Christmas Tree….. Budd’s Style

Traditionally we go and chop down our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, but not this year. Mike had to work on Friday (who made up that phrase banker’s hours anyway? They had to have been a heavy drinker) so we ventured out Saturday morning to Budd’s Tree Farm in Clarks Grove. We have been going there since Mike and I met, and Mike has been going there many years before that. It’s one tradition we have never let go of. We love it.

This year I decided to let Noah take the pictures. He wasn’t super keen on the idea at first but really warmed up to it as he got going.

Me, explaining this would be an example of a bbbaaadddd tree choice.

 

 

 

Mom and dad with attempted bunny ears.

 

 

 

We had about four trees we really liked. Then we would run into another one we liked. This continued until we decided we found the perfect one.

Connor asked to chop the tree down this year…..

 

Dad explaining to Connor how it’s done.

It’s a lot harder than it looks when you have short arms.

Success!

 

 

 

Off for a good shaking.

We put off decorating it until Sunday morning. I always have to do the lights (takes forever, lots of winding around each and every branch) and then the boys pretty much do all the rest, except the highest parts. I am not a collector (the thought of it makes me itch), so I don’t have interesting ornaments, ornaments with lots of meaning, or ornaments that came from 100 years ago. In fact, mine are hand-me-downs from my parents!  I have regular ornaments. And I like how it turns out every year. 

 

Happy first day of December tomorrow!

Love…

LB

 

Thankful

 

This could be a post about how much I love my family and friends and how thankful I am for all of them……..but you already know that. Right?

So, my top ten things I am thankful for lately:

1. Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer. Mike does the majority of the grocery shopping in our house. This is an example of what typically happens when I request a specific item, I asked him to get me some peppermint creamer and instead got me peppermint MOCHA creamer (very close to my request, but not quite). Well, his mistake is my fortune because I love it! If I roll over slightly and just start thinking about this yummy goodness, it makes me get out of bed. Even when it’s a sleep-in day.

2. Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro fingernail polish. I bought this for my nieces wedding that was Labor Day weekend. I just removed it and repainted my toes for the Black Dress event and there was not ONE chip in it. I know toenails last a lot longer than fingernails, but seriously? 3 months? Of course the paint needed to be redone due to regrowth, but there wasn’t a single chip. Pretty amazing. Burgundy Flirt is my color of choice.

3. Having four whole days off in a row. Going to shop, hang with family, possibly getting a movie night with my husband, and see some friends. Perfect.

4. Banana nut Cheerios. I know it’s artificial banana, but I love it.

5. Diet Coke from McDonalds. My co-workers and I make a trip for lunch once a week and I make that pop last all afternoon.

 

6. The TV show Parenthood. After Brothers and Sisters this show is my favorite. The fact that the Thanksgiving show ended with them dancing to the song, You Down with OPP had me smiling all week. (And texting it to my friend that loves the show too, only she didn’t get it……)

 

7. Pear Tree Greetings. I used them this year for my Christmas cards instead of Shutterfly and I saved over $30. They had just as many choices as Shutterfly and the process was just as easy. They came this week and they are every bit as nice. Awesome find.

8. Heated seats and automatic start. I forget about these two features all summer. I think I would give up automatic windows and locks to have these two features in my vehicle.

9. Online shopping. I have found amazing deals lately. It takes time to go from site to site looking for the best deal, but I saved over $100 on a certain gift for someone this year doing it. TOTALLY worth it. I like to go shopping, but we just have not had time to get out of town. I love knowing I am getting some gifts crossed off my list all from the comfort of my recliner.

10. Slippers. I wear them all the time. I even bring them to people’s houses when we go. I love them.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

LB

Little Black Dress 2010

 

This past Saturday I went with a bunch of friends to a charity event.  The Little Black Dress event was held at the County Club and the proceeds benefitted the Red Cross to help the victims of the flood.

Chely and Me

Nicole, Nancy, Gia

This was the first time this event had been held, and they already have plans in the works for next year. This year, with the event benefitting of the Red Cross, you had to accessorize with red. Next year it’s going to benefit breast cancer research so the accessories will all have to be pink.

The country club did an excellent job of making the event special from the martini bar to the beautifully decorated banquet room. The planners set up a “red carpet” entrance complete with paparazzi and a backdrop for more formal pictures. Its was actually quite hilarious! They handed out pictures all night and it was a cute touch.

Stolen from facebook

Stolen from facebook

We enjoyed dinner and signed up for some raffle prizes. You could buy as many tickets as you wanted and then stick them into whichever raffle you liked. There was everything from a day of pampering (nails, facials, house cleaning) to jewelry to wine. I put the most tickets in the 2 hour photo session for my family with a professional photographer from town. Then I also put one ticket in another box.

I won off that one ticket. What did I win, you ask?

24 margaritas from a local restaurant!

Ha! I don’t even really like margaritas. Once I found out how many calories were in one margarita……they have not been my drink of choice. Oh well, at least I won something. Plus, I might just be the most popular girl in the joint that night.

We danced to the DJ (he donated his time to the event. How cool is that?) and got all sweaty! Those 80s tunes just kept luring us onto that dance floor.

Stolen from Facebook! Marisa the party planner on the far left!  Love that girl.

Jen, Gia, Me

 

Stolen from Facebook

We took a taxi home (free because they also donated their time for the night) and slept in late this morning. We even missed church. Been working on lesson plans and laundry all day. Also bringing dinner to a friend tomorrow so I whipped up some yummy things for them as well. Nice boring Sunday!

Looking forward to a short week this week. I told Mike it will be last Sunday he will be able to see the TV from his favorite chair. Next weekend we cut down our tree! Woo Hoo! No matter how small of one we say we are going to get, it seems to grow in the truck on the way home and it block any view of the TV from our chair and ottoman.

Hope you had a great Sunday!

LB

And so it begins…..