What the World Needs Now

Is to step back and let me help someone.

Have y'all ever had the opportunity to step up and help someone out? You know like paying for their groceries when they realize they're short or helping them up if they fall or helping someone short reach something on a top shelf...that sort of thing. Simple, everyday things that can make the difference in someone's day.

Do y'all know that I have never had the opportunity to do any of it except help an elderly lady find her brand of coffee once in Trader Joe's? Oh, I've seen these people. But there always seems to be someone in front of me or closer in proximity to the person and they don't hesitate to step up and help out. It's downright annoying.

I know I should be grateful that there are people who are more than willing and able to help a fellow human out and I am but I'd like to have the chance too. I mean, come on!

I can so relate to the characters in the Kohl's commercials:

Did y'all see the squirrel at the end? He folds his arms in obvious frustration that he did not get to help make that dad's Christmas better. That's me. I'm the squirrel. Because someone like that nice lady is always one step ahead of me.

Oh, well. That commercial reminded me of the next one. The one that's brought a swell to my heart and a happy tear to my eye. Oh, and makes me want to be Mrs. Claus:

I hope everyone caught the humor in this post. I promise, it's not an actual complaint. :)

Have a great weekend, y'all! 

Oh, and if you need a hostess gift for those holiday parties, check out my Etsy shop and then you'd be helping me out. :)  I don't have a cute commercial but the coasters are pretty nice. AND I have some with a vintage look that are new this week! 

Here's the link to my Etsy shop: CoasterDoodles

You can enjoy FREE SHIPPING in the US until December 16th!

Here's a sample of some of the vintage Christmas coasters! 

Ho Ho Hodgepodge

This holiday season is going too fast. I wait every year for fall to arrive and football season and the fall holidays but the weather has not cooperated for a few years now and I find myself just sitting and waiting for the cool temps and BOOM! it's December and winter and Christmas are upon me. How did I get so controlled by the weather? I may need to move north, y'all. Not too far, though. I don't want frostbite. I just want seasonal changes. 

How do I uplift my spirits? On Wednesdays, I join the fun of the Hodgepodge! It's always a positive no matter what's going on! Won't you take the leap and join in today?

1. Let's talk holiday decorating. On a scale of 1-10 where do you fall? (1=Scrooge and 10= Clark Griswold). I used to be a big 'ol 10. These days, though, I'm probably a 6. What's your favorite corner-room-table-space to decorate? Are y'all familiar with kids who are like bulls in a china shop? How about kids who never outgrow this even though they've hit their 30s? Well, this is why I don't decorate smaller spaces. But I do decorate the family room even though I have to be careful where I place things. This year the bigger tree is in a precarious place so, we'll see. Is it done? Yes, everything that I am going to do is complete. On to the cooking. 

2. Is there a nativity scene in your decorating somewhere? Yes. Post a picture or, if it's special to you in some way, tell us why. Or do both-it's Christmas! I've only taken the time to put up one so far. It's this one:

This one is special to me because of how much I adored these guys when I was growing up. :)

3.  Do you live in a social neighborhood? Not really. If so are you glad? I'm glad we aren't really that social. I mean, we're nice to each other and we stop and chat if we pass by while walking our pups but, we don't host much where we all gather. If not do you wish you did? That being said, I often consider doing something like a block party or sitting out in the front yard with free cookies and lemonade in the hot months or cocoa when and if it ever gets cold. But have I moved beyond the consideration? Nope. I feel like I would put forth more of an effort if the lovelies were little again. There is a group of parents with little bittles who gather on Thursday evenings for drinks. But it's not a huge group and it's exclusive. 

4.  As the saying goes, 'there's no time like the present'. How does that ring true in your life right now? It rings true in that I've realized there's no time like the present to get things done that I've put on the back burner too long. And not just around the house but within myself as well. And I'm working on it. 

5. Do you dread Mondays? I do in the same way I did when I was teaching. Why or why not? Because it's the end of the weekend which holds no schedules or responsibilities that can't be put off. Weekends are slower and more laid back whether I'm working outside the home or not and it's never easy to say good-bye to that. 

