Gingerbread!

Marina and I went to a gingerbread house decorating party last night at The Crescent for work. The Crescent's pastry chef did a demonstration for us and then we all got after our own gingerbread houses with icing and candy galore! It was so much fun....we felt like kids again! Marina and I were the last to leave the party.....kind-of embarrassing....but we were just having too much fun!

Here are a few pictures of how my house turned out....

The front...


The side...


The back...


This is who I found on top of my dinning room table this morning helping themselves to a sweet treat....


They licked the icing completely off of the Christmas tree on the left side of the door...little stinkers!


But how can you get mad at this face... :)


Have a great weekend everyone! I'm getting my Christmas party panties on...today is my last day of work for 2 full weeks....it's time to celebrate the season!

Cheers!
Mindy

Just another day at work...

This is where I've been working since Wednesday...Paradise Island, Bahamas.



And this is where I've been sleeping...One & Only Ocean Club.



Alison (my co-worker and dear friend) and I are having a great time....we've been working hard, long days...but who can complain when it's in the Bahamas!! The weather has been fantastic and all of the pre-wedding events have gone really well so far. The wedding is today at the Ocean Club. Right now, Ali and I are sitting in lawn chairs over looking the unbelievable turquoise water going over all the details for the wedding. Talk about an office with a view! Luckily, we're staying a couple extra days to unwind and enjoy the Bahamas before we head back to Dallas on Tuesday. We can't wait to be on the beach tomorrow...book in hand...no worry in the world....enjoying an Ocean Club Pina Colada...it really doesn't get much better than that!

Christmas Questions!

I've received this email a few times, so I thought I would turn it into a blog post for everyone to see...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for sure! My mom wraps the most beautiful packages....I love opening her gifts!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial...it's just easier. Although, I love the smell and look of a real tree!

3. When do you put up the tree? It's different each year...the earlier the better though! This year our tree went up the weekend before Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually the week after New Years...I like to enjoy it for as long as possible.

5. Do you like eggnog? Absolutely not!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Our dog, Max. I think I was 4 years old or so...it was a complete surprise to my brother and I....so fun!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad...sorry, dad!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Josh...he always knows exactly what he wants.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes...my mom got me one on her trip to Israel last year.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail...I love receiving Christmas cards!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A used 3 speed bike when I was little...at the time I was so excited about it....but looking back, it makes me wonder why my parent's decided to go with a used bike instead of a new one... :)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story and....this is embarrassing, but my all time favorite is Smoky Mountain Christmas with Dolly Parton.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As soon as I can, but usually not until the beginning of December.

14. Have you ever re-gifted a Christmas present? Yes...my 5th grade teacher gave our class bear shaped ornaments that she signed on the back. I took a black magic marker and colored the back of the ornament so you couldn't see her signature anymore and gave it to my mom that year for Christmas. Brilliant!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas treats like gingerbread cookies, toffee, fudge....really, anything sweet!

16. Lights on the tree? Oh, yes!!

17. Favorite Christmas song? I have way too many favorites, but if I have to pick one, O Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Usually, we're traveling. Growing up, we were always at home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph!!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither....the top of my tree is super funky...see picture below from a previous post.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? When we're with Josh's family, Christmas Eve....with my family, Christmas morning. I really like Christmas morning better, but that is just what I'm used to.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? It always sneaks up on me and goes by way too fast!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love all of my bright colored, sparkly ornaments....and my pass-down ornaments from my grandmother and mom.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey and dressing.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new car with a big red ribbon on top! I think my husband is going to get this for me. He's so great! ;)

These questions are so fun, so I'm going to turn this into a tag....Marina, Karen (hopefully this will force you to update your blog), Julie, Jenni and Jamie....you're it!

An update on Joshy Poo...

Josh made it from Lusaka to London safely! He has an overnight layover there tonight. His plane departs tomorrow for Dallas at 10:45am London time....he arrives at DFW at 3pm!! Whooo hoooo! I'm so excited to see him...I can hardly stand it!

Thanks again for all of your prayers!

"O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!"

I know I said I would post these pictures last night, but mom and I didn't finish the tree until tonight. I think it turned out lovely....it gets better (and bigger) every year as I find new treasures to stick in it. Thanks, mom, for all of your help....you always add that extra splash of sparkle that every Christmas tree needs! I love you very much.

Here are a few pictures of the finished product....unfortunately, the pictures really don't do it justice, but you'll get the idea...


The Rives Family Christmas Tree 2008..."there's a lot of sap in here....a lot of sap!"


The sparkly snowflakes were my inspiration for this tree....mom and I found these at an adorable Christmas store in Odessa 2 years ago.


The sparkly white sticks are a new addition to the tree this year...mom found these at Pier 1 last year during their after Christmas sale.


The big read ornaments are a new addition as well. Mom is letting me borrow these....I can't afford them right now! :)


I incorporate traditional and non-traditional ornaments....some are passed down from my Gran (my mom's mom), my mom and Josh's mom...and I have purchased quite a few over the years as well.


Some of my favorite ornaments are from Josh and I's childhood....you can see one of Josh in this picture. He's such a cutie!

Remember...."MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER" when it comes to decorating Christmas trees! Have fun sprucing yours up this year!