Christmas at School

Hello Everyone!

Today I got back to campus armed with some bows, ribbon, and wrapping paper. I fully intended to wrap presents...and after that was done, I felt the need to wrap some more. This happened:

Now, it's not like I INTENDED to wrap the door...but I think subconsciously I bought extra wrapping paper for this purpose. I sent the picture to my roommate (she's home this weekend) and she LOVES it. We are fully going to enjoy this for the next 15 days until break. 

Today's topic is going to be about having a good Christmas experience while you're either away from home at school, or just living in a tiny place where you can't get a huge tree and string lights up outside. 

Here's what we've done to our room so far. Maybe this will spring some ideas for you:

1. We have a tiny Christmas tree on the windowsill strung up with lights with a sparkly pine cone as the "star." 

2. We have Christmas lights strung up at one end of the room over our closets. Now, we've had these since October and will probably keep them up after Christmas, but in the Christmas season they make a lovely addition to the decorations. 

3. We now have our wonderful wrapped door. It was simple and easy to do, as well as been entertaining to look at. In fact, I bought the paper at the dollar store and it only took about half a roll, so it's quite a bargain as well. 

4. We are going to have a "fireplace." I bought a picture of some fire, and my roommate will be painting a fireplace hearth that we will then tape to the wall and enjoy throughout the holiday season. 

5. Lastly, we have small stockings for each of us in the room (including our fish Stephan) that will be taped up on the windowsill and hang over the fireplace mentioned above. 

Those are just some small decorations that you can use if you're in a tight spot. But remember, if you're in college, ask your roommate first before you go about wrapping your door or stringing lights up all over the place. 

That's about it for now! 

Until next time, 

Lasagna Claus

P.S.- 24 Days Until Christmas! 

GUYS! IT'S DECEMBER ALREADY! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 

Back from the Break

Good afternoon everyone!

As most of you know, the school systems in Maryland (and indeed around the country) take breaks for Thanksgiving and holiday festivities of the like. That is precisely why I did not write blogs last week...or so I would like you to think.

Let's jump into it! OH MA GOODNESS YOU GUYS! It's 28 Days Until Christmas! THAT'S LESS THAN A MONTH! ARE YOU EXCITED?! I'M EXCITED!!! CAN YOU TELL?!

Well, very recently I went to the craft store with high hopes of finding a Christmas craft to put together with my family. I left however having spent 50 dollars on crafts and materials to make for my friends...and a flimsy Christmas craft to construct with Mom and Glenn...it's not all that flimsy, but I ended up more excited for the other crafts that I bought. I really do think people will enjoy them.

So, I'd like to hear what you guys are going to do for the holiday season! Are you planning on making crafts for anyone? If you are, but don't have any ideas (or aren't art savvy, like myself) you can check out the post I made a couple months back with Christmas craft ideas for any age or art preference!

I hope you find something nice if you're not making crafts, but keep in mind, a handmade Christmas card is always a good idea if you don't really have or WANT to give someone a gift.

Merry Crafting! See you all Wednesday!

Until next time,
Lasagna Claus

P.S.- I said this before but it's so exciting: 28 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

More Christmas Activities

Hello Everyone! My deepest apologies for having missed my post TWICE this week! I can't believe that I forgot! I was driving along on Friday and suddenly remembered that I forgot!

Anyway, I'm going to post now!

This week I began all of my classic Christmas activities.

On Friday, I went out with Alex to Michael's in hopes of finding a Christmas craft. I also got some yarn because there was a sale on yarn! I had to get some because I've been working a lot on my Dad's scarf and I seem to be running out of yarn more quickly than I had been before. Oh well! I got some yarn, and some peppermint bark and it was delicious. On the way back, I had a little spaz attack on the road because I changed the radio station and there was CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING! I wasn't expecting Christmas music to be on until a couple days before Thanksgiving, but it must have started earlier this year. Not that I'm complaining though, because I LOVE IT! When I heard the song, I even teared up a little bit! It was nuts...

On Saturday, Alex, Katie and I all went over to the community center and assembled a gingerbread house! It turned out wonderfully if I do say so myself. We spent about three hours working on this house, only to have it sit in our room. It's just so beautiful! How could we eat it?! Plus, with all of the dirty dishes that we had to use from the community center, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to eat it anyway.

Then, today, I spent the day watching Christmas movies on ABC Family with my roommate, Katie. ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas is starting soon and I'm super excited. I got to watch Holiday in Handcuffs which was really exciting because it's one of my favorites (even if it is a ridiculous plot line). If you don't believe me, check out the other post from about a month ago about the Christmas movies and their ridiculous plots....it's pretty funny actually.

