I'm not excactly sure how the weather is in other parts of the country, but if you live in the Midwest, then you know how bad it got this weekend. Now I like a white Christmas as much as the next person, but when it messes up travel plans and the wind is blowing so hard that it hurts your face, then not fun! The bad weather started earlier Thursday afternoon and just got worse as the day went on. I had to work that day and usually Christmas Eve is really slow because most of the residents go out with their families and we usually get done an hour early. Not this year! This year nearly everyone stayed, so it wasn't as simple as I had hoped.

Dad came up from Lincoln to pick me up (there was no way in hell I would be driving all the way there in my little old car) because he and Mom decided that if I was going to spend Christmas with them, then Christmas Eve would be the best time to get me because the weather was only going to get worse. He came to the HP, and of course, I wasn't done yet because we had been busy, so he sat in the lobby and chatted with Beata (heh), this cute little old lady. Dad wanted to follow me home, but I didn't want to drive in this snow, so I told him I'd rather leave my car there and just pick it up later when they return me to Omaha. I'm sure everyone thought I worked this weekend when they saw my car there!

We went to my apartment (the parking lot was a mess and hadn't been plowed yet; the snow was just piling up) where I packed the rest of my things and Milo, then headed for Lincoln in the blizzard. Oh, joy! While it was bad out and we couldn't see the road sometimes, it wasn't TOO bad (except for the part where Dad passed a snow plower and for about ten seconds we couldn't see anything except pure white - it was like being in a snow globe - that was really scary; and for a long stretch were behind a long stream of cars that were behind a snow plow), but I would never want to drive in that kind of weather. It just really sucks that this weather had to happen during the Christmas weekend. Because of it, we weren't able to go to Minnesota this holiday to see Bill and Kelly and had to forgo the Christmas celebration with Mom's family.

Mom had enchiladas waiting when we returned home and since I hadn't eaten anything since Wednesday night, I was quite hungry. After that, we opened presents, yay! My parents liked the gifts I gave them. In fact, one of my presents was a book and Dad asked if he could read it because he didn't have anything to read, so I gave him the two books I bought for him.

Anyway, I recieved:
-Slumdog Millionaire DVD
-The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
-Hair towel
-"The Night Before Christmas" Philosophy gift set with "cookies and milk" body wash. It came in a cute box that looks like a book.
-Heart-shaped jewelry box with three compartments
-dangly stone earrings
-Movie poster calendar
-$25 gift certificate to iTunes (which now brings my total to $50 because I bought one with my $25 gift card from Target I got from work, so yay!)
-Two tops and a cami
-"Extra-comfy" socks

I must have ate something that didn't agree with me because I woke up with an awful stomacahe on Christmas and spent most of the day lounging around and reading my magazines. It was still snowing and I went out in the backyard and made a snow angel. Half of it was covered in thick ice and I "attempted" to skate on it. I mostly fell on my ass. It was still snowing pretty hard and nearly an hour later my footprints and snow angel were no longer visible!

We were going to go out to see a movie, but due to the bad weather and how I was feeling, we stayed in and watched Slumdog.

On Saturday, Dad and I went to see Sherlock Holmes, which was really good. I can overlook the changes they made from the book such as Holmes beating up the bad guys. We had lobster for dinner, which was supposed to be our Christmas dinner with Bill and Kelly. Mom and Dad will probably go up there next weekend, but I can't because I have to work.

I don't think this snow is going to melt until mid-March! I am so sick of seeing snow everywhere!

With nine shopping days left before Christmas and today and tomorrow my only days off until Christmas, I thought I would tackle the dreaded holiday shopping and managed to get gifts for my family in one day.

( It was a long day, though )

I finally got my Christmas photos on a disc...so here they are:

This is my mom and me, about to eat out Christmas meal of cheese fondue (yum!) and oyster stew (yuck!):


( More photos behind the cut )

I had to work on Christmas, but drove to Lincoln after work and got to my parents' house at seven. Bill and Kelly were already there with the dogs and for dinner we had oyster stew (yuck) and cheese fondue (yum).

