Happy New Year!!!!

Well, this is it. Just a few more hours left of 2009. I honestly had mixed feelings about this year because the best day of my entire life happened this year, but we also had some icky days during the year. Of course, the best day was our wedding day on February 21st. I finally got my prince after waiting a long, long time for him. It was well worth the wait though. Our Lord has blessed Alan and I so much and we are indeed quite thankful for all the wonderful blessings He has bestowed upon us during our courtship, marriage and now happily ever after. Thank you also Lord for my parents and wonderful family as well as my friends and my new blog family. I am very grateful for each and every one of you who have come into my life.

I never make New Years resolutions simply because I don't want to disappoint myself if I don't follow through. However; this year, I am making a resolution to finish my first novel. I have been writing and doing research and trying to make this pre-teen novel come together, but it isn't without blood, sweat and tears. I love to write, it is my passion, but it is a difficult job sometimes when writers block kicks in or the happenings of everyday life get in the way of the next chapter. I know deep down in my soul I can and will finish it this year and I am excited about accomplishing my goal. I'm so lucky to have a wonderful husband who believes in me and who lets me stay home and follow my dreams. Thank you, Alan!

Happy New Year Everyone!
<3, Kristie

Snow Again?

I just sent my hubby off to work and I'm a little nervous. He was off work last week when the weather got bad. His hours are kinda crazy and I'm freaking out about him coming home tonight in this bad weather. The snow doesn't bother me, but the ice is so dangerous. Please say a prayer for Alan if you get a moment. Thank you.

On another note, I am looking forward to seeing the Chipmunk Squeakuel movie. Toys R Us has these plush chipmunk dolls and I want all of them. There's Alvin, Simon and Theodore and all 3 Chippettes. I collect dolls and stuffed animals like Care Bears, Smurfs, Shirt Tales, things like that. Wonder if I might be able to convince Alan to get them for me even though we just had Christmas?

I am also very impressed with a fast food chain today. It started off kinda rocky. I went to the drive thru at McDonalds and ordered 4 Cheeseburgers (wanted to put a couple in Alan's dinner, too) and a large french fries for us to split. I paid at the first window and drove to the 2nd window to retrieve the food only to be told to "Please pull up and park and we will bring your food out to you." Ugh! I hate that. Well, I waited and waited and finally (about 5 minutes later) I got impatient and went inside to see what the hold up was about. They weren't very busy so I was a little confused, but I stood there and waited for my food. An employee finally handed me a McDonalds sack that seemed to be quite full. I said thank you and headed back to my vehicle. I got home and took the food out of the sack and started making a plate for myself and Alan and realize I was shorted one burger. CRAP!

Alan said, "Kristie, it's only one burger for $1.00, no big deal." I was mad nonetheless. I grabbed the receipt and proceeded to make a phone call to our local McDonalds. I explained what had happened and she remembered me thank god.

She couldn't apologize enough (the store manager happened to be the one who answered my call.) She took my name and told me the next time I come in to their store that they will replace my entire order for free. She said the next time we feel like having McDonalds that it is on them. I was seriously surprised and happy that she took care of me like that with no questions asked. Now, that's customer service. YAY!

Hoarders, etc...

Y'all, I have just found a new show and I can't believe what I just sat there and watched. OMG OMG OMG. It's called Hoarders and it's on A&E. This is so unbelievably sad, disgusting, interesting, confusing,etc. I found myself crying for these poor folks. You just can't possibly understand what this show is about until you watch for yourself. Please, please watch it so we can talk about it. I believe I may be obsessed with this show now.

Also, I found a show called Cake Boss. Man, this guy is so awesome.

I swear I did more today than just watch television! I put away some Christmas stuff, did the dishes, made a cake, had lunch with my husband and my father in law. It was a productive day and then just when I was about to relax and find something cheesy to watch like Nick at Nite...there it was... HOARDERS.

Seriously, please watch it.

