Posts Tagged ‘holidays’

I don’t particularly have any resolutions, which is exactly what I said last year too. I’ve decided no more resolutions… I only have annual goals I hope to reach. I think the only goal I reached for 2009 was to quit smoking. (Today makes a full seven months too!)

So, my Annual Goals for 2010 are as follows:

• Lose weight (About 32-37 lbs)
• Post to my blog more often
• Get a blog theme I absolutely love

I know it doesn’t seem like much, but I can’t think of anything for once! So far I’m still getting the hang of Weight Watchers. I’ve been much better than my first day, and it’s getting easier slowly. I’ll finally make it to my first meeting this upcoming week, so that’s a great way to start 2010!

I hope you all have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year! See you in 2010

I didn’t like it so much growing up… Mom made a huge fuss of decorating, and it all had to be perfect. Couple that with having a birthday not too long after Christmas, and it was all just kind of “blah!” Although, I’ve always loved Thanksgiving, and I’m not too sure why… Maybe it’s because Mom and I always sat down and read a VC Andrews book after dinner.

I’ve been begging John for years to get me a real tree, and he never followed through on his promise. This year he was definitely going to do it, and believe it or not, I’m the one who backed out! I realized by the time we were done, we’d spend almost as much as we would for a fake tree LOL! So, I just went and got a nicer, fuller tree from Wal-Mart than the one we have… This year will be the first in a long time that we won’t have to worry about seeing the wall through the branches LOL!

Overall, I’ve just learned to love this time of year. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Christmas songs, baking, etc. I think now that I’m older and have kids of my own I can appreciate it all a lot more. And you know what? I can even see what made Mom so loco over the holidays with things being perfect… Even if the family doesn’t get it…

I was looking for a recipe to make homemade applesauce, and started thinking about cooking and food, etc. Originally, at one point in my life earlier on, I wanted to go to culinary school. Alas, I realized quickly that I dislike so many foods, that it wouldn’t be worth it. Which is true… sadly. I had even received letters from Johnson & Wales and Brown University about their programs too *sigh*

Anywho! Anytime I need a recipe, I automatically look on Recipezaar. I have two cooks on there that I absolutely love, Kittencal and MizzNezz. Kittencal now has her own site (Kittencal’s Kitchen), so I visit it frequently now when I’m looking for something. I think between these two awesome cooks, I’ve acquired some fave recipes LOL!

Oh, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the food pics on the blog Seasonal Ontario Food! Even foods I know I wouldn’t eat seem to look yummy! And her pics are just overall awesome. The colors, the food set-up, etc. I also like the fact that she posts what she made that same day/timeframe the previous year.

Speaking of food, what’s on your Thanksgiving menu? Are you cooking, or going to someone else’s house? I’ll be going to the in-laws for dinner, but I’m taking the veggie and dessert… Oreo Chocolate Cream Cheesecake. Yeah, cavities are forming in my mouth just thinking about making it LMAO!

Snickerdoodles are my fave cookies next to Oatmeal Raisin! However, it seems to me as though they’re tricky to make. It’s time for me to start my X-Mas Cookies, and I thank Betty Crocker for this fool-proof recipe I definitely plan on trying!

Holiday Snickerdoodles

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
2 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Betty Crocker® red and green decorating icings

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, flour, butter and egg until dough forms.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon. Roll balls in sugar-cinnamon mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 11 to 12 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute. Remove from cookie sheets. If desired, roll tops of warm cookies in additional sugar-cinnamon mixture. Cool completely, about 20 minutes. Decorate as desired using icing.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

Did You Know: Cookie dough can be covered and refrigerated up to 24 hours before baking. If it’s too firm, let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

Nutrition Information: 1 Cookie
Calories 80 (Calories from Fat 30)
Total Fat 3g (Saturated Fat 1 1/2g, Trans Fat 1/2g)
Cholesterol 10mg; Sodium 45mg
Total Carbohydrate 13g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 8g)
Protein 0g

Percent Daily Value*
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%
Iron 0%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

SOURCE

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week!  Wow!  I really don’t wanna cook, but I gotta.  NOT FUN!  Slaving over a hot stove/oven for countless hours to make dinner.  Ugh!  Speaking of, what’s on your Thanksgiving dinner list?  Here’s mine:

• Turkey
• Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy
• Candied Yams
• Homemade Mac & Cheese
• Green Beans
• Stuffing
• Cranberry Sauce
• Dessert 

As you can see, I’m getting in Holiday mode.  I’ve changed my theme YET again LOL!  Isn’t the snowman too cute though?!  Honestly, I really like this theme!  I should find something similar for daily use, yes?  I know, I know!  I’m too much when it comes to changes like this!

Anywho!  Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday!  It’s not even the food or anything… There’s just something about it that makes me feel good.  Maybe it’s because 6 years ago I almost died in a car accident a week before Thanksgiving.  Maybe it’s because I really do have a lot in life to be thankful for.  Regardless, it’s just my fave holiday!

At the same time, Christmas is becoming more exciting for me too.  As the kids grow up, and watching their faces while opening presents.  It’s a wonderful feeling to see that… It really is!  I’m definitely not looking forward to the day they learn the truth about Santa Claus.  I’m sure the excitement will still be there, but it might not be as bright of a glimmer.  Ya know?

Seriously though, I haven’t started a single bit of Christmas shopping!  Eek!  For shame!  I need to get my rear in gear!  John’s the hardest to shop for, as I’ve mentioned before.  Then again, with the kids constantly wanting this or that, it gets to be hard too.  I still need to come up with my own Christmas wishlist!  My birthday wishlist too, since it’s only 2.5 weeks after!