Ho! Ho! Ho!

Happy Holidays...hope you like my new festive layout!

Secret Santa Soiree!!!!

Today I went out of the garage to start putting up my Christmas decorations and what did I see on the front stoop?  This...

A package from my Secret Santa!!!   Oooo, I was sooo excited, so I ran into the house, forgetting Bubba outside dubiously burying the extention cord for the lighted reindeer, and opened my present (after I got my camera, of course).

The suspense was killing me, but there was a card, so I read that first...

It said...

"...I love jewelry, so you needed some.  I love to wander antique stores and rarely come out empty handed.  That is where the cookie cutters came from.  I have been sewing aprons, so I added one.  I hope you like your package..."

Here is what I got...

Adorable copper cookie cutters in holiday shapes, adorable snowflake earrings, adorable jewelry set in silver and black, an ever so adorable apron, and a beautiful milk glass candy dish.  Secret Santa, I love you!!!  

She is also a military wife and mother which gives us a kindred spirit.  I think she knew that I was sick and needing a boost today.  Thanks, Secret Santa!  

Foto Friday

Bubba's Tradition

My Bubba is a fanatic about our Thanksgiving turkey.  He starts talking about it right after Halloween..."what size turkey should we get - 20, 25 pounds?", "where are we going to get the turkey this year?", "Babe, have you gotten the turkey, yet?"  Then, once we have secured the bird, we always have to start with a name.  Our turkey has been named everything from the ever boring and predictable "Tom" to "Steve" to "Fred" and even "Thumbelina" (she was the year that Bubba was deployed and I valiantly attempted to roast a small turkey breast).  After we bond with the turkey and call it by its name for the days that it sits in the refrigerator thawing, Bubba wakes up on Thanksgiving morning to start his ritual.  

First, he dons his chef's hat.  

Then, he lovingly and gently bathes the turkey in the sink, taking great care to remove the innards (I don't know what they are really called - I usually stay away from the icky parts).  He then, finishes the rest of the preparations which I am usually not invited to attend.  Sometimes, BoyBoy is allowed, but usually Bubba has to be alone with his bird.  

Once the bird is in the oven, no one...and I mean NO ONE is allowed to open the oven except him.  Don't want to upset the intricate balance of temperature and humidity!  Of course, we have to do the back plan so that all the dishes come out of the oven at the same time and the bird has time to rest before carving.  It is all very carefully orchestrated.

I love how he takes it so seriously.  He is genuinely devastated when his turkey doesn't turn out perfect (which, for the record, has only happened once - 24lb Theodore).  He is like a proud father when it is flavorful and juicy.  He loves the smell and flavor and feeling of Thanksgiving.  And his enthusiasm is contagious.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Foto Friday

Check it out!  Make-a-flake!

My first blog award - and it's a doozie~

I got an award!!!

Check it out!

Thanks, Jill!!!

This award came to Jill from Jenni at Jiggety Jigg and it has no rules attached.  So, if you like it, grab it!  It is a great way to get a cheap award with little or no effort - just the kind of award I like!

We now interrupt this blog for another very important announcement...

GO REDSKINS, BEAT COWBOYS (AGAIN)!!!! 

8 things

8 Things I am passionate about:

1. Bubba
2. BoyBoy
3. Blogging
4. Diet Coke
5. Reading
6. My friends
7. Taking pictures
8. Talking on the phone

8 words of phrases that I use the most
1. Oy!
2. Um...no.
3. BoyBoy, Melly needs food and water!
4. That's cool!
5. Where is that kitchen fairy?

6. Bless you!
7. S'up?
8. I love you

8 things I want to do before I die
1. Finish a long distance bike race
2. Finish BoyBoy's scrapbooks
3. Buy stock in Diet Coke
4. Have my dream job
5. Decorate an entire house with a sky's the limit budget
6. Retire someplace warm
7. Play with my future grandchildren
8. Take Bubba to Rome

8 things I need right now
1. Diet Coke
2. a maid
3. a personal chef
4. a personal trainer

5. a nap
6. to win the lotto
7. not a big lotto - just enough to pay for Christmas
8. new bras

8 places I want to visit
1. Australia
2. Back to the Canary Islands
3. Mount Rushmore
4. Hawaii
5. Alaska
6. New York City at Christmastime
7. Rome with Bubba
8. Vail, Colorodo to ski

8 favorite restaurants
1. Chic-fil-a
2. Salsas
3. The Cheese Shoppe
4. Mike's Place
5. Chick's with Aunt S & family
6. Duck Deli
7. McDonalds for breakfast
8. Anna's #2

8 TV shows I watch
1. Survivor
2. Dancing with the Stars
3. American Idol
4. America's Next Top Model
5. The Bachelor(ette) - Hmm...notice a trend?

