I guess I should fess up and let y'all know that I am not typically one to rush out and spend money on myself. Yes, I'll give you moment to absorb that. It took me forever to accept that it was OK for me to spend more than $20 on a pair of jeans, especially ones that fit. I usually buy most of my clothes off the clearance rack. Yeah yeah, I hear you thinking, tell us something we don't know.
So a couple years ago, I was browsing the clearance rack at Kohls (SHOCK) in the shoe department and I ran across a pair of shoes in the juniors section. They were Union Bay and sorta like Doc Martin knockoffs (and NO, I have never owned Doc Martin either). For giggles I tried them on and was surprised at three things: 1. they fit. I have wide feet and shoes rarely fit 2. they were comfortable. and 3. they made my enormous feet looks small. I figured for $10 why not. They became my favorite shoe for winter mostly because of the waffle stomping sole which gave me traction in snow. Well, over the past couple years the sole has split in in MN that isn't really a good thing. Especially in winter. Then the heel started pulling away from the shoe (only really noticeable when I was driving). I figured I got my $10 out of them and started looking for a new pair. My oldest daughter was very happy as she said they looked butch to her. I think referencing something similar to Sandra Bullock's line in Miss Congeniality..."I get these made special by the guy who put the tattoo on my a$$".
So, I was shopping at Famous Footwear (where I never buy for me, only for the kids) with their buy one get one half off and an additional 20% off coupon and I found a pair of shoes that were pretty similar to what I was currently wearing. I got boots for the youngest and the shoes for me, feeling all proud. I even put them on in the car and wore them the rest of the day. They are REALLY comfortable. No breaking in needed. It took 2 days (the 48 hour rule) to for anyone to noticebut they did while I was washing dishes and all the kids were in the kitchen. My oldest daughter commented that YES, they looked like the old ones...still butch and turned to my son for confirmation.
(not that I frequently turn to my son for fashion advice) He replied..."Are those Sketchers? What are you, TWELVE?"
I love Christmas. Yes, Christmas. Not the "Holiday Season" but Christmas. I love everything about it. I love the shopping, the baking, the shopping, the wrapping, the shopping, the eating, the shopping, the family memories. Did I mention shopping? Yeah, well, I love that too. Best of all, I love sitting at church and being FULLY reminded of what the whole season is about: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the WHOLE story.
What I don't love is that I am so NOT a planner. I fly by the seat of my pants and, in doing so, I destroy my Norman Rockwell-esque vision of what our Christmas will look like by adding to my own stress.
As I cross things off my internal list (because let's face it, if I actually MADE a physical list, I'd leave it at home), I start to feel the stress dissipate. For example, I had my step-mom's gift bought 2 weeks ago, but it has been sitting in a bag waiting for me to put it together, box it, wrap it and mail it out. BUT, I put off putting it together, boxing it, wrapping it, because when I mailed it out I had intended on sending our Christmas card and newsletter which were not done (trying to get 4 kids' pictures when they are moving in different directions at any given time which means I really need to learn how to photo shop people into pics). I finally got it boxed up, wrapped and sent, without the card (I'll spend the $.45 to send it separately) and VOILA...stress level...less. But you see my dilemma right? I'm trying to be cost effective by putting all the items in the same box going out. Or time effective by gathering up all the gifts (which still are not ALL purchased but I'm almost there) and boxing and wrapping at one time so that I only have the wrapping trappings out once instead of dragging it out multiple times. Or shopping effective, which is made SO much more fun when the kids' wish list changes daily/hourly. Yeah, I can hear you now thinking "Good Luck with THAT". I think you can figure out, or at least understand why I'm a bit stressed.
Now, add to that, my two teenage girls who run with gangs of girls. The LOUD variety. Each has about 6 friends in their "gang". Now, the younger of the two girls, her gang decided on doing a secret Santa, which I applauded. Once the secret Santa drawing occurred, they all...wait for it...went and bought gifts for everyone. I'll give you a moment to scratch your head on that one. Of course, she had basketball on almost every Saturday/Sunday this month and this past Sunday, the Vikings Game followed by Holidazzle. Evenings are spent driving kids to various activities (church, basketball, dance) so that wasn't an option. The procurement of said gifts fell squarely on my lap. She did come up with a nice idea for her "bff" and ever the helpful mother I offered to help her make a fleece blanket. So yesterday, while on the floor with 4 yards of fleece, box of long pins, a rotary cutter, a rubber mat and ameasured straight edge, I asked my son to please stuff a dirty sock in my mouth if I should ever open it to volunteer in such a manner. It's done, it just needs to be tied, which she will do tomorrow (can you say Mother's not the only one who cuts things close?I knew you could.) The rest of the gifts were great finds (on my part). My older daughter went the simple route by buying (or having ME buy) frames and she filled them (or I sent the pictures in for printing, paid and picked them up)with cute pics of her and the recipient. OH, but of course she has two girls in her gaggle for whom she is CLOSER so she had to do something EXTRA for them. Extra for one meant her making a homemade hot chocolate mix (thinking of course that it would be inexpensive...we could have flown to San Francisco and had hot chocolate on Pier 39 for the actual cost*).
