Food Porn Friday

I love my bosses and my coworkers but today, knowing that Mac and I are heading to my parent's house up north tonight, I would much rather be snuggled under about 50 blankets drinking this and watching Christmas movies.  

I can't believe that this is my last morning in my apartment before Christmas.  As always December has flown by, just me or does it seem to go faster the older you get?  I remember childhood Decembers filled with tree decorating and pageants, it seemed to take for ever to get to the 25th.  Then finally we would be at church on Christmas eve and then home were I would be under the covers in a blink because the big man was coming and I was not gonna be caught awake, nope!

Even if it is all going by faster it's still wonderful and I can't wait to head north where it will be that little bit colder.  Merry Christmas loves and very safe travels, more recipes and pictures to come throughout the week! 

Brown Paper Packages

It's here, the time of December when I start to love the sight of my mail man and pray that he has the packages I ordered.  Lately to keep my sanity and save time I've been doing almost all my shopping online.  Not that I don't love supporting local mom and pops, but this year I've had at least half the gifts sent directly to my parents house so that I don't even have to drive them up.  Lazy? Maybe, but it has been so relaxing and I've had more time to spend celebrating the season.  Now let's just hope everything arrives on time and undamaged.  

How much of your shopping is online or do you hit the stores?    

Ugly Sweater Party!

Hot glue and pom poms, merry Christmas to me!

What a sensational weekend!  Disneyland ditch day, Christmas light walk, aaaand an ugly sweater party with gift exchange and chocolate chip cookie contest...talk about a Christmasie weekend. 

Since ugly sweaters were scarce we all made our own, cuz we're really cool people.  Kimmie and Juan took first place, how could they not with those Santas!

 These Hanukkah sweaters made me smile all night!

Rudolph came to visit, love the lights on their sweaters. 

The only picture of Mac in his sweater.  Have you ever been to an ugly sweater party or made your own?  How creative did you get?  Maybe next year I can make mine play music.  Merry Christmas loves!

Guess What I'm Doing Today...

I'm having an amazing Disneyland ditch day!!!  Ok, so it's not really ditching cuz my bosses know I'm here and I'm getting vacation time, but what's better than that?  Regular pay and a day at the D...yes please!!!  

There are so many things I'm thankful for today.  Having loving friends and family, that my brother married one of my oldest friends, another old friend is here to visit, oh and their birthdays are December 10th, 12th, and 14th.  Add all this together and it means "Happy Birthday to you three, let's party at Disneyland!"  

So that is exactly where we will be at today.  If anyone needs me this is what I'll be doing:

• Wearing mouse ears and/or a Santa hat.
• Eating churros, the chocolate chunk cookies they sell at Pooh Corner, and the mozzarella sticks they sell at the Golden Horseshoe that aren't on the menu but they make if you ask for them.  
• Riding Space Mountain at least twice and making ridiculous faces when it goes around the last curve and the camera flashes.
• Skipping.
• Lamenting that the Haunted Mansion is Nightmare Before Christmas themed, them loving it. 
• Trying to time the line on India Jones so that I get the seat with the steering wheel.
• Looking at the line for the Matterhorn and not really lamenting the fact that we didn't ride it because that SOB will give you whiplash.  
• Going to the Tiki Room, cuz that my friends is original Disney magic. 
• Watching the Christmas fireworks and feeling like I'm about seven years old. 
• Adding bourbon to my hot chocolate. 
• Loving the looks on the children's faces when it snows foam on Main Street. 
• Eating cookie dough ice cream from a rainbow sprinkle while sitting on the curb of Main Street watching the parents drag home all the sleepy little ones.  

Have a wonderful weekend loves!

What's Your Favorite Holiday Treat?

What is the one treat that your willpower just will not stand up to at a holiday party?  I had a math teacher in high school that made us Italian snowflake cookies - pizzelle one day each December (aka only day of math that was livable), my dad loves having rompope Mexican eggnog that he had growing up, and I just can't resist a good chocolate crinkle cookie among other things.  

So what makes your Christmas tummy happy?  English pudding, ginger bread men, peppermint truffles? I'd love to hear about it and if you have the recipe send it along!

Here's a crinkle recipe I cant wait to try!

Photo via

Food Porn Friday

Doesn't this cake look absolutely delicious?  It also makes me think "I want Frosty in my tummy" but I'm gonna try not to think about that.  

What are your plans for the weekend loves?  I was supposed to be going to a cookie party this weekend but after feeling a little under the weather yesterday I think it might be best to skip it and not contaminate everyone.  

So I'll probably be spending the weekend with Mac, writing Christmas cards, cooking, and hopefully Christmas shopping.  Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Peppermint Bark Covered Grahams

Are you ready for a super easy, Christmas in your mouth, thank you lord treat?  No, then you probably shouldn't be reading this post.  If you answered yes, then I have the treat for you!

I was walking around Christmas shopping in the rain last weekend contemplating where to get my cozy warm latte...the nearby Starbucks had chocolate covered grahams but Peet's Coffee had peppermint bark.  So I said screw the treat, got a latte from Peet's, and stopped by the grocery on the way home to get supplies to put the two together.  

I already had some chocolate chips at Mac's house so the supplies were pretty cheap, but I can guarantee you the ingredients for a whole bunch of these are less than $10. 

And if you have little ones or are spending the day with a niece or nephew this is the perfect treat to make. I once put a bunch of candy canes in a Ziploc bag inside of a Ziploc bag, put it on the ground, and told my niece to stomp on them and smash them.  It's like someone told her she was going to Disneyland. Give the treats a try and let me know what you think.  Wouldn't this be a pretty hostess gift or perfect for  for a cookie party?  

More photos and the recipe after the jump. And if you're feeling generous pin it to share with others!

Weekend Review, Christmas Touches

 Like most weekends, this one didn't go as expected but we did have a great time getting in the Christmas spirit.  I love having even little touches around like these snowflakes.  Thank you 99 Cent Store, yeah we keep it classy at Christmas time. 

 I may or may not have spent some time laying under the tree with the cat looking at the lights.  

 Rainy day, fire place, tree decorating, and Andy Williams Christmas on the record player...that's right baby, we do Christmas time right over here!

 California Santa!  I don't know how I got him to do this but I love it!

 Cranberry martini, yummm!

I was lucky enough to spend rainy Sunday morning decorating my friend Katy's classroom for Christmas and eating amazing Cuban pastries, thank you Katy!

Hope you all had wonderful weekends as well and that today is off to a great start loves!