More card trauma...

Thanks for the feedback on my card-induced anxiety, especially to anonymous who used the term gobble gobble . Truly, try working that one in without saying anything about a turkey. So I bit the bullet and ordered our Christmas cards last night. You would think I have the perfect photo for them but you are so wrong. After several attempts I had to go with my good enough shot. My good enough shot features Jake in old man slippers, me laughing too enthusiastically, Norelle looking at me not the camera and Dorothy playing dead. However, I must say the Christmas tree in the background looks tubular.

BTB, do ever wake up and wonder to yourself "Whose birthday am I forgetting today?"...

Sunday Summary

The big graduation reception at Eastcliff that I organized was a huge success and I was so proud of my students. Take a look at me pretending to enjoy the eats... the ironic thing is I didn't even get to taste one before they were all gone.


Baby's first Christmas is upon so Jake took Friday off and we hit Rosedale Mall with a mission, finishing up 90% of our shopping. That afternoon we visited the tree lot and got a budget tree, a very prickly spruce with some Charlie Brown-esque qualities to it but hey, it works. I feel bad Nori won't get what she really wants for Christmas: USB cables and power strips, the things she wants to chew on. We had a very leisurely wonderful weekend decorating the house and relaxing.

Ooh! Check out the cookies MelRo, Jake & I made today. They are scrumtrilecent!

TWD

My friend Sabrina always writes TWD on her blog and then posts photos of things she baked. It stands for Tuesdays with Dorie and it's some blog baking club/cult. Me, I have my own TWD. It stands for Totally (rad recipes by and) With Doris. Doris, as in Doris Palbicki, former owner of the Zesto and my aunt. She gave me this recipe...eat your heart out Dorie!

Chocolate Waffle Cookies
Melt 6 unsweetened chocolate squares with 1 1/2 cups of butter (Doris forgot to tell me not try this batter)
Beat in 6 eggs and 2 1/4 cup of sugar
Fold in 2 cups of flour and 3 teaspoons of vanilla
Bake for 50 seconds in waffle iron you conned Andy into buying
Frost with chocolate fudge frosting

MelRo whipped up some yummy Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich just like Giada (only much slower)

Notice the candy canes on top? I did that.

Jake bakes cakes makes fake lakes earthquakes and pancakes

Meanwhile, Andy watches the girls...

Lo Lo gives Norelle lessons in being adorable

Try the pot!

December means one thing, sinus pots. Never heard of them you say? Me either until yesterday when I tried my first Neti Pot. Jake & I have had a perma-cold all fall so when Aunt Jill suggested we flush our sinuses, we rushed out to get the goods. We love gross things, remember those Biore blackhead strips? I really didn't think my nose would do it but I guess your sinuses are connected as you can pour the water in one side and it flows out the other. I always thought each nostril did it's own things but clearly not. I'm not cured but it's really fun so you need try one!

Are cards dumb?

I have serious card anxiety. I stress out so bad when, usually at the very last minute, I am scouring the card aisle at Target trying to find just a decent one (forget actually funny or meaningful) for someone's birthday/wedding/new baby, etc. Are cards that accompany gifts a waste? Waste of time looking and looking for one, waste of money, usually $3-6, and frankly not that appreciated? Maybe the gift receiver would rather have you spend that dough on a better gift or even a mocha for your efforts. Now cards sent in the mail as a thank you or birthday wish are awesome and worth the effort, not that I actually get around to that either as that would require a level of pre-planning that escapes me. But wait, I do need to contradict myself! I just realized I saved every last baby card we got when Nori was born and I had them hung on her door for months, now they are still stacked in a wooden box on her bookcase. Maybe I just hate shopping & paying for cards but I actually like them? Maybe I am dumb.

Happy Birthday Grandma Audrey & Britney Spears!

My two favorite people with so much in commom!

Behind the times...

It's only Dec 1 but I feel so behind! Everywhere I turn people have holiday decorations up, trees lit and so on. Being gone all week put me behind. This weekend we will find that tree, start some shopping and hopefully hit the Holidazzle parade. I read that you should choose your very favorite traditions and just do those since there is never enough time to do everything festive you could do. I think I will just stick to the essential things year like: caroling, building a gingerbread house, volunteering at the soup kitchen, dressing up as Santa at work, directing the church nativity play, leading the bell choir, hosting a holiday party, baking cookies for the soldiers, homemade soaps for the nursing home and passing out in the nog.