time? it goes fast.

On New Year's Day 2010, it will be 3 years since the above picture was taken.  I remember this trip very well.  It was the first time that Daniel went with me down to the beach house.  We had only been "officially" boyfriend and girlfriend for less than a week.  Mom asked Daniel the 2nd night we were there if he was in love with me.  It's funny how mothers know things before the rest of us do.  Her inkling was right.

Do I have abnormal memories of my childhood Christmas decorating days?

The holidays is my absolute favorite time of year (despite what some people think according to my fb personal quiz.  It's not my birthday although that is also a joyous time of year.).  My favorite part of the Christmas season is all the memories I have of when I was younger.  I LOVED getting out the Christmas decorations.  That might be in my top 5 days throughout the year.

We would spend the entire day in our pajamas.  (SOLD!)  Any day that lets me be in my pj's all day is always a good day.  As much as I love getting ready, I have really grown to love being lazy at home.  The older I get the more I appreciate it.  There's nothing like being at home all day and relaxing either by cleaning, organizing, sleeping, and/or watching tv espcially after having to get up and ready during the week to work. 

Back to what I was saying before I daydreamed about being at home in my pj's.  (pure bliss, people!)  We would spend the entire day in our pj's listening to classic Christmas cd's such as Vince Gill, 'N Sync, and The Carpenters.  Mom would go to the basement and gather which boxes had the decorations in them.  Dad would be outside basically the entire day either doing yardwork and/or putting up the outside decorations.  If Dad was putting up the outside decorations (wreaths on the windows, garland on the porch, and white lights everywhere), then either Sis or I would have to help him.  Sissy typically would help Dad outside since I love being indoors and I was the designated duster.  I had to dust every piece of furniture just like any other Saturday chore day.  After dusting, Mom would turn the living room upside down rearranging for the tree.  The blinds on the front window would be up and I can still see Mom standing in the middle of the furniture with her hands on her hips.  She always did her best thinking with her hands on her hips. 

Once she figured out how the furniture would be arranged, I had to make sure that it was precisely correct/perfect.  You know that we Brindleys are perfectionists.  I even recall Mom having the piano rolled over her toe in the midst of moving the furniture around.  It's never fun to see your mom crying because she is in so much pain.

With the new living room layout, we were able to get out/bring in the tree.  We started out with a fake tree.  Then they decided a real tree from Marvin's is the best deal.  After a few years of doing that, they bought another fake tree.  I loved going to Marvin's and staying in the freezing cold.  I always liked a certain tree that we never seemed to get.  Oh well.  Mom would say, "Leslie, our ceilings are not that tall.  The tree will look bigger in the house."  Too bad she was right.  The tiny Charlie Brown tree that we ended up buying always turned into the Elf tree.  In the early years, Dad would put the lights around the tree.  As the years went by, Sis and I got that job.  I would hold the strand as she ever so OCD-like placed the strand on the branches.  The ornaments were a great part of tree decorating.  My favorite ornament was my "Baby's First Christmas".  It is way cuter and prettier than Sissy's.  I think she was secretly jealous of how beautiful it is.

After decorating the living room, dining room, and kitchen, we finally could decorate our rooms!  That was my VERY favorite part of decorating!  I loved getting out all of our Christmas stuffed animals:  Miss Piggy, Kermit, Fonzo the bear, Rodney, Randy, Rhonda, Ramona (reindeer), and other various plushed items.  Every night I would sleep with every single one of them with my ceramic Christmas tree and window candle lit.  One time I remember laying underneath the lit Christmas tree with all of my animals.  If I could completely fit under the tree again, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I know you had Randy, Rhonda, Randy, and Ramona as a small child.

This has me thinking:  I really miss these guys.  I might try to bid on some on eBay.  Or if you are thinking of getting me something special this year, this would work.  I might even kiss you on the mouth since I would be so excited!

too early?

Is it ever too early to start listening to Christmas music?  It is close to the middle of November and the temperatures are still topping the mid-60s to lower-70s during the day.  Maybe if I start listening to Christmas music while at work (like I have done today), then the weather will drop and the days will go by a little faster.  Now, there's no need for the days to start flying by since I am about a third done with Christmas shopping.  I was doing good there for a minute.  Then I had to make a decision:  do I pay the bills, or buy Christmas gifts?  Too bad for the Christmas gifts because the bills won.  (Just a hint:  the bills ALWAYS win.)

See, I am a very weird person.  I actually like paying bills.  There's nothing better than pay day and sitting down and paying the bills.  It makes me feel like a grown-up.  I haven't always had the desire to pay my own bills until I was in college.  I hated living 2 hours away and still being under the parents.  My minimun wage, 15 hour a week job couldn't come close to supporting me.  That was just enough for groceries and "fun" money.  I always told myself that I would NEVER, EVER in a MILLION years complain about having to pay for my own bills.  In fact, I welcomed it with open arms because I am an excllent manager of money.  You should ask Daniel.  I completely transformed his life...in more ways that one.  (hehe)

I am so anxious for December to be here that I am "patiently" waiting to decorate the house.  Daniel isn't too keen on decorating before we leave for the beach for Thanksgiving, but I am slowly talking him into it.  I think it would really help and make me feel good to at least have the inside decorated (or mostly decorated) before our trip.  Sis and I have done that many times in the past.  Sis, remember that one year when we didn't tell Dad that we were decorating the house before the beach trip and he came back from T'giving with the house completely decorated?  aww, that was fun.