After dinner, we opened presents. I got:
-Ipod classic
-Watch from Fossil (with a pink face)
-Three pairs of earrings
-Cat condo for Milo
-Sephora: The Beauty Authority
-Glittered On Every Page Calendar
-Leopard print headband
-Five brush set from Sephora
-$15 iTunes gift card
-Brush
-3 pairs of argyle socks
-Dewey: by Vicki Myron
-Blueberry pancake mix
-Magnetic clips

Last night I had five Rum and Cokes and I made three of them. I had no idea that you only put a SPLASH of rum in and that you put the rum in first. I poured the Coke in first (a little more than half the glass) and then topped it off with rum. That's probably why I threw up last night and still have a massive stomache ache. I am never having a Rum and Coke ever again! Ugh!

Photos to come later!

All my favorite Christmas songs in three discs!

( Christmas CD 1 )


( Christmas CD 2 )

( Christmas CD 3 )

I've finished my Christmas shopping! Here's what I got for everyone:

Dad: The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder
Mom: Burberry Brit perfume and lavender chamomile hand soap
Bill: The Dark Knight 2-disc DVD
Kelly: Philosophy "The Recipe Box" with three body washes: red velvet cake, sweet creamy frosting, and strawberry shortcake and winter candy apple body wash
Maggie and Stanley: I got each a rawhide chew bone, Itty Bitty Bones treats, and dog food sampler, plus for Maggie I got Peanut Butter Beagle Bagels because she's part beagle and loves peanut butter, and for Stanley I got oven baked treats. They look just like Oreo cookies! I got their stuff at the Three Dog Bakery.

( My Christmas wishlist )

I checked out four Gossip Girl books from the library. Do you know how embarrasing that was? Damn that show for being so addictive. I have a feeling I'll bitch how the books don't hold a candle to the TV show!

I was also amazed when I paid only $18 for a full tank of gas. It wasn't that long ago when I had to pay $50 for a full tank! Saving money feels great! (Or spending it on Christmas gifts instead, anyway).

Yesterday we had Christmas on my mom side's of the family at my aunt's house in Garner, Iowa. Evan, the two and a half year old son of my cousin and his wife was there and he is the cutest little boy in the world! He had this John Deere toy tractor that played a 15 second jingle when you pushed one of the buttons and he would go crazy and dance whenever it came on. It was so cute! Jay told us when they took him to a wedding, he danced nonstop for two hours! He's going to be the ring bearer at my brother's wedding. Awww! I would tell him, "Evan give me a five" and he would slap my hand, then go to everyone else and give them high fives as well! I think he took a liking to me because he sat in my lap when he was watching his Elmo movies. He was just so adorable.

As for gifts, I recieved a cookbook from my mom's church, multi-colored measuring cups and spoons, a Grinch ornament, chocolate turtles, a cube cat box and cat treats for Milo, and a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.

There was a grab bag for the older cousins and we could only pick one when we answered a question correctly from The Night Before Christmas Aunt Mary asked us. I have to say none of us did too well. (Hey, it had been awhile since any of us had read that poem!) Hehe, when she asked "What were their children dreaming of?", I blurted out "cranberries" even though that was obviously wrong. Despite that mistake, I got the majority of the questions right. I ended up with the B&N gift certificate and that was the gift I got in the first place. (Luckily my mom paid for it). In fact, the card says To: You, From: Sara. Hehe.

It's November 15th and one of the radio stations I listen to just started playing Christmas music - two days ago! Damn, I know it's November, but isn't it a little too early for the holiday music? At least wait until Thanksgiving is over!

Merry Christmas, everyone! To celebrate this joyous time of the year, I thought I'd post Moviefone.com's top 25 Christmas movies and bold the ones I've seen.

