Bright Lights, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

As we drove over the mountain on our way to my grandma's house we could see the lights of the city below.  I was mesmerized.  I was also convinced that something marvelous and amazing was happening.  "Someday we are going to grow up and go down there and have fun," I whispered to my cousin sitting next to me in the car.

Bright and shiny equaled fun and exciting and happy and amazing to me as a kid.  And to be completely honest, it all still does.  I mean yeah I know it can be all kinds of depressing in a sad empty but bright lights Las Vegas story kind of way.  And that city my cousin and I went "clubbing" in when we were all grown up wasn't that amazing.  But all those feelings aside, I still believe in the magical, marvelous-ness of lights.  

Aren't we supposed to get in touch with our inner child at Christmas time?  My inner child believes that bright and shiny equals fun and exciting and happy and amazing.  And I am living in the perfect Christmas town for that.

I can't be the only one that loves lights and more lights.  There was quite a crowd on Light Up Night.

The great part about it all is I don't have to wait until I grow up to go enjoy the lights of the city.  Nope, I can walk down every night between 6 p.m. and midnight to enjoy the glow.  It may not be very green but I love it.  Shine on Christmas town, shine on.  Shiny and bright lights do equal something amazing and marvelous, they do, they do.  I know that, or at least I believe that for sure right now.

Here's what else I know for sure (right now):

• We are a multicolored lit tree family.  But there is a debate out there, which side are you on? multicolored or white lights.  Here are two articles that are not only hilarious, but just might sway you one way or the other.  
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The case for multicolored is made in this aptly titled piece- White Christmas Lights Suck. Multicolored Are Better.  The author says "there's just something a little magical about bringing a big, riotous burst of color to a random corner of your living room, or your front porch, or strung across your kitchen window."

Here's what is being said about the other kind of lights in an article titled White Christmas Lights Are the Only Real Kind of Christmas Lights. The writer eloquently puts it like this: "Not to mention, white lights are classy as fuck. They work with everything. They let your decorations shine. They look like snow. They look like ice. They look like candles. They look like Christmas."

• Photobombs are still funny especially when they are done by a creepy Batman mug.  

And yes, I did have a little hot cocoa with my whipped cream.

• I know I will be seeing this movie Saving Mr. Banks this Christmas.  It looks so good.

• Speaking of Christmas, because yeah I've been speaking about it a lot here.  Anyway, check out my latest vlog link up with Mama Kat.  It's all about finding the magic in the chaos. (Be warned, my voice is a little creepy in the beginning.)

• We shopped small this past weekend in our little downtown before the big light up night.  I love supporting small businesses (with my small purchases).

• Math can be beautiful. Yeah, I just said that.  Look, I don't just not like math, I hate it.  It's like a foreign language that I will never learn.  My algebra teacher (who was also the head of the math department in my high school) famously told me "I give up" when trying to help me.  But that doesn't mean that I don't marvel at math and those people that love it and speak the language.  This video shows just how beautiful math can be. (I found the video via DesignMom.com.)

• I may get a tad overwhelmed with social media at times, but I still f-ing love Twitter.  Come play with me @AngelaYBlood.

• This is truth.

Source: Pinterest

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. 

Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page or on Twitter.

Please come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed. 

I'm linking up today with my friends Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Robin from FarewellStranger.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones. 

Check them out.

Elfing & Holiday Rules

I know there are lots of opinions about the old Elf on the Shelf.    Some people get sort of waaaaay too into it.  Some people think those people are dumb.  Some people get really angry about elfing.  

It seems that we either do too much or not enough, not just with the elf but with anything holiday-ish.  Everybody feels really strongly about what we all should be doing and saying during the holidays. I mean the outrage over stores being open on Thanksgiving was kind of nuts to me.  And saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, don't get those folks started.  

I have strong feelings about things.  I feel very strongly that if it brings joy to your family and doesn't hurt anyone, do it.  If you listen to Christmas music in October, shop on Thanksgiving and meticulously plan the antics of the Elf on the Shelf every damn day in December and it doesn't make you mean and overstressed and hateful, do it.  It's not my jam, but that's cool.

Some people may be appalled that we knighted? anointed? nominated? well, anyway, we picked an old toy to be our Elf on the Shelf.  Last year, a random WWE wrestling action figure became our elf Keith Babu.  The kids got totally into it.  It was fun, funny and brought our family joy.

