12 days until Christmas!

The last 2 Saturday's, my daughter has spent several hours at my house as we have worked on some Christmas crafts, baked cookies and strategized holiday preparations.

We made fabric covered ornaments

We baked plain chocolate chip, Toffee Pecan crisps and Oatmeal Cranberry Orange Macadamia with vanilla yogurt chip  cookies. 

My daughter dubbed it Cookiepocalypse 2015

To offset the sugar coma, I have made some healthy foods too. Some diabetic friendly oatmeal raisin mini bites (a breakfast cookie), Vegetable Beef soup, and Turkey Cottage pie.

Next weekend is our BIG Christmas cookie day as we make gingerbread, pfeffernusse and chocolate citrus bars. During the week I will be making Nutella Bourbon Balls, White Trash Candy, Cherry Brownie Bombs, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Christmas Crack and Butter Spritz Cookies.

I am pretty much finished with the Christmas shopping, although I have a few gifts to wrap. I have a few food gifts to make other than cookie tins which include baking some breads and a few "food in jars" gifts!

I did manage to buy a present for myself. I found this at Michael's. Normal price is $59.99. It was on sale for 70% off and with my $5 coupon, I snagged this for a mere $12.99. Woot woot! This will look great in my living room--now to find the perfect pictures...

I can't believe it 12 days until Christmas! We will celebrate Christmas with the kids on Christmas Day which we be a traditional ham dinner. Then on Saturday the 26th, we will have dinner with the hubb's family, by having a nice lasagna dinner. In some ways I feel kind of scroogish because we did not decorate outside, at all. Not to mention we had our windows open all weekend because the weather has been in the mid 60's.



The inside of the house is festive (well the living room, mostly).


How about y'all--are you ready? What are your plans?

O Christmas Tree--where art thou?

It seems the hubbs has a case of  forgetting stuff!

As in he has "misplaced" my Christmas topiary trees (One which is shown in the picture below). The ones I bought last year. The ones I carefully boxed and wrapped in plastic to protect from vermin. The ones I said please put this away for me.

Well he did and now he doesn't know where. It isn't like I have a big house or infinite storage How can he not find it? I am beginning to wonder if he accidentally threw them away.

Ok, deep breath. No problem, I have several trees I will find one that works. How hard can it be?

The 3 foot tree is missing the stand, this was put back in the tote until I can find a replacement stand or make one.
My 6 foot tree fell apart when I pulled it out if the storage tote.We had it about 14 years and it survived 4 dogs, 4 cats and 3 moves. In the trash bin it went.
The 7 foot tree had a family of mice--so it was also tossed in the trash.

3 trees and I don't have a single usable one!?

Off to Home Depot I went for a cheap-o tree.

5 ft. pre-lit and for $36 (on sale!). Good enough. I have to tell you at this point I was no longer in a festive mood. I was in a mood that involved words with the letter F....

Then I took a moment to center myself and realized it isn't about the stuff. It isn't the lights, decorations or even brightly wrapped presents that make Christmas. It is the feeling of joy and enjoying a few blissful moments with those you love. Christmas is in your heart.

I soon found myself smiling despite my crankiness. And I must admit this is the easiest tree I have ever assembled. Slide the little feet onto the stand, fold down  the lower branches, add the top piece, and fluff all the branches. No more guessing if the missing color coded tips are in the right section and no fighting with the lights.

So I won't have a tree in every room this year. It is ok!

Sometimes the simple things are the best!

Countin' down to Christmas

That's right...

 You only have this many days until Christmas!

Countdown

What is your plan for Christmas? Do you make gifts? Or are you buying gifts?

Speaking of buying stuff...make a point to buy American made items!

This video is from last year but is wise advice for our current economic situation.

1 US made product=200,000 American jobs!

Christmas Made in America

So ask yourself...

ARE YOU IN?

Make a point to buy American and support your local businesses.


Here's is a list of good resources

. Click the master list tab to see categories of items Made in America
2012 Made in the USA Challenge

Americans Working

Made in USA products store

Owl Take It

Last weekend, I felt like dookie. So in the interest of  stimulating the economy and trying to make myself feel better, I embarked on a little retail therapy. And I do mean little because my wallet is feeling mighty light after the recently incurred vet expenses. 

My daughter and I had a mini-shopping blitz of Petsmart, Marshalls, Kohls and Target. I had coupons and rewards for Petsmart, Marshalls and Kohl's--yay me! And while at Target I earned a $5 giftcard. So I saved AND made some money-woot woot!

I picked up a 2 little trinkets for Christmas.

