Red Sparkly Jumpsuits

Guess whose lap I'll be jumping on tonight?

Rudolph, cue the sound of sleigh bells please!

Ta Da!

The Ghost of my Christmas Past, Present(s)...

and FUTURE!

Fa La La La La, La.La..La...LA!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE NORTH TEXAS POLE...Y'ALL!

Jumpin' Down The Chimney!

My lovely, soulful friend Rebecca at A Re-Purposed Life celebrates her birthday a week before Christmas.  Last year, as well as this one, she threw herself a party...only she didn't get gifts...she gave 'em.  I was one of the lucky ones and my package arrived just after Christmas.

Me being me...I started to open it but found myself stopping just short of decimating it.  Talking to the voice that only I can hear...the conversation went something like this.

Myself:  "Girl...why don't you wait 'til next year?"

Me:  "Hush your mouth...have you lost your cotton pickin' mind?  I'm dying here to see what's tucked inside that beautiful paper!"

Myself:  "Yeah, I know...myself included, BUT if you wait...think how much more of a thrilling surprise it'll be.  Kinda like ol' Santy Claus dropped by early just 'cause you're his favorite naughty nice little girl.  Right?"

Me:  "Law...I hate to admit it, but when you're right...you're right.  Okay...but I'm putting it on a low shelf so I can at least stare and drool during the year thinking about what's inside...and You.Can't.Stop.Me!"

Myself:  "Wouldn't think of it ol' girl.  Be my guest and I'll be thinking the same thoughts...kinda like we share a brain or somethin'!"

So-o-o...there it has sat on that shelf...just waiting for me to pluck it off and rip into.  Has it been hard not to peek you ask?  You betcha!

Have I peeked?  Not on your life...although I came close a coupla times when I was having one of those days.

Let me tell y'all...when it came time to start dragging in the boxes for decking the halls, I first went to the bookshelf in my office and took this bad boy down.  Thank goodness R.E. didn't use a lot of knots and tape or I would've been reduced to using my teeth to tear into it.  (At my age, using one's teeth for anything other than chewing or grinnin' is a gamble at best...and sometimes even that is risky!)

Goodness knows I tried to be a good little girl this year...and look at what I got for my efforts!

Can you say Oh Mylanta?!?

I knew her handcrafted stockings were going to be inside, but I wasn't prepared for this pirate's booty of loveliness that awaited me.  My poor eyes didn't know what had hit them...from all the shiny...or all the tears running down my chubby cheeks.

The photos did not do justice to the tiny stockings she had crafted with her own two little hands, nor the bird that winged it's way from Illinois to Texas.

SIGH!

And the pendant...2 die 4 perfect.  This is exactly how Myself pictures me and our view on my life...at least in my mind's eye.  As a wise person once said..."When the legend becomes fact...print the legend." and let's be honest...I tend to be a legend in my own mind...'specially around the Casita de Trash when no one is looking!

This is my way of saying Thank You Rebecca for being such a cherished friend and for getting my Christmas spirit going early on...and a thank you to myself for making me wait!

It was so worth it! 

Speaking of giveaways...have I got a doozy coming y'alls way next week...thanks in part to my crazy, gypsy-souled friend, Susie of Spoonin fame.  (Did I mention crazy?)  Now pay close attention...there will be a test later.

One day next week (I'll not say when, 'cause in case y'all haven't noticed...I've been more than just a little SADD* here lately.) and to convince myself I'm not the only nut job Lone Stranger this time of year, I'm planning a special post to give away this fantastic pendant made by Susie.  Very apropos...wouldn't you agree?

(*SADD:  Squirrel Attention Deficiency Disorder)

I'm all over the place normally, but at Christmas...seems like I'm worse.  Could be all the glitter, tinsel, and lights.  (At least that's what I tell myself...and myself always has my back in agreement.)  'Course it could also be the crazy hoops we all jump through to get it all done by the 24th.  Whatever the reason...I am a loose cannon until the 26th.

I've been known to hide gifts and not find them until 3 years later.  One year's family Christmas portraits are still MIA.

I've prepared appetizers lovingly referred to as "foot dip".  FYI...there is such a thing as too much fresh bleu cheese.

I've been caught swinging from the chandelier with my hair in hot rollers, sans underwear by early arriving guests...talk about shock and awe!

I've set guests' holiday sweaters on fire.  Who knew ugly sweaters were that flammable?

In other words...I am a squirrel gone amuk this time of year, but I have a hunch I'm not alone here.  To prove my theory hunch...I'm gonna give y'all a week to think of your most hilarious squirrel tail...ooops...tale to leave as a comment.

