November 30th!

Yep, it's this years real live tree. Decorating it was...well...let's just say that I'm glad it is up. The tree always seems to be decorated with lots of craziness and scurrying and mayhem and the ornaments end up all around the bottom of the tree. I finally sent them both to the other room and did a do-over and it looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself!

A Few Days...

November 23rd!

My newest invention! Randa and I went to the Carolina Craftsmen Christmas Classic and while there came across these crazy scarves. Price tag read either $95 or $45...we weren't sure but we were a little shocked either way that a bunch of fibers tied together meant a scarf that cost a large sum of money. So, when I got back home I made some to sell in the shop...for a whopping $10!

November 24th!


November 25th!

Pure heaven...Mom's Pumpkin Bread! Libby had a shortage on pumpkin this year so my Publix had none! I panicked for a moment and then knew that I could count on good old Target to have a few cans squirrelled away. Thanksgiving would have been a bust without it!

November 26th! Happy Turkey Day!

I thought today could be all about how I celebrated Thanksgiving this year. A lot of changes...some good and some not so good but the day is near done...well almost time for another round of food...and overall it has been sweet.

I started today with my first 8K. Technically that is supposed to be 4.97 miles. Somehow that ended up being 5.57 miles according to my Nike+ sensor. That chick don't lie so I am going with her time and distance. It was pretty darn fun and makes me know that I can do a 1/2 marathon. We were gonna wait until April to do the first one but heard rumor today that there is on in Myrtle Beach in February...and it is flat...and it is pretty easy. So, we are in! Overall time for today's romp was 49:07 which was not great but good enough for the first time. The best part was having Henry and John at many of the turns along the course to cheer us on. It's always great to be supported!

We came home from that and I got started with cooking! We ate mac n' cheese, pineapple casserole, sweet potato casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin bread and of course turkey! The pecan pie is waiting patiently on the counter. I have to say that T-Day was a little lonely this year. It was just Henry and John and I as our family all scattered in different directions this year. When John woke up this morning he came downstairs and started asking about Tday and what would happen. I told him what we were eating and this was how the rest went..." and then we are going to the race?" "Yep, and then we will come home and start cooking our food." "And then everyone will come over and eat with us?" "Nope, they aren't coming this year." "What, why not?" "Well, they just aren't. They went other places." "So no one is coming over?" "Nope. It's just you, me and Dad." "Well, that just isn't Thanksgiving." From the mouths of babes.

I hope that you and yours have enjoyed a fabulous day filled with delicious food, warm family moments and lots to be thankful for!

November 22nd!

Color, oh glorious color! I'm finally going to do it! I was inspired by Donna Downey's studio make over and decided to finish making my spot...well...finished. I painted a long time ago and loved the color and then screwed it up by not buying enough paint and then somehow throwing away the can and then needing touch up spots and trying to match it and that not working and then living with spots all over that were a shade different...I know it is a sad, sad story...so I moved my entire operation upstairs to the only empty room. Well, it wasn't technically empty at the time...it was the kids playroom. But they really didn't need it and I REALLY did! Fresh walls (that I never painted)...oh the possibilities! Well, 8 months later I am on the move again...back down to my original spot with new paint and a desire to get all toys back into one spot in our house! So I have decided on Mystic Sea and Gentle Wave from Lowe's and I am doing something similar to what she did in her room. Love the 2 color combo so I am going for it! Stay tuned for more pics as this job needs to be done lickety split!

November 21st!

Ok, so maybe I like running a little more than I thought! I signed up to do some Turkey run on Thanksgiving morning that is an 8K. That will be my furthest race yet...baby steps to the half marathon I want to do! So anyway I get out there and start running this morning and I already have a plan for where I am going and what I am doing and it doesn't take long and I am in the running groove (yeah, I have a groove now) and all the sudden I see this little guy coming toward me. (Now when I say little guy I don't mean a 9 year old running around out there I mean a full grown man who just happened to be of small stature.) So he is running towards me on the other side of the road and doesn't bother to look up to give the runner's wave and smile (yeah, we have one of those) he just runs on. Well, we are on a circle so I'm thinking I will pass him again at some point. Low and behold I run another half mile and there he is about 100 yards ahead of me running on the opposite side of the road from me but in the same direction! Game on! I pick up the pace until I catch him and then leisurely speed like lightning by him. Go Runner Chick, Go! Today was my farthest and fastest run! Amazing what a little competition can do for a girl! :)

November 20th!

"Mom, did you know that when balloons go up to the sky it's ok cuz God gets them and holds onto them. He and his little girl put a number on them and when someone wants them they tell God the number and He gives it to them. And His Son too. He helps. So if you want a balloon just ask God. He will tie a rock to it and send it back down to you!"


This was the conversation as we walked out of Publix tonight with the balloon you see in the picture. Once we got home and he felt the need to pose the words were "Peace out DOG!" What a funny kid!

November 19th!

