setting the tree free

setting up the tree

She told her dad she’d need help cutting the top of the tree net open. Just barely, though. Not pictured: how short her pajama bottoms are. Last Christmas they were too long. The next size up is huge around the waist. I foresee some tailoring in my future.

some non-thanksgiving stuffing

puppy

You’ve seen him before. Puppy was the star of my “how to fix a stuffed animal’s nose in 4 easy steps” tutorial a few years ago. He was getting a little thin around the neck and shoulder area, and my daughter asked if I could add some extra stuffing.

It wasn’t hard. Once I pulled apart the well-loved fur and found a seam I could open, that is. I suggested adding some reinforcement fabric to the inside, too, because he’s taken up bungee jumping off the stairs and I worry about the thin spots. My daughter said no thanks.

However, she did request another nose. I think that makes number four.

elf on the shelf photo project

We made it eight years without an elf. Last year, my daughter took matters into her own hands and bought one for herself. I’m not against having an elf. It’s just that I’m not good at remembering these things. I have to put a stickie note on my bathroom mirror so I don’t forget about the Tooth Fairy, and sometimes she’s busy and misses our house anyway.

elf on the shelf

I’ve set a daily alarm for this little pixie. I’m also starting a photo project. Maybe if I hold myself accountable for posting daily pictures of our elf, we’ll make it through the season without too many “bad snowstorms at the North Pole” morning after excuses.

elf on the shelf

I call this one Time to get rid of the Halloween gingerbread house.

elf on the shelf

Follow along on instagram here.

“guess I should start cooking”

I posted the above status that to facebook last Thursday late morning. I didn’t want to cook. Earlier in the week I was hoping I could convince my family to go out for dinner. They said no. I have to say I was proud of the fact that I did all of the grocery shopping without a list. That’s probably because I took the easy way out for most everything I made — except for the pumpkin pie and stuffing. They are the two most important parts of the meal.

My daughter was playing Minecraft and my husband was still asleep. (He was sick. I let him sleep in.) I was in the kitchen and lonely and decided to live-gram cooking in the hopes that social media would keep me company. Facebook did not disappoint.

Here is my dinner in 8 steps. I don’t plan to live-gram all of my holiday meals, but if I do, you can find me here.

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner

thanksgiving dinner