The Holiday Version Of Face Forward, Onward March...

Today was an exceptionally busy day. This weekend is going to be even busier. It's the last day of November. Tomorrow is the first day of the last month of the year. For us, that's quite symbolic. December has always been our month to spread lots of bodacious holiday love and cheer for humans and animals. Unfortunately, a few things changed over the past couple of weeks that have made that a bit more challenging. But, we've got this. 

The Bodacious 12 Days Of Christmas Continues...

Our Bodacious 12 Days of Christmas began on Monday and we're going strong! On Monday we offered an adorable wooden slat style snowman with a crocheted hat and scarf. The following day, the item up for grab was this slat style wooden 'Let It Snow' sign. I used real slices of pinewood to make the 2 snowmen on each side. The sign also included a matching 'Let It Snow' Christmas tree ornament.

All I Want For Christmas Is...

I had a lengthy conversation with Lisa this afternoon after she got out of work. It started because she noticed a few things over the past couple of weeks. I was frazzled. Overwhelmed. My array of colorful sticky notes on the kitchen table had grown from a couple to several dozen. I ran out of space on the kitchen dry erase board for reminders. I had gravitated to being my own worst enemy. And, shamefully, I put store-bought bread and grocery store bakery blueberry muffins on the shopping list.

Our Bodacious 12 Days Of Christmas Has Officially Begun!

Our Bodacious 12 Days of Christmas began yesterday. We like to start this early so people have a chance to get their items to either display or gift. To kick things off, we offered a slat style snowman with a crocheted hat and scarf. It sold almost immediately.

A Lot Of People Are A Bit Surprised By The Simplicity Of Our Indoor Christmas Decorations

It was quite the festive weekend. Yesterday, we put up our Christmas Tree. That was after Lisa and our SoulSista joining forces to get the outside Christmas decor done the day before. It all looks gorgeous. By the looks of the outdoor Christmas decorations, you'd probably think that we go all out on the inside, but we don't.

We Have The Best Decorated House In Da Hood

We moved into our home in July of 2012. That December, we decorated the outdoors for Christmas. That has become a tradition. Each year, our outdoor decor has varied. Over the past few years, we've added to our collection of inflatables in the form of snowmen and added a couple of 3 foot Christmas trees on our porch railings. But, last year and this year, we quickly learned the devastating side of inflatables.

Over The Years, We've Learned The Difference Between The Needy And The Greedy

For as far back as I can remember, Lisa and I have always put in a tremendous amount of effort to assist those in need. We've raised money to provide families with Christmas dinners and gifts for their kids. I've lost count how many boxes of Bodacious Biscuit Love we shipped and donated. We've assisted pet parents in need. Provided meals for those who needed them. The list goes on. And on. And on.

For The First Time In Many Years, I'm Going To Allow Myself To Enjoy The Month Of December

I spent most of today in the workshop working on the cool handcrafted items that we'll be offering for the Bodacious 12 Days of Christmas that starts Monday. Shortly before Lisa arrived home from work, I finished up the housework. I didn't have to worry about dinner prep because we'll be feasting on leftovers for the next couple of days.

Our Simple Bodacious Thanksgiving Was Absolutely Wonderful

This past week has honestly been a blur. Over the weekend, I caught the "plague" that Lisa had. She still has a bit of lingering congestion. I worked full days, but it was quite a challenge. On Monday, I trudged through minor fever, aches, chills, and congestion.

Our Floors Were Decorated With Toys

I took this photo last week during the early afternoon hours. I was doing housework. I picked up all the kid's toys and distributed them into the 4 DIY Doggy Toy Boxes in the home office and living room. Lisa called during her break. After our chat, I finished cleaning the bathroom. I grabbed the vacuum and made my way back to the home office. This was waiting for me. I looked at Willa who was laying comfortably on the decorative chair. Her nub of a tail was wagging.

When Allergies Are Not Allergies. And, The "Plague" Knocks You On Your Butt

I didn't write a blog post on Sunday. Or yesterday. Too sick. Fever. Aches. Chills. That extended through today. I officially have what Lisa is almost over. The "plague." It sucks. I did my best to function today, but shortly after noon, I crawled into bed after taking cold medicine. All of the kids curled up against my body. We napped for over 2 hours.

I'm Keeping My Fingers Crossed That I Do Not Catch What Lisa Has...

Lisa has been sick with the nasty cold virus that's been going around. Last weekend, she spent most of the afternoons relaxing and napping on the sofa with the kids. She was feeling miserable. The antibiotic she was prescribed hadn't kicked in yet. I spent that weekend taking care of her and working.

It Has Taken Me Almost 45 Years To Embrace All 4 Seasons. I'm There.

We had our first accumulating snow of the season on the overnight. About 6 inches of snow fell before it changed over to sleet and freezing rain. Before I tucked Lisa and the kids into bed, we stood on the front porch admiring the snow. A few hours later, after falling asleep on the sofa while working on some blog columns, I woke up because the sound of the freezing rain hitting the house and windows in combination with the wind was loud.

A Lil' Advice To Maintain Balance Between The Humans And Your Furry Kids This Holiday Season

It never fails. This time of year, I always receive a few messages and emails from pet parents asking for a little advice on how to accommodate both their furry kids and their guests during holiday gatherings. Over the years people have shared many stories with me ranging from comical mishaps to family drama breaking out because Aunt Matilda got a few strands of dog hair on her $300 holiday dress.

Our Wooden Bodacious Country Holiday Snowmen Sold Out!

