For months now, places like Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, Target, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. have had their entire Christmas collections displayed, and I must say...I'm confused. I have always been one to put my Christmas tree up early....WAY early, until last year, but seriously? August? Isn't that a bit early? It's like these places are telling us to skip over being thankful and go right into being greedy with our Christmas lists. One Christmas, I put a little tree up at the beginning of October, and I am still hearing about it. I have since learned to love everything about fall; how can you not? If you're wanting Christmas to get here so fast, that means you're also wanting blizzards and ice storms to get here too. And if that is you, then you are crazy. After last winter's record-setting snowfall, when my car couldn't move for days and we couldn't open our front door without getting blasted in the face with snow and piles of it falling into our living room, I can go a little longer without any kind of precipitation. I will admit it was pretty to look at. Key word: look. Not pretty or fun to have to wear 10 layers of clothes just to walk to your car only to have to turn the air conditioner on because you're so dang hot in those 10 sweatshirts & jackets. Sheesh.


Anyway, all of these Christmas trees I see around every corner in every store makes me want to put my trees (yes, plural :) ) up so bad! Then I just think of last winter, and I can wait a little bit longer. I bought a 9 footer last year on sale after Christmas and pretty much wiped Hobby Lobby & Dillards out of ornaments and picks last year during their after-Christmas sales, and they've all been boxed up and in the attic since. It's probably safe to say our Christmas tree will be overdone this year (but definitely not tacky); you know me, that's how I like it. :)

Like I said, I've learned to love everything about fall, especially cooking and baking. I think we're even having our families at our new house this year for Thanksgiving! FUN! I think I've pretty much mastered the meringue-topped pies as well as I can, so next will be an apple pie recipe I found that is guaranteed to be a hit! Can't wait to try it! I may also make these awesome chocolate cheesecake cupcakes with peanut butter cookie dough.Yes, they are as good as they sound, just be sure and have a tall glass of water or milk handy. The holidays are always so fun because the ladies are always in the kitchen chatting and cooking while the men are all outside with the frying turkey. Football is on the TV in the background and kids are running around. I always used to hang out with my dad outside and we would shoot some hoops or hit golf balls while the turkey fried. Now I get to help my mom & grandma cook things, which is fun too! After we all would eat and have our bellies full, I would beg mom to put the Christmas tree up, and we'd spend the rest of the day putting the Christmas decorations out. Fun times. Who else wishes we still had 2 weeks off for Christmas break as opposed to 2 days? Boo. #ThingsThatSuck

Oh, and if you haven't joined Twitter yet, you really should! Here's my page. It's not near as personal as Facebook and anyone can follow you (unless you block them), and you can follow anyone. I can keep up with all of the Kardashians on a regular basis as opposed to Sunday nights only. I am bound & determined for some celebrity to reply to one of my tweets. Hopefully my Kenny Chesney will soon! :) :)

Nothing much new happening as far as new furniture. I think we'll be going to get some lumber soon for the tables in our living room & then the dining room! I have to keep him busy so he doesn't look for me things to do!

<3