So no objections to my Christmas decorating/listening to Christmas music idea?  okay, good.  Then that settles it.  Novemeber 9th is not too early.

things that rock and some that don't even come close

In an effort to keep up with the latest peer pressures of my high school classmates (yes, I know that high school was over 7 years ago, but it still happens!), I have decided to make a list of things that rock and some that don't for the mom job website.  This website can turn a boring, laughless day into a great one.  (And I totally mean it, Amanda!)

things that rock:
-anything and everything Vera Bradley.  If you have read at least one of my blog entries, then you would already know this.
-light 280 on a Friday at lunch.  Traffic on 280 today at lunch time was extremely light.  It was almost spooky.
-PB&J sandwiches.  These have come to be a work lunch favorite.  I have steered clear of them for the past 20 years since that is ALL I fed as a small child...well, at least it seemed like it was.

things that don't:
-Friday afternoons that seem to drag on forever.  Friday afternoons are THE worst part of the week and always seem to drag longer than any other part of the week.  bleh.
-waking up early on the weekend in order to be responsible.  Tomorrow is supposed to be the best day for me to sleep in.  Will I this weekend?  uh, no.  I have to get up early and take care of my car (ie. oil change, alignment, and rotation and balanced).  The place closes at 2 and it's in Trussville, which is a 45 minute drive from our house.  double bleh.  You might ask why I can't go somewhere closer to my house to have this work done.  And I will answer you with this:  I really like this place...like REALLY do!  (duh)  So much so, that I will drive 45 minutes AND get up early on a Saturday to have them work on it.

One Year of Marital Bliss

After one year of marital bliss, Daniel and I celebrated our one year anniversary the first weekend in October.  I can't decide if it feels like it has been a long or speedy year.  I will have to say both for these facts: 
*Long, because I feel like I have known Daniel all my life.  We just click, and he knows me WAY better than I thought anyone could....so much so that it's scary.
*Speedy, because it seems like yesterday we were planning the wedding.  I do NOT miss those days at all and they don't feel like they were over a year ago.

To celebrate our fantastic year, we were able to spend an evening at Ross Bridge Resort.  A HUGE thanks to Dad for babysitting Jackson and Tyson!

The view from our balcony was incredible!  Daniel REALLY wanted to play golf.  Too bad there wasn't enough time or money for that.

As part of my gift, Daniel gave me a gift certificate to the Vera Bradley store.  As soon as we got to Ross Bridge and changed clothes, we decided we had just enough time for me to spend it.  (See my new purse.)  After a quick 30 minutes at the VB store (and it was quick), we headed to The Melting Pot for dinner.  I was a little nervous and not sure what to expect, but Daniel assured me that it was great food.  I had heard how expensive it is, but never knew the food was THAT good!  It was my most incredible meal that I have had in a long time.  I certainly didn't prepare myself for just how much food we would get.  We had four courses:  #1 spinach and artichoke dip, #2 salad, #3 main meal, #4 oreo/marshmellow chocolate.  Of course everything but the salad was fonadu.

I believe the above picture was right after I thought I was going to vomit from stuffing my face.

Afterwards we headed back to the resort to watch the rest of the Auburn/Tennessee game.  Daniel popped the bubbly just like he did the year prior.

And we raised our glasses to salute our first year of marriage.  Daniel told me "Here's to one down and three more to go."  Hmm...he tries too hard to be a comedian.

Daniel sipped and I inhaled the champagne while watching the rest of the game.  I passed out during the 4th quarter after I nearly jinxed us by saying that Auburn would win their game this year as opposed to last.  (On our wedding day, Auburn lost to Vanderbilt.  It was a sad ride from the airport to the resort on our wedding night.)  When I finally woke back up Daniel asked if I had been sleeping and in my drunken state I simply replied, "sometimes".

Sunday after check out, we went to The Egg and I in Hoover.  Honestly it really wasn't all that great.  It reminded me of IHOP only a lot smaller and tighter.  We headed back home to relieve Dad of his dog duties and brought out our wedding cake.  I wasn't 100% sure just how good it was going to taste, but surprisingly it was still semi-moist.

                                     

And as Daniel said, "Here's to one down, and three more to go!"  May we have many more anniversaries to come.

Halloween 2009

Happy Halloween from the Todds:

Daniel, Leslie, Jackson, and Tyson

the fall air

Other than making curtains and buying VB, the fall season is quickly getting from me.  I haven't truly taken advantage of the weekends like I would like.  Don't get me wrong:  I have been taking advantage of sleeping in as much as I can.  You are NEVER going to see pass up that opportunity unless something is seriously wrong.

While I slept, spent, and created, Daniel has taken advantage of the open season.  It started last Thursday, which the only way I remember is that his anniversary present delivered.  His anniversary gift from me was a new hunting bow...how apporpriate.  Before you get any ideas, I don't know any other details.  He actually ordered it himself.  Wasn't that sweet of me?  I told him my money amount to him and he did the picking out.  It worked out for the best since I have NO idea about hunting stuff.

To celebrate his gift and open season, Daniel and his friend, Renan, went hunting both Saturday and Sunday mornings.  They were so precious in their camo gear.  I need to take a picture of Daniel in his outfit and new toy.  I can already hear the bickering about taking that picture. 

The weekends to Thanksgiving and Christmas are disappearing.  Thankfully I started our Christmas shopping during the summer.  I picked up a few items here and there, but nothing big...until this past Wednesday.  I love being able to find great gfits for people at an expensive price.  It kills me to have to buy something at full price...no matter what it is.  Gift-buying is no different.  Why would I spend full price on a gift and max out on that one item?  I like giving people a sack full of goodies (just like Santa).