It's Christmas.

Can't you just feel it?!?!

The Father/Daughter Banquet

Monday night was the Father/Daughter Banquet out at my church last night and my dad took my sister and I. It was a good time and here are a few pictures of us trying to take a self portrait...

"Just stick your chin out dad."

Also, I would just like to mention the best tissue to use when your nose is running and feeling rather raw...Puffs with lotion. Their slogan says it all: " A nose in need deserves Puffs indeed." Let me tell you, this stuff is worth the extra dollar or so when your nose can't take another square of toilet paper or regular tissue. It feels like feathers and does a great job of cleaning up the mess. Just thought I would share that with you. Totally random, I know, but hey, that should be no surprise on this blog. :)

Check out...

...this Nike commercial. Not only does the kid have an amazing talent, it's filmed in the best city in the USA: Portland!

My new favorite cookie

Everyone, let me introduce you to the Peanut Blossom...

These are just delicious, I can't even tell you. The recipe calls for hershey kisses but since my cookies looked so teeny I went with big chocolate chips instead. And you can practically feed an army with the amount of cookies this batch makes.

My new favorite word

Scuttlebutt...isn't that a fun one?
According to Dictionary.com
1. Nautical. a. an open cask of drinking water.
b. a drinking fountain for use by the crew of a vessel.
2. Informal. rumor or gossip.

Wikipedia says: Scuttlebutt in nautical terminology is a water fountain or water cask on a ship. It is now more commonly used as slang for "information" or "gossip". It also is the name of a competitive event at many Sea Scout regattas.

On sailing ships, water for immediate consumption was conventionally stored in a scuttled butt: a butt (cask or small barrel) which had been scuttled by making a hole in it so the water could be withdrawn. Since sailors exchanged gossip when they gathered at the scuttlebutt for a drink of water, scuttlebutt became Navy slang for gossip or rumors.

Some things never change do they? Then it was called a scuttlebutt, now it's called a water cooler. Tomato, TomAto.

A baby and his cookie

The original recipient of the Cocoa Fudge cookies I made last weekend was Lisa Pietzold. Here is little Zach helping his mommy enjoy said cookies.

more baking...

My favorite food reviewer Linda, enjoying my Butterscotch Blondies.

Here are a few items I made this weekend for the 8th grade lunch bible study that Blake and Mandy do on Mondays. You are looking at a tray of Butterscotch Blondies and Cocoa Fudge Cookies. Mine didn't turn out quite like the pictures but thats okay, they never do.

Anyway, they are both easy and delicious recipe's to make so print the recipe and make 'em up tonight. :)

Christmas questions

Welcome to the "Christmas Edition" of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! It's the season to be cheerful!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I do a little bit of both. I don't really care about either I just love watching people open the gifts.


2. Real or Artificial tree? I love real but have an artificial tree right now. I would totally kill a real one if I had one.


3. When do you put up the tree? I try to get it up the weekend after Thanksgiving but if that doesn't happen then as soon as possible.


4. When do you take the tree down? Oh, I don't know, after Christmas sometime. No deadline, just when I get the time. Definitely NOT before New Years though.


5. Do you like Eggnog? Eh, not a huge fan...or a small one for that matter.


7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yep, a little cheap thing from the Dollar store. But at least I have one. :)

8. Hardest person to buy for? I think I have to say my dad. He's not really that super hard to buy for but like most dad's, when my dad wants something, he just goes and buys it for himself. That makes things slightly difficult...I think we got him all figured out this year though. Yay!

9. Easiest person to buy for? Mom. With her, the rule of thumb is Starbucks gifts cards, she LOVES THEM! Can't get enough.

11. Christmas Cards....Snail mail or E-mail? Snail mail, but I don't really do Christmas cards. :) Sorry friends.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Muppet Christmas Carol. I know almost all the words and all the songs. Please don't hate me if or when we watch the movie together, I will probably be annoying. :) My second (cause who can choose just one) is White Christmas. My third is Ernest Saves Christmas. My fourth is The Santa Clause. My fifth is...

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I don't know, it just sort of happens when it happens.

14. Have you ever "recycled" a Christmas present? I don't know that either. I really don't think I have but I can see myself doing that. Hmmm...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cinnamon rolls from Pillsbury with orange icing. We eat it every Christmas morning. Yummers!

16. Clear lights or colored or both on the tree? I prefer white lights but am not opposed to colored.

17. Favorite Christmas Song? Do not have one. I will say this though. I love the WHOLE Carpenters Christmas Portrait album...every last song. LOVE IT!!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Well, I'm not opposed to traveling, but Santa (which means my parents) needs to be near by to be able to put my stocking on my bed for when I wake up Christmas morning.

