TWD~Linzer Sables

I know, I know the name Linzer Sables sounds so frou frou shi shi, but really these were really easy easy. And although I do not like roll-out cookies, because they are more time consuming, these ones didn't seem to bad.

I chose to use ground almonds for the nut. I thought that it might give the cookies a more lighter taste then ground walnuts. Rolling it out was a breeze and into the freezer the disks went.

So while waiting for my dough to get nice and chilled, I watched Gossip Girl, and knitted a scarf and read Twilight! Oh i know, some are saying 'bout time! while others (ahem, kristina p) are saying "Oh great, not another convert!"

But tonight at book club all we talked about was Twilight... Only a few had read the book we were supposed to be reading, because they were all obsessing over Twilight!!! Including our token male who acts all cool like, its just an "alright" book, but has now devoured each book from what i have heard! whatevs...

I am now reading it, just to see what all the fuss is about... I digress.

The cookies came out great. Although i didn't watch one batch close enough and the edges were burnt. I threw those babies out.

I made cute stars, with the cut outs. I made three different types too. Chocolate, Black Raspberry and Lemon Cheese! Okay fine, we would call it Lemon Curd here, but my parents got me a jar in England and on the bottle it says Lemon Cheese.

See...

and my Christmas Table setting that i call Reindeer Chic...

I love cookies and Christmas!

The best of times, the worst of times...

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Family time was really fun! No stress, just laughs and crazy family frivolity. My cousin Kelly tells some of it here.
Now the days before Christmas are fast upon us. Time to decorate and get ready for the blessed holiday!
But first i do have to get some not so happy stuff out of the way.
My car is dying... or is dead? It depends on if my dad wants to fix it or not, or can?... My old crappy Subaru that i actually really do love is coming to an end. boo hoo.
and
My beloved cat Marius is on his last legs, literally... since he is having trouble walking. I've had Mr. Marius now for 16 years and I'm already mourning the loss. But I think it might be time to say goodbye, his body just can't carry him around and his kidneys just don't function the same.
I know he is just a cat, but I do love him a lot. And I'm sad to eventually let him go. (cue the water works)

On the brighter side... Because of the car fiasco I've been able to spend a bit more time with my family and I am just thankful that they are there to help me when I need it. I am more blessed then I want to admit, because sometimes I just don't feel worthy of all the good things i currently have in my life. My life is cake compared to what so many people have to endure.

Has anyone thought about their New Years resolutions? Me neither... because I think they are silly. I just want to set some goals and stick to them. One being that I am going to start running again. I used to run, which means I used to be a runner (gasp)!
After a bad let down at a marathon involving a stress fracture and not being able to finish a race, I put running on the back burner. My goal is a 10k some time this spring. Wish me luck! The last time i ran a race was 6 years ago! eeeeeeeeeeeek!

Giving of Thanks

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
— John Fitzgerald Kennedy

For The Beauty Of The Earth Hymn

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

Pleasures pure and undefiled,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine,

To our race so freely given,

Graces human and divine,

Flowers of earth and buds of heaven,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For thy Church which evermore

Lifteth holy hands above,

Offering up on every shore

Her pure sacrifice of love,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise

Happy Thanksgiving!

TWD~Twofer Thanksgiving Pie

I am just going to be totally honest and say... sorry Charlie, not making this one.
I have my reasons, I'm really not trying to be a stick in the mud.
I could make it for my work pot-luck, but i decided to make something i could share a little easier, like chocolate chip pumpkin bars and pinwheels.
I could make this for Thanksgiving but my family just wants plain pumpkin pie. Elitists!
Hey what do you get when you put a Libertarian, a Socialist, A few Democrats and a couple of right wing Republicans in a room?
My family.
What, were you expecting something funnier?
And finally, I don't like pumpkin pie, and I don't like pecan pie, the thought of the two together scare me... So why would I, two weeks in a row, make something I don't like? Life is too short. Enjoy what you make and make what you enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving my fellow TWD pals! Have a beautiful and thanks filled day of blessings, mirth and good food!!!

Nature Chic

This is a special interruption: I just saw a preview for my mostest favorite show: LOST!!! It's back!! January 21st... 4 days after my birthday! Best Birthday Present EVAH!!!! Kate! WE HAVE TO GO BACK!!! (giddy! I am giddy with glee and mirth!)

Soooo....I spent the day today at my parent's house. I thought I was going to go out there to help them decorate for Christmas. But I realized that once I was there that I would be decorating the outside of their house. Which was just fine because it was a nice balmy 40 degrees. So sad that 40 is considered "nice" weather this time of year. But we Minne-soh-tans take anything we can get.
My mission was to take nature and create something winter magical. My folks live in the country in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nature and woods.
While out gathering near the woods... I kept thinking, Oh Edward when are you going to come and sweep me away and make me into a Vampire so I can be with you forever. (oh puke)

But instead all I stumbled upon was my friend Sterling

and then later Cinder... whose poor tongue is too big to fit in her mouth.

So back to magic the gathering of twigs and branches... I said, I can out do anything that Country Living, Cottage Living and Martha Stewart can throw at me!

My mom said, Wow, I like it! What do you call it? I didn't have to think twice:

Nature Chic

Twilight, The Epidemic

Last night I was forced so happy to go see Twilight with Kelly and Kyle, Heather of the EO and Mackenzie. I had not read the book. I was on the fence about reading the book. But heck, why not go see the movie. WOAH.

All I can say that this was the most insane movie experience of my life. Imagine about 75, pre-teen girls, SCREAMING! every time Edward would appear on screen, Or Jacob, or James... you name it, they would SCREAM!! It was so amusing and surreal that it made up for one of the lamest movies i had ever seen. Sorry if you liked it, i was not impressed. This did however make me want to read the book, so i could compare the two. I think I might like the book better. Maybe.

So onto bigger and better things, like Christmas and decorating and my Rosanna Inc.'s 12 Days of Christmas Plates! I am so excited because this year I have a real live dining room in my real live house, that i really bought all by myself! Anyway, I am not much of a collector, but I have fallen in love with the Rosanna Bowles, a tableware designer who makes the CUTEST dishes, plates, cups, bowls, etc., that you could sink your little chic teeth into. (twilight pun)

A few years ago I was able to get my hands on the 12 Days of Christmas Plates, at Macy's for 75% off!!!

And thus, this year I will proudly be displaying my plates for all to see and marvel and drool over.

Nosey Friday

Over at one of my favorite baking sites Chocolatechic, who by the way is not only a phenomenal cook but an amazing photographer, she posted a question:

If you had a house fire and all your loved ones and pets were out of the house, what 3 things would you then save?

My three things would be the following:

1. My journals... 11 years worth of memories, boyfriends, moves, job changes, heart joys, heart breaks, celebrations and pity parties. I would be so sad to lose these memories. Because if someday I am blessed with a daughter I would give her these journals and say, Its okay to be imperfect and question life, and take risks and love and be loved and make mistakes...

2. My photos... years and years worth of memories that are irreplaceable.

3. My purse... I've had my purse stolen 2x now and it is a pain in the you know what to try and cancel credit cards and get a new driver's licence and replace all 500 tubes of lip gloss that litter my purse. Plus i always carry my camera in my purse and cell phone. So its like two for one gone mad!

Now, do tell me what 3 things you would save?