I Remember ... The Pantheon Neighborhood

After a refreshing break and a change of clothes we got back on our feet for more sightseeing. This time we headed out in a different direction ... the Pantheon neighborhood, the heart of Rome.
I loved the urban-village feel of the area. There were so many narrow streets, shops and eateries ... so much foot traffic and scooters zipping by. We could hear the voices of the crowd surrounding the Trevi Fountain drifting in the air as we passed by.
We continued on to the Spanish Steps ... another people gathering place. The wide, curving staircase makes for a great view, a place to capture beautiful photo moments ... and even a wedding taking place!


















As we walked along the busy sidewalks filled with stores, flower shops and horse-drawn carriages, one of the horses leaned over and bit Walt's chest. We were so shocked and it was hard to contain laughter until I knew he was o.k :)
We entered the north entrance to Rome at the Piazza del Popolo where the twin domed churches are located. It was refreshing to cool off by the fountain but I experienced what every tourist dreads ... being approached by locals wanting money. A young man tied an embroidery floss bracelet to my wrist and then asked for money for his church. He tried to give me a rose and followed us around the piazza. It was a bit frightening as I worried he was trying to distract me to get my purse. I finally gave him $2 and told him that's all I had. After that I was on "high alert" being more aware of those around me. This is the type of scenario that travel guides warn you about.
Despite this distraction we continued on toward the Vatican during the hottest time of the day. I am so glad I packed this dress at the last minute. With the warm temperatures this lightweight dress is comfortable and perfect for sightseeing. About this time a gelato sounded heavenly but we could not find the shop Joelle recommended and we pressed on ... hot and a little tired.

I Remember ... Walking Tour of Rome

Thursday morning we woke up at 7:30 refreshed and ready to see the sights and sounds of Rome. With jet lag and fatigue behind us we felt we had adjusted well. We still had two full days on our own and there was so much to see.
After dining on a delicious brunch in our hotel we set out for the sights closest to us ... The Victor Emmanuel Monument, or as some have nicknamed,"The Wedding Cake." We climbed the stairs to the top and had a remarkable view. Below we could see a major transportation hub of Rome ... a circular roundabout that makes it nearly impossible for pedestrians crossing the street. A melody of horns honking, sirens blaring and much activity fills the air. I recorded this "chorus" on my iPhone in order to be carried back to this wonderful memory.
We made our way to the back side of "The Wedding Cake" and found a view of ancient Rome and the ruins. Despite the warming temperatures we journeyed out to get a closer look at the Tiber River, the Forum, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus and the Colosseum. Wow! Hard to comprehend that these buildings are over 2,000 years old! It's amazing to see with one's own eyes and to stroll through so much history.














The temperatures continued rising and as we made our way back to the Cosmopolita, we stopped for a small can of Coke ... 3.50 euro each! Yikes ... spendy, but oh so refreshing on such a warm day. It was nice to have a little down time at the hotel to plan our afternoon touring strategy. Our next adventure includes the Pantheon neighborhood ... and perhaps, beyond.
Rome ... I have fallen in love with you!

I Remember ... Rome, Love At First Sight

People have often asked me why I had such a desire to tour Italy. It all began when I read Pat Conroy's, Beach Music. While reading it you could almost feel, touch and taste the culture ... it made you want to experience it first-hand.
So after a refreshing nap, we put on cooler clothes and comfortable shoes and headed out to the streets. We were within blocks to most of the tourist "must-see" attractions. I loved walking the narrow cobblestone streets, scooters side-by-side like dominoes, the aroma of fresh baked breads, people dining outside cafes ... everything was so alive! And as dusk settled over the city ... it was warm and beautiful!
Our first stop was Trevi Fountain. This huge fountain is the world's most spectacular wishing well. If you throw a coin, perhaps this fountain is your ticket back! It was packed and it was fun to soak in the atmosphere and people watch.
We walked over to the Pantheon. Since Walt studied architecture in college he was overwhelmed by the design of this ancient temple.
Nothing says you're in Rome like Piazza Navona. We arrive to a plaza filled with much activity ... artists painting, a beautiful fountain, entertainment and crowded streets ...much like a centuries-old carnival.

So much changed in thirty-six hours and so much yet to see. We were starting to feel at home and the fatigue was lifting.

