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Sunday Matters

This past week was not bad. I had one day of “why me?” stuff going on but I got over it and realized it could have been much worse.

The Girl’s choir concert was lovely. She is growing up so fast. The pic is very overexposed because that is what happens when she only gives you 2 seconds to snap it.

winter-concert-2015

Right Now:

After many cups of coffee, we will head out to church. Later, it’s back to church for a Christmas party for the middle-school group I volunteer for. In between, I will figure out my week, do some laundry and maybe take a nap.

This Week:

Did I mention that my last day of work is 12/16 and that I am off until 1/11? Yes!!! I’m sure there will be plenty of last-minute work stuff for me to get done before I leave but that’s okay. I tend to not leave stuff hanging anyway because I hate to return from a long break and then have to see it again.

With my time off, I hope I can get some stuff done before Christmas. I just don’t want to be out in the crowds! Lately I am much happier just holed up at home. Probably because I spend so little time here.

So, with this week, the Christmas season really begins for me. Time to put it in gear and figure it all out.

Reading:

I am reading Tender is the Night. I’ve always wanted to read it but when I read Villa America a few months back and realized it was based on the real-life inspiration for Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night, I figured I had to read it soon. Another blogger (Sue) is reading it with me!

Watching:

This weekend and week are all about Christmas movies and movies I’ve been wanting to see. I recorded The Man Who Came to Dinner (Bette Davis) and really just want to sit down with some snacks and watch it.

I did manage to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated version) and I have A Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph all lined up. I am itching to watch Love Actually, too. I have a long list to work in, for sure.

Making:

We made tacos last week and I made chili and cornbread for us to much on before going to another production of The Cat’s Meow. I made more banana bread for the other choir bake sale and I made coconut macaroons for a work party.

Grateful for:

I am really grateful for the roof over my head. I spent the evening outside working concessions for the show last night and it felt so good to come home to a warm house and bed. Not everyone has a home to go back to. I notice it more this time of year but it’s a year-round problem. California is typically not “that” cold, so we tend to also have a lot of homeless living in and around the city.

What are you grateful for?

The Desert

It’s a winter themed post so why the blue sky? Because I live in California and this IS winter for us. Sure, it might be a chilly 58 degrees but this is typically what the weather is like during the Rose Parade and probably the reason for all of our population woes! I lied about the temp, my weather app says 83 right now!

These guys, Tanya @ Girlxoxo and Andi @ Estella’s Revenge posted about their winter essentials so I figured I would too even though mine are not critical for survival in the balmy California air.

Satsuma Body Butter by The Body Shop. I love this stuff! I love the smell of it (smells like a freshly peeled orange) but I also love what it does for my skin. I use the body butter as a hand cream. It’s a crisp, fresh scent but I think it would be too strong if I covered my body in it.

Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rum Raisin. This color has been around for AGES! It’s the color I wear during the cooler months because of my pale skin! With paler skin, and the dark hair, I look a little sickly if I don’t have a pop of color. Too much color I look like a vampire but this color is just enough to make me look alive.

Charity Pot cream by Lush. They reformulated this product but you can still get the original if you ask for it. Anyway, this product (as a moisturizer) did not work for me. It actually dried my skin out which is why I then started to use it as a face cream and by doing that, I somehow blotted out my oily skin and now my skin is normal! No kidding! I smooth it on at night and somehow it balances my skin out and I no longer have oily skin complaints. Weird, huh? I love it. Plus, it smells like Tootsie Rolls which is a nice scent to fall asleep to. A bonus, 100% of the price (minus taxes) goes to grassroots organizations which are listed on the lid so you get to choose which one to support.

Candles. Oddly enough, during the winter I like to smell beachy scents like Yankee’s Beach Holiday.

Jammies!! I live in the them. Victoria’s Secret Dreamer Flannel PJs are super wearable and get better with wear! I own three pair and they are well-worn and loved but it’s time for some new ones!

What are your faves for winter?

Chatting with friends about books and life…