Is it Christmas Yet?

Long time, no blog....a minor (cue maniacal laughter here) distraction has kept me out of the studio and out of the blog world for a bit. I'm taking a quick break and tossing back a couple of diet cokes in hopes of making it long enough to finish decorating a tree before bed.

Some of you might have seen my Facebook posting a few days ago that I had finally come to terms with the red and white tree and it's box of ornaments in the living room. Having walked past it for two solid weeks, I felt really good about my decision to not put it up and return it to the basement with the rest of the stuff I didn't put up (trust me...there's enough deco up for a few houses already). The weight lifted, I could concentrate on some of the other stuff I needed to see to, or, as the case was, lounge in front of the TV for evenings, doing what I do best....furthering my toehold in my personal little Kingdom of Procrastination.

Last night as I came home from work, the hubs was making dinner, and he says 'I've had some time to think about something I said to you, and I want to retract my statement that I'm alright with not putting a tree in the foyer this year. I MISS the tree in the foyer'. What's a girl to do? He has never asked for a tree (or for 15 trees for that matter). So, after narrowing his choices to 2 trees, he selected the red and white tree (I may have pushed him a bit in that direction...thinking of all the flock that has to be cleaned up from the other tree).  I set it up last night, added some lights and ribbon to it so far, and the plan is to get the sucker decorated and finished tonight...what time is it? 11:35 PM you say? No probs.

So this new task required something else to happen...

(Yes, that is cotton candy coming out of the chimey....FOOD OF THE GODS, I kid you not

This is my first gingerbread house mad without child supervision. I didn't do too bad on my own, I don't think. I did eat more strange candy in one sitting. Seriously, how can you not eat the candy decorations when there are a million different treats set out in front of  you for the 4 hours you're decorating. Yum! And fortunately, it didn't come back to bite me at all, though I wouldn't recommend eating too many gumdroppy things in one sitting...actually, I wouldn't recommend eating any of them.

I've got just a couple of things to wrap, and tomorrow you will find me in the studio located in the Kingdom of Procrastination, where I will be making a Christmas gift. I've never made one of these before, so I'm hoping it's something I can knock out in 6-8 hours. It had better be or else this person is going to be getting something from the grocery store, which is one of the few stores open Saturday. Take a guess at what I'm making and I'll give you an extra entry in this month's Follower Appreciation Giveaway. Remember, you're getting an entry for every post you make anyway, so if you mention a guess in your comment, you'll get two entries for it.

I've to put some ornaments on this darn tree in the foyer, but before I go, I want to leave you with one more photo. This is a Christmas present for the grandpup. I figure he's not likely to read my blog so it's safe to show you what he's getting from us.

OMG! These are just so stinkin' cute. Little Ugg-like boots for the dog, just like his Mommy has. They may be a tad large we shall see...this is what happens when you have Daddy measure little paws (sorry Chris!). Rick does not like to walk in the snow or wet. I can imagine just how well it's going to go wrestling hiim into these every time he needs to go outside. Wait....not MY problem. :)

I'll be back tomorow to whine about how I leave everything until the last minute. Take care, stay warm, and if you go to the mall, don't forget to take along a large supply of patience.

Good night!

P.S. When I got home tonight there were Christmas lights outside the house and in one of the trees. I thought I had pulled into the wrong driveway. The hubs' First Christmas Lights. God, I can only hope he caught some kind of decorating fever and that  rears it's head again next December.

Who Loves Gingerbread (and Red Velvet Cupcakes)

What's that taking up half of your huge coffee table, Suz?

Oh look, it's the Kindle Cottage. (Was the hubs nuts in agreeing that the coffee table would be a good place to display this growing collection? Will he live to regret it? Where will we play Trivial Pursuit?  Are the Happy Nighters now relegated to the kitchen counter? Will we be vacuuming glittery snow up every day? Stay tuned.....)

Frenchy and Icing still at work decorating the roof. You think they'd have finished that by now.

You guys sure you don't need any gumdrops?

Oh look!!! It's a new addition....Sprinkle thinks the deer will give her a ride if she gives him a cookie. Careful you don't poke your eye out on that rack, Sprinkle (or maybe the deer should be watching out for Sprinkle's rack, heh heh).

Hey, where did that gingerbread eating snowman come from? (maybe the nursery's open house tonght?)

A new baker Santa adding peppermint trims? Get out!!! And where is Mrs. Baker Santa? (Actually, she's in my sister's shopping bag and will be joining her better half come Christmas...'act surprised', she said :) )

Obviously a very good haul at the open house tonight. You gotta love a garden center that invites you in, hires a harpist, plies you with wine, cheese, chocolate, cookies, discounts and door prizes, demos how to make fabulous table arrangements, and brings in a Factory Rep from Beyers Choice who has every gingerbread house and accessory they make on a huge display. How can you not leave with something or three somethings.

It's probably a good thing this year's house was sold out, or we'd have to rig up some kind of couch pocket thing for remotes and drinks, as the coffee table would be maxed out (as likely would be the hubs).

Now....for why you came here tonight....the winner of the red velvet cupcake pincushion is......
(we started numbering the comments on yesterday's posts sequential to the ones from the first post....total of 22 comments, so Random.org generated a number between 1 and 22)....drum roll....Commenter 5..PJ/aka Pam. Congratulations Pam! If  you can send me your address by Friday at lunch, I can run it to the post office then.

Don't despair if you didn't win. You'll have another chance to win in the December Follower Appreciation Giveaway. This month, I'm giving you a chance for every post you comment on -- bonus chances to win. Sounds like a plan. Keep in touch.

Now, go do some holiday decorating! (And watch a sappy Hallmark holiday movie while doing so...we can all stand to clear out those tear ducts from time to time)