26 Cents & No Good Bye
Well Happy New Year Everyone! Here’s to hoping 2013 is better than 2012. Not that 2012 was that bad of a year. 2013 thus far has started off good. Cory has a job and is getting paid time and a half today (always a good thing). I still have my job, Duncan is happy and fat and for the most part the family is healthy. So 2013 does look bright. So let’s hope it turns out as good as I predict it will.
Anyway so Kryssi left us on Sunday. She is off to new and adverntours things in Oregan. I envy her. I wish I could pack a bag or two, get on a plan and just move somewhere without a dollar to my name. Ah to be 21 again! I wish her the best and she better visit. I know we want to go visit her.
I had a fun two week vacation with her around. Here’s some highlights:
We went to BJs and sang karaoke with her friend Kalyn.
Kryssi cooked us her famous pasta and sauce with Mashed Potatoes … yeah I have never hadpasta with mashed potatoes either. Lol!
Duncan will miss her. She taught him not to bark at us while we eat. That dang dog thinks EVERY TIME somebody eats he gets to eat too and he gets to eat what we are eating. Haha! Yeah noooooo! Lol! Weird dog!
Anyway I’ll miss my girl! : ( But I am sure she will have fun times in Oregon with her man.
So Leanne, Kevin and the Kids came on the 27th. The ORIGINAL plan was for Kevin to leave the next day and go to Vegas. He had a show to play New Years Eve and the kids and Leanne were to stay at Todd’s till Tuesday when Kevin came and got them. Original plan anyway – plans tend to not stick around here.
The Cloud Christmas Eve was good times. We all gathered around, had pizza again and opened gifts. Here’s some pics!
Anyway so that was Thursday. Friday was good. I got up and met the parents down at the Casino boat to take us across the lake to go eat at the Landing. We ate, gambled, and that was that. I put in $20 and won nothing. Lol! Todd won like $200. Bah! Anyway that night we all met up at Todd’s for dinner and Pops and Leanne got into it over health food (I know I shouldn’t post family drama on my website for the whole world to read but ya know what – it’s my blog and it’s a New Year so fuck you).
Anyway so Saturday I’m riding around Kryssi to get last minute stuff done for her because she leaves for Vegas to catch her flight to Oregon the next day and I call to ask what we are doing later (I thought we were all going to dinner or something) and I find out Leanne and the kids are getting in a rental car and leaving.
I call it – family drama. Yes there is a background story I could sit here and tell you all as to why she really packed the car and kids and left but I won’t. I’ll save it for Part 3 of AOTM when the background of the “Mathews” is exposed. Yes I put EVERYTHING in my book.
So they left – no goodbye either. Do I blame her? Not really but she could have at least said goodbye.
So today is the last day of my Vacation. Back to work tomorrow. Am I sad? Hell no! I’m ready to go back besides tomorrow is the FIRST Board of Supervisors meeting with the new Supervisors. I say – bring it on. : )
Alright I have wrote too much. So talk to you all laterz!
Christmas In Pictures – Because Sometimes Words Hold No Justice
Christmas Eve like always was spent with the Markham Family and Christmas Day was spent with Cory’s side of the family. Here are pictures from Christmas. I decided to just post the pics this year because they do far more justice. Lol! Oh and yes I DID get my guitar! :)
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I’m Still Here & The World Didn’t End
Well the world did not end today. : ) I knew it wouldn’t but it’s still fun watching people actually believe it’ll happen. Haha!
Anyway I know I have been absent from here for a while and I really have no reason not to either. I’ve been on vacation almost a week now, but I have been keeping busy on my vaca.
Doing what you ask??
BAKING!!! Yeap – shopping and baking Holiday goodies!! : ) Let’s see I have made chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, a failed attempt at pumpkin fudge (I give up), cake mix cookies, red and green sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms and this new hershay’s kisses cookie covered cookie. : ) Don’t worry – Im giving a good 90% of what I make away. Mostly to Cory’s work. He says it gets him kudos points. Which it must cause he was told the other day they are keeping him. YEAH! So Cory has a job! We are happy!! He loves it there too. I am glad.
So we took Duncan to get a bath for the first time the other day. We took him to Vicki’s – where my parents take Rivel and Chico. He didn’t like it and he ran around like a scared cat in the bath tub she said. Hehe! But when he came home he smelt so nice and clean clean. He’ll have to get use to them cause it’s NOW in the budget to get that dog a bath every so many weeks. We don ‘t want a smelly doggy now. 
Anyway when the doggy is not chasing the kitty – which will only be with us another week as Kryssi is moving next weekend (sad) – I take pictures of her cause she’s a pretty kitty!!
So we took Kryssi last weekend to upgrade her phone to a 4s. I took some pics of myself in the elf hat while we waited for the upgrade process to complete 
We went to JCP too and I bought this new dress and coat (Cory says it’s my early Xmas gift from him! I told him to wrap it and I’d act surprised on Xmas but whatever … lol!) 
Anyway best go get ready! I have a big day ahead of me! I have to finish Xmas shopping today, water the plants at the office, meet the parents for lunch at McDonald’s (they brought the McRib back! Yum) and …. get groceries too!
So off I go!!
Laterz!
Our House At Xmas
Ok it is time to post pics of our place all decked out for the Holidays
Our Xmas tree of course
The Village
Our back door
The front door
Ill post more pics as we put more stuff up! 
Cory’s Bday
Cory’s birthday was this past Tuesday and I had every intent in writing about it then but life got busy. Those dang Christmas cards – didn’t realize it was so expensive to send out Xmas cards. Did u know a book or stamps is $9 and its going up in January again! Crazy!
But anyway so Tuesday we went over to the parents for dinner. They made us tacos and Corys favorite cake – angel food with Mems special cherry frosting. I have to get that recipe! Lol!
Anyway Corys been getting good hours at work and he likes it there so that’s good. I made his work some cookies the other day and everyone liked them. Hehe! I made my women’s executive board peanut butter fudge and it was a big hit. Ill have to post the recipe later.
So Kryssi is staying with us for a bit. She’s debating on signing onto our lease or moving back home. I would hate to see her go and she is more than welcome to stay but its her choice. I would be bias in saying stay huh? Lol!
But anyway life has just been busy – gettin ready for the Holidays and all.
Alright write more laterz!
The Parade Of Lights
Well the Christmas season is finally upon us. Cory and I went to the boat parade this weekend. Usually they do the parade for two nights but this year they took it down to one. It was packed! We had to park behind McDonald’s and we were lucky to get that spot. We went and got some food from McDonald’s and hot coco of course and then walked across to the London Bridge Resort to watch the parade. We ended up down by KoKomos for most of it sitting by the pool and eating our food.
The parade this year was amazing! Best one I have seen in a while. I wish my picks turned out better (I need a camera with a good zoom) but here are some from the event
Beyond that we got most of our Xmas decorations up. It’s taken us like two weeks cause we have so many. Lol! Ill post pics of all that later when we are actually done. Still have the ice cycle lights to put up out back and more ornaments need to go on the tree. But look people – we go all out for Christmas! I mean we even decorate the dang toilet paper
Anyway write more later! Gotta get ready for work – two more weeks and I’m off for the rest of the year! Yea be jealous ! Haha!
To See All Photos From The 2012 Parade of Lights Please Click Here
Read MoreThanksgiving 2012 With The Halls – & Duncan Too
Well I have to admit – this was a good Thanksgiving. Different but good!
I got up Thanksgiving morning at 7am to be at Family Dollar for their toy sale at 8! I KNOW I KNOW!! Xmas shopping on Thanksgiving!! Really? Whatever! I got some good deals on the kids toys so I supposed it was worth it. I hit Family Dollar first on Palo Verde and there was NO ONE ELSE in the store for the entire 45 minutes I was in there trying to decide what toys to get the kids. Lol! It was creepy!! But whatever! I got Kevin Jr’s gift, Hope, and Ally’s gift. Then off I went to Kmart. I wanted that $4.99 automatic can opener!!
And I got it damn it! Lol! I bought Cory some under shirts for work and that was it. I decided to swing by the OTHER Family Dollar store by Smiths before heading home. I was able to snag Jr’s gift, Faith, Karli and even Ayden a birthday gift (her Bday is ON Thanksgiving this year).
Then off I went to head home to make that sweet potato casserole 
and watch what was left of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. I decided to make my orange glazed carrots last. I mean the recipe said it would only take like 25 minutes. So I took a shower and got ready and everything but those damn carrots! They took like an hour. What took so long was actually cooking the carrots. Oya! Good thing I made my apple pie Wednesday night.
We got over to the parents around 230. Pops and Todd left to go put the ham in Todd’s oven. It takes about an hour and a half to cook. I looked through the Black Friday ads and tried to convince Mem that she should go to Hastings on Black Friday and get my guitar since it was on sale. Cory has convinced me that I need an acoustic guitar first and then I upgrade to electric. So I supposed. Lol! We’ll see if my utter attempt at convincing them to go to Hastings to get the acoustic guitar worked or not. Hehe! 
Anyway we had invited Denise, Jay and the kids down for dinner so they didn’t end up going to Laughlin or Denny’s. Denise didn’t come but Jay and the kids did. It was fun! The kids played slot machines and pool and played with the dog. Poor Rivel was exhausted by dinner time.
Anyway we ended up getting home around 7:30ish.
I attempted to go to bed early but don’t think I actually went to sleep until my normal 10pm time. I had to get up at 430 to be to Staples at 5am to get a black laser printer they had on sale. Oya! Lol! But I was there in line at Staples at 550. They had a good sized line. Everyone wanted the tablets and computers they had on sale though so I didn’t have any issues getting the printer. I also got a Bluetooth while I was at it.
Then off I went to JCP. 
They had the biggest line of all (well I’m sure Walmart had the big line on Thanksgiving night but I didn’t attempt that). I got Cory some jeans, a gift, me a shirt and jeans and some makeup. All in all I spent $3.06!! Haha! Only cause I had gift card from my birthday. Hehe! Anyway after that it was off to Petsmart to get the dog his no barking Sonic Egg which I’m taking back cause it seemed to work the first day and then after that it stopped working. Lol! He likes to bark at Christmas decorates. Particularly the Santa that lights up and makes noise that we put on the patio. Ekk!
Anyway then off I went to Kmart. I had to return an under shirt I bought Cory on Thursday. I picked me up a red dress (I call it my Santa Suite! I’ll post pics later and you’ll see why). After that I went to Hastings but Hastings failed me. They didn’t have the book I wanted or a good price on calendars. I knew the parents were going down to Walmart later so I called them up and hitched a ride with them down to Walmart to pick up what Hastings failed me on.
Now going to town with the parents is an all-day thing. First off we stopped at Lowe’s. Then we went to McDonalds for lunch. Then we spent at least an hour and a half in JCP getting the kids clothes. Then we spent another hour I would say at Walmart. So a small little trip to Walmart turned into a five hour thing. Lol! But whatever – it was fun and I got all the kids gifts bought!
Anyway Cory worked late Friday. He was supposed to get off at 7 but stayed till 1030ish. So it was just Duncan and I. We cleaned the house and watched some TV.
Saturday Cory and I put up inside Xmas decorations (except the tree – we hope to do that tonight but I don’t know. Cory got called into work so we’ll see what time he gets off) and the outside lights out front. We still need to put the icicle lights on the back patio.
Sunday Cory worked again late. He was supposed to get off at six and stayed till 1030. I went over to Todd’s to look at his Computer and then dropped off Ayden her Bday gift. Then I went to the parents and picked up some Xmas decorations they had for me. Then I came home, cleaned a bit, and watched Madagascar 3.
All in all – that was my Thanksgiving! It was fun! Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving as well!
Christmas 2011
Well I guess I am late on posting my Christmas post but I have been super busy the past week!
Well anyway here is my Christmas 2011 Post!
December 24th, 2011: Tradition is tradition. We always spend Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with his, and that is exactly what we did this year. But first off, we went to Debbie’s to drop off our stuff. We stayed the night at his mom’s house because she lives right down the way from Aunt Denise which is where we had to be at 8am in the morning Christmas Day. Lol! We brought Batty with us which I am still wondering if that was the right thing or not. Lol! Just kidding, I mean come on we couldn’t leave the dog at home.
Anyway one quick trip to Movie’s Havasu to buy Grandma’s Gift and we were off to the parents with Batty so Batty could get his gift from Grandma. Yes, our dog is spoiled!
My parents got him an Angry Bird Toy and he had a hole in it by the night’s end. Lol!
Anyway we were over there by 3 for what my parents call “nubbins.” Mem made little smokeys, meatballs, cheese and summer sausage, and tons of desert. They call it nubbins cause that’s what it is – little snacks to snack on. Lol! It was fun! Cory took the dog home though cause he was being too hyper.
We ordered pizza around 6. We always have pizza on Christmas Eve. I’m not sure when the tradition started but as far back as I can remember it’s always been our tradition. We ordered it from Papa Johns this year. We ordered a sausage, half cheese, half pepperoni.
After pizza, we all get our drinks in hand. Mem and I had orange juice with peach schnaps in it. It’s the ONE time of the year you will actually see her with alcohol in hand. Lol!
Pops has his CCs and 7up. Todd and Cory did not drink. Although I do think Todd had a blue can (aka: Miller Lite) later into the night.
After we all got our drinks in hand, it was present opening time!
I took TONS of pics of what everyone got! Check out the Photo Gallery and Christmas Eve pics for them all. But here is a run down of what Cory and I got for Christmas from the parents & Todd:
- A $25 JCPenny gift card from Todd (Cory and I bought a new bed in the bag with it)
- I got a pair of pink tennis shoes from the parents. They got a size too small though and we had to take it back and get a bigger size but still.
- Cory got a shirt from them:
- Grandma got us each a $50 check
- She also got us Help on DVD
- The parents gave us a $50 gift card to Walmart which we used to buy our Iphone 4s Cases. I got pink
and Cory initially got Red and black but the red reflected with the flash and as you can see cause the above pic was taken with his phone it turns the pic red so he took it back and got grey. Well grey is doing it too so he’s going to take it back and get black. Lol! The pink didn’t do it because the under case is black and the upper is red. As long as the hard case is black it seems to be fine.
Cory and I got
- Grandma: Movie’s Havasu gift cards
- Mem got a gift certificate to get her nails done & a day in Laughlin package with a $25 gift card to Outback and a $25 gambling gift card
- Pops got my old laptop, a new mouse and some old computer games
- Todd got his Sports Illisturated Calendar (we get it for him every year. It’s tradition) and a $10 Taco Bell card (but we’re keeping that on the Down Low! Lol!)
So we were creative with the gift this year being we didn’t have much $$. It is so funny too cause Pops computer (his old one) died on Christmas Eve. His hard drive crashed. It was perfect! Lol! My old laptop was only a year old, it has a web cam (which I set them up with Skype so they can see Leanne and the kids), and it’s Windows 7. So much better than his old computer. He loves it!
Anyway after gifts, we set up Pops computer and than went back to head to bed because we had to be up by 7 and over at Aunt Denise’s for presents at 8am with the kids.
Before bed though we opened our PJs. Tradition with his family is we get Pjs for Christmas Eve and wear them to Christmas Day.
December 25th, 2011: Well I got up at 7am!! Bright and early and we did make it to Aunt Denise’s by 8am! It was 8am on the dot but still! Lol! Alicia was already up but the other kids were still in their room. Lol!
First things first – we opened gifts!! Alec got the Iphone 3gs from “Santa.” Aka: From us! See that is how I got my Iphone 4s! Debbie and Denise bought my Iphone from me and I got the new one. Alec has to prove he can handle the 3gs before he can upgrade mid year to the 4s. Cory got his cause I was nice and bought it for him! So that was pretty much our gifts to each other. The Iphones! Which I <3!! Cory also went and got my other wedding ring that his Mom found sized for me!
Andrew got an electronic keyboard
and the girls got an easy bake oven and Leapsters. 
We all opened gifts one by one. There were TONS of gifts!! I think I got pics of everyone opening their gifts but there were TONS of us there too! Let’s see: Cory, Debbie and I. Than there were the four kids, Summer, Chris, Aunt Denise, Jay and Shane, Tamera and Sophia. Packed house! Oh and Dublin the dog Shane and Tamera have. Sophia is getting so big. She’s so cute too! 
Anyway all the pics can be seen in the Christmas Day Part 1 & 2 albums in the Photo Gallery.
Here is what Cory & I got from the family:
- Cory got 3 $10 gift cards to Target from his Mom which we used to get a keyboard for the Ipad. The only thing I dislike about the Ipad is really the lack of a keyboard. I mean I can write in my blog on the Ipad but not at Super Fast speeds but now that we got a kayboard I can. Hehe!
- I got a beautiful new purse from her. I <3 it cause it’s so nice and big!
- The kids made us a ginger bread house. It’s so cute:
- Denise and Jay got me martini mixes! Yum! Those will be used New Years Eve! : )
- Cory & I got matching Xmas mugs. He got Santa and I got a snow man.
- The kids took a really good pic with Santa this year so we got that picture framed.
- I got a beautiful bracelet with my initial: S
- And Cory got a dancing Xmas dog stuffed Animal. It’s ears flop kind of like Batty! Lol!
- We also got some misc stuff in our stocking. Cory got an Iphone cover. I got makeup and beautiful earrings.
It was a nice Christmas. Here is what we got people:
- Jay got a puzzle
- Aunt Denise got Family Wall Art Decore
- Alec got an Iphone case, car charger, & ear buds
- Andrew got a Piano Book
- Aidyn got a dress up princess packet
- Alicia got a makeup kit
- Sophia got a prayer bear
- Summer, Chris, Shane and Tamera got all their childhood pics on a disc
- Debbie got a fish, a gift certificate to go buy a BIG fish tank, computer bag, and a photo we made for her with a picture of an old friend in it. We gave Debbie the ONLY surviving baby we have left out of the Molly’s we had a while back. She said she wanted a fish tank so we gave her a small bowl and one fish and she can go get more later.
After gifts we all managed to get EVERYONE together for a family photo! It is the first family photo they have taken in a while.
After that everyone seemed to gather in the living room to watch a slide show of all of the family’s old pictures. Yes, we DID complete the Photo Project FINALLY! And it was all done by Christmas. We also made Aunt Denise and Jay an Anniversary DVD of pics from their wedding. It made them cry! Their anniversary is New Years Eve.
So did you know Christmas Day is the ONE day where NO ONE IS OPEN!! Lol! Yeah Jay didn’t get to Bashas in time the night before to get subs for lunch. Lol! So Cory and I drove the 20-30 minute drive out to Loves by I-40 to get Subway subs! Lol! Yeah craziness!! But it was okay!
We stopped by my parents for some lasuange for dinner. It’s tradition Mem makes homemade lasagna every Christmas Day.
Then we went back to Aunt Denise’s for a bit and helped Alec set up his phone and the girls wanted to play on our Ipad.
And that was that!
It was an awesome Christmas! I think everyone got what they wanted despite having limited funds this year we all managed to pull it together!
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas Everyone
So how has everyone’s Christmas week been going so far? My week seems to have been very busy! I haven’t been able to update this blog as much as I have wanted too on my vacation, but that’s just how it goes I supposed.
Last Saturday Cory and I took Andrew and Adynn to the ice skating rink at the London Bridge Resort. It was fun! I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it, but it’s honestly very similar to rollerblading. It’s tiring though. They give you two and a half hours to skate but we were all done within an hour. Lol!
It was fun! And the best part – they had funnel cake!! 
You know me and my funnel cake obsession! Yum!
Sunday was more or less a lazy day! I think I watched like 4 episodes of One Tree Hill. Lol! Oh did I tell you – they FINALLY offer One Tree Hill on Netflix now! ALL EIGHT SEASONS! Ahhh!
The rest of the week (except for Tuesday) was spent scanning photos! I was determined to have the project done by Christmas and granted it took a while but the photo project Cory and I have been working on is done! Yeah!! I did manage to finish Season 1 of One Tree Hill while doing the project! So that’s an added bonus! : )
Tuesday Cory and I went to see Breaking Dawn Part 1. I know we’re a little late seeing it but we don’t have time usually to go and Tuesdays are five dollar days! So of course we’re going to go then! Hehe! It was a good movie! I loved it! I think my favorite part yet. I can’t wait for part 2! After the movie we went to my parents for dinner. Mem cooked sloppy joe’s and Mac N Cheese. We just sat around and talked. I snapped a pic of Edward. My cat Mem adopted and refuses to give back! I <3 my Edward! 
So yesterday was pay day and last minute shopping day! It was insane! I can’t imagine what it’s like today! I mean I think waiting till yesterday was bad enough but waiting until Xmas Eve to get last minute Xmas gifts is even insaner! Lol! Anyway I got all dolled up in my Xmas outfit and off I went to go shopping. 
Walmart of course was the first stop! It was where I got most of what I needed. To be honest I didn’t have THAT many gifts to get. Most of what I got was baking supplies and dog food. Lol!
Next I went to Pet Smart. I got Batty’s Christmas Gift. I gave it to him when I got home. He loved it! 
However the hat was off within 10 minutes! Lol! 
I got Lucy a snowman that I’ll give to her on Christmas. I got the pigs some stick treats 
and the fish well they just got food. Lol!
Then I went to the Dollar Store and to Taco Bell. Crazyness!
Then I came home and spent SEVEN hours in the kitchen! I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE SPENT THAT MUCH TIME BAKING!! I think I might have went a LITTLE over board. Lol! 
I ended up making two batches of candy cane cake bites with red and green frosting (well the red looks more pink but whatever! :p). The green cakes though didn’t turn out as well so I am not giving them out. Then I made red and green sugar cookes, I attempted to make chocolate fudge but that failed, then I made peanut butter blossoms with the hershey’s kisses, and then I made Mem’s famous white cake cookies with powdered sugar frosting, and finally peanut butter fudge!! Yeah I think I went over board! I made a container for my parents, one for his mom and than a whole shit load of stuff the Christmas Party at his Aunt’s Christmas Day! Insane!!
While I was baking – Cory was wrapping all the gifts!! Doesn’t our tree look pretty with all the gifts under it! : ) 
Anyway I best go get ready! The plan is to go to my parents for what they call “nubbins” around 3. Then we order pizza around 5ish and then open all our gifts!! Then we’re spending the night at his mom’s so we can get up early around 7 and be at Aunt Denise’s at 8 for gifts with the kids and a brunch/lunch thing. Then we’ll swing by my parents again for some lasagna.
So busy busy!
Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!
And So It Starts …
Well hello everybody! My 2 week vacation has officially started. It’s tradition that our office closes for 2 weeks every Christmas. It’s dead. Dead like a door knob during Christmas. So why stay open? Lol! So we use 2 weeks of our PTO and close down. So here I am!
What are my plans for my vacation? Well not much. We’re hoping to take the boys ice skating today at the London Bridge Resort’s new ice skating rink. I’ve never ice skated before so this should be fun. I have gone rollerblading but I head it’s not the same. Beyond that I want to do my January layout for my site, scan these thousands of pictures Cory has of his childhood into the computer, and at least finish Season 1 of One Tree Hill. Oh did I mention? They added One Tree Hill to Netflix! ALL EIGHT SEASONS! Ahhhh! I am so excited!
Anyway so I am really excited about Christmas this year. I feel, despite the fact that we don’t have much money this year, we still ended up getting people what they wanted. We were very creative with our gifts this year. I would love to sit here and tell you what we got Pops because I do think he is going to LOVE it and he doesn’t even see it coming, but I don’t want someone to read this blog and accidentally tell him. Lol!
Anyway have you guys seen the new facebook layout!!! Omg!! I love it!! I LOVE IT!!! The timeline is amazing! I have been waiting for two months since they announced it for this thing to come out. Ahhhh! It’s so awesome! If you don’t already have it. I recommend you go get it. You can get it here: http://facebook.com/timeline
Look at mine:
Anyway not much else to rant on at the moment!
Love ya guys,
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Red & Green Sugar Cookies
I made the following Christmas Sugar Cookies the other day! They were amazing!
- 5 tbsp butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- red and green sugar cystals
Using a mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter and sugar until dough forms. Don’t worry if the dough seems a little crumbly at first; it will come together. Wrap dough in plastic and chill for two hours in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch or 1/8-inch thickness. Roll doll into tablespoon size balls and dip each one into the red and green sugar crystals. Use holiday cookie cutters dipped in flour to make cutouts. Gather scraps and re-roll until all the dough is used.
Place cookies 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire rack after 1 minute to cool.
They are delicious!
Our Apartment In Lights
Well and of course me and my new Santa hat!!
Love ya all,
Sarah A Hall
Xmas Tree
My parents Xmas tree thy swore they wouldn’t put up this year. Lol!
Our Xmas tree
Cory’s Moms Xmas tree
Cute huh?
Sarah A Hall
Goals of December
Well I see everyone else making their “December Goal” lists. We all know I suck at making lists and actually sticking to them, but let’s try it. Maybe I’ll actually accomplish some things on this list. At least a couple anyway …
- Exercise!! I NEED to start getting up at 5am and doing my Wii fit before work! I just have too! I do have 2 weeks off though for Christmas. So for sure during that time period I will be bringing out the wii fit.
- Finish getting Christmas gifts! I have my parents, Grandma, Jr and the “girl and guy” gift on Cory’s side to get still and than I am done! We dropped off Karli, Keitan, and Kevin’s gifts while in LA this week. So we saved on shipping costs there!
- Learn to make homemade fudge! I saw this recipe on All Recipes . Com. I have to try it! It seemed simple enough!
- Get the oil changed in my car. I really need to stop putting that off. I was gonna do it today after work but I forgot to make an appointment. Not that I need an appointment. Oya! Maybe I’ll do it tomorrow …
- Make my “After the New Year” Blog design. I made the lovely Christmas Design that you see up now, but I’m gonna have to sit down and design a layout for after the Holidays. Oh I also want to redesign the LHRW site. I know I just did a redesign on it, but I don’t like it!
- Speaking of blogs – I want to start sponsors in January! It’s free! I’ll sponsor your blog on my side bar! If you’re interested – let me know!
- I want to do some Iphone 4s Vlogging! : ) I think it’ll be fun!
Okay I think that’s enough goals for now. Again I’m not good with this whole goal list thingy, but hey … maybe I’ll at least accomplish a couple. : )
Love ya guys,
Ten On Tuesday: Thanksgiving Style
Ten on Tuesday is hosted by Chelsea and this week’s questions were provided by Elizabeth at E is Random.
1. What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?
Well now that I’m married – I get two Thanksgivings in one day! It’s rather a busy day. Cory and I will go to his families (I think it’s being hosted at Aunt Glena’s house again) around 2pm. Then we’ll head to my families around 4pm. So we’ll eat a little bit here and a little bit there.
2. What are you most thankful for this year?
My health, my husband, my family and my job.
3. Do you have any traditions on Thanksgiving? The parade? Football? Long naps?
I always like to get up and watch the parade! My dad and brother watch football but it doesn’t seem to interest me. So it’s usually parade, eat, and than start planning Christmas shopping. : ) This year though my Xmas list is already made and due to the fact stores are opening ON Thanksgiving day/night, I’ll get half my list done Thursday.
4. Is it called stuffing or dressing? Is it in the bird or a separate dish?
I call it stuffing and YES it’s a separate dish! It’s my favorite!
5. Do you cook?
Yes. This year I’m cooking a pumpkin roll, pumpkin cheesecake and fruit salad.
6. What is your favorite dish?
The stuffing and any dessert that is made with pumpkin! : )
7. What is your dessert preference?
Again anything pumpkin – pumpkin pie, cheesecake, bars, etc etc.
8. What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory?
I think just hanging out with family. When I was little and we still lived in Illinois everyone use to come to our house for dinner. We would have like 20 people there. I always liked the big gatherings. Now a days it’s just Todd, Gma, my parents and us. Cory’s family is huge though and there will probably be like 20-30 people there. So by marring him I got my big Thanksgiving’s back!
9. Do you plan to shop on Black Friday?
I usually do and probably will try to sneak in some shopping before and after work. But due to the fact I need 2 weeks PTO saved up for Christmas (our office ALWAYS closes for 2 weeks at Christmas) and I’ve used up PTO going to California with my parents for Mem’s surgery, I opted to work and to use my floating holiday during Christmas to make sure I had enough PTO for my two weeks off.
10. What are you most dreading about Thanksgiving this year?
Nothing that I can think of really. Not really sure who all is going to Thanksgiving on Cory’s side, but I’m sure it’ll be fun. I’m looking forward to it.
Read MoreMy Christmas Wish List
While reading my Google reader today, I was reading Lariats & Lavender’s Christmas WishList which inspired me to make my own Christmas wish list!
So here it is and may I add that I want the items IN THIS ORDER!! : )
Iphone 4s! Which may I add I am PRETTY sure I am getting! : ) It’ll be the BEST Christmas Gift EVER! It’s like getting me a phone, camera AND video camera ALL in one!
Red Angry Bird Stuffed Animal to go with my yellow one! I <3 these dang things!
The Lion King On Blu Ray! MUST HAVE!!! It’s my favorite Disney movie! EVER!
Beyond that – I guess I wouldn’t mind Cars 2 on Blu Ray and maybe a gift card to JCPenny. Or hey if you all find $1,000,000 lying around I’ll take that too!
But those are my top three gifts I want in that order! If I were to get ALL three of them – well I’d be happy and would call this Christmas an awesome Christmas! But really – I just want the Iphone and then well … I’ll be in Iphone heaven!
What’s Your Christmas Wish List ?
Coke & Love – v8
I realize I should have posted this yesterday as it is no longer Thursday, but shit happened! I still want to post it though! So here’s my Coke & Love for this week!
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Coke & Love is based off of Wine and Love hosted by Nora! But because I really don’t like wine – I am calling it “Coke & Love” because I am addicted to Diet Coke. It’s where you share your weekly wines (or beer, liquor, soda- whatever your beverage preference is) and then your loves since last Thursday.
If you want to participate in Wine and Love (or whatever else you feel like calling it) you can link up to the serious on Nora’s site.
Things that are making me reach for the my bottle of Diet Coke …
This weather!! Not going to stop bitching about it! : ) However it was rather warmer this week than last so hey that’s a good thing.
I turned 25 on Sunday. That should be a good thing right? Eh, I don’t feel 25 though. I’m 25 – I should be happy and having the time of my life while I’m young. Yet I am so worn out and so exhausted all the time. I feel like I spent the past 10 years having the “time of my life” and now I just can’t do it anymore. My mind wants too though. My mind wants to go out, get drunk, have sex and just live it up like it’s 1999. But I don’t know what happened – I just don’t have it in me anymore.
Which brings me to my next point – can u all just wake me up when it’s January 1st, 2012? Thanks!!
The Holidays are coming around which usually is a great thing but it seems like for the past 2 years shit just seems to happen around the Holidays. Cory gets sick, we can’t afford Christmas this year, my mom is still sick with cancer and well … shit happens! Same shit – different day! Right? I <3 the Holidays but I honestly just want to skip it this year.
Things that I’m loving this week…
Well it was my Birthday on Sunday! Cory and I went to the wing place on Friday cause we got a $20 gift certificate for my Bday. They have the BEST birthday cake EVER! Yum!
I celebrate my birthday with my parents anniversary every year. So we all got together (Todd and Grandma too) and went to Jasper’s. I got crab cakes. They were good but honestly $12 for TWO crab cakes (they were an appetizer so I had to order a basket of fries separate – Jasper’s is mainly for steak and ribs) is ridicules! But whatever! Grandma was paying. I got Bread Pudding for my Birthday desert. It was yummy!
If all works out right – Cory and I may be getting IPhone 4s for Xmas! If people can come up with the cash that is! Ooooo … I can hope right? : )
I’m sure there is more I could sit here and write about that happened this week that was good or bad but … I don’t have the time. So this will have to do until next week.
Love ya guys!
What are your loves/w(h)ines this week?
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A Christmas Miracle
So Christmas has come and gone. I don’t think I’ve written a blog of any real substance since my birthday. 
Thanksgiving was fun. We spent it mostly with Cory’s family – Tamera and Shane came down. She’s pregnant. Probably one of the most beautiful people Ive ever met. Even pregnant. We went over to my parents for a little bit after that.
Christmas Eve traditions were normal with my family and Christmas day was spent with his family here at the house for the most of it. We got up around 7am and went to Aunt Denise’s House so the kids could open gifts from Santa. Then Debbie had a huge party at the house that lasted until five.
But enough about that – that’s not why I started writing this blog.
I think each day I lose a little more faith. I’ll lay in bed every night and pray to a God I don’t believe in to just wake up the next morning and have some miracle that Cory is better. That’s all that I know to do now. Pray because – meds don’t work (personally I think they make it worse but that’s just the girl who doesn’t believe in meds), doctors can’t tell him what’s wrong, and nothing seems to be getting better. So I pray to a God I don’t believe in for some miracle.
I’d give all my Christmas gifts back. Every last one of them – I’d give away every computer, tv, piece of clothing, car, everything to just have a healthy husband. To just wake up and not have to ask myself ‘is today going to be better?’
I just want a miracle. I don’t deserve it. Ive never been religious. I’ve done things in my life that are unforgivable. So if there is a God, of course he’s not going to hear my prayers. It’s like Im sitting here waiting for this miracle, this absolution, that will never come.
Christmas is over – it’s time to put away the lights, the tree, and look forward to the New Year.
I have no idea what 2011 holds – I just can hope it’s better than this year was. I guess that’s all I can hope for.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Don’t take this blog the wrong way. I had an amazing Christmas, but if we’re going to keep this blog honest – truthfully honest – I’d take it all back to just wake up and have him be okay. But that’d take a miracle huh and I think I stopped believing in miracles a long time ago.
Sarah
Read MoreWhy Do I Care?
Okay don’t mind me – this blog is completely a “Sarah’s ganna ramble to clear her head” blog. So in other words – you probably shouldn’t read it!
So why do I care about the little things that mean nothing really at the end of the day?
Why do I care that Cory sleeps on the sofa some nights instead of the bed? Whyyyyy!! Why does it bother me!!? Why do I care so much that he’s in perfect health when I’m not? I feel like crap more than I feel okay but I always put on my “i’m okay” face. I want him to be in perfect health all the time and when he’s even in the slightest tired or anything – I freak out. WHY!! WHY DO I CARE!?
I slept alone for many nights before I met Cory – so why do I care if he sleeps in the same bed as me EVERY single night? Huh? What do I care? I don’t know why I care. I really don’t. Maybe it stems from my child hood, or maybe it stems from something Jared did to me, or maybe it’s becuase Robert never slept with me towards the end of our relationship … I don’t know! I just know that when I wake up in the middle of the night and he’s not there – even though I tell myself he’s asleep, he’s okay, blah blah – I can’t fall back to sleep. I just lay in bed, stare at the ceiling, and think about every little small detail of my life. Me and those tiki heads are becoming good friends. : ) I stopped saying anything to Cory – it just causes a fight and I can’t explain why I care so much so I just stopped. So maybe if I blog it – I can learn to understand it. Why do I need him by my side at night all of a sudden? WHY DO I CARE!!!
Why do I worry about EVERY SINGLE GOD DAMN THING!!! I mean we got the cabin to go to Big Bear next weekend. Cory’s mom and aunt were ganna pay for it for our Honey Moon but they couldn’t reimburse us the money until the end of January and I can’t afford it – I need the money by December 30th. So I got my parents to cover it.
Oh so we have to take the Ford Focus back. They won’t finance us with just Cory and I and personally – we can’t REALLY afford that car. I mean we could have but I feel better just taking it back and getting my Ion back. The car payment is $100 cheaper and maybe we can refinance and get it even cheaper than that. I like the Ford Focus – it’s awesome but at the end of the day – we just simply can’t afford it.
But anyway, so the Ion isn’t ganna make it up to Big Bear so we’ll have to take Cory’s Beast of a truck. He has issues getting it to start at times but he says it’s cause he leaves a light on and that drains the battery. I don’t know – I’ve never gone further than Walmart in the thing so I’m just a little paranoid.
I worry too much. I think too much and I question too much. Maybe I do need to go on meds. I see the doctor on Friday. I think I’m ganna try the whole med thing. I won’t be happy about it – and I will be bitching and groaning about it but maybe it’ll help.
If I could get one nights rest WITHOUT worrying about SOMETHING – I think I’d be a much happier person.
Sarah A Hall
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