Mindless Monday, Blog Linkage, High-Brow Seasonal Traditions

Good Monday morning!

RANDOMNESS #1 - I know some of you are wondering about my infamous CHRISTMAS CARD COUNT.

Today is December 10, 2012... and I have exactly SEVEN cards. That's right! SEVEN!

I realize my count is going to be a little low this year, and that is fine.

Some of you might be saying, "I haven't received a card from YOU, Enchanting Belinda," and you would be correct. My cards are in the process of being addressed and mailed, and I've made this upcoming Friday my deadline.

I want to give you something to look forward to this week!

RANDOMNESS #2 - I don't know if you noticed or not, but The Chick's hair had gotten long. I mean really long... for her.

She told me to call for a haircut. But I didn't, because I knew she would change her mind.

Five minutes later, she told me NOT to call for a haircut.

(Do I know my Chick, or what?)

This happened eight more times over a seven-day period.

And then one day she texted me from school and it read, "I NEED a haircut TODAY!"

I waited five minutes.

Nothing.

I waited five minutes more.

Nothing.

Within the next five minutes, she texted me again saying, "What time is my haircut?"

Okay. The Chick meant business.

And this wasn't going to be a normal trim. No, sir.

She wanted to do the Locks of Love thing. We're talking ten inches of hair. We're talking about getting rid of "the cascade" of red hair. We're talking about a major lifestyle change.

And to be honest, I thought she would chicken out.

But she didn't. And as the pics below show, she's just as pretty with swingy, shorter hair as she was with "cascading down between her shoulders" hair.

Locks of Love. It's a good thing.

RANDOMNESS #3 - Mikie and I went on a Christmas Home Tour yesterday.

I didn't invite Mikie. In fact, Mike asked me if I would like for him to go with me so we could spend the afternoon together.

And he wasn't kidding.

So I said, "Yes," and then I explained to him he would probably be the only male in attendance, and there were certain things a person must not do when on a Christmas Home Tour.

1. If a door is closed, under no circumstances do you OPEN IT!

2. You do not walk into someone's closet... EVER.

3. You do not check out the mattresses on the beds.

4. If food is being served, you eat the food and drink the drink in the room it is being served. You do not walk around a stranger's house holding a glass of red punch.

5. You do not critique family photos.

6. You do not push buttons of any kind... any where.

7. You do not go into laundry room areas.

These were the basic rules I used with Roxie when she attended Home Tours with me. Little did I know, Mikie needed a few more rules.

1. You do not open ovens, refrigerators or pantry doors... even though we've been talking about kitchen appliances and we've done this a little bit at Lowe's.

2. When I ask a question about a piece of beautiful copper tubing attached to the backsplash over the equally beautiful gas stove, you DO NOT turn the knob to see what it does.

FYI - It is a "pot filler." If you need water while cooking, you just reach over the eyes of the stove and use the water from the beautiful copper tubing to fill your pots. When you are NOT cooking on the stove and just going through the home during a Christmas Home Tour, you DO NOT touch the beautiful copper tubing on the backsplash... because you might accidentally fill up one of the gas eyes with water... which is what happened.

And that is when I broke Rule No. 7 above and hid in the laundry room until Mikie cleaned up the mess.

All in all, he enjoyed himself very much... and so did I.

I took a few "snippet" type pictures of this and that of a decoration I liked here and there.

Actually, I liked everything, but I didn't want to spend the entire time behind the camera.

All three of the homes were uniquely different, but so beautiful.

I loved the golden deer in the entryway. It was so festive and pretty.

This centerpiece was very eye-catching. The tables were set very simply because the centerpiece did all the work. Loved it.

It's fun to see all the different colors people use (instead of just red and green). This pink and lime green bow was the color theme in the children's area of one house.

And a tree by the pool... Well, that is just too cool.

Santa was present at two of the homes. Carolers greeted us as we walked into the first home. Fresh popped popcorn was served in the media center of a home while White Christmas played on the big screen. (I could have stayed in that room FOREVER.)