I Remember ... Philadelphia to Rome

I have never traveled by air for more than six hours so part of our journey to Italy included a long flight during the night. We came prepared with our electronic gadgets ... iPod, iPhone, books, magazines, etc. We even watched a movie on my iPhone and split the headphones ... anything to help us lose track of time. Walt introduced me to Rummikub on my iPhone and we played each other on our phones for hours. I just could not get to sleep and time-wise, I was so turned around. I think there was a bit of excitement and anticipation keeping me on high-alert.
We finally arrived in Rome at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 23rd and de-boarded the plane on the tarmac. What a warm, blue-sky sunny morning. It was wonderful to be on land again ... a place I had only dreamed of visiting!
After a bus ride to the terminal and going through customs, nothing looked better than seeing our luggage waiting for us ( : Whew ... that worry was behind us. We had arranged for a taxi service to pick us up at the airport and drive us to Rome. The driver was dressed in a very expensive suit and drove a Mercedez. Where he lacked in speaking fluent English he made up for in his savvy driving skills.Wow! What a ride! He maneuvered his vehicle right up on someone's bumper going about 50 mph and then made quick lane changes over and over. The route he drove seemed like back roads so we got a tour of Italy ... one I wasn't expecting ... graffiti everywhere and rundown neighborhoods.
We arrived at the Cosmopolita Hotel around 10:45 a.m. to find our room was not yet available. We checked our luggage and explored the area ... I felt like pinching myself realizing that I am really there. We experienced our first gelato and it was wonderful. The day was quite warm and by now I felt like I'd been in the same clothes for days. It took a long time before I wanted to wear my red sweater again!
The Italians don't eat lunch until later in the day so we had to wait for the restaurant to open in our hotel. It was wonderful to eat a delicious meal. When we finally went back to the lobby my eyelids were so heavy and I kept falling asleep. I think the staff felt sorry for us and finally gave us the keys to our room. Despite what everyone warned us not to do: we took a two-hour nap. We then felt refreshed and energized ... ready to go out exploring.

I Remember ... Portland to Rome

Join me on an adventure ... a dream vacation ... as I reflect back on our Best of Italy 2010 tour. After months of planning, our departure date for Rome finally arrived Tuesday, June 22nd. Much of the joy in traveling is the anticipation and planning. What excitement realizing our dream was coming true! Our bags are packed ... we're ready to go ...
Waiting at PDX for our departure flight we reflected back on our lifetime goal of going to Italy. It was a rough path getting there. We dreamed of going to celebrate our 35th anniversary in 2009 only to have those dreams dashed by my job loss. We agreed to wait a year and see if the economy improved. Eventually I was reassigned to another position and felt pretty confident that we could book this trip ... the euro was down and everything looked positive.
After talking to friends and neighbors who have been to Italy many times we decided to book a Trafalgar tour. We had considered a cruise but decided we wanted to experience more of the flavor of Italy by land. We booked our tour April 28th and not long after our Trafalgar packets/tickets arrived I once again lost my job ... this time it came unexpectedly. With only two and half weeks until departure we decided to go regardless of the circumstances. This thought kept running through my mind ... "Who goes to Italy while on unemployment!?!?!" As we look at life through the "rearview mirror," it was a good decision to continue with our plans.
We arrived at the airport at 6:45 a.m., enjoyed a light breakfast and went to our gate. Before boarding an announcement was made that there was a mechanical issue with our plane and the flight would be delayed. My heart dropped to my knees ... even an hour delay could cause us to miss our connecting flight to Rome. In those tense moments we both got on our iPhones and asked family and friends to be praying ... we were anxious to leave but also wanted safe travels.
The pilot made up for the lost time and we arrived at the Philadelphia airport at 5:30p.m. This only gave us 20 minutes to RUN through the airport from C29 to our gate at A22 ... dragging carry-ons etc behind us. We made our connecting flight but due to weather-related conditions we waited in line for take-off for nearly 30 minutes. Yes, we made our flight but we had one worry ... did our luggage make it?
This day was starting to look like a National Lampoon's Vacation ... ( :

I Remember ... A Tour of Italy

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of our "Best of Italy 2010" tour. Since I never blogged about our vacation when we returned home, I will be taking you along with me each day as "I Remember ... Italy."
For the next few weeks I will share a glimpse of our daily adventures through stories and photos. We will make stops in Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Isle of Capri, Assisi, Ravenna, Venice, Burano, Verona, Milan, Lake Maggiore, Florence, and Siena.

So buckle up and get ready for our departure to Rome tomorrow morning. It will be a fun virtual staycation.
I hope you'll join me for a tour of Italy!

