Christmas Cards and Things That Make You Go, "Awww!"

Well, you may not know this, but I am quite the successful card-maker.

And by card-maker, I mean, I make pretty simple homemade greeting cards. And by successful I mean I have completed 2 orders.. both from the same person. But you gotta start somewhere, right? I made a birthday card for my dear friend's son's first birthday and her mother liked it so much she asked me to make her about 40 cards, some "Apple" themed because she is a preschool teacher and some "Christmassy." So I have been busting my butt these past couple weeks or so, using spare moments to cut out Christmas trees, or reindeer antlers, or hole punch some white paper to make snow-flakes, or glue teeny tiny paper eyeballs onto my gingerbread men.. And I have got to be honest- while I love it- it has been a bit more challenging than I expected! I tend to seek perfection when it comes to any project I set my heart to and when I can't deliver that perfection that I long for I become extremely discouraged, extremely quickly. That and I just kept drawing blanks with what to make or what to have them look like. Usually I get about a gazillion ideas all at once for any kind of theme I may want to adhere to but this time, Christmas cards-- my favorite holiday? This was the one that stumped me? So strange. But oh well. Needless to say, I am looking forward to putting this project behind me and very much so hopeful that she will like and appreciate them for their "homemade" value.

Just a few of my Christmas creations.. Not too bad, right??

We have been having such strange weather here as of late, if Sandy wasn't enough we got our first snow just 2 days ago! From treacherous wind and rain storms to freezing cold temp's with snow and then back to beautiful fall days.. All within about 2 weeks. Haha. So much fun! But certainly not for those still without power or resources.. I just can't even imagine.

This was from outside our front door.. Just after it started sticking! We got about another 2 inches after this. 

     

We have been letting Hudson wear his summery shoes with socks up until snow day.. We knew it was time to stop making him look like nerd and finally get the kid some weather appropriate shoes. But woooow... Did you guys know that toddler shoes were so dang expensive?? We have always stuck to the clearance shelves so we never got the full price on shoes but this time around we had to pay retail.. and oh my word... $40 for teeny tiny shoes that he will grow out of in a couples months, if that!!? Yikes. I really gotta find some thrift stores in our area. We, of course, love our son SO much and want him to be well clothed and in things that fit and are seasonally appropriate but gees... I don't even spend that much on new shoes for myself. We will find the loophole, that I promise you.

We also stocked up (okay, 2 of each seems fair enough, right?) on mittens and warm hats! This one probably won't make it outside of our own home but we just couldn't resist :)

And here he is running around the park last week {clearly pre-snow storm- still sporting his summer shoes.. ;) }

In other news, my parents will be making the trek up here for Thanksgiving! 10 glorious days of uninterrupted grandparent time.. I think we are all looking forward to it.. Thanksgiving day parade, Christmas music, adventures all around the city. Not to mention my very first time to cook a whole Thanksgiving meal!! Fun memories lie ahead, I am sure of it.


We had hoped to have a sleeper sofa purchased before they arrive but cost wise- it just isn't doable! We have some big purchases coming up with Christmas around the corner and I am thinking we would rather have Christmas in Cali with Nic's family than a brand new sofa in NYC to sit on all by ourselves. Soon enough, we will get it but for now guests have to deal with an air mattress-- sorry, y'all.


This is enough random Hansen family news for now!

Much love, and God bless!

{UPDATED} 100.

{UPDATE: I finished my list, thank God!}

I don't really even know how to start this one out.. I saw a blog post on a Mommy Blog Site I follow ever so often, where one of the authors there challenged herself to compile a list of 100 words, 100 things she would like to be. I found this to be so very intriguing and couldn't help but try and make a similar list for myself. And of course, found my blog the most suitable place to do so.

For being someone who is usually up for making lists of any kind, I had a tough time with this. I have been so surprised throughout this process! I think the first time I opened up this new post was just about a month ago.. And I keep coming back to it and adding a new word whenever I am inspired by someone or something I see or a scripture I read. The first 10 were a breeze, getting into the 20's had me reciting memory verses from Sunday School about the fruits of the Spirit, 30's were pretty randomly selected annnnnd once I got to the 60's I was pretty much desperate for new words. I won't lie to you-- I even looked up the Scout's Code of Honor just to get some inspiration for some new list-worthy words. {And yes, a few of them even made it on there.} I remember hearing each of my brothers repeat that list of words, over and over again, at every single one of the countless Boy Scout's events I was dragged to in my childhood. I remember the internal struggle of wanting to be "campfire savvy" like my dad and brothers {and let's face it, my mom was pretty kick butt with the outdoorsy stuff, too} all while still wanting to maintain my dainty physique and poise. Wilderness Barbie, if you will. Ah yes, the joys of being the only daughter amongst 4 boys. The rose amongst the thorns, as my dad used to put it.