Please, don't' get me wrong. I am not against these girls giving gifts. Nor do I mind doing or helping with the shopping.What I have problems with is the lack of appreciation for the effort I go through for them and the fact that it never seems to be enough (for them). I really do think they are at an age where they should realize that I have made an effort on their behalf and behave accordingly. They don't. And this makes me sad (which adds to my stress because I don't WANT to be sad).
My son isn't a whole lot better, although I give him credit for doing at least his girlfriend shopping on his own, as he threw a gift bag, a baby shower one, at me because I happened to comment, "What are you putting in that baby shower bag?" Apparently boys being boys don't recognize pastel color bags without the words "Congratulations on your New Baby" as being inappropriate wrapping for one's girlfriend at Christmas. And of course they were exchanging gifts later that day so the opportunity to purchase a large enough bag was gone. (YES...I see the similarities here too).
My youngest has remained a bit above the gift giving fray but we've had our own struggles with her completing her homework on time and as a result suffering the consequences. In case you haven't read somewhere in my blog, I AM NOT A HOVER PARENT. She, however, is making me play one in her life.
My whine wouldn't be complete unless I referenced the husband, who has been very good at decreasing my stress level by calmly rubbing my back while stating "Gee, you sure seem to have put everything off til the last minute this year. You're just going to have to find the time to get it** all done." Brings a smile to your face doesn't it, to have that kind of emotional support?
And finally, there is my family. We are pretty spread out and I don't get to see them much. It used to be my dad came here for Christmas because it was easiest for him to do so but his health has been tenuous the past few years and the trip would be difficult at best. This year he is dealing with his step-daughters who are all dealing with a variety of health issues, from auto-immune disease to cancer so my step mom has her hands full, bless her heart. My only sister was hospitalized last week with an infection and they found out late last week that the infection had entered her prosthesis hip. She is in KY but had her hip replaced by a surgeon in WA and would prefer to be under his care (her boyfriend is in WA) but the hospital in KY has given her such a runaround that she finally released herself this morning, after 9 days, AMA and is (hopefully by now) winging her way to WA where, when she lands, she will go straight to the ER. Her words..."do not pass go, do not collect $200". One of the options that were bandied about was that I would fly to KY and assist in getting her to WA, but apparently her boyfriend did the honors (THANK-YOU BRUCE!!! But I WOULD have done it. In a heartbeat.) I bring this up only to show it's not just the normal every day stress of the season. I DO have a few other things on my plate.
My purpose in writing? I think a little catharsis. I sometimes find that if I can just release what's bothering me, I can get myself in a better frame of mind. Most people don't want to hear about the downers of the season, as if you don't say anything about it, it magically goes away. And guess what? Yeah. It helped. So now I'm going to put on a happy face, finish my gift shopping, do my grocery shopping, do a little more baking (sadly, I have realized I will NOT be completing 12 cookies of Christmas, BUT...I will give you links to additional cookies I have done that will work in a pinch). I'll call my sister to see if she's made it safely to WA and is all ensconced in a nice comfy hospital bed.
I'm almost there. Actually, when I think about not having bought into (mostly because my kids are too old, Praise the Lord) the Elf on a Shelf bull$hit, that would not only add to my stress but probably put me in a straight jacket, I am TRULY able to see how thankful and blessed I really am. I have 4 days left. I'll make the best of them.
But for now, I'll send you back to your regularly scheduled Christmas merry making.
*that was a hyperbole. Sorta. **it=all Christmas shopping for my family and his, all the wrapping for my family(which needs to be mailed) and his, the Christmas card pictures taken, sent in, ordered (he DID pick them up), the newsletter written, printed up, stuffed in with the Christmas card, the baking done, the groceries shopped for, the appetizers made for Christmas Eve with his family, the Christmas dinner he waits all year for planned and everything needed for that purchased
I lived a cookie deprived life up until I was in my mid 20s. Mom wasn't much of a baker and since the family seemed OK with Archway cookies, that is typically what we had. I still remember the first time I had Peanut Butter Blossoms when I was working at Lockheed in Sunnyvale and I prevailed upon the baker (Jane...DANG, I'm good, although I will say, it took me a while to remember her name) for the recipe. I'm sure there are a zillion out there but this recipe is easy and everyone loves it, so I stick with it. I think you'll love it too: Peanut Butter Blossoms (makes about 4 dozen cookies) 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup shortening (I used butter flavor crisco) 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 egg 2 Tbs milk 1 tsp vanilla 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt
Sift flour, soda and salt together and set aside. Cream peanut butter and shortening until well mixed then add sugars. When well creamed, add egg and mix well, vanilla and mix well, and milk and mix well. Add dry ingredients and mix well. You should have a fairly stiff dough that looks like this:
Roll dough into 1 in balls (I use the smallest pampered chef scoop) and roll in sugar (for the first time, I used vanilla sugar, only because I wanted to see if you could taste the subtle vanilla flavor. You can. Plain granulated sugar is fine):
Then place the dough on those awesome heavy aluminum baking sheets you rushed out to get. You DID rush out and got them right? If not, when you finally break down and do, you'll be kicking yourself for not having gotten them the first time I suggested it.
