Lazy Sunday

Had a really fun day today. Got some stuff done this morning and then Kimmy came over this afternoon and we had lots of fun playing Super Mario galaxy and making cupcakes!
I also remembered that I still needed to post about this awesome necklace that my sister Crystal made me for Christmas. I love it so muchly! Also can be worn as a bracelet.














Also we were discussing this yummy popcorn that I made for Christmas. It's super easy to make. You take 2 bags of microwave kettle corn. Pop and remove all unpopped kernels. Put popcorn in large mixing bowl and prepare 2 large baking sheets by spraying with a non stick cooking spray. Melt about a cup and a half of white chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth and pour over popcorn in bowl. Stir gently to mix and coat. At this point I like to sprinkle over some crushed soft peppermint candies. Super yummy and you can add as much or as little as you like. You can also leave it plain or use colored melting chocolate that you get at places like Michaels in the candy section if you want colored popcorn. Great for baby showers. After popcorn is coated spread it out on the baking sheets to cool/harden and that's it. When it's cool break it up gently with a spatula and serve. Super yummy and easy to make.













Sorry for the crummy pictures! Later!

Christmas 2007

Christmas this year was a little different. I don't know if it was just harder being far from family after being in Canada last year or if it's just less of a big deal with no kids around. I love our stockings and having the Christmas cards all up to display. So fun!












And our tree. Which the cats love. If it were a better picture you could see that there are only decorations on the top half because the cats liked playing with them SO much!













Christmas morning was nice. We ended up staying in our PJ's pretty much all day, eating breakfast and opening presents. Doing puzzles and watching movies.
I made white chicken chili and it was really great to just relax and stay in the bubble.












New Christmas PJ's from the night before and just relaxing all day. Looking forward to a repeat of that for New Years. We spent Christmas Eve with Eldon's family and that was nice too. I missed my family's tradition of Christmas eve Chinese food though. I heard it was really good this year too.













I'm so ready to be home from work today. We rented Mario Galaxy for the wii and it ROCKS! We played a bunch last night and I think i'm going to buy it tomorrow. It's a really fun game.

Tomorrow we are headed to Flagstaff for some sushi, gift card spending and watching of this:



Should be fun!

Four things

Four things about me that you may or may not have known.

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Tart packager at a bakery.
2. Children’s party entertainer.
3. Data entry for CCRA.
4. Legal assistant.

Four movies I've watched more than once:
1. Amelie.
2. Pride & Prejudice.
3. The little mermaid.
4. Love Actually.

Four places I have lived:
1. Ottawa, Ontario
2. Holbrook, AZ
3. Sudbury, Ontario
4. Capreol, Ontario

Four T.V. Shows that I watch: (or used to watch )
1. Grey’s Anatomy.
2. Project Runway.
3. Top Chef.
4. Jeopardy.

Four places I have been:
1. Montreal, Quebec
2. Toronto, Ontario
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Washington D.C.

People who e-mail me:
1. Kimmy
2. Angela
3. Nicole
4.

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Sushi.
2. BBQ crab at Joe’s.
3. Jamba Juice.
4. Dad’s stew.

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. In bed.
2. Paris.
3. Canada.
4. South Korea.

Things I am looking forward to next year:
1. Traveling, no idea where!
2. Our 5th anniversary.
3. Nicole coming home.
4. Angela visiting!

Kitty hideaway

Today was a good day at work. I felt like I got a lot done which is always nice. AND it's casual clothes for the rest of the week so that's ALWAYS nice!
I made tasty raisin bran muffins when I got home from work (the house is always so nice and clean when Eldon is on a break from work. We joke that he is the house elf when he is on vacation but seriously it is so nice to come home to a clean house.) and talked to my mom for a bit before we went to the Roxy to see "Enchanted". Yes again. It's adorable!! I can't help it!!

I promised my mom I would post a picture of our kitty tent. The cats love this tent and the fact that there is a little kitty bed tucked inside. I took this picture tonight while I was on the phone with my mom telling her how much they like it and that we may buy another one and I walked in to take a picture and there Ariel was. Chilling out!












Also really liking that Blaine bought me an itunes gift card for Christmas. Bought this CD (I had a few tracks but not the whole thing) and I'm really loving it!


















