I was talking to my dad the other day, saying that I have such a bad memory about gifts that I received as a child.

We had quite the walk down memory lane, and he pulled this gem out.

MONCHICHIS

Did you have one? I can still remember the song that went with the commercial!

I think I need to go troll Ebay for a new Monchichi doll. :)

Let's play "how well does Amanda know her husband?"!  I've seen this "meme" on several of my friends' blogs, and thought I'd give it a try here on Thanksgiving Eve, since he is one of the people I'm the most thankful for!

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?

The history channel, football, maybe an old action movie

2. You’re out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?

Italian or French

We took Eli off of allergy shots (for dust mites) at the end of last spring.  He did fine over the summer, but once August hit (can you say ragweed?), we started him back on Zyrtec and Flonase.   Well, three months later, and if he doesn't stop snorting and snuffling, I may kill him.  So back to the allergist we went. 

--

The verdict?  He's back on the shots, not just for dust mites, but also for mold and trees.  Sigh.  What does this mean?  Three shots, every week for six months.   Then we'll go to every 2 weeks, then every 3 weeks, until we're back to the once a month shots he was on last spring.  Sigh. 

I think I blogged last month about how difficult Abigail's 13th birthday was.  We never even ended up going to the cemetery or anything.  I wanted to commemorate this birthday somehow.  I mentioned to Steve how I really wished that I could get a piece of jewelry or something.  The money wasn't there, though, and that was the end of it.

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I went on Money Saving Mom a couple of weeks ago, and Crystal was doing a give-away.  I don't always enter those.  She has such a large readership, and it's such a shot in the dark to win.  But the prize this time caught my eye.  It was a beautiful necklace by Lisa Leonard Designs.  You absolutely must go to her site and check out the work she does.  I decided right then and there that I would enter the contest, but *when* I didn't win, I would save my pennies and buy one of these gorgeous necklaces.

--

You know what's coming, right?

I WON!  I WON!!!!!!!  I almost fell over when Crystal emailled me!  It was as if God just reached down to hug me, and said, "See, I was paying attention!  I knew you wanted something like this--here you go, daughter!". 

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Lisa was an absolute peach to work with, and got my necklace out so quickly.  I love it, I love it, I LOVE IT.

I decided to go with her "Family Tree" design, and have all of our names put on the necklace. 

Isn't it beautiful?  I'm so grateful to God for this blessing!

Off and on something comes up about my modeling days and some of you will contact me by message or e-mail and ask about it.  I modeled from the time that I was 9 until - literally - days before I married at 25.  I also doubled as a make-up artist from 19 to around 32.  I know...if you know me now you'd think that was impossible!  lol  I often say that I'm rebelling as I've given up the suits and 4" heels for jeans and Burkenstocks!    And I'm MUCH happier now!!

But, I thought I'd share a few of my portfolio pics with you...

This is from my very first portfolio shot in 1969 at age 10.  I had done a couple of runway shows before I even had a portfolio.  I was with this agency until I was 16.

Different agency. This was from 1977, age 18, taken in Downtown Dayton, Ohio.  I always loved location shots and doing commercials.  I really enjoyed the switch on a 'formal' look by going w/a tux instead of a long gown.  I wish I could find a still of the "Arby's Days"...I used to do local Arby's commercials.

This was a fun headshot taken around 1980, age 21.  I actually had a MONSTEROUS stack perm and calmed it down for the day's work!    At this point I was also teaching at this particular agency part-time, working the Clinique counter at a dept. store full-time and trying to have a social life.  I made myself sick and was hospitalized shortly after this was taken.  That's when my modeling started to take a back seat ... my agency was NOT amused.  I wasn't there that much longer and ended up going free-lance, which actually paid more anyway.  So it worked out in the end. 

Well, there's the show.  It certainly seems like looking at a movie of another person's life now, and, in many ways, it is.  I wasn't a Christian until I was 23 and the Lord is SO gracious, forgiving and good to me!  I went through a broken engagement from an atheist, became a Christian in 1982 and married my wonderful Christian husband in 1984.  I am undeserving and grateful!

 As a side note...the last time I modeled were the last 2 months before we married, in 1984, in a wedding series that traveled to about 10 different stores.  The wedding gown I had picked out for our own wedding happened to be in the show and the coordinators let me wear it in the shows in one of my sets!!  My sweet Ty, when he would take me to some of the shows, knew which "bride's maids" walked out before me in the set when I wore my gown and he would lower his head and look at the floor until that set was over so that he wouldn't see me in my gown until I walked down OUR isle.  Wasn't that sweet?  He said that whenever I walked out in that gown the audience would ooo and ahhh and it was a terrible temptation to look.  lol 

So, there you have it.  Hope you enjoyed the journey.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...Cold, gloomy rain.  But it's quiet and comforting all at the same time.  Makes home seem all the more cozy and warm.