Kohls

Marshalls

My friend loves owls. No worries--she doesn't read my blog. I don't think she even remembers I have a blog! In her own words she can barely manage an email. As I was saying she loves owls. She also collects Halloween skeletons. She is kinda weird and kooky...and all together spooky. Wait--that's a different holiday. Or show. Well something different.

I am one of those obnoxious people who likes theme gifts. So this year my friend is getting owls. Although I may have given her owls last year also....hmmm. 

Anyhoo...hahahha...hoo, get it? hoo. Owls? Hoo? Anyone? Geez-tough room...

Owl just have to take that chance...ok ok I will stop with the corny owl puns ...haha

Sassy,sweets and a toddler toy

Christmas eve is the night my family (myself, the hubbs, my daughter and her hubbs) typically celebrate and open presents. This year was a little more non traditional since we had to wait until 11 pm to open presents. My daughter works 1st shift and her hubbs works second. My daughter came to my house to pass the time until operation openourchristmaspresents would commence. Translated that means she hollered MOOOOMMM about every 5 minutes, was eating and playing on my laptop while I was trying to do my chores.  In other-words nothing has changed since she lived at home, haha. She did manage to wrap some presents while here but ran me ragged asking for tissue  paper, gift bags, boxes, and scissors.

Later in the evening, one of her friends stopped by for hot cocoa and to help with making fudge and gingerbread. (I am known as mom#2 in this case). And of course both girls were being sassy and giving me a hard time. Case in point:

Daughter's friend (DF): "Mom-I have a joke for you"

Me: "ok"

DF: "knock knock"

Me: "who's there?"

DF: "Ismell"

Me: "Ismell who"

this exchange was followed by raucous laughter...get it? Ismellwho...Ismellpoo DANG IT!! I can't believe I fell for that. Those damn kids...

The gingerbread was made using a silicone mold.

 This was a my first time using one. Not sure if I like it or not. During the baking process the gingerbread people looked like a scene from ALIEN (chests bursting open). The girls found this funny as well....sigh

Upon cooling they were more presentable than expected. I can frost them to fill in the crevices or flip them over to the smoother side for a better presentation. Regardless of appearance they are spicy, moist and delicious....mmmm

The fudge turned out good but has a few bumps  lumps in the beginning. The trick is to use a very heavy pan. I use my vintage bean-pot which is enameled cast iron.

  I let the milk, sugar, salt and butter come to a  rapid boil for 2 minutes while I stirred constantly. There were a few large sugar particles that wouldn't break down so I used a mesh cup and filtered the hot solution into a large glass measuring cup. Once I was convinced there were no more lumps I returned the mixture to the pot. Return to a rapid boil for 4 minutes, stirring continuously. Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips, stir, stir, stir. Add the marshmallows stir, stir, stir, add vanilla and stir VIGOUROUSLY. Do NOT stop stirring for 1 minute . You will feel the burn and swear you are gonna have Popeye arms. Transfer the thickened and cooling mixture to a pre-lined pan. (*Note I use waxed paper because it is easier to peel off ) The result is a super creamy perfect fudge. Firm, glossy and not gritty. (Because there is nothing worse than gritty fudge--bleh)

DELICIOUS!!

Christmas day was action packed  as we headed over to the hubb's moms' house. It was hodgepodge of finger foods and traditional dinner food served buffet style). We sat around catching up, eating and having a good time. Funniest moment of of the day was after all the babies opened their presents. We had given our  10 month old great-niece a Fisher Price flip phone. This was kind of a perfect-funny present because her mom is majorly attached to her cell phone. Anyway, my niece was telling how perfect this toy is and how much the baby loved it already.

As a matter of fact the baby had already figured how to change the picture. Then my niece tells me I can't figure out how to change the picture. So here we are 2 grown women trying to figure out how to change the picture on a 10 month's old toy (who HAD already done so).  After pushing all the buttons I closed it and it worked. To which we laughed hysterically and I said, "Well I supposed you have to be smarter than the toddler's toy"   derpitty-derp-derp


I mean it's not like I am a scientist or anything...sheesh

Countdown to Christmas

Holy Silent Night Kris Kringle! Christmas is less than 2 DAYS away! It seemed like it was taking FOR-EV-UH to be Christmas and BOOM here it is . (Now I have the Whomp! There It Is song stuck it in my head--that's not very Christmas-y, but this may Christmas-fy it a bit.  You can't un-see it and now that song is stuck in your head) Bahahahaha or is it Bahohohohoho? Just a few last minute preparations and let the merriment commence. Bring it on Santa! 