Time to sleep. I still have to work TWO WHOLE DAYS before I get to take four more off.Just kidding. I know how lucky I am. Even if I was deprived by not having Boxing Day off work. Seriously.

kuuduk

Had some fun times today. My in-laws came over for dinner to celebrate the first snowfall. Actually I was home horribly sick the day of the second snow fall and it was WONDERFUL looking. All of these big flaky huge snowflakes drifting down. I pulled all of the blinds up and the cats were watching and chasing after snowflakes. The crazy thing is that it was all melted and gone by the time Eldon got home from work. I miss snow that stays!


I made gingersnaps to send with the Moody's on their way to Nevada for the Holidays and after my in-laws went home we ended up going over to Kimmy's to bring her her present and stayed to hang out.

We played this game that we bought about a year ago and had never played, kuuduk. It was fun but apparently there was a rule we didn't know about. (Kim you are supposed to link the letters together with either the same number or the same colour side by side as shown in the below picture. Who knew!) That and the fact that we were playing with just three people made it a little different. I really liked it though and would totally play again. We love card games. They are so inexpensive that we usually pick up any that look interesting but we have several that we have never played.













We rented "Stardust" last night. Really great movie. My sister Angela really likes the author Neil Gaiman and I am super excited because Kimmy had the book and loaned it to me to read! I love reading and comparing books to movies. I don't know why I just do.














I've been feeling kind of not in the Christmas spirit and tonight as I was flipping through my recipe book to get the recipe for my mom's shortbread I realized I have really not done any holiday baking. I'm making shortbread sometime in the next few days but I think there are a few other recipes that I should bust out as well. I'm also trying really hard to take pictures of the recipes as I cook them so when I post them I have photographic evidence.
OK my bed is calling me. Night!

fave christmas decoration

I absolutely love this little nativity that my aunt MargaretJane gave me. In the day it looks like white carved porcelain but when it's lit with a candle and the room is dark it is absolutely luminous....showing every detail of the carvings. So beautiful and very treasured.
I'm feeling a lot better today. I look like I've been beaten because I have two black eyes but I'm feeling much better.
More later. Sleep now.

vomit free since about 3

I wish I looked like this today. I am a sorry sight for sure. I believe I have the flu and I'm hoping the worst is over. I feel super super crummy!
Just a random pic for today and I'll be back when I feel much much better.

organize

Am I the only one who gets the irrepressible urge to organize when the new year hits?
I have been making up an order for the container store and these are a few of the fun things I have found.
I never would have thought of it but the individual boxes of tea can get quite overwhelming. Neat way to organize all of your packages!















Speaking of Tea, This one is awesome! So delicious! I'm completely addicted!














I also really need a few of these. Cans completely overwhelm our pantry and are a constant annoyance. Plus it would be handy to have this labeled and know when you were out of a particular canned good.














I think that these days ago timers would be a plus. You hit the button and it starts counting the days UP so you would know "OK this milk has been in the fridge for 5 days" etc. With just the two of us sometimes we don't use things as quickly as a larger family would.





















How nice would it be if you don't have cupboards that have built in pan racks to have things be somewhat separated. Muffin tins and baking sheets and cutting boards.











I wish we had a container store closer because they have some seriously cool organization products. Oh well! The Internet will have to do for now!

tag

Ok a friend e-mailed this to me so here it is! Another effort to get into the holiday spirit!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like them both. Depends on the gift.

2. Real or artificial? Artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? 1st of December.

4. When do you take the tree down? Soon after New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? It totally grosses me out. Even the thought of it. Even watching Eldon drink it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I think probably the Cabbage Patch Dolls Aunt Margaret bought us. I’m pretty sure it was the gift I loved the longest in childhood.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? No….but I really want a fontanini one that I can add pieces to each year.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Hmmmm…..I can’t really think of anyone in particular….I like shopping a gift giving….maybe my boss?

9. Easiest person to buy for? Anyone with an Amazon wish list!

10. Worst Christmas present ever received? Wine. Two bottles at a work Christmas party when I was in college.

11. Email or Christmas card? I love me a good handmade card but I think I’m going to start editing my list even more. It’s a pain to send them to people you never get one back from you know?