Anyways, back to the topic, you can find the original post that inspired me here. And you may be disappointed to find, although I hope you will be understanding-- my list is yet to be completed. I don't want to just start putting words down for the sake of completing a list.. I want real, honest things here.. So for now it will remain unfinished. I will finish it, my goodness. Just not tonight.


1. Loving
2. Christ-like
3. Compassionate
4. Generous
5. Funny
6. Kind
7. Humble
8. Caring
9. Thoughtful
10. Bright
11. Spirited
12. Joyful
13. Musical
14. Creative
15. Sweet
16. Domestic
17. Healthy
18. Playful
19. Wise
20. Inquisitive
21. Intelligent
22. Gracious
23. Faithful
24. Patient
25. Peaceful
26. Gentle
27. Merciful
28. Determined
29. Maternal
30. Caring
31. Adventurous
32. Fun
33. Dreamer
34. Talented
35. Blessed
36. Clever
37. Resourceful
38. Silly
39. Slender
40. Grateful
41. Nurturing
42. Giving
43. Balanced
44. Affectionate
45. Talkative
46. Strong
47. Witty
48. Inventive
49. Godly
50. Interesting
51. Meek
52. Smart
53. Discerning
54. Hospitable
55. Secure
56. Aware
57. Composed
58. Trusting
59. Trustworthy
60. Secure
61. Protector
62. Friendly
63. Hopeful
64. Noble
65. Beautiful
66. Respectable
67. Honorable
68. Kissable
69. Dependable
70. Cheerful
71. Loyal
72. Brave
73. Encouraging
74. Relatable
75. Inventive
76. Lovely
77. Prompt
78. Ambitious
79. Considerate
80. Devoted
81. Flexible
82. Decisive
83. Positive
84. Forgiving
85. Sincere
86. Devoted
87. Fair
88. Courageous
89. Honest
90. Confident
91. Pure-of-heart
92. Responsible
93. Diligent
94. Selfless
95. Tactful
96. Zealous
97. Understanding
98. Successful
99. Virtuous
100. Radiant


Do you have 100 words that you can use? Better yet, or maybe just a little easier, your top 10 words that you want to describe you?

I think the only real way for me to complete this is to really truly search my heart... I don't want to be doing this just as a challenge to see if I have a vast enough vocabulary to list 100 positive words I'd like to be associated with myself. I can't just conjure up this brilliant list of fancy describing words without genuinely taking a look at who I am, who I have been, who I want to be.. And I believe all of these words are God-breathed. Maybe that's silly to you, but I don't care. He is my Creator, who knows me better than I know myself, and ultimately HE is the only one who can stitch these attributes into me. Into this person that I long to be. Write these words upon my heart.

So who do I want to be?

This is a topic that can yet never should be taken lightly, in my opinion.

I want to be a God-fearing, Christ-like woman who passionately seeks her Heavenly Father, honors and loves her husband, and nurtures and adores her children.

I want to be a healthful and fit woman that can keep up with, better yet stay one step ahead of, even the rowdiest of kiddos.

I tend to want to be everything to everyone, which I have come to learn is a very slippery slope. I like to be the one who always has advice, the one who can offer up a word of encouragement or wisdom at the drop of a hat, the one who always brings fresh baked treats to gatherings, the one who can cook anything anyone ever wants to try, the one who cheers up even the angriest of folks, the one who takes care of everyone all the time, the one who takes pictures and documents all of lives important moments, is well-read and knowledgeable about everything, the one with a supply of  Tylenol or Ibuprofen {not even kidding, for the better part of my adolescence and into my adulthood I have always carried Aspirin and Benadryl with me incase someone around me were to happen to have a heart attack or allergic reaction}, an extra pen to hand you when you need something to write with, always has an extra stick of gum, etc.

