2012 christmas moose

Introducing the Christmas Moose!

He guards our door and is the keeper of our keys.

And we thought he could use some sprucing up for the holidays.

So....

Which do you like better?

{a} Our sweet moose showcasing one of my handmade wreaths which we no longer own (because I gifted it to my amazing co-worker).


{b} Our glowing moose, who lights up the night and the wee hours of the morning as I roll out the door to teach my 5:15 class at the YMCA.


{c} or, my favorite, our rebel moose, who would scare away any grinch!


Vote vote vote!

:)

important friday question:: what are your favorite holiday treats?

It's the holiday season.

It's time to leave the oven on 24/7 baking up loads of goodies to give out to your family and friends.

It's time to leave the stove on 24/7 stirring pots of candy and jams, and warming hot chocolate for cozy nights sitting in the glow of your Christmas lights.

What are your favorite goodies to bake, wrap up and give out to your neighbors, friends, and family?

What are the cookies, bars, candies that you just have to make because it wouldn't be the holidays without them?

This weekend is baking weekend for me and I am looking for some inspiration!

2012 holiday party

Nic and I threw a stellar holiday party last Sunday.

I channeled my inner girl scout and crafted, baked and cooked up a storm for about 50 of our lovely friends, co-workers and neighbors.

Decorations were hung (after collecting dust for three years), lights were lit, and the table was set. 

Goodie boxes for our guests to take home were assembled.

Ready to go.

The grub; sun-dried tomato basil bread with white bean aioli

Kalamata tarragon bread with creamy kalamata spread

Sweet potato quinoa salad

Granola crusted pecans and walnuts

Hoisin garlic mushrooms

Candy cane cashew cheesecake

Pumpkin cashew cheesecake trifle and my award winning blueberry swirl cashew cheesecake

A favorite, toasted hazelnut chocolate chip cookies, and candied orange peels

Mucho beer, wine, cider and cranberry vodka cocktail

Our guests took home a variety of macaroons and candied orange peels

A pinterest project...

Pre-dinner drink

And our guests!

We met some new people, which is always fun.

And hung out with some fellow Rotarians!

Take my picture!

And now let me drink!

One goodie box left for Nic and I to share.

And not much food to put away.

I am so crafty...

Tangled in all of the lights while cleaning after our last guests left at 10:30.

We made sure everything was glowing,

thanks to Nic's ingenious idea.

Simple. Wrinkled. Perfect.

Cookie cutter garland. 

(Notice the patio door wide open. At 10:30PM. On December 2nd.)

We had such a fantastic time and I am literally chomping at the bit to plan another party.

a bit of thanksgiving

I thought I'd better share just a bit of our Thanksgiving before we host our holiday party on Sunday in a house decked out with lights, tree, garland - the whole works. {This is big, we haven't decorated an inch of our house in over three years}.

We decided quite last minute that we would head up to Garden City to spend Thanksgiving with my family. And you can guess I went a little crazy the day before prepping and baking a few things to bring with and share.

And then those few things turned into a feast.

And dessert of course.

The only thing that kept me going were the cupcakes, carbs and coffee.



In fact, I think I turned in to the monster on my coffee mug.

Regardless, I got everything done, put all of those carbohydrates to good use (10.63 mile run for.the.win.) and was ready to hit the road bright and early on Thanksgiving morning.

(hardly edited)

5 hours of time with family was sandwiched between our 5 hour drive that we used to catch up and listen to a book on tape cd iPhone.

A walk in the woods with Nic, Maia, my cousin and her pup was the highlight of the day, followed closely by the pumpkin cheesecake cake that I brought.

It was seriously off the hook and left the other three pies for leftovers.



The recipe will be coming soon.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Holy crap, it's December.