20. Do you have an Angel or a Star on top of your tree? I have a star. For the longest time my parents had an angel that my dad and I called the Angry Angel. We made it together at some military family Christmas party way back in the day and when my dad drew the face, he gave her sort of angry eyebrows so she looked like she was always scowling down on us. So funny.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? One on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas morning. If my mom had her way we would open one every hour to make them spread out longer. Too bad mom, your vetoed.

23. Shopping...Mall or on-line or both? Mall, online, little boutiques, Fred's, you name it, I'll go.

24. Do you decorate outside for Christmas or just inside (or at all?) both inside and outside

25. Favorite Christmas cookie? I love them all!!

26. Do you own Christmasy clothing or jewelry? Nope, not a thing. And I'm okay with that, thank you.

27. Do you believe in Santa Claus? No. And I was not brought up believing in Santa. My parents never lied to me about it, probably from birth. In fact, once I told my friend (I was probably in 1st grade or something) that Santa wasn't real. She told her parents what I had said and her dad, who just happened to be my dad's ranking officer (his boss), called my dad and kinda sorta chewed him out. hehehe, I love that story.


Here are a few of the questions I couldn't think of answers for at this moment. I didn't change the numbers, sorry.

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
6. Favorite Gift you received as a child?
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
19. Can you name Santa's Reindeer?


Now, go out and blog your own answers friends!!

"feels like cashmere"

That is what Linda said as she was eating my newest baking creation, Pumpkin Bread.

My sisters made this a few weeks ago and it was so delectable that I just had to make it myself. It's so moist (I know, that's not the best word but it is to describe the bread). And, just so you know, I only used half of the all purpose flour that the recipe called for and used whole wheat for the rest (the credit for that goes to my sis, who told me that she did when she made it and it totally worked great).

I wonder what I'll try next? Any recommendations?

Biscotti

Well, here is another new tasty baking experience to share with you and to add to my ever growing list of items backed for the Christmas season. Last night I made Cranberry-Chocolate Chip Biscotti. Sounds good, huh? I'm here to say that it not only sounds good, it looks and tastes good. I was a bit worried about the dough at first, didn't really meld together like I'm used to with other cookie or dessert recipe's but I forged on (with the encouragement of my dad who came over last night to put up lights on my balcony). The bottom got a teeny-tiny bit burnt on but I think overall they turned out just fine. I can't wait to make them again. Check 'em out.

Linda, who is one of my favorite food reviewers, said they turned out delicious (I love watching her eat what I make, she makes it look so good). Anyway, making biscotti is so much easier than I ever imagined. If you have ever thought about making it yourself but haven't yet because you thought it might be too hard, give it a try. Really, it's super easy and will them make a great little treat you can have on hand when guests come over and even give away as a Christmas gift (maybe drizzle some white chocolate over the tops of these...oooo, that sounds good!). That is one great thing about biscotti, there are so many different things you can do with them like putting stuff on top after they have baked or put different things in the mix like almonds or ginger. There are endless options here folks, just try out your favorite. :)

A little fact that Donna told me this morning is that Biscotti means "twice baked." Interesting. I actually baked mine three times but I won't tell them that.

COOKIES and a random picture

Well, last night I made Oatmeal chocolate peanut butter chip cookies. I told you I was going to be baking more. And now I've also decided I'm going to try and show you everytime I make something new. Yay! :) Okay, maybe I'm the only excited but I sure am excited!

Oh, and here is someone that is not so excited. My dad emailed me this picture yesterday that was taken at Christmas last year.He may hate that I put this up but it just cracks me up everytime I see it and I wanted to share it with all of you out there in blogger land.

Christmas baking

Well, I have begun my Christmas baking. hahaha I say that and it sounds like every year I do all this Christmas baking, but don't let me fool you. This is the first time I've really done anything like this. It's definitely my first time to make brittle (Walnut Brittle) which was so easy and SO GOOD!! I also made these oh so yummy and festive looking chocolate cupcakes that I will be making for my family to enjoy on Christmas day (probably with some ice cream). But I had so much fun making these two treats that I cannot wait to make more yummy things to share during the holiday season. :) And that is what I mean when I say "I have begun my Christmas baking." Hopefully, it will become a tradition for me. :) Oooo, my own little tradition, I love it.

