...makin’ it...

So this is going to be about another TV show I LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE. (Sadly, it’s about to be over. Like—I think—tonight. But you hip younguns that can find all kinds of shows on Netflix or On Demand or Hulu? You MUST watch this. More about Makin’ It in a bit...)

First, a little intro:

In watching Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman and the “Master Makers” in Makin’ It the past several weeks, I was reminded of a Christmas “newsletter” My Sweet Hubby (aka MSH) and I received several years ago. (I remember doing a post about it! Could I find that post now and link it here for Y’all? That would, of course, be a big—ARE YOU KIDDING? I still can’t post pictures. You’ll have to take my word that it was a fascinating story. Or roam around in past December and January posts. Try 2011. Or 2012.)

Anyway...I actually DO read those Christmas newsletters we all get. Yes—I’m not even fibbing. I read them! And, honestly, enjoy them! Around 2009–or maybe 2010–MSH and I received a LONG one from a couple we’d known for approximately sixteen years. They lived about 150 miles from us—but we saw them two to three times a year. The wife wrote about each of them, each of their two kids and their spouses, and each of their six grandchildren. The end of the newsletter was when MSH, TLC and I lost it! To hysterical laughter. The wife shared that she simply needed their 18-year-old dog, Prissy, to pass away. She was certain their future would be brighter!

Y’all, she was serious. In this woman’s defense, the dog had apparently been ill for many years—costing them oodles and oodles of cash at their Vet’s office. Still...in a CHRISTMAS newsletter—she expressed her wish for the family dog to die.

Should we have laughed? NO. But WHO DOES THAT? It cracked us up. Still does—when we think about it.

By the way: Y’all KNOW we love our Buddy Bear and TLC’s Henry! We adore and cherish all animals. (Snakes and armadillos? Okay, no. Not them.)

Fast Forward to Makin’ It. Trust me when I say you do NOT have to be a “Maker” to think this show is AWESOME. I’m not a cook and I TREASURE The Food Network. I’m not an interior decorator or house flipper and I obsess over HGTV. I can’t sew a button on or tell you if I still have a glue gun somewhere in my casa. Still...this show (This was the second “season” for it, too.) intrigued me and I got hooked immediately. The first time around and this time!

AMY POEHLER and NICK OFFERMAN are the executive producers and hosts of Makin’ It. They are, IMHO, geniuses. GENIUSES. Clever. Fast. Sharp. HILARIOUS. I laugh out loud every show. EVERY SHOW. (I don’t want it to end.)

The Makers competing are extremely interesting peeps themselves. Charming. Kind. Unbelievably talented. Unique. SMART.

Now...how does my Christmas newsletter story relate to Makin’ It?

The Makers were to build an animal shelter. Or home. For an animal of their choice. They chose the following animals: a cat, a couple of dogs, a turtle, a calf and butterflies. One of the Makers made her “cat house” look like a condo in Palm Springs! She shared that she and her family have a female cat named Bella. She’s old. And apparently extra cranky/catty. Rebecca—the Maker—called her creation a “Purr-a-dise” for cats ready to retire. It was incredibly swanky! Rebecca said they (everyone in her family) were all ready for this cat to pass away. So they could get a puppy! Amy and Nick cracked up at her honesty.

Do I admire honesty? I do. I really do. I value it in my own life. I totally get striving to being diplomatic and even telling little bitty white lies. But honesty? Not enough of it in this world.

Watch this show!!! If you don’t get major tickled by Amy and Nick? I’m sorry to tell you but this retired therapist will be forced to suggest you search for some counseling sessions. I mean it. You’ll need to find out why you don’t think these two are EVERYTHING.

(Did I mention Amy and Nick are comic GENIUSES?)

Happy Friday Eve and BIG HUGS...

ELC

Merry-Making...

Little Leighton opened her 8th Advent “charm” (she and Elle are building charm bracelets) today, and exclaimed, “Can you believe it’s already December 8th?” I truly can’t! She spent the morning wrapping presents. Y’all. She’s unbelievable! She did amazing and had such fun! She was excited to place them under our tree we picked out on Saturday morning!

After trimming our tree, we made gluten-free peanut butter cookies and had an impromptu play date with friends! We even had a yummy dinner out at a restaurant (which is a real treat, given the nature of Celiac Disease)!

This afternoon, we watched Christmas music with ELC and My Sweet Dad at their beautiful church! We are feeling extra merry and bright as we begin a new week. I, unfortunately, am still struggling with my ear infection. It’s making me quite bonkers. It’s also given me such empathy for ELC and what she deals with on a daily basis, after completely losing her hearing in her left ear.

I hope y’all have a merry-filled week! Christmas is coming!

...a sad start...

...to TLC’s favourite month of the year.

After being the quintessential SUPER Hostess with the Mostest on Thanksgiving Day, TLC’s body totally turned on her and she has a HORRID ear infection.

Monday she made the BEST decision—in a moment of pain and despair—to visit a CVS Minute Clinic. (Elle was sick for a week with some kind o’ cold virus and we all were pretty sure it’d be a miracle if we didn’t get it, too. TLC had been fighting a cold. I, actually, have been sick ra myself.)

I was able to care for Elle and pick Little Leighton up from her after-school Art Class so TLC could get the help she desperately needed. The Nurse Practitioner at the Clinic confirmed what TLC had had to face: She had an extremely infected left ear. Full of...well...never mind the gory details. I’ll just say EVIL stuff.

I was also able to help her get the Little Princesses’ dinner fixed. Baths taken. (By the way: TLC’s Hubby was out-of-town for his job. Always when any kind of crisis hits, right? Happened to me alot when TLC was growing up and My Sweet Hubby—aka MSH—was traveling for work. You can count on child drama or home drama or your own illness to begin the moment your spouse drives or flies away. Murphy’s Law.)

I drove home Monday evening praying TLC would feel better by the hour. And get some sleep. And was comforted by the fact that Her Dad and I are twelve minutes away. In an emergency.

Yesterday she got the little girls to school—sans makeup—then went home and headed straight to bed. After an early doctor’s appointment for me, MSH and I picked up Diet Cokes, Dannon yogurt (A must when taking strong antibiotics—maybe not Dannon, specifically, but probiotics!), and Chick-fil-A chicken noodle soup for TLC. (She, by the way, refuses to eat any kind of canned chicken soup—but she loves Chick-fil-A’s. I’m not saying it’s canned. I’m simply confused by TLC’s standards. MSH and I really like Progresso’s chicken soup.)

I picked up Belle at her school, Little Leighton at her school, and delivered them home to a Mama who felt a teensy bit better. A Mama who was determined to keep Tylenol and ibuprofen in her at all times until fully back to her healthy self again. A Mama who this Mama will always want to care for and help when she’s sick.

I’m hoping TLC wakes up this morning feeling even 25% better than yesterday. She LOVES December! With all of her sicky little heart.

I wish Y’all a WONDERFUL Wednesday. Wherever in this World you are! Take care of your body, heart, mind, soul and spirit. Avoid those danged old germs out there, Friends...

Smooches!
ELC

FAVOURITE

It’s officially December! Time to deck the halls and jingle all the way through this month!

Yippee, y’all and happy first Monday of December!