Clark! I don't want to spend the Holidays dead!

Where I break my parent's hearts
I love Christmas time. I thank my parents for making Christmas such a magical time even when I know it was probably financially irresponsible of them to do so. One thing I really liked that we did as a family was cut down our own Christmas tree. We didn't go every year but pretty close. I have some wonderful memories of being in the forest, picking out a tree which would end up being too large for our home (they always look smaller in the forest), dragging a tree many miles back to our truck, only to find that the battery was dead. We made the best of it by starting a fire and roasting weiners until someone rescued us. I tried a few times in Utah to get a permit to cut down a tree but it always seemed like such a big hassle. We would end up spending a lot of money on a tree that wouldn't smell and usually became a fire hazard a few days later. Last year I started to toy with the idea of a fake tree. Ryan has been in my ear about one for years but I was raised with a real tree and it's hard to let those traditions go. Karen saw a tree at Costco that she liked and so I looked at it next time I was there. It looked really good and once I even suggested it to Ryan, he was all over it. So today I bought an artificial tree and I can hear my parents gasp all the way from Canada. I'm already thinking about how easy this tree is going to be and it's making me happy.

Where I work like a big girl
Today I was observed in class by my principal. I'm the queen of procrastination but I took the advice of other teachers and scheduled it early. I almost emailed him yesterday and told him I wasn't ready because I was so nervous. Ryan got called to a dead body early this morning so the girls came to school really early with me. They were my "students" while I practiced my lesson. I think that really helped as did advice from my teaching team. In the meeting with my principal after he told me I was a great teacher and they were glad to have me. Who doesn't like to hear things like that? Oh and Ryan's Lt. said he was the bestest dead body detective evahs! Look at us being grown up and professional.

Where I don't parent badly
The other day Ryan asked Grace to put away a crayon that he had found in the kitchen. She thought he was accusing her of leaving a crayon in the kitchen (pretty sure he was correct) and told him, "no" she would not put the crayon away. She walked into her room while Ryan stood shocked. He then went into her room and had a "discussion" with her, that I could hear in the living room. A few minutes later she came out looking very sad and when I asked her what was wrong, she told me that "Dad swored at her. Swored in her face!" I tried to suppress laughter as I asked her what "swear" he had used. "He said the D and H swear." I asked Ryan if this was true and he admitted that he had and he didn't feel one bit bad about it. I told Gracie that it was very sad that Dad "swored" at her while I gave Ryan the "I'm the better parent today" look. I think I should add that we don't swear at our children normally but every parent has their breaking point and I think Ryan's was when he found a moldy plastic lunch bag in Grace's jeans laying on the floor.

Where I talk about products I like to purchase
If you had told me a few years ago I'd like wearing blush, I would have said, "SHUT UP!" while I pushed you Elaine style. I do like to wear it! I'm totally into the Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy Blush and it's bonus time at Nordstrom now so you can buy it and get a free gift.


Like dark chocolate? Like pomengranates? Like nuts and gum, they can only be delicious together and now they are. Brookside Dark Chocolate Covered Pomegranates are available at Costco and there is a coupon for them this month. Also 20 pieces are only 180 calories. Joy!


Ugh, I feel like such a fashion victim because I wear Uggs. They were my Christmas present to myself last year and I LOVES them. I know they are so 2006 but due to my hypothyroidism, my feet are always cold and they keep them so toasty warm. Ryan HATES the Uggs. He thinks it's like wearing slippers in public. But I wear a lot of things Ryan doesn't like, think flip-flops and ruffles. Oh and here is a tip, they stretch so buy yourself a smaller size than you normally would. I can save money by buying the child's size 4 and they fit perfectly. Hint, hint Ryan.