Christmas Fun

I can't let the new year start without recapping a fun Christmas. Because Brian and his family were going to be in Idaho for Christmas, we celebrated a little early with the whole crew with dinner and presents at Dad's house.

So fun to have little Davis with us this year. Isn't the hat that Melinda got him fantastic?

On Christmas Eve, Brent and Lilli and the kids came over to join us for dinner. Brent made a fantastic dish of tortellini with homemade Alfredo sauce. He said that it's a tradition in Italy and he hadn't made it since his mission. We loved it and think it should be an annual tradition. We also love having our Christmas crackers which give you a fun crown to wear, a prize instead as well as a joke to share. . . what could be better to get the fun started.

Dad opened one of his presents . . . a collage of his best gifts of all . . . his 9 grandchildren.

Then, Kristen challenged us to a taste test which was quite hard . . . but oh so good. She had found these amazing European chocolates at Caputo's and Melinda and I went head to head trying to figure out the flavors. My favorite was definitely the peanut butter and jelly. Melinda correctly guessed the cayenne flavor. But in the end, guess who was victorious?



That's right . . . yours truly. Thanks, Kristen. Another fun activity that should become an annual tradition.

On Christmas Day we enjoyed dinner at Little America and totally appreciate them cooking and doing the dishes . . . Merry Christmas to us! While we were waiting to get in, we toured the Christmas Windows over at the Grand America where there were also gingerbread houses on display from the hotels pastry chefs.


For Christmas, Dad always gives us something fun that reminds us of Mom. Mom loved collecting things from Germany . . . with favorites being music boxes and nutcrackers. This year we got little figures that are the same as on the music boxes, but they are ornaments that we can put on our Christmas trees. Once again, we we had a great time together and appreciate the meaning of the season.

A Shipping Miracle

Yesterday, at 8:30 pm, I ordered a swimsuit online.

Look what was on my doorstep when I got home from work at noon:

I've never purchased anything from Zappos.com before, but you can bet this won't be the last time! Overnight shipping is free. Since it took less than 16 hours for my package to arrive, I can attest that it is true.

Now if only trying my swimsuit on were that easy.

Holiday Favorite Things

I am a sucker for anything that is seasonal or limited edition that I can only get for a short time . . . of course I must have it. These are some of my holiday favorites from this year:

Dad got the Mint Fudge Oreos for us to taste test and they are great! I am not a big fan of Oreos in general . . . but these are a delight. They are like the Girl Scout Thin Mints, but with a yummy filling.

7-Up with Pomegranate was a revelation. It is not too sweet, better than cherry 7-Up and kind of fancy to serve. We taste tested this one at work and all agreed that it was good. And it's healthy to boot with antioxidants and vitamins . . . even better.

There is nothing better than a Nielsen's Frozen Custard cone or concrete in the summer. And in the winter, there are special flavors like the pumpkin we discovered a couple of years ago. This year they added eggnog too! And, instead of this local secret only being available through the fall, both flavors are available through the end of the year.

I love all things peppermint and oddly I'm not a big ice cream person, however, when the peppermint ice cream comes out out, I can't resist. We had it on Christmas Eve with a homemade hot fudge sauce and crushed candy canes. Fabulous!

This is a new treat that is addictive. You take mini square, flat pretzels (or flat mini pretzel twists) and place them on a parchment/wax paper lined cookie sheet in rows. Place an unwrapped Rolo candy on top of each pretzel. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and put the cookie sheet on the lowest rack for about 4 minutes. You want them to be soft, but not completely flat and melted. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and smoosh (a technical term) a plain M&M on top and allow them to cool. I placed mine in the fridge or freezer (depending on how quick we wanted to eat them) to set them quicker. Other versions I have seen have a candy cane kiss (also a holiday-only item) on top of the pretzel and then the M&M's or a nut on top of the Rolo. So good!