Simply Delightful

Even though I greeted my first day of summer break bright and early, I felt energized to make the most of this glorious day. Awesome to have a summer-like day ... love the blue sky and warm breezes. It would be nice to have several days in a row like this!
I decided to celebrate by doing something I normally can't do while working the school year ... garage-saling! I looked on Craigslist and narrowed my search down to just our area. With the price of gas so high you just can't drive all over town looking for a great deal. Fortunately, there were quite a few right near my neighborhood.
I stopped first in an upscale neighborhood and wondered if the items would be a little over-priced but to my surprise ... they had the best bargains of the day. Everything in this picture priced out at exactly twelve dollars ... what great "entertainment" for a reasonable price. I think the best deal of the day was the sweater on the right ... Banana Republic in like-new condition = $1.00! I even picked up a few Christmas ornaments in an estate sale free box. These make nice additions to my Christmas packages!
The second thing on my list was getting a pedicure and manicure. There is nothing as wonderful as being pampered. It seems like the last few weeks of school my schedule gets crazy and I just don't attend to things for myself. Today I tried my first shellac manicure. I read about it on Pioneer Woman's blog and she had positive reviews about it so I thought I would give it a try. The polish instantly dries without chips or smudges and is supposed to stay on for two weeks. I now feel ready for summer.
Here's to a lovely summer break ... I think I'll celebrate with a little nap : )
Hope you are enjoying relaxing moments this summer!

Who Would Have Thought?!?!

We have enjoyed watching American Idol Season 10 from the auditions right up to the finals. It's fun to follow a favorite contestant throughout the competition. This year I became of fan of Scotty McCreery right from the start. Country music has never been at the top of my playlists. Well ... maybe when we vacation in eastern Oregon. I'll turn on the radio and that's about all there is to listen to in Enterprise : ) But while this competition has been going on, the songs Scotty has selected have become some of my new favorites. Today while strolling through Borders with my 50% +10% coupon/deal I discovered this CD and checked out at the service desk. Final price $4.09! LOVE it ... and I'm enjoying the new music. Who would have thought?!?!?

Spring On the Corner of Nighty-eighth and Siletz

Yes ... despite a season of cooler temps and ongoing rain our property is bursting with color and new life. I love getting out in the yard ... planting, weeding and tending the plants and flowers. It's amazing what a few hours of "garden therapy" can do for your mental health on a stressful day; the joy of listening to audiobooks and music as you dig, rake and clean flowerbeds; a moment to visit with a neighbor after a long winter of isolation; the satisfaction of a garden well tended. I am looking forward to sunny days but in the meantime I will have to make the most of each opportunity.
"The fair-weather gardener, who will do nothing except when the wind and weather and everything else are favorable, is never master of his/her craft."-- Henry Ellacombe

Easter Art

This year while shopping for Easter basket goodies we were looking for something fun ... not necessarily sugar-laden treats. Since Colin loves arts & crafts we discovered Crayola Washable Window Markers. They are perfect for decorating and drawing on windows, frames and mirrors ... and the colors wash off.
Colin wanted to try them out so he left a cute little message on our patio door. What grandma wouldn't love this great artwork?!?!
I wish we would have had these when our kids were young. I recall one son in his creative toddler years drawing green grass on our white baseboards. Just think of how much he would have enjoyed this instead!
Check out this fun product here.

Angry Birds ... LIVE

I have been addicted to the Angry Bird app on my iPhone ... I love playing and have nearly beat all levels including Rio and Seasons. But we have also been dealing with a live version of angry birds this spring with the attack of Flickers on our home!
One of the first signs of spring … waking up at daylight to Flickers drumming on our chimney. These birds drum to communicate/attract a mate or proclaim territory. They will return year after year to the same house and they are hard to get rid of.
After much research on the internet I found many suggestions from homeowner to pest control company strategies. Here are a few things to try:
• hang strips of Mylar foil/balloons in front of the area of activity
• hang aluminum pie pans
• staple large black rubber spiders to your siding
• scare the flicker by shouting and banging pans
• play loud rock music
• squirt water with a garden hose
• create a barrier by covering/wrapping gutter, downspout etc.
• repel flickers by applying a commerce, nontoxic spray
• plastic owls
In reviewing all the suggestions listed above my biggest concern would be ... what are the neighbors thinking about our new behavior?!?!?! We do have foil strips hanging on the south side of our house and boards nailed here and there ... already that is enough to make fellow homeowners wonder, "What in the world is going on at the corner of Siletz?"
If you have a great idea for discouraging these birds from taking over our home, please share! We are running out of patience!
Credits:
Font: CK Fraternity, CK Keystroke, Crunchy Taco, Diesel
Paper: Papercamerontags Moonletter3
Journaling Tag: Redju Journaling 2

