christmas

Christmas in Chicago 2011

Christmas Ornaments 2011

It’s Christmas Day.
Or technically, the wee hours of Christmas morning.
(the night owl in me likes to wait up for Santa)
My mother, sister, and son are in town.
The house is crowded.
But there is a lot of love.
And food.

Mailing Letter to Santa

Aidan’s sent off his letter to Santa.
He trashed several drafts before mailing off the
perfect message.

Aidan and Grandmommy

My mom has always wanted to see Chicago at Christmas.
She loved seeing the windows at Macy’s.
She loved all the decorations downtown.
She enjoyed the cream of chicken rice soup we had at Maxim’s.
She wanted to get a picture with Santa
but the 1+ hour wait deterred ALL of us.

Decorations at Macy's

I have to be honest.
This past week has been a challenge.
I had a fantastic birthday. My facebook wall blew
up with nearly 200 greetings. I got really neat gifts.
But the fates thought a cold would be a good gift for me
as well, complete with coughing, sneezing, nausea, and tiredness.
I am still feeling fatigued, and the random nausea
…is quite random.

Still, it’s much better than
four years ago
When I was in month three of a four month
sore throat and sinus infection.
The pain was so bad that I could barely eat
my mom’s Christmas dinner.

It’s hard having extra guests.
Everyone has to compromise and sacrifice.
The cats are out of sorts.
Our grocery bill has probably tripled,
but it’s OK because we love to feed people.
Everyone is comfortable, well fed, and happy.

All is well.

Christmas Ornaments 2011

MERRY CHRISTMAS
dear friends, readers, commenters, and lurkers.

…psst. want a copy of my holiday newsletter pdf? get it here.

🙂

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Recipe: Dirt Dessert

When I got Aidan from the airport on Tuesday, there was a yellow Post-It in his blue pre-boarding sleeve. I fished it out and noticed that Aidan had written down a recipe. “It’s Dirt Dessert,” he said. “I want to make it with you. It’s from the book HOW TO EAT FRIED WORMS.”

That dream came true last night. So, without further ado, here’s DIRT DESSERT.

Dirt Dessert

ingredients
1 box of chocolate brownie mix
1 can of chocolate frosting
10 chocolate wafer cookies
20 gummy worms

Making Dirt Dessert

directions
make brownies as directed on box
once cooled, frost with the icing
(we used Betty Crocker milk chocolate Whipped)
break the cookies and make “dirt”
(we used chocolate sandwich cookies with chocolate creme)

Making Dirt Dessert

spread the dirt on the frosting, and garnish with gummy worms
(Aidan added green sprinkles to for “grass”)

Making Dirt Dessert

Maybe sneak a gummy worm or two.

Tasting a Worm

ENJOY! Or be afraid. Very, very afraid.

Making Dirt Dessert

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Christmas Prep Take Two!

ten days!!!

Who’s excited? Who’s with me? Woohoo, Christmas time is here!

I’m DONE with my Christmas shopping. I’m DONE mailing out packages. And I’m almost done with Christmas cards. It feels so great to knock stuff off that to do list, doesn’t it?

I’m not done yet, though. I still need to do the following:

· Christmas newsletter
· finish wrapping presents
· clean the apartment (of course)
· shop for foods

I’ve been having a pretty decent week. The tiredness finally started to leave me Tuesday morning (just in time for yoga with Mia Park!) but that didn’t stop me from venturing out on Monday to visit and have lunch with former co-workers.

Venturing Out
on my way

After lunch, I headed to State Street to do some Christmas shopping and Christmas fangirling. I went to Macy’s (I know that hardcore Chicagoans refuse to acknowledge this store as anything but Marshall Field’s, but I’m afraid that’s before my time–it’s always been Macy’s to me) because I had to see the windows and also the big tree in the Walnut Room. They put one up every year.

Macy's Tree 2011
beautiful tree

Macy’s. WOW. That store really dresses up for Christmas. I love it. I went to Bloomingdale’s a while back and they have one little Christmas section. Macy’s is all Christmas all the time and it’s beautiful.

Decorations in Macy's
just a tiny fraction of the decorations in that store

Macy's Store Windows 2011 Macy's Store Windows 2011 Macy's Store Windows 2011
store windows

I spent yesterday working on Christmas cards, and today I wrapped presents, packaged them up, and made the trek to the post office. The APC was down, so the line was super long. My postal clerk was a sweetheart, though. An hour at home, then I ventured out again to shop with my friend Missy. I controlled myself. Sort of. In all fairness, the stuff I did buy was for other people (stocking stuffers) except for the soap I got from Anthropologie, and the cupcake from Magnolia Bakery because HELLO, it’s National Cupcake Day and how would I look, not buying a cupcake on National Cupcake Day when they are RIGHT THERE? Huh? So yeah. I had to do that. And I DIDN’T let Missy talk me into the beautiful pink sweater that was on sale because I have enough clothing.

