Becca's Thanks

This Thanksgiving proved to be very different than any Thanksgiving I've ever experienced. Honestly, I think it probably was the most out of the norm Thanksgiving for my immediate family. It was the first Holiday that I have spent without my Mom being present and having a big meal at my parents house. My Mom spent her Thanksgiving up in Seattle helping with gathering up belongings and assisting in getting my great Aunt's house ready to be put up on the market. Being that when Skip passed away, my Mom has felt alone because she was not able to attend the funeral. So, going to have Thanksgiving at her house one last time with her side of the family was something that she really needed for closure.

Because my Mom was in Seattle, that left Kate, my Dad and I to have Thanksgiving all by our lonesome. When my Mom first decided to go to Seattle, I offered to hold Thanksgiving at our apartment. Typically, I cooked the turkey every year at my parents - and I knew I could handle making some mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. However, Neil decided that we were going out and no one was going to do dishes. Hey, I'm not going to argue with this decision! A lot less things for me to do.

The entire Thanksgiving Day - I felt a little empty without my Mom being present. I knew that she was out and having a great time with her family, but I realized that I do not want to spend Holidays without having all of my family there. Since we moved away from Seattle in 1990, we have spent majority of our Holiday's alone - just the 4 of us. Every now again, we have guests popping in and out to spend the Holiday's with us - but that is few and far between. We have become very dependent on each other and because we haven't had those years of spending them with a big family.

Through this Thanksgiving Holiday, I am giving a huge Thanks for my family and all the time I am able to spend with them. I know that in the years to come, we can hopefully extend our Holidays out West and we can have more of the extended family there to celebrate with us. Until then, I am going to give thanks everyday for:

*My Dad providing us with everything that we could ever need and want (within reason, obviously!). He has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I have ever met, and will go to any length to do what is best for his family. Through our moves to Sacramento to Columbus, everything has happened for a reason to make our lives the best they can be and to provide for us all.

*My Mom for always being that voice of reason, and helping through any crisis or situation that might come up. She too, will bend over backwards to help my sister and I through anything that may come up. She is a fantastic friend, and an even better supportive Mom. I would be lost without her and her silliness!

*My Darling Sister for being her! She is truly one of the best people I've ever met in my life, and my parents should be very proud of the person she has grown up to be! She is one of the most beautiful people with the biggest heart in the world. We had many years through life where we would fight daily, and we were not very good sisters. Through maturity, we have found and created that bond that close sister's have.

I love my family, and am so thankful to have them in my life daily! I am by far one of the most fortunate people around to have such a fantastic family and for that - I give Thanks this year for my Family and all that they are.

The Green Dilemma

Recently, my sister decided that she wanted to redecorate her bathroom. On the search with her to find the "perfect shower curtain," I got to thinking that I might want to visit the idea of possibly getting new bedding. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my current bedding and the way it looks (when my bed is actually made). However, it is annoying. I have a queen duvet, and the insert of the duvet is stupid and doesn't actually fit in the duvet. It is too small, where the duvet cover is too big. I have a queen bed, and the queen/full inserts are just way too small. I thought it was the duvet, until I realized that it is actually all of the inserts I've spent money on. So, now on my bed is plain white insert as a comforter with my cover in a wadded ball in the corner of my closet. My new thought: I need a comforter with print, rather than going to the duvet route one more time in being disappointed or annoyed a few months into having it.

This is the bedding I currently "have." It is the print on the cover (when I use it), and 4 of my pillows, and sheets. It is a great print and I love it! I loved it sooo much that I bought the matching shower curtain which currently hangs in my bathroom.

When I moved into my apartment, I was so nicely provided with a hand-me down lamp from my Mom which was nice but didn't go with the decor. One day, I was walking through Marshall's and found a lamp which I thought would go perfectly with my room! I took a big risk in buying it, with the possibility that I would have to return it from it being too much green and leaves. But, looking at it - I love it more and more everyday. I don't ever want to lose this lamp, so I must decorate my room around it!