Easter Celebration

This year we hosted a family brunch after Easter church service. Our menu revolved around a Waffle Bar theme. I did a little research online and found some great topping ideas and side dishes. Here's a few of our favorites: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, bananas, fresh pineapple, peaches, creamed honey, peanut butter, Nutella, candied pecans, crushed waffle cones, powdered sugar, raspberry jam, whipped cream, maple syrup, buttermilk syrup, fruit syrup and colorful sprinkles. What fun we had customizing our own waffle delight! In addition we had a spiral ham, Homebased Mom Breakfast Potatoes and egg casserole.
And to top off our family event we celebrated April birthdays with a layered cake and ice cream ... a very filling day.
The Waffle Bar was a great idea and something I would repeat with company for brunch after church one Sunday. If you think of any toppings, please let me know. I would like to expand my list. Just thinking about it ... doesn't caramel topping sound wonderful?!?
What a great day to be with family and celebrate "He is Risen!"
Credits:
Template: LJD 122
WordArt: AEdwards Easter Blessing
Font: Georgia, ChromosoneLight, An Unfortunate Event
Paper: CC Cook gokit paper stripyellite

And Spring Break Begins ...

Today is the first day of my Spring Break and I have planned a "staycation" that includes rest, reading, trying new recipes, cleaning/purging and getting ready to hostess Bunco. It may not include delightful temperatures or sightseeing but it's my idea of a great eleven-day break from the daily routine. Ahhhhh ... the sweetness of doing nothing! The perfect prescription!

Embarrassing Moments

Remember the popularity of the water parks in the 80's? One sizzling hot day we drove our boys up to Federal Way to cool off at the water park. It was our first experience and we wanted to try everything. The guys talked me in to joining them on the Python Bonzai Giant Waterslide. Having issues with anything claustrophobic I timidly agreed. There were opportunities along the way to turn back ... but I wanted to share the experience with my family. At racing speeds I was hurled through tubes ... up, down, spiraled around and around. It was so disorienting and feelings of vertigo were surfacing in my brain. I was relieved when I finally hit the pool at the end of the ride. HOWEVER ... I could not determine if I was swimming up or down. I couldn't get my bearings and I was a bit panicked. Much to my surprise I heard a lifeguard saying, "Stand Up!" I was in four feet of water. A little EMBARRASSING! Oh, well ... one of those family memories that surfaces every so often around the dinner table. Every time I think about it I laugh ... and "laughter doeth good like medicine."

Memories In Music

Have you ever been out shopping and while contemplating a purchase, overhead music fills the room and your mind ... triggering a memory from the past? That is exactly what happened while shopping Saturday afternoon.
The song, "Stayin' Alive" (BeeGees) from Saturday Night Fever filled the air and I was instantly transported back to my 10-year class reunion. For many attending the "blast from the past" it was the first time our class had been together since graduation. I remember the live music was so loud you couldn't carry on a conversation. Many escaped to the hallways to catch up with old friends and classmates. I sat down at a table with some friends ... wearing heels was not a common practice and my feet were killing me. Walt was out in the hallway ... talking.
I wasn't paying too much attention because I didn't ever really know the guy ... but in walks a John Travolta clone a.k.a Jerry. Yes ... white pants, shirt unbuttoned ... classic 80's disco. He entered the room as if his presence made the party just begin. I had my back to him so I didn't see it coming ... he grabs my hand and whips me out on the dance floor ... those heels could hardly keep up. I was in shock and discovered we were the only ones on the dance floor. YIKES! I remember Chris Myers laughing hysterically and grabbing Walt from the hallway. Cameras were flashing ... one of life's embarrassing moments.
It's funny how one song can trigger so many memories. Have you ever listened to a song that brought you right back to a memory in your past? I would love to hear your stories!

