Each year, my local newspaper prints a list of houses on Long Island with amazing Christmas light displays. We have a tradition to drive around and check them ALL out - on the same night. (For those of you who don't know Long Island, we're not talking about a quick drive around the neighborhood - we are talking about several hours of driving/sightseeing. ) We will listen to Christmas CDs the whole time and usually drop by Dunkin Donuts at some point to get hot chocolate.
I loved it when the kids were little and we drove around to look at lights. It sounds like a nice tradition!
I decorate in only blue and green lights - all still, no flashing. In the house I have a white Christmas tree with blue lights, my front windows have green lights, and I have blue and green lights on the bushes outside my house.
I know they look white in the picture - but the lights on the tree are blue (as are all of the decorations).
- Laura
Beautiful picture! Thanks for sharing. I love "different" Christmas colors.... I am always drawn to wrapping paper with blues and purples!
The one thing I won't give up is being with my Dad. He comes out every Christmas. The only one I have ever spent without him was when I was 8 mos pregnant and he was working, so couldn't fly out.
That is so special. Does he realize how much it means to you? If not, this is the time to tell him.
The lights on our tree are white and don't blink. We have a variety of lights outside (one is a strand of giant bulbs that goes around our retaining wall and is multi-colored).
Maria
Christmas tradition I could do without -- all the baking
Lights: We have multi colored stilll lights around the house and white still lights on the Christmas tree
I baked for about an hour and a half today.
2 dozen oatmeal butterscotchies
3 dozen chocolate covered pretzels
2.5 dozen peanut butter blossoms
I'm going to make chocolate chip tomorrow
I'm going to eat some dinner (yummy roast in the crockpot) and then I'm going to go watch some DVR'ed shows. I'm really tired today and other then baking didn't do a whole lot today. I'm hoping my mood will pep up tomorrow.
Wow.... that's a LOT of cookies! Where do they all go? I can honestly say I haven't baked that many Christmas cookies in my entire life combined! I hate baking. When the kids were little I would occasionally make a small batch of gingerbread cookies or sugar cookies to decorate for fun. DH is usually in charge of making his Mom's cookie recipe to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve, although I have done it in the past when he was too busy. If it were up to me Santa would get a sliced apple and a cup of coffee!!
Rose here is the DVD before and after:
The before is in the back, the after is the four boxes in the front
That is a crazy amount of organizing! Good for you! Are you dumping the boxes totally or just storing them away? I would love to find some sort of album that could hold the paper liner-type things from the DVD boxes plus the DVD. I'm always wanting to keep the cover art. Anyhow, it makes you realize how much plastic is in this world!
Tree this year:
Lovely! Your angel is so pretty!
mantle this year:
Your mantle is beautiful! I've always wished for a mantle to decorate and to hang our stockings from.
I have never missed my Mom's Christmas Eve party. My Nana hosted it before Mom. Growing up it was a huge affair with all the cousins but now it is usually just our family, 9 of us total. Once in awhile a cousin or aunt/uncle will join us but we're all very spread out now. My Mom does all the work so I only have to show up with a dish and one present for the only other child beside my DS who is there. My life would have to be REALLY crazy busy if that's the only thing I could manage for the whole season. This April my Mom will be 80 so I imagine in the next few years someone else will take over hosting. Dear Lord, please don't let it be me.
I'll say the same to you that I said to Maria..... be sure you let your Mom know how much this tradition means to you!!
As for the bonus QOTD, white lights, not flashing and real candles except electric in the window. I have a candle house collection and I light them all every night. I have heard people froim the North and people from the South have very different ideas about Christmas decorating. Since about 1/2 the people who live here are transplants we have both styles of decorating
Pamela, I hope you have not "hit the sauce" after the class today
No sauce at all, but I did splurge on a small sweet treat. I had the points left for it, but it really wasn't in the plans. But I think that there may be some hormonal issues going on too..... I could have eaten a HOUSE last night, foundation, roof, and all!! I had to talk to myself OUT LOUD to stop cruising through the cabinets. I did end up eating just a few nuts that put me over my points by two, but I made myself go to bed at that point. It was an unusual type of feeling that I rarely have any more (which is why I am presuming it is hormonal).
I was disappointed to be up .8 this morning. Don't think I did anything too bad yesterday. I was careful today and did not eat anything at the retirement party. But, there was pound cake earlier for a lady who just returned to work after a m...
I hit a few keys in the wrong sequence and deleted the rest of this quote, but I remember what it said. I think we are just programmed to not be wasteful with food and to not hurt other people's feelings. I think you were struggling with both issues and having the cake there in front of you certainly didn't help. But I try to compare it to things like drugs and alcohol. Your co-workers wouldn't tell a recovering alcoholic to just "have a little beer" or a recovering drug addict to just try a little pot! When folks are stuggling with their weight and are trying to do the right thing and just say NO to foods, why do so many other people feel the need to override that and force the food on them! I've seen it in my own family!