Just doing some thinking

It always seems like I feel a little down right after Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I am so appreciative of everything I got this year. Santa and my husband were extra good to me. I just feel like all the magic disappeared or something. I know I still have New Years to look forward to, but honestly New Years is just another day to me. We don't drink or go out and party or anything. I mean we may go out to eat and get a nice steak or something but that's about it. When I think of New Years, I think of all those stinkin Jenny Craig commercials that we are going to have to endure. Or NutriSystem or Weight Watchers...every other commercial is lose 20 pounds for 20 dollars or whatever. I hate those commercials. Yes, I know I need to lose some weight, but do we all have to be inundated with those ads left and right?

OK. I'm done ranting. So sorry, but seriously!!! You know I'm right.

I know there are lots of wonderful things in store for me in 2010. I am excited for a new year with my sweet hubby.

ABC's of Me Letter F (things I love beginning with the Letter F)

Friends

Family

Faith

Flowers

Facebook (lol)

Fiction (I love all books)

TV shows beginning with F
Facts of Life
Full House
Flo (Kiss My Grits)

Fetticine Alfredo (YUM)

Now I'm hungry!

ABC's of me continued...

Several months ago, I started the ABC's of me and simply got sidetracked so I'm picking up where I left off. I'm basically just listing the things I enjoy for each letter. I left off with letter E.

ABC's of me Letter E

EBay- I love ebay so much. We buy and sell all the time. It brings me such joy.

Editorials- You all know how much I love to write, well I love to read, too. Editorials are the best.

Ellen Degeneres- She just rocks

Easter- What a wonderful holiday, church and easter egg hunts, so fun!

Eighties- I love 80's music. It's my absolute fave.

ET- Entertainment Tonight and also the Extra-Terrestrial :)

E-mail

Etiquette

Eau de toilette- I collect many perfumes

Letter F to come soon.

I saw this on Lesli and Sara's blogs and thought I would play, too!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I am fanatic about wrapping every single present with wrapping paper and ribbon. NO BAGS! It is a pet peeve of mine! I feel like it's a last minute effort if someone just throws it in a bag. No dollar store bows either. Ew.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I have artificial. Alan is allergic so that was settled pretty quick. I honestly don't mind the artificial tree though. I decorate it with white lights and red, gold and silver ornaments. Very pretty. We also have a "Charlie Brown tree" in the hall and that one had all the ornaments from my childhood.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving. This year I put mine up a week before Thanksgiving. The holiday spirit hit me early this year.

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day or the day after. I think I can convince my husband to let me keep it up one extra day. It is so much more fun to deck the halls than to undeck them.

5. Do you like eggnog? No, not a fan of the nog.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Cabbage Patch Doll (which I still have)

7. Do you have a nativity scene? I do not have a nativity scene, but maybe one day.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My husband because he has everything already, but he loves anything he gets and appreciates things so much, so anything I give him is really fine. I just like to surprise him!

9. Easiest person to buy for? My Mom

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Regular mail of course!

11 .Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Someone (who will remain nameless) actually regifted me a gift that I gave them for doing something nice for me for my wedding.

12 . Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation

13 . Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, I have but I always follow the rules of etiquette while doing so and I always remember who gave me what.

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mashed potatoes, Broccoli Rice Casserole, all the yummy desserts.

15 . Clear lights or colored on the tree? I love both. I put white lights on the tree and colored lights outside.

16 . Favorite Christmas song? Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Mel Torme), White Christmas (The Drifters) and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee)

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? As long as we are with family it doesn't matter. I am a homebody though.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all...Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? I have always opened on Christmas morning. We opened on Christmas Eve this year because we were going to be pressed for time Christmas morning.

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic and long lines for sure. Or trying to find a gift and it's sold out.

21 . Favorite ornament theme or color? Red, gold and silver

22. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I try to shop year round. I started the bulk of it around September though and was so proud of myself for finishing early.

