Finally!

We have a Patty and Dennis tradition of going to the King Of Prussia Mall during the last few days before Christmas. Today was our King Of Prussia day! Den fortified us with his speciality pre shopping breakfast...hot ham on toast! Yum! Then...armed with cell phones and cross body bag...comfy UGGs and loose fitting clothing...we were off! It's about a 45 minute drive...we expected crowded highways, parking lots and lots of people and that's exactly what we got. Once there we separate and check in with each other at one hour intervals!

At the hour exactly we were both done so we met outside of Nordstrom's for a fortifying drink. We had a Roobios Chai Latte and a cup of edamames! We walked the mall one more time..bought Lucy presents and were ready for our lunch adventure!

We drove another half hour to El Sarape...a teeny tiny fresh and most amazing Mexican restaurant. Food is exquisite...margaritas amazing...and now we are home...in loungey clothes in front of the tree!




Happy Saturday Night!

Hurray!

Our teeth are great...white and shiny and healthy...until July...we are safe until July!
Whew!
This good news enabled me to eat two butter caramels made by local artisans and some peanut crunchy stuff that I would normally never eat. I probably started a cavity event and I will regret my weakness. Sigh! Oh well...there are still quite a few buttery caramels left! I will give them to the geese...later...




Today we are finally decorating the tree...it's been in the living room for over a week...plain, empty, sad! Today we will happy it up! I am considering allowing Den to use his beloved colored lights rather than my white fairy lights. This is still being debated...pleasantly...Den and Lucy want colored lights...Jake, Jack (finches) and Patty need more convincing! Lol...I love this holiday!

Have a lovely Friday!

Seriously?

We have 6 month dental appointments today! It is just not right...because our dentist is far away and Den likes us to go together...we end up with checkups a few days before Christmas...and again at the Fourth Of July...so not right!

No cookies or a bite of anything sweet for days because I am always sure that he can tell...there are far too many dentists in my family...I have worn wire braces with rubber bands once, Invisalign braces once and I will wear a retainer nightly for forever plus my bottom front teeth are wired together...in the back...I know...TMI?

Sorry...

I have tooth issues from way back! I won't even tell you about my whitener addiction...mild but still there! Plus I am a constant brusher...I blame my mom for this one...I even brush on a plane!

Boy was this a difficult shot to take...but this is what wearing braces and a retainer and having your bottom teeth wired together will do! Lol...please do not laugh!





After the dentist we are spending the day decorating the tree...finally...and I am either making the Pioneer Woman's Short Ribs...



or...we are going to the Italian district to eat pasta and drive around to look at the lights...this is our favorite place...Mrs. Robino's!



Lights!



Happy Thursday...I have dental anxiety!

Hmmm...

I think that I am not going to read anything else that I am supposed to read until January...I just don't care and I really don't feel like it...I am not writing reviews or stressing over timelines. I don't feel like it!

It's the holidays!

I want to look at our tree and wrap presents and sit quietly and think about my mom and dad and how my dad loved Christmas and decorating and his kids.

I want to read what I want to read...whenever I want to read it. Hurray!
I have read over 180 books this year...isn't that enough?

We have movies to go to and traditions to keep and baking to do and menus to plan!
It's time to chill...

And we still have a bare tree and no candles in the windows!

The trip to Ohio made us postpone decorating the tree...then Den left for two days...oh me oh my!

Den has been away for a company event...his vacay officially starts when he walks in the door tonight with Mexican food!

And he will take off a few days in January...for movies when everyone is back in school!

Today I am wrapping presents and reading Dare Me...thanks, Kathy!

But...right now...I am snuggled in bed with coffee and the book I want to read! Feels yummy!

Our holiday front door! That darn pink thing is my IPad cover! Sorry! I was outside in my jammies this morning taking that photo!

Over The River...Really!

