I am getting pretty excited about Christmas. We did more shopping this weekend and I did plenty of wrapping. We attended my work Christmas party and I made my Chocolate Mousse and I think people liked it. The party was at a coworker's house who happens to be a neighbor. We actually walked over in the snow carrying the big bowl of Mousse. It was a great party. I had a few cocktails and we enede up staying and visiting with the hostess and her husband until after 2 a.m. I got home and felt okay but right before I went to sleep I remembered that one of my many tummy meds said DO NOT TAKE WITH ALCOHOL. Oh well, I thought, no harm done I seem to be just fine. Well, it hit me the next day. The beauty is that we slept until 11and then we went to Charlotte to look for a dining room table and then came home and relaxed for a majority of the afternoon.
Anyway we did more shopping today and we are doing pretty well overall. We basically have one weekend left before we go home for Christmas so we have to get a move on to get our shopping done. Unfortunately, my sis won't be coming home for Christmas this year so I have to get her present asap so I can ship it to her before Christmas. Oh well, I have decided to embrace the season and not get stressed out! I hope everyone is having fun getting ready for Christmas. We are making many Christmas things at school this week so I am in the mood for sure!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
WHOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!
YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I did it! I finished my big, fat, complicated action research project for my inquiry in teaching master's class. YEE HA! What a feeling! I finished my online class on Sunday. I have a presentation board to make for this big project but the major bulk of the work is DONE! I feel GREAT about it! It has been hard work teaching full time and taking two classes. I knew I could do it but I am looking forward to so many other things in the Winter semester. I have a list of books to read, decorating to do, and cleaning to catch up on. Hitting that submit button was fantastic!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Outdoor Christmas Decorations!
When I lived alone in my little one bedroom apartment before we were married I put some white Christmas lights on my little balcony. Other than those two years I have never had an outdoor space to decorate. This year, as our first Christmas in our house, I knew I had to decorate. We live in a house with a big, white, wrap around porch. It was just SCREAMING for garland and a big wreath on the door. My hubby took the pics outside (way too cold for me) so I am not sure if you will be able to see how beautiful everything looks, but we are quite proud of our work.
In addition to our garland and wreath, we put up two animated deer (well, the lights didn't exactly work so we put some extra lights on them) and we also put up 3 light up trees (which all blew over today despite being staked to the ground). We plan to put some lights on a few more trees but I thought I would share what we have accomplished thus far. Enjoy!
In addition to our garland and wreath, we put up two animated deer (well, the lights didn't exactly work so we put some extra lights on them) and we also put up 3 light up trees (which all blew over today despite being staked to the ground). We plan to put some lights on a few more trees but I thought I would share what we have accomplished thus far. Enjoy!
Christmas Decorations!
Well, this is our second Christmas as a married couple but the first in our house. We lived in a beautiful apartment last year but we still had a small Christmas tree and no outdoor area to decorate. So, with the help of my Aunt Pat and Unc we picked up a 7 1/2 foot pre-lit Christmas tree from Sam's Club and they donated many outdoor decorations to us as well!
We looked everywhere for a Christmas tree. I love the pre-lit kind but many didn't have enough lights. 800 lights over 7 1/2 feet sounds like a lot, but it isn't. Our Sam's Club tree has 1500 lights! It is BEAUTIFUL and HUGE! I have lots of ornaments (too many for last years 4 1/2 foot tree) and they look great on the big moehusker in our living room this year.
My hutch, that my generous mother bought for me at an auction, has become a display area for all of my snowglobes (at the top) and our stockings.
My mom made my stocking (on the right) for me before I was born (do you think they were hoping for a boy or what?). She made them for us because her mom made them for all of her siblings when they were children. I carried on the tradition by making one for Chad and I will make one for each of our children. I love my blue stocking with turtles, frogs, and of course an orange. I made Chad's to reflect his love for sports and the University of Michigan.
I also put up our Nativity Scene that we bought from Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth. If you haven't been to the world's largest Christmas store, you are really missing out. There were 5 aisles of Nativity Scenes to choose from and I found the perfect one as well as a handmade creshe. Check it out:
I hope you enjoyed our indoor decorations. We have some wreaths, an advent calendar, bathroom decor, and welcome mats as well but I will spare you the details. If you want to see more you will have to stop by sometime!
We looked everywhere for a Christmas tree. I love the pre-lit kind but many didn't have enough lights. 800 lights over 7 1/2 feet sounds like a lot, but it isn't. Our Sam's Club tree has 1500 lights! It is BEAUTIFUL and HUGE! I have lots of ornaments (too many for last years 4 1/2 foot tree) and they look great on the big moehusker in our living room this year.
My hutch, that my generous mother bought for me at an auction, has become a display area for all of my snowglobes (at the top) and our stockings.