Bake in a 375 preheated oven for 8 minutes then remove and the cookies, which, no are NOT done yet will look like this:
Ever so gently, place a Hershey's kiss (after it's been defoiled of course) gently in the center of each each cookie and press down. Return pan to oven for another 2-4 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly on pan. IF you used that awesome aluminum cookie sheet, the cookies will pop right off with a slight nudge. If not, well... End result are a plateful of these peanutbuttery goodnesses:
I'll bet your checking your cabinets to see if you have some Hershey's Kisses aren't you?
OK, I AM seeing a bit of a theme going on in my tastes. I believe it is because I was raised by parents who LOVED music, but most specifically, jazz. While few people my age have an appreciation of it, it will remain one of my favorite types. Today's favorite always brings to mind Catwoman from the original Batman TV series. Because that is who is singing. Eartha Kitt does Santa Baby and there is NO.FREAKIN'.WAY Madonna's version comes in the same realm as Eartha.
Last night was the final night of the Minneapolis Holidazzle parade. We hadn't done the parade in years, mostly because it is either too cold, or it's snowing, or it's freezing rain. Not ideal conditions by any stretch but then add 4 children into the mix and you have a recipe for disaster. But we have had a little break in the weather and friends suggested we go. When we asked the kids, they had zero recollection of ever going (see...those memories of frozen feet, fighting for a spot on a skyway in huge crowds are forever burned into my memory) so away we went. Actually, we went down in shifts because the husband and middle daughter had the opportunity to go to the Vikings game. AND passes to the Gridiron club. That's a once in a lifetime opportunity for an adult so she'll have quite the story to tell in school today. We met up with the boys with the rest of the kids (minus the boy) at Rock Bottom Brewery for dinner before the paradethen walked the 2 blocks to Nicolett Mall and LaSalle and managed to find a nice little square for the kids to sit until the parade started.
The husband went to Target and bought a giant box of candy canes and distributed them to everyone around us.
Luckily we didn't have too long to wait before the parade started:
And it really doesn't go on for very long, maybe 20-25 minutes. I ended up moving back so little kids could see but I managed to get a few of the fun floats (I missed the circus train :-( ) like Pinocchio:
Hansel and Gretel:
The Nutcracker:
And of course Santa:
We could not have asked for a better night. It was clear low 40s, no snow, no rain. Just perfect. I hope this is one of those memories that last them because I'm not sure if the weather will cooperate again. EVER. And I'm too old for cold wet feet. Just sayin'.
Nope, today's post is not a cookie but it is just as good if not better than a cookie. And to think I made it well into my adult life before I had ever tried it. It=Peppermint Bark. Just a couple years ago my SIL introduced me to Peppermint Bark and I was HOOKED. But not just ANY peppermint bark. William-Sonoma Peppermint Bark. OH YES...there is a difference. However, I think I've said (repeatedly) that I am cheapand sometimes (like in the above link) they're sold out. But mostly I'm cheap. So I did what everyone does. HELLO Bing. And when you put in the above words WITH recipe, well, one pops up. A recipe that is. So, I tried it and Ba-da BING! Perfection.
Peppermint Bark 12 oz chocolate chips (fairly good quality...best to use semi-sweet) 12 oz white chocolate (look at pkg and make sure it has cocoa in it, I could only find Ghiradelli bars, the others were only vanilla chips. So I used 3- 4 oz bars) 1/2 tsp peppermint extract 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies (I use candy canes, smashed with a mallet)
Line a 9x13 pan with foil and spray. Spread semi sweet chocolate chips over foil
and place in a 250 degree oven for 5 minutes til chocolate is melted. Smooth with an offset spatula and cool until firm (about 20 min or so in fridge).
Melt white chocolate in a doubleboileror in a metal bowl over simmering water (don’t let bottom of bowl touch water), until chocolate is almost melted. You can use your microwave for this if you’re brave but be CAREFUL or your chocolate will seize!
Remove bowl from water and stir until completely melted, stirring in extract. Let cool a little bit so it doesn’t melt the chocolate layer when you pour it on top. Pour this over chocolate layer, and, working quickly, spread to cover.
Sprinkle with crushed candy.
When it's all done, you will want to hide it. Because EVERYONE will want a piece and it'll be gone before you can say "Bob's your uncle" (by the way, he is). Might as well hit William-Sonoma and buy it. OR you hide it. The choice is yours. Choose wisely Grasshopper.
I am a divorced (after 24 years of marriage) , older than dirt (ok, it just feels that way) of 4 who now has the opportunity to reinvent myself. Never thought I'd be here but sometimes God gives us blessings in unconventional ways. BUT...I still call myself a conservative and make no apologies for it. THAT hasn't changed.
