It’s been a melancholy week, with plenty of tragedy in the news.  In these times, I am reminded that it is the simplest things in my life that I value the most.  Despite all of the bad news, there were a few things that made me really smile this week.

Leftovers from Christmas

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I’ve been making my list, and checking it twice.  Yep, it’s my traditions list.  There are just certain rituals that I cannot escape every single December – in fact, I look forward to them all year. 

It’s just not Christmas in our family unless we . . .

1.  Pay a visit to Santa. 

I refuse to stand in those long lines at department stores or malls and pay money for pictures with Santa.  Honestly, that’s my definition of hell.  I prefer take the kids to the free Santa at the local tree farm.  That’s where I eavesdrop and get a hysterical earful.

Here’s last year’s snapshot. My four year old knew her window was short so she’s wasn’t wasting a second.   The two year old never got a word in. 

“Santa, make sure the puppy carrier you bring me has the spotted dog, not the one with the plain brown dog, no I want the spotted puppy in the purple doggie carrier.  Make sure !  And I want the Polly Pockets with the puppies in the orange box.  The orange box, okay?  And I want the Dalmations movie, not the first one with the mean Cruella, the other one.  I want number two.  Number two !  Dalmations number two!  You got that Santa ? 

Oh.  And I think my brother wants a train.” 

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Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no!  it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken.

-Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116

recited at our wedding

September 5, 1999

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Yep, it’s still me.   Just a little enhanced.  LOL.  

Ooooooh, it’s all just soooooo purty!   Well at least I think so.  You’re looking at the nearly completed, totally transformed, new and improved Centsational Girl™!  I’ve been working with a site designer for the last few weeks with a new concept for where I want to take this blog, and we’re so close to achieving the aesthetic goal.   September is my birthday month, so this site is a Happy Birthday present to me from Mr. CG.  Awwww, thanks shmoopie. 

I must admit, I miss my peonies and my damask background a little bit, but the ‘bloom was off the rose’ so to speak.  Now I’m loving the new illustrated header and the amazingly organized navagation bar.

Say farewell to the old CG:

* Sniff Sniff.  Sigh *

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Okay, so I finally sat down to answer some of your questions from this recent post.  Quite frankly, I’d rather talk about DIY or design instead of myself, so I’m going to answer a few questions now and perhaps some more later.   Because I’d rather focus on some of my upcoming projects.  So here goes:

Q from Jen and Maman Tattoo, Your girl’s room is so beautiful. What does your little boy’s room look like? 

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