every rose has its thorn

cool quote...

found this one engraved in one of the huge fireplaces at the grove park inn...and how true it is!

Christmas 2008

where did it go?

this year, Christmas seemed to just come and go so quickly. maybe it is because we are getting older or maybe it is because i have worked so ridiculously hard that it just passed me by. (NOT a good thing.) regardless, the celebrations were wonderful and the memories priceless.

this year, jeff had to work on Christmas day, so we took off to Asheville for a mini-vacation the weekend before. we found an AWESOME cabin on a little river and had ourselves a grand ole' time...we got our shopping done (shopping in Asheville is awesome), we baked cookies, we played Scrabble (which is a first...I don't think we've ever sat still long enough to play Scrabble together!). Oh, and we went to the Grove Park Inn.

bleh.

I am so glad we decided against staying at the grove park for the long weekend because based on our experience with the Sunday brunch there, we were less than impressed. It was overpriced, okay food, and HORRIBLE service. i would not go back. we ate quietly with empty tea glasses next to a dust covered window sill, went and checked out their Christmas trees and gingerbread houses and got the heck out of there. it was not on the top of my "good" list. and to think it is rated one of the nation's top 10 hotels...... ish! give me cracker barrel any day!

Christmas Eve was at our house with my family, complete with a big spaghetti dinner and too many presents.

I spent Christmas Day by myself since Jeff was working. It sounds lonely and all "woe-is-me," but it was actually quite nice. I slept in, enjoyed my coffee (multiple cups) and made myself a good breakfast. I got to sit still and that was the nicest part of it all.

Christmas night was spent at Jeff's aunt Becky's house, where we had a fabulous dinner (thanks again, Becky!!) and played some of Bryce's cool games. and of course, MORE presents!

we usually do the day after Christmas at my grandparents house in westminster, but Papa had bronchitis this year, so we postponed it till the weekend. The tradition is that Grandmama makes her wonderful vegetable soup and we have all kinds of other goodies--weenies in the crockpot, ham, sausage balls, dips, mmm mmm.

All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas and we hope yours was, too!

enjoy just a few of our pics from Christmas '08!

our tree...take 2. (the 1st time we put it up we blew the fuses on all the lights!!)

at our house, Elvis is always in the building...

Christmas in the creek: our backyard @ the cabin in asheville

a cute coffeehouse gingerbread house at the grove park inn...it's all edible!

our general thoughts on the grove park inn:

maggie and wickett getting ready for Christmas eve at our house

somehow mama turned into a blur...but check out the massive amounts of gifts!

mama thinks it's funny to give me back gifts that i've given her over the years, including this penguin...

Christmas morning with my invisible husband. :-(Wickett got a new necklace for Christmas.


Melissa, Greg and Isaac getting ready for presents at Becky's

Isaac gave me this cool Wizard of Oz ornament that has lights and sound!

me, becky and mary jo...triple trouble!
my bro, Zack, learning about his ancestors from Grandmama


All the grandgirls got these apron "thingies" from Grandmama for Christmas this year...
Typical scene at Grandmama's for Christmas

top 8's

Top 8

I got tagged! So here goes!


8 TV shows I like to watch:
1. Intervention
2. Friends
3. Sex and the City
4. The Cosby Show (just can't be beat!)
5. Sweat Equity
6. American Idol
7. The King of Queens
8. The Soup


8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Paesano's
2. Pancake Pantry
3. Saskatoon's
4. Cracker Barrel
5. Olive Garden
6. PF Changs
7. Copper River
8. Triangle

8 things that happened today:
1. I overslept
2. I rushed to get myself ready (thank goodness for this stuff...go get you some!)
3. I made a cup of FABULOUS coffee
4. Filled up with gas (my car, not myself)
5. Gave a presentation at the library
6. Had another cup of coffee with a client and dreamed of taking a nap during the whole conversation
7. Went to dinner with my parents and Jeff at Joe's New York
8. I went to visit my MeMa in the nursing home

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Christmas! (especially Grandmama's soup)
2. the whole family getting together for the holidays
3. restringing the lights on the tree (long story)
4. sleeping in this weekend
5. going to see Twilight--whenever that happens!
6. finishing New Moon
7. a long weekend out of town with Jeff coming up soon
8. planning our next vacation

