My parents have been making me jealous updating their kitchen with new flooring, granite countertops, and tile back splashes. As they removed everything from the walls to paint, I thought to myself, I can’t let them put that old ugly shelf back on their wall. Their brand new kitchen deserves a new painting! I thought what a perfect Christmas present it would be.

I started the painting in my office before Thanksgiving and had my family over. I thought if I keep the door closed hopefully my mother will not peek in. But ofcourse, she had to give my aunt a tour of our new house. As they entered my office, I thought hopefully they will not turn around and see the painting. Sure enough, they did! I just held my breath and hoped I could keep a straight face and lie. As my mother examined the painting and said how she liked how I did the edging with the torn raised wallpaper, she asked “Where is this going?” As I laughed inside, I responded with a straight face “I’m not sure yet.” and she bought it! Then she said, “You know you could paint me a painting one of these days.” And she’s said that a couple times since then. I just think Christmas is almost here only a few more times to lie.

The other tricky part about this painting is I had to quickly guesstimate what size would look good in the space and my mother keeps changing the color of the wall! But I think I finally have her convinced that yellow on top and red below looks the best. It will also match the painting very well. I will post a picture of the finished painting on my parent’s wall after Christmas.

While I was in NoDA watching the Thunderoad Charlotte Marathon, I noticed these posters all over the Neighborhood Theater.  I was able to go the very last day. It was exciting getting to see local artists and their work. There were paintings, photographs, jewelery, arts and crafts for sale in many different styles.

I was able to get two Christmas presents, one for myself (my husband bought me a beautiful green scarf) and one for my brother. I found a display of flattened and melted down wine and beer bottles, for the use of clocks and nightlights. I thought this gift would be perfect for my almost-21-year-old brother who is still afraid of the dark! I was so excited and went to the conveniently located atm right inside of the the theater to withdraw cash. The $2.50 fee was worth it! I wish I had gone earlier in December and I would have purchased some jewelry and other items as gifts. I can’t wait for next year. I did email the NoDaRioty to ask if they could have the event more than once a year, then I could get gifts all year round.

I wish I would have taken my camera. But I was able to find some photos from the last year’s show.

I started using Amazon.com while I was in college to search for cheaper textbooks and sell them back. I continue to use the website to find cheaper books than the local book stores offer, but I have become addicted to shopping on it for everything now.

The reason for this new online shopping addiction? The new “Add to Wish List” button that Amazon.com has offered. I know Amazon.com does not offer every product I want to buy, so they made it so you can add products from other websites! Genius! And that is why I am addicted to Amazon’s wish list. It is very easy to do, I even showed my mother how to use it. Read how to use Amazon.com’s Wish List Toolbar or you can add a bookmark to any browser you use. And then you can notify your friends and family or they can search for your name for your wish list.

And of course, people will only buying me gifts a few times a year, but it is a great way to compare prices of different websites when you add the same product. Or just keep track of where I find things, so when I’m ready to buy it I know where to go. It’s so much fun because you feel like you are shopping without spending any money yet. I have 42 items and counting…

Baking is not something I typically take time to do. It usually takes a birthday or a holiday to get me in the baking mood. For some reason my family only tends to bake at Christmas time, it has been a long tradition to bake several different types of cookies for Christmas. As I have started helping more of the years the recipes become easier, and I think why do we only do this once a year? Oh yea.. time!

But I think my favorite part is getting to decorate the sugar cookies (besides eating them). Using cookie cutters to cut out angels, Christmas trees, snowmen, teddy bears, stars and candy canes. Then the best part comes the decorating, this could be one of the reason’s why I am an artist today. As far back as I can remember my brother and I would get to decorate the cookies with different colors of icing and sprinkles. I think my designs have gotten better over the years! I wish I could find pictures of some of the ones I did when I was little, I’ll have to try and dig them up.

As fewer people show up for Christmas, our amount of baking never seems to decrease like you would think. So it becomes what I take in to work potlucks, parties, and this year I have neighbors; so I’ll be making tin-fulls of cookies to give to them.