies were baking, Aidan thought he would do some tricks with the little football. NOOOOO!
 I told him that was not happening......little boys have short memories!
 
 
Here they are....
chocolate chip whoopie pies
with
strawberry filling.
 
Want one???
 
 
 
Have a wonderful Wednesday! 

Monday, November 12, 2012

A 4 yr. old learns a hard lesson

Lesson learned today -
There are consequences when making bad choices.

Aidan got very upset this morning when Zoe chose a show he.did. not.like. He was given the chance to make a good choice - stop fussing and get a chance to choose the next time. Instead, he got more upset, threw a real fit and Mommy took all shows away for today. He rarely gets that upset so it seems so shocking when it happens.

After we came to my house, we looked at recipes on my computer to see what dessert we could make. He wanted to bake something different than chocolate cupcakes. We looked at several things and chose chocolate chip whoopie pies with strawberry filling. We baked the cookies. We mixed up the filling. It was not stiff enough and we used all the confectioner sugar I had. So, to the store I went. (Gina was home so I could do that with out children) We finished up the filling. I filled half the cookies and used the rest of them to make 2 cookies into a whoopie pie.

I was in the kitchen making dinner when I heard a crash and breaking glass. OH NO!!

Aidan had thrown a ball which hit some champagne glasses which were on the table. (the glasses belong to our 2 oldest daughters.....prom memento's. I had taken them out of the hutch to be given to them) The cookies were also on the table. You guessed it, there was glass on the cookies.

Aidan cried and cried. He watched as I threw the cookies in the trash can. He was upset, I was upset. He was so sad that we wouldn't be eating the whoopie pies. It was another hard lesson learned. We do not throw balls in the house. Ever.

We will make more tomorrow.

He told me this afternoon that it's so boring without shows.

Hard way to learn hard lessons. But, I doubt this will be the last time. Little boys will learn some things over and over because .....

Boys will be boys!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Saturday Night

It's been a few days since I wrote a post. Thought I should check in to let you know I'm still here!

It's Saturday night and Aidan and Zoe are here. Their parents are taking an evening out, something they don't do often. We watched a movie, we ate pizza, we read lots and lots of books. I also cleaned today and did some laundry and made food for tomorrow. The Fahnestock family will be getting together to celebrate an early Thanksgiving and to also celebrate Mother's 92 birthday!

 And we said goodby to a piece of furniture, the pine hutch which was one of the few pieces we bought new as a young married couple. It served us well. I knew it would be something we wouldn't take with us when we move. I decided to give it to someone who could use it. Our church had a Free Clothing Give-Away today. It was my intent to take the hutch to church to be given away. I know, it's not an article of clothing!  But, it took me too long to get everything out of it and packed. So, I took a picture to church to post. Sure enough, I got a call! A lovely couple with a child came to pick it up. She said it was for someone who doesn't have furniture, he mentioned something about their son having lots of toys....I don't care if they keep it or give it away. I had another call for it too. I took her number. She would be interested in any furniture we may be getting rid of before we move.

Why give away rather then sell? Because what we have is functional but not valuable. Most of our furniture was either given to us or purchased at household auctions and thrift stores. We have a few pieces that may have value other than sentimental value. We give because there are so many in need. So, so many in need.

Blessings to you, my friends!




Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Random.....