Melinda's ward had a holiday neighorhood house tour and she discovered her new favorite Egg Nog drink at one of the houses . . . so even if you are not a fan of Egg Not in general, you will like this version:

CLAUDIA'S EGG NOG - WEST VIRGINIA STYLE
6 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 pint whipping cream
1 pint whole milk
1 pint vanilla ice cream (or 1/2 gallon)

Separate the whites and egg yolks. Beat the egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar. Add whipping cream and whole milk to the egg yolk mixture. Beat until it thickens. In another bowl, add 1/4 cup sugar to egg whites. Beat until stiff then add to yolk mixture. Fold ice cream into mixture until thick and smooth. Serve sprinkled with nutmeg on top. Serve immediately after making it or put it in the refrigerator to keep cold.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Cookies

A few weeks ago, we made our traditional Christmas cookies. Kristen and Melinda made our favorite sugar and gingerbread cookie dough. Then we used Grandma Betty's amazing cookie cutter collection to cut them out with the little kids on a Sunday. It was a lot of fun and the cookies were so yummy . . . they didn't last very long.

Fridays, Friends and Favorite Things

I love having the occasional Friday off. A few weeks ago, Melinda and I got to have lunch with my friend "CuteHeatherBunting". Yes, it's all one word. It just flows and she is oh, so cute. We bonded years ago working together creating what we thought were the best Enrichment nights ever and blogging has kept us up on what we have each been up to throughout the years since. I learned from Heather about the fabulous Bacon Tomato Cups that have become a staple when we need a yummy treat to bring. Also, I learned that if the lemon cookies you made drop on the floor and break, salvage the ones you can and make a delicious trifle from them. Well, Heather gave us the best gift ever for Christmas . . . a cookbook of her favorite recipes. These are my favorite kinds of gifts and are like gold when people share a little bit of themselves. Different recipes remind me of treats we had at a girls night out in the Bunting basement or at a festive Halloween party. And there are lots of new ones that I am excited to try. Thanks, Heather

The Best Books I Read in 2010

I turned into a reading machine this year and read 40 books. That doesn’t seem like much when you think about how many magazines Melinda read. But I was proud.

Here’s the best of what I read.

The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins – I love nothing better than getting lost in a good book – where all you can think about is how soon you can get back home to read it. I was hesitant to read the Hunger Games based on the plot description. But it came highly recommended (thanks, Lilli!). By Chapter 1, I was hooked. It’s a gripping read, but more importantly, the books have something to say – about war, our desensitization to violence, reality TV…you can keep your Twilight series, and I’ll take my Hunger Games.

1776, by David McCullough – This one took me YEARS to finish. Years! After all, why read history when there are so many more…accessible things to read? That said, it was very rewarding. I knew about the Revolutionary War on a surface level, but never knew how close we really came to losing.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley – Flavia is an 11-year old amateur chemist (with a special interest in poisons) who gets involved in a murder mystery when a man turns up dead in her family’s garden. The author perfectly captures her analytical mind and contrasts that with the limitations of being so young. For instance, Flavia laces her sister’s lipstick with poison ivy, then keeps a detailed journal documenting the change in puffiness in her lips. A cute, intelligent story.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot – Henrietta Lacks, a young black woman who lived in the south, died of cancer. Her doctors took some of her cells without her knowledge – and they multiplied at a remarkable rate. They’ve been growing ever since and have been used in an astounding amount of research (like the polio vaccine) – and still live today. Meanwhile, her children can’t afford health care and haven’t seen a dime of profit. The author also tells her own story as she tries to track down Henrietta’s family and comes to be true friends with her daughter. Their friendship is the story’s heart. It is fascinating stuff, and I had a hard time putting it down. I’m normally a fiction girl, but I highly recommend this (note: there are one or two disturbing scenes).

Mine Errand From the Lord, by Boyd K. Packer – This is a collection of President Packer’s teachings, arranged by subject. And it is hefty –600 pages! But it is never dull. President Packer is a teacher by nature, and the stories he tells are the ones you remember – like Spiritual Crocodiles, The Body is a Glove, Life is a 3-Act Play, I Have Tasted Salt – they resonate. This took me well over a year to get through, but I’ve marked it all up and will go back to it again and again.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery – I cried. The full tears-streaming, nose-running, red-faced cry. This is not the easiest book to read, and it takes a while to get going. But the ending packs an emotional punch. It’s all about how we tend to hide our true selves from everyone else, and how sometimes other people can help us see the best in ourselves.

