While we at Thanksgiving dinner my family kept telling me how great I look and commented on how thin I’m getting and all of that, which, of course, I appreciate, it’s nice when people notice (although you have to wonder how bad you looked before, don’t you?). I’m not sure my sister-in-law understood that while I looked like I was eating just like everyone else, I was actually being very careful and only taking small portions of foods I knew were calorie heavy, because later on she asked me what I thought was the best weight loss supplement. I just stared at her & then said, “I have no idea, I don’t take anything like that. I take vitamins and antioxidants, that’s all.” (my antioxidants were prescribed by my eye doctor, I have early-onset macular degeneration) She looked at me like she didn’t believe me, and then my brother asked me if I was on a program, and I said I was, and it was clear to her then, but it was a little awkward for a couple of minutes, for sure!

I was so excited to receive a beautiful collectable snowman figurine to review the other day. It came packed in a really great Styrofoam container that was made to fit the base and snowman exactly, to help prevent breakage. There were instructions on how to remove it from the packing & assemble it, so that you didn’t break the glass or damage anything.

Since I was putting up our Christmas lights and little tree this weekend, I decided to unpack my beautiful Thomas Kinkade snowman and set him up in the living room. I was thrilled to see that you could either use the AC adapter to plug it into an outlet or batteries, if you chose. I bought some extra rechargeable batteries for it, because I have cats and cords just spell trouble with them.

I got him all set up and turned him on, and watched the cute little train circle the base & the lights of the tiny village in his belly come on and look like a real village. These pictures really don’t do the figurine justice, it’s just gorgeous! His face, mittens, scarf and little lantern all sparkle like snow and the glass base reflects all of my Christmas lights in the window behind it at night. The village is super detailed and lovely, from the tiny signs in the front to the house on top, each one has everything you could want. The little train is just as nice as the village, and runs quietly around the base. Rhi came in after awhile & noticed that I put him up & had to come and take a look. She loved the tiny train and how detailed all of the little buildings and windows are. I took a close up of it for you to see the village:

It’s very pretty and I’m extremely fond of it, I only wish that the lights were a little brighter or that here was some sort of sound with it, that’s the only thing that I’d change on it, at all.

** This review is a result of a feedback campaign by Collectibles Today. I was asked to give an honest opinion about the product I received. Good reviews are not incentivized and poor reviews will not be censored for the opinion of the product. **

And finally, today’s FOAM:

Food: I was making hot chocolate for Troy & I

Outside: It was snowing on the mountain earlier, it’s snowing down here, now.

Abstract: A reflection in the melted wax of my tart warmer.

Me: I bought this shirt years ago, today is the first time I’ve ever worn it, because it finally fits!

Here’s the next one:

Food: The Thanksgiving spread.

Outside: My Christmas lights

Abstract: The reflection of the lights on the ground

Me: Not me personally, but a big part of who I am; left is my daughter Rhi & right is my niece Jaycie.

I’m way behind on all of this & missed a few days, but I’ll post a few entries to put up what I did take over the past few days.

Food: Soft peppermint sticks that I bought for my mom.

Abstract: Kitties!

Outside: Looking between my car & the house next door.

Me: I hadn’t done anything with my hair, because I was getting it cut.

We had a really nice Thanksgiving with the family. I was a little sad throughout the day, because I was missing Erin, Troy & Garrett, but I managed to make it through the day & end it on a happy note. Mom made the turkey, green beans with bacon, mashed potatoes, stuffing a green salad and my very favorite carrot cake, my sister-in-law & I brought side dishes & desserts. Everything was delicious, of course, especially that carrot cake, but I practiced a lot of portion control & still lost weight on my weigh in this morning.

When dinner was over, I sat around with mom and looked at catalogs and laughed, then we watched the Broncos game (they won!!) and waited for Troy to come over after work and have his dinner.

We decided to draw names for Christmas gifts again this year, and we have my brother & my dad (Erin & Rhi have my mom & SIL) so I’m trying to decide what to get my dad. I’ll let Troy figure my brother out, or we’ll do it together. It’s so much easier for me to shop for the women, at least I know what they like! My dad doesn’t smoke so I can’t run out & buy something like pipe tobacco or White Owl cigars for him, Steve does, but cigarettes only, and that’s kind of a tacky gift, even though I have done it for him in the past. I’ll just have to do a lot of thinking and looking. We will be going to St. George next week, and I’m sure I can find him something there, with no problem.

I didn’t do any BF shopping today, we’re pretty much broke right now & Troy was working, anyway, so I skipped it and put up some of the Christmas lights instead. We’ll get the rest done tomorrow, and put up the little tree we bought.

I’m going to post today’s FOAM Project now, before I forget & just go to bed!

Food: It’s payday, we got groceries!

Outside: The sun was just rising over the mountains this morning.

Abstract: Some sewing I’ve been doing, cool ties for renne faire next summer.

Me!

Yay! I’m finally caught up with my Project Foam posts!!

Food: Yes, more oatmeal, this one has no dried apricots in it, because I’m out of them, so I put in some homemade triple berry freezer jam (it’s sugar free, too!)

Outside: Our dog, Tiny, out in the yard. Don’t worry, she likes it out there & begs to go every day. We bring her in if/when it’s cold.

Abstract: A magazine on my tacky couch.

Me: Hot & sweaty after a workout.

This Project FOAM post is from the day after the previous post, then I think I skipped a couple of days & took more today, so after this, will be the one from today & I’ll try to keep on top of it after that.

Food: Oatmeal, before I pop it into the microwave. It’s old-fashioned oats, almond milk, pumpkin puree, dried apricots and brown sugar, I pretty much have it (or a variation) every morning.

Outside: The snow was almost gone, it doesn’t last long here usually.

Abstract: The front of my fridge, or at least part of it. I got the quote magnets from Barnes & Noble, aboce them is my Ed Hardy dry erase board.

Me: Just relaxing in my memory foam slippers.

Well, I never got these up the other day, so here I am, trying to make up foe it. I guess I need to set alarms on my phone throughout the day to remind me to take a picture!

So, with no further delay, a FOAM Project post from a few days ago.

Food: A Skinny Cow Fudge Truffle bar. You’d never know this wasn’t bad for you, honestly.

Outside: It snowed that day, this is my front porch. We’re a classy family, let me tell ya!

Abstract: A random container of what I believe is steak seasoning. It appeared in my cupboard one night.

Me: I either wasn’t feeling great that day or I was really tired.

Speaking of how classy we are, well, maybe not us, but the people in the trailer park, I guess. We pulled in today to get the mail & some older guy, with long gray hair & a beard popped up beside the dumpster at the front of the park & kind of looked at us a little sheepishly. He was going through some things & taking what he thought he needed. I have no problem with that, you can sometimes get some pretty nice things when people move out. I saw a central vacuum motor in a box once. If we had that type of vacuum & needed a new motor, I’d have taken it. Erin has found nearly brand new back packs, nice jeans, and many other things, just in this trailer park.

So, maybe the people in my trailer park aren’t the classiest, but they aren’t really any worse than us, for the most part. There are a few who get drunk and then stand outside & start fights with whoever passes by, but the landlord and property mangers are gradually weeded those types out of here, thankfully. We finally got our roof fixed the other day, too, so I’m feeling pretty hopeful about the winter months. At least I won’t be staring at the ceiling and waiting for the drips & hoping it doesn’t collapse, you know?