Tonight actually kicks off our festivities for 3 days of Christmas! We have dinner tonight with my family (Mom and siblings). Tomorrow is our Christmas with the hubbs, my daughter and son-in-law.  And Sunday rounds it out with the Hubb's family. 

Tonight I am responsible for bring the mac-n-cheese casserole and glazed carrots. And my car is loaded down with presents for all my nieces, nephews and my siblings. Sheesh--my car was so piled up  I couldn't see out of my rear window.

Tomorrow  in-lieu of the traditional dinner we will nom on some  appetizers since our daughter works first shift and our son-in-law works second shift.  An even more non-traditional twist--we are opening presents at 11pm since that was the only time we could carve out and be together. The things we do for family togetherness!

Sunday I am responsible for yet another mac-n-cheese casserole. What can I say my mac-n-cheese casserole is a gift unto itself. (I am soooo modest, that's just how I roll, ha!)

While our celebration is non-traditional, the one thing that is always consistent is our love for one another. Making time for one another is best present you can receive.

What are some of  your plans, traditional or otherwise?

Glitterati Not-y

I just have to ask. What is up with the glitter-fied and sequin-y Christmas? Everywhere I look (Target, Walmart, Meijers) it is glitter disco town. Don't get me wrong, if I had been there back in the the day I so would have been shaking my groove thing at Club 54. Didn't happen 'cause 1) I'm not a Naw Yawker 2) um-I would have been like 10--that would have been a little to much Pretty Baby-ish

I'm not anti-glitter or anything but I just like my Christmas ornaments a little more traditional  handmade looking.

 Just not handmade by the tween scene. Peruse the Christmas aisles--there are enough sequins, glitter (and feathers) that it looks like there was a Vegas showgirl cat fight backstage.

This looks like something my cat would leave on the doostep

I DO like things that are shiny, sparkly, blingy because contrary to popular belief I on occasion exhibit a girly side. As a matter of fact this would do nicely..hehe

I just don't want to have to clean glitter and sequins from every surface of my house. Not to mention my dog and cats like to ingest the stuff. Then it becomes a special after school special called Kitt-cats digestive disco. Trust me-NO ONE wants to see that.

Although I suppose if you MUST have a glittery ornaments click here for a great  DIY no-mess glitterfying glass ornaments craft session.

Glitter ornaments aren't the worst ornaments I have seen. For those click here, here just plain wrong) annnnd here. Be warned because you can't unsee it once viewed. (Although #10 on the first list still makes me laugh. Maniacally)

Ho Ho Ho ....Noooooo

Merry Fatmas

Or the alternate titles of  The Eating Season or  Not All Fat People are Jolly could apply. I am almost (notice I said almost) over the edge with the amount of food that has been available. Rather a selfish statement considering there a great deal of people who go to bed hungry every night. ( Hey--I contribute to food pantry's, Round Up for the Hungry and I am not a completely self absorbed foodiefatgirl).  In the past week, my work has had our annual Facility holiday dinner (Wed), our Safety luncheon (Thur) and our Lab Christmas dinner (Fri). Of course there are the social gatherings with friends for dinner and gift exchange, the platters of cookies, bowls of candies...well you get the ideal. 

I know what you are thinking. "Just exercise some self control" BAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHA...Oh, excuse me. Exercise and self-control in the same sentence? For me? HA! I believe that is what is called an oxy-moron. If I DID exercise and have self control, it wouldn't be an issue....

 Don't get me wrong I luuuurvvve the Christmas season. I get to decorate and set up my Christmas trees. I break out my massive collection of Christmas gift wrap and have pretty presents on display.

 I can listen  and sing along (badly) to Christmas music. I get to go SHOPPING and don't' have to come up with some lame-ass story for the hubbs. It is a sanctioned shopping season. Woo Hoo!! 

(Disclaimer--this is NOT me. I only wish I were that jubilant when shopping. Oh there is the young, attractive and slender thing too--SO...NOT...ME) 

I get to watch all my favorite Christmas movies.

I get to wear warm fuzzy pj's, a cozy robe and reindeer slippers!

I get to drink cocoa, cook, bake and eat all the yummy holiday nom-nom's. Oh yeah-we're back to the eating thing. Maybe if I didn't spend so much time ensconced in the big comfy recliner,  watching movies, loafing around in pj's AND eating I wouldn't feel like this--

Oh well that's what January is for right? New year, not so new resolution to lose weight get in shape, blah, blah, blah.  So for now I am gonna eat, drink (lot's o Pepto)  and be merry, happy, jolly grateful for sweaters and baggy sweatshirts.  I will  not worry about not being a chubby chasers' pin up girl until January. Excuse me because there is plate of sugar cookies calling my name...