6. Greek
7.  CSI - anytown
8. Lost

8th folder-8th picture!

Foto Friday

Happy 11th Birthday, BoyBoy!!!

Fashion Trends to Love and Hate

Can I just tell you that I love the new trend of empire waist tops.  For example...

They are great on so many levels.  First of all, no sucking in the gut.  Let it all hang out, girlie, no one can see past your cute, flowing top.  Second of all, as my sister would call it, "butt-ma-flage".  Got a little extra junk in your trunk?  These tops have just the right amount of material to cover it up.  Thirdly, and don't think I am bragging here, but they are flattering to the well endowed.  I have XXL boobies.  Really, don't hate me because I have them.  They are both a blessing and a curse.  But these tops really flatter my girls.  This might be the best fashion trend ever!

Now, on the flip side...what is up with those ankle booties?

Who do these look good on?  I say this with much trepidation, because I usually love all shoes, however, these take the cake for unloveablilty.  If you have thick ankles, fageddaboutit.  Large calves?  Mooo!!  Skinny legs?  You will look like you have matchsticks for feet.  They just don't flatter anyone.  Even the beautiful models on the catwalk look like they are little girls playing dress up in their mommies booties.

  

So, today's lesson is...don't be a slave to all fashion trends...just the ones that make your butt look good!

Steve!

My nephew's birthday was this past weekend and I couldn't let it pass without blogging about it.  You see, his birthday is a marker for my wedding anniversary.  When I was engaged and planning my wedding long distance (since I had already followed Bubba once), my sister was doing most of the leg work for my wedding.  Trying on bridesmaids dresses, interviewing bands, etc.  She had just been married 3 years before me and still had a lot of her contacts and she is really good at that kind of stuff.  She and my mom were doing a great job considering that my engagement was only going to be six months long and I was going  to be in another state until about 6 weeks before the wedding (and then come down with a raging case of mono and be out of commission for a month during that time).  However, I thought she came really close to crossing the line from being helpful to taking over my wedding when she called me one afternoon and said:

S:  Hey, I was thinking that you might want someone else in the wedding party.

Wheez:  (skeptically, since I had a small wedding party and she had had, like, a parade)  Like who?

S:  Well, (and this is where I felt two feet tall) I was thinking about your new niece or nephew!

And this is how she told me she was pregnant.  

Fast forward thirteen years (OMG - THIRTEEN!!!) and now my nephew is a teenager.  He is the coolest, sweetest, funniest, goofiest teenager I know.  He is kind and thoughtful, smart and funny, cool and awesome.  He loves collecting things, the beach, his family, and monster trucks.  I can't believe he is so grown up.  

So, M (or Steve, to those of us in the know) Happy Birthday!  Welcome to your teenage years.  You will love and hate them, learn from them and in spite of them, and hopefully come out of them still the same sweet, kind, thoughtfull, funny, goofy, cool person you are now. 

 I love you, dude!

Foto Friday

History

Vote, Vote, Vote!!!

My Idol

I have an idol.  She is not as famous now as she was 20 years ago but I was impressionable 20 years ago and so she became my idol.  She overcame many obstacles, controversies and hurdles to become the influential figure she is today.  She came from humble beginnings and never forgot her roots.  However, these are not the reasons that I love her.  She and I share a common love.  Shoes.  You see, my dear blog readers, my idol is Imelda Marcos. 

When her husband, the dictator of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, was ousted from power, it was discovered that Ms. Marcos owned over 1000 pairs of shoes.  She never met a pair she didn’t like.  She had a motto that she lived by – “If the shoe fits, I buy it!”  She and her shoe collection bounced back from the scandal that besieged her husband to run for the presidency of the Philippines.  While she didn’t win either time she ran, her feet always looked good.  She was not ashamed of her collection of shoes.  And she knew what all women know…shoes always fit.