Real Deals

What a beautiful day ... felt like spring. It was nice to be out and about in the sunshine.
Last October while vacationing in Sunriver the Groupon of the day was irresistible. I had experienced a shopping adventure at Real Deals with Donna last spring vacation so I knew buying a $12 Groupon worth $25 was truly a great deal.
With the beautiful weather today I ventured over to the Oregon City store. They are only open on Thursdays and Saturdays. I spent about an hour trying to take in everything. I think I circled the store a dozen times. Each time around I discovered something I hadn't noticed before. Not everything in the store is my style but I never leave empty-handed or disappointed.
The picture shows my Groupon purchase and I only added an extra $2.70. I was delighted because everything reminded me ... spring is coming! I am looking forward to bulbs shooting up, the smell of freshly mowed grass and setting up the deck for relaxing times outside.
Anybody else experience spring fever today?

Angry Birds

"The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Dish out revenge on the green pigs who stole the Birds’ eggs. Use the unique destructive powers of the Angry Birds to lay waste to the pigs’ fortified castles. Angry Birds features hours of gameplay, challenging physics-based castle demolition, and lots of replay value. Each of the 120 levels requires logic, skill, and brute force to crush the enemy." -from Rovio.com
Who would have thought?!?! Walt put this app on my iPhone last weekend and I am ADDICTED. Right now I am working at level 5-4. I usually prefer games like Rummikub, Scrabble etc. BUT this one has me hooked. I like having different levels to conquer and problem-solving a win. Another fun advantage -- Walt is playing on his phone too so we are having a little competitive fun!

Bellissimo

Ahhhh ... Venice ... How I miss thee! The walls in our recently updated bedroom are screaming for some artwork and what better resource than the 2,400 photo choices from our trip to Italy. Here's one I "tweaked" in Photoshop. Can't think of a better view to wake up to each morning. Bellissimo!

Windows and Doors of Italy

Windows and Doors of Italy ... they are real eye-catchers. There are so many different sizes, shapes, colors, flowers and greenery, shutters, etc. We wanted to capture the beauty in film and found ourselves clicking away, filling our camera's memory card with photos we could treasure when we returned home.
Even though this photo was bright and very colorful I wanted a little subdued version to hang in our bedroom "photo gallery." While exploring Effects in Photoshop Elements I found the following combination very pleasing: Colorful Center, turning down the brightness and selecting Greenery in the Hue and Saturation setting. Walt likes the "before" photo better but this is much more interesting side by side with the Venice photo in the next post.
I wish I had more time to work on photos, put an album together and blog about our trip but that will have to wait for spring break ... working full-time pretty much wipes out my creative energy!

Quiddler

I bought this game at a garage sale for fifty-cents several summers ago and only attempted to play it once at Wallowa. There were too many distractions down by the lake so we moved on to something else without really learning to play it.
This weekend I had the opportunity to play many rounds of this game and I LOVED it! Here, all this time, there has been a "jewel" in our game cabinet and I have bypassed it for something else.
Quiddler is a card and word game for 1-8 players and consists of 8 rounds. Players compete by spelling English words from cards in hands of increasing size, each card worth various points. It's kind of a mix of Scrabble and Gin Rummy.
If you enjoy playing games, give this one a try!

Valentine Decor

I don't have a lot of Valentine decor in my home but I saw this free print on one of the blogs I subscribe to and it looked like a fun addition to our home.
I already had this IKEA shadowbox frame so the only investment I had to make was printing at Costco ... thirty eight cents.
I am grateful for those creative gals on the internet who generously share their talents. I probably would not have thought to design something like it. It's the perfect seasonal touch to our living room decor.

Burano, Italy

I've been getting acquainted with Photoshop Elements 9 and thought I would work with some of the available effects in the program. I spent an afternoon trying different ones and I should have written down what I did because I liked the outcome of this photo.
The photo is from Burano and we enjoyed an afternoon excursion there while in Venice. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted to a view of the most brightly colored homes I've seen and I fell in love with it. Our visit included a delicious lunch ... the weather was warm with a delightful breeze. Such good memories.
Even though the town was colorful it was fun to change the photo up a bit. And if the tower looks like it's leaning ... it really is ... it's not the camera angle.
I would like to try a few more actions on other photos from our vacation in Italy. If you have a favorite, please share in the comments. I'm in the process of hanging a small "gallery" on our bedroom wall and I would like to make our photos interesting and unique.

Back To Work ...

Winter Break is over. What a wonderful time of refreshment! Even during a whirlwind of activity, it was good to get some R & R. Just one of the benefits of working for a school district. You've got to LOVE the schedule!
The heavy rain after Christmas was truly a blessing ... it kept me indoors giving me time to do the things I rarely find time for ... blogging, emailing, reading, designing in Photoshop Elements etc.
Not only will I be returning to work tomorrow but it will be the beginning of an additional 4-hour position ... giving me an 8-hour work day. It's a little overwhelming to ponder but I am so grateful for the additional hours and pay. It's a rare thing to have a position open mid-year and I am so thankful for this opportunity.
Praying all goes well ...