With all the glee, exuberance, and wonder that a four year old can muster, John proclaimed early this morning..."I can read!" as he perused the pages of the Scholastic book order form.


and then there was this fabulous moon shine on the way home. John was entranced by the moon "following us" all the way home...

November 18th!

Oh yeah, I am on a roll now...so I am still incredibly exhausted but I now have 16 pages completed in my December Daily album! I am a small 8 pages away from completion...heck maybe I should just go all the way to the end of the month!



What a HOT MESS! This is the sign of a serious scrapper working her scissors to the blade!

And today needed two pics because apparently when I wasn't looking, Preston learned to MoonWalk! He was worried that no one else would be able to fill in for Michael so he got to sliding and I started seeing dollar signs! :)



Ok, maybe not $$$ but at least he has something to fall back on if his Magic Show doesn't pan out.

Here We Go Now...for real!

Ok, so it is a little discouraging that here we are on my 4th day into my 40th year and I am already behind! AAARRRGGGHHH! I only have one excuse and that is pure exhaustion. After waiting on people for 3 days straight I just didn't have anything left in me to blog but never fear...I'm not 40 yet and I WILL stay the course! So, let's catch up a little...cuz I did at least take pictures!

November 14th

Take a look at this beauty! My fabulous niece Sarah. She is 15 and a star on the violin, a great student and an all around cool chick! On Saturday she and her Mom came to the charity crop and sold tasty Christmas cookie treats! YUM!

November 15th
It's a stinking blur...no idea what happened that day...lots of scrapping...lots of prizes...lots of people...i know there is a picture somewhere! Hold Please!

November 16th


So, this is how we roll in the Mandrell house. Henry has a box full of arrowheads and Native American artifacts and he has been looking stuff up online to see what it is worth. He found a pretty cool site that has all sorts of stuff on it and he is enjoying investigating what he has. While digging around in his box he found some red rock that he painted war stripes on the kids with. It was pretty cool when he told Pres to think about the fact that the last face it touched might have been that of a Native American.

November 17th

Year after year I have tried to be Ali Edwards...well maybe not her because my hair is never gonna be blond...but I have aspired to create like she does. Each year I start the December Daily project in early November and I am working my hiney off trying to get that thing done and it never gets completed...NEVER! I think it's because I haven't ever owned a scrapbook store. Who knew that all I needed to do was open a scrapbook store and then I could be like Ali and complete a project!?!? So, this mess is all my stuff on the class tables at the shop just screaming for a little creative juices to get flowing. So even though I am still exhausted beyond words...I am on my way towards completing my FIRST EVER December Daily album! Stay tuned tomorrow for more pics!

Whew, I do believe I am caught up and I will never fall behind again...I promise...scouts honor...pinkie swear!

Off to a Fabulous start!

Well, it's a little tough to keep a goal of blogging everyday when you are stuck in a 38,000 square foot empty building with no internet access...
I do have numerous pictures and some stories to tell but that will happen tongiht before I sleep. In the meantime yesterday's pictures all revolve around scrappers and fun so stay tuned!

Happy Birthday to me...rah-cha-cha!

I was so excited this morning that I couldn't even sleep! Really don't think that had a thing to do with my birthday but we'll run with that rah-cha-cha thing for now! I think today will have two posts 'cuz it's gonna be a big day but I really wanted to start with this pic:

The one on top is my peeps...well at lest the two most important ones at that point in my life. Mom (Linda) is on the right and Dad (Jim) is on the left. Wanted to clarify in case you thought my Dad wore a beehive in the early 70s. These are two pretty amazing people. My childhood was rich and they both showered me with love and attention, wisdom and guidance and a whole lot of fun along the way. This will be my first b-day without my first Dad but I'm sure he is smiling down on me saying, "Happy Birthday, Kid."

Getting Ready!

Ok, so tomorrow is the big day...well, it really isn't the "big one" cuz the 9 b-days are really just a year of prep for the 0 birthdays but it is a birthday and it is my birthday so it will be big in my mind if no one elses. So, I got this crazy idea from another blogger...I'll find out where shortly... to keep track of each day of my 39th year. Every day on the trek to 40. Whew, I am almost 40! Anywho, I also have tried the 365 pictures for the last few years. That has gone over...ok. So, I am thinking that this year is kind of important...not really sure why but what the heck, we'll call it important. This other blogger that I stole the idea from (well, not really cuz I did email and ask her first)documented her days to 30 by posting an entry each day about someone who had affected her life in some way. Pretty cool that she knows 365 people! I probably know that many people but am just too lazy to write down their names so I am taking another approach. I am going to take a picture a day of whatever strikes my fancy and I will post it here and write a little sumpin' sumpin' about it. I know at this point you can hardly stand the anticipation and probably won't sleep tonight waiting and wondering what tomorrow's picture will be but you'll just have to be patient! Feel free to join me on this year long journey! It'll be great fun and maybe we can scrap it at the end! Cheers!