A secret about Johnny boy...

Some of you who really know us, like know us for real, not through the blog.........you know that Johnny boy is somewhat a freak........a shopping freak! He is probably the only husband on earth who loves to shop! He loves shopping, he loves running errands........give him a list and that man is on cloud nine. Our "Road Runner" is the most happy at Christmas time! Because, well, that is the major shopping time of the year.....no other time during the year will I give Johnny boy list like I do at Christmas. And he is just in his glory.

I made the statement early on that I will be finished with my shopping by December 1st because I wanted to be able to enjoy the month of December. So on Sunday, I announced......THIS IS THE WEEK.......this is the week that I must finish! And then, just joking around, I said I guess I need to shop every night this week!! Well, I should have know Johnny would hear those words. Because on Monday, he calls me at work and ask what I plan to do after work. I said nothing.....I'm tired, going home, doing nothing. And Johnny said......WHAT????? you said you are going shopping every night this week......I thought we were going shopping!!

haha........don't even think I'm exaggerating because this is all true! So when I got home we went shopping!
later.......

Brine the Turkey......

This is the first year that I have ever brined the turkey.....this is also the first year that I ever even heard of brining the turkey. And this was the best tasting turkey......EVER!

I bought the brining mix from Crate and Barrel and it was wonderful! So that's what I'll be doing going forward.....brining the turkey!

Thanksgiving........

We had a wonderful time........brother-in-law, neice, nephew and one of Jake's friends joined us for dinner and it was fun! It's a lot of work doing all of that cooking but it sure is a good time. Here's a few pics of Johnny boy making his famous ice cream dessert. Pic of Maddox getting a closer look at the Macy's parade.

and then the fun began on Friday as we pulled out the decorations. The kids were making fun of my new "flocked" Christmas tree..........that is until they saw it after I had decorated it. Now they love it. Also, a couple of pics of the foyer.

later.........

The beginning of an exciting week......

I love this week....just love it! It's the beginning to the whole holiday season. Besides going to the beach in the summer......this is the.best.time.of.the.year!

here's a pic of the foyer.......I don't have the right lighting I'm sure but the mirror is beveled glass, trimmed in a deep burgundy and gold. I think it really goes with the "whipped apricot"...haha! There catwoman, I said it!

Got my hair done this evening.....must get rid of gray!

picture of Maddox with his haircut.

I will start cooking on Wed.....hopefully getting out of work a little early.

here's the menu........we have 11 for dinner.

Rolls
Spoon Bread

Turkey and gravy

Tossed salad

Sweet Potato casserole

String beans
Carrots & garlic

Mashed potatoes

Roasted potatoes

Pumpkin pie cake

Johnny's fabulous ice cream desser

so you'll notice there is no stuffing.........none of us like that stuff! Also, so many potatoes but I love the sweet potatoes, Jake must have mashed and Jacquelyn must have roasted. It's Thanksgiving so I'm fine with pleasing everyone!

later........

The weekend.........

I am worn slam out! OMG......I'm getting old or something but I cleaned the house today and I'm so tired, I just want to cry! Johnny boy wanted to do some shopping, what else is new, so we went over to Kirkland's and I bought this beautiful mirror for the foyer. I'll take a pic when Johnny boy hangs it tomorrow. Then we went over to Target..........bought a bunch of gold ornaments......just gold. The tree I'm putting up in the living room is going to just have gold ornaments and gold ribbon.

Then we went over to Petsmart......Pets Mart or Pet Smart........I can never figure that one out. And we were standing in line and I notice this guy who looks so familar and then it hits me.......Jacquelyn's cheering coach. Jacquelyn used to do competitive cheering at an all star gym and Moe was one of her coaches. And she just loved Moe as we all did. Now I haven't seen him in at least 8 years so it was really great talking with him. Turns out he bought the gym where she used to cheer....so that's very cool.

Jacquelyn and Bucky went up to NOVA to a Washington Wizards game. She has called me around 5 times today........letting me know about where they are, what they are doing and how cool it is up in NOVA. I like that.........I like that she calls me so much.......and they were sure having fun. They stayed up near Potomac Mills and plan on shopping there all day tomorrow.