2011 Word of the Year

Happy New Year!
For the last week I have been giving my word of the year much thought. Sometimes we find it through others. This morning as I was reading through my RSS Feed I found my word! Exciting! I was reading this blog and as soon as I saw the word cultivate I felt that was the word for me this year. I love the art work she created. She is so inspiring.
Do you pick a word of the year each year? I would love to hear what yours is and what helped you arrive at selecting it.
Last year I started out so strong with the word vitality but with our trip to Italy, unemployment, rehiring etc. ... I got a little off track with my focus on a healthy lifestyle.
May 2011 be a year filled with JOY, good health, and personal growth!

Christmas Morning

Ahhh ... what can I say ... we have strong Christmas morning traditions. I realized even the food I serve for breakfast is a tradition. At the last minute I added back the Cinnamon Pull-Apart that I had taken off this year's menu ... Tradition! Matt had shared with Kathy that I serve it every year ... oops!
We met for breakfast at 10 a.m. and enjoyed a leisurely meal sharing many Germer stories and isms. We always enjoy our time around the table.
We gathered around the tree and spent time in our traditional way of opening gifts ... one person, one gift at a time. This can take hours and usually involves a story behind many of the gifts. This year I added pictures for the gift tags so "santa's helpers" a.k.a the grandkids could hand out the presents without having to read names on the tags.
Just when everyone thought gift opening was coming to a close ... the finale was just beginning. It was time to distribute the Twelve Months of Christmas gifts -- see previous post. What a great ending to our fun morning together.
To continue our day-long celebration we enjoyed another tradition ... a sub sandwich bar for dinner and playing games. How I cherish this day with the family ... it truly is "the most wonderful time of the year."
What are some of your family traditions?
Credits:
Template: Moriginals 365 Template No. 15
Paper: jld holidayheart bg4
Ribbon: LJD The season
Wordart: dranet Christmas09WA
Font: American Typewriter

Pioneer Courthouse Square Bricks

While downtown on Christmas Eve Brian wanted to show Calleigh his brick.

Pioneer Courthouse Square was built in 1984 and my mom purchased bricks for our family as a gift in 1981. Matt was born in 1983 ...so he is the only family member without a brick on the Square. The bricks were permanently placed in alpha order by first name so our family is not together in one area ... there are 71,165 named bricks in the Square. Seems like each visit to downtown Portland we plan time to look for our bricks but without success.

While researching for this post I discovered a brick locator online. Wow! I guess it never occurred to me to look for a map on the internet! So far Brian is the only family member to find his brick ... when the weather is warmer we'll need to take our map and locate each of our bricks. Sounds like a fun spring outing!

Christmas Eve Tradition

One of our Christmas Eve Traditions is to order a Starbucks and pose in front of the Christmas tree at Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland. This year I tried a Salted Caramel Mocha ... rich but tasty!
Tim and Rae were with us but missed the photo session due to some last-minute gift shopping.
This year our day began at Rose's on 23rd for breakfast with Byron and Heather and enjoyed a little shopping at our favorite shops in that area. We then joined our family at Pioneer Place. This year it was very crowded due to so many having the day off. Normally the crowds are quite thin on Christmas Eve.
We also enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery and visited Finnegan's Toy Store before leaving the downtown area. We headed south back home when the stores closed and added a tradition we haven't participated in since the grandkids were born ... we went to a movie. The guys saw Tron and the gals and grandkids watched Tangled. Following the movie we went to the TCC Candlelight Service at 11:30 p.m. We love this service ... so calm and quiet. I loved having lit candles for each attendee. We haven't done that since our Englewood days. It's a JOY to be a part of the true meaning of Christmas in word and song.
We got home after 1 a.m. and prepared ourselves for the next day ... time with the family!

Christmas Eve Snowfall

Each year we enjoy a little snow in downtown Portland on Christmas Eve. It "snows" at Pioneer Place.

The kids loved it ... they even made snow angels in the fluffy stuff!
It would have been nice to have a white Christmas but this will have to do this season!

