See's no Evil, Eat no Evil

Due to our family tradition I brought back a whole bunch of See's Candy from Seattle.  What is See's Candy you ask?  Why See's Candy happens to be the most delicious chocolate ever made on this earth and it's only sold out west.  It is tradition that when you visit out west you bring back a box for the rest of the family.  I was explaining to my family in Seattle all the unspoken rules that go along with this family tradition (should I break tradition and *gasp* speak the unspoken out loud....writing them down in the finality of all internetdom?  Hey, why not...it'll be fun!)

Rule #1.  If you visit out West you must buy See's Candy for all Relatives in your vicinity.  Relatives being defined as - one box per household within a one-two hour driving distance.  That means I brought back Three boxes of chocolates one for my family, one for my mom and dad, and one for my brother and his wife.  OK, I also bought lollipops and some other chocolate for my family but that's besides the point.

Rule #2.  Under no circumstance can you reveal that you have bought See's Candy and that you are bring it home with you as a gift.  It MUST be a surprise. 

Rule #3.  You must NEVER ask to be brought home See's Candy.  You must ALWAYS wait with breathless anticipation as to whether or not you will receive any See's Candy (even though you know you totally will.....it's tradition....which leads me to rule # 4)

Rule #4.  You must always wait with breathless anticipation until you finally have that gleaming box in your hand.  When you get that gleaming box in your hand you must act happy, excited, and surprised....not in a "I had No Idea you were going to do this!" kinda way, but surprised in a "Wow!! You did get me a box of See's Candy!!  I was hoping you would!!" kinda way.  Even though in the back your head you knew you were going to get that box of chocolate because....*tada*  it's Tradition!

My New Mantle

 

For all of those who didn’t think I was serious and for all of those who know me well and already knew I was serious:  BEHOLD!  My new Mantle.

Here is the before shot:

Here is the after:

David is pushing back from the gate as we speak to fly home!  The rest of the house is now safe.  Mini trip = mini project.  Mini project = mini budget.  Mini budget = happy husband!!  Happy husband = happy me!   I took some pictures of the rest of the living room which I redecorated on one of his bigger trips.  I personally adore the shade of blue the walls are now painted.  David had to get used to it…….he says that when we move I can pick any color for the living room……except blue and except any color he does not approve of.  Bummer.  Total decorating buzz kill right there. 

I designed the room around this piece and got my color inspiration from it.  It belonged to David’s Mother.  Her son from another marriage sent it to her while stationed in Japan in the 70’s.  She treasured it and we treasure it also. 

I have quite a few natural geodes and stones around the house.  I am very sentimental about them because my Grandmother used to take us to Natural History Museums when we were little.  She is a huge champion of education.  To this day I still have a geode that she bought for me when I was a little girl.

That’s it for now!  Here’s to many more trips in the future.  May my creativity never failith!  What else is there to do……cook? heh…..

Girls Weekend

I just got home from the most awesomest weekend ever!  I went to Time Out for Women, which was great, but most of all I loved who I spend my weekend with!  My sister and I call them kindred spirits for all you Anne of Green Gable readers out there.  Some women you meet and you feel instantly comfortable.   I was tired when I got home but David took the kids to school the next morning so I could sleep in.  And the messy, messy house is sparkly clean now that the housekeeper has come and gone.  I guess I should go think of something extra to do.....like go organize a closet or something.....  Now that I think about it all the closets are already pretty organized from the last time David went out of town for a long business trip.  There is something about David going out of town for longer than 3 days that sends me into a frenzy of activity.  If I know he will be away for at least a week then we are allllll in trouble!!  Whole rooms get redecorated. The house gets repainted.  Things get moved into storage.  The kids come home from school to a house full of boxes.  "Whaaaa? Mom......are we....moving?"  "No!! The house feels cluttered, all this stuff is going to storage!  ISN'T IT GREAT!!!!"  David is always too busy with meeting after meeting to check up on me to see what the damage is.  He usually comes home, walks in the door, looks around, and looks to see if there are any changes.  Well, that and he's monitoring the bank account the whole time he's gone.  When it hits a certain *ahem* price point meetings or no meetings, calls are made....unfortunately.........if I'm in the middle of redecorating my creativity can't be stifled!!!  Anywho......so David left out of town yesterday.......................................................................


Luckily it's exactly 3 days!  We will not pass into the danger zone, heh...  Are the pillows on the sofa getting old?  Perhaps they need refreshing...   I have been meaning to redo my MANTLE!!!!!  I can see it now.... Two tall slender vase with sticks on either side of the mirror and a row of candles in between. Later!