Not this week y'all...next week...got it?  If you do it this week...it could count as a squirrel moment...or just that I'm too long winded and you zoned out eons ago!  Hmmm...I may even find out if you really do read me.

I'll be back next week to give y'all all the 411, but in the meantime, if I don't talk to you between now and then... 

 

from my casita to yours...and with much love from me and mine...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

You Say Jump, I Say You Betcha and I'll Shout Too!

My goodness...it seems like forever since I last sat down here and talked.  What's that you say...it has been forever?  I know...I know.

So much going on around here at the Casita de Trash, I hardly have time to catch my breath.  You too huh?  Yeah...this is a crazy time of year for all of us...and talk about crazy...you will never guess what we were up to (or should I say down at) this weekend.  Instead of being covered in tinsel, glitter, and scotch tape...we were surrounded by tulle, perfume, and leather.

Oh you naughty boys and girls...I know what you're thinking, but no...not that.  Cat Daddy and I made the trip to Round Top for the first ever Winter Junk Gypsy Prom.  Can you say "Oh Law...Trash in a can-can!"?

Heidi...do you have any idea what a mischief maker Jackson is when he channels Buddy Holly?

I know I should have been decking the halls, but y'all know me....I can't resist a party...

and y'all also know Cat Daddy can't resist a photo op and we all know how the ladies can't resist him!

Animal magnetism with a splash of Hai Karate...what can I say?

"Be careful how you use it!"

They were lined up and waiting to bust a move!

I gotta stop here for a disclaimer.  For any of y'all who might be thinking the Gypsies are sittin' pretty with their new HGTV show...think again.  Sittin' is the last thing this family is getting to do these days!

Oh mylanta!

I do believe they are working harder than rented mules, what with the show's filming schedule plus trying to get their brick and mortar store built.  Sheesh...there is so much that goes into shooting just one episode...I can't begin to wrap my noggin around what they've been through getting 13 into the can.

(BTW...did any of y'all watch the sneak preview?  What'd ya think?)

In addition to coordinating the entire event...down to primping the hall...there were interviews, prep work for another shoot this week, running back and forth...all while taking care of sick babies and being sick themselves, but in the world of show biz...there are no days off...the show must go on. 

Walking in, we were hit with a blast of music from The John Evans Band and Baby Cakes...the show did go on and boy howdy...was it ever ON!

Lights...cameras...action...

and a whole lotta tail feather shakin'!

Told to wear their junkiest prom attire, the 150+ guests complied...whole hog and whole hearted.  It was a Texasified tangle of big hair, big hats, and big fun!

Folks came from miles around for this gaudy extravaganza and an extra, heapin' helpin' of whoppin' good times!

(Does she remind anyone else of "Jessie"?  I swear up and down...she was just as tiny, but way cuter!)

Sisters On The Fly were representing and they were just so gosh darn cute!   Their motto on their site reads "We have more fun than anyone." and let me tell ya...they were out to prove it.  They asked everyone to write a short note to Amie and Jolie and presented the girls with a huge jar full of love notes.  How sweet and thoughtful...right?

I'm telling y'all...SOTF girls are rootin' tootin' cute in fuzzy chaps!

I got tickled watching how many times the Gypsies had to replace kissed off lip gloss.  That gloss was outside the purse more than it was in it 'cause that outhouse-turned-photo booth hasn't seen that much action since...well gosh I don't rightly know.  I reckon since being replaced with indoor plumbing!  All I do know is the line to get a photo and a kiss with the girls was stretched out for a mile...and so were the grins! 

I don't know if I've ever told y'all, but I adore paper dresses.  I think it's one of the most fanciful and beautiful art forms out there.  Can you imagine my face when I got a load of this dress?  Stunning is the only word to describe it...simply stunning.

Alas, being paper, it wasn't necessarily built to last...talk about a paper trail.  Close to the end of the evening, I wondered if this gorgeous lady was going to be modeling her birthday suit, but the dress held up.  I didn't find out who the tailor was, but BRAVO!

Hmmm...I wonder if Royer's had any pies go MIA last week.

.This creation was another of my faves.  Queen of Hearts you ask?  Nah...I dub thee The Queen of Tarts!  Both of these ensembles deserved standing O's.

Look Ma...no pigtails!

See...I really was there...and no Janie isn't pretending like she doesn't know see me.  She's just a busy, busy woman.  With the show, I don't know if there ever is down time for any of them. 

Even Phillip takes a back seat to text messages....especially when there are sick, little ones back at home.  Sigh...I wish I had got a good photo of the two of 'em dancing...best couple on the floor.