Night, by Elie Wiesel– I read this in one sitting. Only 117 pages, but what a wallop they pack as Wiesel describes his experiences at Auschwitz and Buchenwald, two of the most infamous concentration camps in WWII. He sees his people, with everything taken away, consumed by selfishness. They are animals. More fearful, he sees himself become like them. He remembers too the exact moment that first night at Auschwitz when his faith in God dies – after all, how could God allow these things to happen? I couldn’t help but compare it to another memoir about concentration camps – Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. She was imprisoned at Ravensbruck, an infamous women’s camp. Ten Boom and Wiesel have many similar experiences. But while Wiesel swore off his faith, ten Boom came away from her experience with her faith strengthened. So what’s the difference? Perhaps everyone should read the two books together and decide for themselves. Sparse and haunting, Night is that rare book that will stay with me for a long time.

Manhunt, by James Swanson. This book details the 12-day hunt for John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated Abraham Lincoln. It’s so well-researched that Swanson can trace almost every move Booth made during that 12 days. If it sounds tedious, it absolutely is not. And it’s all the more fascinating because it really happened. The moment when Booth was about to assassinate Lincoln had me on the edge of my seat (Brent and Lilli can attest; I was babysitting at their house and they came home right as Booth was about to pull the trigger!)

So that’s it. My goal for Christmas break is to (finally) tackle Harry Potter. Happy reading in 2011!

I Feel Sheepish

I'm pretty easy when it comes to music. I enjoy any song that has a nice beat you can dance to. So, I had been enjoying this song, until:


I discovered it is by Willow Smith, the impish daughter of Will Smith.

Who is 10 years old.

And just got her hair cut like this:

Single Rider

I'm telling you, I can't have any pride as a single person. I am sadly getting used to having to announce that I'm single against my will. A few weeks ago, I had to go to a church meeting with about 40 other people. The person conducting thought it would be fun for us to go around the room and announce who we were, and what our "family situation was." Well, there were quite a few single people there, and at the end of the introductions, the Stake President went on and on about how great it was that the singles were serving! He could not stop talking about how amazing it was that the wards trusted the singles to actually have callings. Come on! I felt like a disabled war veteran being praised for pouring a glass of milk.

Then, this weekend I went to a concert with a group of people (I promise there was a group!). So while we were waiting amongst the crush of people to get in, I got temporarily separated from the people I came with. So I get to the bouncer/ticket taker guy, and give him my ticket. He takes it, looks at me sadly, and says, "Just one?" There was a very uncomfortable pause as I couldn't think of a witty retort, and then he says, "Try to have fun." I. was. mortified! Who says that? Even if I had come alone, do we really need to announce it out loud, and with a frowny face? So during this holiday season, I would like to say...boo to all of them! I'll be nursing a glass of milk in the corner, by myself, trying to have fun!

Where Does Time Go?

I like to think that I'm still pretty young. I like the age 25 and am holding to that. But then, there are things that remind me I'm not. Take this picture for example - taken at a family Christmas party in 1997 when my nephew, Aiden, was just a baby. See how sweet he nuzzles right into me . . . love that!

Scroll forward to this year, when he is now a strapping 6-foot plus 13-year old who totally towers over me. When did that happen?

(Some of) My Favorite Songs of 2010

Hey there! So as you might recall, I luuurrve obscure music. And end-of-year best-of lists. So here are 15 of my favorite songs downloaded this year:

