AM~Erica Finds a Different Way to Remember

So anyway...

It is that time of year, folks. A time of lights, trees, wrapping paper with lovely ribbons & bows, shiny ornaments, get togethers, mad-dash shopping, baking, cooking, photos, big guy in red, Nativity scenes...
Yep. It's Christmastime. Can you feel it?

As much as we love Christmas in our own house, we've been too stressed out & pulled too many directions to ever really enjoy it the last couple of years. We've had a couple of years where we just were having trouble feeling the season's spirit; having trouble finding the meaning.

Don't get me wrong. We KNOW what it's about! There's no mistaking it. We just couldn't get in tune with it. When things are too rushed, too filled, too much to just be able to breathe it in & focus. Then the time is gone...and we are even more disappointed that it's time to pack everything away & we didn't get to...well...just...be.

I'm not exactly sure what became different this year. It just seemed easier to move into this time of year. It's going to fast...but it felt right.

We changed some things. Our main tree set up is different.

That's right. We have a forest. This was actually a fun & awesome idea from my hubby! The big, main tree is actually a tree we've had for several years, it has been set up for the last 3 years (never taken down) downstairs, and now has it's chance to shine as the main tree! I love how it all turned out.
Oh...and our new North Pole-trained wrapping elves, Elof & Winka, have been hard at work so far!

I have also been wanting to do a Scandinavian-style tree since I started researching TO CELEBRATE LEIF ERICSSON DAY! The more I got looking into the Norse & Norwegian celebrations & customs, I was taken by the simplicity of the God Jul trees. So, I worked it where I could have that in my own home!

We had the old popcorn tins, so I set up a couple tiny trees to hold a few more ornaments. It's still a work in progress, but I'm loving how it's coming out!! Maybe more on this set up when it's all done...

Then, if you remember when my mom & daughter went with me to DECORATE A TREE FOR MARILLAC, I had some ornaments left over. Plus, I'd gotten some clearance ornaments for that tree, but couldn't find them when it came time to go decorate. Well...I found a bunch of what I'd gotten (figures), and so I thought I'd use them for the house. I used another tree we had stored to put downstairs. I began to place the browns & golds on & around the tree. I found a golden bird ornament that seemed to be featured. It has this great feather tail! As I finished up, I thought it needed a little something...so...I remembered I had, at one time, purchased some brown, off white, and deep red feathers for some decorating! So I grabbed them & added them to the tree!

Even though some of the lights are out, I'm so happy with this adorable tree. With some of my mom's prompting, I've decided to call it "Fine Feathered Fantasy." It's quite elegant! The pictures don't do it justice.

We also started a tradition a couple of years ago. Each person in the household draws a number (around Thanksgiving-ish). This is the order each person will choose 2 things: a Christmas movie/special & a holiday treat to pair with it. Everyone joins in! No electronics during this time! We do this about once a week up to Christmas, as scheduling allows. This year, I was up first!

We got this really awesome chalkboard, and I was lost as to what to use it for during Christmastime. One side is our countdown...

...then I decided to use the other side to keep everyone apprised of the next family holiday movie/treat thingy.

For my night, I "made" gingerbread cookies & decorated them!

Then served 'em up with egg nog for night #1 2014 as we settled in to watch "Elf"!

I must tell you that I was not a fan of this movie the first time I saw it. However, the more I watch it, the more I love it! It's beginning to move it's way up the list as a favorite!

Oh! And I'm pretty much the only one who really likes gingerbread! But I found Nestle Tollhouse put out ready-made cookie dough sheets! Really...all you have to do is put your cookie cutters to 'em & bake! And? My family LOVED this version of gingerbread! BOOM! I was happy with how the season started off.

That's a way to get the holidays rolling, for sure! Next up will be Lil Guy's picks:

Looking forward to his turn!

As we prepare for that, there was something else that is different about this year. LOSING MY GRANDMOTHER. Man...all the Christmases in my life included her. Even if we had to shuffle a couple things around, we were always at her house to start the last run of Christmas events. This year...we won't. It won't be at her place, anyway.
Part of what made this time difficult was the fact that my grandmother was to turn 94...yesterday. *sigh*
The last few years, the family would gather to celebrate her birthday, and then as part of her gift, I would put up & decorate her Christmas tree.

