Yuletide Stress

I love the holidays, and this year Christmas is going to be particularly enjoyable because the family is coming to stay with us!  I love spending time with my family, and I also love hosting (and the control that comes with it), but I have been having trouble getting myself ready for the holidays this year.  I have been particularly exhausted lately, so nothing on my to do list is getting done.  Today is the18th of December, and that means I only have four days to get my butt into christmas gear.  Oh my!  Can I do it?  Definitely not up to my normal standards.  If I manage to get a nice big burst of energy, I think I can at least get the big ticket items taken care of before the family arrives on Wednesday. 

And out pops the list maker in me.  Below is my BIG TICKET ITEM to do list. 

1. Christmas shopping (Nope, I have not bought a SINGLE gift yet)
2. Buy a christmas tree (put on the lights)
3. Buy christmas ornaments
4. Grocery shop for company & Christmas Dinner
5. Buy 1 airmattress, 1 blanket, 1 duvet cover
6. Fix leaky airmatress OR buy a replacement
7. Reserve parking for my sister in our building

If I'm not able to manage anything other than the items on this list, everything will be OK.

Cross your fingers for me that I don't need a 3 hour nap this weekend!

Gimme a break, gimme a break: Vacation Planning (or the kit kat song)

B and I want to take a much needed vacation in February.  We haven't been on a vacation together in about a year (not counting trips to see family or overnight camping trips of course), which is really odd for us.  We're the type of couple that generally goes on at least two, possibly three vacations every year.  Unfortunately, my hearing loss and 5 weeks off from work on disability made me reluctant to request any vacation.  Then B started his new job in July didn't feel like he could request a real vacation for a little while.  Now it's December, and I'm just ITCHING to get myself out of the area. 

The Options:

• adventure vacation vs. warm & relaxing vacation (I am leaning towards an all inclusive with some adventure options)
• local destion (driving) vs. getting away (flying)
• Forida vs. Mexico vs. Jamaica vs. New Mexico (I don't know where I got that from, I just felt compelled to write it).

What to do... what to do?  Anyone have any fabulous but reasonably priced ideas for us?

To Relax?

or Adventure?