Monday, November 30, 2009

Creating the Christmas Empire Phase 2: Advent Calendars

Today, with a gift card I got from Baron and Cristina to Trader Joe's, I bought Rachel and I both 99 cent advent calendars.

Phase 2: Advent Calendars COMPLETE

We hung them on the wall on either sides of my grandmother's wall hanging. This is Rachel's first Advent Calendar.

Excellent.

Creating the Christmas Empire: Phase 1

So I got out my Christmas decorations bin last night to see what I had to work with in converting my home into a Christmas Empire.

I started with the piano. Threw on some fake piney rope things and put Santa Bird right in the middle. Lookin good. That piano is ready for me to play some Christmas tunes on it.


Next, I hung up several wall decorations. One is photoed below:

This is a quilted wall-hanging that my Grandma made for me. THANK YOU GRANDMA. It is the highest quality of all the Christmas decorations I own. I hung it right above our couch. It is currently the centerpiece of the Christmas Empire.

Rachel and I were going to go get a tree today, but it is rainy and windy and disgusting outside so we decided not to. Instead, we are sitting in our Snuggies in our budding Christmas Empire.

I think I will head to the Christmas piano and play some songs for Rachel.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

My New Purpose

Instead of looking for a job, I have decided to devote myself completely to the task of turning my and Rachel's home into a Christmas Empire.



I will need to gather decorations, do some deep cleaning, and maybe paint the walls green and red. And put up Christmas lights. Bake Christmas things. Watch Christmas movies. Sing Rachel Christmas songs every night before she goes to bed.

Ricky will have to be dressed up, obviously. Should he be an elf or a reindeer?

I should've taken some Christmas decorations from my mom's house, she has like 2 million. Dang, why did I just think of this now?

I guess I could get some of my own. Yes, that's what I will do. I will purchase some quality Christmas decorations. Not that I don't own any already. I do own some. We had a Tacky Christmas party 3 years ago and I have all the decorations from that. So those will go up on the walls.

But I'll need more...

Friday, November 27, 2009

Mickey Snow Globe

My mama and I are shopping. We are early birds today. We got up at 4.

We are like the only people at the mall with cheerful faces and no die-hard agenda. We just think it's fun to come every year. Oh, and sometimes they hand out free things to the earliest shoppers and today I got a free snow globe! So excited!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A little fireplace and some sleepy dogs


I am sitting by the fireplace with two dogs and a cat sleeping around me.


I am pretty happy.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Road Jail

So I missed my exit on the way home to Puyallup because I took I-5 all the way down instead of going my usual way. And also, because I was on the phone having a very intense conversation because I am a very intense person.

Anyway, I didn't realize I'd missed the exit until I was talking on the phone with my mom and she asked me where I was. She said, "You missed your exit, I think. Call your dad, he'll know."

Anyway, I called my dad but got a busy signal. Then I was panicking. I couldn't type in my destination to Carmen because I was driving. So, in my panic, I took the first exit I saw.

It just happened to be the Fort Lewis Exit. And that exit just happens to be like ROAD JAIL, aka the exit becomes a lane that takes you DIRECTLY to the place where they check you for your military ID. No pulling off to the side, no going to the other side of the street because it was like a fenced in road. I do not have a military ID and I don't want to go to Fort Lewis. But I had no choice.

So I pulled up to the station place.

"Um, hello. I do not want to come to Fort Lewis. I just wanted to turn around but I was trapped on the fenced road."

"Just a turn-around?"

"Um, yes please."

"TURN AROUND! JERRY WE GOT A TURN AROUND HERE!"

::5 different uniformed men run over to my car::

"Can we please have your license, ma'am?"

I get out my license. Are they arresting me? I feel like they are going to arrest me.

"Jerry'll have you turn around right up there. He will then return your license. Pull forward! Go! Jerry! Go!"

So I pulled up a little ways and Jerry STOPPED TRAFFIC so I could cross over and make a U-turn. He then returned my driver's license.

I was very startled by the entire experience. Stupid road jail.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

That was even better than I could have imagined

The show seriously only could have been better if I was part of the Top Ten myself. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun.

At one point, I was having so much fun, I burst into tears. There wasn't anything sad happening, I was just SO HAPPY.

The dancing was outrageous. OUTRAGEOUS. It made me miss dancing. I think part of my bursting into irrational tears was because I wanted to be dancing myself.

I might sign up for a dance class. Why not? They have adult classes. I'm an adult. Then maybe I will audition for SYTYCD and be in the Top Ten.

Also, at the show, Brandon was the silliest. It was the last show on the tour and Brandon kept crashing everybody's dances. He didn't do that normally, just tonight. It was the funniest. Like he ran in during the middle of the Romeo and Juliet dance and pushed Melissa aside and made Ade dance with him. And he was wearing bright pink pants. And we all laughed and laughed and laughed.

