Ice, Ice Baby

I love bad weather days. The kind where you are actually encouraged by the weather man not to go anywhere. The kind where you can stay in your p.j.s all day with out guilt. They are few and far between in Texas, which makes them even more special.

We made some tortilla soup and a fire. The roses are from my sweet husband, "just because".

This is a picture of our street covered in ice. This is the view from my front door. I was still in my p.j.s of course, so I wasn't going to be getting a picture of my house. This house pictured was actually ours for 3 years, and then we moved across the street. We did it all for the yard.

Of course this weekend it is going to be in the mid 60's. It's enough to make you crazy.

To Market, To Market we go

I went to the Dallas Market today to get some jewelry for Golightly's. Their big Home and Gift Christmas market is going on now. Those are my kind of people to have a Christmas market in January. When I had my own store that is when I would order all my ornaments, trees and decorations. Showrooms are usually out of stock of a lot of Holiday things by March, so you have to get it done early. Now I just rent a little space and mainly sell jewelry.

This is just a teeny tiny sample of what I got. I just need to price and bring it up to the shop.

I also had to pick up a couple of things for myself too.

This cute heart is made by a company based out of Lubbock. I have seen their things at Canton before and I love it all.

I also had to get this cute housewife t-shirt. Whenever people ask what I do and I say, "I'm a Realtor." Marcus just giggles, because I only do that super part time. Mainly I'm a housewife. (not a very good one usually)

On the back it has an excerpt from a 1954 Home Economics book explaining a good house wife:

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE
Home Economics High School Text Book, 1954


Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.

Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

That's a good woman right there. I am pretty sure I would have failed that class miserably.

Courtney is 30!

Happy Birthday Courtney

Surprise!

Of course I mainly got pictures of the decorations and not of the people:

The picture I wish I would have gotten is Marcus in the car with all the balloons. He was sweet enough to pick them up for me. There were over 60 and some of them were big! He said he couldn't see a thing. I think balloons come before safety anyday.

The cake was from Creative Memories and it was delicious.

Here's the old lady trying to blow out her candles:

It's About Time

If this blog were my child CPS would have to be called, because of neglect.

These 2 pictures accurately reflect how I have been feeling:

Blue is feeling blue. He doesn't like cleaning up after Christmas either.

As of now, January 13th, my Christmas is 99% put away. It's that last 1% that gets me every time. We are having company tomorrow, so it has to get in the attic.

Look at these cute things I had to buy to perk me up:

Oven mitts and a timer from Anthropologie. The timer is to help me do my 15 minute "fly lady" cleaning. It really is amazing what can get clean in 15 minutes.

And I also needed these wash cloths in my guest bath. They are from Target.

I have also been a little bit of a cheater, because I started a blog for Golightly's Antiques.

Check it out at http://www.golightlysantiquesandtearoom.blogspot.com/.

The Cotton Candy Bowl

Marcus got 2 tickets to the Cotton Bowl for Christmas. Thankfully he chose to take me as his date! Texas Tech played Ole Miss. What should have only been a 30 minute drive to the stadium took almost 3 hours! The traffic was crazy.

I knew some Red Raiders were in the house when we walked up to the Cotton Bowl and saw this:

We missed part of the first quarter and Tech was already up 14 - 0 when we got there.

I wish I could end the story there. But sadly they lost, 34-47.

One of the highlights of the game was getting some cotton candy. My mom would have NEVER let me get cotton candy. I guess my husband just loves me more! She didn't let me eat sugary cereal either. My friend Kara used to get me Fruity Pebbles for my birthday every year, because she felt sorry for me. I blame my mom for my sugar addiction now. She doesn't read this blog so I can say that.

That's beside the point. Thanks for a fun season Tech!

Happy New Year!

Last night we had a New Year's Eve party with our Sunday School class. We wore ugly, tacky, and funny Christmas sweaters and had a "re-gift" exchange. That is where we re-gifted things we got for Christmas, but didn't really want. We had a great time and are so thankful for our fun friends.

Heather, Jennifer and Aurora looking fashionable:

I can't believe I am making this picture public, but here is my husband in a Woman's Christmas vest, with Stephen in his festive Mickey sweatshirt:

Here are the pregnant girls, Julie, Catherine (wearing Christmas p.j.s)and Michelle. They didn't follow the ugly sweater rules. When you are pregnant you don't have to follow rules.

Happy New Year!