My grandmother's tree I decorated, circa 2012

With her birthday being in December, and she loved her red birds (the actual bird, not the baseball team), and with her deep spiritual relationship, I came up with a grouping of decor that included "snow", cardinals (some nesting), and an angel topper for her fiberoptic tree. I called it "Heaven and Nature Sing." She loved looking at her red birds accented by the snow. She loved she could see them even if the lights on the tree weren't on.

This year, that didn't happen. And it won't happen. And it's sad.

In the faux forest of Christmas trees that hubby dreamed up, he thought maybe 4 trees. Ambitious, amm-i-rite? But the last one I saved. I decided that I would decorate it on December 4th. I wanted to add poinsettias to it since it's the flower readily associated with December. I also added 4 jingle bell snowman ornaments to this tree. My grandmother gave each of the kids one several years ago...each snowman has one of their names. And now they hang on the memory December tree in her memory. I will be finding at least one cardinal to place on the tree. I should have it soon...or it wouldn't be right.

Last year when we put up her tree, NBC was airing "Sound of Music Live!" We were watching some of it as we put up the tree, at the time we could gather for her birthday. My Lil Guy had trouble remembering that. Not in the fact of remembering...he was sad remembering it. Last year, we didn't know that would be the last time we would be doing that for her. He's still hurting from her loss, too. However, how fitting that NBC would be airing "Peter Pan Live!" on the night I would be decorating the tree in memory of my grandmother.

As I continue to grieve her absence & as we plan onward, we realize there's so much to do! We've got gatherings to attend, we have Christmas programs to put on. I'm even planning on channeling my grandmother as I attempt to make some candies & cookies this year.

We actually have lights up on our house, too! That hasn't happened for a couple of years, either! And...I've got another tree to put up in the kitchen. Be watching for that!

Ah...yes. That time of year is upon us. And this time, I feel merry & bright! Things will be different. But we are making the most of it! Looking forward to continuing on with our beautiful Advent season. My grandmother would want that happen...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

A Good Cause for AM~Erica to Decorate

So anyway...

It's that time of year again! You know...when October is over right a midnight...all the ghouls & goblins are getting tucked in bed from getting & eating so much candy...and then...BOOM! CHRISTMAS!

You see it a little bit before that as holiday decor & gift sets begin to leak into spiderwebs, masks, makeup & pumpkins...but it just takes over come November 1st!

This doesn't bother a few, but for many it can be really irritating. It's like the precious middle child of Thanksgiving GETS PASSED OVER.

I'm not big on that thought. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas! It's just a bit of overkill of commercialism the moment we flip our calendars to November. No breather between the Halloween hype. Just turn around and we are smacked with the hype of commercialist, materialist Christmas stuff.

OK...so the elections happened, too. And I am SO thankful the negativity of the mudslinging ads are done, but I'm talking holidays here.

Now then, even though I'm so irritated by the onslaught of Christmas carols loudly piped thru the grocery stores, along with the sound of actual jingle bells & premature twinkling of lights on trees & wreaths, I did some prep work by buying some ornaments, glittery things, clip-on poinsettias, and a tree. Then I went straight to decorating that tree.

Yes. On November 1st, I fell to decorating a tree. But it's not for my home. We certainly aren't ready for that yet!! Instead, it was for an incredibly important cause!

If you remember a couple of years ago, my mom, daughter & I decorated a tree as part of THE ENCHANTED FOREST. It was such an awesome experience, we did it again!

The Marillac Center is an organization that helps children & teens in the mental health department. No matter what payment can or cannot be, they take these kids in to make sure they are put back on track to be able to function in society without hurting themselves or someone else. And I am so proud to be supporting them! We get to help them with creative contributions so that they may auction off these holiday creations to be able to supplement payment for the families who cannot pay for the treatment of their child's mental health.

Find out more about Marillac HERE

So, with an idea I had about 5 years ago, got the stuff, but never got to use it, I got the chance to recreate the idea this year!! YAY!!

We got an unlit tree, gold bow topper, pine cones, gold curly ting ting, poinsettias, ornaments in deep reds, coppers, browns, add gold ribbon, snowflakes & icicles, you get a beautiful tree called "Warm Winter Splendor"...

It was nice to have Teen Girl in town to help decorate. She was amazing wielding the hot glue gun!! And my mom found some beautiful decorations to add to our gorgeous tree! It was definitely teamwork to get this thing together!

