bee and rose

(I know I'm a day early for Dear So and So...oopsy!) Dear Blog, Happy 1st Birthday! You are growing up so fast! It seems like only yesterday I was changing around your headers and sidebars...feeding you with lots of words and pictures to help you grow.  I realize I have been sort of a latch~key Momma lately.  I promise going forward into the new year that I will take better care of you!  I will spend more time nurturing you and a new makeover is coming!   I also promise more play~dates with old bloggy pals and we'll make some new ones too! With Much Love, Momma Bee Dear New Toothbrush Holder , You are simply freakin' cool. I know my family thinks you are weird, but I love you.  I know you are for holding toothbrushes and toothpaste, but I think I'll hang some jewelry on you instead. Thanks for the giggles, Dear Teen Caveboy, Thank you for giving me your old iPod when Santa brought your new one. I loved that you wrapped ...

We've been busy bees with our holiday preparations here at the Smith household!  We have 7 trees...yep, it's the "Festival of Trees" at our house!  (This drives Chilly absolutely bonkers!)  I'm sure Santa will be completely confused when he arrives!  He'll probably try to find a liquor cabinet from the stress of it all! (sorry Santa...no liquor cabinet here!) Here is the Smith Family Festival of Trees rundown... The FAMILY TREE ~ covered in heirloom ornaments, family photos, hand~crafted ornies from the kiddos and crocheted snowflakes from my grandma, Gigi.... (taken while we were still in the process of decorating it...) Irish Dancer Girl's Tree ~ a six foot white tree filled with fairy finery, fashionistas, princesses and pretty things... Teen Caveboy's Tree ~ covered in his favorite cartoon characters and Nightmare Before Christmas pals with a big Jack Skellington sitting at the top...(I was forbidden to photograph it by ...

Happy Monday! I will be bending the rules a bit and post my Friday's "Dear So and So" post today!  "Dear So and So" is brought to you by the lovely Kat over at 3 Bedroom Bungalow ! Let us begin... Dear Zombie Who Showed Up at Cat's Gingerbread Cottage Last Night.... I can appreciate that you are "undead" and may still enjoy some holiday cheer. However, you may find that a six year old girl, who's gingerbread cottage has been defiled by the likes of you, can be a very dangerous enemy. It's probably best to drag your half eaten limbs and exposed brain off to the mall or some other favorite zombie haunt.  Seriously, you don't want to mess with Irish Dancer Girl.  She has moves that can put even the most fearsome zombie to shame. Last year, we had a monster with weird shoes show up and this is what happened.... That's right...a monster homicide…Irish Dancer Girl was busted in the back yard with a shovel and a fre...

In my attempts to feel fabulous and festive, I've  decided to have a Christmas film festival for myself this week.  I would love any suggestions!  I will definitely be watching my two all time favorites... " Love Actually " never fails to make my heart feel full.  I highly recommend it for holiday viewing!  Who can resist the charms of Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye in " White Christmas ?" I always wanted one of those gorgeous red gowns with white fur...simply divine! Once you hear the music from " Love Actually ", you won't be able to stop singing Bill Nighy's rendition of " Christmas is All Around ."  All of the " Love Actually " music is superb, especially the instrumental pieces by Craig Armstrong.  I listen to the soundtrack all year round!  And Colin Firth and Liam Neeson are in this film....how can you pass that up?! I also adore " The Holiday " too....I know...I am a big, sappy romantic when it come...

Party Girl Returns! I've been missing from Blogland for a few weeks because I've been at this huge party. Family and friends will tell you that I have a talent for throwing awesome parties. This party was a doozy! I was the only guest (hooray for me!) Maybe you've even been to one of these fabulous special occasions...It's called the Pity Party. I really threw myself into the festivities. I dressed up in my special Pity Party attire of sweats and tees. I ate Frownies. I played sad music. I grumbled and griped at everyone I know. I even let my nerve endings blow out into a full bout of shingles! I know how to throw a good party! I honestly thought this party was going to last forever...that is, until my daughter made Santa Claus cry. Yep, nothing like Santa's tears to put the smack-down on a good Pity Party. It started at the mall last week. I figured it was still too early for Santa to be hanging out at his usual spot in the center court area. Boy howdy...

It's "Well, I Never! Wednesday here at the Bee and Rose! (Say "Well, I Never!" with a southern accent...it sounds so much cooler!) Well, I never thought this would happen to me in a department store.... * So, I'm doing a little pre-holiday shopping at Home Goods on Monday and what to my wandering eyes did appear? A miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer? An aisle full of fabulous markdowns on things I couldn't live without? Stacks of hundred dollar bills? No..... It was a naked guy sprawled out on a white furry doggy bed.....Naked....as in Nude....as in not wearing a stitch of clothing.... Here's a re-cap...I was trolling the aisles for goodies....I turned to head down the pillow aisle to discover it was occupied by a Naked Guy who appeared to be a Dead Guy upon first glance. (His eyes were closed and he was very still...) After I realized he was actually breathing, I started laughing and backed myself out of the aisle. The lady at the other end...

Anyone have a fire extinguisher handy? My cake is on fire.... Today, I celebrate my 44th birthday! This is me celebrating back in the days of the caveman (as my son so sweetly noted...I'm in the stylish red plaid...) I'm going to spend the day curled up with some good books, favorite music and quality family time. Irish Dancer Girl has planned a "surprise" party for me this evening. (Don't worry about how I know this....she's the one who whispered it to me yesterday...lol!) My Mom is preparing my favorite dish and IDG (aka Cat) is making the birthday treats. Teen Caveboy is serenading me with some music on his guitar. I might have to enforce the "It's My Birthday and You Will Play Board Games With Me" rule later too....(yes, Chilly...that includes you...and NO, I will NOT play Scrabble with you...clearly my vocabulary is much larger than yours and I do NOT appreciate being beaten by someone who uses 3 & 4 letter words like "quiz...