I stole this from JenIg's blog--she got it from her friend, Shay.  I also have a friend named Shay, so I'll just pretend that she sent it to both of us.

(I actually started this post earlier, but tried to use my Google toolbar, which kept freezing up my computer, and so I lost the post.  The toolbar has been uninstalled, let's see how this goes, shall we?)

JenIg is, of course, wise & witty--let's see if I have anything in common with her!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  Wrapping paper.

2. Real tree or Artificial?  Artificial!  I finally convinced my family that it was the way to go!

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving.  And since it's fake, we can leave it up as long as we want, or until I freak about about needing more room in the living room.

5. Do you like eggnog?  No.  

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  I really have a horrible memory.  I remember getting a Barbie RV, which Christine and I played with a lot.  My aunt used to get me a horse calendar every year.  I don't remember much else.

7. Hardest person to buy for?  My dad.  He always says he doesn't want anything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?  Eli--his interests are limited to Lego's and video games.  You can't go wrong with either.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?  Yes, it was a gift from my aunt & uncle the first Christmas that we were married.  Several pieces are broken now, including a headless wise man.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  Mail!  I've sent them out the day after Thanksgiving every year (except for 2) for the last 13 years. 

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  Honestly, I'm sure I've blocked it out, and I'm just as sure that it was Steve who bought it for me. LOL

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  White Christmas.  Nothing says Happy Holidays like Danny Kaye singing "Choreography".

13. When do you start shopping? Every year is different.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Maybe if I got it at a Yankee Swap?  But no, not usually something that someone has bought specifically for me. 

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's fudge.  Ham. Pumpkin Squares.  Not at the same time.

16. Lights on the tree?  Yes, ours are red & white.

17. Favorite Christmas song?  Josh Groban's Noel.  The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire). 

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?   Home.  But I like having people over here. 

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?  I think so.  There's nine, right?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  We have an angel, but it's a pretty cheesy one.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?   Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Radio stations that start playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?  I'm supposed to have a theme?

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham, mashed potatoes, niblets corn, applesauce, rolls--well, that's what the kids will eat. :)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?  The new fall Gooseberry Patch cookbook, and there was something else I wanted, but I can't remember.

Here's a picture of my sister & I visiting Santa. :)

Here's my mom:

And here's my dad:

Got this one from Jen...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  YES! lol  Usually bags for friends and wrapping for family.  Don't know why, it just ends up that way.  My FAVORITE wrap is brown paper tied w/twine or raffia w/some sort of CHRISTmas Stampin' Up stamps.

2. Real tree or Artificial?  We used to do the real ones, but I pick up quills ALL year, so we have used a fake one for years.  Last year, however, we got the most wonderful tree!!  It's very rustic - just the way I like it - it has just a touch of "snow" (so it doesn't look 'cheap') and pine cones and we put only vintage and rustic ornaments on it.  LOVE IT!  I hate to take it down!

3. When do you put up the tree? If not the day after Thanksgiving, then the weekend following.

5. Do you like eggnog?  No. 

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Hmmm...my Barbie Dream House.  I'm old enough that it was the second edition, still cardboard, but it was WAY cool!! 

7. Hardest person to buy for?  My mom.  She's very well off and has 2 of everything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?  My dog, Maggie!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?  Yes; it's the one my family has had since I was about 3 years old and is starting to fall apart.  I'd like to get replacement Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus and a few animals from the company that does the wooden angels for all occasions (shoot, can't think of the name).  While I'm at it ... I CAN'T STAND to see the wise men in a nativity scene!!  They didn't find Jesus until He was 2 years old, for Pete's sake...so put them waaaaay over on the other side of the house that they can make a journey of it! 

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  Both.  If I have your e-mail address, you'll probably get an e-mail; family and friends w/o e-mail get cards. 

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  OK...I'm serious here...no joke...My dear grandma was a very frugal gal, having lived through the Depression she was always thinking of USEFUL things to give.  The first CHRISTmas we were married she gave us a can of Crisco w/a bow on top!!  lol 

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  White CHRISTmas.

13. When do you start shopping? Usually in December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Yes.  'Nuff said.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  My mom's stuffing!

16. Lights on the tree?  White.

17. Favorite Christmas song?  O Holy Night and I Wonder as I Wander.  I have a really beautiful arrangement of 'I Wonder...' that I worked out on my hammered dulcimer.

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?   We usually go to my mom's house.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?  Possibly...um...no.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  A rustic star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?  We have our OWN family CHRISTmas on CHRISTmas Eve morning - when the girls were little we were always rushing all over the place and we weren't making OUR OWN memories and they couldn't enjoy their news clothes or toys.  So, when our oldest was about 5 we started our own tradition on the day before. 

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year.  The emphasis on Santa and stores putting up CHRISTmas - eh hem - I mean 'holiday' decorations BEFORE halloween!! 

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?  Rustic, vintage.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Didn't I answer that?  My mom's stuffing.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?  A digital camera.