Merriest Christmas

Okay, once again it is that time of year where we are all scrambling to buy those last minute gifts, bake our goodies, wrap our presents, and even a few (who will remain nameless, LOL) that still are decorating the house and yard. It can be a very stressful time. Agree?
I am trying so hard to be organized, in fact, I had a list in early November of things to accomplish on a weekly basis...Then, as the season grew nearer, my list turned into daily tasks, all of which I vowed to complete. Did I do it? Who thinks they know the answer to this question? (Did you accomplish all of your Holiday items in advance this year?)
Or are you like me.....YES, I didn't stick to that list. I really fell off my schedule and now I am like flying around trying to get everything done. AND I still have a few small gifts to buy as well.... WHY, WHY, WHY?

Well, whether you are that organized gal, or the absolutely frazzled, crazy running around gal... I want to wish you all the best this Holiday season and may you and your loved ones share a memorable time together. Remember that those days go by so fast, so sit back and try to relax and enjoy!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year blogging friends.....




All photos courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

The tradition of putting a Christmas tree up has been around for years. And as a young child, I always looked forward to the time when my mom and dad and I would decorate. And for several years we even had a tree decorating party with all of our family, friends and neighbors. Oh such fun!

To join around the tree with lights, ornaments, tinsel, candy.... Whatever it is that you choose to decorate that all special symbol of Christmas and tradition. It's a time to be merry and festive that's for sure!

How many of you have a family tradition that focuses on your Christmas tree? Do you go out and buy a real tree every year that smells like pine but sheds all those little needles throughout your house, LOL? Or do you use the same artificial tree (some now have lights already on it, Oh how I love thee!!!)?

The most important part of the tree, at leased for me, is the decoration. The possibilities are endless, but it does say a lot about who you are and what type of home you have right? Some people use friendly colored lights with ornaments their children have made and drape it with tinsel and popcorn strung on string. Others prefer to have a very classic tree with white lights, glass ornaments and silver beading. Both beautiful but VERY different!

(Courtesy of Elfhelp.com)

Whatever style you choose, make yours a special tradition. Go all out and make a day of it. Take the kids tree shopping and let them help bring it home. Make hot chocolate and turn on that Christmas music. Sing carols while you decorate and buy a new ornament or use one your child has made and talk about memories of Christmas past as you put em back on the tree every year!

This is the time of year for celebrating, for making new memories but remembering the old as well!

I know we all get wrapped up in the gift shopping, the Holiday parties, the wrapping, the cooking and that is fine, but take that extra day to really do something special and relax with the family.

I have to say that my mom ALWAYS made decorating the tree special and now I do it for my son as well. He cannot wait to take out all the ornaments and help put them up!

(Funny true story inserted here)

Last year I would come into the living room (where our tree is up now) and I couldn't help notice that ALL the decorations on the tree had been moved around. This happened several times and after I checked my eyes or possibly thought I was going crazy, LOL, I realized that my son was doing it the whole time. He just loves the ornaments and I guess feels so excited about decorating that he re-decorates every day!

Oh, the joys of motherhood! :)

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
Thy candles shine so brightly
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
Thy candles shine so brightly."

"Each bough does hold it's tiny light
It makes each toy to sparkle bright
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
Thy candles shine so brightly!"

All I Want For Christmas

I hope all of you had a fantastic Thanksgiving and were able to be with friends, family, and loved ones. My Thanksgiving was quiet, but that is what I really needed this year. Just a few family members and my son to fill my day with peace, love and GOOD food!

I have decided to make a list of what I would love for Christmas, just in case Santa is reading my blog!!! LOL

Okay, here it is...
I would love to have two working bathrooms.
I would love to have new insulation so this house wasn't always so cold.
I would love to have a car that actually works when you need it.
I would love to have storage from IKEA so I can put all those boxes away.
I would love to have new steps up to the house that are not falling apart.
I would love to have a brand new bedding set for my bed...now that it's just me in it!!! :)
Oh and I want to win the Lotto...one of those HUGE jackpots! (But I guess you have to play to win right? LOL JK)

But what I really want the most is for my son to grow up happy, cared for, healthy, and strong and know that his mommy loves him more than anything in this world. I want my mom to be happy and comfortable and get paid back for all the wonderful things she does for everyone BUT herself! She deserves the world and more!

I would like my son to appreciate that we WILL have food on the table and that their are many many others who have nothing.
I want all the soldiers serving this country to know that we appreciate them and all of their families who miss them so much during the Holidays!
And I want all of you to have the "Best" Holiday ever!!! Spend it with family, with friends, with neighbors and co-workers, just enjoy every minute. And don't forget the reason we celebrate Christmas....


Life is so short, it changes so quickly. And after going thru what I have the last month or so I have come to realize that more so than before. I guess you have to live it to understand it!

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, Today is a Gift...That's why it's called the Present!"


Oh and remember if you need anything at all for the Holidays and have a tight budget...AVON is for you. I'm a Rep and would be glad to have you head on over to my website and check out all the really great Holiday bargains!!!
www(dot)youravon(dot)com/ddavid-patrick

or click HERE to go there now!

Have a great day blogging buddies....and enjoy decorating for Christmas!!!
Danielle

It's A Beautiful Day....

Hi everyone. I must say that the response I got from so many was overwhelming and I cannot "thank you" all enough for the lovely messages you left me!!!

It really is amazing that people who hardly know you at all can offer their advice or support in such a kind and caring way! (Really when I think back, it was all of you who left me the kindest thoughts that got me through that 1st, 2nd, or 3rd day when I just needed to read that I CAN make it!)