So we decided to do it again this year...

We shortened Keith's name to K.B. this year. Lucy made his outfit.  K.B. is wearing an old sock and a belt made of twine.

Last night, we had an elf evening.  There was a theme dinner based on the movie Elf.  

Lots of syrup, lots of sugar.  Don't worry I made them a veggie tray for their after school snack.

JT trying to be just like Buddy. 

Syrup in a fancy gravy boat thing? Yeah we got that.

After everyone was hyped up with a good sugar buzz, we performed our elf magic/naming ceremony. 

It's part Survivor elimination ceremony, part fish tank initiation in Nemo and part crazy loud kids and candles.  It's all goofy and fun and we love it.

I guess it's part National Honors Society too.  Doesn't it look like Tim is in one of those?  Or at least that's what I picture it like anyway, never made it to one. Waaaaa.

Even the stuffed animals get in on the ceremony.

Yeah this happened.(Lucy is on the drum in the background.)




Then we watched the movie Elf together.  

It was a perfect night, for us.  It's not everyone's jam, and that's cool.

Do what works for you and enjoy the holidays.  


I linked up with Mama Kat for my thoughts on the chaos of Christmas.  Check it out.

What about you guys?  What's your jam?  Do you elf?  What's your favorite Christmas tradition?

DIY Ornaments & Pinterest Poser Challenge

I am not a huge Christmas fan.  That's not totally true.  I love parts of the holiday season.  I love the baking and the crafting and the holiday special watching.  I love the thinking about others, giving to those in need and spending time with the people we love.

Over the Thanksgiving break, the kids and I got a headstart on our Christmas crafting.  This week's Pinterest Challenge* highlights that my kids aren't posers either. 

Together we made some really cute ornaments for our tree and to give as gifts.

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.**

This project was really easy.  We grabbed extra boxes we had in the basement, drew letters we wanted and then started cutting.

The festive snowman scissors were pure coincidence.

I dumped regular old glue in a plastic bowl and Wade used a paintbrush to paint the glue on the letters.

Costumes while crafting are optional, Wade just loves to be Buzz Lightyear.

Lucy sprinkled glitter on the letters after they had been painted with glue.

An important step we missed was punching holes in the letters before the glue paint and glitter.  Ours worked out after, but I think it would have been better looking and easier to do the holes before.

Let the letters dry and then insert string in the holes and tie however you want.  Then hang on your own Christmas tree or give one away as a small gift or tied to the present's gift tag.

This project cost me zero dollars because we had all of the supplies in our craft cabinet.  I love projects that cost me zero dollars. Merry Christmas indeed.

I loved the simplicity of these sweet clay ornaments that I pinned from this site.   Not wanting to buy clay, I searched for recipes for homemade clay that you can bake.  I found some good ones and then just made it my own and made it gluten free!

Homemade Gluten Free Clay Recipe:
2 cups of gluten free flour
1 cup of salt
2 Tbsp. of vegetable oil
1 cup of water

Directions:
Mix the flour and salt together.
Add the oil and then slowly add the water until it forms a clay consistency.

(some sites suggested brushing egg yolk on the shapes before baking, we didn't do that for this project)

After making our clay, we rolled it out like we were baking cookies.  Wade actually tried a small piece and spit it out promptly, um did you see how much salt is in that clay? 

We rolled our claydough out flat until it was about 1/4 of an inch thick.  To make the ornaments, the thinner the better as they tend to puff up a bit in the oven.  

We used our Christmas cookie cutters to make shapes for our ornaments.  We chose stars and trees.

 Then using an old paint brush we poked holes in the tops for the ribbon.

The web site that I pinned used a stamp for the lettering and I highly recommend that. I will be doing that next time.  But for this project, I used an old pencil (w/out lead) to write the words.  

We put the ornaments on a cookie sheet and baked them in a 250 degree oven for well over an hour.  We originally baked them for about 20 minutes, but this was not long enough.  Again, I warn against ornaments that are too thick because they do puff up a little and can get cracked while baking.

If you want you can paint them after they've cooled.  We decided to leave them mostly plain and simple.  

We tied a ribbon through and cut a small sprig off of our Christmas tree for a little flair.  