Girls Night Out and a beautiful Sunrise

Kristin, Beks, Jamie and I went out a few weekends ago for a night on the town. We went to the Dragonfish (in the Paragon Hotel) for dinner and then to the...the...well, hmmm, I can't remember where we went after that but it was a fun place. :) It was a fun evening and I had a blast! Jenny, me, and Kristin

Beks having a blast and two different kinds of sake (one is pear infused and one is rasberry infused)...interesting flavors.

not a great picture on my part, but here is Beks attempting to eat her eel with only her chopsticks...she did quite well.

Jamie, me, and Jenny...real smiles.

Also, changing directions...yesterday was an absolutely beautiful sunrise that I just had to snap some pictures to share with you all (sorry if they aren't that great).

Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by

Hi friends!

Hey everyone. I don't have anything to say really but it has been awhile since I posted last so I thought I would say hello and let you know that things are going quite well.

Here is a story for you...

Today at work, Ruthie needed half&half for her coffee but there was none in the fridge in the mail room. She, being the random sweety that I just cherish, turned to me and said she would time me to see how long it took me to run to the kitchen and and back and grab a new half&half carton. I, being the crazy runner who jumps at a challenge, took off a-runnin'. I made it back in 1 minute and 14 seconds (she might have to correct me, I was huffing and puffing when she told me the time so I didn't quite catch it all). It was fun. :) I love random things like that. Next time it will have to be a race with someone. :)


Let's see...oh, I think everyone should do one good thing for environment. Doesn't have to be huge but if we all did just one thing to help it really would make a difference. I heard that statement from a very dear friend of mine who said her one thing is to buy laundry and dish detergent in that is more concentrated but comes in smaller containers. Mine is to not use the plastic bags at grocery stores. I have a plethora of cloth sacks and bags that I have collected from Fred's and Trader Joes, to name a few, and from a website called Reusable Bags (check it out, they sell A LOT of stuff and they make for great gifts). If I don't have those on hand I try to remember (notice I said "try to remember") to ask the person helping me to put my stuff in a paper bag. Once I had them re-bag it for me. But it was great because I got to explain to the young checker what my deal was and he totally got it (well, at least pretended for my benefit). There are some crazy, expensive and time consuming ideas out there but all you need to do it find something that you know you can actually accomplish on some sort of regular basis, you could make a difference. :) Call me a tree-hugger, I don't care. Here are a few different places you can check out to get some simple, easy ideas:
Making a difference
Green Living tips

And here are a couple websites that you might find interesting:
National Geographic
Green Living

Lastly, here are a few pictures from way back in September when Roxanna and Sophia came to town:
Sophia eating her soybeans, but really wanting the chocolate

Sophia just realized her mommy is gone and she has to spend the evening with us (my dad, my friend Holli, and me)

Sophia playing on the rocking stool (I admit, I love it too)

Holli and Sophia reading a book (if you look closely, you can see Sophia multitasking by talking on her cell at the same time)

And Sophia and I playing around on the trampoline

So, this entry is long and all over the place...sorry.

:) Tabs out

Alumni who?

So I just got the little alum magazine from my university last night. I took a moment to look through it and found the Milestone's section to be the most interesting and saddest part. Interesting because it lists people having baby's, getting married, moving up in their company's (even starting new company's) and all the super fun stuff. It even had pictures and it was fun to see and read about people I know. It was kind of sad though (in a selfish way, of course) because it made me realize I was not getting married, not having babies, not moving up in any company, not really doing much of anything. But then again not sad cause I'm pretty content with where I am at these days. Life is good. God is good. There are things I wouldn't mind seeing change, but there always are. All in all, it was fun to "catch up" with people that I otherwise wouldn't know anything about. Someday I'll have my own little blurb in there, don't you worry. :)

Yesterday when I came into work I was shushed by a couple of 1st graders on their way to music class. Cutest thing. I love working in the school building (but I love that I am not a part of the school).

I have to give a little shout out to my friend Beks who was showed what it is to be a true friend when she swept all the cobwebs away from my door the other night. She also swept up the hugest, nastiest dead spider that I had killed a few nights before that. I'll give you the overall recap on that scary incident: 4:30 am Wednesday morning, there was a battle on my door step between me and a freakin' huge spider who had made a web across my staircase. Some instruments that were involved in this battle were my broom (who's new home is on the front step by the welcome mat), a bottle of wasp spray and my welcome mat (envision me throwing tossing the welcome mat on the wasp spray-covered spider and jumping up and down while whimpering like the little girl that I am). I'm sure it was quite the sight. ANYWAY, all that to say a HUGE THANK YOU! to Bekah, you are fabulous, thanks for being a better friend than me.