It was a duke's mixture of glam...with some of that glam even arriving in matched sets!

At the end of the night all I could think was...

CAN I GET A YEE TO THE HAW?

Lest y'all get to thinking ol' Trash has forgot about my little teaser a post or so back...fret not.  A hint is hidden inside the tree of what else I've been cooking up besides Christmas cookies, but for now, it's time to take the...

TRASH OUT!

Jumping The Couch

This is such a crazy, rush-rush time of the year for me that without lists I'd be running around like the proverbial chicken muttering "Which way do I go...Which way do I go?"!  So-o-o like Santa...I'm making my list and checking it once...or twice.

Christmas Open House at Winnie & Tulula's?

Check!

Thanks Margo for taking the photo. I never seem to have a camera ready when I need it!

New flooring in living room?

Thanks to my oldest melon-head...Check!

(I knew the 1349 hours I spent in labor delivering that 9 pound...most of it head...bundle of Joey would pay off someday!)

SQUIRREL ALERT!!!

I just have to stop here and ask...

is it possible to be in love with a floor?

So much so...that if it weren't for Cat Daddy standing in the way...I'd marry it?

(BTW...is it really bigamy if one of the parties in question is an laminate inanimate object?  Just checking!)

Y'all...it was love at first click.  Forget the sound of reindeer hooves...give me the sound of lengths of laminate clicking together!  AH-H-H...music to my ears.

Watching it slowly come together, changing my room from boring to boardilicious, was worth all the broken nails, ragged knuckles and blowing a knee out it cost me to get it ready.

Pshaw!  Who needs two knees anyways...although Mr. OMH might disagree.

(Did I mention how OCD he is when he's working?  Oy vey!)

I am so crazy for this floor...I hate to place anything on it...except me!

Y'all know how a dog will roll on his back on the grass.  You know...with the legs straight up in the air and wiggling all around?

That's me...RIGHT...NOW!

(Move over Tom Cruise and I'll show you how I do crazy!)

I'll get back to my check lists just as soon as I can find my way to make it up off this beautiful floor and regain my senses!

Don't wait up for me...this may take a while!

Tonight there are so many gifts I have in my life to be thankful for...I don't even know where to begin.

Thankful for the mind numbing tiredness that engulfs me as I sit here and type.  The kind of exhaustion that wraps around me like a blanket on a cold winter's night.  A wonderful tiredness that comes from preparing food for those I love and who love me back.  Bone tired from standing at a sink washing dishes, but thankful for the hot water and suds in which to wash them, knowing I'll sleep soundly from a day well spent.

I'm thankful for the ability to laugh...at the antics of children and adults alike...as well as at myself.

 For rolls, a cake and a turkey that didn't come out quite right, but still graced our table beautifully and the hands I held as a small child's sweet voice said grace, I am so very thankful.   

Thankful for the ache in my back that came from carrying His special gift (in the form of a two year old) around on my hip and not from carrying around old grudges or hard feelings.

Blessed for my tired, achy knees that managed to hold me upright all day, yet still allowed me to kneel at day's end, bow my head and count my blessings...one.by.one.

Grateful for my eyes to see all the beautiful faces that surrounded me today and to see clearly what matters most.

Blessed beyond measure for my ears to hear the chattering around me, the lilt of happy voices, and to hear the most beautiful word in the world..."Nana"...spoken by two precious girls.  To hear "I love you more" spoken with a bit of lisp and in baby-ese and to know they do, I am thankful...even though I know it's impossible for them to love me more than I love them.

Thankful for my tongue that allows me to taste all the different flavors on the table, talk until the family throws me a roll to shut me up, and gives me the voice to praise Him. 

Rene' is having a giveaway on her blog Miss Gracie's House and she inspired my Thanksgiving post.  Sometimes I get so busy with the day-to-day, I fail to see all the small blessings in my life.  Not to make light, but simple things like indoor plumbing, a pillow, or breathing in and out that sometimes I fail to say thank you for.  Thanks to Rene', I'm going to be listing the gifts I've been given on a weekly basis.  It may take me the rest of my life to say thank you to God for all that He has given me, but He took the time to bless me....and after all...what time I have, is given to me by Him and belongs to Him.

All that I have...all that I am...all that I hope to be...

from a humble and grateful heart...

I say Thank you Lord.

Jumping Bail

Before y'all get to thinking I've lost my head and run off to join the pirate's life with Johnny, I thought I'd better stick my tangled mess out and let you know...don't pay the ransom...I escaped.