My mom made my stocking (on the right) for me before I was born (do you think they were hoping for a boy or what?). She made them for us because her mom made them for all of her siblings when they were children. I carried on the tradition by making one for Chad and I will make one for each of our children. I love my blue stocking with turtles, frogs, and of course an orange. I made Chad's to reflect his love for sports and the University of Michigan.
I also put up our Nativity Scene that we bought from Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth. If you haven't been to the world's largest Christmas store, you are really missing out. There were 5 aisles of Nativity Scenes to choose from and I found the perfect one as well as a handmade creshe. Check it out:
I hope you enjoyed our indoor decorations. We have some wreaths, an advent calendar, bathroom decor, and welcome mats as well but I will spare you the details. If you want to see more you will have to stop by sometime!
Thanksgiving!
Well, I know it is December but I have been busy with working full time, taking two master's classes, and decorating for Christmas. But, I wanted to share some pics etc. from Thanksgiving.
First, Chad and I split our time between both of our families during Thanksgiving. Our parents live about 25 minutes from one another which is both a blessing and a curse. We seem to run ourselves ragged going back and forth several times in a couple of days. I think, however, that we are lucky in the fact that we get to see both families instead of having to choose one.
We started at my Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. There are always a MILLION pies (and my mousse in the back left corner) and PLENTY to eat. There are also a million people there. I can't imagine a Thanksgiving with less than 20 people. Here are some pics:
Here are all of the pies and desserts
Dad and Sis
Chad and Unc
Then we went to Chad's mom and dad's house. We had another Thanksgiving meal just a few hours later. Chad's brother's girlfriend made a huge dinner for us. It was really good!
Chad's Mom and I
Lots of food!
We had a great time at both Thanksgivings. We are so blessed to have such great families to celebrate with!
First, Chad and I split our time between both of our families during Thanksgiving. Our parents live about 25 minutes from one another which is both a blessing and a curse. We seem to run ourselves ragged going back and forth several times in a couple of days. I think, however, that we are lucky in the fact that we get to see both families instead of having to choose one.
We started at my Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. There are always a MILLION pies (and my mousse in the back left corner) and PLENTY to eat. There are also a million people there. I can't imagine a Thanksgiving with less than 20 people. Here are some pics:
Here are all of the pies and desserts
Dad and Sis
Chad and Unc
Then we went to Chad's mom and dad's house. We had another Thanksgiving meal just a few hours later. Chad's brother's girlfriend made a huge dinner for us. It was really good!
Chad's Mom and I
Lots of food!
We had a great time at both Thanksgivings. We are so blessed to have such great families to celebrate with!
Grandma's Famous Chocolate Mousse
My Grandma is 89 years old and one of the best cooks I have ever had the pleasure to meet. She always had some home cooked goodness (minus the smokey links that I pretended to like). You could always count on grandma to have some pudding or cookies or pie hiding in the house somewhere! She currently lives in an assisted living home and recently gave my sister, Mary, and I her recipes to split between the two of us. I am really looking forward to the prospect of looking through the box of edible memories. I think what I love about Grandma, besides her sense of humor, is that her cooking is totally down home. She doesn't mess around with fancy shmancy gourmet stuff, she cooks with meat, potatoes, and other "all american" ingredients.
Every year for Easter and other holidays at my parents' house Grandma would bring her famous Chocolate Mousse. More importantly she would always bring it in a beautiful glass bowl shaped like a strawberry. I LOVED that bowl, I would admire it and fawn over it. When Grandma moved to the assisted living home she gave away many of her possessions and she was sure to give me the mousse bowl.
This Thanksgiving I carried on the tradition of the Chocolate Mousse. It is rich, creamy, and frankly too easy to believe. Deb cover your eyes, you will be appalled at this recipe:
Grandma's Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients:
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
4 oz package chocolate instant pudding POWDER ONLY(the fat free/sugar free is like 1.3 oz, it is basically the smaller box or 4 serving package)
1 cup cold water
1 large cool whip container (one size up from the small one)
Directions:
Combined condensed milk, pudding mix, and water. Beat until well blended. Chill 5 minutes.
Fold in cool whip and chill.
I know it sounds like it would be kinda gross but it tastes very good and it seems like it would have taken a lot of work. I had several people ask for the recipe at Thanksgiving, so here it is! Sorry it took so long!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
I know!
I know that I haven't blogged in forever and that I promised a few people a few things here in the blog but I have been VERY busy, like I'm sure the rest of you have been. We put up the Christmas Tree and all of the outdoor things (our first Christmas in a house!) and I can't wait to share all of that with you guys (all 2 or 3 of you) but right now I am so exhausted that I don't have time. I will also put some pics/recipes from Thanksgiving (seems like months ago). Sorry I am so behind but I promise to catch up soon (after that 15 page paper is written tomorrow maybe?) I hope that December has found everyone well. I am hoping for more snow and a snow day on Monday *wishful thinking*
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