5 The season has begun! Tree #1 is up!

I LOVE decorating for the holidays.  I turn on the Christmas music and sing along to all the classics...makes me smile almost the whole time!

I started decorating on Saturday and got one tree up.  This tree is our more traditional tree, it is upstairs in the living room.  It was the first tree that I bought when I moved out on my own, and actually the same ornaments, even though some of them have broken over the years. The angel holds a special place in my heart, as it is the one that we used to have at my Grandparents house when I was growing up.  I will keep that as long as it continues to glow!

It makes me feel warm and cozy...the gold and creams soothe me!  Does anyone else use those little grape clusters on their tree?  Not sure if you are supposed to seperate them, but I like them just randomly placed over some bare spots.

5 Happy Birthday Mom

Today would have been my Mom's 58th birthday.  She passed away 13 months ago.  The one year anniversary of her death was a very hard day. I choose to spend that day with my Grandma and went to the cemetery and prepared  to see the headstone for the first time later that week. Tears were shed because I wish that day had never happened...that it would have taken place 20 years in the future instead of a year ago. 

After much reflection, I have decided I will not be going to the cemetary today.  It just doesn't feel right today...today is a celebration of her life and not a day to mourn that she isn't here to celebrate it.  She was such a warm-hearted person....there weren't many people like my mom.  She had the biggest heart and cared about everyone!  She was such a gentle spirit...and that is what I will remember today.

Instead I have decided to I will be decorating our house for Christmas today!  My mom loved my Christmas trees and love the thought of everyone getting together for the holidays!  What a better way to picture her smiling then to get my house ready for the season.  I also think I am going to try a new recipe for dinner tonight, she always laughed at my kitchen antics...so hopefully she will help me whip up something tasty!

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Happy Birthday Mom....I know your spirit and soul surrounds me when I need it most.  I hope that never changes.  I see the signs...and I'm so thankful for them.  Every single ladybug you send me, the random cat that visited us that day at the cemetery and rubbed on your marker and looked at me with big round eyes, and the dreams of when you visit me, all remind me that you are still around.  I love you and I miss you.  Happy Birthday Mama!

8 You Capture - FOOD

Food...a thing that has been on all of our minds this week with the Thanksgiving Holiday upon us.  Here is what I am taking to my family's dinner today (along with corn casserole that isn't yet finished!). 

Sweet & Salty Cookie Bars

Recipe
2 large rolls of refrigerated cookie dough
1 1/2  cup chocolate chips
1 cup broken pretzel pieces
1 cup honey roasted peanuts

~Take one and a half rolls of the cookie dough and flatten out into 9x13 pan
~Top with 1 cup each of the chocolate chips, nuts and pretzels
~Push into dough to help stick together better
~Top with chunks of remaining cookie dough
~Sprinkle last 1/2 cup of chocolate chips
~Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until edges are brown
~Cut into bars and enjoy!

What yummy food did you capture this week...stop over and share at I Should be Folding Laundry.

7 Weigh-in Wednesday

Well it's that time again...my friends over at Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans tell me I gotta step up and weigh in.  GULP.  Here we go.

SUCK. I'm up 2.8 lbs.

I know what I've done (enjoyed too many tasty things this weekend for our anniversary and hubby's birthday) and what I haven't done (no miles or exercise logged this week).  I just am really struggling to get back to the routine...more so then ever.

I told myself I would never go back to weighing more than 150 lbs...yet I found myself less then a pound away this morning.  Tell me that wasn't a wake-up call screaming at me to get my ass back in check!  Now. I will not go back.

3 Happy Birthday Grandma

Happy 77th Birthday Grandma!

Grandma kisses are the best!

 (Grandma and my cousin Matthew last year at the Light the Night walk)

You would read me books every single night....I think that is why I am so smart.

You would trace the outline of my face with your finger to help me fall asleep....I think that is why I am so happy.

You would  let me use the push button phone and the JCPenney catalog to play store...I think that is why I am went into Finance.

You would let me sleep in your bed when I was scared...I think that is why I feel safe.

You would get teary when we watched the homeless man steal a can of tuna on Highway to Heaven....I think that is why I am so compassionate.

You would chauffer me anywhere I wanted to go when I was a teenager...I think that is why I am a social butterfly.

You would stay up reading till I got home from the movies safe...I think that is why I worry.

You would let me eat mashed potatoes and corn for dinner if I wanted to...I think that is why I love vegetables.

You would praise me for making the honor roll...I think that is why I wanted to go to college. 

 You would do anything in the world for me...and I know that is why I am blessed to truly know the meaning of family.

Thank you Grandma for having 10 children...and for making me feel like the 11th!  You have created an amazing family that is filled with love, beauty, strength, compassion, and happiness. 

I hope today you can feel the love and the appreciation we all have for you.  I am so blessed to have you in my life...you give me strength every single day.

You have taught me how to love....and for that I am thankful!

7 Happy 5th Anniversary to us!

5 years ago today...I married the love of my life.

I took one last look at the single woman in the mirror before walking down the isle to meet the man who wanted me to be his wife.  He choose me....of all the girls in all the world...he choose me!

The feelings I felt when I walked down to meet him will never be forgotten.  The look in his eyes and the smile on his face will stay in my heart forever.  He was just as excited to start the journey as I was!  I swear you could have turned off all the lights and the glow from our love could have lit up the whole church.

We were so blessed to be surrounded by family and friends on that day.  Having everyone there to celebrate us as a couple was amazing. I felt like a princess that day...and I had finally found my prince!

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Happy 5th anniversary to my love.  You bring color into my world and love into my life. I am blessed to be married to my best friend and I pray that we have 55 more years ahead of us. We have laughed and smiled during all the good times and cried and leaned on each other during the hard times. 

Last year has been the toughest of my life, and you were there to hold me whenever I needed it.  You have been my rock.Thank you for being patient, kind, thoughtful, and supportive...and every other little thing you have done to make me smile and feel loved.  Most of all...thank you for being you.  I love you!

16 You Capture - SUNSET

The prettiest sunsets look like they are made of cotton candy.

What sunset or sunrsie did you capture this week? Come share the beauty at I Should be Folding Laundry.