dump of a mall.....lol.

I was able to go shopping today for a few Christmas gifts and I sure didn't find anything that was worth purchasing at the run down local mall.....lol....I haven't even been to the mall in about a year probably and wow! I was surprised at what a dump it was!.....yikes!...I walked through there and I thought: "What in the heck happened to this place?!"......it was that terrible it looked worse than last year!......gag! we deserve better!

Many stores were missing and there wasn't actually anything there worth browsing through!...it had the look of icky creepy nastiness....Very disheveled, not much variety, and unclean looking....many years ago it wasn't that much better, but geeze!...that is embarrassing to our local towns, I think small towns and local cities deserve better shopping than that crap!

It made me mad I drove all that way to shop for Christmas gifts and wasted money on fuel for the drive!....nasty looking old dilapidated run down mall......*eyeroll*

everyday the same old crap everywhere you go.....oh well....

I wish for a nice professional 3 story level mall with actual well known stores that I can find something to wear, purchase, and enjoy!....just stupidity with malls.....nothing is ever right near here it seems....like I said..crap as usual....

I just wish for much better locally for this area--all kinds of businesses & good workers NEEDED!!!, franchises, medical, veterinarians, mechanics, all those, everything!--- good place to live, always been, and always will be my home, but it needs a lot of work!....

that mall just made me mad & sad about Christmas shopping!...😾

sick & tired of just nasty crap all the time with everything here....it doesn't matter what it is or where it is, just same old crappy dumps all the time.....

julie

peace.....

A person can wish for many good things for this world, and I think the most important would be wishing for PEACE all over the earth always!

We need to think of many ways and the many good ideas that can bring the world peace, everyday of our lives we need to bring goodness....find ways to end illnesses, turmoil, destruction, upsets, addictions, painful mental health issues, abuse, poverty, everything evil & bad needs to go!!!

I always think: " It's time to clean up the world and make it a much better place ", I have always wished for peace on earth even as a child I thought about it! I would stay awake at night hoping and praying for all evil, sickness, sadness to END.

With God many things are possible the Bible says---So I always remember that Bible verse and I know it is one of my favorites to keep in mind daily....With God anything good can and will happen when you continually strive and search for goodness! With many good people wishing for, searching for, working toward goodness and striving to bring peace, I know anything good is possible!

Continually working to end turmoil within our lives is something we should all work toward, try everyday to be more peaceful, and work on our mental health issues so we can end the turmoil/abuse in our lives and our family/friends lives! NO yelling, hitting, any kind of evil nasty abuse, needs to END...

Stop and think about what you are saying or taking part in to everyone you love and adore!...Think first and ask yourself IF what you are about to say or do is evil or nasty!...THINK about it, is that worth losing your family/friends or pets over!!!???...NO! NEVER.

We don't want to ever lose family, pets, friends over stupidity, abuse, or evil...this is awful.....make every day of your life count and every day make The Lord, and your family feel very happy with the way you live and the way you adore & love them!...

Our family, pets, friends are very important and when you have them, we NEVER want to lose them!..you are blessed to have them, take good care of them!....always be peaceful toward them and everyone you know!

Peace is always thought of this time of year, and I know that we need to think about starting off the New Year with a new peaceful attitude, and outlook for life!.....

The dove is a symbol of Peace with the olive branch in it's mouth so I always think of the dove as a sign of peace! that's from the Bible anyway, I think about that always.

I see so much turmoil for many years, my whole life, and I know we need to always strive for finding peace and bringing peace to our earth and our lives, communities, and homes....

Peace is always good and we need more of it everywhere, so always work toward peace..you will be happier and it will only create more goodness continuing on and on....

J.

christmas lights at night......

Something that I enjoy is being able to go and see the outdoor Christmas light showings they have in designated areas of town during this season.....There is sometimes a fee to drive through the designated light showing area, often these are in local small parks...they have many different light displays placed throughout the area, and the vehicles drive slowly through to see the lights everywhere...the light displays near the ponds, are very beautiful....

The many different colorful displays are just something nice to go and see, I have been several times, with friends & with the church.....I enjoyed that.....Sometimes they have horse drawn buggy rides...those are nice....The fees help to raise money for fundraising ideas in the local towns....sometimes they may be free depends on where you are.

It is also nice to slowly drive through these light showings and to stay in your vehicle, make VERY sure you have plenty of fuel and your vehicle is working properly....these can sometimes be quite a drive, and you have to keep driving through.....

You can also drive slowly through your local small town often at night and see the lights of the townspeople's homes...these are free....lol.....I think that local small town at night during the holidays are so cute and beautiful when the whole main street is decorated with the holiday lights and the business shop windows have their holiday lights on in the windows!

I am also enjoying seeing the business windows painted beautifully this year, I like that old fashioned window Art...

placing the light displays up takes many hours and days of work for others, and I know when they are there to go and see, why not see them and appreciate all the work and beauty of the colorful displays this time of year...



Locally, this can be a lot of fun for you, and your family/friends!

be careful driving at night, and drive slowly, not too fast through areas...look out for all people & animals nearby...

j.

toys !.......

Donating toys to the Children's Christmas Toy Drives is always a wonderful and nice way to be kind and charitable this time of year.....

I know that many children simply cannot have a nice Christmas due to bad times, low income, and poverty....I think that every child should be able to have a gift for Christmas! we have all been a child before and I just think about how sad that it would have been for me if everyone else had gifts and toys and I didn't!....I always had gifts for the holidays, whether it was clothing, shoes, toys, or a new pet!..i was fortunate.....those are very nice gifts for anyone, any age!