1. Buttercups - I like to start slow on my playlists, and I think this is just lovely.
2. Rolling in the Deep - This is Adele's new song (her album isn't released until February) and I can't. stop. listening. to it. I love the retro feel and love her voice.
3. Rill Rill - I loved Sleigh Bells this year, and this is the mellowest of their songs. I can't help but bob my head to this.
4. Fader - I fell in love with the Temper Trap (in fact, I think their album is probably my favorite this year). Every song on their CD is good, but this is one of my faves.
5. Sweet Disposition - the song that introduced me to The Temper Trap and probably one you've heard.
6. Addicted to Love - saw this remake on SYTYCD this year. And, I've always loved the original by Robert Palmer.
7. Remedy - I like this one at the gym.
8. Shampain - She's a bit quirky (especially if you watch her videos) but man her songs are infectious!
9. I Can Talk - I really enjoy this band, and I have listened to this over and over and over...I just think it's fun.
10. Clap Your Hands - If you know Sia's old stuff, it's super mellow. She really kicks it up on her new album. Good stuff.
11. Flash a Hungry Smile - this was my summer anthem. Love to blast it with the car windows down on a nice sunny day.
12. Cameras - I love the old-school feel on this one. It is F-U-N!
13. Short and Entertaining - just a nice solid dance pop song

14. Leave! I love how VV Brown feels retro and modern at the same time.
15. Tightope - I have loved Janelle Monae for a long time (she dances like a female Michael Jackson) and her new album is one of my favorites - she does all styles and does them well.

So that's it - take a listen and see what you think!

Things I Heart Right Now

These are a few things that I have been loving lately . . .

. . . This little gem in a jar is my saving grace in the mornings when the alarm goes off way too early and I have stayed up way too late. With this Erase Paste, a little goes a long way. It helps to brighten my eyes and diminish some dark circles. Love it!

. . . I love a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger now and then from Wendy's and it has been made even better. The bacon lacked a little something to be desired, but for a little more than $1, how could I complain. Now, they get the new Applewood Smoked Bacon and I must say it really makes the burger. I'm a firm believer that everything really is better with bacon . . . good bacon.

. . . Honeycrisp Apples - I made a special trip to Costco today to replenish my supply. They are so yummy!

. . . I have been giddy about these songs since they were performed on Glee and I downloaded them immediately. More Gwyneth Paltrow, please.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is finally getting to sing Christmas hymns in church. It is a short 4 week window before we have to Ring Out Wild Bells, so I really like to sing as many of the Christmas hymns as possible.

However, it always seems that we keep the same 3 hymns on the rotation. Can you guess what they are? Think back to your meetings today, and I bet you had the same hymns as I did: Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and of course, Silent Night. Now, don't get me wrong, I love these hymns as much as the next guy, but we literally sing them every week, in every meeting. Where is Once in Royal David's City, or In Wondering Awe? Also, in Away in a Manger, why are the "Asleep, asleep" verses only in the children's songbook? And if anyone has any control over this, I would really like the Little Drummer Boy and his parump-ump-ums (sp?) to be added if possible.

Open Letter

Dear KOSY 106.5:

You can't play Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and get me in a fun Christmas mood, and then follow it with the solemn "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." I just can't make the mood switch so abruptly.

And then I change it to FM100.

Ha!

Kristen

I Warshed It

Phew...now that the thankful posts are over I can start posting about my pet peeves again!

Case in point:

When compliments make you feel worse about yourself. As in, when people compliment me on my hair and ask what I've done different. When the only thing I've done differently...is wash it.

Which makes me think people probably notice when I DON'T wash it.

Which happens a lot.

That's all.

Kicking Off the Holiday Season

We literally kicked off the holiday season by going to the Christmas Spectacular with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. And, we all agreed that it was truly spectacular. It was non-stop toe-tapping fun. The sets were amazing and Kristen may have even said that it was magical. It really is fantastic how they can kick and move in sync. One of our favorite scenes was with the Rockettes as toy soldiers. It was a great time and we may or may not have tried to kick our legs up just like them at the end.





The next day we continued the festivities by making our favorite Christmas Rocky Road Fudge. It's one of our favorite recipes from Mom and we love it because it's not a grainy fudge like some can be and it's filled with nuts and yummy marshmallows. We love sneaking out samples a square at a time. Bring on the holidays!

Thankful A-Z: "Z"

"Z" is the big finish for our grateful challenge . . . there are zippers that keep me put together, there is the Zest soap that was ever present in the shower growing up, citrus zest that we love to flavor things with using our favorite microplane. But, what I'm most grateful for is my zest for life and the people who have helped to instill that in me.

. . . I am grateful to my Grandma Ruth who taught us to look for the bonus in every day . . . because there is one.

