Christmastime has passed

We had a wonderful first Christmas!  Lots of time with family and even some time just for us.

I wanted to make sure we started a tradition our very first year, so I made a suggestion and Eric went for it.   I'll share what it is soon. I forgot my camera so I used my mom's and since she's on vacation, I'll post a picture once I have one.

To continue a tradition from my side, I gifted Eric pajamas (aka: basketball shorts and a thermal shirt) on Christmas Eve. He got also got the Hunger Games Trilogy (now I can read them again too!) and Armani Code (makes him smell so good!).  I got a spa day!  Man, my hubby's good! :)

Loaded Breakfast Biscuits

Original Pin     Recipe: Riches to Rags by Dori

For breakfast, I made Loaded Breakfast Biscuits.  They were super easy to make, very yummy and re-heat wonderfully!  Christmas Eve, I made the eggs, bacon and shredded the cheese so all I had to do on Christmas morning was assemble and pop them in the oven.  I waited too late to go shopping however because Target was completely out of hash browns.  Even without, they were still tasty!

I'm still working on my pre-New Year's non-resolution of making priorities.  Maybe I should say that my resolution is to establish priorities...hmmm....anywho, tonight I really just wanted to come home and sit and do absolutely nothing.  However, I really enjoy doing as little as possible on Saturdays so after a little bit of relaxing, I got up and took down all the Christmas decorations.  Pretty easy considering I went very light this year and I'm not replacing my normal decor - both due to an impending move.  I didn't really want to do it, but if I didn't do it tonight, it wasn't going to get done.  So, here's to relaxing tomorrow because of priorities today!

The Kindle and Water for Elephants

I recently acquired a Kindle thanks to a friend at work and I love it! Many of the girls at work have the Kindle Fire but I really just wanted the traditional Kindle since I only wanted it for reading purposes.  It's been awesome and I've loved being able to just put it in my purse and have it wherever I go.  So far, I've only loaded a few books, but I'm starting to build a wish list!

So, what was the first book I read on my Kindle?  Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.  It was a good story and quick read. It drew me in from the very beginning and gave me motivation from the very first to finish and find out the cause for the beginning scene (I actually went back and reread the beginning scene later and realized how cleverly it was written).  I enjoyed that the story flipped back and forth between the past and present. I've always found stories about circus life and things that are a little more eccentric interesting and that was partly what peaked my interest in this story.  It was an interesting and well researched glimpse into life in the circus in the 1930s.  It also peeked my interest in visiting some of the circus museums that are mentioned in the story. As a warning, there was some profanity and violence.

Crockpot Cinnamon Almonds

If you need a last minute treat to take with you to Christmas, this would be perfect!  I made it for Thanksgiving and it was devoured!  It does take time, but it's a simple process overall.

Cinnamon Almonds

Original Pin     Recipe from detrimentalbeauty

Gather:It appears detrimental beauty is no longer an active site so I've put the recipe below.
1 1/2 C. Sugar
1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
3 Tbsp. Cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 Egg White
2 tsp. vanilla
3 Cups Almonds
1/4 C. Water

Make:

• Coat the inside of your crock pot with something to keep the almonds from sticking.  I've used olive oil and coconut oil and they both worked well.
• In a medium sized bowl, mix together sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside. 
• In another medium sized bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla until it’s a little frothy. 
• Add almonds - make sure the almonds are thoroughly coated in the egg white mixture.
• Add cinnamon mixture to the almonds and toss until coated.
• Cook on low with the lid on for 3-4 hours stirring every 20 minutes 
• In the last hour, add the 1/4 C. of water and stir well. This ensures a crunchy yummy coating. After adding the water, cook the nuts for an additional 45min-1 hour still stirring every 20 minutes.
• Spread the nuts on wax paper or a silicone baking sheet to cool.

Hints:

• When the directions say to cook 3-4 hours, I cooked them for 2 hours then added the water and cooked for an additional hour and they were perfect.
• Make sure to separate the large chunks when you lay them out to cool otherwise, they are harden together and are hard to break up.

They made the house smell amazing even in the crockpot

While I was watching Netflix and the almonds were in the crock pot, Eric was hard at work making venison jerky from the doe he got earlier this year.  It was incredible!  I think we may have brought the most popular snacks to Thanksgiving this year.  (Warning: there are pictures of raw meat coming up)

Accomplishment

Not only did I get both of my priorities done yesterday, I also went to look at a house (a last minute find and not the one), grabbed these lovely goodies for me and the Mr. and did some window shopping.  Love the Plaza at Christmas time!

A note so that "just in case" he spied them, 

he wouldn't eat them without me :)

Yes, that is bacon!

Do you live in Kansas City?  Have you had Cupcake a la Mode?  No?  Then you are missing out!  Big time.  These are hands down, the best cupcakes ever.  We had them at our wedding and someone actually told my mom they didn't know why we were going on so about cupcakes, but now they understand. You should come to an understanding too. Here's what I picked up this time:

Eggnog , Gingerbread Man (both flavors of the month) and "End of the World Cupcake" (It is a blueberry pancake cupcake topped with maple syrup buttercream and crispy pieces of bacon that was only available for two days.)  Saving them for tomorrow evening.  Excited!

I won't elaborate on the yarn photo because the current product is not in a photo worthy state so you'll have to wait, but here's a photo of the other accomplishment I had for the day.

The "G" is a gift from our cousins.  Our first Christmas ornament 

and it fits perfectly with the other glass ornaments!  Yea! :)

Our tree is a little sad this year...or very sad.  Last year, we cut down our own and it was so much fun but with everything going on (and two people living in a previously one person apartment), it just didn't happen this year.  It will next year though!  (Eric already bought the saw!) I also didn't pull out all the ornaments because, well, I was lazy.

Today I went to look at a potential house we've been admiring for a while and the more I think about it and look at the pictures, the more I think it might be the one.  We're going to go back next Sunday so Eric can see it.  Hoping that maybe all the research and leg work is getting close to an end. (And very excited!!!)

Hope you all are getting to enjoy some relaxation before Christmas!

Priorities

I've set new year's resolutions, skipped resolutions, tried a 101 in 1001, tried monthly goals.  You name it. I've (probably) tried it.  By now, I should be in great shape, only eat homemade meals, shop locally, have an Etsy shop, etc, etc.

This year, I'm trying something different.  I'm going to set priorities.  I have so many projects, plans and dreams.  Sometimes I spend a day not doing anything and I end up feeling guilty because I didn't do anything. But if I were to think about it, I got things accomplished, I'm just focused on the list of things I dream about doing. It ends up feeling overwhelming and I end up feeling...lazy.

I've actually "cheated" and started doing this already and it's been awesome.  Instead of thinking about all the things I want/have to do, I try to evaluate what actually needs to be done that day.  It's been great! This isn't just for big things.  It includes little things like getting gas on Monday because I have a meeting Tuesday night or grabbing groceries on Wednesday because I won't want to on Thursday if Friday's my day off.  I've felt much more accomplished and definitely not as stressed.

I'm off work for the next five days!  Woot!  Here's a peak at what my priorities are for today:

 

Well, this and Netflix :)