Christmas enhancements

She came, she saw, she changed. 

I told you that I did the best I could with the holiday decorations and I knew Molly's mom would come and modify and enhance everything.  She arrived yesterday around 2:30pm and by the time I got home at 5:30pm she was almost done with the changes.  I didn't take pics but here's what she did:

• Enhanced my dining table centerpiece with two candles in candle holders that she brought.
• Totally removed the garland I had above the fireplace and replaced it with lighted garland she brought that has fake fruit in it and bows on the ends.
• Removed half the snowmen from the collection display and interspersed them with the garland on the mantle.
• Added about 50 presents to the pile under the tree.
• Added a nutcracker and numerous candles, candle holders, door knob covers, and various hanging things around the first floor.
• Put Christmas cookies on my snowman platter (6 different kinds).
• Prepared the garland that I had on the mantle to be strung along the staircase complete with bows she brought from home (project for today).
• Set up her iPod and speakers to play a special 3.5hr holiday play list on loop.
• Added her and Molly's dad's stockings to the mantle complete with their own stocking hangers.

Coming up next... the before and after of the kids' bedrooms.  Painter is coming the 29th and 31st.

Holiday Season

Well, I did the best I could before the arrival of Molly's Mom.  I feel like for this year we're just not going to do the house justice and that's ok.  Next year, that's when it will all come together.

So here's what the outside of Dream House looks like.  These pics were taken at 10pm so it's very black.  But honestly, I'm never home in the light anymore.  I managed to get up the candles in the windows, a snowman mat, and the wreath.  I did not get up the garland on the fence, the garland on the posts, or the lights on the bushes.
Next year.

 

 

 

Inside is a little better.  My helpers pitched in:

Molly's Mom sent me a package, and it turned into this:

This picture makes me happy.

Note the train under the tree... I don't have it lit up and moving and singing in this pic.

This area is also festive:

Though what would make it really good would be some lighted garland on the stairs.

Next year.

 

 

Over here we have the snowman collection and manger scene:

And in the kitchen we have our advent wreath and another little tree on the china cabinet:

I think that the dining room came out really nice (thanks to Molly's mom's shipment):

Did you spot Charlie the Elf?

 



So that's about it.  I'm missing a lot of stuff outside but the inside is pretty cozy and that's what really matters.  The kids are really enjoying the fact that the Dream House has a FIREPLACE so Santa can finally come to OUR house for the first time ever.  Should be really fun!

And now I am headed to BFF's house to finish up my shopping list and love on her kiddos.  Au revoir!  And good luck to Mr. Molly!

Christmas Miracle! Immediate Need Pt. 2

So remember on JULY 10TH when I wrote this post about needing a couple of things for the house? 

The number one item on there was the laundry rack that Jim and Cindy stole from the laundry room.  I ordered it in mid-July and it got back ordered, and back ordered, and back ordered.

Finally this week I got an email saying it's on its way to Dream House!  Just in time for Molly's Dad to install it!!  I'm so very excited!

As an update to the other items.  We did buy that exact sectional and ottoman shown in the picture.  We did not get the windows tinted... haven't really done anything about that at all and we keep the blinds open all day long so undoubtedly in a year or so our furniture will be all faded.

We also never got a treadmill.  Turns out in 4500 sq ft of space we don't have room for it.  HA!  #FirstWorldProblems  Mr. Molly runs outside and I don't run at all so it's not really an immediate need item.  More of a pipe dream.

Instead we have more immediate need items that I can add to the list:

PAINT!

Molly's Mom is decorating the kids' bedrooms for their Christmas and to go with that they need to be painted.  Apparently it needs to be a professional job because it is very complicated and involves wood.  I don't know.  But anyway, if we are going to have a guy come out and paint the kids' rooms we might as well have him do our room and bathroom too since we already know the color (our Christmas gift last year was Molly's Mom redecorating our Master). 

Fireplace Gas Logs!!

This is a project in process but will be so nice when we can literally have a fire at the touch of a button.  Probably not going to happen before Christmas.  Luckily, Molly's Dad knows his way around a wood pile.

GAME TABLE (AGAIN!)

This guy is still on the list (not this particular one) but is probably postponed due to the more immediate need for paint.

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig

We just home from our Thanksgiving getaway to Mr. Molly's family abode.  It was a good time with the 3 F's; good family, friends, and food.  It was also the longest time we've been away from Dream House since we moved in.  I actually thought I would miss it more than I did.  But I did miss/appreciate a couple of key things:
1) My shower
2) My new sectional in the basement
3) My huge refrigerator
4) My new pull out drawers

That's about it. 

Now the fun part begins... decorating for Christmas.  So many possibilities, so little time and talent.  The fact of the mater is that I will do the best I can until Molly's Mom comes to save the day. 

I have a great vision of garland looped on my white picket fence with big red bows... can you picture it? 

If you can, can you come over and help me with it?  I have no idea where to even start.
Ok, so see you around noon on Saturday?  Great!  When you're done it should look like this:

ETA:  Yes, I know it's supposed to be WORDLESS Wednesday.  So sorry.  I'm all messed up with my days and times.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Wordless Wednesday #9 - Reflections

Up, Down, all Around

Today I determined that 1 of 3 phenomenons are happening in my life.  Either:

A) All of the mirrors and reflective surfaces in Dream House are extremely flattering
or
B) My scale is broken
or
C) I have a very warped sense of self bolstered by my mad skillz in wearing clothes that flatter my shape

It has to be one of those three because even though I weigh more right now that I ever have in my life (when not pregnant), I don't feel like I look like I weigh more than I ever have in my life. 

Nonetheless, I think everyone has THAT NUMBER where when they see it on the scale they just sigh and say "Well, I guess the party's over."  And when I say "party" I mean eating whatever you want whenever you want without thinking about it and not working out for months on end.  I mean really, that lifestyle is more of a dangerous rave where someone roofies your drink than a "party" anyway.

For me that number is 156.  That's my breaking point.  That's the number that makes me heave a sigh and dust off my Weight Watchers app on my iPad and get out my sugarless gum and diet coke.

So here we go again... back on the wagon.  Hopefully my weight will stop plateauing and rising like my company's loss trends and start movin' on down again.

There's No Place Like Home

After 3 days of business travel I arrived home late last night to Dream House and found everyone sleeping soundly in their beds. 

I can't describe the feeling of being home, kissing my boys and tucking them in, and getting into my own bed with hubby and feeling like everything is right with the world.

We are so blessed to have each other, our health, our children, our jobs, our families, and our Dream House.  Everything and everyone has imperfections including my children (gasp!), myself (double gasp!), and even my Dream House (say wha?).  But it all fits together perfectly for us.

And last night as I snuggled in my bed, in my beautiful bedroom with my family sleeping in my beautiful house I just couldn't stop thinking "There's no place like home."