23. What, do you want for Christmas this year? A diamond eternity band to make my wedding set complete, a cream colored laptop computer, DVDs, Bath and Body Works, Lucky Brand purse in Kelly Green, Dyson Vaccuum. Santa was good to me. I got all of these things. YAY! That cream colored laptop is gorgeous!

24. Angel or Star on top of tree? We have a star on ours.

25. What do/did you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk usually, but we forgot this year. Sorry, Santa.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

White Christmas!

Our kind Father has blessed Alan and I so much this year. We are so incredibly thankful for the many many blessings He has bestowed upon us. We received another awesome gift today as He gave us a white Christmas on our first Christmas as a married couple! I will never forget this, it just doesn't happen in Texas. It's a childhood dream come true. It truly is amazing what our Lord can do.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Only in Texas!!!

The weather here in Texas is so stinkin crazy. Yesterday it was 75 degrees and today we are gearing up for snow. Can you believe it? We may actually have a white Christmas! YAY! I know some of you probably think snow is no big deal, but us Texas folks don't see snow very often especially not at Christmastime.

Alan and I went to Walmart yesterday to pick up some groceries for Christmas. I was told to bring my famous corn casserole, 3 packages of brown and serve rolls and a 2 liter of Sprite. All of the Mrs. Bairds rolls were gone so I bought Sunbeam rolls. Hope they are just as good. You can't really mess up a roll can you?

Oh also, I wanted to surprise my Mom with a photo album of pictures of our wedding this year so I went to Walgreens. I had a coupon! So, I walk into the store and head back to the photo area. They have these photo machines so that you can process your order yourself,etc. Well, I've never used the machine before so I asked the photo employee for some help. I asked her if she could please help me and she said and I quote, "Do you know how to follow directions?" I seriously wanted to slap her. First of all, yes I think I can handle following directions, secondly, don't be rude to me because there are other places I can go to print my photos and thirdly, I looked at her name tag and she was the store manager. OMG. She wasn't busy, there was no one in line or anything and her tone with me was awful. It was as if she didn't want to bother with me. It upsets me when people act like that.

On a better note, I am really excited about our first Christmas being married. Alan and I have had 3 Christmases together but this is the first one being married and he is off work this week so we are so happy. I have Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch, Frosty the Snowman and several Christmas movies on the dvr. It's all holiday all day over here in the Wendland household. Incidentally, Alan gets very frustrated with me during the holidays because we practically have the dvr on overload with Christmas programs. I love recording all the Christmas movies off of Lifetime, ABC Family and TBS. SO fun. Merry Christmas Eve!

10 things you don't know about me

(Michelle, I actually made this list a few months ago, but wasn't sure if you had gone back that far in my blog to check it out!)

1. I usually get up before Alan does every morning. But the second Alan gets out of our bed, I have to make the bed. I mean, THE second he gets up...that bed is made. Complete with all the foo foo pillows and decor. Sometimes Alan will come find me and sigh and say, "I just got up to go to the bathroom and I was coming right back to bed." Sorry dear.

2. I love doing crossword puzzles or word puzzles. I have so many critical thinking and mind puzzles, it's ridiculous. Even though I have so many, I still can't resist buying another one at Walmart or Half Price Books because I'm afraid I will work all the puzzles and not have one to do someday.

3. When I go to the grocery store I have to have to perfect cart (which is sometimes very hard to find.) Alan will get so embarrassed because I will continue to go back for another cart if anything is wrong with the one I grabbed. I mean if it squeaks or has a crazy wheel or thumps or viers to the right...I have to take it back. I will not use a faulty shopping cart.

4. Most of you know I love Coca~Cola. What you probably don't know is that I am very wasteful. I will open a can of Coke and drink a couple of sips out of it and leave it somewhere in the house and forget about it (not on purpose) and then I will get thirsty and want a cold Coke and I will open another can of soda. Needless to say I sometimes wind up with 4 or 5 opened drinks in random places in the house. And they've either gotten hot or lost their fizz so I end up throwing them away. Alan hates this. I am working on it.

