More Christmas Fun!

We had a wonderful Christmas morning with the kids, great fellowship with two of our friends for Christmas dinner (I brined my first turkey with the expert help of Catrina and it was DELICIOUS!), a beautiful white day after Christmas of 7" of snow, and more fun times at the Gardners'!

Pictures and comments for those events are in the links below. As I post these memories (and they bore you) they are, in fact, a record of our life for me to remember. I am under no delusions that any of you are dying to see and hear every little detail :)

>>CLICK HERE to see
Christmas Morning and Commentary

>>CLICK HERE
to see our
almost "white" Christmas

>>CLICK HERE to see Gardner mayhem and fun!

Merry Christmas 2010

For every friend and loved one who reads our blog, Merry Christmas. Thanks for being a part of our lives whether close or far away. May you know the love of Christ every day, not just during the holidays.

Christmas Prep

Well, its been a busy but somewhat laid back week. Michael arrived Tuesday night. Danny has been off since Wednesday. I started my Christmas dinner prep Monday and am "on top of things."
Christmas dinner for us is the Thanksgiving dinner I don't get to prepare. This year I've got a 20 lb. turkey I affectionately call "the 20 pound toddler" (I know sick mind).

Thanks to the encouragement and culinary instructions of my friend Catrina (who had much success with her 23 lb turkey at Thanksgiving), I will be brining my bird overnight with homemade veggie stock.

I'm looking forward to my favorite cornbread chestnut dressing too. Our dinner table includes another couple who lives a couple houses down -- Lourie and Preston. They are like family and she is bringing the sweet potato casserole.

Danny is on his way taking BamBam for a bath. Lauren is primping. Michael is preparing taco dinner (he chose to cook and Lauren will do the clean up).

Last night we all went to see the movie "Megamind" and then out to dinner at Carrabba's. While there, we had the waiter bring out a dessert with a candle for Michael and sang him happy birthday. (BTW -- skip the movie, its not worth even renting).

Tonight we'll head to a Christmas Eve service and then head home for Michael's taco dinner.

I miss my parents.
I love Christmas.
I love the husband God provided me with to share all my Christmases from now on.
I love my life.
I love my children.
I love my friends (the ones who really qualify).
I love there is a season that we can celebrate our Saviour's birth.
I love that God is a gift giver.
And that He made me one too :)

Merry Christmas Eve :)

Wrestling Over the Gray

You've seen her. The middle-aged woman still trying to appear as if she were in her lates 20's. Its painful and sad. No matter how great her figure still is, or how pretty her hair is, her face will tell it like it is.
She is to a certain extent still "attractive" but because she is trying so hard to maintain it, it is painfully unattractive.

This post is about vanity. My vanity.
This post is about the struggle of aging; losing my youth.
This post is about my heart embracing the fact that I am a middle-aged woman.

This post is not a criticism of your vanity or your thoughts of how you deal with these issues, so in no way is it a commentary on your personal journey. (I'll leave my judgemental thoughts between me and God :)

To gray or not to gray, that is the question. Or perhaps the question is to fight the gray or not to fight the gray. To age appropriately or resist it at all costs.

I have always said that I would not start dying my hair until after I was 40. Well, I'm 40.5 and the grays are winning the battle of taking over. There are strands that are literally "striped" from starting out brown, turning gray, fighting back and partially brown and finally giving up and succumbing to the gray. Even though on the surface it doesn't look like I'm graying, when I put my hair in a ponytail or up, there are very obvious dense "patches" of grays visible. Plucking a few here or there is no longer a viable option. There's just too much of it.

I hate that my heart has struggled with this issue because I have always wanted to age gracefully. I understand that at 40.5 I am NOT old, but at 40.5 I am also not "young" anymore.

I am fortunate to have great Asian genes which helps me looking like a young 40.5 (thank you God and Yen Snead), but I was in denial of how far those genes were going to take me. This may seem silly to many of you and in the whole scheme of a broken and hurting world, its ridiculous to even discuss this.

But here I am ...... with a lot of gray hairs peeping through. Should I or shouldn't I? I've decided with no. I've decided to let the gray creep in more and more and as I age and the grays display themselves with confidence, I will walk with confidence knowing I've now chosen to embrace my age, stage of life, and that I am who I am in significance and beauty because of Christ. Cliche, but nonetheless full of truth to live by.

I am sensing a lot of freedom and peace as I have finally decided I don't need to "maintain" or try and compete with 30-somethings (as if I could). I believe strongly I have a responsibility (and natural desire) to keep myself attractive for my hubby. HOWEVER, I relinquish the desire to try effortlessly to regain the youth I once had and to no longer mourn the passing of my youth. In fact, to mark this new found freedom, I got 3 inches cut off my hair. Longish hair is fine, but lonnnnnggggggggg hair even if I could get away with it is no longer needed or appropriate.

"Hello, my name is Jacqueline and I am officially (and happily) middle-aged."

Dulin Christmas Open House

We had our annual Christmas Open House this past Sunday. We had a blast with people from all walks of our lives show up: neighbors, friends, church folk, Bible study folk, soccer teammates, docents, coworkers, and yes...... I even welcomed their children was well. (See? I'm not such a scrooge). We had about 60 to 65 people show up and at one point our house was packed wall to wall. I am sure we broke a fire code.

It was a lot of hard work and I continue to be amazed at Yen Snead who would pull this kind of thing off with serious gourmet delights. Believe it or not, it was the least stressful hostessing event we've had and I am learning the fine art of hospitality includes 2 crucial things:
1. Serious planning and organization
2. Even more serious PREP work

I will say I could not have pulled it off without the help of Danny and Lauren. Both were beyond just "helpful" and had made the experience so much fun as we prepared to open our home.