Nicole, Maddox and my nephew Tommy went Christmas shopping today. Maddox, who loves to shop........not so much today so they cut their trip short and came home. And being like his grandma, he was happy once home!

and now, I'm off to bed. Going to Michaels in the morning to look for some gold ribbon for the tree. Then settle back to watch the games.........4:00 Cowboys vs Redskins! And work on the baby blanket for my friend K-girl........her new little baby boy due in January.

later..........

just stuff.........

It's been a very, very busy week at work on a project I'm not liking and at home with shopping and painting. I am so on track to finish my shopping by Dec 1st. Yeah me!

• been working on the foyer with the help of Johnny and my nephew Tommy. We still need to do the trim which will be a glossy white. This color is Whipped Apricot. I really like how it's turning out
  
• last night Johnny and I went to the Little Gym to watch our grandson Maddox take his class. He was a little surprised to see us there but every time he did something new, he would turn to us and just grin. And then my heart would melt


• look at these cute Christmas dessert plates and mugs......I love them. And what a deal.....found them at Costco the other night for ONLY $14.99. I have some sort of weird obsession with dishes nowadays......I just can't stop buying them.


• picture of one of the trees in the front yard the other morning when the fog was thick. And the closer I got to work, the thicker it was....to the point that I couldn't really see good to merge over......so I just eased over figuring someone would blow their horn if I was really messing up!


• a little bit of fall for Shay........I know she doesn't get to see these pretty leaves in Texas and loves Virginia in the fall of the year!
  
  and that's it......I have so much to do before Thanksgiving. Need to finish the foyer, clean the house and go grocery shopping and then the real fun begins...........decorating for Christmas. I can't wait!!
  

later...........

Getting ready for winter......

My bed is all ready.......snowman quilt, extra blankets, lots of pillows. Ahhhh.....you can just sink in on a cold winter night.

I think it's weird.....

how you feel like you become friends with other bloggers. I guess because I never expected it. I've never been one to go on the internet and go to chat rooms or boards....just didn't care to talk to strangers.

But then I started my blog.....and I met other bloggers, moms, like me, mostly younger but still, strangers that I now actually consider my friends. And I guess I wasn't prepared because what happened was this.......their lives and what they post actually affect me.

One that I read daily has struggled to become pregnant, became pregnant and then mis-carried. I shed a tear when I read it.

One who was bidding on antique napkins on eBay....won the bid and man, it just made me smile.

One who had a baby......of course didn't blog for a week and then once back online, just made me happy to see her post again.

One who loves the Cowboys like me......and has a daughter with my last name!

Two who have quit smoking like me.......one going through menopause like me......so many who like to scrapbook.....even more who like to decorate. One I'm learning photo tips from and one who lives on a farm and teaches us all about it! And the ranch......can't forget Pioneer Woman!

One who is battling cancer and one who is struggling with a sick child. These are people I don't know but people who I hold in my prayers every night.

I truly believe that through blogging you do become friends. I really believe that if I was down in Alabama, Cheryl would meet me for lunch!!

So I guess I'm just saying it kind of took me by surprise....I'm glad I started my blog and if I read your's, just know, I think you're my friend, whether you know it or not! And I have not updated my blogroll in so long.......and if I did, it would take up a lot of space!

later......

I'm in the mood.....

to re-do!

It's been quite awhile since I've done any painting and/or re-decorating downstairs. We did the den in February 07.......painted, new furniture, new TV.

and nothing since then. But now I'm ready and would like to get the foyer and dining room done before I decorate for Christmas. Would like to include the living room but that's not going to happen.

I stripped the wallpaper from the foyer over the weekend. That stuff has been up for maybe 14 years! If you look down a few post, you'll see it.......black wallpaper from the chair rail down. It had little flowers on it......this is from my "floral" decade.

So now I'm going to paint it a pale yellow, flat paint....call Whipped Apricot. Then the trim at the ceiling, chair rail and baseboard I'm going to do in a high gloss white. I think it's going to look good. We went over to Lowes last night and bought the paint......tonight, we're ordering pizza and I may start painting.

I am thankful...

http://southbreezefarm.blogspot.com/

love this blog.....

and a November challenge from Leah in Iowa........list on your sidebar each day what you are thankful for during the month of November! and let me know in the comments if you do so that I can check our your blog!