I know I have been majorly lacking in my blogging lately - and if I kept anyone on the edge of their seat, I am so very sorry :).  To make up for it, I wanted to post a catch-up entry about the most wonderful time of the year.

First off, I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family to spend Christmas with.  It truly is the highlight of the year when I get to spend a week with the whole family together.  Now that Katie is at Auburn, it’s always nice to have her home for more than a weekend.  My mom always does all she can to make Christmas magical, even though Kate and I are both beyond our childhood years.

This year we went to the 5:00 Christmas Eve service at church and followed up with our traditional fondue dinner with the Hartmans.  Fondue has to be one of my favorite meals ever.  I look forward to it every year.  After dinner we got to open our one, Christmas Eve gift - and we couldn’t have picked a better present… a Wii!  We played all night until it was time for bed.

Nothing beats Christmas morning.  The typical family is up by 7am ready to rip open presents… but not at our house.  If you know our family, you can guess that we all sleep in until about 9am, go down to the kitchen, get our coffee and/or mimosas, and work our way over to the Christmas tree by 10am.  Stockings come first… that takes about an hour (we draw Christmas out as loooong as possible).  Then we break for some breakfast.  It’s not until about noon that we start on the presents, and could last for hours :).

This year Christmas was especially memorable because Chase was able to come over for Christmas dinner!  All my favorite people were under one roof.  He also got me a beautiful watch that I’m so thankful for!  Finally, I can’t leave out some even bigger news… my friend Brittney got engaged, and my other friends Megan and Casey bought a house together right before Christmas!  I’m so happy for everyone.  Hopefully 2009 will be just as wonderful as 2008 :)

Cheers!

Post from: in her words

Christmas Reflections

New Years Resolution

1. Get organized
2. Get in shape
3. Read more books
4. Spend more time with family and friends
5. Save money

Yup, that’s the one!  It’s time to revisit your unfinished business and give it another shot.  Let’s start with number one, “Get Organized”.

David Allen is the author of a very popular book called Getting Things Done.  Many say he has mastered the art of prioritizing.  The GTD method is said to “transform personal overwhelm and overload into an integrated system of stress-free productivity.”  So, before Jan 01 hits, get a head start on your resolutions and start reading Getting Things Done. You’ll be chipping away at resolution number three too!

If you want a taste of what GTD all about, watch this video.  It’s a bit lengthy, so don’t watch it at work (kind of defeats the purpose of the whole GTD concept).

Post from: in her words

Kick-start Your New Years Resolution

Crust:
1/4 lb. gingersnaps (about 20 small cookies)
1/3 cup pecan halves
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Filling:
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 (15 ounce) can LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
2/3 cup NESTLE® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
(I may add 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves and 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger)

Topping:
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9-inch springform pan.

To make the crust, in a food processor, combine the gingersnaps and pecans and process until crumbly. Add the brown sugar and melted butter and pulse for a few seconds to blend. Transfer the crumb mixture to the prepared pan. Use your fingers to pat the mixture into the bottom and evenly all the way up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

BEAT cream cheese, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs, pumpkin and evaporated milk. Add cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg; beat well. Pour into crust.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until edge is set but center still moves slightly.

COMBINE sour cream, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well. Spread over surface of warm cheesecake. Bake for 5 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove side of springform pan.

Top with candied pecans when serving.

Post from: in her words

MY Pumpkin Cheesecake

Say you want to give your boss a gift card from everyone in the office for Christmas.  All you have to do is go to www.fromeveryone.com, select your store of choice, and notify your co-workers to start contributing!  On a day selected by you, the card is wrapped up with the contributed amount loaded on it and shipped straight to your boss.  It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Post from: in her words

Easy Gift Giving

I just read about these amazing(ly overpriced) boots, and I had to share.  Think Uggs + rain protection and you have MoovBoots!  They’re straight out of Australia, so naturally they have the sheepskin lining (must be an Australia thing), yet they’re galoshes too!  If I could justify spending $200 for these guys, they’d be in my closet today : )

Post from: in her words

Cold and rainy? You’re covered.

Well guys, I got all excited about my pumpkin cheesecake that I started looking around at different recipes, and now I’m in a bind.  I have two recipies here… one’s much more involved that the other… and I can’t decide between them.

Real Simple published this recipe in a recent article.  It’s very simple (hence, “real simple”) and was my initial pick for my Thanksgiving contribution.

Now I’ve found this Williams Sonoma cheesecake that seems to have a more spiced flavor (and the picture looks incredible), BUT it’s much more involved.

I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover (or a recipe by it’s picture) but this is a tough one!

Anyone have any suggestions?

Post from: in her words

Calling all culinaris

The Holidays are quickly approaching, and there is one is particular I’m most excited about… Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is by far my favorite Holiday, and this year I will be celebrating with my immediate family at our humble abode.  I can’t wait for our family to be together, the amazing spread of food, and, best yet, the Pumpkin Cheesecake and Nutty Peanut Butter Caramel Bars I’m going to be bringing (it’s not Thanksgiving without the sweets)!  So, until then, I’m just going to count down the days (16)!

Post from: in her words

The most wonderful time of the year

Watch.

Post from: in her words

Protect our freedoms.

Today is an historical day; a day that will live in history.  Today will determine the 44nd President of the United States of America.  Each and every American citizen must use this opportunity to be heard through out the country, if not the world.  If you don’t make it to the polls today, and you’re guy doesn’t come out on top tomorrow - you have no one to blame but yourself.  So, find your polling location now, figure out which candidate you believe will keep our country safe, prosperous, and healthy, and VOTE!

Once you’ve voted, wear that “I VOTED” sticker with pride.  You can even get 20 percent off full priced merchandise at Mitzi & Romano (1038 North Highland Avenue; 404-876-7228) or a free Celebrate America meal (3 chicken tenders, fries, and a drink) for the first 300 people, no sticker necessary, at Shane’s Rib Shack.

So hurry up!  The world is waiting.

Post from: in her words

Vote for your rights.

Wishing everybody and safe and happy Halloween!

Carve your own digital pumpkin!

Post from: in her words

Happy Halloween!