Look out world...here he comes!

I am thrilled to announce Morris Jefferson Jeff made his big debut this morning! I hope to have pictures and details soon! Happy Birthday Mo!

Hi, my name is Laura and I have a problem....

Yes, I am sure all of my avid readers have noticed that my posts have been, well, few and far between...while I would like to say that I have been busy working hard, changing lives one at a time and truly improving the world for future generations...I have actually been....um....shopping.....online.....and shopping online (sigh)a lot.

John has encouraged me for years to find a hobby, something that I am good at, something that I enjoy...(something to distract me so that John can play games, read a book, and watch movies.) I have finally found my hobby! But shockingly some..like John...or say our bank account, may classify this "hobby" a major problem!

I hate to admit, but I am probably more materialist than most, definitely more materialistic than I would like to be. I am not the biggest spender...but as my mother would say I have a huge "Wanter" (not dirty contrary to popular belief)But I must confess I do have a mental "would like to have" list. This list includes things that really should be replaced due to over use or being misplaced, or things that I can't afford at the time, but someday would love to have..."wants"

For example...A black dress coat..a few Christmases ago my parents generously gave me a wonderful black coat from Banana Republic. Sad to report a few years later the coat is now MIA. It was wonderful...I know it enjoyed its short life with me. It got to go to Baltimore to greet Abby McElheny in to this world..It was lucky enough to go with Carrie to New York for a weekend getaway and had numerous other fun time with my family and friends....but now, hopefully its new "owner" whoever that may be, loves it as much as I did. BUT once a coat is gone..who can pay hundred(s) of dollars to replace it!? I sadly, cannot. that is until "Shop it to me" came in to my life! John, you have Shea to thank for this one...but girls it is amazing. You enter brands you love, sizes you wear and wa-la daily amazing deals and clearance items emailed...simply incredible! I am now the owner of a lovely $300 black coat purchased for $60! amazing

Coats, dresses...all like Christmas morning when you get home from work but TODAY'S purchase tops them all...

I do not typically think of myself as an "old soul" by any means, but when it comes to entertaining I find that I have developed many "old soul" tendencies. I have a major appreciation for pretty table linens, candles and flowers...and unlike most of my generation, I LOVE CHINA. This may seem a little odd to some. Many of my peers have fine china simply due to the pressure they felt during wedding registry time. Numerous place settings tucked aways or even still at their parents house yet to be used. It fell under the heading of "Southern Bridal to dos", and it like everything else needed a check mark, but I, on the other hand enjoy setting a table and using China whatever the occasion may be...

Now, just a little background...I come from quite a long line of "china lovers"..they not only enjoy china..but use their china to celebrate all occasions with family and friends. Like me, plates make these women happy. This again is odd to those of you who do not understand. My mother's china is Autumn. It is excessive. It is like my mother. Lots of colors. Lots going on. Perfect. She chose it as a bride to be and to this day it still "makes her glad".



My Grandmother's china is Tuxedo. It is beautiful. Classic. Understated. Simplistic, like my Grandmother. While I have fond memories of both, Tuxedo has always struck a cord with me. I always said I would register for Tuxedo...until my time came and last minute I buckled under the pressure of wedding decision making overload and changed my china to Federal Platinum.

White and Platinum is definitely a major contrast to the Ivory and gold of Tuxedo that I always pictured, but there is a lot I like about it. The thing I LOVE about it is this...the Christmas accents. My Christmas plates and mugs are something that I look forward to using each year!


Well, back to the "hobby", like Shop it to me, eBay has also become a part of my day to day...Now, to set the record straight I have not been making random, frivolous purchases, but instead finding deals and crossing things off the "list". Sporadically, I will search for "Tuxedo" on eBay. Typically with few results or prices that rival normal retail. But this time was different. After HOURS of "watching" and strategic eBay planning I "won" FOUR Tuxedo dinner plates for $64! WHAT?!?I was thrilled and called John immediately to share my joy. I was then told he did not understand that it was a good deal...and probably never would...darn. You would think the collector of all collectors would understand how wonderful this is but apparently China didn't make his list!...but for those of you who "get it" CHEERS!! and Happy Valentine's Day to me!!

"Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh."

W.H. Auden "Notes on the Comic"

All good things must come to an end.....

Sad, but SO true...all good things must come to an end...even Christmas. This year I fought it. My dining room table looked like this for an embarrassingly long time. Largely due to busy schedule and laziness, but also because it always makes me sad to pack away the glitz and glam that is Christmas, but now it is all reluctantly tucked away in the attic waiting for its next big debut.

John and I had an incredibly wonderful Christmas...we really, really did. We got to see a lot of our family,and really enjoyed our time with each other. I will not bore you with the itinerary but it was very nice...ideal..a lot of I-65...BUT ideal. how wonderful we can get to both of our families during the same holiday. WONDERFUL

On another note...there is one other thing that I hate to think will come to an end along side the Christmas holidays...



THE coffee mate Peppermint Mocha Creamer...sigh...yes, I know there is Black Cherry Streusel, Hazelnut and of course the old faithful Italian Sweet Cream...but it will just not be the same. One of my many favorite things about this time of year is curling up with a yummy cup of Peppermint Mocha Creamer with a little coffee (and yes, that is what I meant) or driving to work feeling just a little more festive because of the yumminess in my coffee cup. Petty I know...Silly, probably, but it is sad. Our Publix seems to have already sold the last...so, until next year...Italian Sweet Cream it is...

Truly a Regrettable Trend

I came across this article on msn....

Regrettable Trends in Pop Culture: 2008 Edition
The Dreaded Heartthrob-With-Pornstache: History is full of comical facial hair: muttonchops, the soul patch, the Tuff Man. But at least those whiskers possessed a whisper of sex appeal. (Say what you will, but muttonchops were hot, hot hot in the 1800s, and the "friendly muttonchop," which linked the burns with the 'stache, is like a cozy cardigan for the cheeks. Who doesn't get a little tingly over that?)
We cannot say the same about the pornstache, which littered the lips this year of at least three of Hollywood's hottest hunks: Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr. and Orlando Bloom.
It also appeared on some sunken dreamboats, which only made matters worse for their languishing allure.


I think they forgot the "Hottest Hunk"



yikes....here's to new trends in 2009!

From our home to yours....Merry Christmas

After work a few nights ago, I ran in to the grocery store to pick up a few things. I went in with my hurried "get in, get out" mentality because I longed for my sweat pants cozy by the fire. I rushed to get each item on my list and scurried to the check out line. While in line I felt the biggest hug around my waist. Before I even turned around I thought...Aww this poor child is going to be SO embarrassed when I turn around and he/she realizes I am not his mom or teacher. We all know the feeling... at one time or another I am sure we have all grabbed the wrong mother's hand resulting in ultimate humiliation for anyone under 4 feet tall.

When I turned around I was surprised to see a little girl with glasses and a huge smile still hugging me just as tightly looking up at me. I smiled back at her and she simply said "I hug pretty people" and squeezed me again. I smiled at her and told her "I hug pretty people back" she smiled. I told her she made my day...and she did! The world needs more people like this precious little girl...