It was a wonderful Tour.

Blog Linkage

Kelle Hampton hosted her second annual North Pole Party this past weekend, and she made a little six-minute movie to record all of the happenings.

It is so good.

Go to www.kellehampton.com and read her post entitled "Journey to the North Pole."

High-Brow Seasonal Traditions

Mike and I are on the lookout for new Christmas Traditions for just the two of us (as the kids get older and start making more and more of their own plans).

That doesn't mean we're throwing away the old. We're just adding a couple of new things for "us" as the nest gets emptier and emptier over the next few years.

And just between you and me... Mike isn't aware we're looking for new Christmas Traditions. I like to spring stuff on him from time to time.

It keeps the marriage alive, you know!

1. The Alabama Ballet - The Nutcracker

The Alabama Ballet remains one of only seven companies is the world granted the right to perform this holiday classic by the Balanchine Trust. All performed to Balanchine's exacting specifications; dazzling choreography, opulent costumes and extravagant sets make this production unlike any other. Let our professional company of 35 dancers show you how spectacular The Nutcracker can be.

Details:

Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama 35229

Tickets range from $20 to $55.

Friday, December 14, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 15, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 16, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, December 21, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 22, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 23, 2:30 p.m.

2. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

For the first time ever, Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be performing their acclaimed rock opera, "The Lost Christmas Eve" live! Join us this Winter for the exciting on-stage premiere of "The Lost Christmas Eve," a heart-warming story of loss and redemption on a magical Christmas Eve in New York City.

Details:

Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) Arena and Exhibition Halls
2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203

$29.00 Ticket + $11.65 Fees = $40.65
$59.00 Ticket + $13.15 Fees = $72.15
Tickets available through Ticketmaster or at the BJCC Central Ticket Office. The CTO is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

December 12, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

3. Holiday Film Series at The Alabama Theatre.

Join us for the annual Holiday Film Series at The Alabama Theatre. Watch your old favorites and discover new ones! Fun for the whole family. Additionally, movie-goers can enjoy refreshments and sing carols with the Mighty Wurlitzer. Honestly, you have not fully experienced Christmas in Birmingham if you have not sung carols in The Alabama Theatre prior to a classic movie.

Holiday Inn
Monday, December 10, 2012
7:00 p.m.

Elf
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
7:00 p.m.

The Santa Clause
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
7:00 p.m.

Home Alone
Thursday, December 13, 2012
7:00 p.m.

Christmas Vacation
Friday, December 14, 2012
7:00 p.m.

It's A Wonderful Life
Saturday, December 15, 2012
7:00 p.m.

White Christmas
Sunday, December 16, 2012
2:00 p.m.

Christmas Vacation
Monday, December 17, 2012
7:00 p.m.

Miracle on 34th Street
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
7:00 p.m.

It's A Wonderful Life
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
7:00 p.m.

Elf
Thursday, December 20, 2012
7:00 p.m.

A Christmas Story
Friday, December 21, 2012
7:00 p.m.

The Polar Express
Friday, December 21, 2012
2:00 p.m.

White Christmas
Saturday, December 22, 2012
7:00 p.m.

The Polar Express
Friday, December 22, 2012
2:00 p.m.

Have a wonderful week. The Faulkner Five will be going to basketball games, working jobs, taking finals, attending Volleyball Banquets, working on Christmas Puzzles, shopping, wrapping and trying out a couple of new recipes this week. I'll be back Friday morning with Weekend Happenings and more Christmas things to share.

Take care, and I'll talk to you Friday!

Sincerely,

The Enchanting and Hustling and Bustling Belinda

P.S. I have a couple more Blast From the Past Christmas pictures. Enjoy!

Roxie and Hannah doing a little Christmas baking back in the day!

The Boy and The Lovely Melia FOUR Christmases ago after a band concert.

A day at the Tree Farm with Josh and Mikie.

We haven't changed much in four years, have we?