Thursday's Thoughts

Random of course. Would you really expect anything else!?

I’m excited for…
Our New Year’s Eve party! What is there not to love about friends, fun and a little bubbly? And maybe we’ll even show Dick Clark some love. Here's to an awesome 2011 full of new experiences!

Andre! Only the classiest of all champagnes:).

Source

I’m wishing for…
A vacation! Our last vacation together was to Mexico eight months ago. I tend to get the itch about twice a year:). So, I’m thinking it’s time to plan a trip. Winter ski trip? Summer Napa trip? Hmmm…not sure what we we'll plan this year, but something is in store!

I’m disliking…
Time Warner cable! Why does cable have to be so freakin’ expensive!? We went to get another box for our basement and my jaw dropped when they told me how much it was going to be for the box and a DVR. Needless to say, we just got the box. I’m cheap and wasn’t willing to pay. Don’t worry, Time Warner’s retention department will be receiving a call from Mrs. Moody.

I’m digging…
My new scarves! The infinity one I got for Christmas and the one I received at Roback’s Scarf Exchange. Love em!

I’m disappointed with…
Me and my lack of motivation to work out. I just can’t seem to find any. Maybe it’s the holidays or my laziness, but I need a swift kick in my you-know-what! This is why planned beach vacations are great, they give you a reason to get motivated.

I’m looking forward to…
Our road trip to Dallas for my cousin’s wedding. We will be traveling and bunking with my brother and his sweet girlfriend. Maybe my brother and I can get in a huge fight over the Alphabet game like we always did when we were kids. LOL. I was always accused of cheating! Probably so…

I’m missing…
Flip flops, sun dresses and the lake. Nuff said. Oh, and good TV. Come back shows!

I’m thankful for…
A great job and a great company to work for. After three and half years, I am still amazed at how valued I feel!

Friends and family. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen and a laugh to share.

Love. The kind that makes your insides turn and inspires you to be a better person. And no matter what you do that might conflict it, it surprises you, respects you, and brings you back to what really matters. Cheesy? Yes. But, I can’t help it. I cherish what I have and like to shout it from the rooftop!

Happy Thursday everyone! But it's really my Friday! Woot Woot!

Quick Fix

Wouldn't it be awesome if dogs could talk?

Jake makes me laugh enough with his needy personality, but if he could talk, I know our conversations would be hysterical.

Well, according to my husband, him and Jake do have conversations. There are times when we will be in a tiff, and I will hear Brian talking to someone in the other room. When I say "who are you talking to?", he responds with, "I am talking to Jake, not you, and he told me that you need to lose the Biddle-tude."

If Jake could really talk, I think he would tell us how much he needs a friend. And how insanely bored he is during the day when he is all alone.

He loves to be around people so much, and at all times, that he just couldn't resist breaking the neighbor's fence pickets multiple times to avoid from being all by himself.

There's our newly installed fence pickets from the ones he broke through

 

And the neighbor's new pickets

Sadly, this stint caused us to make multiple trips home for three days straight (Note: that's a 22 mile commute each way people!). On the third day, as Brian made his second trip home for the day, he made a decision for a quick fix. An electric fence.

This was Brian installing it last week, after work, in the dark and the cold.

He's happy to stop inconveniencing our neighbor.

And yes, that's maximum power. Don't worry, I made him turn it all the way to the left after this pic.

Poor Jake. All he wants is a friend.

Taken as Brian was installing, "What mom? Just don't leave me and this wouldn't be a problem."

You'll be happy to hear that the fence is working wonders. The neighbor hasn't experienced any Jake sitings for days.

Looking Beyond the Details

As the Christmas hype settles and the decorations slowly move back into boxes, I sit and think about the valuable time I just spent with my family.

Family. Such a precious gift I am so blessed to have. Loved ones that provide me support. Support that so many people in this world do not have.

While I may have dreaded having to spend more than 12+ hours in the car to make it to all five Christmases, and the constant rush to bounce from one place to another, I wouldn't exchange the small amount of time I got to spend with each of my family members.

Life is simply too short to pay attention to the details. Did I get to spend enough time with my dear granny on Christmas day? No. Did we hug and kiss our parents enough when we left? Nope. Did I get to have a conversation with all 35+ family members at my Grandpa and Grandma's? Of course not.

What really matters is the time we did get to spend with them. The time that I am cherishing now.

So much effort goes into the Christmas season -- decorating, crafting, baking, thinking, shopping, wrapping, planning, mailing, giving, traveling, receiving, eating, drinking, and being merry, of course.

It's quite a lot of work. And very time consuming. But, I love it all. Because it's all worth it.

So, our holiday went a little something like this:

5 Christmases
1. Oklahoma border, at the Ranch: Christmas with Brian's Dad & Lori
2. Wichita: Christmas with Momma and Daddy B, siblings and 8 nieces and nephews
3. Ark City: Christmas with Granny M
4. Winfield: Christmas with Grandpa & Grandma B
5. Wichita: Christmas wtih Momma K

Now, I didn't get many pics of the fam. I'm still trying to find an easier way of pulling out my camera at family and friend gatherings without everyone looking at me with a "Really Krista? Do we have to take a picture?" look.

