Holiday No No List:

1. No baking, b/c really how many of those are going to make it into my mouth before I offer them to someone else? Umm at least 3.
2. Parties on empty stomachs. No matter how much you dislike a cheese log in the end you will reach for a cracker.
a. Cheese log eating is acceptable if you violate rule 4.
3. Considering the whole month of December as a "free" day. Oh you know what I'm talking about.
4. Rationalizing that you can have an extra glass or two of eggnog b/c you've put on 5 lbs (5 or 10lbs does not equal the ability to drink twice as much). Intoxication at any size can lead to trouble, especially around the holidays.
5. Caught talking or blinking on camera. These photos are always the ones people choose to forward in emails and there you are looking all crazy. My advise: threaten the person with the camera upon meeting and/or ask if you can "see the picture" and silently press "delete".
6. Not having backup gifts. There's always that one person who gives you a gift or your kiddo a gift that you were not prepared for. Despite the economical recession, the exponential credit card debt nationally, and the ever looming taxes due in 3 months you are now bound by obligation to reciprocate the gift. You better run to your gift closet.
7. Trying to put the Xmas tree topper on by yourself. Chubby girl + tree shape = complications.
8. Gingerbread Houses. Cute idea but heartbreaking for the little ones when they catch you making "renovations" on the house. The whole "downsizing the gingerbread home" conversation never sells them.
9. Pants that button. This is the time of year that I suggest sweaters and yoga pants. Hey no one questions it, b/c it's freak'n cold outside and lets be honest we're gonna break 1-4 on the No No list so why torture ourselves with buttons.
10. The biggest No No of all: Christmas Crocheted sweaters w/ decals.

in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood, in your neeeeigborhoooood?

I decided to tap into "extrovert krystin." If you haven't met her you really should. I find that if I try hard enough I can be pleasant and focused when talking to someone (this typically requires sleep and being childfree). Two things I rarely experience these days. My decision is in an effort to "commune".

I whipped up some peanut butter chocolate bars, wrapped them in little red boxes, tied a bow and plan to drag the kids out in the cold so we can get to know a few neighbors we haven't met plus reconnect with ones we have met.

I'm willing to admit that knowing your neighbors has some downsides to it, however in the long run it really is a good thing. And I'm a huge advocate for relationshipping/communicating so to stay true to form I wanted to do something that would encourage conversation. I believe food is essential to conversations. Plus the whole concept of loving one another has been something I'm working through. I will probably continue to work through this for the rest of my life but hey we all have our "things". I find the mantra "treating others the way you would like to be treated" helpful in my "loving others process" and I know if someone showed up at my door with sweets I would be deeply appreciative and if that "someone" was a she, and she had two small children I would be less inclined to assume something suspicious (like a request for a donation). I figure I will meet a few peeps and I will miss a few. Some will think I'm selling something or affiliated with a popular religious sect and hide, those are the neighbors I can't wait to met!

I would like world peace, kisses, a ball, and cookies for Christmas please.

Kindly,
Titus

This is my son's wish list to Santa (first one ever). he asked for the above 4 things (I may have "encouraged" the world peace). I tried to get him to wish for homes for the homeless but he really wanted the cookies. How about you? What's on your wish list?

is a must. I have a 5 month old and a (almost) 2 year old and now I'm bringing in a very large tree with needles, decorating it with hooks, glass, shinny, and sparkling things and then telling them not to touch it. I consider that cruelty. If I was a kid I'd want to climb it, let alone touch the shinny, sparkling items that call out to my left and right hand.

As a "momma" I try to scope out "things that could injure my child" second by second and the Xmas (if your one of those people that hate Xmas b/c it takes Christ out of Christmas please look up the historical background to the use of "X") tree seems to scream "D.A.N.G.E.R." So I laid aside my desire to "dazzle" the tree and took an extremely practical approach...bows. I tied bows all over our tree this way if Titus takes off with one, big deal. Here's my tree;

My husband had a vision...it was accomplished.

yes those are real leaves attached to my child. Fortunately not real bullets!

Let us not forget that with every Rambo opps I mean sniper, comes a Hippie.


Oh and my "vision"

yes she's a chili pepper!

One more for good measure...


We survived the night with only a few falls, a couple meltdowns, some hair super glued together, and one tub covered in black & green face paint...can't wait till next year.

Photos provided by THIS fabulous wonderingwoman!

So Today is national Talk like a pirate day (I kid not). So grab your garb it's time to freak out the kids. I say we parents have some fun with this. Let's end every sentence with "Ahrrrrrrr". Come on you know you want to...
Since Friday is almost over why don't we extend this holiday through tomorrow. You could dress up the kiddos, watch pirate of the Caribbean, or for those of you who family night it, you could make it the theme. This just seems like too good of a holiday to pass up.

(I just threw Johnny in for good measure)

With the holidays in full force I thought I'd mention this nifty little website. I know, I know. Most of us deep down inside have every intention of not succuming to the vortex of American consumerism during this month of December. However, if for some reason you do find yourself standing in some miserable line, purchasing something that is overpriced, with an older man behind you hacking up his lung directly at the back of your head just remember I offered an alternative...myregistry.com is a site where you can create a "wish list" of sorts for all different reasons and occasions (not just christmas). Tell your friends and family about it. I have started my own and love it. No more fake smiles and nods of appreciation when my birthday roles around. You can use this site as a registry for weddings, babies, birthdays, anydays, holidays, just because days... you get the picture. Check it out!