happy. 2010.

many wishes for a blessed and happy new year.

happy birthday.

did you know? (i know some of my readers won't care. but i know who you are. you know who you are, too...)

today would have been john denver's 66th birthday.

he's been gone for 12 years now. such a tragedy. such a loss of a beautiful soul (i know. what you're saying (the other yulie) but just stop. stop it now).

so in honor of his birthday. a little john denver. and a favorite song (or two). enjoy.

ready.

2009 is quickly coming to an end. we had a lovely christmas and hannukah. the lights were bright and everything sparkled. santa came. the littles have enjoyed their vacations from school. we saw three great shows this month - madeline's christmas, the nutcracker and a christmas story. we spent time with good friends, and reconnected with old friends. we helped others, and just spent time enjoying the spirit. it was a good holiday.

but i'm ready. ready. ready. for this year to be over.

it's been a long, hard thought provoking year. with often times, too too too much sadness.

but i am determined. despite all the sadness and bad news we had in 2009 that 2010 is going to be better. despite the sadness we had. we had a lot of blessings, too. and blessings are what i'm counting on for 2010.

i've got a mental list of resolutions going in my head. i'm cleaning and organizing. and planning. i have tons of projects to tackle and things to get done. this year is going to be better i can feel it. i hope yours is too.

hope.

"Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”

―Christopher Reeve

we received a christmas card and letter from some friends today. they are the same friends that lost their 17 year old in a car accident in March. i had wondered if we would hear from them this year. i struggled with what to write on their card. words seemed so inadequate at this time of year with their loss.

but their card. it was full of hope and love and thanks for the many blessings that have come as a result of their tragedy this year. oh their grief is deep. that was evident. but their love and hope also came through. it actually took my breath away.

so as we pack away the christmas decorations and put away the gifts and get back to new normal, i'll remember their letter and their words that inspired me to hope for the new year.

what about you?

i got tagged on facebook for this, so instead, i decided to add it to my blog. if you play along. leave me a comment so i can see your traditions, too! i needed something for today. anyway. it's kind of a slow lazy day around here. little one has decided it is pajama day. and really. who am i to say no to that? and i'm sorry. no picture. i hate posting without pictures.

does santa wrap the presents?
Santa wraps most of the presents under the tree. in special santa only paper. some harder to wrap items he leaves unwrapped. and some gifts come not from santa, but from others - we've been known to receive gifts from elf, mr. nordstrom, the basement mole and other savory characters...

eggnog/candy canes/fruit cake. yes or no?
no. maybe. no.

what color lights on tree/house?
i always do white lights on the tree. i tried a couple of years ago to do something artsy - red and purple lights one year, blue and purple and green another. it just didn't work. so it's back to the basic white lights. the ornaments sparkle the best this way. i have one tree in little two's room that has a multi-colored string of lights on it. it reminds me of when i was a kid. our tree back then always had colored lights.

outside. it's just white lights, too. but this year i have these snowball lights from smith and hawken. they look like big snowballs on my garland above and around my door.

what is your favorite holiday food (excluding dessert)?
my parents always had a huge open house on christmas eve. and we would have these yummy cheesey melt in your mouth crab rolls - i can taste them now. but now it would be my grandmother's caramel rolls. my mom always makes them on christmas morning.

favorite holiday memory as a child:
looking out the window of my brother's room for santa. my grandmother always came to visit every christmas and she would stay in my room. i'd sleep in my brother's room on a cot. i still remember the excitement of watching for santa.

how is your christmas tree decorated?
tons of white lights. i wrap each branch with lights. one year i had 17 strands. this year our tree is a bit smaller so we only have 11 strands on it. that's 1100 lights. eek! the ornaments are all blown glass - christopher radko, polonaise, etc. that i've collected over the years. they all have special memories. the little's ornaments - are at the bottom. each year they get to go to the store and buy one ornament for the tree. she picked tinkerbell and he got thomas the train this year.

snow: love it or leave it?
i love snow before christmas. and we had a beautiful white christmas this year! there was a beautiful snow storm that started during our church program. it was almost magical looking out of the candle-lit church into the snow. but after christmas i'm done. done. done. with it.

favorite christmas cookie?
spritz cookies.

favorite christmas song?
there are so many - i'll be home for christmas, what child is this, song for a winter's night

favorite childhood christmas tradition:
going to see a christmas carol every year.

least favorite christmastradition growing up:
eating breakfast before we opened up presents on christmas morning.

which comes first: breakfast or presents?
as much as i hated the tradition grwoing up, i've done the same to my littles - they have to eat before we start digging in. the anticipation kills them!

clean.