Unfortunately, Teen Girl had to head back to college & could not join us for the decorators' reception. But my mom & I fought the insanity of rush hour traffic & parking to get in to a portion of our reception & so we could enjoy taking in & critiquing the other trees & wreaths. It's what we've done for 20 of the past 22 years. And we snapped some pics of our tree set up...

"Warm Winter Splendor" is one of many trees & wreaths up for bid this weekend ONLY! Bidding happens on site, so if you are in the KC area, you can head over to the Overland Park Convention Center to check out the Enchanted Forest for FREE & to make a bid on some beautifully decorated creations!

You can also purchase a ticket to get in to shop at the Holiday Boutique...which also helps benefit local businesses AND help out Marillac!

And if you need an extra push to get there, I want to tell you what happened when the CEO/President of Marillac sat down with my mom & me at the reception. Lynn Lemke introduced himself, sat down with us, and thanked us for donating a tree. He then when into a brief description of Marillac...and then did something amazing! He told us that he'd spent the evening sharing a different story of a child with every person/group he was speaking with. Then he chose to share this particular story with us:

There was a boy who lost his father to an alcohol-related death. His mom was addicted to drugs. He was living with his grandparents, but needed to be helped for his mental health state. He was having a rough time, and was even suicidal. They worked with him until they could get him back living with his grandparents. And at that point, he had told Marillac that he was looking into maybe a career as a therapist thru music! Isn't that awesome?? But the story doesn't end there...
Mr. Lemke went on to say that there was a Marillac fundraising gala recently. He wanted to find one of the kids to speak at the gala to make the awareness very real. He asked Zack (the boy in the story). The grandparents were asked first, and they agreed as long as Zack felt OK with it. Zack was reluctant, but Mr. Lemke informed him that there would be nothing to be afraid of. He told Zack that we are all failures at some point, and it's OK to say that we have issues. And, even though Zack was still going in for outpatient upkeep treatment now, his story would be a great one to share. Zack agreed to speak in front of 200 people. That night, in front of 350 people at the gala, the sound system didn't work the whole time...that was until Zack got up to speak. The sound system worked perfectly for the 20 minutes he told his story to the crowd. Afterward, person after person after person approached Zack with congratulations for a great job, with gushing encouragement, and so many thank yous for him being so open with his story.
This led to Zack telling Mr. Lemke that this experience changed his mind about a career & is now wanting to be a motivational speaker.

Several things about Zack's story resonated with me. And, if you read about MY OWN STRUGGLES, you will know why it hit me so hard & why I tried not to ugly cry in that moment. Only intervention of the Divine led Mr. Lemke to tell us that particular story.

With my recent advocacy with the AFSP (more info HERE), I am also wanting to do more with Marillac. If we can help these kids early, maybe they can be functional prepared & functional adults.

In God's time was it made aware to me why I felt led to do a tree for Marillac after so many years of just attending. But it took until now to truly understand.

So...won't you go to bid on a tree? Not just "Warm Winter Splendor", but any of the trees &/or wreaths to help such a worthy cause?

By the way...as of last night, there was already a bid...now it's your turn thru Sunday!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica's Grown Up Christmas Wish

So anyway...

The tree is up & decorated...OK, actually 3 are up & 2 are decorated. The stockings are hung, there's been some snow around already, the holiday music has been blaring for longer than most would like, and many are attending Christmas events, as well as buying & wrapping presents for under the tree. And, for many of us, our Nativity Scene is in a prominent place.

It appears that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Wouldn't you agree?

I have been taking the last several early mornings & late nights just admiring the tree in our living room. It's a 9 foot tree that has white lights, colored lights, and a few of them slightly twinkle. There's a small handful ornaments left from the first tree my hubby & I had together, along with a collection of newer ones from pretty much each year. There's bows & candy canes, there's bells & poinsettias. Father Christmas, our very first & still favorite tree topper, holds some of the colored lights in his hands as he pulls them from his red velvet bag; sheer white ribbon spirals from the top to the bottom of the tree with a swirly snowflake pattern. It all sparkles, shines & glitters as the ornaments reflect the different light effects dazzling from them. The shiny paper & ribbons of the gifts under the tree catch the soft glimmer, too. It's an amazing sight.

Even though our tree is artificial, it still smells like a Christmas Forest in here. Being in Colorado, for a week over the summer, changed us. It just did. But can you blame us?

