Don't care about a tree???? Then watch The Grinch,Shrek or Rudolph!

If you don't feel like watching the Rockefeller Tree lighting tonight on NBC, how about one of these Christmas shows. 


Rudolph the Red  Nosed Reindeer is on CBS 

The Grinch and Shrek the Halls are on ABC


Happy Feet and Home Alone 2 are on ABC Family



Here's Hallmark's Schedule for tonight as well.

07:00 PM	All I Want for Christmas - A nine-year-old boy enters a corporate-sponsored contest in which entrants are asked for their greatest Christmas wish. Unbeknownst to his widowed, mother he asks the contest organizers to help her find a new husband. Stars Gail O'Grady, Robert Mailhouse, Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchack, and Greg Germann.
08:39 PM	What I Did For Love - A big city attorney doesn't know what he's in for when his fiance brings him back to her small hometown of Pine Gap to meet her family during the holidays. Once there he must survive not only the rigors of country-life but also her father, a tough and weathered lawyer-loather rancher. Stars Jeremy London, Dorie Barton and Sally Struthers.
10:44 PM	A Season For Miracles - With a little help from an angel, Christmas miracles happen for a homeless family. Stars Patty Duke, Laura Dern, Carla Gugino, Lynn Redgrave, and Kathy Baker.

Rockefeller Plaza and a Christmas Flash Mob sing the Hallelujah Chorus

Thanks to Gingers help, the tree at work is officially done! I was able to get it up on Sunday, but didn't have time to put the ornaments on. I came in this morning and she'd done a great job. I've had this red, white and green themed tree since I was a teenager. Alot has been added to it and some even taken away, but it still makes me smile every year. The Grinch shown below, I won in the Black Elephant Exchange last year. I kept grabbing that one, because I had to have him for the tree. The little boot I made in middle school. That's the summer I spent my days making Christmas ornaments. Yep...even did it back then!

The little wreaths and cone baskets were made by my mother. She didn't do much crafting when I was young, but she ended up being a great wreath maker and dabbled in ornaments too. Below is our little tribute photo to her here at work. She is the Queen of the Answering Service Empire, so I always put her overlooking my desk each year.

Last night at Target, they had the LED sets on sale, so I went ahead and bought some new lights to use on the tree next year. I'll still need to find some Green LED lights, but they didn't carry them. As I said with the purple ones, they are super hard to photograph, but they are a beautiful deep red. I think I like having the bigger bulbs too. Just makes for more pop in the color.

These stockings were dollar store finds last year. I couldn't' find the same ones this year, so our newest employee Rod, has to have a plain, ol' red stocking....Poor thing! These glitter stockings defiantly show our pizazz here at the service. Byron and I even, got to choose our favorite colors!

For your TV pleasure tonight, don't forget the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Plaza. NBC will be airing it and as usual, they have some great guest, including Jackie Evancho.

Last, but not least. Have you seen this viral video yet of another Flash Mob. This one Christmas style! I would sit in awe, if this happen around me.

The Temple Square Christmas Village

I'm not real big on Christmas Villages, but I just opened the Deseret Book Catalog and this jumped out. It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I can't buy it this year, but it is going to be a must have in my future! 

Oh Purple Christmas Tree...How lovely are your branches....

I finally fluffed my tree last night, added the purple LED lights and started putting the Christmas balls on. The rest of the ornaments I'm saving for tonight, so my daughter can join in on the fun. The purple lights are beautiful, but getting use to the bright LED lights is definitely different. I found out, they are very hard to photograph as well. The purple in the photo, really isn't the same purple in real life. Here's a preview, until I can get some better photos. 

My first swap card of the season is from Eaglesax on MHH. Santa's a great way to say Christmas is almost here!

I never did get photos up from our Estes Park trip Friday, so here you go. The small town parade was the perfect ending to a great day. As you can see, we were bundled up...and that was with sunshine. I can't imagine how cold it would of been, without the sun being out.

 

And the Grand Finale of the day, was getting Tammy to agree to take this awesome "Western" photo with us. I've not had one done since I was in my early 20's and it was a blast. Ciara looks like the Southern Bell and Tammy seems to think she looks like Molly Brown and it makes me laugh every time I think about it. 

Cake Recipe and Off to Estes...

The Martha Stewart Spicey Pumpkin Bundt Cake Recipe turned out great. It taste almost like my pumpkin bread, but more like a cake. I served it with some chocolate glaze drizzled on the top and with pumpkin ice cream. Let's just say, my daughter LOVED it. She raved it was the best cake EVER and nearly ate half the cake. I think adding some chocolate chips or a chocolate pudding center would make it even better. It's definitely a keeper, I just want to modify it a bit. 

After a good night sleep and no Black Friday shopping, I'm off to spend the day with my friends and daughter in the mountains. It's the first time in 3 years Byron and I have had the day off, so we're off to enjoy the Christmas Festival in Estes. Should be fun shopping and ending it with a parade will be a perfecting ending to a long day. 

Thanksgiving Message from Ronald Regan in 1985

Thanksgiving or Christmas???

Today was one of those mixed up days. I needed to cook and prep for dinner and my daughter was just begging to unwrap the family tree ornaments. I knew since I had to cook, there was no way we could get it decorated tonight, but we did manage to unwrap everything. One by one, we unwrapped each piece of tissue paper  and were excited to see the surprise of it's contents. We played a little game of "who, where and when" did this ornament come from. I have to admit I missed a few, but my daughter can pretty much tell you the story behind each and every ornament on that tree and I'm not kidding!