And on a happy note...I AM feeling a wee bit better! Yay! It's nice to be able to say that. And one of the reasons is that I have decided to be an AVON rep...can you believe it? Yes, me...LOL

AVON is a great company, they provide you with all the tools necessary to basically start your own business for very little money. And being a new single mom in my situation, that looks pretty darn good!

Also, they ARE advocates for women, breast cancer and domestic violence....not bad!

It's a comfort to know that I am working with all kinds of women, and we all have a chance to make this business grow as big as we want it too!

So, in these tough times when many of us are feeling the pinch of the economy, I would like to let you know that AVON has some of the best and most reasonable prices around. (And come on...I don't know about all of you, but I NEED my make up, and my lotion, and my perfume, and my.....LOL)
Please take a moment if you will and click on my website to check out some of the products AVON has to offer. And the Holiday items are available now as well! :)

YOUR AVON REPRESENTATIVE

Thank you all again for your support! Divorce is never an easy thing to go through and It's wonderful family and friends that really will pull you into a new life! I know now that it is going to be a tough climb with many obstacles, but I CAN do it!

And someday my son will realize how much his mommy loves him and that even though he came from a divorced home, it certainly isn't a broken one!!! :)

Love You ALL....
Danielle

(BTW...I will put an AVON link up on my blog so when you get the urge to shop you can always find me!!!)

I Never Thought This Day Would Come...

Well folks, I wish I had better happier news to report. I always enjoy sharing uplifting thoughts or ideas with you, but today is not so bright or happy, at leased not for me.
I recently found out my husband had decided to move on and as of now we are starting the process of divorce. Needless to say I was a bit surprised, but more so saddened, hurt, and a bit terrified. (Was everything wine and roses? NO. But I did expect some participation in counseling or therapy, something to show that you still want things to work! That your family was important enough to try.)

I'm just at a point of shock really. I wanted to ask any of you reading this for a word of advice, support, or maybe just wanted to get it off my chest somewhat as well. I am raising a son as a single parent, running a household on my own, and well...I am in desperate need of a job. (I figure a part time one is a good place to start seeing I have been out of the work force for oh, six years now! I'm not even sure where to go or what to look for....Yikes!)

Ya know, to be totally honest I never thought I would be writing this kind of news. When I married it was for better or worse, sickness and health, and even richer or poorer...and Lord knows I've seen the poorer much more during these years!!! I've been cheated out of my family life, of sharing time with a man I loved so much, and the dreams we once had together.

Where do I go from here and how do I begin to pick up the pieces? That is what I have been thinking about for the last 2 weeks. It takes a lot out of someone. The gal I once knew that liked to sneak a cookie or two at night has been avoiding food like the plague. The woman that waited for her husband to come home after work has been turned into someone who stands around and looks at the door...

Does it get any easier? Lord I hope so.

Thank you all for listening.....
Danielle

Some Halloween Fun and other stuff....

My son went to a local city Halloween/Autumn gathering on Saturday and had the most fun. For $10 he got to paint a pumpkin, go on a hayride, eat cider and doughnuts, trick or treat, and just be a crazy kid! His favorite was the face painting and he chose to be a tiger.....ROAR!!! :)

And in other news...this is the hubby and adorable kitty lounging after a hard day of ah, hmmmm....I'm not sure what they did! LOL

I just had to take this pic...look at that leg stretched WAY out. My kitty really thinks she is queen of the castle! :)

Costume FUN...How PURRfect!

Well, here we are at that time of year again...Halloween! My son is six years old now but really ever since he was three years old, he has decided on his own costume. First it was a Fireman, then a Doctor, and last year he chose a Race Car Driver. And this year, for whatever reason...he wants to be a cat. And not just a cat, but a Brown Cat. I have no idea why, but it is his choice. (My mom seems to have a problem with this and I'm not sure why? Any thoughts?) I think it's cute...He's a quiet, kind, light-hearted, smart and fun little boy! And if he wants to be a Brown Cat...well, that is fine with me!

Do you all let your children choose their own costume for Halloween?

Well, whether you do or not, here are some cute costume ideas for ya.

The cutest little Ladybug. Just buy a black sweatsuit, shoes, headband or hat and then do a little gluing and sewing and...voila, done!

My personal favorite this year is the LEGO boy/girl. This one is just amazing and original. Just get a box and and matching clothes and you have a a pretty cute one folks!!! What's your favorite color?

I think any little girl would LOVE to be a butterfly. Isn't this costume precious? And the best part is you could do this one for a baby, toddler, or little girl.

Okay...this has to be the most creative one yet. My son LOVES cars and he would go bonkers for this one. How cool? There isn't much to it, but hey...I'm not complaining! LOL

How funny is this costume? I got such a kick out of it...I had to post it. The Sushi Roll...LOL. Now this one would get some laughs and turn some heads I'm sure! :)

Well, no matter what your kids decide...it's all about having FUN and being SAFE right?

Well, I'm off to make a cat costume myself. Anyone have any ideas for the cutest kitty on the block? It's simple, but there has to be a way to make it original. Hmmm, I'm thinking "CATS" on Broadway....lots of fur and a painted face....LOL (Naw, just some whiskers, ears, a tail...anything else?)

Meooooow!!! :)

(BTW...You can go to www.familyfun.go.com for more costume fun and directions for all the costumes seen above. They have some fabulous ideas! Enjoy.)