Because it's that kind of day!
  • I voted today. Went around 11 and walked right up and voted. For other Presidential elections, I was a working lady and had to vote before or after work. I would stand in long lines. What a difference when I can go in the middle of the day =)
  • We had blue skies and sunshine! Had. It's now clouding over. I was so excited about the sun. Ok, it's clearing again and I'm seeing more blue  =)
  • I almost brushed my teeth, once, with my Mary Kay face cleanser. I thought it was terrible that I could actually get the two confused. Well....
  • Last week I did it. I put my Mary Kay on my tooth brush and started to brush my teeth. I paused because it seemed different, wasn't minty. Then I realized what I did! OH.MY.WORD!!
  • Wanna know what distracted me? I leaned forward just a bit to pick up the toothpaste, or start the water, or something. As I did that, I noticed all the silver at the top of my head which was reflected in the mirror! Wow, it's really silver!!! And, the rest is history.
  • I think I'm still ok with letting my hair go natural.....
  • I was washing dishes a while ago and was thinking how quiet the phone is today. Just like that, it rang. Yep, yet another political robo call.
  • I was planning tablescapes this morning for the Women's Christmas Brunch at church. What fun!
  • I had a carton of Cashew Carrot Ginger soup in my pantry for months. I warmed some for my lunch today. Oh my word, it is so good! I paid 99 cents for it at the local discount grocery.  Wish I had tried it sooner so I could get more!
  • Talking about bargains. Last week Gina and I went to the outlet stores in Lancaster. She needed clothes for work. We decided to check out QVC. Did I ever hit the jackpot there! I have bought very few clothes in the last 2 and a half years since I've been unemployed. QVC outlet was having a 75% off sale on clothing. I got 2 tops, a sweater, and a shapewear top - Spanx, mind you - all for less than $38! The Spanx alone was priced at $49.50....I was so thrilled! Gina found a pair of Khaki pants at VF, a top at QVC ($4!) and shoes at Sketcher outlet. We had a late lunch at Chick-fil-a and stopped at Target before heading home. Fun day!!
  • One thing for sure, we will need a chalkboard at our next home. Our Grands draw on it every time they're here. Aidan and Zoe also love to erase it with wet paper towels. Our chalkboard is just chalkboard paint on a wall.
  • Are you wondering about our next house? So are we! No action. sigh
That's it for today. Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday....get out there and vote!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Brinley had a Party!

Our sweet Brinley had her first birthday party on Sunday. She was a delight as usual. First birthday's are so interesting. They love it but I'm not sure they understand what all the fuss is about =)
(pardon the poor quality of the photos...forgot my camera and had to use my phone. major bummer)

Brinley checks out what's in the bag.
Paityn and Aidan are waiting too!
 

Cute toy from her parents and sissy.
 

Mommy reads the card to Brinley.
 
 
Opening the gift from Nana and Pop Pop


Brinley gets some comfy, snugly clothes!
 
 
Party Hats!
 
Zoe

Brinley and her cousin Nolan

Paityn and Zoe
 
Silly Aidan =)



Time for Cake!
 

 

We sing Happy Birthday....
 
 
The Birthday Girl is getting ready to dig in!

There she goes!

She is enjoying it =)

Now, let me show you what my talented daughter made for the rest of us to enjoy....

Adorable Monkey cupcakes...
chocolate and pumpkin zucchini.
Yum, Yum!

She also made the best sugar cookies!
There were flowers, letters spelling Brinley and lots of little 1's.
They were sooooo good!
 
 
We had such a good time. Love you, Sweet girl.....Happy 1st birthday, Brinley!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Happy Birthday, Brinley Hope!

Can you believe it? Brinley is 1 today! What a blessing this sweet little girl is.

Aunt Kimmy takes a photo of Brinley and her Mommy
 

Our sweet Brinley
 
 
She's growing.....
 
 
....and growing.....
 
 
....and growing!
 
 
The Smith's
Our daughter Marcy holding Brinley Hope
behind Marcy is her hubby Scott
in front of Scott is Paityn Lily
 
 
Happy Birthday, sweet Brinley!
 
Looking forward to your party on Sunday!
(Nana has some shopping to do!)
 


 
 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

They were so cute!

Enjoy these pics of my Grands who enjoyed Trick or Treat at the mall last evening. I'm was not there (so sad about that). Jess, our daughter Marcy's sister-in-law and our hair stylist, posted these photos on Facebook. I just can't help but share them....they are so darn cute!


Aidan and Paityn
 

Paityn and Brinley with their cousin Nolan
 
 
Zoe and Brinley...
awwww!
 
Paityn in Aidan's mask.
Too funny!
 
Brinley...
Isn't she the cutest little butterfly you ever saw??
 
 
Just chillin!
 
 
 
Enjoy your Thursday!