A cup of coffee and a thought. Saying Merry Christmas.

What's wrong with saying Merry Christmas?  Are we all so afraid of causing offense that we all cower in the name and just say "Happy Holidays". People can actually get written up at work for saying it. Things you see on old movies you just can't do anymore. What got me thinking of this is when I watched Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. Everyone said Merry Christmas,  eventhough Mr Hooper was Jewish. He didn't take offense.  He viewed Christmas as a time of giving. Bob did say happy Hanukkah, to him. But now, you say merry Christmas to people and someone is bound to get upset. "I'm offended", well I'm offended that you're offended for being offended. Are you offended because it's a "Christian" holiday? I am not the most religious person, but I still love the holiday and all it means.
Let's have a history lesson.  A lesson that was even mentioned on Foodnetwork's "Good Eats". Christmas was not always called Christmas.  Infact, it had little to do with Christ until the Church,trying to keep people happy all of a sudden said Christ was born in December.  In which many historians believe was actually the spring. The church tried banning the old Celtic and pagan celebration of the Yuletide . Which caused people to do it anyways to the extreme and revolt. Drinking for a week straight and even the church was closed. Seriously,  go to Youtube and search History Channel history of Christmas.  Or "Good eats Christmas carol" .  Or go to the History Channel's website.
But, I say let's say what we want. Why conform? Christmas to me is about family, spending time with them, eating, and savoring memmories. As well as wrapping gifts with a bottle of wine. Traditions.  So I say Christmas has done me good and will do me good. And I say God bless it. If you get the Dickens references you are awesome!

Now here is a fun pic.

The day before, Turkey day.

It is Wens, and it is Thanksgiving eve. This morning I was off to a rocky start, my baby keeps waking up at 3:30 Am each day, takes a bottle and then snoozes until 6-6:30 AM. I just can not get him to sleep all night anymore. Phase? He also is not wanting to eat. After a few bites he just turns his head like "I am full,bleh" He also discovered how to be uber pathetic and act like he is going to puke. Oh the joys of boys.  I know it is partially teething and from what I have been seeing on Babycenter and Circle of moms that this is a normal phemomona that hits between 8-10 months. They are just not as hungry as before or they see too much going on. They want to be in the middle of it. He only has two teeth so it isn't like he can really chew anything. He did, however, try to feed himself. So, maybe that is it. He wants to do it. He did try this morning and we ended up messy. Very messy.  Then the fittings started and he just was not happy no matter what. Over tired little man.

Today, is a cool 70 degrees out. Ahh it feels like fall. But, this is short lived. It will soon be hot as you know where in no time, again. I have to say even though it is FL, it is unusally hot this year. Global Warming much?
So, it being Thanksgiving tomorrow;I thought I would ask what is your favorite Thanksgiving day memory.
Mine?
Growing up in MO, we would have my Grandma and uncle from the Ozarks come up to St Louis to have Thanksgiving. There would be lots of laughs, mashed potatoes, and fart jokes courtesy of my dad and uncle. There would be a fight over the wishing bone and then the night would finish with my dad and uncle playing hockey on the Sega Genesis and the rest of us playing Rummy with grandma. Those sweet memories you just can not replace and it was the best. Also, knowing that dad was going to put up lights the next day. I can still hear the colorful vocabulary as he fell from the roof. Or if the lights would not go on. We never did Black Friday. It was just too much fun at home.

Monday can be fun days.

Today is Monday(no duh) and I am trying to make it a fun day for me an my boy. So far we have rolled around on the carpet. He helped me wrap gifts, and discovered one of his! Now he wont leave it alone. And keeps finding the thing! He will disappear and then I hear the alphabet song...found him. He is laughing and dancing. We have also done some house hold chores while watching Peppa Pig, his favorite. We are getting ready for Christmas decorating. I found my Christmas bins and need to go into the attic to get his white tree for his dinosaur extreme tree. Little boys have EXTREME Christmas trees. It is going to be covered in over $100 in blown glass ornaments....I had just realized he has one expensive ornament selection. I got a discount on them from Hobby Lobby, but still without that each ornament would have been $5.99 to 10.99 per ornament. Am I crazy? Yes, absolutely. But, this is my favorite time of year and I go Christmas tree crazy. How many do I have? Well, I have one in the master bedroom, one in his bedroom, and the main tree. Why not? Anyways, we are prepping for this Friday; where we will be decorating instead of shopping. Ahh, nothing will be better than a glass of sparkling Barefoot Pink Moscato and my Christmas tree being abused by my baby boy. My ornaments will be in trouble and his tree will be safe. He never goes into his OWN room. Just mommy and daddy's room.
But, today we are getting a lot of fun done. He even tried to feed his mommy "pretend" food. This week I hope goes by fast, we have a lot to do this weekend.
If you want my Black Friday survival guide I finally posted on my other blog Gofashiondeals. Read it; it is funny.

Sweet Red with a side order of dinosaur. Grrrawr.

I have started wrapping my boy's gifts and am really excited about his first Christmas.  I know, I know; it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. That's next Thursday.  But, I like wrapping what presents I get early. It gives me time to focus on other stuff.
I may be wrapping early but, I haven't decorated yet. That can wait. So, I popped open a Sutter Home sweet red wine and got to work. I am busy being Santa.
Then it hit me, 3-4 hours of sleep and red wine is like drinking Nyquil. I have realized I am exhausted.  And this wine is making me sleepy.
What to do? Keep wrapping!   When do you wrap presents?  What is "TOO"early for Christmas decor, wrapping,  and music? Do you feel there is not much separation of holidays? While I may kind of feel that decorating now is early, I salute those who do. I have to admit I have been listening to Christmas music since August. 

oh yeah!! MMMMM.

How else can you wrap a dino? 

Sahm, what to do next.

First of all HAPPY FRIDAY! TGIF!
I have been a SAHM(stay at home mom) for a couple of months now. At first not really by choice and now by choice. One thing I noticed about it now that the ahhh I get to stay home with my baby joy has worn off. I am still excited I get to be home with him every day, don't get me wrong. But that initial response of YAY, I get to be with him has changed into "Yay I get to be with little man everyday! But, Um money?" Yup I am in that doldrums, of financial crunch. We don't go out, not that we did anyways; that was like pulling teeth before when there were 2 checks coming in. We cut back, I coupon for groceries. OK, wait, I would coupon better if my printer worked. Many of the coupons I get in the news paper are not products I use. I wish I was a better couponer, like my sister. SHe can coupon her way into the store paying her money!

So, earning while being at home. My doctors did not want me working a normal job. The only reason they let me go back once was because of the fact I worked from home. But, with the amount of doctor appointments I had and no PTO(paid time off), oh and the fact they wouldn't approve any anyways; I had to go back on Medical leave. And then they let me go. I didn't qualify for FLMA nor unemployment. I have to think of something to do to earn something. Every little bit helps right? I was thinking of doing a Melaleuca business, but as I am discovering with that no one is interested in getting a membership or to make an appointment with me, and these are my friends. No one seems to understand, the people I know just don't want to be bothered. I got to keep strong and carry on. The products do work, I like them.

That is when I noticed my son's box of clothes that no longer fit. His Gymboree and The Children's Place clothes. They are just sitting there not doing anything. I also have tons of unopened Lemax Village Items. For Halloween and for Christmas, to eBay with them! I have opened my store. I am happy and excited! I don't feel like it is work and it doesn't stress me out. Already I feel a weight has been lifted. I have to be successful. I am trying hard to be.  So, we shall see and I will definitly blog about my eBay adventures!
Stay tuned!