WORKOUT – Ran easy miles in AZ 7.1 miles/60 mins
Go check out my interview about North Dakota!
After yesterday morning’s bike and breakfast, the afternoon was deemed “everyone’s on their own” or as I call it, “Spend time with your own dang family and leave me alone!” time.
Grandma, Grandpa and Big K went to Cabela’s to ogle over guns; Byron, Niki and the Button went to Nordstrom Rack to ogle over his and her butt-boosting jeans, and Jabe and I went to ogle over food. at Jason’s deli.
I had the salad bar and it was better than the last time I was there a couple years ago – it included roasted red pepper hummus, kalamata and green olives, artichoke hearts and flavored feta cheese. Are you kidding me?!
I had 2 plates of salad and 2 cups of the soft serve ice cream; by the time I was done, our table was buckling under the weight of all my dirty dishes and the busboy was glaring at me.
Afterwards we went shopping and saw some Christmas decorations at a pool store, yes, a pool store:
Evidently, you are a loser if you don’t decorate your pool. and really, really nice too.
Did you know that upside down Christmas trees are now the trend?? I had never even heard of this before my SIL Marlie told us yesterday they’re all the rage and her and Matti are hanging one from the ceiling. The trends pass me by faster than the Christina Aguilera pregnancy rumors fly.
While we were out, we hit up multiple golf stores.
This is what I think of multiple golf stores:
Before dinner Byron and Niki joined us at one of America’s finest dining establishments, Chili’s, for a happy hour margarita. except it wasn’t happy hour.
sure didn’t stop us.
They both liked the El Presidente margarita…
…Except Niki is a ghost (and vampire lover) so I don’t know if we can trust her opinion on tequila or not.
We were able to enjoy a pre-dinner margarita out because we had a great babysitter at home:
That’s how Alaskans do it.
Black olives are what’s for dinner.
My dad made dinner last night. Stop the presses, this is a big deal. None of us were even sure he knew there was a kitchen in the house beyond a freezer for ice cream so we were all really impressed. He made Mongolian Elk which was really good, one of my favorite meals.
Did you know about the upside down Christmas trees? Do you have one?? Are your Christmas decorations up?
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Upside down tree?? Where do the gifts go??
I haven’t heard of this upside down tree business, but I have seen hanging ornaments from the ceiling in the shape of a tree. Most of our decorations are up – Operation Griswold is in full effect.
Our church has the most beautiful Christmas trees on the campus. The one by the preschool entrance is an upside down Christmas tree. It’s the coolest!
I have seen the upside down Christmas trees, but it isn’t something for my house. I have cathedral ceilings in my kitchen and living room, so hanging a tree, would be a pain.
My decorations aren’t up yet. I had better get on the ball, cause if they aren’t up by next weekend- they won’t go up at all. I do so much baking at Christmas, that decorations sometimes get left behind.
i’ve never heard of upside down CHristmas trees! I’m not quite sure that you aren’t just pulling our legs!
We put up our tree (right side up!) and decor last night…but it almost seems too early! Not to worry, we’ll take it down Dec 26 or maybe even Dec 25 b/c that’s how we do it in my family – none of that leave it til New Years business!
I have never heard of such a thing as hanging a Christmas tree upside down. What is the point of that? Won’t it dry out and the needles fall before Christmas day? Interesting. We do get a tree, but usually a small one as we typically have to bring it home on the bus or subway!
Interesting interview. I am originally from the east side of SD. Where did you hunt?
scranton, i think thats in north dakota, or is it south?
must be north, I am originally about 12 miles west of Mitchell, SD a town about 400 peeps
I’ve never heard of the upside down trend. That’s seriously bizarre. I almost feel like this is a joke! haha I haven’t even put up a normal tree in 2 years, let alone hang something from the ceiling.
I saw the upside-down trees on Target’s website and thought it was some poor graphic designer’s mistake. Nope! I don’t get it, but to each her own! Where do you put the presents???
I’ve seen the upside down trees for a couple years herer in Dallas NMS. Love jason’s deli salad bar!
Not sure how I just found your blog, but really glad I did!! I hate to even use this in a sentence, but….this post literally had me LOL-ing.
I’ve seen the upside down Christmas trees in store windows. Hubs just brought the Christmas decorations in from the shed in the rain.. he seems REALLY happy about it.
Multiple golf stores would do the same exact thing to me, SR…
And upside down Christmas trees? Like most people, I’ve never heard of them! – googling now! Toying with the idea of Christmas decorations, but my husband and I live in the basement of my in-laws’ place and my MIL goes a little nuts with Christmas – I think I’ll let her go to town. Everything has it’s place, and I’m very much a move-things-around-be-flexible type decorator. 
Anyways, have a great rest of your Sunday!
I have never heard of an upside down tree. That seems a bit wrong. I do think they might be on to something though with hanging it from the ceiling. I could hang mine high so the little ones don’t get the decorations. hmmm I’ll put it on the honey do list and see. I don’t think it will get check off though.
I thought stores did it because it didn’t take up as much room on the floor?
I teach first grade and I hang our Christmas tree from the ceiling. The kids think it’s WAY cool!
seriously? upside down Christmas trees?? How does that even work? Must research.
I put all our decorations, minus the outside of the house (that’s the husband’s job to be done this week) on Friday. I used to do it on Thanksgiving night but I’m usually too exhausted by Thursday evening to do that so we do it now on Friday. I’ve seen the upside Christmas trees and it’s to not take up as much room, etc but that is just not something for me at all. I think it’s a little too over the top but to each his own ya know!
aww! I lived in AZ for 6 years. I totally dont miss it now that I live in san diego .. but then I miss it when I see things I can’t do anymore like go to Jason’s Deli. Looks like you’re having fun!
And yeah, it NEVER felt like xmas in arizona, regardless of how manydecorations you put anywhere!
I had to check the comments to see if I thought you were the only person pulling our (running) legs about the Christmas trees. I don’t get it. At all.
Had no idea that people put upside down Christmas trees nor that Xtina was possibly pregnant…
We definitely decorate the pool we don’t have though with Christopher Radko ornaments no less. All the cool kids are doing it.
Christmas decs not up yet in my tiny NYC dorm apartment. I’m so behind.
Upside down trees?? SERIOUSLY?
Christmas decorations are going up this weekend!!
I’ve noticed that over here in the northeast, pool stores become Christmas stores in the winter since no one has their pools open. I’ve lived in PA all my life, and it still throws me when I see Christmas trees in the windows of pool stores.
I have a friend who is a decorator and for at least 5-6 years he has been doing upside down trees. I always thought he was a little nuts. His are always interesting.
Nope, I’ve never heard of the upside down christmas tree fad… I’m out of the loop!
Pshaw, upside-down tree trend – one of my neighbors has been doing that for YEARS! They hung their tree from their ceiling (until they sold their house) and every single year it was amazing. I miss that tree. =/
That upside down tree thing has been around for a few years around here. I guess we just get bored in Orlando with regular old Christmas trees. Nothing is good enough!
I have enough issues keeping mine upright, so I’ll probably stay old fashioned on this one.
My tree is up! But it’s definitely not upside down – so weird :-/
See you THIS weekend!
We do the old-fashioned chop (err..uh…saw) a tree down. Our 4 going on 6 children (2 by adoption from Detroit and 2 in waiting for us in China) totally LOVE the tradition so we can’t go wrong by being all family-like!
Our decorations are up and its a crazy mess in my house right now! I’d rather have a happy mess than a lonely life without all these children!
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