Photo Per Day #14: 80's Perm

Sure, you can dress me up with a red nose and antlers (that have since fallen off ) but there's no escaping the 80's perm.

Photo Per Day #13: Les Misérables

Sorrow found me when I was young . . .

Son #1 may not think he looks or acts like me but he does (on both accounts)!

Photo Per Day #12: Ornaments

Tis the season to decorate the Christmas tree. As such, it's that time of the year when I open a box filled with my very own, unique ornaments. Ornaments that my loving friends and family created and hung on the tree at a surprise party for my 30th birthday 17 years ago this month. (Sheesh!) You know that you're loved when everyone, bar one, selected the worst possible pictures of me. (It's really not that hard.) Ornaments of me as a baby with food all over my face. Looking miserable as a kid. Kicking my leg in the air at parties (i.e., knickers shot) as an adult. Holding cocktails at parties. You name it, I have it.

After almost two decades in a box, they're not faring so well so I decided to capture a few on "film." Today's image may explain why I am shorter than the rest of my 6' tall family.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I love Christmas trees adorned with white lights. In fact, I like anything with white lights. Patios in the summertime draped with white lights. Restaurants aglow with candles and white tea lights.

But I cannot have my own tree lit with white lights . . .

I'll never forget the holiday season almost 20 years ago when my mom first bought her own little house she decided to forgo tradition and decorate with white lights, bows, and minimal ornaments. My grandfather then came to visit for the holidays from NYC, stepped inside our new house and grumbled, "What the hell is this? It looks like we live in a goddamn shopping mall."

Yes Grandpa, my tree in all of its colorful majesty and mismatched ornaments will forever be an annual tribute to you.

Fairytale of New York

Given that it was like pulling teeth to get the kids to pose for Christmas pictures this year, the hubby wanted to place this photo on our card. At least they're standing next to one another and, from this vantage point, no one can tell if they're beating each other up or not.

My favorite part of this picture is the fact that it showcases something very special about our tree. Unlike our neighbor's tree -- which is perfectly decorated with beautiful ornaments, every branch covered with beauty, the weight of each piece evenly distributed across branches and the sizes/colors painstakingly rendered for optimum viewing -- our ornaments (many of which are kid-made) are all hanging on the bottom 1/3 of the tree where the little guys could reach.

Martha Stewart may not be proud but I really like it.