Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I Got A Christmas Present

Hello out there!  It is only one week until Christmas!!!  And I am ready!!  Turns out, when you don't have a lot of money to spend on Christmas presents, it makes your shopping a lot easier!!!  I am done shopping, and only have a couple of things to wrap.  Hoping to get to bake a little in the coming week, and just enjoy a nice relaxing holiday.
On Sunday night, our family met up for dinner at Chipotle and then went to The Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn.  It was cold and rainy, and crowded!!!  But we had a wonderful time!!!  I didn't take my camera, because it was raining, but my daughter did.  Go check out her blog post.  Her pictures were beautiful!!!!  Gennifer's Blog
While there, I had to try a cupcake from Casey's.  I bought two, and they were ever so delicious!!!
A pink strawberry confection that Hannah picked out, and a peanut butter cupcake that had my name written all over it.  Both were so moist and yummy!
My grandson Noah has been enjoying his time off school.  He made this cute gingerbread house on the last day of school, and then his Mama got him the gingerbread train yesterday and he had a blast decorating that!
 He watched Home Alone with all of us on Saturday night, and he howled!!!!  Then he watched it again, on Sunday, twice.  I found the DVD set with movies one through four at Target and we watched number two last night.  I have never heard him laugh so much in a movie!!! 
We have had some much needed rain, with more to come.  So nice for the holidays!
When I was at Target I was looking for a knife I have been wanting.  Giada De Laurentiis has a wonderful line in Target and she talks about using her Mezzaluna knife all the time.  They sell it, but it comes in and goes out so fast, that even though I am in Target weekly it seems, I can never find that knife!!!!  I noticed that the knife block was on sale, and I really need new knives.  I have one good knife.  My Santoku that I use all the time.  It is a Wuesthoff and I sharpen it regularly at Sur La Table to keep in sharp.  The Giada knife block was on sale for 99 dollars AND you get a 25 dollar gift card issued to you when you purchase it.  It is a great set!!  I texted Greg and told him about it, and he said get it.  So I went back today and did just that!!
NICE!!!
This is the mezzaluna knife that I have been wanting.
 
Do you see that bandaid on my thumb?  That is because, stupidly, while taking each knife out of the packaging, I carefully removed it, and on the first one, I was tempted to see just how sharp these knives are.....and......well....they are!!!
Not too deep, but I bled all over the place!  Anyway, I think I will be pretty happy with these knives.  They also came with a block of steak knives.  Both blocks are a nice solid bamboo.
My friend Dawn  held a little giveaway recently, and I won her cut out vinyl letters  J O Y.  I knew in my mind what I wanted to do with them, but I think I need to add another strand of lights.  I bought a strand of little lights and placed them in to a gallon glass jug that I had saved from when we went Apple Picking recently.  I purchased a gallon of cider and kept the glass bottle that it came in.  I placed the letters on the outside of the jug, then lit her up.
My pictures didn't really turn out very good, but it is cute.
 
 I got a fun package in the mail today from my dear friend Ally in New Jersey.  
She had all sorts of goodies in that big box.  Her specialty, homemade peanut brittle.  A jar of her homemade peach preserves.  And several gifts that were all so fun to open.
Thank you so much Ally!  I love you!!
At my boutique, I wound up taking several Christmas orders.  I finished them all last week, and said I would not be taking more, but I did.  I took three more orders.  Two are ready and waiting at the door for pickup tomorrow, and I have one more to complete.   I have been so pleased, and so blessed by all of the positive response from my hand mades.  I love doing it.  And I am eager to start on some new items after the holidays.
I hope that you are enjoying this time with your family, and finding joy, even though as a nation, we are all so very shocked and saddened by the recent violence in Connecticut.  I observed a day of no blogging yesterday, along with many of my blogging friends.  Today, when I went out to run some errands, the rain had stopped, and the sky was so remarkably blue, with huge puffy white clouds blowing swiftly overhead.  I was awestruck at how beautiful it was.  I actually pulled over, and took an Instagram photo.  For so many people who want to do something, but don't know what to do to help the people of Newtown heal, I suggest doing a good deed for someone...pay it forward.  Pay for the person behind you in line at Starbucks, or bring a shut in a meal. Bring a neighbors trash cans in, or surprise someone with flowers.   As for me and my family, this is a small thing that we can do to honor the memory of those lives lost.  The people of Newtown will remain in our prayers.
XO  Kris

26 comments:

Linda said...

Well put, Kris...
Hope you get everything you want for Christmas...
But it seems...you have everything...
Enjoy the holidays...
I know we will...

Cheers!
Linda :o)

Gloria Baker said...

oh Kris hope you have a lovely Christmas times but care of then kniffes:)

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Your new knives are awesome, Kris...and I guess you know they're sharp! I really like the idea of paying it forward or random acts of kindness to bring more good into the world!

Patty Marker said...

That sounds like totally something I would do Kris. What a nice set of knives and for someone like you who loves to cook I am sure it is an extra special gift. I am loving this rain, too. Have a Merry Christmas dear friend and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Teresa Kasner said...

Hello Kris.. I enjoyed your post.. it's always like I'm hanging out in your kitchen with you and yacking away. Someday I hope to break bread with you. I'm green with jealousy over those knives. I've been desiring some nice ones, those ones with the swirly steel blades, have you seen them?

❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Gracie Saylor said...

Celebrating the good around us, enjoying the beauty near us, appreciating good tools [sorry about your cut finger, Kris :(] and sharing what we have with others sometimes does not seem enough to do when we know of great suffering, but I agree with your view, Kris. I think that each of those acts have a wonderful ripple effect that brings us closer to not letting evil get the best of us, but rather helps us overcome evil by doing good. Thanks for posting, Kris.

Holly said...

I also, have one good knife. Maybe I should check these out. Let me know what you think after you've had them for a while. Sorry about the thumb.

priscilla said...

Its great you are ready for Christmas !Your knives look SHARP! All of my fingers would have bandaids !Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas !

Heather - The Good Life said...

We've watched a couple of the Home Alone's this year for the first time (for me and DS) and he loved them too. We've watched all our Christmas movies except It's a Wonderful Life; probably this weekend. Wishing you Christmas blessings and enjoy those cool knives. Heather

Dawn said...

Lucky you to get new knifes. Mine always seem to be dull and do more damage than the sharp ones. I will have to look for the in Target. Glad you made use of your letters:) Cute idea.

Katie said...

That Knife looks Serious! ;) That is a really good deal for that many high quality knives!
Your home looks so festive for the Christmas Holiday, Enjoy your family!

Debbie said...

I just loved our weather yesterday! Soo pretty. I bought a very similar set of knives for my youngest dil who is a cooking fend. I will warn her not to check for sharpness, haha. Soo something I would do. Soo glad your stuff sold so well, though I knew it would. Have a good day Kris!

Mereknits said...

Perfect post today Kris. Very well said. Love your new knives, watch those fingers.
Hugs to you,
Meredith

~Niki~ said...

oh i'm so in need of new knives. ours are so damn dull. lol. careful there girl! fun presents too! you lucky girl. glad you're still able to do some orders!
i've been crocheting squares for the Sandy school benefit. It's a facebook page they are gathering squares for the families to make 'ghans.

Diane said...

Hi Kris, I have been reading your blog all along, but just not posting myself. I just put up some Christmas pics of my grands today and saw the message you had left on my last post. Thank you so much for the kind words about my daughter. Words will never express what a shock this has all been. I praise God for the peace and encouragement He has given us all during this time. If you would like to you can email me at jgramma@msn.com.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

I am still laughing about the bandaid and the cut. Sounds just like something I would do. I really need new knives. I'll have to look for them at Target. I'll try not to touch. lol! Paying it forward is a wonderful idea. My heart has been so heavy and I have had a hard time getting it out of my mind. Prayers indeed for all! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Hugs,
Jann

Nicolle said...

My heart has been so broken, but your post makes me smile for so many reasons. That cupcake box is so cute, and I bet the cupcakes were delicious. The thought of Noah laughing so hard watching that movie puts a huge smile on my face! I love your JOY letters. How cute are those?! I also love a good knife set. I think we could stand to use a new one, but I'm still pretty happy with the one we bought about 10 years ago. It just makes chopping and slicing so much more fun. Sorry about your finger though! I would have probably done the same thing. :) Thanks for lifting my spirits this morning with your sweet post. You just never know who's day you are brightening!
xo

Debbiedoos said...

Ouch...nothing like a new sharp knife in the kitchen. Merry Christmas Kris. This year was a lot of diy crafting gifts. I enjoyed doing them.

momto8 said...

all I asked for for Christmas was cutco knives...
love your gingerbread house!!
Merry Christmas!

Susanne Tyree said...

Hi Kris. Never heard of a mezzaluna knife, what on earth do you use that for? I have some Paula Dean knives and I'm very happy with them. I am a big fan of paying it forward, and random acts of kindness. There is nothing more heart warming than doing something for someone without expecting anything in return. It shows you just how meaningful the simplest act can be to a complete stranger. We all need more of that in our lives. Maybe then there wouldn't be so much sadness and despair.
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)

Sunny Simple Life said...

Good post Kris. Be careful with those knives. Dean keeps mine sharp with a tool he has from work. I have to watch it when he sharpens them. I am with you. Cash only this Christmas and finding it nice to do that but having to be more creative with my gifts. Merry Christmas.

Taci simmons said...

I just met Teresa and Gracie today and they told me about your blog. I'm glad I also found your blog... Beautiful blog and so true what you said... If each one of us does a good deed it's going to show that good will prevail... And the world will be a better place.
Merry Christmas to you and your family

corners of my life said...

I look forward to seeing your "new items after the holidays".

Jill said...

Isn't it always delightful receiving gifts in the mail from our dear friends and nothing finer than homemade!
I love the knife set you got, but goodness you didn't have to slice your finger to show us how sharp they are! LOL... I would have probably done the same thing ;-) Ha Ha
I am still feeling the pain of that tragedy as well and today I posted a video of one of my favorite songs in memory of them. If you do stop by have tissues. :-(
Have a wonderful weekend my friend!

Many blessings,
Jill

Pam said...

I may have to buy those knives with the Christmas money I just received... they look great!

I love the joy jug - so cute!

I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas Kris!

Unknown said...

You are going to love those knives...I have some and they are fantastic! Sorry you cut yourself!