12. Favorite Christmas movie? I love Elf, and Love Actually, and the Mickey Christmas Carol and White Christmas….wait did you really want me to pick ONE?

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Sometimes I shop all year. This year a lot of it was done after Thanksgiving and it was a PAIN! I’m all about having it DONE by thanksgiving usually.

14. Have you ever recycled/re-gifted a Christmas present? Yes.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Probably Chinese food Christmas eve.

16. Favorite Christmas tradition? The advent calendar.

17. Favorite Christmas song? River by Joni Mitchell this year.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Either we travel or stay at home. A little bit of both depending on the year.

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer? Prancer, Dancer, Dasher, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and of course Rudolph.

20. Do you have an angel at the top of the tree or a star? A star. My only complaint is that it does not light up.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? One on Christmas Eve and all of the rest on Christmas day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Random drop by’s by people who we never see the rest of the year.

23. Best thing about Christmas? The chill relaxing time.


And I tag.....NICOLE!

post office

So I go to the place where I have spent oh so much money and time this holiday season for hopefully the last time this year. (fingers crossed)I will of course make exceptions if it is to pick up packages but that is where I draw my line in the sand people! Speaking of which Angela I think one of your packages has come because I have to sign a delivery confirmation from Canada. They are holding it hostage until I sign my life away. ;) And I have two more of these to mail as well.














And some packages that contain handmade items that should have been in the mail sooner...I know. Forgive me MargaretJane and Mom! They are worth the wait though I promise! They contain my blood sweat and tears!!

I have also been making a TON of these little darlings lately. Cranberry bliss bars. So good! I foresee a batch or two more before the Holiday season is over though. SO popular! Nothing goes better with a starbucks steamed milk than a cranberry bliss bar.

Can I just say that it is only Tuesday and I am SO ready for the weekend. (a four day weekend for me I may add) Eldon's off starting Friday for the next two weeks and I have a four day weekend, work three days and then repeat. Super fun times around our house I tell you! I still have some Christmas gifts to finish (it is so sad) and i'm really trying to get into the spirit. I'm thinking of making some shortbread or maybe butter tarts as a depression buster. Any other ideas?

Christmas Cards

So excited that my christmas cards are mostly sent out. Nicole made this awesome collage for us to use in our cards and I am so grateful. It would have taken me ages and she did SUCH a nice job!

River

I'm in a mood. I'm blue. I'm listening to River constantly. So not the right mood for a week before Christmas. So in an attempt to cheer myself up miss Lexi came over today.

We have scrapbooked and played "Mario Party 8" with Eldon and have now moved onto the making pizza and playing "Ratatouille" part of our evening.
I also have a goal of getting my Christmas cards done sometime this weekend to mail them horrible late on Monday.
Three cheers to pizza and Lexi!

a few of my favorite things

I love books. This is usually what my nightstand looks like. Books piled everywhere it's seriously a problem. I even have a system of bookmarks and positioning books in certain places on my nightstand based on if it's read already or in progress or in queue. And that's not to mention the whole nightstand if basically full of books that have been read that I am storing in there. Problem. Seriously.













Fla Vor Ice.
Delicious and chilly! Not quite as good as cream soda Mr. Freeze which I like better but are unavailable here in Arizona. But still tasty.














I love pretty printed napkins. I usually find them at IKEA in these huge packages and they make me so happy.














This mixer. Present from Eldon for Christmas one year. I could not be happier. I love the colour and i use it constantly. I would be surprised if a week went by and I didn't use it for something.




















I love this foot lotion from Philosophy. It makes my feet happy!!

i hear it's your birthday....

I am one lucky girl!



28 LONG years ago this boy was born.







Four years ago we got married and I've never been happier.
For our anniversary he surprised me with this:



I think this may be the first time he has ever surprised me with a present (I still really love all his gifts but he's a "what do you want?" kind of a guy)
I will share the rest of the story about the ring because believe you me it was a funny one. But today is all about Eldon.



He makes me smile constantly. He is a devoted husband. He chooses me over his family when it comes down to it. He chooses US over almost everything. He totally indulges me...and I love it! He loves me unconditionally.


He's kind. He's funny. He's super intelligent. He's totally into fantasy football. He likes musicals. He loves to try new food. He always takes out the trash.








