What to Do...

Grand plans as of tonight include storage room, kitchenette area....

Large family room here with new entertainment center and flat screen tv...sigh. On the other side of the basement a warm and cozy office for Dan (who works from home 2 days a week, and BRRR it gets cold down here) with a large laundry/sewing/craft room for me. Instead of the laundry closet in my hallway upstairs where I see boys underwear and dirty clothes sneaking a path into my family room. I know, ew.

OR...rip these (as the contractor tonight said and I quote) "cheapest cabinets possible to purchase" out - put in something lovely like stainless appliances, pretty cabinets that don't break when you shut them (Dan has repaired almost ALL of these at some point in the past four years) and granite countertops?

That would also mean we install new flooring and I would still have two crazy, energetic boys with nowhere to build forts and play. But I see and use my kitchen every.single.day.

UGH.
I need a money tree.

PS...

Is this new background a pain to read or what?

And I really loved those diamonds but geesh...changing it up when I get a chance tomorrow!

Things I've Done

Things I have done in my life:(the ones in GREEN I've done!)
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (does a pencil drawing count?)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (kissed the Italian guy, remember?)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (oops)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

So I've done a little more than half - not too shabby. I'm hoping I've only lived at least half my life to do some of the others...but I think I'll leave a few off the list for good (#87 - ew!_

Merry Christmas!

I Found My Countertops Today!

I feel like I haven't seen them all week. Not that I love them.
I just don't love having stuff all over them.

I really love movies..lately I've been into vampire ones so I decided to get artsy and watch La Vie En Rose about the life of famous Parisian singer, Edith Piaf. Friends, due to specific happenings in my life, I do not love France, things from France, or much French of anything. Hats off to those who do. But I found this movie of Ms. Piaf to be haunting and horrific. What a tragic life she led when all she wanted was to be loved.
And don't tell me "oh, if you went to France you would LOVE it."
I've been there.
I kissed a cute Italian stranger on top of the Eiffel Tower just to say I've done it.
London is just more my style if we're going to go European.
Interesting movie to not watch with kids around though.

I cannot figure out why you never hear her sing "La Vie En Rose" even once in the movie. It's such a beautiful song. Anyone?

I looked up the nutritional facts of the casserole I made for our church Christmas breakfast...
That's right. To the man who was in line in front of me and scooped up almost 1/2 of the pan...I pray you do not have a heart attack this weekend. I will feel SO guilty over that one.

I found a Cooking Light version that I hope will not clog anyone's arteries Christmas morning!

Kimba's Holiday Open House!

How fun! Kimba is hosting an openhouse....and I didn't even have to clean my kitchen to invite you over! Notice a lot of close-ups though - with it being a snow day and having three little ones with toys everywhere I had to do some creative photography. Just know that there were legos,light sabers and Lauren's toys strewn about everywhere!

My entry table - my brother and sister-in-law bought us this cute card tree from Pottery Barn as an early Christmas gift this year. I love it - before I was taping the cards and sticking them to our coat closet door, the horrors!

My sad wreath above my fireplace. I'm planning on having a much larger one there next year. This one just seems off scale to me. But I LOVE my Target stockings that I finally had our names put on this year! My friend Cindy in Alabama did these and my tree skirt, so that was my splurge for the season on decor. I love how they turned out though! This mantle has been re-done THREE times now. Miss Lauren likes to pull the light cord and it all comes crashing down. She is getting SO quick. I'm not sure how to stop that with her if I want lights up there. Wait till she's three or four?

My dining chandelier...I cut a wreath, put in in the light fixture and then wired it back together, and quickly stuck in some froo-froo and then added bows.

The kid friendly tree. After day two I gave up. Lauren keeps pulling the tree skirt, the boys keep re-arranging. "The snowflakes need friends so they have to be together " or "Mom, why don't you want my 5x7 preschool ornament right.in.front." I've moved a lot UP away from Lauren and the rest - whatever. It still looks pretty at night when lit and someday I will be sad when the boys are old enough to care less about the tree and what's on it.

I love collecting ornaments from vacations - this is one of my favorites from a weekend Dan and I spent at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.

And I always have baby Jesus tucked in the branches of the tree for the kids to find.

My side buffet. I've had this runner pulled by LuLu a few times too - this girl is a major decorating hindrance this year! I had to tuck up the sides so she couldn't pull it anymore!

I didn't put out as much as I usually do, I just saw "disaster, crawling baby in the house" flashing before my eyes. And I've found my taste is changing and I'm ready to do something new for next year anyhow!

Thanks for stopping by! Please come by and visit again!

