Christmas Shopping

Tis the Season to brave shopping malls and outlets - as the time to order things online has passed because Express Shipping is just plain robbery. 

I've been done with Randy's Christmas for a couple of weeks now - but still have a few small things to pick up for family members.  When I told him that, he says, "Aw crap.  I haven't even started on yours!"  6 days left Strader... tick tock...

One of our pitstops while fighting through the mall was H&M - one of my favorite stores.  I love their leggings.  So comfortable.  Which is the reason I wear them all the time and is also probably the reason why I have a couple itty bitty holes in the knees of my black ones now.

The holes drive Randy insane.  "What kind of fiance do you have?  Who lets you run around in hole-filled pants that belong in the garbage?"  So I told him he could buy me new leggings for Christmas ("Finally!").  I figured it was convenient that we were there - so I could point out exactly which ones I want, my size, and other appropriate colors to purchase. 

When I asked Randy if he wanted to look at leggings while we were there he says, "No thanks."

"......But we're already here?  Isn't it just easier if I show you exactly what to get?"

"No - I'm okay."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"But you just said you haven't even started on my Christmas!"

"I lied.  Straight to your face." 


Again - I find myself going from exasperated to laughing.  He can be such a good secret keeper when he wants to be!

275 Days & Counting

After a rollercoaster day yesterday, I came home to find a package on the doorstep.  I brought it inside, shaking my head again at Randy and wondering what he ordered this time.  Then I noticed, this box had my name on it.

I could not for the life of me remember what I had ordered, since I ship all of Randy's Christmas presents to my mom's house. So I opened it - and it made my whole day!

Our favor bags for the candy buffet at the wedding!  They turned out so perfect! 

I think my little sister - and Maid of Honor! - said it best when I sent her a picture of them.

One Day Later...

December 4th. 
Another package arrives.
Perhaps I should have waited an extra day for my last post....

He is now requesting a new Christmas Wishlist.  Which I will not give him for at least another week - because I would get it next week!

 

We are getting new granite countertops installed in the kitchen tomorrow - I would just count those - but apparently home improvement doesn't count, and he just laughs at me when I ask for a pony.  *sigh*



Christmas Has Come Early

Note today's date.  December 3rd.  Not December 25th, or even the 26th.  It's also not my birthday.

I may have mentioned Randy's shopping habits once or twice....  Occasionally, when I really get on his case about all the silly things that he is buying, and all the money he is spending that could be spent on our wedding or home improvement projects, he uses his shopping powers for good instead of evil.

My Christmas Wishlist this year consisted (note the past tense) of:

A new digital camera...

 (Purchased the weekend I requested it - which - to be fair - was the weekend before we took our family vacation to Europe. So it did come in handy)

A simple pair of earrings...

(I received about one pair a week over the last month)

 A simple necklace that I could wear with everything...

(Also received about one a week over the last month - I've been a little into infinity symbols lately - so the "double infinity" was the first to arrive =)   )

I even got a bonus tennis bracelet!

Each present was met with "It's beautiful!  Thank you!  But why didn't you wait until Christmas to give it to me?"  

"Meh - it wasn't that expensive (eBay).  I want you to have it now."

I have been doing my Christmas shopping like a normal person, but I have to send all his packages to my mom's house so he doesn't open them when they show up.  He just assumes every package that arrives is something he ordered, lol.  

Today, I come home from work - already bedazzled with gifts - and I say, "Randy.  Seriously - what are you going to get me for Christmas?  You've already bought me everything I asked for!"

And I get handed another red box.  "Well I guess not this."

"Save it for Christmas!"

"It's seasonal!  You need to be able to get some good use out of it before you look ridiculous wearing it!"  

Oh, Randy.  I just can't stay mad at you.  xoxo

What's In A Name?

 

Home by Phillip Phillips

 

 

I love this song - very catchy - and very cleverly used as the music to the commercial for Extreme Home Makeover: Holiday Edition.  That show is a guaranteed tear-jerker (for Randy too, "Stupid deserving families *sniff*").  So this song came on the radio last night while Randy and I were on our way to the Festival of Trees, which brought up a very interesting discussion...

 

Who names their child Phillip Phillips?!  The man had no choice but to become famous.  Just like Andy Anderson on How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days.  Obviously she is a gorgeous blonde who loves non-diet soda, burgers, basketball and wants to write about poverty and economics instead of shoes and waxing.  Double-Named people must get an extra dose of awesome in order to make up for their misfortune.

 

Lucky for me - there's really no name that goes "matchy-matchy" with Brown.  Although someone once told me that my dad wanted to name me Charlene so he could call me Charlie (Thanks for havin' my back, Mom). 

 

Randy seems to have a naming problem.  Or gift, as he sees it. 

 

We have a dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her name is Bear.

 

Randy got a toy monkey for Christmas in his stocking last year...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He named it Dog.  "Can I take Dog with me to church?" (No)  Dog now resides in our "jungle", aka the potted plant hanging above the bannister.

 

During our discussion about silly double names, Randy came up with this nugget.

 

"We could name our kid Standup!"

"Standup?"

"Yeah!"

"...Standup Strader? Oh!...."

 

I think I can still hear him giggling....

The Dumbest Thing He's Ever Bought

So last night I had my Book Club Christmas Party.  It's my favorite book club of the whole year.  We discuss our book, do a white elephant book exchange, and pick our books for next year. Naturally there's a whole lot of yummy treats to be had while doing all this nerding.  We have some great books next year and the first one up is The Happiness Project.  Hopefully it's inspirational for setting my 2013 resolutions. =) 

I got home quite late, to find Randy getting ready for bed.  We chatted about our days and then sat down to order our favor bags for the candy bar at our wedding reception (www.beau-coup.com - so cute!).  Yes, the reception is in September; but Cyber Monday was yesterday, and they had screamin' deals.  So check those off the Wedding To-Do List.

While I was very proud of my pro-active purchase, Randy was apparently very proud of one of his.  Randy is a worse shopper than I am.  Way worse.  Thank you eBay, for the collections of gold nuggets, wheat pennies, nickels, old dollar bills, hydrographic dipping kits, baseball cards, bear statues and geodes that reside in our house.

As I'm shutting down the laptop, he says, "Oh, guess what, love?  I'm going in on half a pig!" 

..........

I must not have heard that right.  "On what?"

"Half a pig!" he says, with a big grin on his face that says Reward me!  I did a good thing!  Like he did the dishes or something. 

The man has been talking about how much he wants a pet pig and how are they are so adorable, and calls me a meanie when I say no.  Visions of having to share custody of a small sty animal are flying through my head...

"...Why?!"

"So we can have ribs, and bacon, and sausage, and pork loin, and yummy stuff!" 

Relief washes over me - quickly followed by irritation and disbelief.

"What?  No.  We don't need half a pig."

"Ya, huh!"

"That is the dumbest thing you have ever bought!"

He laughs.  "No it's not!  Have you seen the golden goose in the garage?"

(With coordinating turtle boxes.  Acquired during an auction because he felt bad for the old lady selling them, because no one was bidding on them.)

Fair point.  Looks like we might be having pig for the month of December.  Irritating?  Oh yeah - but also endearing, and I can't help but laugh!