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People Need People

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Yesterday I found myself reading something about suicide.  I kept following links and clicking on related articles and it really made me feel so very sad way deep down inside.  Especially since this is the time of year that suicide touched me in an extremely personal way.

Every 40 seconds on a regular day someone commits suicide for a myriad of reasons.  During the holidays...that rate triples.

It seriously hurt my heart to think of people who feel that alone and hopeless.

I said something on FB about it and told people that if they ever needed someone to talk to just hit me up.  I'm sorry to say that more than a few took me up on that.  

During the holidays I hope you make yourself more aware of the people around you.  Try and smile a bit more and be nicer and kinder and gentler to folks.  You never know what folks are dealing with daily but we do know that the terrible feelings of loneliness some feel are greatly increased during the holidays.  You never know what that smile or kind word will do for a perfect stranger.

And you never know what receiving the same will do for you.

For Christmas this year I wish that everyone would simply be NICER to each other.  Open a door, give up your seat, pay it forward, give out baked goods to neighbors and/or coworkers, let someone in during traffic.  You know...simple stuff.

We have to help take care of each other.

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Decorating Your Mantle for Christmas!

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I've started doing a bit of Christmas decorating.  Since this is my first time doing Christmas someplace other than 13700, it took me a while to figure out how to do what to where.  I still haven't figured out where I'll put a tree yet and, honestly, I'm considering doing a much smaller version of the tree we normally get so as to not overwhelm the living room.  I'll probably have that figured out come Sunday.

I started doing the mantle the other day and ran into a major snaffoo.  Once I'd removed everything that was on the mantle, I accidentally hit the mirror ripped out the hanger on one side.

JOY.

So I had to wait for Robby to help me redo that because I couldn't rehang the mirror solo.

Aiight.  Now, I didn't want to add too much because again, the room is kinda small.  I wanted to go simple and, I wanted to use stuff I already had.  Well, yall know me, I was in Michael's and found a gold 'M' for $3 and then I was over at TJMaxx and ran up on a yet another tree that I had to have.  Hey...I justified it by saying it matched the color scheme I wanted to go with this year.  And it was different.  

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Other than that...that's all I really needed to get.  Except for some ribbon.  And these three cheap ornaments that I hung UNDER the mantle.  

But I digress.

As always.

So...the first thing I had to do was hang the wreath on the mirror.  After several tries using different things, I finally got the look I wanted using two 12 pound Command velcro strips on either side.  I love Command strips because they can be removed easily and without damage.  I tried using 4 pound ones initially but that ended the way you're thinking it ended.  Yup...wreath all over the floor and glitter everywhere.

Prior to attaching the wreath to the mirror, I looped a piece of ribbon around the top and simply tucked it behind the mirror to make it seem like it was used to hang the mirror.  I thought that would give it a nice look.  I'm sitting here now looking at it and I think I'm going to flip the back ends of the ribbon over to the front and cut a 'V' in them to give it even more of a tailored look if that makes sense.

Once the wreath was hung, I placed two berry trees on opposite ends to balance it (and to hide that goodness awful antennae cord as much as possible).  Then I added a faux pine garland.  

Next, I wove a string of battery operated lights to the garland, our JOY stocking hangers, my 'M' and my new tree.  Then...it looked like I wanted it to look so I didn't add another nuttin' above the mantle.

Under the mantle I simply hung three cheapo ornaments using Command mini hooks.  They are so small that I might just leave them there.  All together, it looks really simple and nice if you ask me.  (TIP:  You can pretty much buy Command hooks and strips anywhere but keep in mind that Michael's sells them too and you can ALWAYS find a 40% off coupon for Michael's full priced items.  GO ME!)

Me likey.

What do you think?  Do I need to add anything?  Have you started decorating yet?  Do you have a mantle in the room you spend the most time in?  Do you decorate it for Christmas?  Have you ever hung a wreath on a mirror?  How'd you do it?

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream Smaller at Same Price = NO

Dear CeraVe:

Your moisturizing cream has been my moisturizer of choice for a while now.  I was almost out last week and purchased another container when I went to Target.  I thought the container looked smaller but I couldn't be sure until I brought it home and put it next to the older container.

DUDE.

SERIOUSLY?

You just tried to sell me 75% of the product I used to buy for the same price of $12.99.  I say TRIED because yeah...this is what it looks like now:

In the bag.  With the receipt.  Going back to Target.  Never to grace the counter of my bathroom again.  I'm back to using Gold Bond.  14 ounces for $8.  No-ice.   

Dear Chief Flynn:

I straight up applaud you for this.  Like...I damn near stood up and started clapping.  Yes...there are underlying reasons why a lot of those things happen but the end result is as you stated it and that's what you are dealing with day in and day out.  To those people who had a problem with what you said...can you name the last three homocide victims yet?  

What say YOU?