Ten on Tuesday (The Inaugural!)

Many of my blogging friends frequently do a "Ten on Tuesday" feature, and I've always wanted to do one, but have never gotten around to it. Also, I can never think of ten random thoughts/events to put on it, or remember to do it on Tuesday. Anyway, I was lucky enough to think of it before my Tuesday is over, so as follows is my inaugural 10 on Tuesday. (Note: Chances are, I won't post one every Tuesday, but will try to when I remember!)

1.  Sunday was Christmas Tea, an annual event that I look forward to. I was so, so excited to go, and as it turns out, I wasn't able to this year. *sad face*  The original plan was for my mom and Gina to go, and Emily and I would join the party later when we were finished at Sunday school. What happened was completely opposite. Gina didn't go because Wyatt got sick, my mom didn't go because Gina didn't (Why, I'm not sure...), and by the time Emily and I got back from Sunday school, it was nearly 1:00, and Emily wouldn't have been able to stay at that point because she had to go to her in-laws' for their Christmas, and then I was the lone ranger who didn't (and probably should've) go because by the time all of this was figured out, it seemed too late to even be fashionably late...Next year I will be there!!!!!!!

2.  Last night was the annual Christmas concert at the mall. Everything went relatively well, minus a couple of minor errors. I and my fellow Band/Choir Seniors received my/our Christmas Rat!!! It is definitely a rite of passage for each Pioneer Band Senior. I was excited because I even got a new outfit for the occasion! I found the perfect maroon sweater dress at Ross last Thursday, and I decided that it would be perfect for both the concert and Christmas Eve Mass! The only issue I have with my dress is that it was quite warm at the concert, but otherwise lovely!

3.  Last night (actually this morning) I remembered to set my alarm, and I got up to see the lunar eclipse. My parents also joined me for the viewing, and it was as awesome as I had hoped it would be! I bundled up, grabbed a couple blankets, a pillow, and my sleeping bag. After covering my nose and extremities, I snuggled up under the stars! My dad didn't last long out there (he enjoys his sleep too much), but my mom and I were out for about 30-45 minutes. There at the end, I started dozing off a little, but eventually my mom woke me up and sent me inside so that neither of us would catch pneumonia from the cold night air.

4.  Last Saturday I made an impromptu trip to town that resulted in me getting the bulk of my Christmas shopping done! I hadn't really worried much about shopping up until last weekend, because of college finals and other things. Thanks to Old Navy and their awesome sale, I am virtually finished with my shopping!!! Also, thanks to my mom for being a trooper and staying with me and chauffeuring me around town!

5.  I still have some shopping to be done, but only minor details. I do have something for everyone, but there's a couple more things that I would like to get to complete the gifts. Perhaps my mom and I will venture into town on Thursday to cross that item off of the list...

6.  I felt very successful, because today I finished wrapping all of the presents that I have as of yet. I do believe that this is the earliest that I have been this far along in relation to Christmas! Of course there will be more wrapping to be done after I finish my shopping, but it won't be so time-consuming then. It took me about 2 1/2 hours to finish wrapping, but now I'm done! As a final note, I love wrapping gifts, and it is one of the things I look forward to most about Christmas. There are times that I would like to offer gift-wrapping services around Christmas as a way to make some extra money, that's how much I like wrapping gifts! Present wrapping is an event for me, as my OCD comes into play with this, but I love love love it!

7.  While I was wrapping my presents today, I also managed to put off the inevitable of some pre-Christmas cleaning that is absolutely necessary. I have set my goals for tomorrow, and I hope that I will be as productive tomorrow as I plan on being. Also, my mom and I have decided to go to town on Thursday for it to serve as our motivation for going to town. Actually, it could be a punishment of sorts, depending on the crowds and the overall morale of the people in the stores...fingers crossed that even if there are crowds that everyone will be in good spirits!

8.  My family has decided to do our Christmas on Sunday (the 26th). It allows for both Gina & Emily to spend time with their families, and not to have to flitter from celebration to celebration. For the meal, we are having smoked pork loin (my dad is masterminding that scheme), harvest potatoes (a personal favorite of mine), green beans/green salad (we need the veggies after the eventual carb overload that surrounds holidays), perhaps some dill bread (a wondrous creation in and of itself), and cheesecake. I wasn't completely aware that when I suggested we have cheesecake that I would end up making it. Yes, I did forsee that as a possiblility, and I did volunteer myself to prepare them, and I have actually wanted to make a real cheesecake (Not the easy 10 minute recipe I learned in Home Ec) for quite some time now, so now I have my opportunity! I plan on making one plain cheesecake and one turtle cheesecake (my personal favorite). Hopefully, all will go well, and I will also remember to update everyone on the outcome!

9.  I love Christmas movies, actually, my whole family does. We have quite the collection, including all of the classics, plus a few newer ones. To name a few: "Christmas Vacation", "Miracle on 34th Street", "The Santa Clause" (the entire trilogy), "A Christmas Story", "Elf", "Home Alone" (only the original, I don't like the others), and a Hallmark movie called "A Dog Named Christmas" (A very touching movie). Out of all of the movies my favorites are "Home Alone", "Elf", and " Santa Clause 1". Last night I watched "Elf", but fell asleep halfway through. Tonight I watched "Home Alone" for the first time this Christmas season, and, just like every other time, I nearly busted a gut laughing!

10.  For something random, as I was catching up on some laundry this evening, I happend to be folding some sheets. I realized something while doing this: I have absolutely no idea how to fold a fitted sheet! It was a highly frustrating ordeal, and I decided that I should just strategically time when I wash sheets in relation to when they are changed, so as to avoid the entire folding process completely! Nevertheless, I ended with two sheet sets, neatly folded! :)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!!