. . . I am grateful to my Grandpa Dave who I remember snuck us money to use for a treat on a trip. I continue that tradition of keeping secret money for little treats . . . you never know when you might need it.

. . . I am grateful to my Grandma Irene who taught me how to enjoy making delicious treats and the secrets of those. Totally grateful that I learned the joy of real whipped cream, the secret of a pinch of nutmeg and the bliss that is pumpkin chiffon pie.

. . . I am grateful to my Grandpa Howard who taught the important lesson of learning to listen, being supportive, a hard worker and of sneaking M&M's when no one is looking.

. . . I am grateful to my Dad who teaches us to have a sense of humor and to find joy in serving others. Dad is always thinking of what he can do for other people and then he does it. From Dad I have learned to be perceptive . . . don't wait to be asked to do something, find a need and do it.

. . . I am grateful to my Mom who taught by her example of always being there for us. From picking us up and taking us anywhere and everywhere we needed to go to being there for us at the end of a day and listening and offering encouragement. Mom always put a positive spin on everything and taught us to laugh and not take things so seriously.

. . . I am grateful to my brothers and sisters and sisters-in-laws who are my best friends. I know if I need anything, my siblings will always be there for me.

. . . I am grateful for the most adorable nieces and nephews who keep us laughing and who love us with lots of hugs and kisses.

. . . I am grateful for fabulous friends and serving in the church with incredible people who make all things seem possible.

Life doesn't get much better and I'm grateful for everyone in it and the joy that comes from it.

Thankful A-Z: "Y"

This is going to sound odd, but I am totally grateful for the movie, Yentl. This movie helped to provide my #1 favorite moment in Sacrament Meeting. As a young lass, Julie had a friend whose parents were divorced, and she rarely got to see her father. Well, wouldn't you know it, they asked this friend to speak in church on Father's Day. Rather than give a traditional talk on how great her dad was and how she would like to see him, this dear girl instead chose to belt out the song Papa Can You Hear Me? from Yentl. From the pulpit. She was very theatrical, and boy, did she go for it. We were dying! And while I have witnessed many fantastically awkward moments in church, this has remained my #1. The Four Horsemen of Death is #2.

I am also thankful for my Youth. (Since all of the photos of my youth are on film, you get this cute picture instead) I had the best childhood, and often wish I could go back and relive it. I mean, how great is it that my big choice for the day was whether or not to wear the checkered overalls with my red elephant t-shirt or my Twin Peaks cougar shirt? I could play soccer all day on Saturday without my knees hurting or getting winded, and I had to decide which boy I was going to let chase me at recess. Those were good days my friends, good days.

Thankful A-Z: X

I'm grateful for the two X Chromosomes that make me a female!!

Here are some of the things I like about being a girl:

I get to wear high heels

I get to smell nice and use fruity shampoos

When guys open doors for me

I can read Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre, and Little Women all I want

Chick flicks!

We get to be the nurturers

Girls don't have to worry about going bald

Boys kill our spiders because it's their job

Thankful A-Z: "W"

As I sit here on a very cold night in my house I am totally grateful for Warmth. I love controlling my own thermostat and making it as toasty as I would like to pay for. And I also love turning on my fireplace on nights like these.

I am also very thankful for Work. I am grateful that I learned how to work from my parents and grateful that I currently have work. As I was laid off after 8 years at the start of the year, I didn't realize how long my sabbatical would last, but am so grateful for everyone that helped me to make it through those six months. I am appreciative for the little miracle that happened to get me my current job. It's a little surreal that the windows I look out now are the same ones I looked out 8 years ago.

Thankful A-Z: "V"

I tell you, these last few letters are really difficult! If I were my 12 year old self, I would totally be grateful for this:

Why is this non-dairy, creamy confection so delicious?

And after a long day of work, I'm thankful for Vodka! I tease. I'm more of a cognac girl.

What I'm truly thankful for are Vacations! Once the awful winter months start, pretty much the only thing that gets me through are visions of this:


Some people who shall remain nameless have dubbed me a travel slut, which means that if you are planning a vacation in the near future, then I would like to tag along!