in the spirit

I'm usually quite the procrastinator when it comes to Christmas: the baking, the decorating, the shopping, the wrapping... This year, however, I've improved ever so slightly. I did my baking last week and my shopping is 75% done and I've still got a week to spare! This is HUGE for me.

I took advantage of today's snow storm to catch up with all the Xmas keeners out there. Since J and I got the tree and put it up (sort of) yesterday, I put up the lights and decorated this afternoon while listening to Xmas music (loving the digital cable music channels). I also wrapped all the gifts I've bought so far.

Then, I documented all of my handiwork with the following photographs:

This is my bling-ed out wreath (as my Dad calls it) that currently resides on my front door. I like it a lot and I still can't believe I got something so stylish and modern at Canadian Tire. Wonders never cease!

I have a fondness for star shaped ornaments, it seems. I've bought no less than three new star ornaments this season, which, combined with the others I've gotten/been given over the years is substantial. Maybe this shall be my new tree theme from here on in...

I bought a pair of these stockings at Chapters a couple years ago for me and W. They were pretty plain, however, so I channelled my inner Martha and came up with the idea that W and I should sew our initials on the front. Turned out pretty well, I think. Part of me is kicking myself for not taking W's with me when I left so I could still have the pair. It would've been short work with a stitch ripper to remove his initial and replace it with another when the vacancy is filled. Har! What I like most about this stocking is that it can fit quite a bit: Santa's not going to be impressed when he comes to fill my stocking!

This is probably my favourite decoration. Not that you can tell from the artsy close up, but it's a Christmas tree made out of wire and beads that I got last year from W's dad. I like that it's modern and unique. And it's got sparkles. The fifi-princess-prissy-girly-girl inside me likes sparkles.

No, your eyes do not deceive you: the tree IS in fact leaning a little left of centre. I'm not quite sure whether it's the tree, the stand or the fact that the floors in the house are nowhere near level, but no amount of adjusting, shimming and counter-balancing was able to remedy the situation. No matter. It's nothing that some twine and a couple of screws in the adjacent wall can't (and did) fix. Ha!

- - -

I think I've been a pretty good girl this year, so I'm hoping that maybe some of my Christmas wishes will come true. However, I'm still gonna leave Santa some extra special cookies... just in case!

snow day

One of the few highlights of winter: The Snow Day. All the better if it falls on a Friday! Even more so if you actually take advantage of it instead of slogging your way through a blizzard of snow, ice and bad drivers to get to work (on time, even) like I did. I'm a model employee, what can I say?

Since I've been robbed of my Snow Day, I've decided to stage a peaceful, one-person protest from my desk in the form of a stoppage of work. Today, I'm going to buck my usual slave-like work ethic and do absolutely nothing that is work-related. OK, so it's not much different from what I do most days.

So, in the middle of my "doing nothing work-related", I came across one of those "getting to know you" quizzes. I don't normally do these because the questions are usually lame and they ellicit equally lame responses that give the subject's readers absolutely no new insight into their life or personality. This one, however, is a little different and has many possibilities for fun, and we all know I'm all about the fun. The directions are simple:

1. Choose a band/artist.

2. Answer ONLY using titles of their songs.

I chose the Dave Matthews Band for the simple reason that they are, in my books, they best artists of ALL TIME.

Here goes:

Are you male or female: Dream Girl

Describe yourself: So Much To Say

How do some people feel about you: Crazy

How do you feel about yourself: Busted Stuff

Describe your ex boyfriend / girlfriend: Fool To Think

Describe current boyfriend / girlfriend: Too Much

Describe where you want to be: Bartender

Describe how you live: You Never Know

Describe how you love: Crash Into Me

What would you ask for if you had just one wish: If I Had It All

Share a few words of Wisdom: Everybody Wake Up

Now say goodbye: Say Goodbye

That was a bit more challenging than I thought. Good times. Good times. So, what to do with the rest of the day's afternoon, hey?

Update:

Turns out that my protest was not in vain: the Powers That Be, in their infinite graciousness, have allowed us minions to leave work 1.5 hours early due to the deteriorating weather conditions. Of course, it'll take me at least that much time to dig my car out.