Weekend Wrap Up

It was a very exhausting but fabulously fun weekend. I had 4 days to enjoy it. It started off with Thanksgiving dinner at my daughter's house. The first year that my son-in-law cooked Thanksgiving dinner and it was delicious. Then my daughter and her family and my son and his family all gathered that evening for desserts at my house. We had an awesome time. It was different than any of our other Thanksgivings and I really missed Allen being with us. I failed to get any pictures. But we did pour over the Black Friday ads. I shopped on Friday and Saturday and was able to pic up some good deals. Like buying 7 items at Kohl's. My total cost for all 7 was $46.37. My savings was $123.87. So that alone made it worth my while to fight the crazy crowds. I went again with my daughter on Saturday and got even more savings. I picked up a cute basket with fresh greenery for just $8.00 for my coffee table. And when I came home I had a package that was a vintage trade I did. I got these two little carolers as part of the trade. I love the way they look with my vintage deer I found last year.

I was looking at pictures this weekend and found this one. This is my twins 37 years ago. They had just turned 1 year old so I had their birthday/Christmas picture made. One of my favorite pictures of them. 

That was also the year they were crawling and starting to walk and getting into all kinds of mischief.

I also found a picture of me and my sister and one of my brothers. The baby brother didn't come along for about 4 or 5 years after this picture.

One of my favorite pictures of me and my sister at Christmas time. That was the year we got TWO baby dolls each for Christmas.

I didn't get my tree put up yet, but that is a story for another day. Other than my coffee table and couch, I haven't done any decorating yet. Hoping to get started on it this evening. have a great last day of November.

It's officially the Christmas season.....

I am not ashamed of saying Merry Christmas. I am not embarrassed if I am not considered "politically correct". Since when do we have to leave Christ out of the holiday when he is the ONE and ONLY reason we have the holiday. Had he not come to save the world, December 25 would be one thing and one thing only...December 25. Our Lord and Saviour is the reason for the season. I apologize if I offend anyone but I will not apologize for my belief in God my Father.   

The best song ever written.

Black Friday is running into Saturday....

I had an amazing shopping day yesterday. My daughter-in-law and I always go the same general direction so I was able to meet up with her several times. That always makes the day better when you share shopping experiences. We seem to always end up at Target at the same time. I love shopping there on Black Friday. 

My daughter worked yesterday so I promised her we would Black Friday shop together today. So we are having Black Saturday. In our tradition, we will head out to Turkey Creek & The Pinnacle in Knoxville. Looking forward to some good deals. Yesterday was full of some great bargains. My favorite deals of the day was at Kohl's. I bought 7 items on my list at Kohl's. After their sales deals and my 15% off entire purchase coupon, my total with tax was.....$46.74 for SEVEN really nice gifts. But the amazing fact was they show you what you saved off of their regular retail price. My savings? Are you ready for this......

$123.21 SAVED 

 You can't beat a deal like that! Wonder what awesome bargains I will get today?

I am really excited about lunch because we always eat at my favorite place when we go to Turkey Creek. Steak & Shake.

It's going to be another great day.

Black Friday

By the time this scheduled post actually posts, I will be well on my way for some Black Friday shopping. I start my Black Friday around 5:00 a.m. on FRIDAY. I don't care how good the deals are, I refuse to shop on Thanksgiving Day or after the midnight hour on Thanksgiving. To me, it is not about the wonderful bargains (although I do enjoy that). It is more about the thrill and excitement of the hunt. The gathering of ideas. The finding of THE perfect present. 

The crowds don't bother me. I just like the thrill of being in the thick of things. I know people think I am crazy and I will admit it is not for everybody. But I do enjoy it. So whether you are off shopping in the crowds as I am, spending a nice day with your family, decorating for Christmas....whatever you may be doing today, have a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving

From my house to your house......

It's beginning to look like Christmas....

My boss's wife, who also happens to be one of my dear friends, came and kidnapped me yesterday to go to Hobby Lobby. Since we have a new office this Christmas, she wanted to get us new decorations. Then when we got back, we had a pizza party for lunch and got the office decorated. Of course, I think all I did was "hover" over everything. Everybody was doing a good enough job without my input. The results were gorgeous. 

My favorite is the tall slim Santa that we placed by our fireplace. 

The office is very cheerful and Christmas'y' today. I hope everyone has happy plans for Thanksgiving. I am going to my daughter's house for Thanksgiving dinner around noon. My son will be eating with his in-laws around that time. Then that evening we are all going to gather at my house for Thanksgiving dessert. I am baking a chocolate cake, brownie cookies, no bake oatmeal cookies, a pecan pie and a graham cracker pie. 

Weekend Wrap-up

It was a bitter sweet weekend, but life does go on. We celebrated Allen's life on Friday and the service was beautiful. The eulogy was so perfect and totally described the man he was. My sister, her husband, my niece and her family all came down from WV for the funeral services. We all gathered at my house along with my son and daughter and their families. The girls had a great time playing with their new cousin. Three beautiful little girls.



My sister, brother-in-law, niece and her family all stayed the weekend and kidnapped me for some retail therapy.  First stop was Bass Pro Shop so my great-niece could get her picture with Santa.

Then it was off to Paula Deen's restaurant at the Island in Pigeon Forge. This is my niece, her daughter and her husband. 

I had the best fried chicken ever. The food was delicious.

We had to stop for a photo op with the big bear. I love this picture with my niece and my sister...especially since my big Thirty-One bag blocked my fat tummy.

However, the next picture didn't do much for the fat. My philosophy is that the tree is so big it downplays how much weight I have put on. :)

While we were there, my niece Amy bought me this adorable sign for my kitchen. I am not much on liking to cook, but I could bake 24/7 without any problem. So this was a great sign for my kitchen.

As a matter of fact that was the SECOND gift she gave me. The illusive black and white tulip Pyrex. She found it in her cabinet and asked if I wanted it. Well....duh...it's PYREX. Thank you so much Amy. I love it and my sign. 

Next we visited Old Time Pottery where I picked up a few little Christmas decor items.

And I bought the stuff to make this. I came home and made it as soon as I got home that night. 

On Sunday after lunch, we made a quick stop at Joann's where I bought this truck and jar and went home and made a little snow scene.

On Sunday morning, my sister and her family along with my sister-in-law Tammi and her daughter (my niece) Sarah all came to church with me. Tammi has been searching for a home church for awhile and she fell in love with my church so at the closing of the service her and Sarah joined our church. So blessed to have her and Sarah in the church family along with being in the family. 

I went back to work yesterday. I will always miss my hubby with all my heart and I will forever have those moments where the grief is so intense it is like a stab to the heart. But he always made me promise to continue living and finding the joy in the little things. All he ever wanted was for me to be happy. So I will honor his memory by trying to do that. After all, life does go on.