I mean really, is that too much to ask??

Sandy Storm.

Well!! We have survived our very first hurricane. Or Frankenstorm. Or Megastorm, Superstorm, or just Sandy. Whatever you may be calling it {our family has been referring to it as Sandy Storm.} We made it, in one piece with all of our belongings just as they were before the storm hit. And to be honest, I don't feel all that different from a few days ago when I was just plain ol' Kristin. Not this new Hurricane Survivor Kristin, Kristin the Sandy Slayer, a key component of the Hansen Family Hurricane Heroes... I could keep going, but I shall refrain.

I definitely didn't expect to need to know how to be hurricane ready when we made the move to NYC. Godzilla attacks, Cloverfield style invasions, Day After Tomorrow weather atrocities- surely. But Sandy?? She was one sly little lady. Very unexpected on our part.

Between the media playing it up to be the most devastating storm of this era and my neighbor George brushing it off like it's no big deal I was pretty confused with how to prepare for this storm. So I went for the safe middle ground.

Flashlights, batteries and candles? Check.
Blankets? Check.
Canned foods and bottled water? Check.
Wine and Nutella? Double check. {Thanks, honey :)}
A little bit of cash just in case? Check.
Multiple cases of water and canned goods? No, thank you.
$40 Police status Magnum flashlights that could light up an entire block? Nah. {Sorry, babe}
Boarded up windows and sandbagged stairwells? Not unless our Super insisted. {Which he didn't.}
Car moved to the top of a parking garage that was sure to remain flood free? Eh. We could gladly call that claim in.

Aside from a few extra groceries and a case of water we went along with our regular lives. And though I am sure Nic will disagree, I feel like I did remain pretty level headed throughout the entire process. What really helped was when I FaceTimed with my bro Kevin and sis Meryl and he told us we should video blog about this intense storm we were experiencing. {At that point we hadn't seen a drop of rain, and the winds were barely pulling the already loose fall leaves off of their branches..} And I thought he was joking-- until he text me asking for a video update a few hours later. SO we had some fun with it and made some silly video blogs. Complete with Nic going outside shirtless, claiming to have lost Hudson and I in the chaos and to be seeking shelter.. Needless to say, it helped keep our spirits light.

Not to trivialize others experiences, of course, because I DO know that lower Manhattan got pretty bad,  with power outages and insane flooding and a construction crane dangling from atop a building on 57th St, Long Island had significant flooding and even a huge blaze down at Rockaway, and NJ got wrecked with entire towns underwater and coastline homes and structures torn into the raging waters. My heart just breaks for all that people have lost in this storm.. and for those still dealing with the aftermath. We have weathered the worst of it and everything should be looking up from here.  I feel SO blessed.

We really truly lucked out, for as awful as it was in other areas and how much the news teams had us prepared for the worst- this Hansen family has made it safely. I made the joke that God gave me Hudson to keep me from doing stupid things-- last night it was SO hard to not venture out into the storm to check out the flooding and such. Nic did a few times, and I did for but a moment but quickly retreated when I saw a scary looking man with a less-than-inncoent look in his eye {Don't judge me! I am not one to judge quickly but in this sort of a situation you never who is out and about nor what their intentions are!} We had flooding in our area, some a little close for comfort (hardly 1blk north and Hudson's favorite park 3blks south was underwater), and many fallen trees and branches, and lots of debris strewn in the streets... Aside from our internet cutting out a few times we were perfectly comfortable throughout the entire storm. What a huge blessing.

This is a picture of the flooding that was just a block north of us-- 2 cars were completely submerged and others were up to their roofs. This was taken when Nic went out on one of his Sandy Storm adventures.

And I obviously can't take credit for this photo, I found it with a search for blacked out lower manhattan during Sandy and this one one that came up.. I just thought it was a pretty neat representation of the power outage that occurred during the storm! 

Also can't take credit for this one but my friend that lives in Brooklyn took this from her apartment moments after all the lights went out in Lower Manhattan! Just a crazy view.. It's amazing how different the city looks when the lights go out.

So, all in all, we feel so thankful to have weathered this storm safely. We are so grateful for all of the sweet phone calls, Facebook messages, texts and other ways people were reaching out to us to make sure all was well. Our hearts and prayers are with those who were not so lucky.