LET THE BAKING BEGIN!

I've always wanted to have a girlfriend over and bake together. I just always thought that sounded like so much fun. Especially during the holidays. What a wonderful way to get into the spirit. Well, I'm 40 years old and my "dream" is finally coming true! Now, keep in mind: I don't like sweets (apparently that means I'm weird because EVERYone tells me so!) so therefore I don't do much baking. But, I have a secret weapon! THERESA!! Theresa & I have known each other since elementary school, been friends since high school (what took so long? I'll save that story for another post!), and it just so happens she is a fabulous cook and baker. She travels a lot for business, so it's never worked out before that she could fit it into her schedule to come over and bake with me.

We don't have tons of time, so we've kept out menu pretty simple (well, simple to HER): reindeer chow, banana crumb bread, and sugar cookies. I'm so excited that, for once, I'll be able to present beautifully wrapped (that's MY specialty!) baked goods to my neighbors. Every year my sweet neighbors bring plates of goodies to our home and I always think about doing it myself... and then never do, of course. I'm a horrible procrastinator. I'm the person who is locked in the guest room late on Christmas Eve wrapping Christmas gifts. I know, I should seek help, seriously.

Well, wish us luck and let the baking begin!

I have noone to blame but myself

My first teeny little bloggy post! Yea for me! But, at least I'm moving in the right direction. Right? Anyhoo... A few days ago I was freaking out about the economy and thinking I should be more practical about my gift giving this year. Because, just let me say, I LOVE Christmas. I love giving gifts that I have thought long and hard over and fretted and worried and lost sleep over worrying if the person will love it or not - or imagining the look of happiness on their face when the wrapping is ripped off and the gift is exposed... oh, the joy of that moment! But, this year I was willing to attempt to be practical and not spend a small fortune on the people in my life that I love so very much and wish I could afford to give EVERYTHING their hearts ever desired. So, I emailed my Mom and my 2 sisters and proposed that we place a dollar limit on gifts this year. I proposed "maybe $20? $25?", feeling oh so proud of myself and how practical and thrifty I was being. Well, as it turns out, they bullied me into NO GIFTS AT ALL!!!! What?!?!?!? None? Nada? Zero? Oh my gosh! What am I gonna do? Of course, there's the children. We'll still buy for them. But, I have one daughter, the middle sister has one son, and my little sister has a cat. Christmas morning is going to be over in like 2 minutes!!! No "oh my gosh's!" or "I LOVE its" or "I can't wait to use/wear it's"... Now I guess I'll just have to find happiness in the "we're so happy to have each other" moment and all that crap. Note to self: Don't even MENTION gifts next year!