Please... Don't rush me.

I'm in a hurry
I'm in Target
Everyone is in a hurry
IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!

I witnessed a conversation between a sales associate and a shopper:
Sales Ass: Yes Ma'am, we are out of those Christmas items... and it is so close to Christmas that they decided not to order any more Christmas stuff.
Shopper: Don't you know that its only December 12th?! There are 13 more days before Christmas! That's a lot of days!

(Just to clarify, this shopper was not me, although it sounds like me)

The exchange made me smile at first
Then it made me a little sad

The buyers for Target have moved on from Christmas
as if it has already come and passed

I wanted to scream "Stop rushing me! STOP RUSHING CHRISTMAS!"
Then it dawned on me
What the heck am I doing in Target if I want to be enjoying this Christmas season so much?
So I left Target

...

As I watch the lights on my tree twinkle
(only the top half of the tree... who knew I only had one strand of twinkle lights?)
I am overwhelmed by how fast time moves and...
I have only this moment to fully dwell on the here and now

Please stop and enjoy this moment with me

Reflection Tuesday: Mother's Day

The truth is, even if she weren't my mom I would go out of my way to be friends with her

I know this is a few days late, but I just wanted to throw out into cyberspace what an amazing mother I have. 

Holla!

Anyone that knows Donna would agree! 

She is:

Loving

Patient

Wonderful

Hard working

Detailed

Always putting others first

Warm

Welcoming

Excited

Extremely caring

A wonderful homemaker

Smart (Who just passed her test WHAT WHAT!!)

An amazing listener

A best friend

The most amazing mother anyone could ever ask for!

She is constantly encouraging me. Loves my husband more than she loves me and has made him a part of our family. Always has my favorite foods at home when I come to visit. Always is first to listen before giving counsel. She has a great sense of humor and is makes me laugh daily. 

I really wanted to post a picture of her 1990's afro-mullet, but she said, "If you love me at all... you won't post that." But then she said right after that, "I remember just LOVING that haircut..." 

So out of love and respect, I will not post it. 

Even though I really want to.

This is a picture of my mother and I when I was just a wee little Dee. 

I love you, Mom. You are beautiful to me.

stained-glass sugar cookies

These cookies are really fun to make! I got the recipe from "Everyday Food" issue 88 (this months issue). 

Ingredients:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- finely crushed hard candy (such as lifesavers or Jolly Ranchers)

First: in a medium bowl mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt). Set aside. In a large bowl beat together butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla and then gradually add the flour mixture. Form dough into two round disks, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Second: preheat over to 350. Working with one disk at a time, roll out dough on floured parchment paper (I have never done this before, but it really helps prevent the dough from sticking!). With a christmas cookie cutter, cut out dough in desired shapes and place on parchment lined cookie sheets about 1 inch apart. Take a smaller shaped cookie cutter and cut out the middle of each cookie.*

Third: bake for about 7-9 minutes or until the tops of the cookies are pale and set. Pull the cookies out of the oven and fill middle cutouts with crushed candy. Place back in the oven and cook for about 3-4 more minutes, or until the middle candy is melted and the cookie edges are browning.

Fourth: Let cookies cool before taking off parchment paper. Then take lots of great pictures with them because they are impressive and enjoy!

*Michael's has a cookie cutter set that actually has the center cutout attached to the bigger cookie cutter to make the cookie shape all in one step! It make the whole process a lot easier.

To be completely honest with you, the recipe takes a lot of time and attention. It is the perfect recipe if you are in the mood for christmas baking and have ample amount of time, but if you are in a hurry... do not even attempt this puppy. Also, my husband informed me that this sugar cookie base recipe is the best homemade sugar cookie he has had!

Christmas Card Central

I think Martha Stuart's got competition 

just sayin

Oh I love you Christmastime

My tree topper of Joy

Handmade by my Grandma

Gotta have some fake glittery poinsettias 

Getting into the spirit of what christmas really means

All lit up

Joy in the Kitchen

A peppermint stick, for ol' saint nick

Almost gone... and its only December 1st

Let the countdown begin

Spicy Gingerbread Men

Too early for gingerbread men? I think not!

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup margarine, softened

- 1/2 cup molasses 

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 1 egg yolk

- 2 cups flour

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

- 1 teaspoon ground cloves

- 1 teaspoon ginger

First: In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in molasses and egg yolk.

Second: In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Blend flour mixture into molasses mixture until smooth. Cover and chill dough for at least an hour.

Third: Preheat over to 350 degrees. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick and using cookie cutters, cut dough into desired shapes. 

Fourth: Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart and bake for 8-10 minutes. You can either sprinkle powdered sugar over cookies once cooled or frost with icing. 

I don't remember where I found this recipe, but I happened upon it last year and it made it to my cookbook! Hope you enjoy!

falling into it

...and its only just beginning...

     

  I may or may not have a problem with excessive decorations during holiday seasons...