sweet dreams.

we headed out to the nutcracker tonight with little one.

since she loves to dance and especially twirl and pirouette and spin to the dance of the sugar plum fairy, we thought a special date with just her would be perfect.

she oohed and ahed. she sat on the edge of her seat mesmerized. she loved it. at intermission. she spent the entire 20 minutes twirling around the lobby. when the sugar plum fairy was dancing i innocently leaned over and asked her if she could do that. she looked over at me (like i was crazy). and said "of course mommy. i'm a professional".

hmm. and all i thought was? do professionals have this kind of grin?

here's hoping santa brings her two front teeth (or takes that last one away...)

some. good. design.

i don't know about you. but i don't think i'm getting one of these facebook gifts this year.

but. wow. cool.

i have some designer friends who will just die. over this. seriously. this is the best design for a corporate holiday gift i've seen. enjoy.

tweet. tweet.

too bad. these guys haven't been released into the wild yet. it'd be a perfect christmas gift for my favorite twitterer, toddot.

snow globes.

i'm swimming in snow globes this week. i've been feeding my littles so much jam and pickles and olives in the past few weeks their digestive systems may never recover. good thing i have adventurous eaters.

since i never seem to learn, i signed up to provide the craft for the holiday party at little one's kindergarten class today. since the snow globes were such a huge hit at the birthday party, i thought i'd resurrect them again.

will i ever learn?

no. i'll just answer that question myself.

so. for the past few weeks, i've been saving jars and searching for little animals and bottle brush trees. buying glitter (martha stewart tinsel glitter is the best out there).

and picking up all the needed supplies. all the littles are going to have to do (we need a fast craft mind you) is put in the glitter and snowflakes and screw on the lids. i've already glued in the creatures and trees. to make it simple (on them. not me). not that i'm complaining. it's just that i never learn.

so here you go. a gazillion snow globes awaited me on my kitchen countertop this am. soon to be sparkling in someone else's home for the holidays.

a great craft to make with your littles. they get hours of enjoyment out of it.

clean jars - any size. i prefer larger than a baby food jar, but smaller than a pickle jar

plastic animals, trees, creatures, anything that is water resistant

epoxy glue

glitter

paint for the lids - or cover in fabric (which i did for this party)

distilled water

glycerin

clean the jars. and let dry. sand the inside of the lids and glue the creatures or whatever you're using to the lids - let dry. completely.

pour distilled water into the jars and add a few drops of glycerin - this helps the glitter from all falling to the bottom of the snow globe. add glitter - just a pinch of several varieties. you don't want too much or it will look like a blizzard...screw lid shut tightly - no leaks! cover lid with fabric (if not painted) shake and enjoy!

brr.

tonight. in addition to knocking out 20 snow globes for little one's holiday party tomorrow. i'm also working on snowman cupcakes for little two's holiday party.

will i ever learn? no. i'm sure.

i make these every year. big wow factor and (fairly) easy. . at least when you don't start them at 9:45 p.m.

bake some cupcakes - frost with white frosting. take a marshmallow and cut in half. take another marshmallow and smoosh half of the one you cut on top of the whole marshmallow. dip a toothpick in warm water and poke two holes in the smaller marshmallow for eyes. insert chocolate jimmies for the eyes. slice up an orange fruit snack for the nose and again poke a hole in the marshmallow first before inserting the nose. take a dab of frosting and put it on the top of the head and then use a jr. mint for the beret. take the snowman and kind of swirl him around in the frosting on the cupcake - it will help him stay put and create a "snow drift" effect around him. i also dust the top of the frosted cupcake with coarse sugar crystals so it's sparkly...

off to finish up some snowmen. snowmen wear berets, right? maybe in paris?

o christmas tree.

it's a labor of love isn't it?

unpacking all those boxes. stringing the lights. hanging the ornaments. just so.

but. in the end. so worthwhile. so worthwhile.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

sugar plum fairy.

someday. i think little one hopes to dance the nutcracker. as clara.

today. she danced to the nutcracker in ballet and tap class. we only have a recital in the spring. so in the fall session, the wonderful teacher does a mini-class recital on the last day of class. they get dressed up. and dance for all the parents. it's very sweet.

and little one. she spun and twirled and danced her heart out.

she plied and curtsied and spun. she danced her little heart out. and loved every moment of it.

she loved that nutcracker.

hmm.

