Writing letters

I just finished this book. It reminds me of a friend of mine who writes letters {and everything else for that matter} just like Sylvia did during WWII. It also made me realize two things: 1. We don't know how to write letters anymore. And 2. we are so protected from the realities of war. I hope we never have to experience them, but if we do, I hope I have the character to deal with them the way the characters in this novel did.

Bars and balls

Here is the outcome of our cookie baking this past weekend:Buckeyes and Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Coconut bars. YUM! The Buckeyes are a blast from my past {I used to live in the Buckeye State where Christmas wasn't Christmas without them}.

Christmas 2009: #12 Victorian Stroll

Thursday night on a little street called Broadway: We've decided that we're going to pull out all the stops this Christmas. No short cuts. No fake trees {fake to us means pre-cut}. No missed opportunities for holiday cheer. On our list of "to-dos":
1. Cut our own tree
2. Visit Santa
3. Watch all the classic Christmas movies {Elf down, 455 left to go}
4. See the "big tree" in NYC, skate at Rockafeller Center, visit FAO
5. Donate to a family in need
6. Pull out all the decorations
7. Host Christmas Eve dinner
8. Sing carols {often and, as far as I'm concerned, badly}
9. Make a snowman {check}
10. Go sledding
11. Send Christmas cards
12. Go to the Victorian Stroll {check}
13. Attend Midnight Mass
14. Get Advent calendars for the kids {check}
15. Make Christmas cookies {check}

Phew!
I know I'm forgetting something... so this list may grow.

Grocery List

We're making cookies tonight for an annual cookie party tomorrow {where the white chocolate hot chocolate is something we look forward to all year long}. G just sent me this grocery list of things to pick up on the way home:

2 Large Jars of JIF Low-Fat Creamy Peanut Butter
4 Lbs butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 hugs
2 bags of powdered sugar
5 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 flat of Oreo’s
1 Small bottle of Crème de Menthe (Liquor Store)
1 oz. of forgiveness for wrecking your car
1 Btl of Peppermint Schnapps (Liquor Store)
1 Can of Oats
3 Kisses
3 Gallons of Milk (Skim)

I know I'll be able to find the hugs and kisses...and I think I can even muster up that ounce of forgiveness.

God, I love that man.

{And I love him even more for putting up with me.}

St. James Street, here I come...

I love wellies. Wellies are rubber boots that originated in England when the first Duke of Wellington asked his shoemaker on St. James street to fashion a pair of waterproof boots. I don't own a pair, but consistent with my modus operandi, my kids are dressed better than I am and have had several pairs over the years including one green pair that look like frogs and red ones fashioned as ladybugs.

Last night I found these {along with a matching Rugby!} from Joules, a UK clothing company. Funny how I found them only hours after booking a trip to London in January. I think it's a sign....

Far, far away... or not?

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away there were children who preferred playing make-believe instead of Playstation. Who traveled to distant lands and far-away places and didn't need a TV to entertain them. These play/real clothes from Patouche help us to remember how to bring far, far away just a little bit closer.

Chalk it up

How much to do you love these???
Not more than me! I must have one {or two??} of them from MaryKate McDeVitt for my kitchen....
{via Design Crush}