This year, my friend, and uber talented musician, Scott Miller put out a Christmas CD.  I coulnd’t believe it.  I took him for even more of a Scrooge than me!  As it turns out, it’s a beautiful record.  Maybe I never liked Christmas music because all you ever hear are Rascall Flatts and Mariah Carey’s versions.

The opening track  on Christmas Gift, features poet and musician R.B. Morris joining him with a reading from TS Elliott’s Journey of the Magi.  It’s the perfect marriage of spoken work and music.  Truly a gift.  Scott also gives us his take on Neil Young’s Star of Bethlehem.  It’s an old favorite of mine, one that I’d only heard at a December show years ago, I felt lucky to have heard it then, knowing now I can play it at anytime makes me so happy. I catch myself starting the song over again before it even finishes.  It’s that good.  He also covers a John Prine song and a Roger Miller song, both of which work perfectly.

So that’s my recommendation, go get this album.  You can purchase them on his website or, even better, go catch him live. He travels all over the country just about all of the time.  Go enjoy some good music, and right now, some holiday cheer.

The DAY I switched to Maybelline Mineral Power Blush &  Bronzer, I was complimented on my complexion.  Instant gratification, I tell you.  I’ve bought three different Mineral Power products, the blush, the bronzer, and a product they call an Illuminator.

Usually, I put on the blush as I normally would, then dust the Illuminator over my face (this before the bronzer so the bronzer glides more lightly and doesn’t over-saturate), and then  lightly add a bit of the bronzer to my cheeks and nose.  I always brush the Illuminator brush back over my face to even it all out on my face.

I’ve been lucky to have an easy complexion most of my adult life, but let me tell you, for a 35 year old to get frequent compliments on her skin, you know there’s a good product behind it!

So someone out there go try these products and tell me what you think. Am I the only one loving these?

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was $263 for groceries for my mother and grandmother.  I was supposed to take my mother’s credit card with me, but forgot.  She has been sick and on top of that is responsible for the care of my 95 year old grandmother.  She’s been worrying about money a bit lately, so I just paid for the groceries and wouldn’t take her money when she offered to pay me back.  It felt good to be able to do that.

2. Today I feel like I am becoming more responsible towards money.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free/inexpensive thing I did last week that made me happy was find a new social navigation app for the iPhone that users can update with traffic details or speed traps. Did I mention it was a FREE app?

4. I will consider this week a success if I don’t succumb to all of the emails I’m getting about Thanksgiving deals.  For the first time, we’ve actually started shopping early and getting the right gifts at the right prices.  I hope I don’t take the surplus caused by preparing early and just spending it on more gifts!

5. My favorite food at Thanksgiving is, well, all of it.  I’m counting my calories even closer than my pennies these days.  I’ll have to say the turkey and dressing are in the forefront with deviled eggs and corn souffle being in a close race for the title..

2. Today I feel reconciled towards money.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free/inexpensive thing I did last week that made me happy was go running alone, well just me and my dog.

4. I will consider this week a success if I don’t reward myself for a job well done and only splurge on Bs birthday gift(s).

5. My favorite cereal is Golden Grahams!  It’s by far, the greatest cereal ever made.

2. Today I feel disheartened towards money. I’ve been putting more money into my savings and 401K which I know is a good thing but it means not having anything in my checking account so I naturally freak about that.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free/inexpensive thing I did last week that made me happy was sit alone and listen to all my favorite songs from my iTunes library.

4. I will consider this week a success if I don’t make a transfer of funds from my savings back into my checking!

5. If I could quit my job for a month and travel throughout one country, I would choose Australia.  How could you not!?  An old friend from Australia did a month long road trip before he moved to the states.  He documented everything and essentially sent me his trip journal as correspondence. If I didn’t love it already, it certainly caused me to fall in love.

2. Today I feel  pretty good towards money. I did as I’d hoped I would and immediately when my paycheck went into my account, I pulled what was remaining from my last one into my savings account.  Win!

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free/inexpensive thing I did last week that made me happy was watch a movie with my brother.

4. I will consider this week a success if I bring my lunch at least two days.

5. The TV show I am most excited about this season is Eastbound and Down.  I love that show.  I know it’s pretty raunchy at times, but it makes me laugh.

I think it’s a beautiful tribute to a beautiful person.  I’ve struggled all day to think of something kind to do.  I can say I have been kind to those I’ve interacted with today, more so than usual.  I drove by Katie’s house on my way to lunch (she lives near my home, I’m not creepy) and upon seeing her car in the driveway, I immediately wanted my act of kindness to be grabbing flowers or bright balloons and running to her porch.  I felt like that might be an intrusion and I knew it was no coincidence she was home today, so I gave her that privacy.

I thought about filling all the parking meters downtown but then realized that most spaces aren’t metered and by the time I got enough change, I needed to be back to work.  By the time I get off, the meters w0n’t be ticketing.  I thought of buying flowers for my coworkers, but the day before payday made that a not-so-wise decision.

So today, I am still struggling to find my specific act of kindness.  In the meantime, in honor of Henry’s family, I’m reaching out to those I hold dear and telling them I love them.  I’m making time to see them.  And I will make sure they know, nothing is worth more than seeing them another day.

But, I just might throw a good joke in there too because, Henry wouldn’t have it any other way.

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on groceries and miscellany at Target.  I did splurge and buy a top that was on clearance for $4.98 and a cardigan that I will wear, year round, for $9.98.  I do feel pretty good that I had to really think for a while to come up with the answer.  That’s definitely a move in the right direction.

2. Today I feel inspired towards money.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free/inexpensive thing I did last week that made me happy was go for a drive with the windows down.  We’ve finally gotten to my favorite part of the year where the temperatures are a bit cooler and there’s a slight breeze. It was perfect rolling the windows down and just enjoying the ride…

4. I will consider this week a success if I continue to be conservative with my money in Atlanta and instead of spend my surplus, rolling it over into savings!

5.  I start Christmas shopping when I’ve heard several people say they’re finished! I’m horrible about waiting till the last minute but we have already purchased one present.  We took advantage of being in Philadelphia for our buying options!

Have a great weekend!

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