We did outline JOY on a few of them.  The artistic idea goes to Tim who had the idea.  I love the way they turned out too.

This was another project that cost me zero dollars and I love how they turned out. Now I am really feeling holly, jolly.


Have you made anything on Pinterest lately? Any holiday projects?  Share what worked and what didn't, leave a comment here or on my Facebook page.

Come on over and follow my Pinterest boards too.

Here are some of the projects I've already attempted, the good and the bad:

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here
Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here

Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.

It's Christmas Time

This past weekend was full of not one but two Thanksgivings, a Christmas tree farm, a couple of movies, a sick kid, a sick grown up, accidentally ending up in Target on Black Friday to buy cereal and "kill time," gaining at least five pounds, snow storms, shopping small, yelling, a few crying kids, a crying adult (me of course, waaaa), craft making, cookie baking, naps, late nights, decorating, football games, bickering kids, bickering grown ups, plans that worked out better than expected, plans that totally fell apart, lots of pie, lots of laughter, lots of forgiveness and lots of love. Phew. Just a typical Thanksgiving weekend I guess.

And now holy shit, it's Christmas time.

No One Hallucinated
We survived my mother's house.  No hallucinations, no ambulances.  
I spent most of the day holding my breath, waiting for something to go wrong or for one of my kids to break one of the 532,015 Santas my mother has displayed.  If there is an inch of space anywhere, my mother will find  it and put something there, preferably something with fabric that can absorb as much cigarette smoke as possible making the scent stick around for as long as possible, maybe forever.

As I had hoped, my children rose to the occasion.  They were kinder, calmer, sweeter than usual.  I swear to you, it's like they just know without me explaining everything.  They know it's complicated.  They sort of even know it's sad.  They are sensitive to her and to me.   I couldn't have been more thankful for their compassion. 

"I know where Grammy keeps her smokes and her teeth, " JT told me when we were on our way out the door.  He seemed sort of mesmerized by the whole situation.

When we got in the minivan to leave I finally exhaled, relieved that we made it through without anyone crying.  I asked Tim to stop to get me a Diet Coke.  He didn't.  And I cried. 

"How could you not stop for a Diet Coke, you don't love me, nobody does!," I cried into my sweater that reeked of stale cigarette smoke.  Whoa. Yeah, I was crying about waaaaay more than a Diet Coke.

Pokey Made It Home
Fifteen years ago when I moved to Michigan, my boss gave me her artificial Christmas tree.  We have used it every year since then.  It worked.  But this year, we decided to change things up and go to cut down our own tree.  

Off to the Christmas tree farm we went.  And um, they are really f#&@ing expensive.  My kids found beautiful trees for $140 and $120.  Beautiful trees that really weren't amazingly tall and wide.  "What about this one?," I pointed to a Charlie Brown-ish tree being ignored in the corner.  "It's only $40!"

We compromised and found a decent tree with a pretty big chunk out of the side for around $70. 

Feeling proud of ourselves for finding a decent tree, not hurting anyone with the saw and starting a new tradition we made our way to the parking lot.  

Oh yeah, my man, look at him all big and strong.  Big Daddy went out in the woods and got us a Christmas tree. 

The parking lot was full of families that knew what they were doing.  Throwing their new trees up on the roof, swiftly tying them securely and merrily singing Christmas carols as they drove off down the lane.  

We struggled to get ours on the roof. 

Uh-oh, Big Daddy doesn't know how to tie the tree to the minivan. Whomp. Whomp.

The kids were busy wrestling.  

Lucy is so above that wrestling bullshit.

Tim and I tied the ropes incorrectly and they snapped.  Then Tim snapped at all of us a little.  I might have said something a little less than merry back to him.  The family singing Jingle Bells in the car next to us looked horrified.  My kids didn't even notice because they were having a blast beating the crap out of each other.

"Do you think Pokey will make it home?,"  asked JT looking up from the dog pile in the minivan.  

"Who's Pokey?," I asked.

"Our tree, I named him Pokey because of his pokey needles," he explained.

I am happy to report that Pokey made it home.  Because holy shit, it's christmas time.

Awwww, look at Pokey all dressed up
and ready for Christmas time.

Are you ready?  Because ready or not it's here, it's Christmas time.  It's time to get excited.