When I asked Ciara which was her favorite ornament, she had to think for a few. However, her Aunt Tammy will be happy to know,  it's still her Glenda The Good Witch. 

At one time it was on her aunts tree. She begged and begged to have the ornament. Tammy told her no, but later surprised her and gave it to her as a gift. On the bottom she wrote "There's no Place Like Home" and my daughter says it brings a certain comfort to her and reminds her that when she's off in the world, on her own, she'll always have a home to come too.  (Okay...mommy moment...let me clear the tears, so I can continue) 

While we wrapped, KOSI was on in the background with Christmas music playing. We've been listening for a week now and she still hadn't heard her favorite song by TSO. I found the phone number for the station and she tried calling them to do a request. She never got through, but a 1/2 hour later, the song played anyways. She said, it was the official start of her Holiday Season. 

In between, I was trying to get my cornbread stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin spice cake made up. She took the camera from me and went on a Christmas photo spree.

I didn't know she took this picture, but I have a feeling she's doing something sneaky. She just gets amused by telling people I have Christmas movies on the DVR from last year still. Christmas Blessing and Christmas Hope is number 3 and 4 in the Christmas Shoes series. I still haven't watched them, but I will...I will!

Speaking of Christmas Shoes, each and every time I hear that song each season, it makes me very sentimental. There's something about that song, that goes straight to my heart.



When I finally got out of the kitchen tonight, I came downstairs to find the new TV out of the box. The time is getting closer. Friday, the satellite company will be here to convert our system over and I'll be good to go and ready to watch all the Christmas movies coming up. 

I currently have a pumpkin spice bundt cake in the oven and tomorrow, I will share the recipe. Here's a quick glimpse of the BEFORE picture. 

Couple More Target Ads

I wish they were all online, these things just make me laugh!! I love the black and Decker cookies... Too Funny!!

I picked a Christmas Tree...Finally!

After searching for the right tree for weeks, I finally made myself make a decisions. I told my husband "who would of thought it was such hard work to pick out a Christmas Tree". His response "for the other 99% of the people in the world, it isn't that difficult". I've been looking at every tree in the area since October and still wasn't sure. So I had him drive me to Littleton to check out the pool store (that converts to a tree store at Christmas) and to check out the trees at St. Nicks.  Now, don't get me wrong. I would of taken several of the trees at St. Nicks,  however they were a little out of reach for my budget. $500.00-$1200.00 is crazy! 


In finally settled on this LED white light Christmas tree from Home Depot.

 

I really debated on this tree from Martha Stewart, becuase I loved the natural look with the pine cones and twigs, but I just wasn't sure how they would hold up in storage year after year and I really wanted to try and get a tree with LED lights. 

I also debated this tree at Costco, however it looked a little to much like plastic for me. What attracted me was the instant set up of the branches. You basically put it together and it already has it's shape, without having to fluff the branches. 

I've been to St. Nicks before, however I never knew there was a bottom floor in the place. That's where they keep all the trees and light options. I already bought some Purple LED lights at Target, however when I plugged them in, they weren't nearly as brilliant as I wanted them. I will be back to St. Nicks this coming year to pick up those dark purple lights, as well as some of the other specialty lights they had. Even my dear hubby found many of them pretty spectacular. However, as you all know the prices of the fancy LED light options are very expensive.  Definitely not something I'm ready to invest in this year after buying a new tree and all new outside, house lights. 

I've always preferred white icicle lights, however I opted to buy the Large C7 multi-colored LED lights this year from Costco. Many of my blow ups, stopped working last year, so I decided to switch it up all around. Lights this year and yard decorations next year. My first purchases will the Frosty and Rudolph. I love these two pieces. 

A Merry Country Christmas with Kenny and Dolly

I watched Charlie Browns Thanksgiving special tonight and started online with a search for some Thanksgiving clips, then I ended up at some classic commercials, then I was lead to Dolly and Kenny singing Christmas songs. 

I don't own a country album, let alone a Dolly Parton album, but something about her singing always makes me smile.









If you get a chance and haven't seen Unlikely Angel with Dolly Parton, take the time to watch it. It really is a fun, family movie.

Smoky Mountain Christmas is also a great song and movie. 

Do you want to preview some more of her songs, go to Amazon for some sound bites from the Home For Christmas CD
and the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Christmas CD Once Upon a Christmas.

Target Christmas Commercials...Best campaign next to Frontier!

These Maria Bamford commercials at Target make me laugh every time I see them. The first one is new for this year. The others are from previous years. There is a new one out, but I can't find a link. Keep an eye out and I'll keep you posted!

Jackie Evancho-A Highly Recommended Christmas CD

When I first heard Jackie Evancho on America's Got Talent, like everyone else, I was looking for the adult hiding behind the curtain. What came out of her mouth, did not fit with what we were seeing. She was the runner up in the competition, but have no doubt, Jackie is going to be around for a very long time! She's only been singing for 2 years and truly has a voice of an angel. If you get a chance, I highly suggest you pick up her new CD O Holy Night out on Tuesday November 16th. If you are a Josh Groban fan, she'll quickly become another favorite.


Here are all 3 of the videos from her AGT performances. I literally get the goosebumps every time I hear her. Enjoy!

Garfield in the Fall

I just seen this very cute Garfield comic in the paper, so I thought I'd share it. I can't post it directly, so here is the link for today's comic November 14th.


Here is another one I found online.

Did you know the first Garfield appeared in the Macy's Day Parade back in 1984. In 2003, a second version of Garfield appeared in the parade.