That's about it for today. I promise I'll stay on schedule as best as I can.

Until next time,
Lasagna Claus

P.S.- Only 36 Days Until Christmas! HOLY CRAP! That's so exciting!

How Soon is TOO Soon?

Hello Everyone!

So just a quick update into the life of me and then we'll jump into today's topic. Today, I registered for my spring semester classes. Do you remember last week's blog in which I discussed the pains of winter? Well, this is another one to add to the list. Teenagers (regardless of the fact that we're in college) shouldn't be given complete responsibility for choosing their classes. I was SPAZZING out while trying to pick my classes. One of them didn't have enough seats, another wasn't at the right time...it was a never ending deboccle (did I spell that right?). Anyway, I finally got registered, with some of the classes that I needed to take next semester and everything turned out mighty fine. I just wanted to complain a bit.

SO, here's today's topic: how soon is TOO soon to start singing Christmas carols? to decorate the house (both in and out)? to start buying Christmas gifts? to pick up/set up the tree?

Recently, I've been hearing a lot about these topics; mostly because I happen to be in conversations about the topic because I've been listening to Christmas music since August. However, it seems to me that I happen to be hearing more about this topic than usual. This morning in fact, I was listening to 106.5 (which for you non-Marylanders out there is the station which plays all the newest hits). They happened to be in the very same argument that I have been in with people. One of the DJ's said that she was going to put her lights up this weekend, and the others disagreed stating that it was "too early" to put up lights. Now, I disagreed naturally because I had just put up MY lights AND tree this past weekend with Glenn. However, since I was driving I couldn't call and give my opinion. One woman who called in said that this is just about the time that she begins to decorate as well, so I think it's safe to say that as far as household decorations go, this is about the time to start putting those up.

Now onto the music of the holiday season. Again, this morning on the radio I heard a story about a department store in Canada which had decided to play Christmas music for the season. However, so many customers entered the store and were "appalled at the tunes coming out of the ceiling" that they complained and had the department store shut off the music. REALLY?! You're THAT invested in that store that you complain to the corporate company about the choice of music?! That's stupid, I'm sorry, but that's stupid. I understand how some may have the opinion that now is too soon to starting playing holiday music, that's fine. That being said, some of us quite ENJOY the holiday music and look forward to hearing it in stores. Just because you don't want to listen to it, doesn't mean that you get to destroy the holiday enjoyment of the other shoppers.

As far as gifts go, it's never too soon to start thinking about others. If you see something or make something that you think someone you know would like, GET IT! SAVE IT! It's not that bad.

How do you all feel? I feel as if I'm being one-sided in this aspect (and I am a bit biased). Leave a comment down below and answer me this:

How soon do you start putting up decorations? Do you think others would consider it too soon?
and
How soon do you start listening to Christmas music? How soon do your local radio stations start playing Christmas music?

That's it for today!

Until next time,
Lasagna Claus

P.S.- 42 Days Until Christmas!

The Twelve Pains of Winter

Hello Everyone (and especially Katie),

Today's blog is a little early because a friend of mine decided to be impatient and request me to write RIGHT NOW!

Okay, so today I just started wearing my winter fleece coats and all of that jazz. This morning when I woke up, I made so much static electricity; I probably could have lit a light bulb with all of the static that I had to fight with in my hair this morning. It's to the point where I can HEAR the static...I don't approve.

So I've decided to write today's blog about the things in winter that just SUCK.

1. Static cling: morning, afternoon or evening static cling is always there rearing it's ugly stupid face. Your hair sticks to your face, you shock yourself on the metal appliances or door handles, and your clothes make sounds and sparks when you put on/take them off. It's DANGEROUS. Last year I saw a video of a woman wearing a cashmere sweater (a known harbor-er of static electricity) filling up her gas tank. When she went back to get in her car from the pump, her car and sweater exploded into a shower of sparks and fire! HOW IS THAT NOT TERRIFYING?! I never want to pump my own gas in the summer, let alone when there's the chance of me exploding!

2. Cold cars/steering wheel: I don't know about you all but my car interior is mostly pleather (which, for those who don't know is fake leather). Therefore, when I get in the car, whether it is summer or winter, the car is at the EXTREME ends of the temperature spectrum. More specifically, in the winter, my steering wheel and seats are so cold to the point of me being concerned that Jack Frost himself may pour out of them and possess me. I HAVE TO WEAR WINTER SKIING GLOVES TO DRIVE! That's ridiculous! I would like to know that I'm not alone in this pain. However, on the funny side of this conundrum: one morning I got in my car and my shirt (unbeknownst to me) was high up on my back and not being covered by my jacket. This means that my back went straight onto the un-heated tundra temperature surface of my seat and I FREAKED OUT! It was so cold! Now every time I get in my car I have to make sure all of my skin is covered.

