the twelve dates of christmas...{or how to get time alone}...

so i read on this blog....rockstar diaries...about this fun idea called the twelve "dates" of christmas, where you and your significant other have twelve dates leading up to christmas.  i *love* that idea!  so coach sal and i are going to try it, and we are leaning toward finishing them up by epiphany, just to give us a bit more time.

so, our first date was to moe's, which is a pretty typical date for us.  we go there often on date nights because our children are not huge fans, but we are. 

we are going to try to come up with different ideas for each one, not always being food!  some ideas are...

* browse b&n
* drive around and look at christmas lights
* movies
* local play or concert
* coffee!

any other ideas for fun date nights?  especially *thrifty* ones?

what i did tonight...

* made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies...
* watched the sing-off finale...{please win dartmouth aires! still waiting to see...}
* downloaded god is in the manger and read the first two days...

good evening.

just for you...{kim}...

so i *may* try to start posting more often...but no promises.  not sure why it's difficult.  sometimes i know it's because of life happening.  and sometimes it's because i have nothing to tell.  so let's see what i can share right now...

courtesy of julie abbott art

love love love this print...i saw it yesterday at carolina girls and almost bought it until i saw the price tag.  so i went home and told larry that i want it for christmas. :o)

on to christmas...we chose our tree at lowe's yesterday.  choosing the tree has actually become more difficult as the kids have gotten older, because it is a competition to see who picks *THE tree*.  that said, mom still gets the final say.  but it is some sort of honor to have mom choose the tree YOU pulled out of the stack. 

decorating commenced as we watched the carolina-clemson game...

the tree has a fantastic shape, we love it!  and we have new stockings this year, which i also love. {notice the dog has two}.

 this is on our front door.  normally we have a wreath, but i wanted something new and different.  i use this bucket every season and just change the flowers, so why not for christmas?  frugal me...this cost a grand total of $6!  bought it all at the dollar store, yah!

 my flamingo tree, sporting new pink lights that i got for 75% off at the end of last year!

we have several old ornaments that belonged to either larry's parents or grandparents.  this year i thought i'd put a few on the tree...

 and this is my playmobil nativity scene...david and jacob loved these toys when they were little, so we've had this set for many years.  {surprised to see the only piece lost thus far is the angel's halo}  the wooden barn, though, i bought this year at target for $2.50.  the set came with a cardboard one that is falling apart, and i thought the little wooden one was perfect!

now i know why i don't blog like i used to...i have two of my three children asking "when will you be done??"
and the dryer is buzzing...

time up.  peace out.

day 47...{getting closer}...

1 pair of boots...gone.
7 scarves...gone.

ttd...83!

day 64...{inspired}...

after typing yesterday's post, i decided to clean out the arts/crafts/school supplies...and ended with tossing out 10 more items!

75 and counting...

where i'm at {65 days to go}...

item 51...

item 52...

53...

54...

55...(counting these frames as one item)

56...

57 and 58...

59, 60, 61, 62, 63...(aren't you glad i can count?)

"item" 64...

item 65...(sadly failed attempt at new exercise)

so...that leaves me with 64 days and 35 items still left to lose!  an item every other day...i can do this!

a ton on 91...

let's see...

12 items from the shed, tossed in garbage can
16 books, all looking for new homes on facebook (coach sal got rid of quite a few, too)
a pile of cds
a few dvds

i'm going to call it 30 items...

ttd...50 items...half way there...