Today, October 30th, is National Candy Corn day...I love this day! Candy Corn is not the best candy around but it sure is tasty.

And lastly I just want to add that I LOVE the song Grace Kelly by MIKA. If you haven't heard it, go visit iTunes and buy it, you will just love it!! It's a super fun and catchy tune. :)

Have a great day everyone!! Love you all!

One last parting comment and then I really will be done.
I got a card in the mail from a friend recently that had Winnie the Pooh and Piglet walking hand in hand on the front and said "Friendship,' said Pooh, 'is a very comforting thing." Seriously, nobody can say it better than Pooh.

A Sunday stroll

Sunday morning I drove down to Salem and ran Dream of Roses, a 10k race just for women. There were probably just over 100 involved, from the race coordinators to the little kids who participated in the 2 mile walk. It was a beautiful, albeit cold, autumn morning, just great for a race. I like 10K's and was really happy I was running that instead of a half marathon when I rounded mile marker 5 and realized I only had 1.4 miles left instead of the usual 8.1. Check out my goofy pictures. :)

Here I am before the race...number-check, iPod-check, hat-check. I am ready to race.
Here I am after the race (looking like a freak show I might add). Sweat-check, goofy "I'm finished" grin-check, rose-check (They handed out roses as we crossed the finished line, how fun is that?)
The finish line, a wondrous sight for a runner.
My "awards": I got 4Th in the race and 1st in my age division (25-29).

We painted...

It was time for an update in our little corner of the church building so we picked out some colors that we thought would add some...well, color and excitment and energy to the room. :) After waffling back and forth, back and forth...and back and forth I finally went with our choices and nervously awaited the outcome. As you can see below it is still a work in progress, do the bare walls give it away? I have to wait till Kristin gets back before much more happens, I certainly can't do the rest without her. :)

Here are some before pictures. As you will be able to tell, we were sampling paints at this point.

And the after shots...

So?? What do you think? Quite a difference, huh? I've gotten quite a few shocked visitors, that has definitely been fun. Oh, and did I already mention that I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT? Cause I do. What can I say, I'm partial to green. So, shout outs to Bobby and all the other B&G guys who helped paint it (especially Bobby for putting up with all my waffling), Kristin for helping pick the colors, Ryan for being supportive of what Kristin and I pretty much told him we were doing, Bri Moyer for going with me to make the final decisions and purchases and for being there for me in my time of paint color breakdown. You all rock! Thanks a million!!

The next big thing would be to get rid of that oh so not pretty blue (sort of) carpet that is stained from the many spills that happen in an office that has Jr. High and High School students running through it all day long. Don't you think we should get black and white tile? That would be awesome!

No more matching cup

Well, the day after I blogged about my great new cup that is matchers with Rachels cup...it got broken. I got a new desk and Dave came by to set up my computer for me and in all the moving around and things being a bit skewing around in the office he knocked it off of the fridge and it cracked nice and big down the side to hold coffee no more. It was sad. But hey, it happens, good thing it was only from Ikea and I can just go back and get another set. But then what I am going to do with the extra one? Hmmm...anyone want to be matchers with Rachel and I?

My new favorite cup

Rachel and I went shopping a while ago and found this set of cups that don't have handles and come with a square coaster and stir stick. They were just so darn cute that we had to buy them right there (LOVE IKEA!). Now we have matching cups and every time I use mine, which is every day cause I have it at work, I think of her...aahhh. :) We are such nerds, but I love it!

I should mention that our trip to Ikea followed Sam's birthday party (he turned 4, oh my goodness). A good time was had by all...well, except maybe Sam who kept wanting to know where the toy was every time he opened a present that was a book or if he just wasn't happy with that particular "toy." Ah, to be 4 again. Lisa and Erik were there too, along with their little ones, David and Kira. p> Grant and Grant (Rach's little boy)

The "cake" - cute little cupcakes decorated like bowling balls with pink candles per the request of the birthday boy.

Sam getting ready to blow out his pink candles. Sheesh, that looks like a huge flame.David thoroughly enjoying his bowling ball cupcake...well, at least the frosting part.

My mom holding little Kira (so cute). Now mom, don't get too attached, I think Mary and Tom will notice if they are missing a grandchild.

Oh, look at little Sam and David playing. Can I just say again how weirdly fun and cool it is when your friends have kids and you get to watch them grow up and look and act like their parents? CRAZINESS! But I love it!