I've been running myself ragged getting ready for our big reveal at Winnie & Tulula's Christmas Open House.  So much so, that in my haste...I've hot glued my left hand to my hair and I'm really typing this with one hand tied glued behind my back.

All the vendors are working on bringing y'all a splendific eye-feast fit for a king...or in W&T Land...a queen and what a queen I might add.  Oh mylanta...Marie Antoinette no less!  Sorry Louie...you just don't cut the mustard and speaking of cutting...here at W&T's, we don't believe in cutting corners when it comes to good taste...only cake...and occasionally a rug!

The windows are being covered to heighten the anticipation (kinda like Christmas morning for grown-ups)...so sorry y'all...no peeking allowed.

SQUIRREL ALERT!

This is the one of the few times when I crawl into that window where my classic ass-et isn't ogled and my ten-point stance for getting up offa the floor isn't shared by all who happen by!

Ooohh...and did someone mention squirrels?  Just wait 'til you see what I got planned for y'all in the near future.  All I'm gonna say right now is sometimes you feel like a nut!

Now on with our Marie Christmas commercial before it's off with my head!

Me being me, I got to thinking about how Marie might spend her time...and money...if she were around now.  Something tells me that rather than lying around on a chaise nibbling pastries, she'd be hitting the streets of Paris for shopping on the Avenue Montaigne and stopping by Laduree's for macarons, BUT if she were in Athens...(Texas, not Greece y'all)...she'd definitely be stopping by W&T's for a heaping helping of je ne sais quoi and popping into Sweet Pea's Bistro for the same sweet little nosh.  Heck...at Sweet Pea's you can make it a full-on nosh-up. The menu is 2die4 delish, delectable, decadent, and divine!

Mes amies...you too can be a queen for a day...or night.  Just make plans to join us on the evening of the 25th or all day on the 26th.  We know how to treat you like royalty down here at the North Texas Pole.

Marie would say "Let them eat cake!"...and you see where that got her!

I say "What are you waiting for...an invitation?".

OK...in that case...consider this your hand engraved invitation.

Now...what do y'all say?

Trying To Jump Up Off The Floor

I thought there couldn't be anything sadder than the sight of a slightly (ahem) mature, chubby lady crawling around on the floor; ripping her knuckles a new one, all the while pulling up old carpet tacking and muttering to herself..."I am a girl...dadgummit...I am a girl!"

Maybe the sight of a shall remain clueless nameless slightly (ahem) mature coupla chubbies lassoing the old carpet and tying it to the back of a pickup to drag it outta the house is funnier...but not sadder.

Y'all...it was one for the record books!  Me in the driver's seat, heading that raggedy rug to the brush pile and Cat Daddy doing the heeling!  That's rodeo talk y'all for we're lazy, old and too stoved up to carry it.

No y'all.  Sadder was my face when I sat down to post about our monkeyshine adventure in DIY'ing and seeing that Blogger had disabled my blog!

My first thought was really...ya gotta be kidding me?

My second thought was gone...all my words gone.

I was beside myself.  I took the necessary steps to try and restore, but after reading the Help section, I had a sinking feeling I might not get it back.

Three years of posts...words I would never be able to rewrite...Bella's story...Cat Daddy tall tales...gone.  Comments I could never reread when I was feeling blue or lost or hurt...gone.  My sidebar with all the wonderful folks I have met...all gone, leaving me with a hole in my heart and a colorless world of black and white.

The photos I wasn't worried about.  Those were stored in my own folders and not just in Picasa, but again...the words...the tears...the love...gone.

(BTW...thank you Anne for your sweet post. I'm betting you wish you hadn't picked a disabled blog!  Oh...and if you see any misspelled words...spellcheck ain't working this morning either...grr!)

Thankfully...this morning all was right again.  I received an e-mail my account had been restored and an apology for the inconvenience it had caused me.

Inconvenience...really?  This wasn't an inconvenience.  An inconvenience is all my dining room stuff piled in every room of the house.  This was just a heap of frustration and one sleepless night.

It's not that I'm addicted to blogging (she says with her tongue in her cheek), only that there are posts I want my Trashettes to have.  You better believe this old gal when she says (with no tongue in cheek) I will be printing out certain posts with comments to begin scrapbooks for them and I will be backing everything up on hard drive.

Oh Roby...have I got a project for you!

This old heart just couldn't take going through that again!

Bella's photo was taken by photographer extraordinaire, Melissa at Foto Fabulous.  If you are in need of a superb people-person and are in the DFW area...Melissa is your gal!  Give her a call and you can thank me later.

Ahhh...it feels good to have color back in my world again!