Friend Making Monday

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 

Holidays

1.  What are you plans for Thanksgiving this year?  We have been keeping Thanksgiving more low key the past few years just staying at home the 4 of us and cooking together throughout the day.  Then we head over to our friends (more like family) to enjoy dessert, drinks and the laughter of all the kids together.

2.  At what point do you being celebrating the Christmas season?  I take the day after Thanksgiving to start getting out all the holiday décor and set up the tree.  I refuse to do it before turkey day and as someone with a burgeoning small business, I refuse to partake in the shopping frenzy.  I’d rather support small businesses and spend the long weekend with friends and family.

3.  Do you celebrate Christmas, or do you celebrate another holiday? We actually celebrate Christmakkuh as much as we can as my husband’s family is Jewish…it’s important for the girls to see and celebrate both sides.

4.  If you could have one present (you know, a material good, not love or world peace) what would you want?  Hmmmm, that’s a good question.  I have been thinking of a pre-paid WW intro or maybe a fancy new pair of boots.  I know, completely opposite sides of the spectrum right?!?!

5.  Share an idea or two that you can plan to do for someone who may need to feel loved throughout the holiday season.  I have decided to hand make as many of the gifts that I give this year as I can.  I come from a family of mandatory Christmas lists (extended family that is) and I’d like to make sure that the people I give gifts to know that I not only thought about what they might want but took the time to make it as well.

6.  Would you rather spend the holiday season on the beach or in the snow?  Christmas is a snow holiday.  Snow, cocoa, sweaters, fires, family.

7. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?  I love pecan pie even though I’m still pissed that one tiny slice contains 390 calories.  Dessert counts as food, right?  I also like ham more than turkey.

8.  Will you participate in Black Friday shopping?  No, see #2.

9.  Will you travel for the holidays or stay at home?  If you’re traveling, are you flying or driving or making alternate plans?  We start at home then drive an hour south to my parents.

10.  List at least 5 things for which you are currently thankful.

1. My children.  They are the lights of my life.
2. My husband.  Is unfailing patience, support and love means everything to me.
3. My family and friends…they lift me up when I need it, and make sure I know that I am never alone.
4. My little business with my family.  It’s wonderful working and collaborating together and then seeing smiles on the faces of those who buy or stuff. J
5. Waking up every day and being healthy and vibrant!  There are so many that can’t say that, I am very lucky.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions!  Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments, and take a moment to share it on Facebook and twitter too!  Why not spread the friend makin’ love?!  Happy Monday, friends

A Family Affair

     I am loving the way we have really prioritized family time this year for the holidays.  We have made time the past three weekends in a row to make sure we have family time.  We have had a trip to the RainForest/Zoo, a trip to the History Museum, and yesterday we spent the day at the Botanical Gardens.  My heart is full and I feel rejuvenated with Holiday Spirit.  My hubby has even dropped his Scroogey Hanukkah attitude and we did gifts for the girls last night as part of the Festival of Lights.  We are a "blended" family when it comes to religion,so the girls get to celebrate twice as much this time of year.  The hubs was down on Hanukkah last week because we never make it as big as Christmas and financially we aren't as ahead as we usually are this time of year.  but, after a wonderful day together...he got them each something special art the Disney store and we did it in the spirit of Hanukkah.  It makes me happy!
     This has been the best holiday I can remember ever.  we have really worked to be together and do things as a family.  It's hard with my big girl wanting to be a "big girl" and lock herself in her room with her iPod and computer...but we are dealing with her tween-iness.  Once we get going, she relaxes and has fun.  She even rode the little train with her sister yesterday at the gardens. 
     I hope you're holidays are as full as mine are so far!  What a joyful time of year!

It's a Marshmallow World in the Winter

I love winter.  I love the first real snowfall of the season.  I love it right up through Christmas and then I am ready for it to be over.  As a kid, I remember the first snowfall generally always coming over Thanksgiving weekend.  I live in Northeastern Ohio, so snow is expected.  My little bear has been checking everyday for snow...none yet.  It has actually been very warm up until the last few days.  When I say warm I mean short sleeves and lightweight jackets.  What is happening. 