as. i was decorating the christmas tree today. yes. by myself. please. let's be honest. the caroling around the tree. the hot chocolate. the merriment. portrayed in the movies and magazines. is just that. dreamy merriment. as in a dream. sorry. but i don't know anyone. anyone. who lives that fantasy.

it's usually the moms. up late. hanging the ornaments. maybe a drink of wine nearby. that's the reality.

the dream is nice. sure. but it's a dream.

so anyway. as i was unwrapping and hanging the ornaments. i realized. that i can remember who gave me or where i got each and every ornament on my tree. of course. i forgot what i had for dinner last night. or what i wore yesterday. but i can remember that. those important details.

it took a bit longer to decorate this year. reliving all those good times. and thinking of all those good people who've made a difference in my life and who i'll remember every christmas as i decorate the tree (by myself. mind you).


trips to santa fe.
trips to the beach.
annual collectibles.
mementos of occassions.
funny memories.
happy memories.

but in

celebrate.

we celebrate. a couple of holidays around our house at this time of year. the littles think they're lucky. more presents you see. i think they're lucky. because they are exposed to more ideas and greater awareness and understanding.

they love the candles. love to try to blow them out (even though you're not supposed to...). love the presents. love the menorah and latkes. every night (well not. latkes every night. can you imagine?). i love that hannukah is more low key in my husband's family. more about spending time together than spending money. less about the fury fuss of the season and more about peace. it's something to enjoy.

love the wonder of the whole entire. month-long season of celebrations. happy hannukah everyone.

house without a christmas tree.

did you ever read this book as a child? or see the movie. so sad. but so sweet. i haven't seen it on tv in years. i guess they're too busy replaying the polar express or harry potter movies every night to run the classics. and by the way. when did harry potter become a christmas movie??

you should check it out. rent it on netflix maybe. enjoy. we're reading the book right now. because little one is all about chapter books. and because we are the house without a christmas tree. but i'm not like the dad in the story. just haven't gotten to it yet. give me a day. one more day. and we'll be the house with a christmas tree.

thrift thursday.

somedays. you just. know. that the adventure is going to be good. the finds amazing. the thrill all there.

today. was. that day. woo - hoo. score. such happy finds. such a lovely adventuring day. after sometime off. it was good to be back. to be back in the hunt. to come away with some lovely finds.

you'll shoot your eye out.

if you get a chance. you should really go see this musical...it's beyond funny... and if you love a good musical this is the one for the season. although i miss seeing a christmas carol. an old tradition in my family. this one is good. very good.

we went to tonight. it is as funny as the movie. and if you enjoy the movie. you'll love the musical. and don't worry. ralphie doesn't shoot his eye out in this version either.

snow.

it snowed today. well. they called it snow.

it wasn't enough around here to build snowmen. or play in. or close schools. it was just enough and cold enough to not be much fun.

i wish we'd get a huge storm before christmas. lots and lots of snow. piled high. snowball fights. and closed schools. and winter-wonderland-ish. how fun would that be?

but today we just got this. but it is starting to feel a bit more christmas-y.

lunch.

it's been a busy week. already. i. know. it's only monday. this month is going to be crazy. crazy.

the choir concert last night. nigella tonight. work. work. work. and stuff to do. a list a mile long. i know. nothing more than anyone else has to do.

and you know. i read an article the other day. it said to never make your "to do" list more than seen items long. per day. i guess. that is something i could put on my list for next year. because for now. it's that long plus 20. . such is life.

and one of those to do's is to go to the grocery. so a simple lunch today.

a bowl of avocado. too bad. this guy.

didn't stop by with some pie. i'd rather have that for lunch.

sing-a-ling-a-ling.

the festivities. have begun.

tonight was our annual choir ring and sing at church. both littles sing in choirs at church. little one. loves it. loves ms. donna. can't get enough. she's a performer. never met an audience she didn't like. loves to sing. and dance.

little two. well. not so much. likes to go to choir. and mess around. play with the other littles. get into things. and have fun. singing isn't top on his list.

and well. they both came through as expected. she sparkled and shone in her sparkly. sequined. "i'm channeling liza minnelli" silver shiny dress. she made the clothing selection. teh sweet red dress that i wanted didn't stand a chance against this number.

belting her heart out. he. well. he looked cute. but no words came out. there was no singing. just fingers in the mouth.

this picture just says it. all.