Monday, November 30, 2009

Are you ready?











There's no denying it, Christmas will be here soon.


I'm ready. Are you?


I'm ready for gingerbread houses, baking (errr...making messes) with my kids, the glow of the tree as we watch TV at night, sugar cookie candles, Christmas songs (I've updated my playlist), romps in the snow and happy times with family and friends.


I'm not ready for the gifts. Oh boy, am I not ready. I'm only about half done with shopping.


Did you go out on Black Friday? My dad was brave enough to come stand with me at 10:30 waiting for Toys R Us to open at Midnight. Good thing we had that great turkey dinner in our bellies, it was a long wait. I didn't get what I wanted (darn Zhu Zhu hamsters) but we did get some other things. And we got to spend a few hours alone....just us.
I don't get many times like that with my dad.



I'm hoping I can talk him into it again next year. It was fun...even though I didn't get to bed until 4 a.m. and my middle child was at the side of my bed at 7.


Christmas is coming soon. So, are you ready?


P.S. ~ The first two images were from Cottage Living (gosh I miss that magazine) and the others are from Country Living.

32 comments:

Unknown said...

Love those pictures...oh, to have the talent to decorate like they do in Cottage Living or Country Living!

I'm getting there. Don't have the gifts for the fam yet, but their lists are short and easy, so it shouldn't take long. I've made my gifts for friends, and I think I'm about done. That is, if I don't see another neat idea in blog land! I get into more trouble collecting ideas! ;-)

Nancy

Christina said...

I love Christmas as well, not the shopping though. I haven't even started. I usually wait until the week before, thats my tradition Ha!

Susan said...

Love the picture with the black and white fabrics. I have that saved in my LOVE folder.
I was also out on Black Friday - early am - saw those hampster things at a outdoor market and they were asking $35 a piece - crazy. So glad my daughter hasn't asked for those. Good Luck!!

Darla said...

Nope, nope and nope.........guess I better get ready!!

beth said...

I am SO ready to start decorating! We would usually get the tree and start decorating the day after Thanksgiving, but my family was here, so we wanted to give them all of our attention. But I think we're going to get the tree and get out the decorations tomorrow! Can't wait!

My sister and her husband went out shopping Friday morning while my husband and I and my mom and dad stayed here and watched the kiddos. Roy and Tina were the only ones brave enough to fight the Black Friday crowds! I would much rather stay home and babysit!!

I haven't started any of my Christmas shopping yet. We're waiting for my husbands next payday, when we will have his Christmas bonus to spend on gifts. He doesn't get payed again until next Thursday. It's gonna be cutting things really close, but we'll get our shopping done!! :) Happy Holidays!! Beth.

Darlene said...

I LOVE your inspiration pictures. I didn't go shopping on Black Friday....couldn't deal with the crowds.

I have some of my shopping done but not through yet. I just hate spending all that money on gifts that might be loved for a month or so. I have told Lexi we are cutting WAY DOWN this year. She has so much stuff anyway that it is hard to come up with anything!

Melissa Miller said...

NO! I'm soooo not ready but I am really gearing up this week for Holiday shopping. Maybe I should have another giveaway too. Hmmmmm....:)

Lovely photos Michelle! :)

Eileen said...

Great post! Beautiful photos!
And I loved the story of your Dad keeping you company while Christmas shopping and waiting on line!
And I love the idea of making it a tradition!
Enjoy the season!
All the best to you,
Eileen

Theresa said...

I am slowly getting my decorating done. Not the tree yet:( have to have some help getting it out of the attic! Love the story about you and your Dad waiting at ToysRus. I miss my Dad so much! Love to all and have a blessed day!

Samantha Laury said...

Zhu Zhu pets must be a lot of fun - my neighbor's kids are obsessed with theirs

E said...

I love that you had the opportunity to spend time with your dad. I am luck enough to have children who are too old for Zhu Zhu pets, but I hear these things are CRAZY sold out!

welcometomyfrontporch said...

Beautiful pictures. I have never seen a Cottage Living. I will have to check that out. I am a subscriber to CL though. :)

I'm ready for Christmas, but still need to get our tree up and I have a few gifts to wrap and a few to buy still. I am hosting it this year so it will be fun.