8 things on my wishlist:
1. to continue fitting in the skinny jeans (then progressing on to the "when was I that skinny?! jeans")
2. a new car, perhaps...
3. a Roomba
4. photography classes after my busy season is over
5. sanity to get me through this month and all it entails
6. for my friend, Justin, to find a job that he loves
7. Europe
8. an abundance of free time

I won't tag 8 people because we all know so many of the same people! Let's just say if you're reading this and you want to put it up on your blog, go for it!!!

halls decked? check.

we've decked the halls, the walls, the stairs... you name it, i've decked it! here's a peek.

elfed!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

i'm thankful for...

things i am thankful for this Thanksgiving:

1. good health. it is heartbreaking to work with older people everyday because there are very few of them who are in perfect health. it really makes one count their blessings to not have anything wrong with them.

2. fabric softener sheets. i'd like to hug whoever invented those. could you imagine if we didn't have them? my hair would be in five different counties.

3. family. 'nough said.

4. friends. more so than ever. over the last few years i have come to realize who my true friends are, as cliche as it may sound.

5. semi-permanent hair color. especially since i found a gray yesterday. oh.my.gosh.

6. good soul music--i'm thankful for people like otis redding and elvis and the temptations and the drifters. they make bad days better.

7. coke zero. i get the coke but without the caffeine, carbs or calories. what more could a girl want?!

8. the traditions that surround the holidays. i love getting all wrapped up in the "traditional" Thanksgiving meals and gatherings and then gearing up for Christmas and all the traditions that surround it.

9. a cozy home and a good job to keep the lights and heat on.

10. my sweet Jeff, who just gets sweeter.

11. time. seems the older i get the more precious it becomes.

happy thanksgiving to you all and may you have the gift of time to sit and think about what you are thankful for--the silly and the serious.

oh, and happy black friday shopping, too!
here's some links to the ads:

www.bfads.net



www.gottadeal.com

face of an angel, pretty eyes that shine...

so one of my favorite singer/songwriters is vince gill. i love his voice, his music, his personality...he is just fabulous to me. my mom called me a couple of months ago and asked if i wanted to go see him in concert---that he was going to be performing an all acoustic show in spartanburg. duh. of course i wanted to go!

so she got online that morning and got the tickets. well, would you believe they were front row seats?!

i must say that it was one of the best concerts i've ever been to. we've seen him before, but this time was completely different. he just sat on an empty stage with 3 band members and half a dozen of his favorite guitars surrounding him and talked to us like we'd been friends for years. he had no playlist, but rather let the audience request his next song. before he'd sing it, though, he would tell us why he wrote it and where his inspirations and stories behind the words came from. it was awesome. i left there feeling like me and ole vince were best pals.

we were close enough to get some great pics and video, but the video seems to be taking too long to upload...

martha moments: breakfast bake

rise and shine!

breakfast bake

6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 pkg. crescent rolls
8 oz. deli ham, cut into pieces
1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded
1 cup mozzarella, shredded

optional: 1/4 to 1/2 cup salsa

Preheat oven to 350. Unroll crescent roll dough and press into bottom of 13x9 casserole dish, eliminating the creases. Sprinkle ham on dough.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk, adding salt and pepper to your liking. Add salsa if you want.

Pour into casserole dish. Top with cheese and bake for 25 minutes at 350.

courtesy of Kraft

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You must click the offer below and log-in or create your account by midnight tonight BUT you have until 11/22 to complete the book and order it.

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martha moments: white chicken chili

This is best when paired with a great football game. :-)

ENJOY.

White Chicken Chili


You'll need:

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small cubes
1 onion, chopped finely
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 T. vegetable or canola oil
1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth
2 cans (15.5 oz size) of great northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chilies
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. black pepper (more if you want)
1/4 tsp. cayenne
1 (8 oz.) cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

In a saucepan, sautee the chicken, onion and garlic powder in your oil until the chicken is cooked. Add beans, broth and chilies. Stir well, then add in all seasonings. Bring to a slow boil.

Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about half an hour. Remove from heat and stir in the cup of sour cream and heavy cream. It's ready to serve immediately! Serve with crushed tortillas or fritos.

**If you want, you can transfer everything (minus the sour cream and heavy cream) into a crockpot on low until you're ready to serve. When you get ready to serve it, just add in the creams.