Is it wrong that I...
1. talk to myself?
2. sleep with a teddy bear?
3. am addicted to coffee?
4. don't wear makeup?
5. haven't worn pantyhose in years?
6. skip meals if I'm not hungry?
7. voice my opinions?
8. play nerdy Suduko?
9. am tired of "green" being trendy?
10. eat cookie dough?
1. talk to myself?
2. sleep with a teddy bear?
3. am addicted to coffee?
4. don't wear makeup?
5. haven't worn pantyhose in years?
6. skip meals if I'm not hungry?
7. voice my opinions?
8. play nerdy Suduko?
9. am tired of "green" being trendy?
10. eat cookie dough?
Brother Bear Andy Boy had a birthday the other day. We all went out for a yummy dinner and then over to the folks' for birthday presents.
Here are some photos.
Like my wrapping paper?
CD's, etc. 
We really just like to have a lot of silly fun.
Except me. Doing more work. Party pooper...
Here are some photos.
Cute wrapping paper from Mom
I so love this sweater he got!
Aren't they cute?
Like my wrapping paper? I gave him this fun t-shirt (he loves fun t-shirts).
I wasn't very much fun that night. I was completely exhausted and stressed from work that week.
The fun card I gave him
CD's, etc.We really just like to have a lot of silly fun.
Except me. Doing more work. Party pooper...
D'oh! Who was the 11th hour voter who said I should be Wonder Woman?!? Now it's a tie between Wonder Woman and Sarah Palin!
Funny!
Funny!
Junglewife was the lucky winner in my recent contest, guessing correctly that I am the one in red! That's my brother on the left (the only guy in the picture!); on the other side of me are sisters Jenny, Amy, and Tammy (their mom is on the end reading, and Namoi is behind us trying to get in on the fun). The 5 of us kids have been friends for over 22 years!
And here we are last weekend back in Wisconsin, along with our former teacher Mrs. K. whom we all adore!
And here we are last weekend back in Wisconsin, along with our former teacher Mrs. K. whom we all adore!
Can you tell who is who??
The other day my parents’ church kicked off fall with a fun Ladies Night. We enjoyed yummy fall snacks, watched a fun cooking demonstration (seriously, I NEED to try making those cinnamon sugar tortilla chips!!), and had our hearts encouraged by the reminder that the Lord cares for us, giving us what we need.
Mom & Gloria
Me and Jen (it's always fun with the 4 of us going to these together)
I was the lucky winner with a blue sticker on the back of my chair.
I won our beautiful centerpiece! And knew immediately I would give it to my mom since she liked them so much!
I liked my outfit that night. Necklace courtesy of Ginny and shirt and shrug courtesy of Target!
What can I do to fight off fall & winter blues?
For me it’s all about enhancing my life with simple things. I allow myself little treats so that I don’t feel as miserable and deprived. And it helps me to appreciate the good things that the season has to offer. Take a look at what I came up with:
1. Listen to (and sing along with!) Christmas music.
2. Indulge in a warm beverage – hot tea, hot apple cider, flavored coffee, pumpkin latte, peppermint hot chocolate, etc.
3. Stay in, sit at home cuddled up in soft blanket watching a movie or reading a book and enjoying a scented candle (I especially like seasonal scents like pumpkin, cinnamon, apples, etc. to help me embrace the current period of time).
4. Decorate your home for the holidays – it’s a fun activity and the festive decor lifts your spirits.
5. Choose to actively look for the positive & make a list of your blessings, for example, notice the beauty in the changing leaves and in the pure white snow.
6. Physical activity – anywhere from a brisk walk around the block to joining a gym – has proven health benefits, physical and emotional. And it will keep you warm.
7. Get domestic and bake. Use the season’s bounty and make apple crisp or pumpkin bread or something even more creative. Share treats with friends, co-workers, and neighbors.
8. Pamper yourself with a hot bubble bath, using rich, fall-scented bath and body products.
9. Find some cute stationery or notecards and send a letter to a friend.
10. Dig out classic Christmas movies (inexpensively obtained from the library) to get in the mood.
11. Plan a weekend getaway if you can (to a warmer location is even better!). Set the date now for mid to end of winter so you know you have something to look forward to (so important!). Use the time now to research your destination, plan your activities, and save up so you’ll have some spending money.
12. If you don’t have a fireplace, befriend someone who does! Or find a hangout with a fireplace (cafes, Panera Bread, Centre library…). There is something very peaceful and comforting about just sitting in front of a fireplace.
13. Get all bundled up head to toe – double layers of clothing, and don’t forget the scarf, hat and gloves. Then go play in the snow for as long as your body can take it. Warm up with hot chocolate afterwards.
For me it’s all about enhancing my life with simple things. I allow myself little treats so that I don’t feel as miserable and deprived. And it helps me to appreciate the good things that the season has to offer. Take a look at what I came up with:
1. Listen to (and sing along with!) Christmas music.
2. Indulge in a warm beverage – hot tea, hot apple cider, flavored coffee, pumpkin latte, peppermint hot chocolate, etc.
3. Stay in, sit at home cuddled up in soft blanket watching a movie or reading a book and enjoying a scented candle (I especially like seasonal scents like pumpkin, cinnamon, apples, etc. to help me embrace the current period of time).
4. Decorate your home for the holidays – it’s a fun activity and the festive decor lifts your spirits.
5. Choose to actively look for the positive & make a list of your blessings, for example, notice the beauty in the changing leaves and in the pure white snow.
6. Physical activity – anywhere from a brisk walk around the block to joining a gym – has proven health benefits, physical and emotional. And it will keep you warm.
7. Get domestic and bake. Use the season’s bounty and make apple crisp or pumpkin bread or something even more creative. Share treats with friends, co-workers, and neighbors.
8. Pamper yourself with a hot bubble bath, using rich, fall-scented bath and body products.
9. Find some cute stationery or notecards and send a letter to a friend.
10. Dig out classic Christmas movies (inexpensively obtained from the library) to get in the mood.
11. Plan a weekend getaway if you can (to a warmer location is even better!). Set the date now for mid to end of winter so you know you have something to look forward to (so important!). Use the time now to research your destination, plan your activities, and save up so you’ll have some spending money.
12. If you don’t have a fireplace, befriend someone who does! Or find a hangout with a fireplace (cafes, Panera Bread, Centre library…). There is something very peaceful and comforting about just sitting in front of a fireplace.
13. Get all bundled up head to toe – double layers of clothing, and don’t forget the scarf, hat and gloves. Then go play in the snow for as long as your body can take it. Warm up with hot chocolate afterwards.
14. Treat yourself to a new sweater or scarf to help welcome the colder weather. You can look to the positive then because when it gets cold, you will get to wear your new apparel!
That’s what I have for now, but please share your thoughts and add to the list. I think we could ALL use some help to beat the winter blues every now and then!