Although I've never compare to Yen Snead, I certainly do have her genes and found myself declaring more than once, "Yen would be so proud!" (despite much of the not-so-homemade-goodies).

MENU (for Catrina) --( all homemade except where noted)

• Baked brie
  -- 1 with Fig preserves
  -- 1 with Raspberry preserves
• Creamy Smoked Salmon spread
  -- served with crostini, carrots, celery, and cocktail bread
• Bacon wrapped apricots
  -- fresh sage drizzled with maple syrup
• Hummus pita sandwiches
  --roasted red pepper, fennel, olive & parsley slaw
• Granny smith apple slices
  -- goat cheese spread sprinkled with pistachio and candied ginger
  
• pecan pie tarts -- whole foods
• bite sized wafers with chocolate -- whole foods
• spiced cake cupcakes --- Betty Crocker mix
• brownie mini-cupcakes --- Betty Crocker mix
• gingerbread mini-cupcakes --- Trader Joe's mix
• Drinks
  --Coffee
  --Sprite/7-up (clear liquids so if kids spilled I wouldn't freak!)
  --Egg Nog (store bought)
  --Mulled spiced warm red wine (homemade)
• Party favor bags with holiday candy/chocolates with tags that had the verse Luke 2:10-11

The Well Wrapped Gift First Client!

As I posted in my "Open for Business" entry, Zoe and I started a gift wrapping service. Although we couldn't quite get our ducks in order this season to pursue clients, we are happy to report we have had 2 non-corporate clients.

Last week a woman in the Columbia, SC area found our site on the web and called us. How exciting! That's how its suppose to work, yes? Anyway, she and her family fly out to CA every year for Christmas and she mails all her gifts ahead of time out there so she doesn't have to obviously carry them on the plane.

Here was Zoe's first customer and her order was for over 50 gifts to be wrapped!! She made over $300 on 1 client! EXCELLENT! Zoe's 2nd customer was another mom acquaintance who had 3 gifts wrapped and said, "I have several friends who I can direct your way."

I am so excited for Zoe and am proud of her! She is a wrapping present expert!

Christmas at the Dulin Farm

Last Saturday we drove to Danny's parents' place in Tappahannock, VA to celebrate Christmas. It also happened to be Michael's 19th birthday. It was a smaller crowd than Thanksgiving, but it was still nice to see the family.

Every year, one of Danny's brothers (or he) is required to dress up as Santa and his son as the Elf. The costumes have been around for years --- made of felt and have never been washed so its the running joke. This year was Johnny's turn (2nd youngest) and his son little Johnny was the Elf.

We all sing some sort of Christmas carol and that is what "summons" Santa. Then each of us get to sit on Santa's lap as he hands out a gift to us (gifts are really from Danny's parents). Its always a good laugh.

HO HO HO, Green Giant! Uh, I mean Merry Christmas!

Johnny (Santa) and his youngest son, Dale.
Dale had no idea Daddy was Santa!

The first great-grandchild for Danny's parents: Kylie

There is always lots of food and people!

Cory (Danny's step son) and birthday man, Michael!

One more bad Christmas song

I forgot to include Stevie Nicks and her version of "Silent Night."
Eckkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And more ECCCKKKKKKKKKHHHH!!!

Top 10

I love Christmas music..... I DO. I promise. I love to start listening to it the day after Thanksgiving. But there are just some songs that should be banished from anyone's playlist and here is my top 10 Christmas songs that should be obliterated because its possible they are the work of Satan. (okay, that's a little dramatic...)

10. The Happy Elf by Harry Connick, Jr.
I hesitate to include a Harry song because generally I love all things HC, jr.

9. Christmastime by Smashing Pumpkins
I accidently own this one. Its just creepy and weird.

8. Little St. Nick by the Beach Boys
Asians should not be allowed to listen to any Beach Boys especially Christmas tunes by them.

7. Bing Crosby and David Bowie's version of Little Drummer Boy
This is just a wrong combo.

6. My Favorite Things by Rod Stewart
Yes, this is from the Sound of Music and why Rod Stewart had to mess with it........
Definitely not one of my favorite things.

---- I actually dislike the top 5 equally but when forced to put in a list, here they are......

5. The Christmas Shoes by Newsong
Okay, I understand this is based on a "true story" but it is such a blatant manipulation of human emotion.

4. A Christmas to Remember by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
eckkkkkkkkk!!!!!

3. Hey Santa by Wendy and Carnie Wilson
[ no comment }

2. Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Shut up already!

1. Christmas Eve in Washington by Maura Sullivan
Washington is "America's hometown" --- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Going Tall in the Living Room

Painted walls; replaced nasty carpet with hardwoods to match front of the house. Sold my old living room furniture on Craigslist. Invested in one piece -- the leather loveseat. All other pieces were bought on sale at Tarjay and World Market. Kept one existing decorative chair. Rug was 50% off at HomeGoods. Bought ONE brown drape panel on sale at Pier 1 and had seamstress divide it into two pieces to add length to existing drapes. Removed fireplace mantel and tiled the fireplace wall. Removed staircase railing to open up space.

BEFORE:


AFTER

Chamber of Love

Go ahead and barf, but we have nicknamed our bedroom Danny's "Chamber of Love." Ah, yesssss.... Here is where the Head of our household reigns and ....... okay, nevermind.

BEFORE:
AFTER (ooh, la la)
These pix seems to give the room a purplish/lavender look,
but everything is blue, gray, and silver.

Man-Cave Bathroom

Here is what the new Man-Cave (basement) bathroom looks like. This room did not have any painting, etc done to it, just a "themed" face-lift :)