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

No...I'm not near ready...just got home last night from a 4 day trip. I hope I can get my act together this week and have my entire house decorated by Sunday! We are still working on our kitchen...it's a mess!

Blessings,
Linda

The Flying Bee said...

Great pics! I am so ready for Christmas!

LuLu said...

I still have loads of stuff to do... but I'm singing Christmas songs as I go!!!
love the photos... full if inspiration,
xo,
LuLu

Unknown said...

I am SO ready! I think I'm more psyched for christmas this year than I have been in a long time....and the funniest part about it is, I'm probably the most broke I've been in a long time too

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

Oh boy... I'm nowhere near ready. I've just started decorating and haven't even started shopping. I'm always a last minute shopper - I've got to stop doing that.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Vintage Living Magazine said...

Oh I'm ready alright. Ready to eat those gingerbread men you plan to bake. I look forward to Christmas, but always procrastinate about the shopping.

Thanks for these inspiring photos. :-)

Shannon

Erin @ SYL: Slipcover Your Life said...

I'm sooo ready for Christmas (and being at home with my family!)

GTA mls said...

Oh, I'm so not ready for the Christmas yet. Need to do loads of shopping, decorate my house and everything. Feel like I have no time. Btw, awesome pics to this article - good inspirations for decorating my home, thanks.

Elli

Rue said...

Cottage Living... I think I actually shed a tear over that one (sigh).

Ready? Kinda. I never think I'm ready until the tree goes up, but to be honest, with the fireplace all f'd up.... ugh. It's NOT good at ALL right now and we're thinking of painting it again. We'll see...

Anyway, I'm half done with shopping, but I'm stuck on Annie and Rich's boys. Any ideas?? ;)

xo,
rue

xinex said...

Uhmmm, I am not sure but your pictures are gorgeous!...Christine

Kym-Anne said...

I'm almost ready, sorta, kinda!

I spent five long exhusting hours at the shopping mall today buying the last of our gifts, glad that's over :)

That's awesome you got to spend time with your Dad, mine lives 6 hours away, wish I had him with me today, I could of done with a spare pair of hands...lol

Great post, beautiful pics.

Rue said...

I swear I left a comment here yesterday... hmmm... I think I must be going insane LOL

You're a brave woman to go out on Black Friday. I've never been, because I'm afraid I'll get trampled. Although I'm so fat now, it would be hard to do LOL

I want that black and white couch... So cute :)

xo,
rue

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

Oh hey, I've heard CVS carries the Zhu Zhu pets, you might want to try there!

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

We were at Toys R Us, too. Got there about 11:30, finally checked out around 4 am. Never going there again!!

trish said...

I am a little bit ready. I am attempting to "stage" the season! :o)
It is actually working and there is little stress, fun with family, and enjoying it all. :o)
I just posted a question on my blog. Can you help me? Thanks! Trish

Radostina // 79ideas.org said...

I'm not ready too :(

Lovely pictures. Thank you for this post.
Have a great day ;)

Raru
79ideas.org

Melissa Miller said...

Michelle!!! I'm so happy for you and inspired by you as well! That is wonderful news. Let me know how it goes for you.

It feels so good to eat healthy foods doesn't it? My high B/P is long gone these days. In fact it's getting really "low" and I'm monitering it twice daily still. When I go back to the doctor in January I wouldn't be surprised if she takes me off of the meds. Yay!

Thank you very much for your kind compliment tonight. It really meant a lot to me. It was actually very hard for to post that recent photo of myself. Yikes! Now I'm finally getting closer to my old weight and former "self". *Smiles* I've lost 30 pounds so far and have about 10-15 more to go.
I'm so excited! Alex has promised me a new wardrobe for Christmas.

Enjoy this joyous season my friend!
~Warmly, Melissa :)

Susie Q said...

Such beautiful images...

My shopping is done but no wrapping. Waiting to bake until Grace is out on break. Mostly all decorated, inside and out.

Love it all but it there is so much to do! Lots of things I just WANT to do too!

I hiope your season is filled with joy!

Love,
Sue

Hudson Goods said...

love the cape in the snow!