Handmade or Store Bought for the Holidays?

Years ago when my time was not so precious, I would create handmade Christmas cards with my kids using Christmas tree rubber stamps and other crafting items (Yes, this insane writer has many talents). Of course, in reality the cost was more most store bought cards, but the results were much more personal. I even went as far as making homemade fudge for family and friends to go along with our cards.

This year, I will probably choose once again to go with the store bought version, simply because it's a lot more economical. Yep, show me a cheap version for less than a dollar for 10 or more cards and I'll show you my handcrafted results this Christmas on here.

Okay, enough about my crafting abilities. What about you? Are you going to personalize your holiday cards this year, or will you buy a store bought version?

Not This Year

I'll be honest. As shitty as it sounds, I'm really not in the mood to think about Father's day gift ideas this year.

At the most I'll probably call my dad, but it's as far as things will go. Money is tight and he's generally very picky about gifts and homemade gifts he's just not into. Plus, my parents home is so full of knick knacks that even the smallest trinket is just too much.

So I'm skipping the gifts this year and we'll leave it at that. What will you be doing for your dad this father's day?

Two Teenagers and a Christmas Gift

Every year around Christmas time someone amazes me. Yesterday my best friend purchased the Independence Reporter for Friday and in it we found this:

"Salina, Kansas -- A couple of Kansas teens have played secret Santa. Salina city bus driver James Lucas says a teenage boy and girl passed out Christmas cards on his bus the other afternoon.

He says shocked passengers found a $20 bill inside each of the cards. Lucas guesses the teens were about 17 or 18 and aren't regular passengers. Lucas got one of the cards himself. He says no one on the bus realized there was money inside until the young benefactors had gotten off."

Artwork From a Stranger

When I was still working at Microtel here in Independence, KS I had a gentleman who stayed with us from Missouri, make me and several other of our employees some beautiful artwork. One was a 3d piece and the other two were 3d drawings. I don't really know why the gentleman left us with such wonderful pieces, but I know I for one was ecstatic. Even more ironic is that his last name is the same as mine. Mr. Larry Smith. It's rare for me to get a gift. Even if it does come from the kindness of a stranger's heart.

The two drawings I would love to place in picture frames eventually. For now they sit on my fireplace mantel and that's where they will remain.

Gone Are the Days of No Sleep

Today we went back to our 630am to 5pm shift at work. While I liked being able to get off at 430pm, the getting up at 430am to be at work by 6am was draining my energy level....and it definitely showed in my work performance.

Today I noticed a big improvement in my performance at work and I wasn't tired one bit. Soooo it's great to be able to get back to a somewhat decent work schedule. Plus, we're working 4 days instead of 5, so I'll be able to get some errands taken care of on my days off.

On a nice note: Got a package in the mail today from my boss at www.carefair.com. She sent me a nice gift basket full of gourmet snack goodies, so we'll be enjoying that in the days to come.

Raising Alzheimer's Awareness

As many of you may already know, this isn't my first post about Alzheimer's awareness. A while back I wrote about walking for Alzheimer's. It's a cause I am passionate about.

I worked as a CNA for nearly 2 years before a back injury caused me to set my love for nursing and caring for elderly people aside. If you have ever been a nurse or you've been able to be around our elderly generation, then you know how special they truly are.

I loved hearing the stories of their past! It was as if I was truly living history right along with them! Nothing beats hearing a live story about history verses reading about it in a text book.

It saddens me that so many of our elderly are now facing Alzheimer's. Last Friday at the store my husband pointed out an elderly lady who had stopped in the middle of an isle and looked lost for a moment. I wondered if she had the beginning of Alzheimer's. I worried. What if she wanders off somewhere and cannot find her way home. What if she has no family to worry about her.

She is the reason why it is very important to have a memory screening done for Alzheimer's. It's very important!

While I understand that it is difficult to care for someone with Alzheimer's, it's not a curse or a reason to ignore or fear.

If you're unfamiliar with the facts about Alzheimer's, please feel free to visit the Alzheimer's Foundation of America website where you can find more information about Alzheimer's, including: "successful aging tips."

While you are there, please consider making a holiday gift of a contribution for Alzheimer's. It's important that we find a cure. Without it, our loved one's memories may be lost forever and I don't want to see that happen! I love learning about our history through our elderly! Don't you??

I Want One!

I actually miss having a digital camera. They were so much fun and I could just shoot photos and upload very quickly without having to worry about the hassle of having anything developed. Plus I could see the photos right away.

I am hoping to get another digital camera soon, like maybe for Christmas. Wishful thinking on my part I'm guessing since my other half isn't really into gift giving. I guess if worse comes to worse I can just buy the camera myself. I found that ritzcamera.com has a really nice selection of digital cameras.

You can even get digital picture frames from them if you like. You can also use their bill me later purchase if your order is more than $500. Pretty cool I think... Especially since Christmas is right around the corner.

I really don't need anything fancy, however. I think a simple digital camera is all I need. One that will take crisp clear photos from up close or a distance..with the ability to see the photo immediately.

If you're wishing for a digital camera like I am for Christmas or whatever the occasion... Send your better half, friend or family member this way and have them check out ritzcamera.com for a nice selection of digital cameras.

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