I SPY...

When I was little, I loved the game I Spy.  I Spy with my own little eye... and then try and get the other person to guess what you have identified as your target. 

I also love Seek and Find books, Wheres Waldo, etc.  You get the drift.  I love the challenge of looking for hidden gems. 

Good thing.  Socks?  In my house? bhwahhahahaah.  Hidden gems. 

I am not just talking about baby socks (the devils curse), but girly toddler socks, boy athletic socks, daddy work socks and any two freaking socks that will make a pair for mom.

I have been seeking to find those socks every day for the last 4.5 years.

This morning?  The socks defeated me. I present to you my foot on December 13, 2012.

 No Sock.  Just red shoes.  Reminding you that I live in Wisconsin and its December.  Remind me of this when I have a cold in 1.4 weeks.

Turkey Day Redux

Do you have those little traditions that, because of their importance in your mind, sort of take on a life of its own?  Man,  Love me some traditions.  The problem with that, is sometimes the reality doesn't live up to the memory - rose colored glasses looking at the past. 

Thanksgiving is a BIG tradition for my family.  For many years, it is the one holiday we do not travel for, no obligation to do the big family dinner back home.  We have had our nice little Friends-giving for a long time.  Before Luke, Dottie, and Charlie.  It was always the Angie and Barb Thanksgiving show. 

Some years, our participants were more appreciative of the efforts than others.  There may have been a year where the house almost started on fire, where the ginger beer did not cure morning/all day sickness, where someone (who sucks and whose name will not be mentioned here) had his fresh kill in my driveway.  There were pingpong tournaments, naps, teaching the kids to rabidly hate the Detroit Lions. 

It was always the Angie and Barb Thanksgiving show.  If you want to see some recaps - Barb has been much more diligent of keeping our memories - check it out here. 

This year, because there has been a huge readjustment in our lives, I was a little worried that the actual event could not live up to the mythical place it held in my heart.  We had pinterest boards of ideas, multiple menu discussing emails, serious phone discussions.  Could it really be as great as in my mind? 

Then, 10 days before Thanksgiving, my knee gave out on me.  I couldn't walk.  Couldn't stand.  Was scheduled for unexpected surgery. 

I may have sent an angst filled email to Barb saying _ I cannot do this. 

Luke making Turkey decor (a must have).

But we did.  And it was, again, the Angie and Barb Thanksgiving Show.  Barb has a beautiful post with lots of pictures of the food. So I won't rehash.  I just want to share a few of my favorite pictures.   

I may have a new found love for Bourbon.  Yum.

Snow White (Dottie) making my family recipe for cranberry relish. 

Turkey Relish Tray, made with love by Barb and Dottie

I am a little bummed that there is not one picture of me and Barb.  In all our preparatory glory.  The food was wonderful, the house if not super clean, was presentable, the guests were fantastic and wonderful company, the drinks were plentiful and the day was just as wonderful in my heart and mind as in reality. 

We have a no Christmas till after the Turkey is put away rule in our house.  So Thanksgiving night, Mike the superdad, took Luke and Dottie out to work on the Christmas lights.  Charlie wanted in on the action too. 

We will plan on for 2013 - no lumpy gravy next time.  I promise. 

Ventage Tuesday - Around the {eeek} House

The idea of the five of us sharing the details of our days/closets/lives sounded awesome when I was in charge of the prompt.  This weeks prompt in true Halloween fashion is SPPPPOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKY.  In fact, it is terrifying to me.  

Prompt?  Five things around your house.  

My first instinct was to take five VERY VERY cropped photos of things in my house.  

If I do say so myself, I have some cool stuff on the walls at my house.  I have  a series of canvass kitchen art.  It is colorful, cool and if you look at the walls, you are not looking at the mess on the floor or the counters.  

At my house, we also have boxes full of stuff in many places.  Not organized.  Right now, the above photo of a bazillion K-cups is located in a very logical place.  On top of another box on my washing machine.  

You see, my friends, there is only one organized cupboard in my house.  The cupboard that houses about 1/3 of my fiestaware dishes.  Looks nice, right?  Well, if you love dishes, get your ass over to my house.  There are dishes every where.  In every room, in every closet.  Mike has put me on a moratorium from buying dishes because there are so many.  If I am ever called upon to host the entire city of Green Bay for dinner, I will be prepared. 

I like to think that all the clutter is spurring creativity.  See Dottie's magnet art work on the fridge?  This should be the nerve center of my house (according to all the home/lifestyle blogs).  Instead?  Random assortment of stuff we have no idea where else to put it.  Old pictures of me as a baby?  Fridge!  Packer schedule?  Fridge!  Rebate forms that are probably expired?  Fridge!  You get the idea.  

But, because I promised to share.  Because our theme is to keep it real.  Here is what my living room looks like right now.  7 loads of laundry sorted and folded, waiting to be put away.  Notice the (2nd) box of KCups on the shelf?  Notice the random assortment of other crap that needs to be put away on the shelf?  Its a disaster.  And this is all I am willing to share.  

Check out the other girls for today's challenge.  Em, Steph, Barb and Katrina.