Sparkles for $2 or less

The event to be celebrated on the 25th of December is much anticipated in the Benson household … or maybe, a little bit more so by the wife within the Benson household. Yes, that would be me. To put it simply, I love this season. I love the peppermint, the carols, the holly leaves, the ornaments, the smell of pine, the excuse for glitter, and the freezing weather that makes everyone want to squeeze in closer. I love how the frost makes the earth sparkle in the rising sun just before it begins to melt {I know it's surprising, but out here in California, it melts … usually}. Everything and everyone seems to have an extra glow that undeniably resembles love ... which then reminds me of His grace and salvation. Praise the Lord.

Last year, we Benson’s had few decorations and a tree that could fit on top of our table.

See exhibit a: tree on top of table

While we made our little home feel warm and cozy, sans the smell of a real life Christmas tree, we are excited to celebrate this season with a little bit more glitter and lights. This year, we will have real stockings to put on the mantle, as opposed to the hand-sewn scraps of fabric I made last year {my hope was that from a certain angle, they just might resemble a stocking. No such luck.}

See exhibit b: handmade fabric bags

But shortly after Christmas, I made my way to the ridiculously-marked-down-Christmas-section at Target, and purchased some beautiful, machine-sewed stockings, that would otherwise have been much too overpriced to fit into my shopping cart. Nearly 340 days later, they will grace the old brick mantle we now get to take advantage of.

We are also going to welcome into our home a beautiful mess of pine needles and sap, all for the smell of a real life Christmas Tree. Well worth the mess, in my humble opinion.

{Although Christmas trees have no biblical meaning or real purpose other than to drip it’s sappy sent onto the beautifully decorated gifts, I will gladly take advantage of the only opportunity I have to bring a real tree into my house, without people thinking it’s crazy … because in reality, whether you put a real tree or a fake tree in your house at Christmas, it’s all the same sort of crazy if you really think about it.}

Also, in addition to the sap filled tree we will place in our living room, I have recently accumulated some pretty sparkly decorations which will soon adorn my mantle, and every other corner of the room. Thanks to the flee market and Target’s dollar rack, this year’s decorations cost a grand total of $6. Bring on the mess that will certainly ensue from these glittery eye-catchers!

Ornaments: Target for $1 each & Everything else: Flee Market for $2 Total

Great deals are even happier when they are on pretty Christmas decorations!

back to the 80’s

Nowadays, the 80’s seem to be everywhere.  Not only has the decade of feathered bangs and leggings made its way into the new/10-years old millennium {while some may think that a good thing, I beg to differ}, they have also made it into our favorite fall forecast; making it not-so-favorite-anymore.  I know that I have already dedicated at least one prior post to my dreams of cool, crisp, fall … and here I go again.  I mean, come on!  It’s November 4th and the little weather icon in the corner of my laptop keeps announcing to me that it is 81 degrees.  That is TOO hot for November.  Now I am about to make a statement that some may consider controversial or even politically incorrect, but you know what?  I’m already over it (no offense) … I do not believe in global warming … or even the more propagandistic term, climate change.  I believe, if the climate is in fact changing, then it has little to do with the little ants {people} that are crawling on the planet, and more to do the fact that God has decided to make a change.  He does have the right {and ability} to do that ,you know.  {Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t do our part to take care of the gift He has given us … etc, etc, etc …. we could go on for hours about this subject.  Why did I even venture into pandora’s box?} Anyway, back to my point/rant.  While I know I may be very well writing the same thing about winter turning into spring come March, I would like to take this time to wish/pray one more time for bonfire season to make it’s way back to us in little ol’ northern California.  I am not complaining, because let’s be serious, the current weather outside my window is gorgeous.  Sunlight beaming through bright red and yellow trees … b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.  Another reason why I love California {I am racking up reasons why I love it since last Tuesday was a very definite reminder as to why I hate it, but that’s another box that I would rather not open … at least entirely just yet.} 

Is there a point to the above collage of words that seems to make little to no sense when I re-read it?  Well, if any, it is this:  the moment I begin to complain/whine/wish-for-something-I-don’t-have, I am reminded at how spectacular God is, as He shows me His beauty through the warm breeze as it moves through the colorful leaves.  Yes … He knows what He is doing with this 80 degree weather.  I don’t, but he does.  And I guess, that is the point.

sweet pumpkin deliciousness.

Even though I am not quite a culinary artist, I thoroughly enjoy reading food blogs {when I have the precious time to do so}.  I barely have the time to dabble with the not-so-commonly-used cooking utensils that I would love to play with, but when I do, I truly enjoy the feeling of true domesticity {did I make that up?} … even if I do have to research how to use that not-so-commonly-used contraption. 

As usual, I feel like fall summons my cooking/baking/creating desires and the cooler weather often allows a little more time inside where my domestic creativity can thrive {by “thrive”, I mean, take a small step into the world of “does this look good/taste good/do I really know what I’m doing?”}  I am not a super creative do-it-yourselfer – not yet at least – but I hope to someday have the time to really let creativity fly.  My cute husband has more natural creativity in his ultimate world of do-it-yourself.  I mean, when you can see something in a store and actually build it yourself with your own added touch of personality, that is a whole new level of cutting/pasting/sewing do-it-yourself.

