Almost Wordless Wednesday Halloween Post brought to you by Dipsy and a White Rapper

Beware!! Enter At Your Own Risk!

Don't say Goblin didn't warn you, it's Time for Teletubbies! Say hello to Dipsy-


And also to "White Rapper"-


No, these aren't Halloween masks, just me and my dear parents at my mom's birthday celebration.

Which we did very much - Enjoy .

Happy November to you and yours with <3.

Paperboard Perfect Moment Monday

Welcome to Perfect Moment Monday, hosted by the gracious Lori of Weebles Wobblog, and thank you for your visit.

I have many perfect moments to share from my survival, I mean, ENJOYMENT of the holidays, but one that really lightened my heart was watching our 11 y/o and 14 y/o sons, with No Less Than Three Game systems including a BRAND New P.S.P 3 in the House, take the discarded cardboard boxes and wrapping paper tubes and play with them for hours nonstop with their friends. They constructed shields and weapons of course, (cause they are boys and that is what they do), and used up every roll of packing, mask, and duct tape we had, but it is a true joy and one of the many highlights of my holidays to see the fun of friendship and imagination, and kids being kids.

Scrapbook Under Pressure

I can only scrapbook under pressure, like for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary or my Uncle's 80th birthday. I am in awe of people who scrapbook on a regular basis and I was intrigued with the Christmas Challenge hosted by the lovely Ruth of Everyday Life of a Suburban Mom who is a Scrapbooking Seamstress of Excellence. Literally, she has a sewing machine for her scrapbook. The gadgets, papers, and embellishments available are a little overwhelming, so for me, a little scrapbooking goes a long, long way. (After This One Page, I am now good for at least a year, maybe longer, unlike some of my neighbors who meet every Friday night to crop the hours away. That and imbibe blender drinks and California wine, hey, maybe There Is Something to this Hobby.)

So in appreciation and for consideration in this challenge, I present my entry featuring my family's Christmas card.

I loved the Leland Thomas quote that was a required element-

In the eyes of children
We find the joy of Christmas.
In their hearts
We find its meaning.

Please double click to embiggen. I had a lot of fun doing this and Thank you for sharing in our Holiday Greeting Card for this year.

Holidaze

Happy Holidays and I enjoyed Christmas with our family and friends very much with no major trauma, drama, or bloodshed, which is always a good thing. As my Dh pointed out, "Your mother didn't harp on you." See, we have Really lowered our Expectations around here for the holidays. Plus, she was just too Damn busy being neurotic about her dog and that my dog was eating her dog's food. (So this is what I have to look forward to when I am eighty years old? Oy vey.)

We changed up some things this year for the holiday that really helped make it much more fun and relaxing than the grind in years past.

We started decorating after Thanksgiving instead of waiting until mid December. Ugh, never again. No sooner do you put the garland and tree up, you are taking them down.

The boys, especially our youngest son, took charge of the outdoor decorating. They did a beautiful and inspiring job and used up every electrical extension cord we own and we regularly trip our circuit breaker, but Oh Such Christmas Spirit!

Instead of a sit down Christmas dinner slaved over by us, we hosted a Christmas pot luck for our friends and neighbors where everyone chipped in. Ah, Delight not to be cleaning the kitchen at midnight.

We also decided to trim our invitations to those folks who reciprocate friendship and hospitality instead of just the take, take, take side of the equation. Some of these families have been to our home for a meal, oh about a dozen times, and we've never seen the inside of their house, well, gee, that certainly sends a message doesn't it? Well, we got the message and acted on it and glad we did.

I love Christmas, but its preparations and expectations wear me out. I realized that I am a New Year's Eve kind of gal, even though I don't believe in New Year's resolutions and my disco ball and big hair celebrations at crowded nightclubs are decades in the past. Now I celebrate with a nice meal and a toast at 12 midnight NYC time with my family to welcome in the New Year which brings a sense of peace and calm that I extend to you and yours.

Please let me know how were your Holidays and how you feel about the New Year?? Thank you for dropping in and I always send my Best for a wonderful 2010.*


*Is the first decade of the 21st century over? Or does this happen next year? Or does it really matter because it's just a Julian calendar we follow versus an Aztec or Jewish?

A Pastiche of Pink for the Holidays

It's That Time Again...
Welcome to Pink Saturday, hosted by the gracious Beverly of How Sweet the Sound!

Please enjoy this Pink Greeting Card to all my friends near and far,

When Life Throws You a Curve,

Don't forget to take a moment and enjoy the Sweetness of the Season.

Blessings to you and yours and May All Your Christmases have a Touch of Pink!

(Photos taken at Serendipity Ice Cream Parlor and Bar, Las Vegas Strip, Nevada.)

I've Fallen and I can't get up in blogland

I've Fallen and I can't get up.
I feel somewhat numb by all the stuff to do, the busy craziness with sick people at work, and trying not to feel ODD cause I am just not feeling it to the Nnth degree. I am not a Scrooge or a Grinch, I am happy, content, enjoying the season, not feeling especially stressed, just kinda in cruise control here. If stuff gets done, great, if not, meh.

I am having a little bloggy guilt, my commenting, following, posting, and creativity are also lying prone on the linoleum with my phone and assistive devices just out of reach. It's not because I'm not thinking about all my cyberbuds, I do, I am, and I send my best, it because I just can't get out of my own way some days. Even when I am content to lie here with the cool floor beneath me.

More Halloween Haunt Pictures from Hart Park

Halloween Haunts at Hart Park

My cousin and I enjoyed our hike at Hart Park, not only for the fresh air, exercise, and visiting the Bison herd (I will post pictures about them soon), we also got to see the great Frights from the Haunt Festival held last weekend. In the land of underemployed set decorators, holiday decorations can get waaay over the top here. I have a neighbor who belongs to CalHaunts and his house is worthy of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland! I hope you enjoy and that you have fun getting ready for Halloween too!