I'm blessed to be so spoiled...

You know how some years are better than others when it comes to gifts? Well usually my parents are 100% on track with my gifts and my list. Even the stuff not on my list, my mom buys for me.  I really appreciate what she does and the thought she puts into things.  So this year - I knew things would be tight because of my sisters upcoming wedding and me hoping to have a baby - my parents have been saving money, as are we.

Well I get to Christmas eve and it looks like Christmas exploded. Every single gift under the tree was for me or my husband!

I couldn't believe it.  I didn't spend nearly that much money on my family and I felt horrible.  To be honest - I expected a Kindle 3 (because that was the one thing on my list I knew she'd get me, and usually cut it off after that). But she kept going.

Here's me loving my Kindle3:

So somewhere over the past three days of gift giving I've recieved: Kindle3 and case, clothes, perfume, jewelry (that amazingly, my dad picked out a necklace and it's nice!), board games, pandora beads for my bracelet (which actually I needed to get a new bracelet as the old one wasn't going to cut it), a fitbit (I will elaborate on later, I love this thing) and some odds and ends.  I know I'm missing stuff,  but I can't remember right now.

My kids, err, cats, even made out with a blanket just for them from grandma and grandpa!

I hope you guys have an awesome day and I will be blabbering on about my amazing fitbit later!
And I'll leave you with our newest family member: Waddles.

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Bring a dish..

I hate when my father in law says that... What do you want? Just tell me what you want and I'll bring that. We drive an hour in town for Christmas and the festivities to be with our families, so bringing a warm dish is frankly a pain in the rear.. Keeping it warm, getting there early enough to reheat it if needed, blah blah.  Hubby has to work Christmas Eve, and we have no idea what time he might get out of work.  So I asked a friend for some cold side dish suggestions and she happened to stumble across one from Kraftrecipes.com that I think will be perfect.

Christmas Apple Salad

What You Need

1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

1/2 tsp.  salt

1 can (14 oz.) pineapple tidbits, drained, liquid reserved

4   Granny Smith apples, cored, cut into cubes

4 red apples, cored, cut into cubes

1 cup  coarsely chopped PLANTERS Pecans

1 cup JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

Make It

MIX sour cream, salt and reserved pineapple juice in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended.
ADD pineapple tidbits, apples and pecans.
TOSS until apples are coated with sour cream mixture. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Toss gently with marshmallows before serving

I'm hoping this turns out amazing, and is super easy.. I will report back to see if this is an 'add to the cookbook' worthy recipe ;) 

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Christmas Break

I feel like this is the first time I actually NEED a break from work this year.  I usually look forward to breaks and enjoy them, but this year has been a whirlwind....

I absolutely hate a handful I have at the end of the day.  I can't believe I even use that word, but that is literally where they've pushed me.  They are rude, disrepsectful and unmotivated.  I can usually handle one of those at a time, but to be all three - all the time, is amazing.  I have an awesome day every day until I walk into my last two classes.

I also feel like this Christmas has been a struggle because of what I imagined for this Christmas this year, and I just can't get into it.  I love buying gifts and I love getting things all wrapped up but frankly that's all I have in me!

130 can't come soon enough...

Christmas secrets

Every year I make a list for my family and my husband, and every year I usually get like 1 surprise. Everything comes right off of my list. . Well as you remember, I made a list earlier, and while I don't think I'd get it all, I'm praying for a surprise.  The suspense kills me, and every year I peak either at emails or credit card charges so I can guess what it is.... This year I am DETERMINED not to ruin the surprise!

I am always really good about being a secret santa at work. I've never given myself away too early.  I think people for the most part really like surprises. right?

So I asked the hubby to get me something that's a surprise, and not on my list.  He's not good with surprises, because he really likes to make sure I'm going to like my gifts, he usually doesn't branch out too much. . . We shall see :)

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My Christmas List

Image by Sarah Parrott via FlickrI've got my Glee Christmas album ready, and I have my wrapping paper and bows all set and ready to go. I love Christmas. I love the season, I love buying gifts for people and I love wrapping! I have 3 people done on my list.  It's going to be a frugral Christmas this year, but that won't stop me from having fun!

In case any crazy people out there want to buy me something.. here's my list ;) Feel free to add to this list with anything you know you want to buy me ;) I'm not a picky person. I just love gifts. It's not even abut the gift so much as it is the thought that went into getting me something. With Christmas so close, you really can't delay.

• Nike + iPod sport Kit
• Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse DVDs
• Droid Pro
• Wireless pointer, someone keeps stealing the adapater to my other :(
• A nice hair straightener and curler
• Kindle credits for the books I can buy as soon as I get my new kindle ;)
• Channel Allure or No. 5
• And of course, the normal stuff: Slippers - I love the ones with backs, jewelry - I always love earrings, candles, lotions... the list goes on and on and on ;)

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