Our view from the balcony of our Colorado townhouse we stayed in
...it was our glorious view every single morning

And we made the decision to enjoy our artificial tree, but wanted the scent to waft thru the house, too. We have a Glade plug-in with the holiday scent of Sparkling Spruce. Very fitting for our tree, I must say. So just taking in the scent & the sights in the calm, peaceful & still moments (there are a few) of the early morning & later evening is so blissful.

*****

Several weeks ago, I found a pair of shoes that I had been shunning for a very long time. I'm not sure what it was about fuzzy moccasins that repelled me so much, but they just did. I had seen that they have been & would be a big trend, but I didn't get it. However, Teen Girl was wanting some so badly. Figures. So I saw some on sale, plus I had an extra discount...so...we went to get some for her. And as she was looking at them, giddily, and trying them on, I became more drawn to them. I joined her in trying some on...and that's all it took. I had to have a pair, too. With that, I have worn them nearly every day. Seriously.

But Wait! There's More!

As I was researching the pricing of these moccasins, I also saw some brightly colored ones. I couldn't seem to find them in store...but I know what size I wear in them now. And there was a pair in Chiefs' colors!!! Umm...of course I needed those. Amm-i-rite? So of course I ordered them! So I now have two delightful pairs of this comfy footwear! I highly recommend them. Seriously.

*****

Several years ago, when the family took a trip to Springfield, MO, we visited the Bass Pro Shop there. I'd been before, but something about this trip stuck with me. What was it?
Was it the boats? No.
Was it the fashion sense? Um, no.
Was it the great prices? No.
Was it watching someone feeding the giant fish? Not necessarily.
Was it the wildlife museum? I don't think so.
Was it the food? Meh. Huh-uh.
Was it the hunting gear? Not a chance.
Was it the strategically placed taxidermy? Ye...uh...no way...
Was it the decor? Ah...now we are onto something...

It was the lodgey decorum of the Bass Pro in Springfield that made me want that cabin feel at home. And I began to search out how to work it. But I didn't want big, bulky chairs & antlers everywhere; instead, I wanted the feel of a lodgey inn, but more contemporary & elegant. We've made strides toward that look in our living room. It's evolved here & there, but it's our general basis.

Because of this, we are so drawn to the rich & bold pattern of the red & black buffalo check look, and we see some beautiful plaids that make us swoon. I purchased a bright red plaid throw at a fantastic auxiliary thrift store years ago...and it's been used so much. So when we see other blankets/throws, throw pillows, etc. with these plaids, we stop & admire the decor & decide if it's something we could use &/or should get.

Jump ahead to about a month ago...
During one of our routine Walmart shopping trips, my hubby & I came across one of the most beautiful throws we have ever seen! It was a rich red & black plaid. The plaid side was so super soft to the touch, it felt like a heavenly cloud (or what I might imagine that to feel like). The reverse side was a faux lamby, fleecey sherpa material that seemed so warm & cozy! Sadly, we couldn't get it in that visit...but maybe in a future one...

As the fall began to let winter into it's time frame, the thought of being curled up by a fire with one of those throws sounded good. And then we got some sicky peeps in the house...and, with hubby being one of them, was begging for one of the throws. So I went to get some medicine & a throw...but, with the wide array of patterns, I could not find the gorgeous plaid. Hubby said not to worry about it until we could find the one we wanted...

On a different outing, we excitedly went looking for our red plaid throw. But...no luck. We did find a really pretty green & blue plaid though. It was the only one! So we got it. And, in just a couple of days, everyone seemed to be fighting for its use! It's like being wrapped in a warm, heavenly cloud. So, we decided we needed another one...

As we went to find the original red plaid, or to find a match to the green plaid...there was no luck. Geez, these are getting harder to find! But...we found only one of a pattern so striking that we couldn't pass it up! It's a red, ivory & navy (with some gray) wintery, Nordic look. It's kind of fantastic. So we nabbed it!

Our sherpa throws: Nordic & Plaid

There are a lot of hideous patterns in these throws...but if you can get one...DO IT!!! They are disappearing very quickly!!

*****

Folks, it's a beautiful Christmas-spirit moment to be able to have the lights turned down, a fire roaring in the fire place, watching the tree twinkle while smelling the Christmas Forest it could have come from, wearing fuzzy moccasins that are getting quickly worn out from the use, and wrapped in this delightful warmth of the sherpa throw. Even better when you have a hot drink in your mug (like coffee, hot chocolate or cider) with your hands cupped around it. Yep...that's the stuff, people!

So, my grown up Christmas wish is nothing like Steve Martin's (if you are familiar with his SNL skit about this).