6.  Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis-which on the list is your favorite holiday plant? I like poinsettias and a Christmas cactus. I love RED so red plants are ok with me. Are any of these on display in your home right now? Nope. I don't love having plants in the house. I prefer them outside. 

7. Share a favorite quote from a Christmas movie. Wow. I have so many! This is hard to narrow down. But two that resonate with me in a BIG way are (these are long and the second one is more of a scene than a quote but it shows who Santa has always been in my eyes):

from THE BISHOP'S WIFE:

Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking.

Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry, a blazing star hung over a stable, and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries. We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, with the sound of bells, and with gifts.

But especially with gifts. You give me a book, I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry can do with a new pipe. For we forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's his birthday we're celebrating. Don't let us ever forget that.

Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most. And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.

and from MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET:

Way on the other side of Christmas movie quotes are the funny ones I love from movies like, CHRISTMAS VACATION (If you've seen the movie, you probably know which ones my family quotes throughout the year) and ELF,  and A CHRISTMAS STORY, and all the rest. We ADORE Christmas movies around here! And we can quote most of them word-for-word. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here. Still thinking about the Christmas movie quotes, here's another favorite of mine:

from A CHRISTMAS CAROL: “And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!’’

And there's this:

She didn't smile. But, she didn't cry. And how stinkin' cute is that? My favorite part is the fancy headband with bare feet. That's how we roll in this family. 

Have a great rest of the week, y'all!

What's Wrong with DIY Videos?

Y'all know the ones I'm talking about. I mean the DIY videos that pop up on your FB newsfeed. Have you ever watched one? All the way through?

I've watched a few of them because I was interested in the topic being presented. But I have yet to make it through an entire DIY video. Whether they are presented by an individual or a company, I can't stand these videos.

Why?

• The DIY person keeps talking to the person running the video camera as if no one else is listening or seeing.
• The DIY person keeps hesitating as if he/she doesn't really know how to do this particular project.
• The DIY person keeps trying to get his/her thoughts together resulting in long, uncomfortable pauses.
• The DIY person constantly repeats things like um, uh, well, or some other thing that means, "I have no idea what to say or do next."
• The DIY person makes it crystal clear that he/she is unprepared for the video.
• When a question pops up on their feed, the DIY person stops everything to answer the question even though there is no reason to stop. Why can't they keep working while they work?
• A thought pops into their head about how something else could be used but they didn't use it and then they tell why. And they stop working while they go off on this tangent. UGH. 
• The videos are too long because of all of the above.

There have been several DIY videos from Hometalk but I have yet to make myself stick with it to the bitter end. It's too grueling. Too painful. 

I much prefer the fast pace (without the incessant babble) of the videos put out in cyberspace by Tasty, or 12 Tomatoes. Hometalk does offer some fast videos with silent DIYers. I'm thinking they need to forget about the LIVE videos and stick with the quickies. 

EDIT: Here's one SILExtraordinare sent me. I'm dying!

Please click to visit my Etsy shop: CoasterDoodles
I've adjusted the shipping so it should be less expensive now to ship your coasters to you! If you're in the US it should only cost $6.10!

There are plenty of sets for your viewing pleasure! Let me know if you have a question! 

Walking Around the Christmas Tree

Weekend walks are relaxing. Tuck and I are not trying to win any races or beat the clock. We just walk, enjoy, and appreciate.

The nature trail has always been one of Tucker's favorite places to walk. I like looking around for my favorite color in nature. I'm never disappointed.

Of course, arriving at the marsh around sunrise is never disappointing either. 

But the reds are my favorite finds. Especially when they're surrounded by hearts. 

Until we look left and see this- soda cans, beer cans, food wrappers, water bottles, etc. Yes, we know who does it. We also know that nothing is done to stop it. And I have a soapbox all about it but that's not what this post is about. 

This post is about Tucker finding a Christmas tree! There's even a tiny spot of red on it.

Where did your weekend take you?