it seems like this time of year. after all the holiday decorations are down and safely packed away for another year. that my thoughts turn to clean. i know that may sound weird. but i almost love the way the house seems so clean and uncluttered after all the christmas stuff is gone. the house seems so bare and sparse (well, sort of). and the stores are the same. and alot of the displays (well besides the new spring clothing that is already out) are all about cleaning and scents and freshness.

so. in light of that movement. how about this soap from anthropologie? have you ever seen a felted soap ball? i wonder what it feels like. you use it just as is and then can use the pouf after teh soap is gone as a scrubber. too cool. and such great repurposing.

sights of the day.

there were some pretty happy littles in our house yesterday.

santa delivered. they both got what they wanted.

of course the zhu zhu pets. which were a last minute addition to the haul were not so hot.

actually. little one had to ask me what it was. what it was??? after you told me on sunday that was the only thing you wanted?? what is it? oh well. so much for making dreams come true.

the big hits were kit, the american girl doll,

which she calls her new sister (too bad santa forgot the front tooth)

and the much longed for helicopter ambulance.


go figure.

peace.

we got our white christmas.


we petted the baby lambs. at the church christmas pageant.


santa came.


but in between we also had a trip to the urgent care clinic at the hospital last night for an ear infection. a hive outbreak. and some minor met-downs. we were concerned up to the last minute of whether santa would come.

but he did.

and there is peace on earth (we hope). merry christmas everyone. merry christmas.

ready for santa.

...the children are nestled all snug in the beds while visions of sugar plums (or american girl dolls and helicopter ambulances) dance in their heads.

the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow (and sleet and ice) gave the luster of mid-day to objects below....

merry christmas to all and to all a good night!

still. two days.

i have some last minute shopping to do today. picking up some stuff for christmas morning. wrapping presents and baking cookies.

this month has just flown by. i can't believe christmas will be here in just two days. two days.

i guess being crazy busy makes time fly as they say. but it also eats up alot of precious time to get things completed.

i had a list (as usual) a mile long of things i wanted to do this christmas. i don't think i've really crossed off more than two of them. oh well. add them to next year's list.

i've got to get out and get some of those to-do's crossed off today before the storm moves in.

you see? we're supposed to have a white christmas this year. a white christmas. how glorious.

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.

wish.

i wish grown-ups could remember being kids.

have you seen this ornament in starbucks? i love it.

i wish grown-ups could remember this. to stop getting so caught up in the world. to remember what it was like to jump in the snow, eat snow flakes, make snow ice cream. to go barefoot all summer, to think it was fun to stay up all night and eat ice cream for breakfast. to be silly and goofy and laugh. to see joy and hope in the little things. to make an ant your friend. and a garden your play house. to be afraid really afraid of the dark, of spiders, of the monster in your closet.

i wish we could remember the anticipation of santa, the believing, the joy of christmas morning realizing he had come after all. seeing that the carrots you left for rudolph had been eaten and the milk gone. i wish for all that and more for you this christmas.

joy.

someone i know. could lay for hours. by the tree and watch the train go around and around.

hope you're finding joy in your holidays, too.

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.

as i see it.

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!" - charles dickens, a christmas carol

i've been spending some time volunteering this week. for a charity that is dear to me. helping those that are less fortunate. it's always a wake up call for me. and i always tell myself to remember how lucky i am all the year through. i don't always remember that message, but am always brought back to it at this time each year.

this year. as the other yulie and i volunteered together, two elderly ladies came in. they were dressed in their best coats, had their hair done and were clearly best friends and had been forever. it was a vision of us. in. well. let's say alot of years. i'm sure they hadn't planned on needing assistance at christmas time so long ago. but there they were. decked out and together. getting some help to make the holidays brighter.

they came in walked up to our table. presented their cards. one was 87 and the other 85. excited to get going. to pick out a few things to lighten their loads. and they were funny. bickering and bossing each other just as we tend to do. not in a hateful way. but in a way where you've known each other forever - like in steel magnolias. who can't love that movie?

but the common denominator. was they both needed each other. they came together. they left together and they enjoyed each other. despite their need. despite their circumstances. they needed each other...

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.

yum.

i think it's time. time to give into it this season. yes.

it's time.

a gingerbread latte. from starbucks. nothing better (well almost nothing better) at this time of year.

hanging the tinsel.

well. not really. i don't do tinsel. like it. just don't do it.

just doing a little decorating today. making it feel festive and fun around here. bringing out the old favorites. i don't do themes. or colors. i decorate with what i like and love. have had or inherited. everything has a special meaning and place. i like it like that. you won't see magazine type settings in my displays.

no. i prefer simple and cozy and displays full of memories.