13th Annual Bob's 99 Cent Store Holiday Shopping Trip (*Spoiler alert for immediate family)

Hard to believe we've been making this shopping trip for thirteen years, but believe it we shall because it happened. With Small Bob. Small Bob who's sixteen years-old. Small Bob who's 6'2" 

Enjoy!

Aunt Jill - Gray Infinity Scarf. It seems like most years someone gets an infinity scarf. Aunt Jill, this is your year. "She wears a lot of black and gray is good with that."

Pops - The Party Tube: A plastic tube filled with sparklers and those loud pop-it things. "Do you think Bajan will let him use these? Maybe on New Year's? Or maybe he should just use them all on Christmas at our house to be safe."

Jen - Small Green, Ceramic Bowl. "Do you think Aunt Jen would like this, Mom?" "I do." "You do think she'll like it or you mean YOU do like it?" "Both." "There's only one so we'll see what happens."

Me - Bamboo Print U-Shaped Travel Pillow. "Do not look, Mom." "Is it the bowl, or something else?" "I'm not telling you. Did you see?" "No." "Yes you did." (I saw. I couldn't help it.)

Bajan (Mr. Rosenberg's Mom) - Floral Stationery Cards. "Is this a thank you card, Mom?" "No, it's a set of cards." "The thank you kind?" "No, the regular kind." "Like to put gift cards in?" "You could, but they're just for writing in." "I don't get it." "Like when you write someone a letter." "Like a thank you card?" "You could write a thank you card but it doesn't have to be a thank you card. Was that a trick question? " "A little bit."

Meemee (My Mom) - Wooden Noel Sign. "So, Mom, what about this gnome Santa figurine for Meemee?" "It looks familiar." "Oh yeah. I think I got that exact one for her last year. They need to get some new stuff around here." (Said in the store with a million different items.)

Mr. Rosenberg - 12" Brown Vase in the Shape of a Dog. "Mom, do you think this looks more like Teddy or Levi?" "It kinda looks like both of them." "Perfect. He can put it on his desk." (It really is a foot tall. And it really does look like both of them. And he will really will for sure put it on his desk. And he really will 100% love it.)

Wishing you all a swell holiday season. 

12th Annual Bob's 99 Cent Store Holiday Shopping Trip (*Spoilers for immediate family)

We're twelve years in with this shopping extravaganza. Since Bob was three. Bob is now fifteen-years-old. Is it still happening? You bet.

Bajan (Jeff's Mom): Faux shearling infinity scarf  "For a cozy neck"

Pops - Wood-Look Travel Water Bottle "Since Pops likes hiking and climbing those stairs at the park. He loves those stairs. I went with him once. It was not love for me."

Jen - USB Plug-In Personal Fan "I know she's at her computer a lot. So for when she's doing that. In the summer."

Me - Scented Christmas Candle With a Drawing of a Red Station Wagon With a Tree Tied on Top "Look, Bob. This red station wagon reminds me of our old car." "Oh, yeah. Me too. Mom can you look away and go to the next aisle please? And whatever you do, don't look back."

Mr. Rosenberg - Can of Spicy Peanuts "Dad loves nuts and spicy things. This says it's really spicy. Betcha dad won't even think it's spicy. A thing has to be REALLY spicy for him to start sweating on his head."

MeeMee (My Mom) - 5" Ceramic Santa Gnome "She needs more decorations for sure."

Aunt Jill - Large Sparkly Unicorn Ornament "Does she like horses? This one's kind of weird, but I like it."

Wishing you a holiday filled with gnomes and unicorns. Merry Christmas. 

On the Bookcase

We've got a lot going on here.

Another Rite of Passage

This was the first year Bob gave Mr. Rosenberg and I gifts without our help or presence and with his own money. Bob told me he went to one of my favorite stores, told the clerk his budget, what he was looking for, and that my favorite color is green. From what she showed him, he picked this beautiful bracelet out for me, handmade by a local artist. Mr. Rosenberg received a pair of dress socks with a drawing of Dwight Shrute on them. He was enamored with his gift also.

And to All a Good Night

As Christmas draws to a close, I show you just how committed to the season I am/was. I am now the proud owner of this package of Part-T-Frills twirl picks ("A Party's Best Friend) which I used six of for Christmas Eve dinner. At this rate I will likely not use them up until 2038. Happy Holidays!

Christmas Eve Play List

Artwork by Bob Rosenberg

This year, in my effort to lean into the holidays, I've been listening to Christmas music since the day after Thanksgiving. Here is a tiny playlist with some of my very favorites.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
With some Christmas songs it's the song I love, with others, the performance makes it a favorite. The original Judy Garland version of this song from the movie Meet Me in St. Louis is  lovely and heartbreaking.

Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Josh Groban
With this one, it's the song itself, by Bach. (No offense to Mr. Groban, he's a peach.) There are many beautiful versions but this will do.

Ave Maria - Barbara Streisand 
This song, by this singer is one of those perfect things, like a sunrise, or waves on the shore.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme
Every note of this reminds me of my childhood.

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
If warmth was a voice, it would be his, singing this.