Anyways, while I like to play with all things cute and artsy, I also like eating sweet treats {especially this time of year!}.  While the consistency of the fall fruit of fame often deters people from enjoying the masterpiece that is the pumpkin, I have found a treat that does away with the mushiness.  It is pure pumpkin deliciousness.  And so, I will share:

Sweet Pumpkin Dip

1 - 15oz can of pure pumpkin

2 - 8oz packages of cream cheese (you can use reduced fat if desired)

2 cups of powdered sugar (I know it’s a lot and it’s not healthy, but please forego your healthy diet for this one fabulous treat)

Cinnamon and Ginger to taste

Blend pumpkin and softened cream cheese until smooth.  Slowly add powdered sugar, then spices.

please forgive the sloppy picture.  it was taken with my phone while at work … I just couldn’t resist!

Seeeeee, easy, easy, easy.  Yum, yum, yum.  I like it with apples but it is fabulous with cookies, wafers, crackers, etc.

There, I have officially entered into the world of food blogging, but I promise, it won’t go much further than this.

counting the reasons.

Yet another reason why a trip to Rome is necessary {or rather, extremely desired and dreamt of}:

Colosseum's dungeons opening to visitors

Underground chambers once held gladiators, caged animals

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39673734/ns/travel-destination_travel/

Yes, it’s true … they are opening the dungeons up for tourism.  Erik will be so excited to know that someday, who knows when, but someday, hopefully-sooner-than-later-but-still-not-soon, he will be able to walk where to gladiators walked, where they sweat, where they fought. 

{I love his interest in history … I find it deeply romantic, intellectual, and mysterious.  Much like Rome.}

As I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain years ago, one day I will return with Erik.

unavoidable.

I clean. I scrub. I dust. I sweep. I vacuum. I wipe. I spray. I clean.

Nearly every form of “cleaning” that there is … I do. At some point. Every week.

This is something I was raised with {thanks mom} and something my husband says he appreciates about me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not a neurotic kind of cleaner/scrubber. I can let it slide a little longer, as long as the thing needing to be cleaned isn’t in my direct line of regular passage {which otherwise screams at me to clean it}. I wouldn’t even consider myself a neat-freak. I just find a clean house to be … refreshing and relaxing.

Living on a ranch requires many {excuse me, extra emphasis is needed: MANY} extra hours of cleaning. More space means more dirt means more dust means more pledge-dusting-spray.

All this to say, some things are just unavoidable, I guess:

Like a dead mouse in the middle of the living room, or …

The frog that got squished in the door jam.

Oh, ranch-life.

changing.

In light of the new season and the fresh beginning of fall {almost fresh … the weather channel claims we still have another few days of 80 degrees ahead of us, but until then, I will thoroughly enjoy the foggy mornings}, I am changing my blog design.  I have noticed that many popular bloggers avoid the flashy patterns and designs, and lean towards clean lines and basic {solid} backgrounds {no offense to those who like it that way!}.  I am not trying to get published, nor do I desire to get famous from my blog … thus, I like the cool colors and graphic designs.  And let’s face it, my whit cannot stand alone in this world of talented writers … I need some fun colors to back it up.  So, until November 26th, enjoy the leaves. 

Danke.

time.to.get.something.done.

I am feeling unproductive right now and I hate that feeling.  I cannot do what I need to do until I get a response from the person/people I need get a response from … thus, I am momentarily and currently stuck in a stagnate state of {borderline} boredom.  While I am VERY excited about some possibilities that may be just around the corner {all in terms of my job}, as the contacts I have been reaching out to are slowly but surely expressing interest, I still feel stuck.  Tick tock, Tick tock … I wait.  Check the e-mail.  Get some other things done that don’t need to be done for another week or so.  Wait.  Get the mail.  Check the e-mail again.  Wait.  Tick tock. {maybe, possibly, a little bit of an exaggeration. maybe}

The opportunities and contacts I am waiting for are from Reno, Nevada and Greenville, South Carolina.  I am attempting to plan fundraisers in each city and am on the brink of some great contacts/movers who want to get the ball rolling!  So, come on!  Let’s get it rolling already! 

As for true productivity, that word perfectly describes this last Saturday: up early, kiss husband good-bye {he had to work}, make a burrito, feed the dogs, clean out their kennels, rake the weeds from the orchard, water the plants/trees, weed the flower beds and rose bushes, weed the garden, pick some zucchini and tomatoes, check on the pumpkins, hose off the porch, prune the roses, pick some flowers, deep clean the kitchen, and probably some other things that I can’t remember right now.  I’m exhausted just typing that out … it may not seem like a lot, but my hands are stained black to prove the depth of my labor.

something pretty came out of my sweaty, dirty, and tiring day

P.S.  I promise to always include an “I-come-from-a-family-of-over-exaggerators-hence-I-know-I’m-over-exaggerating-right-now” Disclaimer in times when it is obvious {or even not so obvious} that I am over-exaggerating.  After all, it’s good that I realize my innate tendency, right????

Thank.you.very.much.my.friends.

Happy Monday.