Also, every moment was my favorite moment. They were so good, they were so, so good. Better than they were during the season. Way better. And Caitlyn was there. Caitlyn! And Philip! They are #11 and #12! It was not just the top 10, it was the top 12! WHAT A SPECIAL TREAT. ::wild glowing-heart eyes::

Pictures to follow. Ashley took all the pictures. I'm glad I didn't bring my camera because I couldn't have taken any pictures because I was in a Happiness-Coma, but she took very nice ones.

It was the best day of my life.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

I am having so much fun I can't believe it

It is intermission. There are 700 people in line for the bathroom. Maybe more. I am waiting in line.

THIS IS THE BEST SHOW IN THE WORLD.

I love my life.

OMGOMGOMG

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG

I might die.

ONE HOUR. ONE HOUR.

In ONE hour I will see all my friends from Season 5. They will probably see me.

Excitement Level: 56

Why didn't I make a sign that says 'Dance by me Jason'? How will he know how much I love him?

1.5 HOURS TO GO

We are eating at Azteca Mexican Restaurant. Also, I realized that I'd been counting down to 7:00 not 7:30. The show starts at 7:30.

I had a cup of tortilla soup for dinner. Shoulda got a bowl. It was delicious.

I am excited to see these things tonight: Kayla and Kupono doing the addiction dance, Janine and Jason in the one Travis Wall choreographed, the boom boom pow group dance, brandon's solo, Brandon and Janette's disco and also their cha-cha. Oh, and Janine's solo. I hope they do all of those routines. Oh, and the Calle Ocho group routine.

Oh my gosh I'm so excited.

Excitement Level: 37

2 HOURS TO GO

We are still at the alderwood mall. I bought a Christmas present for Chuck Diesel. I acciedentally let my brain go into Christmas Mode and forgot about SYTYCD Mode. I need to get back in the right mindset.

Excitement Level: 14

3 HOURS TO GO

We are at Nordstroms. I bought a shirt. I love it. But not as much as I love SYTYCD.

Also, Nordstroms has too many mannequins.

Excitement level: 15

4 hours to go...

1.8 miles away from our first destination: alderwood mall. Excitement rising.

Five hours left

In the car! Leaving! SYTYCD!!! O MY G!! Excitement level: 11 (scale 1 - 10)

Six hours left

I took a shower and got shampoo in my eye. Had a coffee. Excitement level: 10 (scale 1 - 10)

Hour-by-hour updates

Today is the day. SYTYCD Day. It is a day I have been yearning for for years. And here it is.

To help all of you poor souls who do not get to see the Season 5 Show today, I will be providing hourly updates on th happenings via phone blogging.

Right now I am at Walgreens.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Nicole's Friday Activities

Here is what was on my calendar:

Friday, November 20th: [no entries]

Nothing. I had nothing planned. So, today, I have done a combination of lounging, Facebooking, relaxing, laughing at my cat, going to Starbucks, and looking at things online.

I also slept in. However, I don't really like sleeping in anymore because it gets dark SO EARLY and I feel like there is no daylight left when I sleep in.

Additionally: I AM GOING TO THE SYTYCD TOUR TOMORROW.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Oh, HI JIM FAY

Today I went to a Love and Logic Conference in Shoreline. IT WAS AWESOME. It was awesome mostly because Jim Fay HIMSELF was teaching it. Sure, 75% of you probably have no idea who he is BUT I DO.

He's only like Mr. Love and Logic. Like the inventor of it. For me, it was like I was surprised because a CELEBRITY was at what I thought would be just a mediocre conference.

Oh, no, Jim Fay himself, there, teaching. Here is a high-quality photograph:


So that's microscopic Jim Fay with the white hair in the middle. And the lady who's head is right in front me of is Totally Crazy Lady.

Totally Crazy Lady was the only not-great thing about my day with Jim Fay. TCL seemed to think that the conference was actually a conversation between herself and Jim Fay, and constantly responded when he asked rhetorical questions. Super loud. Inappropriate. I was worried Jim Fay would look up and think it was US that was being socially inappropriate. It wasn't. It was TCL.

But besides that, the day was AWESOME. Thanks, Jason T and Amy McMur, my new friend. Our day was both lovely and logical. Nice.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A Pizza Box and Me

.... almost blew away to the Land of Oz walking into my house.

I was holding a pizza box and the wind caught us just right and WHOOSH. I stumbled backwards.

I could have DIED. I could have fallen backwards, hit my head on a
pumpkin, and passed out.

I am lucky to be alive. I will not take anything for granted anymore. My life flashed before my eyes in that wind gust.

I appreciate this Snuggie I am sitting in. You know who can't appreciate Snuggies? Dead people. People who die from big wind gusts.

So luckily, world, I lived. The pizza and I both survived, fully in tact.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

G-mas and G-pas


I have a lot of grandparents. I am very lucky. That's the advantage to having young parents - you get grandparents longer. I believe I have a total of.... 7 living grandparents. And I get Christmas presents from all of them (except my mom's biological father, who I actually just met a few years ago and I don't actually know. I counted him in my total of 7 but he should really only be like a .5 because I don't think he knows my name.)

Also, I love my grandparents.