LuLu's Late Night

Dan and I had a hot date this weekend with a DVD, some popcorn and....a third wheel named LuLu. Little thing would NOT go to bed. So she stayed up and played instead.

She is the only girl I'll ever share a date with Dan with.

We have been basketballing, Christmas card writing, sugar cookie making and movie going this weekend. I took the boys to see Bolt. They loved it.
I'm not feeling very "bloggy" lately. I have had a lot going on personally so I've slowed it down a bit this week. Maybe once the packages and cards are mailed and things are a bit calmer around here I'll get going again.

Garland Party

The Nester is having a garland party!

Look at me trying to make my cheapie garland look all artsie and fancy...gold do-dads and poinsettias, Wal-Mart of course. Lots of twinkle lights and a few pinecones.

My favorite - snowflakes that I picked up at the floral wholesaler last year, I even stick them all over my tree. I have a thing for snowflakes and snowmen. And there you have it. You don't get the full picture because I HATE my wreath above my mantle. As in, I really, really dislike it. I keep saying I will re-do it and then days go by. I'm just going to give up, make it my summer project to make a new wreath for here and my front door!

I'll Have a Cafe'-Mocha-Vodka-Valium Latte to go please

Seriously....

Potty trained (we thought) Greg pooped his pants mid session (all 15 minutes long of it)

Graham kept trying to get me to put a snowman in the picture

and Lauren was screaming like a mad woman.

I took 2 Extra Strength Tylenol afterwards.
Merry Christmas indeed.

The Fairy Door

Anyone who even slightly knows me should know that I'm a snob. I have really expensive tastes. I like really expensive things. And I'm super cheap and guilt myself out of buying anything remotely expensive. Weird I know. Dan onlys wishes I would do this for everything I buy.

I saw these darling Fairy Doors at a shop and wanted to get one for my sweet niece, Meg. She is 5 and so cute. But the door was $45.00. For a door!! Meg is about to move back into her house next week after a few months of major renovations. So I thought that this would be perfect for her and baby Kate's new playroom!

I was lucky to find one at Hobby Lobby (with my 40% off coupon it was only $6!) I added the picket fence and after an hour or two of painting time I wrote a little story to go along with the door for Meg. Her fairy's name is Shaylee and she is moving to Atlanta to be with Meg soon!

(Kelly, I'm sorry if posting this ruins Meg's Christmas surprise for you, I hope she likes it!)

Ta-DA!!!

And the winner is.....

Sorry I'm late posting this...I went with friends to see Australia last night - I LOVED it!! Nicole was so great in it!

But I did have Graham help me pick a name right before I left...

Can you read that? It says "Oprah!" Chris, you WON!!

BUT....if anyone has more than one child you will know that you can't leave the other one out of something fun and Greg INSISTED on picking a name out also....
which was....

Meredith! She has a little cute boy named Graham also. So Meredith you will be getting a fun little surprise also!

Just email me at kristen@olsen.org with a mailing address and I will get those fun things off in the mail to you this weekend!
Congratulations!

Sneak Peak and Giveaway Today!

The kids received a package from the North Pole yesterday...

Inside was a letter, three candy canes and an elf!

They were SO excited to open it! Turns out the elf is visiting us to make sure the kids are good. He goes home each night to report to Santa and then comes back the next morning in a new spot.

Meet Mr. Jingle (that is what the kids named him) He is our homemade Elf on the Shelf. He belonged to my grandmother and I couldn't bring myself to pay the $$ to buy the book. So I made my own kit for the kids. They had SO much fun this morning looking for him!

Sneak peak of Christmas...

More sneaky peaky...

Today is my ONE YEAR blogiversary!! Awwwww. Can you believe how much we are still in love? Well, I am still in love with blogging. I am amazed at all the creative, talented and amazing women there are out there. Maybe a few men but I'm hoping they don't cruise by too often (except for Dan of course!)

Funny thing, he and I had our first date 8 years ago today.

Leave a comment on yesterdays or todays post and I will enter you in a drawing for one of my sad, oh, I mean FABULOUS tassels!!! (It's actually super cute!)

I'll let the kids draw the name tonight at bedtime and will announce the winner first thing tomorrow!!

Giveaway Tomorrow!!

HEY!!! I just realized that tomorrow is my Blogiversary!! How romantic!! To celebrate I am going to do a giveaway of one of my tassels that I'm now thinking has become a fun addiction. These are not Susie or Nester type tassels...I mean, those girls are the QUEENS of them....but just a cute and sweet Kristen one! All you have to do is leave a comment, tell me how much you love me and how much this last year of me blogging has meant to you and you'll be entered to win!

How easy is THAT?

Good Luck....