5. I am a fanatic about wrapping presents. I have to have the perfect paper, the perfect ribbon, the perfect bow. I always wrap presents, too. I hardly ever put a present in a bag. I don't want people to think I took the easy way out. I want them to know that I went the extra mile to make their special day extra nice. Sometimes I have to bite the bullet and use a bag, but I try not to.

6. I have many, many perfumes. They are all on an antique mirrored tray on top of my dresser. I love all the perfumes so much that I can never decide which one to wear. So, I usually just close my eyes and point to one and that is the one I will wear for the day. (Hey, at least I don't play eeny meeny miny mo. :)

7. I am secretly obsessed with tv shows I watched as a kid. Thank God for the television box sets these days. I honestly do not go one day without watching at least one 30 minute program from my childhood. Either Punky Brewster, Silver Spoons, Facts of Life, Diffrent Strokes, etc. Those shows make me smile.

8. I start my Christmas shopping very early. In fact, I shop for Christmas items all year long. Some people may laugh at me, but I always find incredible deals and it is much easier on the pocketbook to spend a little at a time. I have created a spot in our house for the future Christmas gifts and by the time December rolls around, we are ready. Almost. Now I can put those wrapping skills to good use.

9. I talk to my Mom everyday. Sometimes 3 times a day. She is my best friend. We always find something to talk about or gossip about. I know she won't be around forever, so I guess I take full advantage of the fact that she is here now. She gives me advice and I give her advice. It's a great mother/daughter relationship. I love my Mom.

10. I cry at awards shows. Alan laughs at me. I seriously cry when someone wins an award. I feel like either I won the award myself or a member of my family is up there thanking me. It's the craziest thing ever. I can't help it, I just get so excited for the winners that I start boo hooing. I never sit down to watch an awards show without Kleenex.

Giveaway on Pal's Blog

Hey friends! Just a quick note that my gal pal Lesli is having a fantastic giveaway on her blog! It's called Pretty Random Thoughts and you can find her at http://bunnycakes.blogspot.com
She is such a sweetheart! You should check it out!

I have a Christmas party tonight at my Mom's house in Burleson! So excited! I made a corn casserole (thanks to Ms. Paula Deen!) I am so thankful for my sweet mother. She does so much for us during the year and it feels great to give back!

We got her and my stepdad a flagpole to go on their land plus some other goodies! It is so hard to buy presents for people who have everything!!

On another note, my hubby is off work this whole week with me!!!! He managed to get Christmas week off-AMAZING! We went shopping yesterday, went to Cracker Barrel for some grub and he even made his famous cheese dip. Right now, he is cleaning out the fish tank. He deserves a gold star!

Gotta finish up a few last minute details before tonight! Be sure and check out Lesli's blog! You will love it!

Holiday Craze!!!!

Anyone else out there feeling the hustle and bustle yet of this holiday season? I am trying my best to make it through without losing my mind. Both me and my husband are from divorced families, so we have like 800 Christmases to attend (it seems I might be exaggerating a tad bit). :)
Anyway, we are having Christmas at Alan's sisters house this Saturday! SO, let the parties begin!! I am making Christmas cut out cookies with edible paint icing. (Thanks, Paula Deen!) I think my nephews will get a kick out of the decorated cookies.

Still have to finish wrapping my presents. I DO NOT USE BAGS! That is one of my pet peeves. I wrap everything with wrapping paper and I don't use those dollar store bows either. I wrap with ribbon and every present has to be perfect. I just want the giftee to know that I took extra care with their gift and that a lot of love went into making it look beautiful!

I have an appointment tomorrow with Toni and Guy hair salon to get my hair colored. Stupid gray hair. Yes, I admit. I have gray hair! Can't go to a holiday party exposing the roots now can we?

On another note, I sure hope the abc television network airs "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Again since Obama pre-empted it last week. I love that Christmas special. Incidentally, I also love Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, and that Brady Bunch episode when Mrs. Brady gets her voice back just in time for Christmas!

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la