We didn't get to enjoy a white Christmas like last year, but I did enjoy not getting stuck in a trench of snow while driving out of Madison, KS and having to get pulled out by a tractor. Thanks snow, I needed the break this year.

Most of these are from our Christmas Eve hunt. At first, I was really disappointed with the drab scenery I had to work with. But once I looked beyond the details, I captured some pretty decent Kansas inspired shots.

 Headed out to the hedge rows 

Jake was super excited after being away from hunting for a year

 Rainfall from the night before

 On point

Skinny jeans tucked into hunting books, classy

 Brothers

 The city dog's still got it

Handsome hubs

Ace makin' a run for it 

 The three musketeers spotting quaily birds

 My brother, Granny, me and Brian

 Dad, Granny, Mom 

Sisters

My nephews



I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas as much as I did!

Memoir Monday

Time for a Memoir Monday post to recap our fun filled weekend! Link up with Mrs. Ruby on Mondays if you want to join in.

We actually went out both Friday and Saturday this weekend. Crazy, huh? Yeah, you're telling me. I was shocked that my typical old lady conscious allowed me to. I have reached a point in my life that I can honestly say (and I'm ok with it), I'm getting old. I just can't handle what I used to. Now, that doesn't mean I won't partake in any fun or kick back a few too many or anything, it's just different these days.

I saw a feature on Lady Gaga on TV the other day and was shocked when they said she was born in 1986. I couldn't believe I was older. I know it's only by a couple years, but I was certain she was older. Sigh.

Anyways, are there any other women out there who can't wait for Fantasy Football to be over? I swear. I have never seen something consume my husband's time, thoughts and everyday conversation more than this. And yes, I have complained about this before.

Don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic that he already locked up $470 for winning the regular season in one of his leagues. But really, I'm pretty over it.

Oh, we got our couch delivered today!! It's absolutely amazing and we can't wait to really enjoy it after the holidays. We still need to finalize the decor and get a cable box for that room, but I promise to upload pics once it's complete.

Speaking of holidays, this is what we have been munching on for the past two days. Thanks to our fellow Shawnee friends! Don't worry, it was just delivered yesterday and it's almost gone. Not kidding. Yep, goin' straight to my ass. That's what New Years resolutions are for, right?

OK, enough rambling. Here's some photos from our weekend.

 Mark, you could have smiled, C'mon!

Missing Kauffman show at Sunset Grill.

 Kelly and Ryan were in town from NYC!!

Christmas Joy

I've been slacking on blogging.

Holiday parties galore, Christmas shopping, making holiday gifts, long hours at work, and more challenges with our problem fur-baby.

But the hustle and bustle this time of year sure doesn't make me love it any less.

Even if Brian and I are the only ones to fully enjoy our holiday decor, it just brings a smile to my face. It's such a joyous season.

The Small Touches:

One of the things I love most about Christmas decor is you can turn something so simple into a beauty. Like taking ornament balls and other embellishments and placing them in vases and bowls.

Love it.

 Adding inexpensive decorative pieces to lighted garland.

Christmas decor is not complete without a wreath. I made this one last year for under $12.  

My Favorite Decorations:

What can I say? I have some that I like more than others. This little ceramic JOY sits on our mantle and reminds me how joyful this season is.

My front step snowman that I am obsessed with. Just ask Brian, he makes fun of me because I refer to him as a person in conversation.

K-State Snowman. Love him. 

The cutest little Christmas themed bird house that my mom and I made together last year. Made from a couple pieces of wood, old roof shingles, a pine cone, branches and berries from the yard, paint and puffy snow putty. I think I love it the most because it's original. My mom deserves all the credit for creativity. It was all her idea. Thanks mom!

My brass wire reindeer who greets me each day as he sits on the fireplace ledge.

A button tree. So simple, yet so easy on the eyes. This was another one of my DIY crafts this year.

Gold glittery snowman and sleigh. The sleigh functions as an added place to store cards.

All about the Sparkle, and The Tree:

We don't really have sentimental ornaments or ornaments that we have collected over the years. We just haven't ever received many. So, for now, our tree is color-coordinated: Gold, Bronze, Brown and White. It may be a little matchy-matchy, but I love it. Lots of sparkle.

Thought I would pass along a tree ribbon tip I just learned this year. Last year, I draped the ribbon as most do (I think) by wrapping it around the tree  from top to bottom giving it a striped look. Well, this year, I cut the pieces of the ribbon into approx. 3 ft. strips and intertwined them throughout the tree. I just love the way it turned out!

Gifts & Giving:

Shopping for gifts can be stressful. It just makes me crazy when I can't come up with something great to get someone. That aside, I love gift wrapping and seeing the smiles a gift brings to anyone's face.

Not to mention all the fun wrapping paper and gift tags. Speaking of gift tags, here's an idea I used for some of my tags this year. Save the Christmas cards you receive each year and turn them into tags. All of these below were cut out from last year's Christmas cards. I just love it when I can save money and be green!

Cute little penguins! Does this one look familiar Heather? :)

Holiday Cards:

I LOVE holiday cards. I love sending them, receiving them and displaying them. Here's our holiday card from this year.  

 

 Merry Christmas everyone!

What do you do in your home that brings you JOY during this holiday season?