Food addiction and overeating are in some ways even HARDER to overcome than alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes because you cannot just totally eliminate it from your life!
Overall I'd say you did a good job..... you took a small pieces and make it last. I'm sure that is a far cry from what you might have done a few years ago. Count it, journal it, and move on. Maybe add a few extra miles to your workout to account for the extra calories if you are feeling the need.
The one tradition we have is using the red stockings for us. Dh's is 56 years old. Mine is 34. Both of ours were made by my mil. I made the boys matching ones when they were born. They are red felt with white yarn in a whipped stich around the edge. Our names are on them in silver glitter. Dh asked me the other day if we should make one for ds1's gf. They haven't gotten engaged yet so we decided not yet.
Lights small colored NON blinking I can't sit in a room with blinking lights. I am worried about migraines. No candles. Outside all we have is a wreath and two small trees trimmed in bow and ball ornaments. We used to put garland and bows on the fence but we stopped that a couple of years ago. We tried lights but we had to keep a window open because we have no outside outlet.
I agree with you on waiting on the stocking. Perhaps you could plan to give it to her the year they get engaged or as a wedding shower gift!
One work day done 3 to go. I made a list of things that I really had to get done today, like sending Christmas cards and cleaning our master bathroom. I didn't really want to, but I accomplished that after work as well as getting a load of laundry started. I have dinner cooking now. I'm not sure why I have energy tonight, but I'm thankful.
Good job getting so much done. My master bathroom is....
It is definitely on my list for tomorrow.
Laura, I really like that tree!
Deb, when we had lights on our outside bushes, we also had to take out the front porch light and put in an adaptor. I don't think Mom put the lights up this year.
I stand corrected about the non-blinking lights in my house: I walked into my room to find that I have "twinkling snowflakes" in my window that flash very quickly between blue, green, and red. They are kind of making me nuts.
I arrived home safe and sound. Mom was supposed to get to school around 12, but she wasn't feeling well this morning so she said it would be after 12:30. Then she called at 12:30 to say it would be at least another hour because she got "lost" twice. When she finally arrived at 1:45, I found that she had taken Benydryl and was in such a stupor that she drove past the highway exit and had to turn around, but got confused back on the highway and had to turn around again. She wasn't actually lost because she knew where she was though. She also stopped to take a 20 minute nap!
The Jeep was absolutely stuffed to the gills when everything was loaded up-we couldn't see out the back window at all! I drove part of the way and all I could see in the rearview mirror were my pillows!
Glad Mom made it there safe! Sounds like it was a crazy drive!
I've had a few drives home from college like that! Car looked a bit like the truck from the Beverly Hillbillies with stuff practically hanging out the windows! But we made it.... sitting on pillow and blankets, bags under our feet and in our laps, etc!
Rose, not sure where your post is, but I did quote.
I am scheduled for a blood test on Dec. 30th. I cannot wait to go back to eating gluten free. I have already been diagnosed as gluten intolerant. The test is to see if I have Celiac disease. We weren't positive that there is a gluten-vertigo connection until I went back to eating gluten, so we didn't know this would be such a challenge for me. My left arm has finally stopped itching and I've made it about 8 hours without any vertigo, so maybe the next 10 days won't be so bad.
Thanks for your support and sharing your experience!
I finally asked for an iPod for Christmas this year. And, I asked for a Nano. Not one of those big touches that does everything except make phone calls. (Or does it.)
My father is the only one who is allowed to put up the lights in our house. That's okay with me. Our artificial tree is dangerous. They are colored, btw.
Thanks for the support! I should also add that my gastro is wonderful. He listens very intently and knew right away that, "at the very least," I am gluten intolerant. I have too many indicators not to be. Hypothryroidism, acne, eczema, and I've had multiple episodes of alopecia areata. My dermatologist said to me, "You must think the only thing we do here is give shots."
Joining you! No Disney trip planned, so I'll be living vicariously through you!
Gretchen, I can't believe you are done with classes and home already!
Yep. I made a not-so-quick trip to Target and a painfully long trip to the mall. The parking lot was packed.I had a coupon for Vera Bradley but the pattern I love has been discountinued. I am hoping that I can still order something online.
Thanks for the support Lisah!
Put me down as another one who is so sorry to see you have to go through this, especially right at holiday time. But at least when it is over you will have (hopefully) an "official" diagnosis and can move on with more significant dietary changes and such. You are a brave girl for enduring all of this, knowing how miserable it is making you.
Warning: VENT
Well, today hasn't been as bad in the stomach department as other days. I bought some electrolyte-enhanced water today that I think will come in handy. I probably should buy some Powerade, etc. too. I even broke down and bought some apple juice. I know it is not the healthies thing for you, but I'm running on limited fuel, KWIM.