Also, when I was little my Grandma Margaret - I never called her Grandma Margaret, I just called her Grandma, but I have indicated her name here so you will know which Grandma I am talking about - my Grandma Margaret told me,

"Sometimes your grandfather snores so loud I have to make him go sleep out on the davenport."

Well, who even uses the word 'davenport'? I thought a davenport was a porch, and I thought my grandma was super mean to make him sleep on the porch just because he snored.

I thought this was true, I'm serious, until I was like 13. I was very relieved when I learned that 'davenport' meant 'couch' and not 'cold, windy porch.'

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Ricky weighs 19 pounds

He's a little large compared to other cats, I'm told.

In other news, Blanket Pants. I like to wear blanket pants. If it was socially appropriate to wear blanket pants in public, I would do it.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Soooooo

Sometimes I want to blog and then I open up my blog page, but I can't remember what I wanted to write about. And occasionally, I then look thoughtfully around the room, trying to remember. Perhaps this went on for 2, or 3, or 90 seconds.

And in the midst of my innocent thinking...."WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I turn and find Rachel Handysnacks (who you can imagine looking an awful lot like the Evil Stepmother from Cinderella) laughing at me.

"Uhh, I was THINKING."

::laughter from the Evil Stepmother::

So apparently, I need to NOTIFY Rachel before I start thinking or else she will make fun of me. Can't a girl just think about what she wants to blog and not be ridiculed?

Rachel, I will forgive you as soon as you do something weird so I can make fun of you back.

Friday, November 13, 2009

I am pretty good at being unemployed

I can really occupy my time. I am super-entertained by simple things. For example, imagining Ricky in a pair of pants. It's very funny. I could imagine that for like 2 hours.


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Yes. Yes, this is appropriate

I HAVE WON AN AWARD. Ashley L.T., noted blogger and nationally-acclaimed blog award presenter, has nominated my blog as the best blog she has ever seen in her life, far outweighing her own blogging efforts.

I HUMBLY ACCEPT THIS AWARD AND ALL OF THE ESTEEM AND GRANDIOSITY THAT COME WITH IT.

The blog AWARD comes with a one-word quiz/survery thing that you're supposed to copy and paste (and answer) and then you're supposed to nominate others for the award and pass it on.

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your hair? Fluffity
3. Your mother? MomDot
4. Your father? Two
5. Your favorite food? CoolRanchDoritos
6. Your dream last night? Hopping
7. Your favorite drink? Juice
8. Your dream/goal? Hugs
9. What room are you in? Living
10. Your hobby? Winning
11. Your fear? Needles
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? NFL
13. Where were you last night? BiggestLoser
14. Something you aren't? SociallyAppropriate
15. Muffins? Meh.
16. Wish list item? Loveseat
17. Where did you grow up? P-Town
18. Last thing you did? Babysat
19. What are you wearing? RayofHopeTShirt
20. Your TV? Rachel's
21. Your pets? RMVBR
22. Your friends? Tall
23. Your life? Schmoodlie
24. Your mood? Sizzling
25. Missing someone? Mybrothers
26. Vehicle? SpeedyWheels
27. Something you're not wearing? 3-DGlasses
28. Your favorite store? Toys'R'Us
29. Your favorite color? Cerulean
30. When was the last time you laughed? BabysittingIsaac
31. Last time you cried? Saturday
32. Your best friend? IGotALottaBestFriends
33. One place that I go over and over? Facebook
34. One person who emails me regularly? BaronMiller
35. Favorite place to eat? Grandma's

So there it was. I am a champion.

A Sad Time

Hello, bloggy friends. I have been made aware that some of you (the crazier sorts) have been noticing and/or harrassing my family members about the fact that I have not been blogging lately.

Well, the truth is now being revealed. I did not blog for the past month because it was a Sad Time for this blogger.

I quit my job.

I quit my job at Rebound because it was no longer a healthy place for me to work. And it was very sad. I had to make the decision, and it was the right decision, but it was still very sad.

Here are some of the sad things that happened:

  • One of the moms cried.
  • One of the moms wrote me a card that started with "Thank you for being part of my family."
  • One of the little boys said, "Why do you have to leave? You are the best at Flying Colors."
  • One little boy, who has never hugged me in his life, gave me the saddest, most unexpected hug.
Here are some funny things that happened:
  • When I announced it to the kids, many of them shouted, "NOOOOOOO!" like they were being attacked. It was a little dramatic.
  • The kids had hilarious suggestions for what to do - they asked for a signed picture of me. Like a head shot. I am sad to say I didn't get around to signing photos. Another kid asked if I would "write them letters at least once a month." Like I was leaving the country.
  • One little boy wrote me a goodbye card and on the front of it drew a gravestone with the words "RIP NICOLE."
  • Quite a few of the kids brought me goodbye presents, aka crap from their houses. I received a pencil cushion, a jingle-bell bracelet, 5 fake ice cubes, a handful of weeds, and a small velvet pouch.
So, it was a sad few weeks for me, but I'm glad to say that I'm back in business. And I'm even gladder to say that with all my newfound free time, I will be able to blog even more often. So for all you nicoleissointeresting blog fanatics, I'm back!