Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!

I don't know if I say this every Christmas or not, but I think this was one of the best Christmas's ever. Sure, there are sad things going on around us but as we get older I think that is just going to happen more and more. It makes us appreciate what we have (our health) so much more.

This year in following with the tradition of hope for the holidays that Vic's dear friend Sue started before she lost her battle with cancer, we helped one of my friends that I've had since grade school. Her husband has been in the hospital for the last 4 months and things have been a challenge for them. Hearing about all the people that joined us and sent her things/money/prayers was like opening a gift myself every day. Knowing that people care enough to stop what they are doing in their lives and reach out to someone else in this day and age gives me hope and not just for the holidays!



Vic and I have do not have many "traditions" for our holidays yet. The last few years we'd get something big for "us" and call it a Christmas. (D.J. was my most memorable US gift).This year there wasn't really anything we needed so we did little gifts everyday for the week  prior to Christmas saving one  last gift for this morning. We decided we love this tradition and will continue it because it stretches  Christmas out for us!  Over the week I got a tervis tumbler that I LOVE, a "my dachshund loves me" T-Shirt, a dachshund and a yellow lab ornament for the tree, bubble bath, lotto scratch offs that I won $47 on and a few more things!! Vic got some smell good stuff,a manicure set and a Kindle.




The one thing that is a tradition for us is to go to my sisters house Christmas eve and snack on food all day while playing silly games. This year it was name that tune with music from all eras. Brittany won by far. There was lots of laughing, sharing and loving.

As most years there was not a shortage of gifts under the tree. What made this year extra special was my mothers gifts to us. She gave us things from our childhood that brought back so many good memories. My sisters and I all got our silver baby cups that she had engraved             when we were born. I got my  grandmothers china that I had admired and commented on many times over the years. Steph got my grandmothers collection of toby mugs. We all got old cookbooks and childhood books that were passed down from grandparents, to parents and now to us, the one I got was dated back to the 40's and I think some of my nieces were from the 20's ! My brother in law and niece got several of my Grandfathers old pencil sharpeners. I remember he used to have those all over the place. You just never know when you'll need to sharpen a pencil!



My mom also gave my sisters and I three of the Lladros figurines that she got when she went to Spain back in the 70's . Mine is this one :http://www.lladro.com/figurines/01014665-GIRL_WITH_BASKET/  Since she couldn't remember which one was each of our favorites she put numbers on the ribbons on the box and we picked a ribbon, inside the box she numbered the position of each figure and the one that matched our ribbon was ours. As it worked out we all got the one that was our favorite when we were growing up! Something i was treasure for always and remind me of my mom.

The tear jerker item was when my older sister Stephanie opened a box with a pair of her baby shoes and a little while purse she wore one Easter. We all commented that we remembered it having tiny white gloves with it...she opened the tiny purse and it still had the tiny white gloves! Thank you mom for keeping such precious mementos.





Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Chuckle of the Day

Last week I had to venture into Walmart to do some Christmas shopping.

While I was shopping they came across the loud speakers announcing that if someone got the wrong cart to please return it to the cereal isle. They made that announcement maybe three times while I was shopping. Thoughts of a cart filled with somebody elses groceries came to mind. I thought to myself that I sure was glad that it wasn't my cart, I'd hate to have to shop all  over again. And then the evil little girl in me thought
"what a brilliant idea it would be to just find someone elses full cart and go check out;unloading the groceries would be like Christmas when I got home because i wouldn't know what to expect!

Before I left the store I heard one more announcement. "Please check your carts, if you have someone elses teeth in your cart please return them to the cereal isle"....I  left laughing , thinking only in Florida .
I could not wait to get home and tell my story on facebook. I called my sister and mother and had them rolling on the ground with my story. 

It wasn't until a few days later , after she had had some time to think about it , my sister approached me and asked "Holly, do you think maybe they said KEYS and not TEETH".....

My guess is she is correct...but isn't the story much funnier my way? 

Monday, November 28, 2011

Hope For The Holidays again this year!


Many of you may remember last year when Vic's dear friend Sue was in the hospital fighting for her life against cancer. I blogged about it here: http://whathollyhasseen.blogspot.com/2010/12/hope-for-holidays.html and here: http://whathollyhasseen.blogspot.com/2010/12/hope-for-holidays-in-action.html and here: http://whathollyhasseen.blogspot.com/2010/12/second-visit-hope-for-holidays.html.

Well a year has gone by and Susans children continue the hope.....


Kids Hold Sleeping Bag Drive In Mother's Memory « CBS Sacramento


*an update on our local homeless people in Venice, Fl is sad...right before Thanksgiving they were kicked off the land that they were staying on and have been re-located to parts unknown as of right now. http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111020/ARTICLE/111029960?tc=ix



Friday, November 25, 2011

Thanksgiving Crab

This Thanksgiving was very different from any other that I've experienced in my 44 years. We didn't have games before dinner, we didn't have turkey, dressing , noodles or even my moms famous 7-up salad. She always told us one day we'd be sorry that we teased her about it every year and we'd miss it....yep..I missed it!!

My older sister and her family went to Missouri to spend Thanksgiving with her husbands family this year. My dad moved to TN a few years ago and doesn't come back for the holidays. My younger sister spent the day with her boyfriends family. Vic was home sick in bed. So I went up to my mom and Greg's (her significant other) house. Two of their tenants  joined us and we had a crab boil out by the water (which is also their front yard..so it's pretty cool)  I think it was almost 80 degrees out and everyone walking by had on shorts...so it was a beautiful day to be outside saying thanks to the spirits for all that we have.