One of the reasons I have always liked winter is the clothes.  Layers and layers of clothes.  Sweaters, and turtlenecks and cords oh my!  So easy to hide the flaws in winter wear.  So easy to forget about those love handles for a while.  Out of sight, out of mind.  Easy to snuggle in with cocoa and cookies and enjoy a marshmallow while also FEELING like a marshmallow.  Well, not this year friends.  Maybe the warm weather has affected my brain, but I have been feeling more motivated then ever to keep a good thing going.

I have been a crafting machine, which is a win-win as it is a fun family activity, makes the house more festive and saves me money.  I guess that makes it a win-win-win huh?!?!  I have been watching what I put in not only my mouth, but the kiddos too and think we are all looking fairly sharp so far.  AND, the hubs has already jump started back into his workouts.  I think the days of the Insanity workout are gone...but he is still a fan of P90X, so he has been doing that the past few nights.  We are festive and fabulous at our house!

I love this time of year.  We actually celebrate Christamkkah in our house so we get a month of fun, although this year I think Hanukkah is being calmed down some this year so we can really focus on Christmas.  For not being brought up with a heavy Christmas background, the hubs is AMAZING with it!!  And this year little bear is WAY excited.  We won't have this kind of magic again for a while I'm sure....so we are taking full advantage.  She has found the magic in everything...decorations, the tree, the Polar Express bell...it is making this holiday season that much better and brighter.  Which we needed this year.  The economy is yucky and we can't do what we usually do, so instead we are doing our best...and I think its actually going to be better than ever!

Pinterest part two

Okay, so I shared some of my Pinterest creations in my last post...just wanted to do a quick update.  Below are some of our holiday pinterest.  Will blog more later today, but I was so excited to share the completed works and additions, that I had to add pics now.

my fun wooden tree for outside

the hubby outlined the whole front of the house this year

same pic..less glare

snowman has buttons now

Little Bear wanted multi colored blocks so we found a way to make it festive and functional

 Happy Holidays!!

You better not pout

So my sweet little baby bear is ALL about the upcoming holidays.  Every ornament that was unwrapped and placed on the tree (all at her eye level of course) was welcomed back for another year of holiday merriment and fun with an "Oh my God Mommy, this is so beautiful."  I don't say this as an exaggeration, she literally said it to EVERY ornament.  It was adorable.

We have also been having fun with ideas from pinterest.  My initial plan was to make some gifts for family, but can't seem to pick anything I'm willing to give away yet.  This is what we have so far:

Sorry for the glare on some of them, my phone is not the BEST when it comes to taking pictures.


Then once Dadoo was done hanging lights outside, we went out for inspection and he was thanked with a "Dadoo, it's amazing!"  It feels like it has been so long since my oldest was this age.  It's exciting to see the excitement and magic again.  Speaking of my oldest....11 going on disgruntled teen, we had to beg her to detach from her Wii and come down to at least hang her baby ornament.  I hope that since she is going through this angst now, that maybe, just maybe, she will be an absolute delight as a teenager.  Oh my delusions of grandeur right?!??!  She has her moments.  I think she sometimes feels torn between being a kid and being a "junior high schooler."  We did have a nice afternoon as a family at the Rain Forest/Zoo...and I was able to capture this cute scene afterwards:

my beautiful big girl snuggled up for a nap with her kitty cat

So, along with the entire holiday season, from October-December.  October you say?!?!  Yes, in my house the extra treat enjoyments seems to begin once the Halloween candy is bought and lasts through the last few blissful sips of the new year, anyway I digress.  Along with the holiday season comes the annual resolution pondering.  Which this year is exciting because it also signals a full year of sharing and caring with all of you!  I can't believe its almost been a year already since I started blogging.  I have had lots of ups and downs this year, but have been trying to keep myself in check...especially since the holidays started and am quite happy to say that I am down 4 more pounds than I was before Turkey Day!  It's a great motivator for going into the next few weeks.  I am game planning with the hubs about workout schedules at home, ordered the Weight Watchers cookbook from the library to try out over my holiday break from work, and found out that my boss is gifting me for Christmas a month long membership at the fancy gym. 

I am excited and feeling good that I feel like a have a plan for the holidays and that I am seeing the scale move the direction I want it too so far. 

What are you planning for the holidays to stay on track?