An Unfair Farewell

26 gone. 20 of them babies.  Babies. The same age as the one I have.

I can't imagine.  I read the descriptions of these young angels, their likes, their hobbies, their love for life and I think of my Munch.

I can't imagine how the families of these new angels cope with the gone-too-soon reality of their goodbye.  I think of my Munch and my heart cries out for them.

I can't imagine the parents...  How they will never be the same... How I will celebrate Christ's birth while they mourn the death of their babies...  I think of my Munch and the excitement she brings to my family around this time of year and I'm brought to tears. 

I can't imagine the requirements placed on teachers, first responders and other heroes everyday...  These honorable people enter selfless careers in the name of making our world a better place.

My heart aches for the parents, the teachers, the heroes, the families and the angels victimized and gone in this unfair farewell.  In times like this, I reflect on our blessings, I strive to be a blessing to others and I draw near to God.  He's the only one big enough to answer the questions, to mend the broken hearts and to welcome the souls of His babies into His arms.

Hugging a little tighter,

Retro Party - The Planning.

Mom: "I want people to wear their favorite 50s, 60s or 70s attire... Yaknow, make it a party!"

Me: "Which era do you mean? 50s since you're turning 50. 60s since you were born in the 60s.  OR 70s since you partied in the 70s?"

Mom: "No, I said what I meant. I want them all."

*eye roll*

This was our typical exchange during the early stages of planning my mommy's birthday...  We debated, for several weeks, about the theme.  I envisioned an event fit for a diva... Her first real birthday party...  NO WAY was I having some hodge-podge of costumes with a mixture of music and foolishness.  She saw a come-as-you-want event with people having fun and she didn't really care about colors.

Dilemma:  tailoring her vision to make it a fun event while meeting her theme/concept requirement.  I just didn't want to say, "it's a 50s, 60s and 70s costume party!"  Bleh... Makes me think of disco music mixed with Motown and swing dance... I get nauseous at the thought and it all sounds a mess. PLUS, most of us love the chorus or catchy parts of old school songs but can't party an entire night.

I thought LONG and HARD about it.  Then, the theme hit me. 

A RETRO PARTY

Venue:  Quantico Officer's Club

Date: October 19, 2012

# of Guests: 75

Theme: Retro Party

Whew! Party problem #1 SOLVED!  Stay tuned for more fun details of the party.  We had a blast!

Yes, I'm going back to October... I'm going to interrupt the holiday posts to catch-up... Stay with me :)

Handmade Christmas - 2012

When Hubbs and I first got together, we exchanged handmade gifts for Christmas and Valentine's Day.  I remember us going to the store together, buying the supplies and rushing home to respective areas of our home to make something special for each other... We would yell to each other when we were done and present the handmade cards/gifts at midnight. 

I remember the expectant silence as we read sweet words and then the playful argument over whose card was better "designed"...  I have to admit, back in his day, Hubbs had a way with gluing... He was *like* boss glitter application and never made a mess.  I guess, as he's gotten cooler over the years, that skill has gone away, ha. 

We still have a lot of traditions (the family ornament, the decorating, the mom tree, the letter from Santa on Christmas morning, the baking for the reindeer and Santa, etc.).  I shouldn't be too disappointed that we don't share this one anymore... I can't be but I am, lol.

We are a handmade family(although Hubbs would often times rather purchase or do without the crafty mess, lol).  Every year, we give family handmade gifts.  Gifts are usually baked goods (I'll share some in coming days) or crafts (made by Munch).  Handmade gifts make GREAT gifts.  Here are some GREAT gifts that are handmade, affordable and ADORABLE!

Bath Bombs

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TWIZ the Season

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Easy and Beautiful Artwork

Who wouldn't love a custom piece of beautiful artwork.  Check out these easy and fabulous pieces and feel free to click the source links to learn more!



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The list goes on and on... Statement jewelry? DIY it! 


