My First Real, Live Christmas Tree

I've always had a fake tree. I grew up putting together the artificial tree from the box stored in the basement, bending wires to try to get that "authentic" look. I never really knew what that authentic look was.

Now I have a real tree and I get it. I now know what all the fuss is about. The tree is full, lush, and it has made my whole living room smell fabulous.

We picked it up from a local place a few blocks away and carried it home (the whole time I pictured Brian and I as Harry and Sally; yes, I have seen that movie too many times).

Here is the tree when we set it up:

Here's Brian giving the tree its first drink of water:

Here it is all lit up and covered in ornaments:

I firmly believe it is the best tree I've ever had.

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Spareribs, Sauerkraut and Dumplings

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Halloween Project 2009: Zombie Box

I love zombie movies. My first date with Brian, I made the poor guy watch Dawn of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead . A while back I saw a photo of a glass case that held a fake shotgun that said "in case of zombies break glass" (click here for my original inspiration). Of course, I wanted one. However, they were a promotional item for a videogame. Plus, the shotguns were fake, not at all useful if zombies actually were going to attack. I tried to see if I could buy one of those fire cases that hold fire extinguishers and fire blankets and just adapt it. Those boxes, it turns out, cost at least a hundred dollars. I decided to take matters into my own hands and build myself an emergency box to prepare for the zombie apocalypse. I bought a frame for a few bucks from a discount store and hand painted the glass: The objects surrounding the glass were part of my "cat deterrence system." Oddly it worked. Livia prefers to sit on my paper projects anyways. I built a...

Put on the Glasses

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