Day 72 - Christmas Penguins

I love Penguins!! Especially ones with presents!!

It's only 2:30 but I am exhausted already. Got up early this morning to try out a boot camp which is part of a Christmas celebration happening here in Melrose. Spent the morning walking around seeing all the fertivities. It was mostly like arts and crafts stuff, but most buisnesses had sales and treats for customers. I didn't buy anything but a Hot Chocolate from Starbucks, my first this year. I went to a large display of model trains which was kinda cool. It was a nice morning. I love that the town does stuff like that.

Made some super yummy mushroom soup for lunch. Plans for the rest of the day include watching a movie, takine a nap, finishing my light decorating and starting my Chrismtas cards. Definitely a happening Saturday for me :)

Day 71 - Black Christmas

These socks were super hard to take a picture of. The glittery pieces kept messing up the picture. There are snowflakes, trees, presents, bells, holl, stars, stockings, all kinds of Christmas stuff. 

Think I am gonna start a new Friday tradition on the blog. Top Five Fridays. A list of my top five of something. Today's is gonna be my.....

Top Five Most Memorable/ Best Christmas Presents

1. A toy kitchen that was too big for Santa's sleigh so I didn't get it until a few days later.
2. The Gump, which is a hideously ugly purse that gets passed around in our family cause it's an "heirloom".
3. Fat Baby aka Theresa. She was one of my first dolls that I carried around for years. She had her own highchair, stoller, and wardrobe.
4. The original Nintendo. It started a whole chain of Nintendo Christmas presents.
5. The best of all was of course, my sister. Techinically she was a few days after Christmas, but it counts. She used to be a fun interactive toy. Now she's my favorite sushi eating and hotel room sharing partner, among other things. Totally the gift that keeps on giving. Love ya Sissy!!

Day 70 - Noel

These are probably my least favorite of all my Christmas socks. The elastic materical is too tight around the seam of the red and white. Makes them harder to get take on and off. But I'll live :)

I got the most surprising thing in my mailbox yesterday. There has been construction going on in the apartment below mine for the last month and a half. So there's been a lot of banging, early morning working, saws on the porch, construction trash around, an accidentally snip of my phone line, which was fixed that day. Nothing too determintal to my life. Just minor annoyance I'd say. Anyway in my mailbox yesterday was a hand written note and a $50 gift certificate from my landlord to apologize for all the inconvienance. I was floored! That's unbelievably kind of them. I seriously love my landlords. And it's all the better coming from Big Pink where I had the worst landlord ever. Year long rennovations where being done there, which were far more annoying and inconvienant. Even had to live without hot water for a day during winter. It was not fun. And during that time the landlord never once acknowledged or apologized for all the problems, much less offered a gift of thanks. I am so glad to have upgraded so much during this move. I love my apartment. I love Melrose. And I love my landlords!!

Gotta get to light decorating. Didn't do it yesterday. I ran a Christmas errand instead. So today's the day my apartment will be completely Christmasafied. Wahoo!!!

Day 69 - Christmas Lights

Thought Christmas light socks were appropriate to wear today since I am planning to put up lights in my apartment this afternoon. I like to put them around the top of the walls. I have done it in every place I have lived since college. The first time it's a giant pain cause you have to use nails, but after that it's easy since all the holes are already there. I am a little unsure of where exactly I want to run the lights but I'll figure it out.  Hoping to have pictures to post tomorrow, both of the lights and of my completely decorated apartment. Oh how I love Christmas!!!

Day 68 - Let it Snow

Not feeling great today. My tummy is super unhappy. So unhappy I had to skip the gym this morning.  Hopefully it rights itself soon.

Stopped off at the library before donating blood yesterday. Checked out another 6 books. That makes a totaly of 8 I have at home right now, with another 4 on hold. I am book crazy it seems. Almost finished one last night. Only have 30 pages left. Will definitely finish it today.