( Spread some Christmas cheer! )

So which ones have you seen?

Holiday Look #1 - I call this my candy cane look.

Holiday Look #2 - This is my personal favorite. Burgungy and gold are lovely holiday colors and the hat and boots add a bit of character.

Holiday Look #3 - Look purr-fect in pretty pink this season!

Holiday Look #4 - Here is the perfect outfit to do your holiday shopping in - comfy and seasonably fashionable!

Holiday Look #5 - A fuzzy sweater and a skirt with a bit of sparkle makes a perfect holiday party look.

Holiday Look #6 - This red capelet is a must have for this
Christmas season!

Holiday Look #7 - The only way to go this season is in red and green!

( Christmas dis or dat )

( Ten favorite taditional Christmas songs )


( Top ten favorite classic Christmas songs )

( My top ten favorite original Christmas songs )

You Are a Trifle

No doubt, you have many intricate layers. But deep down, you're a little squishy.

Yesterday Mom and Dad picked me up and we drove to my Aunt Sue's and Uncle Terry's cabin in Iowa where my Aunt Jane and cousin Lendie were already there with their dog, Lacey. We had dinner...something called coquvin, I think. It was egg noodles with beef marinated in red wine and mushroom and onions that you put over it.

I watched A Muppet Christmas Carol on their screen downstairs and later went into the hot tub with everyone else except Jane and Lendie. I think my mom was a little tipsy!

This morning the other relatives came around 10 am and we had brunch: omelettes, waffles, toast, hash browns, and mimosas! I had two of them. I've never had one before; they're really good!

Then we opened presents. It was really fun to watch Evan, my cousin's one and a half year old son open his presents and how his eyes lit up! He must like trucks because he got a couple of them.

I recieved:
-a snowman angel ornament from Aunt Mary.
-Cinderella's castle ornament from Grandma.
-Fossil clutch bag in a flower print from Aunt Jane and Lendie.
-Soap from Anthropologie in Vanilla Spice, Pear Cinnamon, and Orange Clove from Aunt Sue.
-Parmesan dipping and drizzling oil from my parents.
-Candy and Blockbuster gift certificate from the cousin grab bag.
-And even Milo got a few toys and treats!

Well, I've been doing a little better since Mac died. I still think about him every night and cry when I'm in bed. I also find myself doing certain things when he was alive: for instance, he used to like to sit under my chair or behind it while I was on the computer, but he was so quiet that I always had to check under my chair before I scooted it back. The other day I caught myself doing that. It also feels weird whenever I open the fridge and there's no cat there begging for food! I set up my (little) Christmas tree and remembered how Mac loved to sit under it or bat at the low ornaments. Awwww.

( Thanksgiving and Christmas )

Drove home to Lincoln on Friday night and Bill got in later (with a bounding Maggie!) around eleven o'clock. We did the same old, same old on Christmas Eve: church at five o'clock, the traditional fondue dinner (Dad accidently hit my hands with his fondue forks while I was fishing out a potatoe that escpaed in the pot and Mom and Bill's fondue pot spurted up one moment like a geyer!) Fondue is scary, but it sure is good, then we opened presents. I brought my iSphere and my Holiday Mix to play while we ate dinner and opened presents. Oh, speaking of my iPod, I dropped it on the cement when I was getting Mac out of the car and it just got stuck on the song it was playing and it would not do anything! I had seriously thought I had broken it again and I was so pissed off. Luckily, after the batteries ran out, and I started to charge it again, it started working again. Whew! I took Maggie for a walk Christmas Eve and we admired all the pretty houses that were all lit up. There was one cul-de-sac that was really lit up.

( Movies, movies, movies! )

( Christmas presents )

Guess I better change my layout, huh?

I am officially done with Christmas shopping!