No matter how much weight you gain in your hips or lose in your boobs, your shoes will always fit.  Yes, we women have a love/hate relationship with our shoes – the prettiest ones usually are the most torturous.  But they can lift our mood, put a spring in our step, and keep us grounded.  I am not a shoe snob…a cute pair of flats makes me as happy as a pair of 4 inch stilettos.  Tennies – love ‘em.  Boots – be still my heart.  I, like my idol, have never met a pair I didn’t love. 

Now, if I could just convince Bubba that I there is no such thing as too many pairs!

Time Out

Lots going on...no time to post...promise I will be back soon!

Foto Friday

Happy Halloween!!

Boo!

This weekend was the Cheeze family's annual Pumpkin Carving extravaganza. You see, we love Halloween here at the Cheeze household. And by love, I mean build a coffin, plant a cemetery in your side yard, carve more than two pumpkins each, scare the neighbors kind of love. Bubba is always coming up with new ideas to turn our otherwise tasteful front yard into a den of spooks and goblins. This year it was the coffin. He got almost giddy when he came up with the idea and then maniacal laughter ensued when his creation was finished. BoyBoy has his very own fog machine - and not one of those wimpy ones you can get at the Target - an industrial, movie quality, timer activated, special juice fog machine. Add to all of that a green light bulb in the outdoor spots and folks, you have yourselves a good ole-fashioned fright fest.

Pumpkin Carving extravaganzas are our yearly excuse to pimp our house and (force)(trick) invite the neighbors over for a little carving fun.

Guts were coming out everywhere...

and creative pumpkins were emerging.

Some were spooky:

Others were kooky:

The hit of the evening was the uber-creepy graveyard after dark...

Happy Halloween!!

Foto Friday

Sweet Home Alabama

This past weekend, the Cheeze family went to visit Bubba's oldest daughter, Paudry, at the University of Alabama.  (A little back story - Bubba was married before and had two beautiful daughters, Paudry and Palli.  Their relationship has been one of many ups and downs and side to sides.  Recently, Paudry has reached out to us and we are grateful to be able to be in her life again)  Paudry is a gorgeous, tall, gregarious 20 year-old who, after struggling through her freshman year and taking a year to be back home while her step-dad deployed, has returned to the Crimson Tide and is moving on at full speed.  She invited us to Tuscaloosa to see a football game, meet her friends and roommate and see where she lives and goes to school.  We jumped on a plane and went to Alabama (with a banjo on our knee - ok, I know that is getting old...)

It was a perfect weekend.  She almost knocked Bubba over when she ran to hug him in the parking lot of her apartment.  The look on his face was of pride and joy and will stay in my heart forever.  She bounced up to her apartment and gave us the $2 tour and we met her equally gregarious roommate and their dog, Piper.  She showed us all around Tuscaloosa, where she took classes and worked, partied and played, her sorority house and all the fraternity houses, and all the other parts of college life that make that time so special.  We were struck by how grown up she is and at the same time still the little girl we remember.  Full of promise for the future and funny stories from the past.  She has overcome a lot and is a better person for it.  She may still have some growing to do, but who doesn't?  

And the game...OMG!  I have to preface any talk about the game with the fact that there were 57 people in my high school class and 200 in my college graduating class.  I am a small school girl.  When we walked into that stadium (along with 92,000 other people) I was in awe!  I didn't know that many people liked football!  All dressed in red and chanting "ROOOOOOOLLLLL, TIDE!" at the top of their lungs, they were the most well dressed and well behaved football fans I have ever come across.  Paudry loves football as much as Bubba and I do and it was great to watch them cheer together and talk about plays and players.  The Tide rolled and won the game and Bubba and Paudry won each other's hearts again.  

He was bursting with pride over this weekend.  This is how he has always wanted his relationship to be with his daughters.  He admits that he has not been perfect and could have done more in their lives, but he is ready to look to the future and the promise of better things to come.  And I love him for that.

Foto Friday

Going to Alabama with a banjo, Bubba and BoyBoy on my knee...Melly will be monitoring the blog...party on!

Out of the mouths of babes...

Waitress to BoyBoy:  What would you like, young man?

BoyBoy:  Schooner Burger with fries, hold the tomato and lettuce, please.

Waitress:  There are onions on that, do you want the onions?

BoyBoy:  Onions, yes.

Waitress:  Wow, you really know what you want!  You are like a little man.

BoyBoy:  Yea, I get that a lot.