We have three artificial trees. The first is a small fiber optic one that sits on the tea cart by the front window. No decorations or anything on it.
The next is my fiber optic tree that I bought last year. It is also small, and has small silver and lilac ball ornaments and a silver star. It is at school with me, but when I go home it sits on my dresser.
Our last tree is the big one in the living room. When I was younger it was real, then we got an artificial one from my mom's cousin. When that one died, we had a year with a real tree and decided never again-the trunk sawing in the basement was awful. I went home today and the (newer artificial) tree was set up, and instead of our normal ornaments, Mom bought big gold and light blue balls. She also bought a new star topper and strung up some lights. The lights are a little awkward as they're bigger and kind of clash with the ornaments-we think white ones would look better.
All of the trees sound pretty! I love "different" Christmas colors like purple, pink, and blue!
We used to only do real, but ds is terribly allergic. The allergist told us that the allergens from Christmas trees stays in the house (ventilation system) for months...so we haven't had a real tree for 17 years, and I must say I like the convenience of the artificial trees.
So we have one in our family room. In the past we have had one in our basement, one in our formal living room (front of the house) and a feather tree--very cool, I must say.
This year I have been lazy and only set up the one in the family room. We got a new one this year and it has gold glitter the ends of the branches. I love it! It really is a beautiful tree. It is all red and gold ornaments except for Tom's baby ornament and Goofy and Donald ornament which are part of a set. The other trees have themes as well.
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So if it's ok then, I think I will suggest at the start of the next challenge that we go to +/- 3 pounds. Once the new challenge is posted.
I have often wondered if we are doing DS a disservice in having a real tree, since he has so many allergies. We don't have any kind of ventilation system here in the house (no central a/c or anything), but I suppose it could linger in the carpeting.
I figure there are two ways to look at Christmas trees..... an artificial tree is a one time expense and less work in the long run, but needs to be stored for the other 48 weeks of the year.
A real tree is a yearly expense (although since we grow our own they are really cheap) and a bit more work to set up every year, but after they are undecorated in January they can be tossed in the woods to decompose, unlike the artificial tree that will be around forever.
I've NEVER had an artificial tree (other than a teeny-tiny table top tree), but I can see myself going that way as the years go on.
Anyhow, I will have to try to be a bit more aware this year if DS seems more congested with the tree in the house.
We have an artificial tree and we love it, so much easier. I was one of those who swore I would NEVER have an artificial tree but 4-5 years ago we just had a lightbulb moment and realized how much cheaper and easier it would be and we went for it. We even hauled it to Germany and back and it survived. We only put up the one tree and it is loaded with ~ 300 ornaments. I think I am going to get rid of a few ornaments each year. I am getting so tired of putting them all out and then wrapping them all back up again! I was so disappointed when we got the tree out this year as this house has a beautiful bay window in front that the tree would look great in but unfortunately it's set off from the rest of the room in a little alcove and the ceiling is not as tall and it would not fit! So we have it in the family room where we can only see it from inside the house. We are enjoying it though.
As long as you are enjoying it, that is what counts!
ME
They all looked GREAT!!! Super motivating for me. I really wanted Antone to win; don't care for John too much. I didn't like Deb winning the at-home prize either! Becky was my fav and she looked great. Next season does look interesting! I loved the sneak peek where Bob killed Santa
I thought it was odd they did not say "good-bye" to Anna or even mention that she would not be on next season. Also thought it was odd that John worked so closely with Dolvette but gave Bob all the credit.
I agree.... thought it was weird that they didn't even mention Anna not returning.... maybe it is a sore spot?? Excited that Dolvette is returning.... need some good eye candy on that show!!
Pam, the table is beautiful
I missed what the occasion was but it looks great.
Tuesday morning women's bible study Christmas brunch.
Hello to everyone else. It is getting late and I need to get to bed. Took DS clothes shopping tonight. Bad time of year but he was in bad need of new clothes. We finally demanded that he quit wearing the same 2 Tshirts over and over to school and he said umMom that's all that fits me and he was right!
Ugh, bad Mom. I guess at this age you have to really keep an eye on things like that. Can't believe he is already wearing Men's medium at age 14 and he's really not that large ~5'8 and 145 lbs. He has decided he's no longer a basebal player but now a soccer player. He did play for his school in Germany last year but now that we are home it does not seem there are rec teams for this age level. We can only find classic soccer leagues and they are expensive!!!
Have a great day tomorrow and see you then.
Rose, I agree with 3 pounds too
I"ve had a few of those "bad mom" moments myself in the past year! Even DH noticed this weekend that the warm-up pants that DS wore to basketball were embarrassingly short! Our sons sound similar..... DS will be 14 in January, he is a bit over 5'9" and 140 lbs.
When the school year started I literally had to get rid of EVERYTHING he owned.... jeans, t-shirts, dress shirts, shoes, shorts. The only things I kept were two swimsuits, socks, a few play t-shirts and some underwear! When soccer started he had NO exercise type shorts that fit either.... and his new cleats were size 13! Thanks goodness the winter coat I bought him last year still fit (men's large from Sears!). I did have to buy a new snowboarding outfit (coat and snowpants) though. I knew that teenage boys were expensive to feed.... I guess I should have realized that would translate into being expensive to clothe!!
No studying involved. I will be bringing my laptop - for the DIS of course.
And I promised myself I would enter recipes into my Living Cookbook database. And try to take the online course for Photoshop Elements. I need to be away longer to get it all done.
Sounds like you will have plenty to keep you busy!