Over the past week, we've been working on our wooden Bodacious Country Holiday Snowmen. This was a DIY Dog Mom Project that we kept a little hush-hush. We only made 12. This project took a bit longer to complete because last weekend, Lisa was sick with a nasty cold that knocked her down. I had a large part in that because for most of Saturday and Sunday, I forced her to rest with the kids. On the sofa. Warm comfy blankets. Netflix. Naps. Snacks. Hydration.

When You Can't Control What Is Happening, Control The Way You Respond.

Earlier this week, a friend of mine posted something on Facebook that caught my attention. She's a social worker who primarily focuses on restoring peace and balance within a home. She also mediates in time of crisis and assists with Independent Living classes. My friend has been doing this for several decades. Like myself prior to retiring from providing Academic and Independent Living Tutoring services, she's had it. I wouldn't be surprised if she either retired or shifted her focus over the next year.

I Have One Obstacle Left In My Work At Home Dog Mom Schedule

One of the major daily struggles for me is to know when it's time to walk away from work stuff and proceed with everything that happens between the point when Lisa gets home from work and when she and the kids go to bed. I refer to that period of time as Our Bodacious Evening Routine. I struggle with that routine because it's never etched in granite.

We Have A Lot Of Bodacious Holiday DIY Dog Mom Projects In The Works!

Every year, for the past few years, I like to offer a unique "limited quantity" Bodacious Holiday DIY Dog Mom Project item. Last year, we made dog bone welcome signs. This year, in addition to our 2018 Bodacious Personalized Holiday Ornaments, we came up with another cool Bodacious Holiday DIY Dog Mom Project. We're only making 12 of them.

Work. Rest. Battling Stubbornness. And, Vegetable Soup For The Soul.

Our original plans for this morning was to grab a coffee and hit up a few Holiday Craft Fairs. We love visiting these events in November and December. Earlier in the week, we had spotted some advertisements in the papers and had cut them out. They sat on the counter. We were looking forward to a few hours outside of the house. Together. However, Lisa came down with a bad cold. It was too cold, wet, and windy for her to be out.

Getting Hooked Up To Our Leaf Blower Was One Of The Best Things I Did Today

I got up at 3:30 this morning, Made Lisa's breakfast and lunch. Made her coffee. When Lisa got up at 4:00, we went about our usual morning routine. Take the kids out. Make their breakfast. Give the kids their morning snack. Lisa got ready for work. I started on my work stuff.

Our New-To-Us Reclining Chair Is Everything That We've Been Looking For

A couple of years ago, we bought a new sofa. We had shopped around for quite a bit. We knew what we wanted and needed. In the Spring of 2016, a model that we had been looking at went on sale. Score! We went a tiny bit over budget, but to this day, our sofa looks brand new. It's comfortable, sturdy, and our entire family can snuggle comfortably on it.

Stick To The Recipes You've Been Making For Decades. Those Are The Best.

Many years ago, I went to a friend's house for Thanksgiving. She was a phenomenal cook and I enjoyed the many meals that she invited me to share with her and other guests. I was especially looking forward to her Thanksgiving spread. When I arrived, I was ready to dive in with any help that she needed to prepare the feast or set the table or whatever else. However, I barely had enough time to take my coat off before she grabbed my arm and pulled me into her bedroom.

It Will Not Be Happening. I Put A Cap On The Temptation.

Since retiring from Academic and Independent Living Tutoring earlier this year, I've had a lot of people reach out to me. Some wanted to know why. Most offered their support and were very understanding. A few were persistent about making exceptions. Others took me by surprise with suggesting I offer military style tutoring. I'll be the first to admit, I was a bit tempted, but now, nope.

Our 2018 Bodacious Personalized Holiday Ornaments

Lisa and I had a lot of discussions last month about our 2018 Bodacious Holiday Ornaments. In 2016, we made bone shaped ornaments out of salt dough. Last year, Lisa cut and sanded small wood rectangles that I painted, distressed and personalized for holiday ornaments. This year, we wanted to do something different. Simple. Rustic.

Take A Break. Relax. Exhale. Reflect.

It was another busy day for both of us. While Lisa tended to leaf maintenance and yard work, I baked homemade treats for our kids, made homemade snacks for Lisa's lunch, and whipped up a pumpkin bread to go with her coffee in the morning. Between bake times, I worked on blog columns at the kitchen table and our 2018 Bodacious Holiday DIY Dog Mom Projects.

An Unexpected Gift Made Our Day A Lot Easier...And Tastier.

This morning, Lisa and I both got up early. Work. Work. Work. Over the past week, we've been planning out our DIY Dog Mom Projects for the 2018 Bodacious Holiday Season. Lisa had a list of items she needed to cut and sand in her woodshop so I could work my magic in the Bodacious DIY Dog Mom Project Workshop. Lisa got most of the work done today because of the bad weather. Tomorrow, Lisa will be outdoors most of the day tending to leaf maintenance and yard work.

Dancing With The Kids Is Total Therapy

It's been a busy, stressful, and tough week in our Bodacious Home. I had a lot of end-of-month deadlines to meet. Yesterday marked the beginning of our 2018 Bodacious Holiday Season. On Wednesday, our Aunt Rena lost her battle with brain cancer. On Thursday, Lisa and I muted the world as we always do when a friend or family member passes. We take several steps back. On the outside. Looking in. We talked about a lot of stuff including some eye-opening moments over the past couple of weeks.

I'm Very Excited To Read This Cook Book That Is Almost 100 Years Old

Last night, we had our annual Halloween festivities. I made my cauldron of corn chowder, homemade bread, and pumpkin whoopie pies. We also put out some munchies and candy. We've done this every year since 2013. We fed all of our neighborhood family and a very special lady.