It's Takes A Village

and I have at least two. A Dickens Village and then some has been handed down to me by an Aunt. On my last trip home, I was given half of what she has. I couldn't fit Lolly, myself, our luggage and all my village in the car. I had to leave some behind.  My Aunt is awaiting my return to give the other half. My mom, to have me take what was left behind.

I once worked with a guy who kept a village up year round in a room in his house. Since downsizing space is at a premium.

Anyone out there have a village? Where do you put it?

Thanksgiving Day

also known in some parts as taking one for the team.

Hope your day is filled with family, friends, and blessings.

Is Black The New Crazy

Many years ago when I worked in retail I longed for the day when I could be one of the "normal" people out shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Flash forward and I've shopped many a Black Friday.But last year I realized after getting out early, finding what I wanted, and then waiting in an ungodly long line, that it's really just not that fun.

I am amazed that Toy's R Us is opening at midnight, Old Navy at 3:00am. Crazy! Oh I just heard Old Navy is opening Thanksgiving Day from Noon-7:00. That's a new retail low, if you ask me.

So do you love or hate Black Friday?

Public Service Annoucement

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph do not, under any circumstance, run to Trader Joe's and buy the Peppermint Bark White Chocolate Bar. Whatever you do not open and taste it. Don't question. Don't argue. Just listen. You'll thank me later. Because Trader Joe's doesn't deliver and when you run out you won't be able to get your next fix quick enough. I am just sayin.

Let Me Check My Calendar

I recently ordered this calendar from Say It With Style on Etsy.

I originally saw it on Katy Shops which I try not to visit too often because I always find something I want to buy from reading her blog.

I've seen the calendar with fancier frames but I opted for a basic frame. I don't have the wall space in my kitchen, so it sits on the counter.

I also bought some chalk ink markers

I thought it would get the thumbs down from Mister due to the size but he loves it and Lolly loves the chalk markers.

The instructions say it's easy but I'll be honest. I broke out in a sweat applying the calendar to the glass. It was a bit stressful.

I've Lost My Love

Yesterday I spent hours, hours, changing my blogspot addresses to their own domains on 4 blogs. It would have gone a little faster had I realized I bought TheHouseofFolwer.com rather than TheHouseofFowler.com.

Today I realized that my list of favorite blogs is missing. I am not sure how it happened but I will be working in as quickly as possible to get everyone listed again.

The Best Laid Plans

Otherwise know how my Thanksgiving has been hijacked. Last year I stayed home with just me and the Mister. Total bliss. PJs, watching movies on couch,cooking, bottle of wine. It was so wonderful I told Mister, I don't intend to go anywhere next year either. Feel free to invite your family here but I am not leaving the house. I was feeling pretty happy with myself. Certain I had set myself up for another enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Imagine my surprise Friday night when Mister mentions going to his brother's for Thanksgiving. Certain I was going to need to be rushed to the emergency room because my blood pressure was so high, I begin to ask how this went down. I learn

• that 2 weeks AGO was the first sign of trouble, but no word to me.

(2 paragraphs edited to protect the guilty and protect the peace)

I hoping for a Thanksgiving miracle. Maybe I'll be visited by 3 turkeys on Wednesday night and wake up Thursday absolutely giddy to get dressed, drive across town, and sit and make small talk.

Point To Ponder

I came across this quote today which is really pretty timely, in that I've spent the work week sure that everyone I come across has been placed here to cause me pain, irritation, or both.

“Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if he or she were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do so with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.” --Og Mandino

That's a tall order. I'd like a nice change. I could stand to go from feeling like this

to this

I may have to get that tattoed on the palm of my hand as a reminder because I am sure at the sound of a certain someone's voice I'd completely forget care, kindness, and understanding in one full swoop. Ugh, I've got work to do in the "being a better person" and "growing" departments.

The Table Has Been Cleared

I'm putting a halt to Table Topic Tuesdays. The majority of questions left are of a more racy nature. I have no problem answering the questions or with sharing too much information. But, Lolly some times reads and things are just starting to click into place for her about things of a racier nature. References on tv, in songs, etc. You get it. So to save her from overload, I'll have to think of something else to blog about on Tuesdays.

Thanks to all who played along!!! I loved learning more about you!

Manic Monday

It's Monday with a capital M.

work irritation

• christmas shopping stress
• organization and household mess

Hanging on till Tuesday.

Let The Celebration Begin

This is how I started my day. I got ready to leave for work and found thisLolly had decorated my car for my birthday. How sweet is that.

On my birthday, I want to say thanks to my mom who taught me that birthdays should always be special and celebrated. I think I've been successful in passing that lesson along.

This is how I plan end my day
It's the last Pokeno of the year and I plan to win my share of prizes and all the money and drink an adult beverage or two minus the fancy dress and tiara. Well maybe I'll break the tiara back out.

Thank You

image: from the every talented, always sharing, and very generous Cathe at Just Something I Made

Table Topic Tuesday

which chores do you enjoy and which do you despise?

I enjoy doing laundry, I despise folding and putting up clothes. Go figure.

what do you enjoy? despise?

Before and After

This is what I carried my camera in before. (out of laziness and because it was handed down with the camera)

And this is what I carry my camera in now, thanks to an early birthday present from Lolly.

Much better, no?! Thanks Lolly! I love it. I no longer have to worry about people thinking I have a drinking problem whenever my camera is in my handbag.

Can not wait

For November 13. One because it's my birthday and two for this, by the makers of Love Actually, because I love music as it use to be.

Who Will I Be Tomorrow

I watched Nights In Rodanthe last weekend. Thank goodness I knew the ending or I would have been a sobbing mess. Diane Lane's character talks about how when you get married and have children at some point you give up who you are and become who you think you should be. I think there is so much truth in that statement. In the movie that hasn't really worked well for her. Richard Gere's character tells her to stop being who she thinks she should be and be what she wants to be, or something to that effect. I think that takes her by surprise. That she has a choice.

All this is very timely for me, in that November is my birthday month. I always find that I seem to re-evaluate and take stock of the what, where, why, and what's next in my life during this month. This really has me wondering have I lost part of me. I think so. Not on purpose. I use to be funnier. I use to be clever. Now I am caught up in the mundane. I hope to spend the next year working on getting rid of those things about me that bog me down and invite in more of things that bring me joy.

Oh I also tend to go on spending sprees in November. I have a sneaky suspicion that may be directly related to the exercise of taking stock of my life...

Table Topics Tuesday

which food would you choose to be calorie-free?

SUGAR!

what would you choose

Dia de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead which has its roots in the Aztec and indigenous cultures of Mexico, is celebrated in Mexico and in Latino communities across North America on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, coinciding with the Roman Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

On Día de los Muertos, people remember and honor their deceased loved ones by preparing altars for them and decorating the altars with food and valued possessions of the departed. The focus is more on the celebration of the lives of the departed loved ones rather than on their death.

There is a Mexican saying that we die three deaths: the first when our bodies die, the second when our bodies are lowered into the earth out of sight, and the third when our loved ones forget us.

I'd like to use today as a reminder to slow down, remember, and be blessed for all those who are waiting for me on the other side.

All Saints Day

The Feast of All Saints is a holy day of the Church honoring all saints, known and unknown. This is much like the American holidays Veterans Day and Presidents Day, where many people are honored on one day. While we have information about many saints, and we honor them on specific days, there are many unknown or unsung saints, who may have been forgotten, or never been specifically honored. On All Saints Day, we celebrate these saints of the Lord, and ask for their prayers and intercessions.

All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics. As luck would have it, it falls on a Sunday this year. We'll already be in church.