Angel Tree is a ginormous Christmas Tree they have placed in the center of the mall and on it are placed small angel shaped cards with the ages and if they are a boy or girl gift needed, it may even say things they enjoy and are fond of for a gift....I have purchased a gift for this before and taken it back with the card/ornament it was attached to...these are kind ways to be charitable this time of year IF you have the extra dollars for a gift.....

Toys for Tots is another Children's toy charity and they have toy donation drives with local police, fire & rescue for toy donations this time of year..purchase new toys and take back to the building where they are having the toy drives..go ahead and donate if you can!

Toys are always brightly color hued, exciting to see in gift boxes and to unwrap, and fun....I have always enjoyed going through the toy aisles even at my age now and looking at all of the new toys for people of all ages....lol....

I walked down a toy aisle the other day and I saw many toys new & old I enjoyed seeing on the shelves toys like these:

Power Rangers
Ninja Turtles
Barbies
Shopkins
Pooh and Friends
CareBears
Scooby
Transformers
Plush animals
Star Wars
Disney toys & Disney princess dolls/characters
Board Games
Card Games
Legos
Bicycles with helmets
Nerf
Frozen
Little Mermaid
Ty Beanies & Ty Beanie Boos
Paw Patrol
Matchbox cars
HotWheels cars
Pet Shop toys
BattleBots
Hatchimals
Furbys
Sesame Street characters
Pets!  characters, OR adopt a real life pet as a gift!
Cooking set learning toys
costumes to dress up
PlayDough sets
coloring books
Christmas books & coloring books
Religious books for children
mini bibles for children
Slinky
watercolor sets & coloring books
Crayola coloring pencils, markers & crayons
clothing
sticker sets
puzzles
crafting sets for children
Science sets for children
Game consoles with games

AND I'm sure there are many other toys to find, purchase and gift to everyone...shop at the Dollar Trees, Dollar General/Family Dollar Stores, Walmart, Target, Kmart, Toys R Us, the local mall maybe if you have time....so many toys to gift to all ages....just whatever you can afford!...

DO NOT forget pet toys, bedding & treats/chewies for your pets! ;)

A gift can be so many items, be creative, and gift wrap in boxes, wrapping paper, gift bags...place a Christmas card with your gifts...I find so many beautiful Christmas gift wrapping, gift bags, gift boxes, Christmas cards, and other items affordably at Dollar Tree......

julie

santa's whiskers cookie recipe.....for fun !.......

I know it is morning yet again.....I think I will prepare breakfast easily this morning! I purchased a package of those El Monterrey Breakfast burritos...they are good & easily prepared..just warm in microwave or small pan.....many varieties...A grand size family pack of them for about $11.00 and smaller for $2.00-$6.00.....good!...I like them topped with salsa...

I know I blogged last night about Cookie Parties and this is just for fun to add this recipe here for Santa's Whiskers...When I was younger my Grandma and I would create this cookie at the holidays for Christmas....It takes red & green candied cherries you can find on most baking aisles.---some may not like these..but I think they are good!.and it takes pecans & coconut...only add the pecans if you wish...AND no, it does not take real whiskers we hope!...Haha!..the coconut is the whiskers part...lol...some may not like this cookie recipe but it is fun to me...tradition.

 

 

Santa's Whiskers

 

 

1 c. butter/or margarine softened

1 c. sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 c. flour

3/4 c. diced candied cherries

1/2 c. chunked pecans

3/4 c. flaked coconut

 

Cream together butter & sugar blend in milk and vanilla. Stir in flour, cherries and pecans. Form dough into two 8 inch rolls. Roll in flaked coconut to coat the outside. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator or freezer. Cut into 1/4 inch discs and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees or until edges are browned. about 12 minutes.

 

Talking about Pecans & other nut varieties-----I know I saw several packages of those holiday nuts in the shell still...you have to shell those with a nutcracker...kinda fun for me...nerd!...Hines Nuts are regional and they are pre-packaged at Walmart.....$4.00/package..i saw those yesterday....you gotta find a nutcracker first!...remove all shells so you won't hurt your teeth! an assortment of nuts are available in these packages....

 

Vegetable Trays & Hormel or other brand's Meat & Cheese Trays----are at Walmart also.These are easily purchased and taken to holiday parties or to have at your home for Christmas or New Years Eve...I enjoy the Vegetable Trays with Ranch Dip..Hidden Valley Ranch Dip mix packs are my favorite...or any ranch dip works well.....these are healthier options for the holidays & snacks!

 

Canned Hams----I saw many people purchasing these at the Dollar Stores & Walmart the other day..Dak, Plumrose, American Pride, Hormel--Black Label, Spam canned ham.....all good to gift to others or enjoy at holidays...Hormel or other brands of Vienna Sausages & those Hickory Farms Summer sausages gift packs are also something I saw being purchased....I like them all with mustard, Colby cheese, & crackers.....

 

Cordial Chocolate -Covered Cherries are something that my Great-Granny always gifted all of us great-grandkids....she purchased several boxes and gifted everyone a box, so we always enjoy those....many people don't like the chocolate covered cherry cordials...but I like them! they also have blueberry cordials now...haven't tried them yet..

 

Brands of those Cordials I have purchased many years and enjoy are:

 

Zachary

Queen Anne

Cella's

Brach's

 

julie