I did talk HER into this pic with me, though:

Me and Missy

Then I talked her into this photo because she’s pretty and she’s a ginger.

My Friend Missy

I know I do my fair share of complaining about Chicago (their newest stunt is giving people parking tickets randomly just because they can–oh wait THAT’S NOT NEW), but I love this city at Christmas. Downtown is gorgeous with all the lights and decorations, and this year it’s warm enough to be out and about and enjoy it all. I loved walking down State Street with Missy and seeing the decorations and the windows and listening to the bell ringers, and then sitting and chatting by the big tree in Daley Plaza.

Daley Plaza Tree
the tree at Daley Plaza and Chriskindlmarket.
It’s definitely not their most robust,
but it’s there and it’s lovely.

‘Til next time! 🙂

13 Comments

Christmas Survey #3

Christmas Ornaments 2011

Worst Christmas song?
Let It Snow.
No. Just no.
Let’s NOT let snow come anywhere near me.
Ever.

If you were a Christmas character, who would you be?
Gosh, I have no idea.
Wow, did I really just write “gosh”?

What type of decoration should stop being made?
None of the decorations bother me too much.

Tastiest holiday treat?
Cookies.
All the cookies.
Mmm, cookies.

Favorite pop culture/stereotypical Christmas icon?
Santa Claus.

Know how to make cookies/brownies/cake from scratch?
I can make cookies from scratch.
That doesn’t mean I do it often.

Ever cut your mouth on a candy cane/candy?
No.
Because I don’t eat candy canes.

What other culture would you like to experience Christmas with?
I’ve never given this any thought.
It’s a good question.
Maybe Germany.

What kind of pattern/pictures do you like on your wrapping paper?
Whimsical 60s style ornaments.
Candy canes.
Candy cane stripes.
Snowmen.
Plaid.

Three best things about Christmas?
The anticipation.
Being with loved ones.
Presents and food.

Candy cane or peppermint patties?
Peppermint patties.

Sugar or gingerbread cookies?
Sugar.
All day, every day.

Tinsel or beaded strands?
I grew up using tinsel/garland strands.
Then I switched to beads.
I don’t use strands any more.

Flashing or still lights?
Still.

Wreaths or mistletoe/holly?
Wreaths.

Rudolph or Frosty?
Rudolph.

Stockings or presents?
Both!
Stockings for all the little things.
And candy.
Presents for everything else.

Cookies & milk or letter to Santa?
Both.
Although I’d prefer to leave Santa juice
rather than milk.

Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Both days are special.
Christmas Eve, to prep for the Big Day.
Christmas Day, because it’s Christmas Day.

Cards or emails?
Cards.
I love mailing off all those smooth envelopes.
I love opening my mailbox and finding it stuffed
with cards and letters.
I get more than 100 emails a day.
It’s nice to get something in the *real* mail
from time to time.


This is the last of the Christmas surveys. Feel free to do this survey on your blog as well, but please comment and let me know so I can come check it out.

Linking up with:

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Christmas Survey #2

Christmas Ornaments 2011

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Both.
But definitely more nice.

What do you want most for Christmas?
Health.
Happiness.
Love.
Gratitude in my heart.

Do you believe in Father Christmas?
I’ve never encountered him,
but that’s not to say he isn’t around.

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?
Yes.

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?
Almost.

What is your favorite Christmas movie?
A Christmas Story
The Christmas List

What do you look forward to most at Christmas?
Gifts and food.
Time with my family.
Taking photos.
Desserts.

What are you doing for Christmas this year?
Aidan and my mom fly in on
December 20
(which also happens to be my birthday)
We’re going to eat good food
bake cookies
watch holiday programming
and have a relaxing holiday.

Who do you want to kiss under the mistletoe?
I don’t have mistletoe
but if I did
I’d want to kiss
Adam
🙂

What kind of Christmas tree do you have?
Artificial.

Do you take part in a Secret Santa?
Not anymore.

Do you go to any Christmas parties?
I go to the Moksha holiday party.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?
Oh yes.

How early do you wake up on Christmas morning?
I usually sleep in until 9 or 10ish.
It will depend on when Aidan gets up.

Do you still get a stocking?
Most definitely.

How many Christmas cards do you normally send out?
A lot.
Probably won’t send out as many
this year.

What is your Christmas wish?
That’s a secret.


Feel free to do this survey on your blog as well, but please comment and let me know so I can come check it out.

Comments Off on Christmas Survey #2