Thanks Mom

Deck the Halls

I have always enjoyed decorating for the holidays, but this year is very special because it is the first Christmas in my home.  This year was about recycling decorations from the past and picturing what else I may do in the future.  It was also about realizing that you must take the time to read the front of the outdoor lights so that one doesn't mistakenly think she is purchasing 'warm white' lights when in actuality 'cool white' lights now adorn the front of the house.

The nativity set will rotate each year between this set and the ceramic set that my mother painted.  

This Christmas cactus was given to me by my dear friend Matt quite some time ago.  Although I tried my best to treat it well, it would never bloom.  One year it finally did bloom - in April.  This year is the first time this cactus is showing it's beauty for Christmas - I think it likes it here just as much as I do.

Some day, I hope that I can make cookies with my children, but until then I have to steal other people's kids.  Athena came over to help me make gingerbread cookies.  For Christmas, I got her an apron set, her own Christmas cookie cutters and a cookie sheet that is just her size.  We had a blast!
 

Rolling the dough.  At the request of the 'chef', we made Santa shapes, bells, reindeer, gingerbread men, candy canes and snowflakes.  Don't worry - I also made a few leg lamps and bunny suits.

And what is more fun than making cookies -  decorating them! Athena brought some sparkly gel icing that was a perfect addition to all of our sugar glitter and powdered sugar icing.

I am pretty sure she put as much icing in her mouth as she did on her cookies!  Not sure if quiet time was actually quiet today :)

Finished products.  Athena had already left with her beautiful cookies, so the others are missing from the photos.

Correction

1 rake + 1 shovel + 1 tarp + 1 leaf blower + 5 hours = I DON'T have leaves! I am not done yet, but the need for a warm bath and some Advil have won for the day.

Got leaves?!?!?

I do...

Party Central!!!

I am starting to believe that in my past life, I was an event planner. I find so much joy in organizing gatherings, decorating and finding those little touches that make the day special.  I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to host a baby shower for one of my dearest friends.  She is welcoming her first child in about a month and it was my pleasure to be able to bring her family and friends together to celebrate and spoil her and the little one.  I am looking forward to hosting more events at the house - especially now that the new dishwasher is here and working like a champ.

We pushed the furniture aside and ate lunch in the living room.

We decorated onsies on the porch

The loot and the dessert :)

The beautiful mom-to-be and one of her many gifts.

Inside and out...

This is the last 'major' change for a while (at least, that is what my bank account is telling me).  After more than six months of looking at the once blue, now faded blue/green carpet on the porch, I am happy to report that the old carpet is gone and a fresh, new carpet is now in place.  Eventually furniture of some sort will follow.  Luckily, the carpet is soft enough that sitting on the floor isn't a bad option.

The inside of the closet appears to have the original color of the carpet

Fastest leaf blower in the East? Well, not quite, but I am learning.  I was able to check a number of projects off the 'To Do' list this weekend.  With work and volleyball, I have had little time to spend in the yard.  I cleared the calendar this past Sunday in order to dedicate a few hours to the ever-growing piles of leaves and the ever-growing grass.  My recent leaf blower purchase certainly helped with the process.  I am pretty sure that if Tim 'the Tool Man' Taylor made a leaf blower, this would be the end result.  The yard looks great and as a reward, I took some time to enjoy the fresh air and decorate for Halloween.  I hope my spooky porch will attract some local kids who are looking for candy...otherwise, I am going to have to eat all of the candy myself.

Finally, I took a little time to cook this weekend.  Two stews, a casserole and some cranberry/apple sauce.  My new apple peeler made the job much easier.

Shiny and new

A few weeks ago I walked into the kitchen to find water all over the floor.  The culprit?  The older model dishwasher that came with the house.  I knew that the dishwasher had a potential leak issue on one of the settings, but my fingers were crossed that the other setting would work for a while.  After the second run of the dishwasher and the second case of water outside of the dishwasher, I started to think about replacing the old model.  I would have tried another setting, but I only had two to choose from and now they both caused a leak.  After some minor plumbing work in the basement, I am now the owner of a brand new (and shiny) Whirlpool dishwasher.  I plan on cooking a ton of food tomorrow so that I can try out the new addition as soon as possible.  There is one more change coming to Casa Toto next weekend, but I don't want to spoil that surprise, so you will have to wait.

The old model 

The moment when I started to panic because I wasn't sure the new dishwasher was going to fit!

The new model - at least it matches the microwave :)

I have a serious problem when it comes to loading a dishwasher (it comes from 17 years of not having one), so hopefully I can figure out how to fill this one properly :)