All the Lights

Happy Winter Solstice Full Moon Christmas Tree Everything.

Scaffolding

I'm basically a contractor.

9th Annual Bob's 99 Cent Store Holiday Shopping Trip (*spoiler alert for immediate family)

Bob's Annual 99 Cent Store Holiday Shopping Trip has taken place, once again. Here's how his list was filled out this year:

Me - Green metal travel coffee mug. "I know you already saw it mom but act surprised on Christmas. I picked it because your favorite color is green and I don't think I have to explain the coffee part, do I?"

Mr. Rosenberg - 8oz Bottle of El Tapo hot sauce. "I looked at all the hot sauces and according to the label, this one is the hottest. It has the picture with three chili peppers on it so it's probably pretty darn hot."

Bajan (Mr. Rosenberg's mom) - Silver ceramic shell figurine. "Bajan loves the beach and silver will look good in her house."

Aunt Jill - Mug decorated with the words "Let It Snow" and blue snowflakes. "This is holiday-ish but could sort of double as a Hanukkah mug."

Aunt Jen - Green tea gift pack. "I'm pretty sure Aunt Jen will drink green tea plus green is her favorite color too, I think."

Our Friend Barry - Plush reindeer antler headband. "Barry will totally wear this." (He totally will.)

Pops - Chocolate Santa 3-pack. "Pops loves chocolate and he can save a Santa or two for later."

Our friend Angelika - Small felt poinsettia plant. "She can use this every year since it's fake and everything."

Our friend Anton - Landmarks of the World calendar. "I hope there's some Siberian landmark in here so he can think of home."

MeeMee (my mom) - Christmas Tree shaped music box that plays Oh Christmas Tree. "MeeMee loves Christmas more than anyone I know."

More Decor

We're still rolling out More Holiday. Please enjoy this lovely garland and sneaky door dog.

The Miracle of Light

Hanukkah is happening. (The Miracle of Light is that we have not set the tinsel tree on fire.)

I'm Going to Take a Cute Photo of the Dogs By the Tree

Or this.

Ring in the Bling

Today I slapped a little tinsely garland up on the chandelier and shazam! Instant dining room flair. The holiday hits just keep on coming, folks.

And Checking It Twice

I'm even getting some wrapping done early. (You can see I've gotten everyone basketballs this holiday season.)

Yes, Already

I was at the grocery store this evening and the checker reached into my basket and pulled out this gorgeous piece of Christmas Tree Butter Art. "Already?" she asked.

"You don't know my life, Tanya," I did not say back to her. Instead, I smiled.

I Had a Little Dreidel

Bob insisted we play dreidel last night to celebrate the last night of Hanukkah. I agreed because I do enjoy a little gambling now and again. Especially when I win. (I won.) Oh yeah, and family togetherness and tradition and everything. (And winning.)

Hanukkah Night One

Mr. Rosenberg is out of town so we celebrated Hannukah with him on Facetime. Mr. R sang the Hebrew blessing into his phone while standing outside of a bowling alley in Seattle. I couldn't find the menorah candles so we used birthday candles. It was a slapped together first night, but the lights shine brightly just the same.

Another Hanukkah Miracle

Saturday night was the first night of Hanukkah. Our menorah fell apart last year and I forgot to buy a new one until Friday and it won't be here until Tuesday. Jeff and Bob got creative and made a menorah out of LEGO. They used Play Doh to hold the candles in place. (A genius idea from Aunt Jen.) Worked perfectly.

It might also be the only menorah that can double as a Ninjago Rock Roader.™

Stay tuned for a dreidel made out of a radish.

Happy Hanukkah.

7th Annual 99 Cent Store Holiday Shopping Trip *Spoiler alert for immediate family

It's back! Bob's annual 99 Cent Store holiday shopping trip happened. Here are the results...

MeeMee (my mom) - 3-wick candle. "There's three strings so it'll be super bright for her."

Mr. Rosenberg - Ceramic puppy bank. "This is perfect for dad. Puppies are his favorite thing."

Ba-Jan (Mr. Rosenberg's mom) - Cookie scented candle in a ceramic vase. "This is good because it smells like cookies. Obviously."

Aunt Jen - Large purple candle. "It even smells purple."

Pops - Carton of Whoppers candies."Pops really likes these. Well, I actually don't know if he really likes these but I really like these and maybe he'll feel like sharing."

Aunt Jill - Strawberry scented candle. "Because it smells like popsicles and she'll like it."

Me - Undisclosed item. (Bob put it in a gift box and only he and the checker at 99 Cent Store know what's in there.) "I think you'll really like it. I'll warn you though, it might not last very long. It's cool but it's pretty cheap because, you know, it's from the 99 Cent Store and everything."

C/C/P

I do most of my holiday shopping online because chair/coffee/pajamas. Today I went out to some actual stores in the neighborhood. Some = Two. I went to two stores. I found these holiday cards for Mr. Rosenberg to give to his co-workers. I also found that two stores was more than enough in-real-life shopping for me. I bought a few things and quickly returned home because chair/coffee/pajamas.