Hodgepodge

1. 'Hurry less, worry less'...what's your strategy for making that happen this holiday season? How's it going so far?
I start collecting gifts along about September or October, just so I can avoid the last minute rush. This year we have the added activities of our teenager to keep us moving and distracted.  I keep plans in my head and sort of have a list that I check off as I get things done.  Nick and I have only small stuff to shop for (my chocolate) and after I get some wrapping done this afternoon I will feel pretty good about Christmas. New Years I will worry about after Christmas is over.

2. Do you have a list of to-dos that need accomplishing in order to prepare your home and/or property for the winter season? What are some of the jobs on your list? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone to accomplish these tasks?
We are complete do it yourselfers. Nick takes care of the outside stuff like hoses and water faucets and I help with the raking of leaves and this year Turbo helped with the gutter cleaning. We have less inside stuff to accomplish, but Nick gives the furnace a check over and I make sure the winter coats are found and still fit and locate the winter accessories. We really don't do much, but then the summer season is short here so we don't put the coats and such away to well.

3. According to dietitians surveyed, the most popular health foods for 2018 will be -turmeric, sprouted foods (bean sprouts, breads with sprouted grains, etc), veggies in place of grains, dairy free milk, and pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc).  What's the first thought that ran through your head when you read this list? Of the foods listed which one might you add to your regular diet? Also, can milk really be dairy free? Is it still milk?
My first thought was the health food store went crazy.  It all sounds very hippy granola to me. Lentils might make the food list but that's about it. we already do more veggies and while I like sprouts, Bruiser would definitely rebel against the food.
As for the "dairy free milk" isn't that what soy milk and almond milk are all about?  I'm not a fan of something so processed when there is a less processed option. And I'll drink soy milk when I see baby soys drinking it.

4. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. According to the Pantone site 'Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking pointing us to the future.' What say you? Do you like the color purple? Did you see the movie or read the book-ha!?  Is purple a color you wear often? Describe for us one purple item in your home without using the word purple.  If you were in charge of such things what color would you select for 2018?
Purple was one of our wedding colors. The other was forest green. I like deep purple or a lovely violet.  I did read the book, but didn't see the movie.
For Turbo we got a lovely large bath sheet in a deep dusty violet.  The kid needs a swim towel that he can take to meets.  He has stated a recent preference to violet, so he gets a violet towel for Christmas.

I would choose a deep teal for the color for 2018.  I guess I would like to see a beach with that color in the ocean.

5. Favorite book read this year?
I started reading the Richard Castle books this year.  The ones based off the TV show.  I really like them, they are fun and quite entertaining.  Not deep literature, but good anyway.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
I ahve talked before about Nick's Dad's love of decorating for Christmas.  he truly loves to put up lights and the blowups and everything.  He had a fall this year in November and it made him have to go slowly with the decorating, but he's getting more and more up every day.

Have a good week and Happy Holidays!