26 November, 2007

Christmas Challenge! Are you in?


I've got a challenge for you! The question is... are you in, or are you out?

Starting Saturday, December 1st, I will begin posting something (ANYTHING!) each day until December 25th. I'll be posting a commentary, a joke, a picture, whatever! Just something everyday until Christmas day.

So, who's in? Grab the button and post it on your blog!

16 November, 2007

Getting to Know Your Friends: Christmas Edition

My real-life and cyber friend, Stormi welcomes everyone to the

"Getting to Know Your Friends: Christmas Edition"

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. I'm sorry, but there is nothing fun about ripping into a gift bag!

2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial

3. When do you put up the tree(s)?
Weekend after Thanksgiving, but this year, I'll probably shoot for the first weekend in December.

4. When do you take the tree down?
The weekend after Christmas (or sooner!)

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes, but I only drink it with my dad.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Honda 50 Dirt Bike. (I was in first grade... what were my parent's thinking?)

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
No, but I'd like to eventually get a really nice one.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Randy, because he never wants anything.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
The girls

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail photo cards

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
No comment!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie/Show?
Charlie Brown Christmas - I love the musical score.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Christmas shopping? Oh, yeah... I better get started!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not that I know of.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
My mom's seafood gumbo

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
I prefer clear, but the girls loved the colorful ones. So, coloful it is!

17. Favorite Christmas song?
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings - by Bare Naked Ladies w/Sarah MacLachlan

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Travel

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Only if I sing the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Neither. I use a big ol' ribbon bow

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The Rush!

23. Does Santa leave the gifts wrapped or unwrapped?
Small gifts - wrapped; Big gifts - unwrapped


24. Do you leave goodies for Santa on Christmas Eve?
Yes, cookies and milk of course.

14 November, 2007

I'm so proud!

A year ago, if you would have asked me to describe my best friend, Cyndi... the word "runner" would not have been an adjective I would have used. Until now.

Cyndi has been training for a marathon since August and is gearing up for the BIG one that will be held in January. However, in the meantime, she's run three races (maybe more...) and the last one was a half-marathon. People... that is a 25K race or 15.5 miles!

I'm so proud of Cyndi and what she has accomplished for herself. You go, girl!

(Look at that picture... she's actually smiling!)

12 November, 2007

Love this Show!

If you have kids, be sure to check out this great show on PBS.


It's about an adorable little girl who helps her grandfather at his shoe-repair shop. Each adventure centers around the pair of shoes. It's super cute and we love it.

10 November, 2007

The Big Pay-Off!

As a follow up to my "Customer Service?" entry, here is Randy with our new flat panel, LCD/HD television. Apparently, it pays to purchase the extended warranty. However, it took over a month, 3 service calls (that I had to be present for), a trip to the store in which Randy camped out for over an hour and a final review by a claims rep!

After all of that...

We FINALLY got store credit for the defunct television.
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09 November, 2007

Customer Service?

I've had a rotten time with customer service as of late. It stinks.

Recently, I phoned the flooring company about a damaged tile. It was a Monday. The lady took my name and number and said someone would call me back. I never heard back from anyone. (I might also add, our flooring is still under warranty, so this would have been a gimme job!)

The following Monday, I called again. Stated my problem, left my name and number. Nothing.

The following Monday after that, Randy called. Not only did he get a call back, but they scheduled an appointment to come out to my house and fix the damaged tile the same week.

What gives?

One of my "jobs" as a wife is to handle all customer service related phone calls. I'll be perfectly honest. This is part of my wifely duties that I detest. Truly.

But, because Randy hates it as much as, if not more than, I do, I am relegated to making those dreaded calls. Joy.

In addition to that, I am usually the one that has to stand-by and put my plans on hold waiting for the repairman (delivery driver or whatever) to arrive within his 9 hour window, which is usually 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. And more frequently than not, they usually don't arrive until the last hour of the "window".

And, don't get me started on email. There is nothing that chaps my hide more, then sending out an email through a website and NEVER, EVER getting a reply back. Never.

I mean, if you have a place on your website that says, "Contact us for enrollment information" and you hit that magic button with your question(s), then, by all means... reply! Is it that hard?

Several weeks back, I had finally narrowed down the ballet academy selections to two studios. Both websites offered on-line enrollment. I enrolled to both. However, knowing that my enrollment form may end up in cyber-hell, I made a mental note to join the first academy that replied back to the email. Lo and behold, I get a reply email back and that is the studio we joined. I have yet to hear back from the other studio I enrolled with online. Randy says it will eventually come down to survival of the fittest. Let's only hope!

I guess all I'm complaining about boils down to this. Answer your emails, return phone calls, do what you say, say what you do and give a 2 hour window, rather than a 9 hour window of arrival. Is that so hard, people?

06 November, 2007

Thinking 'bout the holidays!



I've worked up some ideas today for Christmas gift tags and Christmas recipe cards. I plan on printing them out on 4x6 photo paper at my local photo mart. The gift tags will be pre-printed - so no messy handwriting! I added dividing lines so I can cut them in 1/4ths.

I also had a thought to scan a sample of the wrapping paper I plan to use and use the wrapping paper design for the gift tags as well. I just need to break out that clunky scanner to get started!

Here's what I've come up with so far! This digi kit was downloaded free from Shabby Princess.

05 November, 2007

Finally, a change!

Kyla woke up Sunday morning and in a very excited voice exclaimed, "Mommy, I see sunshine in my room!"

Yes, on the morning the time changed back, my four year old expressed my sentiments exactly. Finally! The time has changed back!

Hopefully, my morning crankiness will go away now. Of course, there is nothing a strong cup of coffee can't cure.

02 November, 2007

November Desktop

Here's the deal, people. I'm busy and I have no time to create a digi scrap masterpiece for November's desktop calendar.

So, I humbly submit a website that offers calendar desktops for your viewing (and downloading) pleasure.

My girls love the Strawberry Shortcake calendar... so, as you can imagine, that's what I have.