We were at my sister's house this week end...a 6 hour drive away...and really over a river! I grew up in the this small town where my sister still lives. We walked to everything in our town and everything we needed was there. I loved growing up there. The town was built because of a steel mill...USSteel which is now gone but it is sort of a bedroom community to other areas. Someone told me once that the high school in our town produces more doctors, teachers, and nurses than anywhere in Ohio because there is no other industry. Eventually more and more people move back there. At the present time there is not a lot anywhere if you want to build a house. There is an 11 acre parcel near the old mill owned by...yep...a retiring local doctor. Someone in my sister's husband's family wants to buy it...there is a house on the property and a natural gas well...it is being offered for a pittance...it's amazing...seriously. My sister's husband's family is filled with doctors...a staggering amount. They are all either living in our town or working to move back. So...my sister's house is the hub...we were just there for 2 nights but there were people there partying all of the time! Eating, talking, laughing, eating again...I don't know how my sister does it! But it was so much fun. Exhausting but fun!

I am posting a few photos of her collections...Santas and snowmen every where!

Tree...


Piano Santas...


Fireplace Santas...


Hutch Santas...these doors belonged to our grandfather...I have two of them, too. Her husband made her a hutch...mine are still peely white and I have mine leaning with quilts on them.


Bookshelf Santas...


Front door Santas...


Dining room Santas...


Reading now...boarding school, angst and bad stuff happening...love this kind of book.



I am exhausted! Lucy is happy to have us back...she had a sitter but she didn't see us for one entire day...we still have an undecorated tree, packages to wrap, and cards to send...but this is a down day. I am staying put and catching up.

Do you have a lot to do this week? Happy Tuesday!

I Loved Tempestuous!

My " in a nutshell" summary...

Miranda...schemer and creative thinker...has schemed herself into a punishment so horrible she can almost not bear it...she sells hot dogs at a fast food court at her local mall.

My thoughts after reading this book...

Hmm...a mall lock down due to a huge snow storm, sweet Geeky boys, Nerdy gamers, a home schooled new besty, mean girls, an ex boyfriend, a boy band impromptu concert, glitter and glue filled baggie warfare...are just a few of the hysterically funny events that take place during one evening at the mall! Did I mention a budding love interest, a surprising robber and deep fried hot dogs? And...seriously...I am just touching on the events of that night.

Whew!

Miranda's status at her elite high school has been seriously downgraded from popular girl to pariah. A clever plan to pair studious students as tutors to popular not so studious students has back fired. She has lost her friends, her boyfriend and her freedom. To pay back her debt she is now working as a hot dog vendor at her local mall. The storm prevents everyone from leaving and while everyone is locked in...someone is robbing the mall's computer and jewelry stores. Crazy events ensue while Miranda comes up with a multitude of "sneaky plans and clever tricks" to get even with her old friends and catch the bad guy at the same time.

What I loved about this book...

The characters were my favorites in this book. They might have been a little over the top...for instance...ex besty Rachel's fear of rabbits...Leporiphobia...so Ariel...Miranda's new besty and co worker...steals a bunny from the pet store and places it in an elevator with Rachel...Rachel panics and the elevator shuts down. This plan is of course masterminded by Miranda. But the characters and their antics were fun. Their conversations were fun. And...there was a subtle hint of learning a lesson and doing the right thing and being more tolerant of each other. I liked that. Miranda had issues but I liked that she learned about true friendship and even did some real character building along the way!

What I did not love...

Hmmm...I think I enjoyed it all...it was a fun clever book. The writing was spot on. I loved the book's fast pace. I engaged with the characters. I had fun!

Final thoughts...

I think this is a fun good book! I think it is probably appropriate for middle graders, too!
Great pacing and a lively plot makes it a must read!

Happy Monday!




We are driving home from Ohio right now...we have been at my sister's for a lovely visit. This includes caroling, food and imbibing of holiday drinks! My sister's house is the holiday happening house for friends and family! It has been a lively weekend!

Too Much Going On...

We are in and out...this is a busy week end.

We are visiting family and life is a bit rushed.

Things will be back to normal on Monday!

As a teacher...of small children...my heart aches...that Friday after the concert at their school...the feel of the day would have been quiet excitement...it should have been a beautiful day...a peaceful day...