Not a great video of it, but it's still his holiday wish. 

*has adult themes, yo*

But it would be more like wishing everyone could have an artificial tree with manufactured pine scent (so there's very little work involved), a pair of fuzzy moccasins for warm & comfy feet, and a sherpa throw to feel like you are cuddled up in warm cloud sent from Heaven. It's the winter combo of the angels, I tell ya!

And, just to make it more clear about the shoes & blanket:
I am appalled by the Snuggie. I cannot even fully put into words how much. However...if there was one done in the sherpa throw style...I would wear it out! Really. I would easily be a "People of Walmart" as I grocery shop in my sherpa Snuggie, flannel pajama pants, thermal shirt, and fuzzy moccasins. Oh yes...it wouldn't be attractive, but I'd be warmer & more comfy than most other shoppers. I'd probably be happier, too.

So, just to be very clear, I'm wishing you all:

*Peace on Earth & Goodwill
*Fake Tree with glimmer & Manufactured Pine Scent
*Fuzzy Moccasins & Sherpa Throws
           ...which leads to...
*Comfort & Joy

Glade Plug-in (see it?), sherpa throws & fuzzy moccasins...
...and an artificial Christmas tree
This is a pic of Comfort & Joy, people

Merry Christmas..and God Bless us...everyone!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Took it Down

So anyway...

Now that the THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS COOKIES ARE FINALLY BAKED, it was time to move along with the next thing in the holiday cycle...

Taking down the decorations!

Yes, it is January 11th, and we have never had the decorations up this long after Christmas!

For years, my hubby couldn't stand having the decorations up after Christmas. We were literally stripping the decked halls a day or two after the actual holiday celebration. Something about not being able to see the abundance of beautifully decorated boxes that fed anticipation was just too sad for him.

In the past very few years, he's been able to leave up the tree & all until about New Year's Day...and that was really stretching it for him. But with the CRAZINESS HAPPENING IN OUR HOUSE throughout the holiday season, it made things more challenging.

In the midst of NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS, we decided we would leave up our tree & decor until Epiphany (which is January 6th, also known to be Three Kings Day and the 12th day of Christmas...which is for totes realz, people).

Well, Epiphany came & went...and the tree was still up, with no boxes to even house the decor elsewhere. It was staying put. Life still happened & thwarted our plans...again. *sigh* But we bought new decorations at after-Christmas clearance sales...so we kept decorating the tree anyway...and we were enjoying how it will look next year.

However, with the cookies baked (and only partially eaten), the egg nog is expired, the extras moved out (mostly), the Christmas stuff is FINALLY taken down (mostly)! *WHEW*

And how do we prep for getting the stuff taken down? By putting on music, of course! Just like we enjoy listening to Christmas music as our decorations take a whole day or longer to go up, we had quite an eclectic playlist for the 45 minutes to an hour to take it all down.

As we took down the ornaments, wreaths, garland, stockings, knick-knacks & the tree, we jammed to Lady Gaga, Florence & the Machine, the Beatles...and many, many more! We danced, did lip syncing, and outright belted out some tunes to make things move faster. "Bad Romance", "Hurt", "Dog Days are Over", "Fix You", "Twist & Shout" are all just a small part of our interesting playlist...that we never totally got thru. But there was some seriously good tunes as we got everything down.

And you know what? We have a lot more room around here! And you know what else? It really does take way longer to put things up than to take things down.

That's crazy talk, folks!

Anyone else with some procrastination issues in taking down their Christmas stuff? I mean besides the Christmas tree we left up for over a year that we really will take down this time... (oh...I have shamed myself...again)

If it matters at all...we are making plans for the ENCHANTED FOREST TREE ENTRY for this coming year, as well as our ornament additions (which we've been testing out to see how the look...cuz, well, you know...the tree was still up), and what to do with that downstairs tree...that we really are gonna take down & then put back up several months from now...

OK...a bit blurry...but here's the star we are gonna use next year

Better overall pic...but with the topper being used for the tree downstairs next year...
...and the same topper will be used for the Enchanted Forest entry next year, too.

Found large, glittery bells & large Santa suit ornaments on clearance...
...so we added them to the tree to see what they looked like.

Another pic of big glittery bells & you can see some Santa suit ornaments.
We forgot about the poinsettia additions...so added those, too.

Looking forward to seeing our big tree like this next year...for the whole season. *sigh*

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica