Post Christmas Adventures

Christmas is done and now we are nearing 2014.  Tomorrow brings my return to work but only for Monday then Tuesday and Wednesday off for the holiday before back to work on Thursday.  Will be rough returning for a full week!!

Christmas Eve and Christmas were very enjoyable, spending my time with both my sons and Michael. One of the gifts I received from the boys was the Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary book - lots of stories and trivia behind the movie.  And, although we had agreed not to give each other gifts, Michael surprised me with not one but two snow globes - a glittery 2013 holiday globe and another red robin lighted globe. 

Most of the rest of the week was spent back and forth between Michael's place and mine.  He had a doctor's appointment on Thursday for which I tagged along; upon meeting one of his long-time doctors, I proceeded to klutzily spill a cup of water all over my pants and into my purse.  Not a fun experience wearing wet jeans for the morning!  In addition, my purse was filled with loose cough drops; the spilled water mingled with these drops and it was a goopy, sticky mess.

After returning home Friday morning, I made a return trip to Portland on Saturday so Michael and I could cruise to Spirit Mountain to test our luck.  This casino seems to be Michael's hot spot; although I did make a small win, Michael made a coup.  We didn't stay long and  upon our return to town we picked up Chinese food, eating to our heart's content before we drifted off to sleep.

Returning home this morning, I made a pit stop at the Gresham Target to see what type of Christmas bargains were in store.  Sadly, the markdown price was still at 50% so my purchases were few.  I swung into the Woodland Walmart on my cruise home; still at 50% there, so the only after-Christmas purchase I made was a holiday dog toy for Stubbs.

Today I dug through my purse collection in order to switch out my sticky purse for a clean one.    Because I'm not good at thoroughly cleaning out my purses before putting them away, browsing through my purses is like a walk down memory lane.  This one contains a Quinault casino information booklet from our last trip there; that one a lost box of Altoids; and another one holds one of my favorite lip glosses I thought I had lost.  It's always a treasure adventure when I switch out to a different purse!!  This also may beg the question, according to a survey, that purses are dirtier and more bacteria-ridden than a toilet!!

Here's to a quick and painless Monday!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!!

Something Had to Give!!!

Of Love and Shopping

Another Sunday evening is approaching and once again my weekend has been jampacked!

I had to work late until 7pm on Friday, which didn't put me home until almost 8pm.  I arrived just in time to see once again I did not win $5,000 on Wheel of Fortune, of which I'm a card carrying member of the Wheel Watchers Club. 

Saturday morning I rose early then drove to Vancouver Mall to finish my Christmas shopping.  That mall was packed!!!  Wandering browsing, shopping, lugging purchases....by the time I left I was hot and sweaty.  Especially since I had to edge myself past all the kiddies and cranky parents in the Santa line, which was stretched to kingdom come. 

Continuing on I-205 South, I drove to see my Michael.  He met me outside and we completed a couple of errands before returning to his place.  It has been so long since I spent the night at his place and it was such a nice retreat from home. We watched movies, Just Cause (awesome) and Water for Elephants (no chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson so for me it was just a so-so film.)

This morning we ate breakfast at Elmer's then I hit the road for home.  Stopping at Walmart, I picked up groceries for Christmas dinner along with a few more gift items for the boys. Arriving home, I whipped up a batch of Rich Bars, made with a cake mix, carmel, chocolate chips, and nuts.  While that was baking, I threw a roast into the crock pot then wrapped all my gifts.  On top of all that, I decided it was time to clean the aquarium!  Finally, I sat down to relax and watched Thelma and Louise. 

My Korean pot roast is done so it's time for dinner.  The following clip is one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies, Love Actually.  This one is dedicated to you, my Michael.  For now and for always, Merry Christmas my love.

TGIF!!!

It's less than a week to Christmas and how much gift shopping have I done?  None!!!  Time to get with the program this weekend.  Now that the boys are grown it's much harder to select gifts for them, although Jordan provided me with a lengthy list last night, filled with Dr. Who items, video games, and "anything odd or morbid".  Methinks a trip to Vancouver Mall (or a mortuary) this weekend may be in order!

The annual cruise of Santa in my neighborhood occurred this week.  It used to be Old St. Nick on a fire truck; now it has evolved into Santa on a lighted float with singers.  This year even included a pre-cruise pilot car alerting everyone that Santa was on his way.  Very festive!

This week found me making my way to our front lobby at work to view the annual winter wonderland scene.  I tried to take a picture in front of our awesome gingerbread house but, since guests were eating dinner in it, the picture didn't turn out quite as well as expected.  So here's one in front of the fake snow and critters.

Have an awesome weekend and enjoy the storm before the Christmas calm!!!



Merry Christmas!!

Countdown to Family Party

Today is my family's annual Christmas party.  Packed to go are my $10 game gift, appetizer tray, and four large batches of brownie whoopee bars, chocolate chip cookie dough bars, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, and shortbread bites.  Time to hop in the shower in order to be ready to go at 9:30.  Normally I break out a dress and heels, but this year I'm taking it easy - jeans and boots!  Here's to a successful, relaxing party with lots of laughter!

To Die For Nuggets!!!

Ran across a recipe for these cookies on Facebook and had to make them for my upcoming family Christmas party.  We are all a lover of chocolate chip cookie dough; these little nuggets are Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars - no eggs, no baking, and they turned out wonderful.  I whipped them up last night then sliced into bars this morning and popped into the back freezer so they are ready for the party.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars

Ingredients
•½ c. unsalted butter, softened
•¾ c. packed light brown sugar
•1 tsp. vanilla extract
•2 c. all purpose flour
•1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
•2 c. mini chocolate chips
•½ cup creamy peanut butter
•½ cup milk chocolate chips

Instructions
1.Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil and set aside.
2.In a large mixing bowl, mix together butter and brown sugar until it is fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and bet until combined.
3.Turn the mixer to low and alternate the flour and the sweetened condensed milk until combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips.
4.Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the 8×8 pan. It will be sticky so lightly flour your hands if needed.
5.Cover your bars with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight until firm.
6.To make the topping, combine the peanut butter and ½ cup chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Stir every 30 seconds until smooth. Pour and spread over the top of the chilled dough and chill at least for 1 hour until firm.

Getting Up Early Ain't for Sissies!

Always an early riser, lately the morning has been coming way too soon for me.  This morning found me waking up around 3:30 am, bright-eyed and bushy tailed.  Turning on the TV, hoping the Trisha Goddard show would lull me to sleep, instead becoming engrossed in the "is he the father or isn't he" topic for the day.  Giving in, I crawled out of bed, made my coffee, and watched the morning news at 4:30.  Ugh. On the plus side, my Michael has this same sleeping pattern so he was awake for me to text at the ungodly hour. 

This morning brought another gift - more snow with threat of ice on the road.  Hopefully I-5 will be bare during my commute.  Here's to everyone having a safe and warm Tuesday!!!

How the Media Failed Women in 2013

Very insightful point of view!!!

Breaking Out His Winter Attire, Stubbs Enjoys the Snow

Better Safe than Sorry

It's Friday and I woke up to .....SNOW!!!  Thinking optimistically, I proceeded with my normal work day routine.  My attire for today included tights, knee-high boots, sweater, and a new scarf I recently sewed with clearance Halloween material.  Easing out of the driveway, I cruised on to I-5 Northbound to make my way to work. 

The freeway didn't seem bad but snow flurries were coming down strong.  Then, only about 5 miles into my drive, traffic came to a halt.  Keeping in the slow lane and peering ahead, the traffic jam could be seen stretched up ahead for several more miles.  More than one police car passed me by on the shoulder; easing up to the bottleneck, it was clearly an extensive wreck which caused the backlog.   There were two to three vehicles involved, including a semi truck and vintage RV that was obliterated....and I mean obliterated....on the road.  At that point my mind was made up to turn around, go home and take a vacation day. 

Taking the first Castle Rock exit, my car slid around as I tried to cross the street to the Portland return route. On the underpass was a police car and several other trucks sitting, investigating a work truck that had tumbled off the freeway and sat, upside down, on the grass next to the on-ramp.  Scary!!!  Driving about 5 miles per hour, my car crept on to the freeway Southbound, making my way back home. The snow began getting heavier and heavier; I breathed a sigh of relief when my car entered my garage.  Whew! 

Here's to everyone having a safe Friday with our first day of snow!!! 

Thanksgiving Wrap Up

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend was a jumble of activity.  Thursday Jordan, Sam and I enjoyed a nice dinner of turkey and sides before kicking back and watching movies.  Friday Sam took his rig in for a new water pump; I slept in then braved Target for a prescription.  Thankfully I missed the Black Friday melee but did pick up a DVD player for $19.99. 

Saturday found Sam and I visiting the auto office to license his car.  Unfortunately, the state system placed the car at a much, much higher value than what we paid so we were forced to stop in our tracks and return home to print off an appraisal.  The printer has been collecting dust; after two hours trying to hook it up to my laptop, we ended up saving the Edmunds appraisal on a flash drive, booking it to his friend's house to print, then rushing back to the licensing office with only a minute to spare in order to get the title in order.  Whew!  Another task off the list!

Sunday found me cleaning, organizing, and setting up some Christmas décor on the outside porch as well as inside.  Significantly cutting back, this year we are having a two-foot silver and blue tree sitting on a table in living room window as our Christmas tree.  It's just one of those years where none of us are in the mood to haul the numerous holiday goodies out of the attic and garage....it's going to be a simple year.

Last night Sam drove to Woodland with Jordan in tow meet with his supervisor and obtain keys for his new job.  Unfortunately, Jordan called to inform me that Sam actually began work which resulted in me, with Stubbs along for the ride, cruising to Woodland to pick up him.  We had a nice visit on our return ride.  I was happy to see Sam had made it home safe and sound this morning from his first shift.

My biggest regret so far of this holiday season?  I have not seen my Michael in two weeks!!!  Between both of us being sick along with the holiday, potential snow, and car tasks, we have been unable to connect in person.  Miss you Babe and can't wait for us to see each other very soon!!!!