Ice Skating Date

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pic is of Roxie's "room in progress." So far, I don't think I've done any permanent damage in the paint department, but we still have several surfaces left. Wish me luck.

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!

YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT to share your favorite Thanksgiving holiday memory, and I'll put your name in a bowl for a drawing. The prize... THE NEW CHICK-FIL-A CALENDAR WITH ALL THE MONTHLY COUPONS!

The rules are as follows:

1. You only have to share one Thanksgiving memory, and it can be from any Thanksgiving. Not just Thanksgiving 2010.

2. You can leave the memory under the Comment Section of A Simple Life, on Facebook OR e-mail me!

3. You have until midnight Thursday, December 2 to leave your memory and name.

4. I will draw the winner of THE NEW CHICK-FIL-A CALENDAR WITH ALL THE MONTHLY COUPONS first thing Friday morning!

Happy Thanksgiving AND Merry Christmas!

ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT!

Beginning Monday, December 13, A Simple Life will be featuring The Twelve Days of Inflatables. That's right! I'll be sharing photos taken of some of the most interesting, funny and unique inflatables in and around our area. (Of course, none will be better than my JOY-ful Giant Santa Penguin, but it will fun just the same!)

I'm just trying to give you something to look forward to during this busy, busy month. As you all know, I'm a giver!

RANDOMNESS - Mikie came home last night with a very special Wal-Mart bag... just for me... and the Big Gold Van.

I am now the PROUD owner of reindeer antlers and a big red nose designed especially for decorating automobiles! YES! These accessories, along with my Giant Santa Penguin, have made my Christmas complete. (Well, almost. I'm still 95 Christmas cards short of my goal of 100... but you, the reader, still have time to fix that! No pressure.)

Of course, Roxie was mortified, and since I still want to have a good relationship with my daughter, I assured her (after much teasing) I would not use the antlers and nose unless we were going somewhere special. In other words, I wouldn't use them dropping her off or picking her up from school.

She obviously didn't believe me because this morning the accessories were "missing in action" having been hidden sometime in the middle of the night.

On the way to school this morning, Roxie informed me all was well. It might even be fun to turn the Big Gold Van into a Big Gold Reindeer. She has allowed me to pick her up this afternoon "accessorized." Her reasoning... "At least the Big Gold Van is the color of a reindeer. I don't think I could let you do it if the van was red or green or blue."

"The antlers and nose are under my bed. Way under. I'll see you this afternoon," she said as she got out of the van.

"I'll see you, too! I think I'll buy a Rudolph sweatshirt today so I'll match!"

"Yeah. That will be great, Mom." And she walked away ever so slightly shaking her pretty little head.

She'll understand one day. Life can be so very hard, sad, frustrating and overwhelming at times. Sometimes people need a little whimsy in their life. Sometimes people need to see a Big Gold Van/Reindeer driving down the road to bring a little smile to their lips.

One day she'll understand. A little whimsy is a good thing.

Blog Linkage - I have two links today. I don't want to weigh you down with too much reading material during this busy month.

1. Go to Confessions of a Pioneer Woman under My Blog List. Scroll down to the post entitled "Black Heels: The Book!" dated November 30. I think this one is going to be even better than her cookbook. I can't wait.

2. Go to Coal Creek Farms under My Blog List. Scroll down to the post entitled "So, you want children?" dated November 28. One word... hilarious. Nope. Two words... hilarious AND true!

Ice Skating Date

Let's face it. When it comes to sledding, snowball fights and the slightest chance of having a white Christmas in Alabama... well, chances are slim to NONE. But thankfully, we do have access to a wonderful ice skating facility... the Pelham Civic Complex near Oak Mountain.

Take a couple of hours out of your busy schedule, bundle up in coats, gloves and scarves and spend some one-on-one time ice skating with your guy or gal. Imagine gliding gracefully across the ice holding hands with your date with Christmas music playing over the loudspeaker. Ahhh!

Or you may be a wall hugger. There's no shame in that. Learning to ice skate together is a bonding experience. I'm a wall hugger myself on ice, so I know what I'm talking about!

Take time out to enjoy hot chocolate and a snack before hitting the ice again. This could easily become a holiday tradition!

For more information about time of operation, call 620-6448 or go to www.pelhamciviccomplex.com and click on "Public Skating Daily Schedule."

Have the best Thursday yet! The week has flown by. I'll be back Friday morning with Weekend Happenings and more Randomness. Oh! And I'll be announcing the winner of the CONTEST! You don't want to miss that, do you?

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting AND Whimsical Belinda