We had crab legs and shrimp, sausage, potato's,carrots and onions, chocolate sheet cake, pumpkin pie and corn on the cob (mom cut my corn off for me because ever since my days in braces I have not eaten corn on the cob....I love that she spoils me this way even at 44 years old!)  Dinner was yummy, the conversation pleasant and the view ...priceless.

I left just in time to catch a beautiful sunset on the beach for my drive home...A very different Thanksgiving but one I'll always remember. I hope that your holiday was just as memorable and spent with those that mean the most.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Back from Ecstasy

We are back from our cruise!
I am so thankful that Vic did so much research before we left. I have been on several cruises before but learned a lot from doing a little homework before taking off! We saved a lot of money by parking at the Radisson and taking a shuttle over to the ship. ($5.95 per day vs $15 a day)


Getting on the boat was a breeze. We were in our rooms by 1:30 and ready to go explore the boat. We had the early dining with eight other people. It was nice to meet fellow cruisers and we ran into them all over the ship! Several of us had a common interest in the Casino!


The food was not impressive but we did not go on the boat for the food. I was just thrilled that we could have someone else decide what was for dinner for so many meals! No cooking, no clean up, sounds good to me!


I was very impressed that everyone called us by name. It was even more impressive because I didn't do much of the ordering, Vic did...yet they knew my name and remembered it every time they saw us! Not sure how they managed this, but I liked it.

Our ports of call were Nassau and Freeport. We found a nice man named Albert to show us around Nassau. We did the tour and then stopped in a few of the shops for the items we wanted to buy. It was very busy and we were tired from the late night before so we headed back to the boat after a few hours.
Freeport: We paid for an excursion prior to taking the cruise. It was a boat ride over to the shopping district (Lucaya) The boat ride was a bit rough but we really enjoyed it! (Light rain and all) We saw dolphins, nice houses, we watched our guide do a killer limbo! Go to my youtube page for videos of that (the link is at the top of my blog). We ate breakfast at a little place and I enjoyed some coconut french toast.
We heard from several people that they were offered drugs when they got off the boat in Freeport...this wasn't our experience though.

We had a great time at the shows, in the casino and just walking around the boat. I won a ship on a stick by participated in a Family Feud style game show. It really is true that the more you get involved the more fun you have! Some of our best times were watching Karaoke, there were some GREAT voices among our sailing mates.

We are planning our next cruise now..can't wait to go again! It was so sad to leave this morning.
More photos from our trip:
















Sunday, November 6, 2011

Dogs in Hats!

Scout in his Birthday Hat

Dog at the Doxie Derby in his colts visor

Scout in his sun visor

Scout in his Boston ball cap

Posted because we saw this adorable blog: 
http://fourleggedviews.blogspot.com/2011/11/hat-challenge-and-contest.html

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Come Sail Away

We sail in 15 days!!!
We've gotten our passports, inspected our luggage, ordered a few items from amazon.com that we think will come in handy. We've downloaded and printed a packing list we found on http://www.cruisecritic.com/ , watched every youtube video out there that has our ship in it. Made arrangements for the furchildren. We've been shopping for clothes, shoes, watches, etc. Now all that is left is the wait...

This will be my fifth or so cruise and Vics first. We are going to the Bahamas....where have you gone and what helpful hints do you have for us?

One of the most helpful videos I've found is right here:

Sunday, October 30, 2011

October 2011 in Photos

Spent time with my best friend since 4th grade 10-1-11 and many other childhood friends at our 25th class reunion.
Sarasota Pride with Friends 10-22-11

25th Class Reunion Oct 1,2011

8 foot tall Lego Man washed ashore on Siesta Key Beach

New Nail Color For Oct. Man of LaMancha 

New Pink Purse 

Sarasota Pride Fest 10-22-11

Dakotas 6th Birthday 10-19-11

Dexters 3rd birthday 10-30-11

DJ's 2nd birthday Oct 16,2011
Cards win World Series for 11th time!!! 10-21-11 (beating the  Texas Rangers)

Monday, October 24, 2011

Revenge

I have a new Favorite TV show!! Have you watched Revenge yet? If not you should find all of the episodes so far and catch up because it's that good. I am never ready for the hour to end. It's on ABC on Wednesday nights.  I still watch all my reality shows but it's nice to take a break now and then and since All My Children is off the air now I needed a new soap type filler...this is it only better ! :)

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

How did they do it??

Do you ever wonder how our mothers did it all? My mom had three daughters, we had at least one dog at all times, my parents owned their own business and us girls were always going somewhere. We had dinners as a family at the dining room table, went to church on Sundays, our clothes were washed,ironed and often put away for us (or at least put on the stairs for us to take up to our rooms). Each holiday our house was decked out with decorations ..be it halloween, Easter or Christmas...

In comparssion my dining room table holds a pile of clothes instead of home cooked meals. I can tell you the last time we ate at that table because it's only  happened once! It is rare for us to decorate for Christmas let alone any other season. We rarely make it to church. Iron? What the heck is an iron?

The difference must be the dogs....I have four dogs and a cat..yeah lets blame it on them!

Ahhhh the good ole days!

Sunday, October 16, 2011