I got my mom the Giada De Laurentiis cookbook, Everday Italian.
I got my dad a Bob Dylan CD, Modern Times.
I got my brother an Orson Scott Card paperback and a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.
I got Maggie, my brother's dog, a stuffed bird that squeaks and peanut butter bone-shaped treats.
I got my cat, Mac, a "Boogie Mat." You put catnip in it and supposedly it drives your cat insane!

Everyone on Mom's side of the family gathered this year at Mary's house in Garner. As always, Bill was the last to arrive. He came a little after one o'clock, just as we were dishing up our food and didn't bring Kelly with him. Apparently her grandmother slipped and was in the hospital. Oh! And there was a new addition to the group. My cousin Jay and his wife Rebecca, had a baby in July, so I got to meet five-month-old Evan for the first time. He was soooooo adorable! He was such a happy baby, playing with his toys. He liked to hit the plastis pig and cow that were dangling from his bassinette. He espeically liked his stuffed pony because it was so soft. He would grab my finger and take it towards his mouth.

The menu was pretty much the same at any other of these gatherings: ham, cheesy potatoes, corn, green bean cassorole, rolls, and some kind of cauliflower salad that Mom made. There were also plates of cookies and bowl of almonds out everywhere.

After we ate, I played a few rounds of foosball with Pauline, then later on I player again Bill, then Dad came down and he helped me by playing goalie, then Mom and Anjoli and Pauline came down so we played guys against girls and just kept switching around.

When we opened presents, Pauline played "Santa" as usual, passing out the gifts to everyone. (Ah, I remember when I was Santa. I was the youngest cousin on that side of the family for a good ten years!) From the cousin grab bag, I got a Target gift certificate for $15, from Aunt Jane I got the gray hat with yellow polka dots from the Gap, from Aunt Mary I got a wooden angel ornament, and from Aunt Sue I got a blue flower print apron. She made all the women aprons and said she had made 21 total, for all the women on Terry's side of the family as well. Hands down, I got the cutest gift of all. Grandma and Russ gave me the Merry Christmas Trio. It is so cute! The snowman and penguins dance and sing to Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and the penguins shake their tails or wings and ring the jinble bells and the lights on the tree light up.

Evan was so cute everytime Jay opened a new present for him and showed him what it was. His eyes would grow so wide! He liked the rubber bathtoys of vehicles (train, motorcyle, plane) that Mom gave him and Aunt Jane gave him a one piece that said "Best in Snow" on it.

As if we didn't already have enough food already, after all the presents were open, Mary got out crackers and cheese, crab dip, cheesecake, pumpkin pie, and cherry pie. Plus, more cookies, of course. Add that to the three cans of Pepsi I had, I was pretty well fed that day!

Everyone started leaving around six. Mom, Dad, and I and Jane and Lendie were going to spend the night at Sue and Terry's cabin, which is only a few miles down the road. Bill also stayed for a couple hours and left a little after nine. He only lives about two hours away. Sue had her tree up, but only the lights were up, so Lendie and I put all the ornaments on it. I had eggnog with rum and nutmeg in it. Mmm, it was so good! I don't like regular eggnog, but add some rum to it, and you've got some good stuff!

I went to Barnes and Noble this evening and got my mom the Giada De Laurentiis cookbook, Everday Italian. While I was browsing the fiction area, I saw my fiction teacher's new book. It was kind of weird seeing the novel of someone I know! Now she's no millionare and hasn't (yet) been on any New York Times Bestseller list, but it still must be pretty cool to have your book at B&N! I also got all my Christmas cards for those of you I promised cards. I don't have enough stamps, so it might be a couple days before I send those out.

-Large frying pan
-Plastic cereal bowls
-Forks
-Headband
-Season 1 of 24
-Season 3 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
-Subsciption to Netflix
-Green leather jacket
-The Holiday House (or Ski Lodge) from Philosophy
-Eggnog body wash from Philosophy
-earrings
-Gift certificate to any of my favorite stores
-This leather jacket in dust from Banana Republic.
-Special Edition DVD of Titanic
-iTunes card
-Movie passes