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Do you believe all things Christmas have to end on the 25th?  Like waking up and the radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7 starting before thanksgiving is suddenly not Christmas music anymore on the 26th.   I don't believe in this.  I don't even think decorations should come down until the new year. Karen's in town this weekend to ring in the new year in Chicago so we went to Waffles (yes, again) for brunch.  Last time we went I informed her it was byob once we were already there (she was a bit upset with me).  This time we walked out my door and she requested we stop for champagne.  That girl can have some memory when she wants to.  We did walk right by a grocery store so we bought the cheapest one ($5 Heeeeyyyy!).  Yes, it had a screw top because we're classy like that.  And made some mimosas at the restaurant. clearly I was excited about this photo... not After eating (& drinking) too much we walked over to the craft ...

No, we didn't have a white Christmas in Ste. Gen, but the day after was quite white.  It snowed overnight and we woke up to a few inches coating the ground.  It was pretty beautiful and Charlie didn't know what to make of it.  Judging from the amount of snow on the ground in Chicago when I got back last night, I think we actually had more than Chicago... strange. Christmas was so lovely this year.  Very very busy, but very very lovely.  Filled with cookies, board games, & lots of family time.  I hope yours was lovely too! Note:  the drive back to Chicago was much more enjoyable last night.  No traffic.  Yes, please! my fam after Christmas Eve mass Rottler cousins + Charlie & Grandma! Cousin cookie baking happened again this year.  It's always good to see everyone, especially as we get older and things start to change.  As I said to Karen:  "Growing up is hard to do."

GA (short for George Apple of course.  That is what I named my car.) & I took a trip down to Missouri last night and sheesh.  We made it. Things I learned during the trip: *Making the decision whether or not to take the last drip of water in my bottle when I was half-way there.  I was so parched.  I did it. *I saw one police man during the ride and my entire body broke out in sweat.  I think they may be my greatest fear.  Even when I'm not speeding. *When your eyes start getting droopy make that music LOUDER!  (pretty sure I had my music louder than it's ever been)  I then started singing LOUDLY!  Then I started dancing.  I was rocking the seated dance like none other! *When you are in the last hour and you think of a song request... really hard.  It might come on next.  "Anna Sun" anyone? *Seeing something so familiar can sometimes seem so amazing! busch stadium I love you  

It's one week until Christmas.  Are you ready?  Did you finish all your shopping?  I have.  I like to get the shopping out of the way early so I can appreciate the season more. Here's a bit of what I did this holiday season: What was your  favorite thing you did this season? *Watching:  Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Love Actually, & several ABC Family Christmas movies on Hulu *Made my stocking *Enjoyed some yogurt covered pretzels .  Pretty sure this is going to be a tradition. *Hung my ornaments *Bought my first Christmas tree (yes, it is 2ft and $8.  I refuse to make an investment on an artificial tree when I love real ones so much) & lights. Thanks to Cinthya & Rubina for convincing me to make the splurge.  I really did enjoy it whenever I was home.  I seriously used minimal lighting in the room so I could more fully enjoy the tree.  (Meaning I may have strained my eyes a ...

Today was a good day & worthy of a thankful time post for just today alone. *I dragged Karen to the gym for a kickboxing class and she shoved her feet into my tennis shoes that are a size too small for her.  She says she had fun, besides her feet hurting. *Karen & I had a lovely long brunch at Waffles' new location in Lakeview.  Yum! *Karen went to Stanley's with me.  I love Stanley's!  I would be very content if I just shopped there, but for some reason I only go with other people and she accompanied me.  Stanley's always makes me happy. *As I was walking this afternoon, I heard a little girl walk out of her place with her dad (I assume).  She said, "It's beautiful."  He said, "It's a little chilly."  She said, "It's beautiful."   It was adorable, made me smile, & clearly I'm still thinking about it.

Until opening day 2013! That is all. Well... & I'm happy the Cards stuck to their gut at the Winter Meetings.  Very happy about Yadi's Defensive Player of the Year award (well deserved).  Very sad about what seems to be the direction with Schumaker.  I like Skippy!

We see it everywhere these days. But this is pretty much how I feel about glitter. video platform video management video solutions video player Thanks, Ellen! And happy Saturday everyone!!!

I think I've mentioned my knee pain lately so this week I decided to not run AT ALL & try to fix the knee.  I decided to go to a class everyday at the gym.  I mean if I'm not running, what else would I do.  Note: I do not lift weights.  I hate that.   But if I'm in a class that makes me lift weights I know it is good for me and I will do it. Here's a look at my past week at the gym: Saturday:  Spin Sunday:  Kickboxing (where I was called a role model ;) Monday:  BODYPUMP (it's always all in caps.  must be a copyright or something.  here I was instructed on what i was doing wrong the entire class) Tuesday:  Spin Wednesday:  LTS Get Up & Go Thursday:  am Muscle Definition pm Ballet Burn Friday:  Turbo Kick & Yoga It was pretty awesome.  My gym's having a 30-day challenge between Thanksgiving & Christmas and depending on how many days you go to the gym they give you what I am going...

It is time for winter orangeness to make a comeback.  (I know it's not technically winter. It's dark.  Therefore it seems like it.) One of my favorite parts of my old job was bike riding to and from it.  Even in the bitter cold.  It was a very love/hate relationship.  'Ugh... I don't wanna put on all my layers and go bike in the windy cold.'  Then... I would get on the path and listen to my music, sing along and feel 100 times better.  And then I'd arrive at work a sweaty, frozen mess and feel ready for the day. Yesterday after work I was meeting a friend downtown & I hopped on my bike.  It was one of the first chillyish days we've had this year and yes, I went right back to the love/hate relationship, but it was SO lovely! (these pictures don't even show a quarter of how beautiful it was) Once I met my friend, we were supposed to go a museum, but apparently I read which night they are open late wrong & we had to come ...

I started making and giving out these Christmas pins last week to friends so they can wear them all month! I originally saw the idea here & put some of my own twists to it. 1-I didn't have felt & rather than going out to purchase some, I used fabric I got from my grandma over Thanksgiving.  I don't know what it's exactly called, but it's soft and feels soft-of like a comfy sweatshirt.  For the trunk I decided to also use fabric from my grandma and I tried to pick a fabric that matched the person I gave the pin to from what I have. 2-I didn't have those scissors to make the tree jagged so I used a different stitch.  In Mexico Luci & I made these rhinos for the kiddos and we stitched them.  So Luci taught me this stitch. Since I used fabric, instead of felt, for the trunk I had to hem it so it won't fray, but that's ok.  Also the fabric I used for the tree was not ideal.  It was very difficult to pull the needle through the fabric and ...