He's all mine and I love him!
Happy Birthday Baby!!!

Cats

Our friend Katherine asked Sunday night if the Cats often sit this way. Perched on different tiers of the "tower" as we call it. They certainly do!
So adorable!




Today has been a rough day so far. Someone at work has been getting on my last nerve and i'm SO ready to call it a snow day and go home. We got a bunch of snow last night and some of the surrounding area is under winter warnings and have school closures and stuff. Bunco last night was a blast and I won JENGA in the white elepahnt game!!
Love it!!

Daring Book for Girls

I'm loving this book today! I couldn't stop flipping through it yesterday and today the lesson on how to put your hair up with a pencil came in VERY handy!
Thanks to my family for thinking i'm a daring girl! Love you guys!!!

our entryway

We just bought this doormat at Target on Saturday and I really love it! I think that the damask pattern is adorable and I love the size. Our old one was really trashed and it's nice to have something nice and fresh cheering up our entryway.
Oh and that sad little box beside is where my herbs live in summertime. They are all dead and cut back for the winter right now but it is so nice in the summer to have fresh herbs!

Sticky Pecan cupcakes

Totally delicious version of those plain cupcakes i posted below. I don't have a picture (they were eaten too quickly both times) but they are YUMMY!
First you need extra large muffin tins for 12 cupcakes. line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper and spray the papers and the outside of the tins. ALSO make sure you have TWO cooling racks because the last step will be hard with one.

Baking 350* for about 25 minutes.
Prep time 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

1/2 c unsalted butter
5 tbsp honey
2/3 c packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 c pecans coarsely chopped (halves do not work nearly as well)

Preheat the oven to 350*

Make the topping. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, honey, and brown sugar and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the butter and brown sugar melt and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.

Make a recipe of the easy mix yellow cupcake batter. Put 1 1/2 tbsp of the glaze in each muffin tin. Spoon 2 tbsp of pecans over the syrup in each muffin tin. Fill each with about a generous 1/3 c of batter, to just below the top of the pan.

Bake just until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cupcakes for 2 minutes in pan.

Place cooling rack on top of the cupcakes and carefully invert them to release the cupcakes onto the wire rack.. Remove paper circles and place any pecans that remain on paper or in tins onto cupcakes. Leave cupcakes pecan side up to cool. serve warm or at room temperature.
These cupcakes can be stored acovered at room temperature for up to two days but trust me they will not last that long. Pictures as soon as I make another batch.

Cupcakes and Christmas lights

So this is the basic recipe that i've been making all of the other cupcakes from. Including the german chocolate ones below. That recipe called for a half batch of this batter and then you add some homemade chocolate sauce into the batter. Yummy!!
I will post some of the different variations (sticky pecan, pineapple upside down etc.) but you need this basic recipe for most of the ones I have been making.

Easy-Mix Yellow Cupcake Batter

Batter for 24 regular cupcakes or 12 extra large cupcakes.
2 ½ cups white flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl (or your KitchenAid) using a mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until thickened and lightened to a cream color, about 2 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing. On low speed, mix in the oil and vanilla until blended. Mix in the sour cream until no white streaks remain. Mix in the flour mixture until it is incorporated and the better is smooth.



Also can I just say how much I love when you unfocus on lights....it makes this really pretty image seen below. Goal for Christmas pictures is to have a picture with E and I in the foreground and lights like this in the background.

LA/Disneyland

Santa Monica Pier. So fun! We got into Anahiem and checked in to our hotel and then ran up to Santa Monica Pier before we saw Wicked that night. Super chilly (random LA cold snap) but really fun. I love the ocean and it was a really pretty day.


Wicked was great. Not such a great picture but such is life. The play was AMAZING! So much better then I could have imagined and just a great great way to spend our anniversary.

We got back to Anahiem that night and next day we hit up DISNEYLAND!!!


Disneyland was really great. Check the ears. Eldon was wearing them too I swear!
We had such a good time. It was really nice to be able to get away for our Fourth anniversary and spend some time together. It's been a few months since we've really had any time at all to just do something fun.


We saw "Enchanted" that day as well. Really adorable movie and I love Patrick Dempsey. Loved it!

We had a blast and i'll be back with another post soon!