Preppy Girl's Guide

Our Christmas weekend began with a long anticipated trip to Cleveland. Yes, I had to see Ralphie's house in all its glory, and so I did. My obsession with the movie proved to be slightly annoying to Galoot as I picked apart the details of the house's interior (the house interior shots were actually filmed on a sound stage in Toronto). But I certainly give the guy who renovated the house a lot of credit. He did a nice job with what he had (a house quite a bit smaller than the actual set). I also corrected people, under my breath of course, who insisted that the school scenes were shot around the corner (but were also actually shot in Toronto). Yes, I realize I'm a freak. We also got to see Randy's snow suit and zeppelin ("WHOOPEEE A ZEPPELIN!"), among other items from the film. It was so fun. When we watched the movie on Christmas the kids kept pointing at the house saying "We were at Ralphie's!" I highly recommend the trip to any fellow freaks.

Here are a few more pics (poor cell phone camera quality - as in my excitement, I actually forgot our camera).




Now the biggest problem I have is my 3 year old asking me for a BB gun every day since Saturday. I keep telling him he'll shoot his eye out.

I am so mad at her for spending so much - yet simultaneously so happy at the same time, I could just cry. Thanks Princess. I love you for knowing me so well and giving me a gift you knew I'd love. You are the sister I never had and most definitely my bestest friend. It's not so much that you gave me a nice expensive gift, it's that you knew how receiving it would make me feel. Ya dork. Oh, and by the way - are you insane? I'm sending you some cyber gratitude right now. Can't ya just feel it?

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

I've been totally busy and totally uninspired lately. I am most definitely guilty of blog neglect, (in both posting and reading). I need to get my act together!

First of all, a Nutcracker update. Galoot was awesome in the part of "The Host" a.k.a. Clara's dad. He done us proud! Our local ballet company was also able to secure two soloists from the New York City Ballet to perform the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. I was completely overwhelmed by their performances. You know that scene in Pretty Woman where she cries at the opera? - ya, that was me. I needed it.

Last night we decided to run some errands. I waited in the car with the kids outside a shopping plaza while Galoot tended to some cell phone issues in the Verizon store. I then had the following conversation with my 5 year old:

PGirl, Jr.: Mommy, what is that store over there? (Blockbuster)
Me: Oh, that's a movie store honey.
PGirl, Jr.: Well I don't NEED to go in there.
Me: What do you mean? Why not?
PGirl, Jr.: I order all my movies on the computer from Neck-flakes.*

She's very advanced for her age (I say with no sarcasm).

Finally, for all of you who love crazy headlines, this one might be the best all year:
" Hermaphroditic deer with seven legs ‘tasty’ "

Enjoy!

*I should add that we don't, nor have we ever, used Netflix. ???

I was tagged by Stinkypaw to do 6 weird things. I figured I'd have no problem thinking of more. Here goes:

1. I always pick the pickles off my burgers. My dad or brother used to eat them when I was little. Now, Galoot eats them.
2. I cannot eat hot wings without bleu cheese. I use it like a dip. No bleu cheese = no wings for preppygirl.
3. I always try to match my underwear to my clothing. If I don't have a bra that matches my top, I wear a beige one because then at least it will match my skin.
4. I have colored my hair for 15 years. I'm not really even sure what my natural color is anymore.
5. I have three tattoos. Most people who know me (as a responsible adult) would never guess this. I like my tatts.
6. I used to play competitive darts. I was pretty good (for a girl and all).
7. Last week I re-pierced the cartilage on the top of my left ear. It was pierced about 10 years ago and I let the hole close up. At one time I had 9 piercings between my two ears (and one in the navel).
8. I have the beginnings of a bunion on my left foot but nothing on my right foot. How does that happen?
9. Everyone in my immediate family plays the guitar except for me. I learned to play the violin.
10. I love to "window" shop. This is what my mom used to call it when you just walk around and look but don't buy anything. I could walk around in Target or K-mart type stores for hours just looking at the merchandise. It's like eye candy for me.
11. Once, when I was in kindergarten, I got my finger shut in the school bus door (okay, it was really a big station wagon with a big yellow school bus sign on top). I was afraid to tell the driver so I just left it there until the next stop. The driver noticed me crying in the rearview and asked what was wrong - at which time I finally fessed up. I was SO extremely non-confrontational even then I guess.
12. When I was about seven, I was thrown from a horse while visiting a friend's house. I sprained my arm pretty badly but never told my mom for fear she wouldn't let me visit again. Dang I was a shy kid!
13. Weird thing about me #13? - I married Galoot.

Speaking of my in-laws, I visited their house this past weekend to find even more Christmas decorations than the last time I was there. It was so overwhelming I just had to take a couple of pictures to share:


Very festive indeed!









My daughter's Christmas concert is tonight and Galoot's Nutcracker performance is this weekend. Busy busy - plus, will I EVER get this shopping done? - stay tuned...

Okay, maybe it's not a blizzard out there today but it's pretty damn close. What constitutes a blizzard anyway? All I know is how glad I am that I took the 4WD vehicle today instead of the minivan. It's AWFUL out there.

So here I am, stuck at work, all alone. That's right, my assistant has decided to go Christmas shopping today, leaving me to fend for myself. My office is actually in a building about half a mile away from the rest of the staff so I'm REALLY alone - and freezing, and bored (I'm about to hold a pity party for myself). I also forgot to pack something for lunch which will leave me to pick through the "back-up" food in our office kitchen.

Here are 13 things I could have for lunch:

1. Club crackers
2. decaf Cinnamon coffee
3. stale bread
4. blackberry jam
5. Redi-Whip whipped cream
6. veggie cream cheese
7. an orange
8. mustard/ketchup/mayo
9. microwave kettle corn
10. southwest ranch veggie dip
11. easy cheese (from a can)
12. marshmallow fluff
13. dark chocolate peanut butter (if you have not tried this you must!)

Hmmm. Maybe I'll just do a whippit and eat the fluff and chocolate peanut butter with a spoon. If only...

STAY WARM!

COOKIES - I love 'em. Growing up, at about this time of year, my mom would whip out her Christmas apron for some serious baking. I used to love those old school cookie cutters and that cool spritz machine. Decorating with colored sugar and farkles (official family word for anything remotely resembling sprinkles) - and ICING was so much fun. But the best part? - eating the scraps of course. Yum yum cookie dough. My favorite cookes to make though were those candy canes! - Twisting together that red & white dough - Good times.

Yesterday the kids got to partake in a little cookie making themselves courtesy of grandma. Although most of their participation time was spent licking the spoon, the product was pretty worthy; Spritz cookie trees and cherry wreaths. YUM.


I am sending you each a cyber cookie - can't ya almost taste it?