Christmas Memories

Ah, the annual Christmas card photo. Every year my mom would comb our hair and make us put on our Sunday best. We were told to smile and pretend we liked each other for long enough to snap a good Christmas card photo. There were typically pinches and punches and screaming involved - standard when my big brother and I had to be within a few feet of each other. To make matters worse, Mom typically procrastinated or we ran away every time she mentioned it, and we got around to taking a good photo halfway through the Advent season - and Christmas cards arrived with holiday greetings around New Year's.

Today Christmas card photos are a lot less hassle. Digital photography makes it easier to know if you got a good shot right away, and developing and printing is almost instantaneous. You know what else will make them a breeze for Chicago folks? If you're running behind or don't have any ideas on where to take this year's Christmas card photo for you or your family, I'll do them for you for a nominal fee. (And I gladly accept payment via gift card.)

Here some of my favorite shots from the past:

1981

1982

1985

Don't you want to capture memories like this for your family?

Happy Third Birthday to the Nephew (a day late)!!

I meant to post this yesterday. Bubby, sorry for my tardiness! You can blame Grandma's visit to Chicago. We were busy buying you Christmas presents on Michigan Avenue, but I love you and am so thankful you're such a happy, healthy and adorable little boy!!!

Stalking Success!

I have a confession to make.  I've been stalking again.  Yep, almost every day for several months I've stalked Craigslist.  I've been desperately seeking a vintage footed dresser for my living room.  And you know what?  I found one! 

This beauty happened to be in Gurnee, a northern suburb of Chicago, at a little vintage shop.  Although in great shape, it wasn't the color and feel I was looking for, but a little stripping and painting is no problem, right?  I thought, well, I could do it after the holidays, but why not ask the kind folks at Recovered Treasures how much they would charge to paint my new love for me?   Their response - $50!  What a deal.  (I'd spend more on drop clothes and supplies at ACE Hardware!)

I rented a Zipcar on Saturday to pick him up and run some other errands, and now thanks to my AWESOME neighbors Holly and Michael, he's sitting where he's always belonged.... in my living room!  He's smaller than the piece I used to sit my TV on, yet has more storage.  All in all, he's perfect.  Don't you agree?  

  

You see, stalking sometimes reaps great rewards.  

Coming Up for Air

I haven’t abandoned blogging or quilting or crafting or decorating projects. Most importantly I haven’t abandoned you!

To say life’s been a little hectic of late would be an understatement. But I shouldn’t have ignored you for so long. I was reminded this weekend of the power of community – and how important it is to have friends nearby to help move a Craigslist find up to a second floor apartment, colleagues that do what they promise to do, and the fellowship of people who have the same beliefs and faith as I do. This blog plays into how I share with my community, so I’ll do my best over the next few days to catch you up on what’s been going on:

• Latest Craigslist Find – the perfect mix of storage, style and TV stand.
  
• Christmas Décor!!!! – It’s all up, baby and it looks great! Now all I need is a wreath for the door and to finish my Christmas tree skirt…
  
• Shirden/Brock Family Vacay – I went to Disney and lived to tell about it!

Signs fall is definitely here… and almost over

The leaves are turning beautiful colors all around, but falling to the ground too quickly!

The annual pilgrimage to Bloomington, Ind. has occurred, complete with 30th birthday celebrations, Pete Yorn at the Bluebird, a near-sighting of John Mellencamp at Malibu Grill and late-night Pizza Express breadsticks….

And I can’t stop thinking about refinishing furniture…. Wouldn’t this look lovely white and be the perfect TV stand so I could move my console into the dining room where it belongs? I love Craigslist. (Sigh)