Giving Thanks

At the beginning of the month, I signed up to take part in Leah's Giving Thanks Challenge. This was the third year she's hosted, and I've partcipated every year, usually keeping a running list on my sidebar during November.




This year I decided to jot down my "thankful" list and post it at the end of the month, one for each day. So, without further ado....

I AM THANKFUL FOR.....

1 . MY FAMILY - a red hot smokin' husband who puts up with me and picks up all my half-drunk beverages, three great kids who keep my in blog fodder, my mom who is always there for me, and all my wonderful brothers, nieces, nephews, in-laws and extended family who literally live from one coast to the other.

2. MY IRL FRIENDS - who keep me real, go shopping with me, meet me for coffee, crack open bottles of wine with me, keep my facebook page interesting, and make my life wonderful.

3. MY BLOG FRIENDS - who keep me real, make me think, make me laugh, make me cry, give me good recipes to try, tell me about great shopping deals, make me wish I could take better photos, and let me run off on political tangents and
lovetolerate me any way.

4. MY DVR - that tapes all my favorite shows since I get my second wind about 9pm and am too busy doing laundry and vacuuming to sit down and watch in real time.

5. LONG-SLEEVED WAFFLE TEES - perfect by themselves or under just about anything

6. BURBERRY CUSTOMER SERVICE / LENOX MALL - who bent over backwards to replace a stolen gift card.

7. TOFU VEGETABLE SOUP - so far this fall this has been my dinner staple.

8. MY TREADMILL - It's a love/hate relationship really.

9. VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE - Great reading fodder cover-to-cover

10. DOWN PILLOWS - I've had the same down-filled pillow since childhood *** zzz***

11. A QUICK THINKING CEMENT TRUCK DRIVER - who spared me from being crushed and most certainly killed in a "traffic incident" in Atlanta traffic last week. Seriously, I thought I was a goner. Thankfully, I was not.

12. APPLE JUICE - If it wasn't for this fine beverage, my 3yo's life would be void of all beverage pleasure.

13. SIPPY CUPS - from keeping my 3yo's apple juice addiction from spilling all over the furniture / car / carpet / everywhere. I think I may require their use until he turns 16.

14. RE-USABLE BAGS - I'm never one to brag about being ahead of the game, but I was using re-usable bags long before it was cool. Only 2 short years ago, bringing your own bags into the grocery store immediately alerted security.

15. ZIP-LOC BAGS - Just so you know I'm not all the GREEN, I love me some zip-loc bags. I consume more than my share - so thank you if you've sworn off them. I am using your allotment and mine.

16. PAPER TOWELS - Ditto. My husband even built me a shelf in the laundry room so I can stack all the paper towels I feel I must keep on hand in case the world ends in 2010.

17. LITTLE BOYS IN FOOTIE PJ'S - or as they are known in our house... pj's wiff da feet built in. *swoon*

18. COMCAST ON DEMAND - for those
rare times when my patience is zilch and I need someone else to entertain the kid(s) for
hours on end a little while.

19. VACUUMS - I own more than one. Exact number is a secret or you may shun me forever. I love to vacuum.

20. HAIR DRYERS AND FLAT IRONS - Didn't someone famous like Coco Chanel say "If your hair doesn't look good, you don't look good"? Or maybe that was the guy that owns Paul Mitchell hair products. Whoever it was... I wholeheartedly agree.

21. "THE CARS GREATEST HITS" CD - Been listening to it for over a month now. Takes me back to high school. And the greatest part about that is not actually having to be back in high school.

22. CONVERSATIONS FROM THE BACK SEAT - What did I ever do before I had 3yo logic and attitude to make my life complete.

23. DIET DR. PEPPER - One day last week a client came in and saw me taking a sip and said "You drink that stuff this early in the morning? That stuff will kill 'ya." At least I'll die happy.
And mind your own business, mister. Like you don't have any unhealthy habits.

24. GOOD MANNERS - The 4,987,309 times I've said Remember your manners! finally seem to be paying off. The 3yo has begun to routinely say "Yes ma'am" and "No sir" and "please", and "thank you". And it's a good reminder for the momma, too.

25. CHILLY MORNINGS - There's something about a little nip in the air that reminds me of my beloved Midwest.

26. DESIGN PROJECTS - Not only are they my bread n' butter, they also bring me great joy and satisfaction. Fabrics and accessories and furnishings....oh my!

27. COWBOY BOOTS - My favorite cold weather footwear. Yee-haw!

28. HAND-MADE RAINBOWS - At the moment, my toddler's favorite thing to draw. Each one is beautiful and my refrigerator is thankful, too.

29. HUDSON JEANS - My new favorite.

30. JESUS' BIRTH - The real reason for the upcoming Season. And the candy canes, santas, wreaths and pretty ribbon are really fun, too.

Conversations from the Back Seat #4943

{on the way home from school}

I have to stop at CVS to pick something up. You may get either gummy bears or Skittles. Do not ask me for anything else.

Not even a toy?

No. No toys. We are going to run in and out and I do not want you asking for anything other than what I just said you could have.

What did you say I can have?

Gummy bears or Skittles.

What about Spree?

Or Spree.

Do dey have costumes dere?

No. Halloween is over.

But I wanted a Wolverine costume.

Even if they had one you would not be getting one. Your birthday and Christmas are coming up and this is not the time to be asking me to buy you something just because.

Because why?