3. Chapped lips/dry skin: THIS STUFF SUCKS! I don't have a lot to say about it because any normal human being (no offends if you're not normal; it's a joke that I'm trying to make here) has experienced both of these. I personally have to put lotion on two and three times a day, and Chapstick at least five times a day. That's just sad...but if I didn't I probably would be chapped beyond belief and rolling on the floor trying to scratch all the itches that present themselves on my skin. It's like winter is out to get you.

4. "Wintery mix": what the hell is this?! I see it all on the Weather Channel and I hate it. Decide on a level of precipitation you stupid clouds! Snow or rain?! Wintery mix just doesn't cut it anymore; especially when I have school riding on it.

I feel as if I'm getting a bit too rant-y so I'm going to stop here.

Until next time,
Lasagna Claus

P.S.- 45 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

It's Beginning to Look a LOT like Christmas!

Hello Everyone!

Yes, I probably have used this title before for a post but due to the fact that it is SNOWING outside right now, I thought it appropriate. Anyway, as I sit typing before you, I am currently listening to The Nutcracker Ballad Suite (which is 30 minutes long) on full blast, enjoying my newly dyed brown hair, and thinking up clever things to put in today's blog. OH! Before I jump into the material for today's post, I've decided to do Monday, Wednesday and Friday posts instead of daily posts. That way I get more time to think about what I want to write, and you get a day off from laughing so hard that you get stitches...that IS why you need a day off isn't it?! I'm funny, I promise!!

Okay, I thought of a subject that would be nice to talk about. We've talked about the decorations that are put out for Christmas time, however, I'd like to specifically talk about LIGHTS! My roommate and I have a string of pastel Christmas lights over both of our closets and they just bring life into the room. Of course, we can't sleep with them on due to the fact that they are incredibly bright, and a fire hazard; however, whenever I am in the room, I make a point to plug them in and back in the Christmas-y joy. Sometimes if I'm writing a paper at my desk, I'll just glance over at them and end up spending a full five minutes just staring at the wall.

But enough about my measly string of lights. Do you all remember that movie that was really bad about the family that wanted to have their house seen from outer space with all of their lights? Well, in the future, I want to be one of those houses. I will make it a point in the beginning of November to stock up on all the newest light fixtures and have a team of people come out to affix my house with lights. In fact, I aspire to be like one of the families that lives in my neighborhood. They wrap ALL of the very tall and thin trees in their yard with lights. Now, I'm not talking just a few wraps around the trunk, I'm talking tree-made-out-of-lights kind of light show. Every time I drive by there at night I just want to stop and stare. Here's what it looks like:

Yeah, there's trees underneath those lights. It's a little bit ridiculous, but I love it. However, the family doesn't do the lights themselves so I don't think they would get the same satisfaction and excitement as my family does when we put up our meager strings of lights on the roof. 

One last thing about lights: WHAT'S WITH THEM?! One light burns out and the whole strand doesn't work normally?! What is that?! And then if you turn the lights a certain way they blink?! WHAT?! I'm just confused by the whole thought process. Some times the package doesn't even say: "will flash." It's stupid...but I love lights too much not to use them. 

That's it! 

Until next time, 

Lasagna Claus

P.S.- 47 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! The Christmas Can-Can has BEGUN! 

I'm Back!

Hello Everyone!

After having taken my two month hiatus and settling into college life, I have decided to come back to writing. Like before, I'm going to try my best to write every day, but if I don't make that, at least expect twice or three times a week.

So here's where we stand right now as far as my life: I've currently been wearing a sling and a heating pad on my back for about two days because I took a bad fall. I was running and a friend of mine accidentally tripped me, so...yeah. I've been to a couple doctors and it's been decided that nothing is broken, just a little bumped and bruised. My back, however, is "in spasm" which basically means I need to take some muscle relaxers and...relax...School has been going well, and I'm doing okay in all of my classes. Friends are good, I enjoy having such a close knit group; it's more different than high school because I see these people ALL the time.

Anyway, enough of the personal stuff. Did you know: IT'S 49 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! That's less than 50! Not by much, but you get the point. I'm really excited for this year because due to the fact that I have like ZERO money, I will be making a bunch of my gifts. I already kind of have a plan for some specific people...

So there you go, all caught up on what's happening here at Stevenson. I'll talk to you all sometime soon!

Until next time,
Lasagna Claus

P.S.- 49 Days! Aren't you excited?!