Repeat: Secret Santas

Just in time for Christmas ...
We squeezed a Secret Santa Shopping date in before the holidays. With the POD move it was a little tricky finding just the right time for our traditional date night with the grandkids.
We gave them a dinner choice and Calleigh picked Wendy's ... she knows her grandpa's favorite place to eat : )
We headed over to the nearest Target and shopped for the perfect present for Mom and Dad. After much consideration we decided to buy them a combined gift of a Harry Potter Lego Wii game. We also included gloves for Mom because she needed them. I heard later that the second pair of the set will be shared with Dad!
We ended our evening with popcorn from the cafe while we wrapped and tagged our gifts.
What a fun evening out with the kids!

Glimpse of Christmas

It's always fun to play with Mosiac Maker at Big Huge Labs. I created a glimpse of a few Christmas decorations from our home this year.
Our unique pink Barbie tree is always fascinating for Calleigh. It's getting quite full -- so many Barbie ornaments to display.
This year the Christmas village was a delight to the grandkids. They had more fun rearranging the buildings, people and accessories. I painted the entire set about 16 years ago. Nice to see it provides fun and enjoyment many years later.
We always have a display of various angels and snowmen but the newest addition hanging on our tree was the angel we bought from the Murano glass factory in Venice. What a great reminder of our trip to Italy.
I found a few antique Christmas cards in the family trunk and displayed them on the bookcase we moved from our bedroom to the living room. My little birds were a great find at the Hen's Tooth in Sisters during our fall Sunriver getaway. It seems like nearly every blog I read has a glass displayed with shiny ornaments. I found this glass dome/plate at Goodwill this year and decided to fill it with colorful ornaments and display it on our china hutch. I always love my snowman shelf-sitter in our entryway ... a great holiday welcome!
This year I really tried to be more of a minimalist with my decor and found the house felt more comfortable without the holiday clutter. It will be a little sad to put it away but as the new year draws near, I am ready to have everything in it's place before heading back to work.

Goodbye Country, Hello Modern

One of my goals during the winter break was to move back into our bedroom. We have been living in our downstairs guest room since September while we updated our bedroom/bath. It wasn't so bad but I was definitely ready to sleep in our queen-sized bed again.
I spent two days before Christmas unboxing, moving, cleaning, purging, storing ... until it finally looked like a bedroom again.
I wish I had taken more pictures of the process involved in this transformation. The room was country ... floral wallpaper in mauve, blue and green. Mauve tile countertops in the bathroom ... my Barbie collection inhabiting a great deal of "real estate" and an large oak roll top desk that overpowered the room. It truly needed an upgrade!
Each addition to our bedroom caused new configurations in other rooms of the house. And I don't even want to discuss the garage ... overflowing! However, the room feels much more spacious and relaxing. It's good to see minimal decor ... much more comforting.
We spent Thanksgiving weekend stripping and painting/staining two dressers. They went from country-white to a mahogany top, black body and new contemporary knobs. They feel so updated! We tried to repurpose as many things as possible
We invested in a few new pieces of furniture -- a new sleek black desk, a chair from Pier 1, and a nightstand from Expressions Home Furnishings on 99W. Everything was on sale or clearance. These were great finishing pieces.
In the bathroom area we ordered a new solid surface countertop, stripped and stained the existing vanity, put up a new light fixture, mirror and faucet. What a transformation. Even though this round of remodeling was "lipstick" it is amazing to see how even small changes can make a huge difference.
We will be adding crown moulding this winter for a finishing touch. Even though it is still in-process we are finding this room a comfortable, stylish "retreat."
Truly a great Christmas gift!

Glitter Trees

I found this great idea at this site and wanted to make them for our home. I think a lot of bloggers liked them because I see them featured on many sites in my RSS Feed.
The subway art was a free download so the only investment I made was printing and the frame. The glitter trees required some time in gathering the materials. I wanted to use my Michael's coupon for each item: 3 styrofoam cones and 3 different colors of Martha Stewart glitter. I found the stands (candleholder) at the Dollar Tree and painted them black to match the frame.
I will not deceive you by saying it was a snap to make these. It wasn't so bad time-wise ... just a little messy. I worked on it in the kitchen because it was too cold in the garage. I placed newspaper on the table to protect the surface. The adhesive spray had a wider-range than the protection I placed on our table and attracted the leftover glitter : ( My fingertips were covered in glitter and I did this BEFORE heading off to work! I would recommend having UNDU available to help with clean up both with your work surface and your hands. I think if I made these again I would paint the cones the same color as the glitter. I think this would help with coverage. This might be a nice summer project where you could glitter these outside : )
I have really like the dazzle of color these simple elements have added to our home during the holidays and I have had many compliments. I am so thankful for the creative blogs I subscribe to. It has changed my decorating style to be more simplistic ... but elegant.