I never expected to need to go gluten free, but it's definitely for me. 10 full days and then the test on the 11th morning. I am having the test fasting, so "only" 10 more days of the poison
thumbsup2 Lisah) to go.
I don't think I mentioned, but I had (I think it's cleared up) some acne on my female twins. One really itched and I could only wear a bra for a short time. I couldn't exercise either because it hurt so much. (Darn wheat.) Well, now that that has cleared up, I can't exercise because of the cramps, nausea, and vertigo.
I'm sorry. I really needed to vent about this today. I am gaining weight. I can tell by the scale and how I feel. It doesn't help that nothing satisfies me. I eat waffles for breakfast and I'm hungry in less than an hour. I eat gluten free cereal for breakfast and I might be hungry 3 hours later. I am eating protein, but it doesn't seem to be helping.
I am also more tired. There are days when I'm lethargic. Tomorrow's plan is to job search, wrap some presents, and do some mindless tasks. I might try exercising at home. Maybe some weights or the yoga from my stress-reduction class.
Have a great night everyone!
Yoga sounds like a GREAT idea right now!!
Ok. But just know that my understanding is that the only definitive diagnosis for c-d is a biopsy. There are lots of false negatives to the blood test. I had a negative blood test. So right away my doctor's office said--you don't have to worry about gluten the test was negative--but I had already gone off gluten and was starting to feel so much better. So I had some other tests done. They are done by an independent lab in Texas. They do genetic tests and (yes, this is pretty gross) stool tests. The thought is that you might not be producing enough antibodies/antigens (I can never remember which one) to have it show up in your blood, but since gluten issues start in the intestine, it will show up there first. I did not have the genetic test done. But I tested very positive to all three tests which indicate an autoimmune response, gluten sensitivity, and malabsorption.
I share all this, because maybe your doctor is better at this stuff, but I had to figure out a lot of it on my own. My doctor strongly encourages me to stay g-f cause I am feeling so much better, but I will never have an official c-d diagnosis. But I truly believe that's what I have. The longer I stay off it, the better I feel. I had so many symptoms, it was just crazy. A large portion have resolved themselves or are much improved. It just takes time.
Anyhow, I just wanted to share. I struggled for several months with the idea that I wasn't really sick or was a hypochondriac cause I didn't have a positive blood test. But that is just not true. And in some ways, maybe I would be less like to think about cheating if I had a positive diagnosis--though I don't cheat, I just THINK about cheating.
Hang in there. I can't even imagine eating gluten for that long again.
*****
Speaking of gluten, I have a little vent.
I work for a non-profit and we take baked goodies to donors at this time of the year and I have spent time the last couple of days I worked (and will be doing it tomorrow too) loading up containers with stuff I have to smell but couldn't eat even if I wanted to....It's kind of torturous and makes me a little sick smelling all the sugar. I will be glad when all the Christmas cookies, etc are out of the office!
Buffy--that is some serious organizing with those cds!
How RUDE that you have to do this! Can't someone else handle all of the baked stuff??? That just seems like they are asking too much!
Thanks for being there to help CC with this. I'm sure she appreciates having your input.
The iPod touches do indeed do pretty much everything except make calls! I have a purple nano from the "generation" before the new touch screen ones, and I love it. It does everything I want it to, so it's fine with me.
I finished up very early. Finals continue through tomorrow, and all of my housemates are still at school. Last night when my friends came over for the good-bye dinner, one of them was like, "Wait, so you basically finished in two and a half years?" Well, yes I did. I came in with 29 AP credits, I took 6 credits this past summer, I took 18 credits last fall, the internship counts for another 12 credits, and my major is only 34 credits.
wow.... that is amazing! Great job getting through so quickly!!
Do you do the traditional Seven Fishes of Christmas Eve? I do that, but over the years the menu has changed to suit the different tastes and likes/dislikes of my family. (Including myself - I don't eat any seafood).
My mother would always make a (very fishy ) seafood salad. After she passed away, I took over Christmas Eve dinner but can't bring myself to make the seafood salad. Luckily, I live in an Italian-heavy area and have many specialty food shops that make a good seafood salad (or so I've been told by those who eat it!). Each year when I order it, I have to ask them to go heavy on the octopus and add extra suction cups. The thought of eating that makes me gag and I can barely get the words out to order it.
- Laura
Sounds a bit ewwy to me and I rather like seafood. DD would absolutely....
She would be out the door in a heartbeat and you wouldn't see her again!
Hi all! I am a BL alum (maintaining for 18 months now) dropping in for the holiday chatter and support of all the lovely folks here.
