What I Buy Wednesday

Well, I did it again. I got "ripped off!" 

Over Thanksgiving, we had quite a discussion about what that actually means. I don't exactly remember what definition we landed on, so I looked it up. The definition is to be cheated financially. I'm pretty sure that's what happened to me. I didn't get something that I thought I was, therefore being cheated. You be the judge.

This is what I ordered:

Doesn't that look like it's a 3D ornament?

Well, this is what I got:

Flatter than a pancake. It's a stupid piece of plastic. For all I know, it could even be a sticker on there.

To make matters worse, I bought 3 of them!!! You know me and my multiples problem! Actually, I had 3 reasons to buy 3:

1. For our ornament exchange--I think just about everyone has their nails done.

2. One for my designer friend, Christy--whom I met when she first started doing nails over 30 years ago.

3. And one for Elizabeth--since she just graduated from Cosmetology School. I was sure she would get a kick out of it. 

Elizabeth is still getting one and I plan to put one "on top" of whatever "new" ornament I find for the exchange! I guess I'll put the last one on the little tree I have in my scrapbook room. 

Luckily, they weren't that expensive--the more you bought, the cheaper they became! But still. It makes me mad. I was "ripped off" I tell you!!

Travel Tuesday

We just spent Thanksgiving with Stephanie and Nicky at Morgan and Olly's house in Bloomington, Illinois. 

Thought you might like a few pics from their house.

This is the brand new, remodeled bathroom. 

It's beautiful! They designed it themselves.

The Boys: Finn, Joey, and Marshall. 

This is them lined up waiting for their treats:

They are very well-behaved dogs. They wait patiently for their treats--each catching it mid-air when their name is called. Well, except for Marshall--5 months old at the top--he's not coordinated enough yet to jump and catch! He just let's the treat hit him on the head! Olly says he'll learn, but I'm not so sure!

Another thing that is so amazing to me: When they are leaving, all they have to do is open the door to the basement and say "Come on, get in your crate" and they head down and go right in! 

Morgan made her very first apple pie.

She wanted to learn how to do the lattice top. There was a little dough leftover so we made the leaves and acorns.

Everyone got in on the act!

It came out perfectly!

We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Bloody Mary's--a tradition, played lots of games, watched football and just basically had a great time hanging out. 

Oh. and then there was this:

There is always a family activity too. From left to right: Mine and Butch's, Stephanie and Nicky's, and Morgan and Olly's. Of course, there has to be a competition. We sent this picture to the rest of the family for voting. Steph and Nicky won--even though they had a mess-up and ran out of frosting.

The "judges" asked to see the backs, so we explained why we hadn't shown them. 

We kinda' felt like it would be an unfair advantage to those of us with enough frosting!

I might have mentioned that snow in St. Louis foiled our plans on Saturday. 

I think we got 3 or 4 inches. It sure is pretty.

On the way home at 4 a.m. our GPS system went haywire.

Obviously we know how to get home from St. Louis, but I like to see the time part and see how close it is. Anyway, it showed us driving through a lake! We have no idea where that is--nothing matched up as to where we were. 

Hmmm, I think I need to check it and see if it was just a "cold" thing. My poor car is not used to frigid temperatures. It has to be that because it is definitely used to traveling before the crack of dawn!

Me on Monday

Whew! Where to begin? It was a very fun, relaxing, yet hectic holiday. 

After our Thanksgiving at Morgan's, we took off for St. Louis to visit family. We did have a stop in Springfield, Illinois to visit and tour the home of Abraham Lincoln. We also toured his tomb. It was bitterly cold--21 degrees and very windy. We're not used to those kinds of temperatures.

When we got to St. Louis, we visited with Walter and Chris for several hours and got our usual Imo's pizza--St. Louis-style pizza is my favorite. Otherwise, I'm not a huge pizza lover. We also get the toasted ravioli and Italian salad. So good--we have to have it every time we're there.

We stayed with Matt, my brother and sil Sharon. Our plans for Saturday took a detour as the snow really came down and thwarted our plans. We spent the day just hanging out and watching football. 

Janet, Jeanne, and Jim braved the weather later after the snow stopped so we could have our scheduled poker game. St. Louis knows how to handle snow! The highways are kept clear.

From the left--clockwise around (Sharon is taking the picture and didn't play): Matt, me, Jeanne, Janet, Butch and Jim.

I ended up being the big winner--$17.30. That surprised me because although I had some really good hands--includng a Royal Flush (the BEST hand you can get in poker for those of you who don't know. It's the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the same suit. Mine was with a wild card. I don't think I've ever seen a natural one.) Anyway we had a great time--as always.

Butch and I got on the road yesterday at 4:15 a.m. and was home by 10!! That's how we like to travel--less traffic that way--especially on a holiday weekend!

Tomorrow is going to be my "Travel Tuesday" post about our visit at Morgan and Olly's. 

Today, I want to get back to ME. 

I do not remember the last time we had an Advent calendar. This year, we have FOUR!! 

I bought some of the Advent puzzles last year for gifts. Each day is a 45-piece puzzle. I thought that sounded like fun, plus I liked the old-fashioned images. I bought myself the Taylor Swift one--couldn't resist it. It's supposed to have trinkets. I've shown my first one below.

Sandy sent us the Disney Facts calendar along with some other goodies as a "thank you" for our recent Disney trip. I can't wait to get in to that one! Lastly, the candle from St. Paul's Cathedral in London, is from our friends, Diane and Gren from Nottingham. We do love candles and burn them every day--yes, every day!

Okay, so here's the first trinket from the TS calendar:

Okay, that's pretty underwhelming. You know what they say? You get what you pay for! If all the trinkets turn out to be these round things, I can use them on a scrapbook page. The only problem is, I've already scrapbooked TS. I don't really need more than one layout about her. We'll see. 

I'd forgotten how fun these calendars can be!

Something for Sunday

Greetings from my hometown! 

I hope you enjoy these Christmas photos from Union Station.