OK SPOILER DONE - I didn't mention any names. Did you notice the total percentage of weight loss dropped this year?? Usually the winners lose at least 50% of their body weight. This year 48% and 44%. I am looking forward to the new season. Looks like they are going to try to shake things up. This season was boring, no real personalities came out.
I think it might have been partially because they didn't have quite as many HUGE people. I knew Antone probably wasn't going to drop as much as the others.... he has such a big muscular build to support.... and muscle is heavy!!
I was done shopping. Last night my son called me when I was on my way to work - Mom I need to dress up tomorrow, shirt and tie, because I have a wrestling meet - I don't want to wear what I wore last week. Can you get me a tie to go with my purple shirt??? So being the good Mom that I am - there is a Marshalls right next to the Christmas Annex I am working at. Ran in bought a black tie, and spent $80 dollars in 3 minutes. Underwear, socks, toy for the dog, cross pen, chocolate for DH. I really have an illness when it comes to shopping, it's why I never go, I spend, spend, spend.
Janis
Christmas shopping is a good excuse to overspend for me. I need to go through the gifts TODAY and call it done.... otherwise I just shop and spend and shop and spend up until the last minute!!
Good Thursday morning everyone.
I was supposed to bake a bisquick quiche last night. I finished cooking the thing and realized that I left out the eggs. So I am calling it a ham and cheese biscuit.
Umm... how do you make a quiche and forget the eggs?? A little busy these days I suppose!!
I haven't finished my progress reports but I have until the end of the day.
I have to go in and help set up for the monthly birthday breakfast. It may be a disaster since the person who usually is in charge of the set up is out. I was going to take the day off but with her being out I can't do that. I may take tomorrow off to get somethings done.
Nice of you to help with this.
I ordered my ds2 a camera last night. He is headed back to Gambia in Jan for 10 days. the problem with his last camera (besides that it is 7 yrs old) is the dust from some of his trips. This one is dustproof and waterproof. He wants some tshirts and hiking pants and socks that we need to pick up this weekend. I think these are for his trip.
Off to get dressed and get to school.
Have a happy and healthy day.
Nice that you could find useful things to buy DS. I have been trying to pick up a little bit here and there for DD's trip to Costa Rica and I thought she would have everything she needed, but a day or two ago she mentioned wanting a new camera/video camera. I need to pull out HER camera and see if it works properly and will suffice. I have offered to loan her mine, but she thinks it is too bulky (similar in size to a small DSLR, but it is really just a point and shoot with good zoom). Not sure if we are going to do this for her.... I was already done with her for Christmas and it would mean either going WAAAAY over budget (and then feeling like I need to buy more for DS too) or returning something else.
Since I'm up super early for a final 
surfweb
I'll post a fun QOTD.
QOTD 12/15:
What Disney song best describes you? It can be anything, from the parks and resorts to the movies.
Great question!!
For me here it is (for today at least
) .... replace the "We" with "I" ....."We must be swift as the coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon!"
Sometimes it feels like I to need to be it all/do it all. I work (part-time admittedly), do nearly everything around the house (laundry, dishes, vacuuming, grocery shopping, bill-paying, cooking, mowing .... not sure why DH has seemed to give up on that), take the kids to so many of their events, coaching, exercising, eating right (or at least trying to), keeping the schedule straight for everyone, making sure we get to church, etc, etc, etc.
There are moments when I feel like I must be "swift" and have great "force" and "strength" (although I'm rarely mysterious!
). I'm not complaining though.... my life is pretty good. My kids are great, my husband is a hard worker who never complains about the state of the house or about how much money I spend. We are ALL healthy.
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Morning friends! Sorry I wasn't on earlier. I'd love to claim that I was busy cleaning or exercising, but alas..... I was finishing HP and the Deathly Hallows!
And I'm done! I have officially read the entire HP series for the first (and probably only) time. Hopefully we will have a day during Christmas break to watch the last three movies together. I told DS I was hoping to have a HP day.... watch the movies, make some virgin butterbeer (he has been dying to try that).... and relax!
But here it is, approaching 10am, and I am, of course, so far behind for the day! No exercise, no beds made, nada! So not much time to chatter here with you all. I have three loads of laundry to finish up today that I didn't fold yesterday. Plus three beds to make and of course, I need treadmill time. Then I will WRAP GIFTS! I need to do a gift inventory, so I might as well get wrapping too. DD has a short swim practice tonight and her sometime-ride isn't going, so I will be out tonight dropping her off, running a quick errand or two, and the picking her up, so no free time at home tonight (DH is away on a trip). So I guess I had better get moving on my list! TTYL..................P
Federally-owned...hope they have a fitness center...or bring alot of books! Unless they keep you studying at night...
I've seen You Tube video that they've adding some effects on the ceiling they did not have when I saw it in 2009. I'm also determined to find the location of the purple cat . . . a Halloween decoration that is always hidden in a different place each year.
I got some new shoes yesterday and was at the track at 5:00 am to give them a spin and I feel so much better. Life is good.
Next season looks pretty interesting.
I still have to research and write my 8-10 page paper on dialects, also ue at noon tomorrow, but I'm going to take a nap first. It's just a gloomy, depressing day here-relatively warm, but rainy.
A girlfriend once told me her newborn didn't like mint! And when DS2 was around 2 or 4 months he suddenly got gassy and the pediatrician told me I wasn't drinking enough water. Sure enough. Problem solved.
Yep you got me. I was definitely having a pity party that day. 