We have the same rule! As a kid my parents always wrapped our gifts from Santa. But now that both my mom and I are playing Santa to my DD, she suggested the no wrapping idea. It might have something to do with the fact that I stopped believing when I was 5 because I knew "Santa's" handwriting on the gift tags matched my parents.
Oops, it didn't work when I tried to paste all the QOTD, so I'll have to stop back in to do that. BRB
Edited to add...
QOTD, Saturday, December 17th. Music is a huge stress reliever for me. What is on your current playlist? Do you have a favorite holiday song?
The best Christmas running music I found was Reliant K (I think they are a Christian rock group, which isn't usually my thing, but this one is great).
I haven't been listening to music on my workouts lately - more podcasts. Our car playlist is mostly what I listen to with my 4yo DD - Glee Christmas, John Denver & the Muppets, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, Feliz Navidad and the Chipmunk Song.
QOTD, Sunday, December 18th. Do you open presents before or after breakfast?
Before, during and after! Since we live a thousand miles away, we spend the days surrounding Christmas at my parents' house in NJ. My mom hosts the best Christmas mornings ever. I'm so thankful she continues to do it and get up early before all of us. She starts our special "Christmas Tree Bread" (it's like little sweet rolls) at a time when the rest of us are still snug in our beds. Once we're all up (led by whatever time our princess wakes!), we go downstairs together. DD sees the presents from Santa (not wrapped) and usually plays with some while the adults make coffee (we have Flavia which is like Keurig in making single cups). We all open some presents, then when the sweet bread is done baking, we all eat that and bacon. We break out the mimosas at some point around here as well. We continue to open gifts, then stockings are saved for last. I'm getting warm and fuzzy feelings just thinking about it!
QOTD for 12/19/11: We all have great family traditions for holiday time, be it Hannukkah, Kwaanza, or Christmas. But imagine life got REALLY crazy busy and you had to start dropping things from your list. What is the ONE tradition that you could not possibly foresee giving up?
Flying to my parents' house for Christmas. This year DH's work almost made it impossible from even going out of town for Christmas weekend, but we were able to work it out. Thank goodness! We have such a good time and enjoy each other - the six of us: my parents, my sis, DH, me and DD. And for DD, she has told me several times this season that her Christmas wish is to go to Grandma and Pop's house.
bonus QOTD! For those who celebrate Christmas.... white or colored lights??? Flashing or still???
White AND colored lights!
And not flashing.
Nice to see you back with us! This holiday thread is going to be pretty quiet I imagine, so nice to have some returning friends to chat with! Enjoy your tme away with family!
Good Morning everyone! 
I was crashed before midnight and wide awake at 5:45. I've been putsing around on the computer waiting for Alan to wake up. Then I'm going to make some sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits for breakfast. I also need to take something out for dinner. I think we're going to finally attempt to go see the Muppet movie today. We're going to see the Chipmunk movie on Christmas Eve.
I also need to get off my booty and get some exercise in at some point. I've not exercised since I've been home. Oh, and I also need to make chocolate chip cookies.
Everyone have a great day!
Have a great day! Maybe this is what you needed to get your body clock back on a regular schedule???
***************
Morning friends! I'm at work again today and will be popping on in short bits. I know that I missed quoting a few people when I hit that wrong key combo, so I'll finish chatting here and then try a do-over with the quotes.
I did get those last few gifts bought last night, so other than taking some stocking inventory (mostly for DH) I think I can call it done (at least for now.... I still have to buy for one Dnephew, but may wait until after Christmas for that).
I'm in for Music again today and I refuse to follow her plans. I've worked her for 8 years and her sub plans have NEVER changed. They are painfully dull. So I will start class with her traditional songs (patriotic mix), let them do a dance song or two, and then we will watch a Disney Christmas video for the remaining 30 minutes. I don't think I'll get any complaints from the kids.
As I mentioned above, I was ready to eat anything that wasn't nailed down last night. Despite going just a bit over my points, I am really proud of myself because I could have easily overeaten on a GRAND scale last night, based on my cravings. I was originally hoping for a small loss this week, but based on how the week is going, I will be keeping my fingers crossed for maintain at this point.
Off to check on those quotes I missed................P
Since about 1/2 the people who live here are transplants we have both styles of decorating
Why do I do that to myself!
Going to try and have another light eating/high activity today and see what else I can get rid of
I cannot wait to go back to eating gluten free.
I love your blue tree, too. 
I do think it is important for each person to do whatever their Dr recommends for their individual situation though.
They are colored, btw.
Congrats! 
) seafood salad. After she passed away, I took over Christmas Eve dinner but can't bring myself to make the seafood salad. Luckily, I live in an Italian-heavy area and have many specialty food shops that make a good seafood salad (or so I've been told by those who eat it!). Each year when I order it, I have to ask them to go heavy on the octopus and add extra suction cups. The thought of eating that makes me gag and I can barely get the words out to order it. 
