Writer's Workshop {12.3}

This week's chosen prompt for Writer's Workshop by Mama Kat:

Write an open letter to Santa Claus.

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Dear Santa Claus:

Why hello old friend. I hope the year has been treating you well. Has the economy rocked you like it has everyone else? Please send my regards to the Mrs. and the elves.

I know you're coming up on your moment to shine. Your big day. I can't believe it's really just around the corner. You probably are very busy at this moment.

I do believe I should be listed on your "Nice" list this year. I have been very good, as I'm sure you know. I haven't had a wish list in quite a few years, although you seem to still always stop by my parent's house...every year. I thank you for that. Your generosity is warm welcomed.

This year, I do not have a Santa wish list. I hope this doesn't hurt your feelings at all. Of course there are a few things that I want like a lovely wine rack for my kitchen {since you know I've become quite the wino lately}, some jewelry stampers for my business, and my last name in architecture. But really Santa, I have everything I need and want such as...

** a job (even though it's frustrating at times)
** a wonderful husband
** supportive and loving parents
** reliable friends
** great family
** a roof over my head
** food in my belly
** cute jeans clothes to wear
** fabulously adorable shoes shoes on my feet
** a budding online business

See Santa there are lots of things to be grateful for this year, as it's been a rough year. I'm really just glad I have what I do and that this year is almost over and whatever I get for Christmas is great and I'm completely grateful for it. Also Santa, you see I saved this year to buy me what I really wanted...this. I kind of spoiled myself I guess.

So I'm thinking you should take what you were going to give me and give it to someone who really needs it. Someone who needs a real pick me up. I need a pick me up, but it's called an 11 day vacation in T-minus 20 days. So Santa I guess that's it. You're an awesome jolly old man and keep up the good work.

Your Christmas-loving-amazingly-grateful-lame-wishlist-having,-nice-list-kiddo,

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Fa la la la la la la list!

I haven't done a little survey in awhile and I remembered seeing this one on Thoughts from along the broken road and that I wanted to do it when December rolled around. Well by golly it's December folks and this seems perfectly fitting. Enjoy!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
It really depends on the gift. If it came in a box or if it's clothing, it gets wrapped. If it's an odd shape or small, it gets a bag. I have both on hand when I'm wrapping.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial. They are much easier and I like easy. We have a pretty 7 ft. pre-lit tree and I love love love it!

3. When do you put up the tree?
The day after Thanksgiving!! I'm pretty much chomping at the bit that morning!

4. When do you take the tree down?
Usually after New Year's.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I can't say that I've really tried it and if you asked me I would tell you no. I just don't have any desire to try it or like it. Hot chocolate please :)

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
My parents were always really good about getting me what I wanted. I do remember this one ugly, ugly toy though. And when I say ugly...I mean ugly. Karen, do you remember?? Well it was this big, blue, monster puppet thing. I remember I saw it at the mall and he was cool. I found him a few years ago in some old boxes...what was I thinking??

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My Dad. He never needs or wants anything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My husband.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Fantastic question. I finally ordered my nativity scene I've been wanting for years. It's by Demdaco Willow Tree. I just got it in the mail Monday!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail! I love addressing and mailing Christmas cards. I actually have to do that this weekend.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Hmmm. Worst gift...my grandma gave my husband and I Halloween toys/candy one year. Seriously. It was in our "stocking."

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Wow, only one? Not possible. A Christmas Story, Elf, The Family Stone...and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Seriously? Like October. I make out my list and then I start shopping for deals and then I get gifts over a period of time instead of all at once. My goal every year is to be done by Thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Definitely not.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Waffles and Krumcaca!! (and I have no idea if I'm spelling it right). My step-mom is Norwegian and every year she makes Norwegian waffles and Krumcaca. The waffles are a special recipe that you eat cold Christmas morning with butter. The Krumcaca is similar to a crepe. It's a sweet cookie like treat! I look forward to them every year.

16. Lights on the tree?
Absolutely. Pre-lit, like I said earlier, and they are colored :)

17. Favorite Christmas song?
I can't pick just one...Ave Maria, White Christmas, Noel, silent night. I love Christmas music. {Karen, I know you're reading this...what's that donkey song we used to sing?}

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Both. I like to be at home, but I like to travel to see family too.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?
Dasher, dancer, prancer and vizen. comet, cupid, donner and blitzen, but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph! {See? I love Christmas!}

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
I like Christmas morning, but since we travel to see family before Christmas and on Christmas day, we have to open some before Christmas. Hubby and I do presents Christmas morning. No sneaking on Christmas Eve.

22. Most annoying part about this time of year?
I'm going to agree with Dawn's answer...{the fact that so many people tell me that the way i celebrate Christmas, as a Christian, is offensive to them and that i should keep it to myself, but i am not allowed to be offended by the way that any of these people celebrate Christmas or whichever is their Winter holiday of choice. the fact is, their holidays *don't* offend me, but why am i the only one required to be tolerant? can't they just respect my traditions as i respect theirs? ok, enough controversary. it's threatening to dampen my Christmas cheer & that's just not acceptable.} And add that the stores are nuts, which is precisely why I do my shopping early.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I don't have an ornament theme or color. Hubby and I buy 2 new ornaments every year that we pick out. It's pretty much whatever strikes our fancy. This year I got a giant beaded bulb and a wiggly Christmas tree.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
I really just like to eat haha. My Step-mom always makes a really nice dinner and we get all her homebaked goodies for dessert!!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
To end this somewhat crummy year on a rockin' note and be able to spend time with the ones I love.

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WordFUL Wednesday

Here's another edition of a WordFUL Wednesday...

{*} This week seems very long considering I had most of last week as a vacation. This time last week I was hanging out at home with the hubster. Ugh. Why does vacation have to go by so fast?

{*} I've had some recent success in my Etsy store! I don't know if it's the holidays or what, but I'm loving it! I've had 4 sales just this morning! Thanks to everyone supporting my business! This is beyond awesome.

(*} Speaking of Spunk & Sass...we have some exciting news there too! We now own www.spunkandsass.com!! If you type that in, it will bring you to our Etsy store. Pretty cool right? I was talking to one of my co-workers awhile ago about buying my domain names for the blog and the store and he said it was a good idea. Then yesterday I was telling him how I bought the blog domain. He comes into my office asking me about the store domain and if I was going to buy it. I told him yes, but wasn't sure how to go about getting it. (Buying this blog one through Google was much easier). He told me to see if it was taken, I told him it wasn't, but he told me to just type in spunkandsass.com. I did and BAM there's my store. I was confused for a minute and then realized what happened! He said he didn't want me to lose the domain so he went ahead and got it. I tried to reimburse him, but he refused. He said "Happy Holidays!" I love random acts of kindness - especially since yesterday wasn't the best of days.

{whew. that was a long one}

{*} Before we got married, Hubby worked the summers on ships for a friend of his Dad's. In 2007 he worked the whole summer, even spent a month in China. I think I saw him 11 days out of the whole summer. He told me that there's a lot of potential work next summer and he's going to go. He said there won't be any long China trips, but lots of small trips. I can't deny that they money won't be nice, because it will be. We could do (will do) so much with that money. It just sucks that he will be gone so much. He's already gone a lot with coaching during the school year, so summer is when I really get to see him. I guess I'm just pouting...

{*} Oh it's finally the Christmas season. I'm so happy!! I love Christmas! It's such a happy and joyous season. I'm enjoying all the Christmas music (now that it's December). I have a few more things to make for Christmas and then it's time to start wrapping! I have a fun Christmas post coming...

{*} I'm possibly thinking of another makeover for the blog here. What do y'all think? Do you like it how it is? What would you like to see? Questions? Comments? With Gussy's amazing color suggestions, I'm thinking of going for a vintage/romance theme...

{*} The last two years, my friends and I have gotten together in December and we bake. It's our Cookie Day. Well it's this Saturday and I'm very excited! I have all my stuff planned out. I'm not actually baking per say, but I'm making some food items. Can you imagine 3 girls sharing ONE oven? Not. Pretty. So I don't bake :) I hope to take lots of pictures.

{*} Next to Heaven's new blog domain seems to be working properly, so please update your reader or whatever you use, your bookmarks etc. to www.nexttoheavenblog.com. No worries though, the old blogster domain will direct you here. No lost readers at Next to Heaven!

{*} So...I have some more good news...I ordered my digital SLR last weekend!! I keep checking my e-mail to see if it shipped yet! I am soooo ridiculously excited!!

{*} I'll wrap this up with saying thanks to all of my wonderful blog readers for your readership and sweet comments. You have made this blogging experience even more gratifying than I ever thought possible. Thank you!

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Growing up...

We're growing up over here at Next to Heaven.

How so?

Well I decided to buy my own domain name for my blog!

The order is processing, but soon you will be able to go to www.nexttoheavenblog.com to get here! {edit: it looks like it's working for me}

No worries, blogger is kind enough to send over everyone using the old URL http://valeriecesari.blogspot.com.

Thanks for the encouragement Eyegirl & Gussy!

I am very excited and interested to see how it all works out! Now to learn more about html and making websites!!

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Monday Mantra {11.30}

This week it's hard to be back at work.
I believe that if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all!
I'm addicted to mint M&M's!
I wish that it will be a good week.
I'm jealous of no one and nothing.
Soundtrack/Mantra for the week It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Happy Monday!

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Happy Thanksgiving

Whew! Five days goes by awfully fast. I was so looking forward to my five days of vacation and while they were great, here I sit Sunday evening still not quite ready to go back to work tomorrow. Oh well. When are you ever really?

So here's my Thanksgiving recap...in pictures!

Wednesday night, Hubby and I made my infamous green beans for Thanksgiving. Don't they look scrumptious??

Thanksgiving day we got up early to head to the in-laws and help cook. We hung out with family and ate lots and lots of good food.

The Table set up - we had 13 people

The dessert table...YUM

(The second picture is my step-mom's delicious pumpkin roll and the 3rd picture is her caramel apple pie!! They are my favorites!)

Hubby and his brother (a firefighter & EMT) were in charge of the turkey frying. We fried 2 turkeys...a Cajun butter flavor and a garlic flavor.

Some family pictures...

All the Cesari kids on the left and my sisters-in-law and I on the right.

Then some pictures of Hubby and I...

Here is a picture of their neighbor's dog that always hangs out at my in-law's house...

She's a real sweetie!!

Then there's my wonderful parents!

They are the BEST!

Then...somehow or another...we ended up taking Sake shots after dinner...

Yea....

So needless to say I had a really wonderful Thanksgiving with my family and I hope you did too!

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