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DISCLAIMER:  If you're new to DIY giving, you may need to provide a heads-up OR it's even sweeter to MAKE a card that will accompany your gift.  Michael's has a number of papers and punches to make a fabulous card.  Inside, write a heartfelt note that explains the gift and your approach to a homemade Christmas this year.

Best of luck with MAKING your Christmas fabulous.

Be sure to stay tuned for more homemade gifts.  I've got some adorable and easy kid-friendly projects and delicious recipes to share!

Tag You're It!

I've been in recovery from a baby shower I hosted this past weekend... Please bear with me as I play catch-up and begin the posts of the season...

In the midst of my cooking and decorating, I WAS TAGGED:

My fabulous friend, Mia from Chronicles of Chaos, tagged me for some good ol' Christmas Q+A (check out her responses here).  It all started at Raising Reagan and has become popular around the blogosphere; I'm so excited to participate!

1. What makes Christmas such a special holiday for you and your family?

Christmas is my absolute single-most favoritestestest holiday.  As a Christian, there is no resurrection without His birth... As an American, it's the happiest time of the year... PLUS, it's the longest holiday, starting almost immediately following Halloween and lasting until January.  Think about it - the people are nicer, the food is comforting, the sweets abound, the holiday smells, the time with family, the magic... I just love everything about Christmas.

2. Were you told the truth about Santa Claus by your parents or did you find out another way? And..do you plan on lying to your kids (if you have them or plan on having them)? Oh yes…I went there.

Yes and No.  I swear I came out of the womb a little grown-up... Although, I do remember believing in Santa... Until I caught my dad struggling to put together bicycles while my mother read him instructions... It wasn't a devastating discovery because my parents never let Santa be the ONLY person bringing Christmas gifts into the home.  As I got older, the number of gifts from Santa decreased and, honestly, it helped to slowly eliminate any pressure on Santa...I like that approach so we've adopted it for Munchface.  She gets gifts from Santa but she also knows we buy her things too... All this means is that she knows she better watch out because Santa's coming to town but also because mama's not spending her money if she doesn't behave, lol!

3. Real tree or Fake tree?

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I pull my beloved trees out of their boxes and fluff until they look almost real.  I can't keep a cactus alive so there's NO WAY that I'd be able to live with myself if I killed our family's CHRISTMAS tree!  I've heard some real drama surrounding real trees.  One friend's 12 foot tree tipped over and ruined their hardwood floors, another one discovered chipmunks living in the tree... Wait, RODENTS?!  WHO NEEDS THAT DRAMA? Fake (with the lights already on them, DUH) is the ONLY way to go for me and mine.

4. Do you open presents on Christmas morning, Christmas Eve or both? 

I grew up opening 1 gift on Christmas Eve... I do, however, remember my father becoming so excited some years that he let us open ALL of our gifts on Christmas Eve... It was an annual debate between my parents.  It's still obvious Dad is so excited that he wants us to get the opening over with so he can have a peacful rest, lol. 

In my adult life, Hubbs and I have decided to bake and snack Christmas Eve then open everything on Christmas morning... It's all about building excitement :)

5. What is your favorite Christmas movie to watch? Favorite Christmas song to sing or listen to? ( I know…technically two questions) 

My favorite Christmas movie is The Christmas Toy.  I have always loved it.  Though, I haven't seen it in years, it is BY FAR my favorite Christmas movie... Maybe because the others are in heavy rotation with Hubbs and Munch from Thanksgiving until New Year's.

AND... My favorite Christmas song is Silent Night by the Temptations.  That Motown swag over that beat...  OO OOO OO OO-OOOOOO... That base, "Merry Christmas from the Temptations."  WHEW, it reminds me of the days when I played with my toys with the distant giggles of my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, jamming in the kitchen while they prepared Christmas dinner.  Classic!!!!

Now, I tag YOU! What are YOUR favorites?  How do YOU respond to these questions?

OMG! Isn't it fun to build the excitement for the holidays?!!