Started watching my Christmas movies. I must have 20.  First up is Nightmare Before Christimas. It's not really a good Christmas movie. Luckily I can follow it up with some good ones like Home Alone, Elf, The Grinch, The Santa Clause, etc. I also record a TON from TV during this time of year. ABC Family does the 25 days of Christmas and Hallmark shows original Christmas movies pretty much every night. It's kinda a crap shoot on what movies will be good. I'll keep you posted on any good ones I find.

Day 67 - Christmas Bears

And so my month of Christmas socks continues. I counted last night and it looks like I have enough to go all season. There are a few that aren't specifically Christmas but more winter socks, but they still count :)

Got my tree decorating yesterday. Not quite down with all my decorations though. Still plan to put up lights in the house. That won't happen today though. I am off to donate blood in an hour, which I know is gonna make me tired so there will be no decorating tonight. I seriously have a lot of Christmas stuff. There's nothing wrong with that!

Now for a Public Service Announcement. DONATE BLOOD!! It can save a life. Is it the funnest thing in the world? No, but being uncomfortable for 30 minutes every 3 months is a small price to pay to help. If you were the one in need of blood, wouldn't you want there to be someone willing to give their time and blood for you? So just do it! You will be fine, I promise. The needle won't kill you. So I'll say it again Donate Blood! 

I promise that's the last lecture you will get from me for a while :)

Day 66 - Sledding Snowmen

It's Christmas sock time. Hoping I still have enough Christmas socks to make it all season without duplication or having to wear non-holiday socks.

Woke up really early this morning. Got all my Christmas decorations down from the attic. Before the day is up this apartment is gonna be a winter wonderland. I don't like the idea of not using all the decorations I have, but my apartment is a lot smaller than any of my other spaces so it might look kinda crazy in here. I'm ok with that though.  I do LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas!

Welcome Home from Simon

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Look at the present Simon left for me when I got home from Thanksgiving. They also left me some hairballs and puke to clean up. Way to make me feel welcomed home. :)  Beyond that my kitties were happy I was home, especially Miles. He's always happy to see me as I am to see him. Was so glad to be back in my own bed with my kitties last night.

Day 65 - Snowmen

These were the only socks I wore on my trip to FL. It was almost too hot for sock there.

Back from my trip to Florida. Had a good time. Got in on Tuesday afternoon, went right to shopping. Had dinner at a BBQ place we haven't been to since the 80's. It was an early night for me. Think I was in bed by 9. Wednesday morning I went with my mom to the gym. There were a lot more machines than I am used to. Climbed 63 flights of stairs on the stairmaster and tried out some speed skating like machine, which I thought I was gonna fall off of. After the gym we did some more Christimas shopping, had some yummy Crispers lunch and headed off to West Palm Beach for our mini vacation. Went out for some Latin food for dinner. Bridget and I had some super hot delicious Paella. Thursday we had diner breakfast, played cards and ate a Thanksgiving buffet. Friday we went to a Science Musuem, played mini golf, ate sushi and played another game of Phase 15. Saturday I was off to the airport/

Overall I came home a $9 winner. Paid up my Amazing Race bet by drinking a cup of coffee. ( Eww!) While there Bridget and I made "Should Do" lists for each other so I have 10 things to do.  You wanna hear them?

1. Whiten Teeth

2. Buy/ Pick out for Xmas a pair of non-sneakers

3. Buy/Pick out an interview outfit.

4. Send a Christmas card to someone new

5. Eat a new food

6. Kiss the cats

7. Apply for at least 1 new job a week ( I added the a week part)

8. Try to be more patient

9. Listen to current music

10. Bake Cupcakes

I did listen to some new music on the plane home. I am not sure it will ever be for me, but it could have been worse. Gonna keep working on that one.

Day 64 - Dark Gray Flowers

On my way to FL for the holiday weekend. It's warm in MA so it's pretty easy to figure out what to wear for the flight. Short Sleeved shirt and jeans for me. And I'm off to the airport..................