Because this particular errand is not about you. I'm getting what I need, you can get your treat and we are outta there. No fit-throwing.

If I tell you dat I won't frow a fit, can we just look at da toys and not buy anything?

No.

Den I am gonna frow a fit because I really want ta look at all dose toys.

Well, throw the fit now before we get to the store.

My fit's not ready to be frowed yet.

How much longer until it's ready.

It cannot be frowed until I get into da store. Da toys need ta be able ta see me frow da fit 'cause dey need to know I really want ta buy dem.

Well, in that case, I guess I'll just go to CVS another day and we will just go home.

I don't know if I can hold my fit 'til da next day. It really needs da be frowed now. And you should know you are making all dose toys really, really sad. Dey wanted to be buyed.

Actually, I think they probably want to go home with a sweet little boy who would never think of throwing a fit because he didn't get his way.

I wasn't going ta frow a fit because I didn't get my way. I was going ta frow a fit because I didn't get my TOY.

{pulling into CVS parking lot}

We're here. If you disobey me in this store, it will not be pretty. Not only will you not get your candy treat, you will get in big trouble with me right in front of everyone.

OK. My fit is gone.

That was fast. I didn't even hear it.

Dat's because I frowed it out da car window and you runned over it.

{and the road-kill mother and her fit-free son held hands and rode off in the glow of the CVS}

Conversations from the Back Seat #4942

So, buddy - how was your day at school today? You didn't seem too excited to see me when I came in to pick you up. You just walked away from me to the other side of the room. Did you want to stay at school a little longer?

I was not walkin' away from you when you came ta get me. I was just walkin' over ta get my backpack and sweatshirt 'cause I weally, weally wanted to leave.

Why did you really want to leave.

'Cause I did not have a good day. Miss N in a bad, bad teacher.

Why is she so bad?

'Cause she put me in time out on da blue chair.

Why did she put in you time out?

Only 'cause I was tryin ta get behind da bookcase.

Well, you're at home with your mom now and tomorrow will be a new and better day.

Actually, we are NOT at home. We are drivin' in da car. So say dat again, only diss time do not say da part about bein' at home. 'Cause we aren't dere yet.

OK. You are with your mom now and tomorrow will be a better day.

A NEW and better day. You forgot ta say new.

Yes, a new and better day.

I don't wanna talk about it any more.

Thank goodness.

Close to You

5:30 in the afternoon is my favorite time of day. It's when I pick my sweet little boy up from school.

Almost every day he has some sort of art project to show me. After I've sufficiently oooohed and aaahhhed over it, he shoves it in his backpack and away we go.

But yesterday he showed me a drawing called "My Mommy". He was so proud, telling me all about my hair (blue) and my shoes (round and black).

And I wanna leave diss here in my cubby, Mom. 'Cause dat way when I am missin' you so much you will be close to me. I can just run over and pull you out of my cubby and give you a little squeeze.

I told him I thought that would be a great idea.

And if he had drawn my heart on that masterpiece, it would have melted right off the page.

Sunday Shopping at HomeGoods

I made my usual Sunday rounds at HomeGoods today and thought I'd show you my goodies. This time I shopped both for myself and a design project I am working on for someone else. I'll show you my haul today, and later this week I'll show you how I shop for a specific project.

Last month I found these great Halloween cling stickers and purchased a pack that included *BOO*,which I used on the side window at my front door...

and *WICKED* which I used on a wall in my foyer that includes a black and white theme year-round. I've been joking with people that this is the wall my husband always decorates for Halloween and this year he dedicated it to me -
ha! ha!cackle! cackle!


So today when I was rooting around in the paper goods section, I came across these great clings for the Christmas holidays and snatched them up. At $5.99 for the pack (there are two different sets in each) they are a great value for sticking on walls, windows and even mirrors.

And these can even be used after the holidays throughout the winter.


I also picked up a packet of letters and came right home and "monogrammed" a plate in my powder room.


I also found this very versatile two-tiered round iron basket perfect for setting on a kitchen island, buffet or wine bar. Fill with goodies or pretty ornaments for a holiday party... or with things for a coffee, wine or relaxation theme for a hostess gift.


I'm a sucker for little glass animals ... look at this handsome turtle. I love that he looks like he's on his way somewhere.


If you're a HomeGoods Scout like me, make sure you browse the bed + bath section really well. I've found all of my favorite little porcelain "fill-ins" scattered among the soap dishes and toothbrush holders. Found this one today - robins egg blue with brown designs. You can't see the colors very well but trust me - it's fab*u*lous.



I've had this little trio of white/royal blue for a couple years. They rotate different places in my house and are currently on a little side chest in a corner of my keeping room. Each was priced $4.99 - $7.99.

Beautiful scarf with luscious large pink roses - $7.99.

And my greatest find of the day. I've been struggling with stacked plastic drawers in my small walk-in closet to hold my workout clothes and lounge pants that won't fit in my dresser drawers. They were functional, but also tipsy, and the drawers didn't work great. I found this marked down to $75 because a leg had broken off and was hastily glued back on. It's not noticeable from the front and I knew it would fit the space in my closet perfectly.


All my homeless clothes will easily stack here and I can add some baskets to fill with tights, scarves, small wallets, and belts.

That's the end of my shopping adventure. Thanks for coming along. And just think - you didn't even have to push the cart, maneuver all the crowds, stand in line or pay!