christmas time

I just realized I haven't blogged one time this season.

I'm sorry.

I think I was waiting for the one perfect thing to write about, when there's truly so much to say about this beautiful time of year.

This month has been chock-full of all the things I love the most: baking, 40 degree FL mornings, shopping, lights, births, glitter, friends, decorating, parties, giving, wrapping, egg nog, yankee candles, carols...love, love, love it!

This season has been especially special to me because the past two Christmas's have been really tough in the Dittman home. This year is new, and different, and even though I'll have to Skype with my family on Christmas morning, it will be wonderful to wake up in our home next to the man I love, and spend this Christmas together.

It's in this time that I want to embrace the family traditions that are special to Nick, and to me, but also to develop some new ones of our own. In my family we always go to Cracker Barrel on Christmas Eve morning for breakfast. We've done it for 21 years.

                                                                          2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

 For some reason, we only have pictures of the past 5 years. Taking pictures...a newer tradition? Yes.
 Then we go to the Christmas Eve service that evening at church, and we come home to a huge itallian dinner prepared by my Mom, and we eat till we're overly stuffed. Then we get to open one gift...(this has slowly dwindled due to the fact that we're still kids at heart, and want to have more to open the next morning.)

This year will be different, and that's ok, and good.
Merry Christmas dear friends, and remember HE is the reason for this fabulous season!

Much love,
K

lunch time thoughts

Today I got free lunch.

This made me really happy, because it involved a biscuit (Thanks, Bill)

I love biscuits. I don't know if there's anything better in this world than a hot, homemade biscuit right out of the oven with a little bit of butter, jelly, honey...whatever.

Anyways, moving on...

There was also red beans and rice in this lunch combo, which didn't thrill me as much as the biscuit, but smelled really good. Before I dig in, I look for a spoon, or a fork.

I find this

I hate "sporks." They are so odd, and un-natural. Really, what's the point? Just throw a fork, or a spoon in the bag...but don't marry two totally seperate utensils, and force them to become one.

It's just wrong.

I ate my red beans and rice with the "spork," however I felt like I was back in kindergarden.

Any other "spork" haters out there, or is it just me?

Happy Friday, people :)

Love,
K

thanksgiving

After hours preparing the Thanksgiving feast...

After the blessing is said...

After you eat your weight (and then some) in delicious food...

After the awful task of washing every pot, pan, dish, glass, and silverware you own...

What's next...?

Except for me and Cowboy...we watched "Elf."
Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Happy "black" Friday!

Love,
K

thankful

Tomorrow is the big day. Tomorrow I will roast my first turkey. Is that weird that I've never made a whole bird by myself? Tomorrow we will gather around the table, and eat way too much. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I am just giddy with excitement!

I have so much to be thankful for this year, and as routine as it seems...oh well.

* My husbands health. Poor guy has been through so much, and I am truly grateful to just have my buddy home. He knows me. He balances me. He compliments me. I'm just really thankful for him.

* My precious nephew, Ezra. He is a bundle of smiley perfection. He is such a gift to me, and I only wish he lived closer.

* Skype! In just a few clicks I can see the faces I love so much. I'm also thankful for the techi geeks that invented it.

* Arguments. Oddly enough after a good ol' knock down drag out...you calm down, and actually talk through your problems. I love that. I need that.

* My iPhone. Is that shallow? I hope not. I just really love it, and can do just about anything on it. It makes me happy.

* My dog. He's so lazy in the mornings, and likes to stay under all the covers until around 10 am. Sometimes I make the bed with him still in it.

* My kitchen. It's where I feel alive, and I just like to pretend I'm Giada. She's so pretty.

* My Mom.

* Clean sheets. Every Saturday.

* Target clearance. It can make any day instantly better. 30-50% off? Yes, please. Never pay full price. Ever!

* My US Weekly subscription. I look forward to opening the mailbox, and seeing who made the cover each week. I hope we can leave poor Kim & Kris alone by now.

* Y'all who read this brainless blog. Really...it means a lot to me :)

* My relationship with Jesus Christ. He loves, accepts, and forgives me. Such mercy I cannot fathom, and I will never walk through this life alone. Thank you, Lord. You are so good to me.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Hope your day is filled with lots of blessings!

friday thoughts

Horay...it's FRIDAY! Thank you, Jesus!

Sheesh! I don't know about you, but it's been a week! I really just wanted to do a cartwheel this morning, because I'm so happy it's Friday. Granted, the cartwheel didn't happen...because I think I have early stages of arthritis starting in my knee.

Seriously?

Yeah, seriously.

So, a few things:

1.) Demi Moore filed for divorce from Ashton Kutcher yesterday.

 http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20536470,00.html
I just loved them together! Yes, a 16 year age difference is alot, but it seemed like it worked for them, you know? Again, my heart is just so sad. Like Kim...I can't imagine having the world publically "judge" my marriage the way we do. Something that is meant to be so sacred, and private plastered all over the cover's of magazines. I think sometimes we feel we own the "right" to say what we want, because after all, they chose stardom. Their life IS our business...when really it isn't at all. It's NOT our place to cast judgement. Life happens whether your a billionaire, or not. I hope in this time, Demi, and Kim can find peace in their life, and their decisions.

2.) Nick and I are hosting Thanksgiving this year at our house...AHHHH! Just kidding :) I'm very excited, and trying not to go overboard as I have a tendancy of doing sometimes. I like everything to be perfect...and that just ain't life. It's going to be great...as long as I don't totally jack up the turkey!! I'm kinda loving this look for my bird this year. Thoughts?

3.) It's November 18, and Nick already put Christmas lights up on the house. Lol, bless him. I'm actually loving it, b\c every other year, it's been December 23 before they go up, so it's been a sweet change. I appreciate him, even though some of our neighbors think we're crazy! As long as they come down by Jan 1, 2012 we're ok :)

4.) Have you been watching Private Practice?? So stinkin' good! 2 hr "Intervention" last night, and we didn't even get to finish it...because we're officially old farts, and staying up till 11 PM on a weeknight is just unheard of in our house. I'll finish it tonight...after the...

5.) Casting Crown's concert! Yay!

Happy almost weekend, friends! Make it a good one :)

Love,
K

keratin?

What's the deal with this, really? I recently heard so much about it, and just super skeptical that this could ever work for me...

I have a love/hate relationship with my curls, and like most women, my hair has changed a lot since I've gotten older...curse! My once beloved spirals are gone, and although my curls are still very much here...they are frizzy, and quite uncooperative most of the time...special thanks to Florida's ungodly heat, and humidity index. Heat comes with the territory, I get it, but for most of the summer, and heck even fall, we curly haired girls look more like Bozo the Clown than anything else.

So what's a curly to do?

I've researched till I'm blue in the face, and for the most part, this whole keratin deal seems to be a good thing...aside from a few not so happy ladies that got a "bad batch," majority are thrilled with the results. I'm not looking for a super sleek J-Lo type of thing...I can't totally part with my curls permanently, but a little taming of the hair beast would be welcomed!

So, for any of you bloggies that have had this done, please share some words of wisdom with a sister. I would never forgive myself if I ultimately changed the life of my hair.

Happy hump day kiddo's!
Love,
K

my obsession

I have a little obsession.

It's ahhh-mazing! Literally, you can do EVERYTHING on this website!
Need a recipe? Got it
Looking for a cute "out and about" outfit? Done
Want decorating idea's? Here
Are you a DIY kind of gal? Welcome to your heaven
Got a great idea/need idea's? Hello

I could quite literally spend hours, days, weeks here.

If you haven't discovered this little slice of happiness, well...here ya go.

Happy hump day, pinners
Love ya,
K