Merry Christmas From Our House To Yours

Homemade Marshmallows

My first Monday of Winter Break I wanted to tackle making homemade marshmallows to go with my December theme for "The Twelve Months of Christmas." I found a recipe on Our Best Bites and decided it had the best instructions for tackling this new cooking adventure. It was really a two-day process and they turned out well but the chocolate dipping was the most time consuming part. Dipping anything in chocolate seems to be a challenge for me : ( They are delicious and Walt wonders why you would go to all the work of making them when you can buy them at the store. No ... these are much better!
The packaging made a fun addition to my December theme. I would definitely make these again. However, if you are considering it, you really do need a stand mixer for the best success!
I feel like having a cup of cocoa right now with a yummy marshmallow afloat!
Credits:
Template: In the Making V
Paper: Beth Long/Cold Winter paper 1
Wordart: In Winter's Arms/dydyge wordart1
Font: Chromosome Light, Pea Noodle's Girlfriend

A Taste of Italy

Still excited from our trip to Italy we wanted to include "A Taste of Italy" in our gift giving this Christmas. I remember our tour guide telling us we could find instructions for making Limoncello online so I did a little research. I found a site that included step-by-step instructions with pictures.
We gathered the ingredients, bottles, and equipment and started the process two weeks before Christmas. After mixing the ingredients the container is placed in a dark cupboard and stirred each day for 7 days. The final step is to add sugar and water and put it in bottles. Pierre told us about great glass flasks at The Container Store so we had several shapes and sizes to choose from. However, when we returned to the store for more, they had sold out! Very popular item this year. The added pleasure of the project was the Dehazes making it at the same time but using oranges instead of lemons.
I should have included a caution on the label: You only need a "thimble-ful" to enjoy the great lemony taste!

The Twelve Months of Christmas ...

This year I wanted to do something different for Christmas with our kids ... a theme to go with a "Make It, Bake It, Sew It, Grow It, Repurpose It" idea. After pondering this during a January insomnia night I came up with the idea of the "Twelve Months of Christmas." I could hardly get back to sleep with all sorts of ideas floating through my head. By summer I had a few concrete ideas and I started collecting the items and packaging for each month's theme. Here's what I came up with:
January: Movie night (Regal tickets in a popcorn container)
February: Bouquets in Winter (vase with Trader Joe's gift card)
March: Car Wash (Kaady car wash gift card in a car holder)
April: Gardening (Bucket filled with gloves, garden accessories, gift card)
May: Cinco de Mayo (homemade salsa, Mike's, chips)
June: Summer BBQ (glass votive holder, BBQ sauce, 3 rubs)
July: A Taste of Italy (homemade Limoncello, shot glasses)
August: Happy Hour (gift card to McMenamins)
September: Romance (pasta, sauce, candles & holders, dessert, wine romance music CD)
October: Fall Baking (TJ Bread mix, ceramic measuring spoons, homemade dishcloth, printed freezer labels from Martha Stewart site)
November: Red Box Movie Night ($$$ in a RED box, theater candy/popcorn)
December: It's Cold Outside! (Ceramic cocoa set, homemade marshmallows and cocoa "accessories")
Yes ... that made 36 gifts to wrap, package, and hide : )
Christmas morning we waited until all gifts were opened and then celebrated "The Twelve Months of Christmas." What fun to give ... and share in the joy of the recipients.
It was a great year-long project for Christmas ... fun shopping, finding bargains, discovering a great container idea, trying new recipes, thinking of different things I could find used/repurposed, and getting inspired by the blogs I read.
I already have an idea for next year ... however, I cannot share it because the recipients are also readers!
I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with those you love!

Keep Calm ...

There are so many blogs sharing prints they've designed with the "Keep Calm" theme. I downloaded one, sent it off to Costco, framed it and hung it in our newly "refreshed" master bathroom. It's the perfect spot for a great reminder on how to start my day! How nice to have something on that big empty space above the towel rack : )
I did a little research and I found the history behind this quote from Wikipedia:
Keep Calm and Carry On was a poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II, intended to raise the morale of the British public under the threat of impending invasion. It was little known and never used. The poster was rediscovered in 2000 and has been re-issued by a number of private sector companies, and used as the decorative theme for a range of other products.
P.S. If you're wondering ... we STILL haven't finished our bedroom yet. However, we are getting closer!