On the search for the "perfect shower curtain" with Kate, I ran into this bedding. I thought - now that might go well with my lamp. The euro pillows they have in the back is actually the same green that I currently have as shams with my current bedding, so I am thinking that would go well!


What do we think, friends? Does this bedding match my lamp enough for me to buy it? I take my blankets very seriously and this one is no different. I am the girl that in the winter literally has 6 or 7 blankets on my bed, to go along with my chamois soft sheets. Even in the summer, you can find me bundled up with 2 or 3. I love blankets!!

You know you're an adult when...

I had a revelation yesterday, a big one. As we all know, I've been trying to spruce up my baking/cooking skills. We know this by my post where I decided to enter some baked goods in the Delaware County Fair. (Which just occurred to me I never wrote a blog about the results! I'll do that one next.) I've mastered peanut butter cookies, and have made a few other great items. I've found that my skills are truly more in the baking area. Cooking, not so good. I can make a MEAN hot dog, but past that - I'm still very much a beginner.

Last week, various departments at work celebrated with their own potlucks for Halloween. I accept the invitation and within minutes I have emails flying into my inbox begging that I bring the cookies. Everyone had loved my fair winning cookies so much (when I had about 20984290348 left over, so took them to work for the group to enjoy), that I have now have the reputation of the Cookie Girl. I sit at my desk and think about what the best type of cookie would be to make. Lately, I've had a huge craving for a s'more. So, I wonder if there is a type of cookie that is made around s'mores. Long story short, there are and they are AMAZING!! It was another winning recipe which had emails flooding my work account from people loving them. The only pain about making these cookies was graham cracker crumbs. I needed 1 cup, that's all. I didn't think it would be a huge issue. All I needed was graham crackers, a ziploc bag and my rolling pin - right? NO! It didn't work - I still had huge chunks of cracker. So, I get out the blender... it is meant for "blending" so I figure it is also for this. Again, no. After a few minutes, the darn thing smelled like it was going to catch fire. But - this is my last resort so I cross my fingers and hope it doesn't explode at any time soon.

Saturday morning, I had not much going on so I thought I'd float around Dublin and look around and see what kind of trouble I can get into since I was paid on Friday. I remembered that I had 2 Kohl's giftcards in my purse my Mom had given me when she returned something and gave me the remaining cash (she's so nice!). I go to Kohls, I walk around fully believing I would end up with a pair of shoes. Instead, I walk back into home appliances... and walked out of Kohl's with one of these!
I would just like to note, this is a fancy food processor. Not at all the one I purchased... but I am going to pretend I spent $200 on this one. I left Kohl's SO excited about my new food processor! Even one year ago, if you would have asked me if I wanted one, I would have told you you were crazy and I'd rather go to the Gap and buy a pair of jeans. (Oh man, I need some new jeans!) This was a big moment for me, a very adult moment - and one that would make my Mom so proud!

Then my Mom asks me what I want for Christmas this year. She claims I am the hardest person in the world to buy for. Why she says this? I don't know! I am pretty easy to please with gifts. But, with my recent love of baking, and finding a recipe that required me to stand at a bowl with a hand mixer for over 10 minutes... I need a standing mixer!!!


I would LOVE this mixer, but understanding that Santa is going to spend over $350 on it is like Hell freezing over. Ain't gonna happen in this lifetime! So, I probably won't end up with the pretty pink one that matches my kitchen towels. I am good with the cheapest one they make... I am not picky.

These two items really made me realize that I am growing into an actual adult. I am so excited to use my food processor, and I am even more excited for my mixer that I am keeping my fingers crossed that I get from Santa. (I better go rake his leaves this week...) Everyday is a new day, and everyday is a lesson learned. I've won ribbons at the fair this year, I've jarred nearly 40 jars of homemade applesauce, I've learned to knit (horribly), and I've purchased a food processor. This girl is moving up in the world and is liking the way things are turning out!