A few recommendations

for this Christmas season.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a new Christmas CD out called The Spirit of the Season which is absolutely amazing. It's probably one of the best albums I have heard for quite a few years. I remember listening to the Choir singing last year during their Christmas Eve broadcast and they did most of the songs on this album. I was completely stunned by the voice of Sissel, and the musical selections. I think my Mom would really like this CD because it features many of the same songs used in a certain Julie Andrews Christmas Special we love.

If you want a really yummy holiday smell drifting throughout your home, try this. In a saucepan, add, a few sliced oranges, some cinnamon sticks, and a few whole cloves. Add water till about half way full and simmer away. You can continue to add water as it evaporates. After awhile (the next day) the other ingredients need to be replaced. It's such a great fragrance.

If smelling the above gets you in the mood for some homemade cider, purchase some apple juice and mulling spices. Using a tea infuser, you can simmer up some hot goodness.

If it's available to you, go to a store that sells Christmas stuff and marvel at their decorated Christmas trees. Or, stop by friends houses and check out their trees. Last night I was in Lisa's home for Book Club, and her tree is a stunner. We also discussed the book "Socks for Christmas", and ways that we can be more charitable during this time.

I am now trying to think of ways that we can do something service oriented for another family.

All of these things have really helped me get into the moods of Christmas.

What do you like to do at Christmas time?

Home again

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did. Spent lots of good moments with my family and good moments finding fantastic deals. Thanks to people who let us sleep over, fed us yummy food, and let us enjoy them. I'm hoping to get all of the fall decorations out, and the Christmas tree up in the next few days. But since we're in the recuperation mode, and I'm feeling slightly under the weather (whatever that means), it might be awhile. Have a great day!

Seven random things

I was tagged by my fabulous relation, Eliza (who we really should see more of), to do this little write-up of seven random things of my life. Why stop at seven I ask myself? My life is completely random. But I suppose seven feels like a good number. So, I'll just stick with it.

1. I have a major fetish for kitchen bowls. Stainless? Porcelain? Ceramic? Plastic? Neon? well maybe not neon, but I have have far too many fantastic bowls. The thing about it is, is that you never know when you're going to need a certain bowl. One for bread, or maybe to hold some yummy decorations for sugar cookies, or any kind of salad. My line of reasoning is that it is better to be prepared.

2. One of my feet is significantly longer than the other. Which made it tricky to fit for toe (pointe) shoes for ballet, and is terrible now if I want to wear high heels. I have pull off the whole stuffing with toilet paper trick, and it's hard. So, if you notice, I am most likely to be wearing flip flops or sandals. Shoes that don't matter if one foot is an inch longer.

3. I can easily fall in love with a fictional character. I repeat, just in case you were doing a cyber double take, FICTIONAL. Don't get me started on Edward Cullen, and Luke Brandon. Maybe some days it's the strong and silent Mr. Darcy.

4. I have a thing for online shopping. Okay, okay, maybe "thing" is too tame of a word. But let's just say I like it. Nough said about that.

5. I have this spot on my stomach that is constantly itching. It's too wierd. I could scratch all day long and never be relieved. I've heard that my grandpa has the same thing, so future grandkids, watch out.

6. I really love to paint my nails. Both hands and feet. I always find pretty colors at the store and bring them home to find that they look basically the same as all of my other colors. I have a hard time branching out. No green, or blue, or orange (ick). Mostly reds, pinks, you get the idea.

7. I can watch the same movie or listen to the same song over and over. It takes me a LONG time to get sick of something. This drives Dusty NUTS. Sorry baby, you get to listen to Mika's Grace Kelly for the next year. Or until my new fave comes along.

PS. I tag.... Lacey, Bonnie, and Katie.