The Christmas Finale

Christmas Eve Jim and I made gingerbread houses, ate Reuben's and fries and then watched Its a Wonderful Life. It was quiet and we had fun, but hearing the hustle and bustle going on at my Dads as I was "passed" from person to person made me a bit sad. It lasted only a moment though and then it was back to a nice evening with my love. Take a look at our master pieces:





Christmas Day brunch was lots of fun. We were joined by Chris and Johanna and Kev and Judy. I decorated the table with reds and silver and we of course had Holiday Crackers
We definitely missed our friends and family in Ohio, but made fun memories and enjoyed our quiet first Florida Christmas


Holiday CrackersHats from the Crackers. They also contained a toy. I got a plastic harmonica that went well with Chris' maraca.

Chris, Johanna, Me and Jim
Kev and Judy

I know, I know

Its way past Christmas, but I have to show off how my the last 9 days of my 12 days of Christmas went.
Day 4-6 Came with this package and I did take a picture of all the items unwrapped together, but it got flipped and I can not get it to turn to post. So, you will have to picture it:
A book with three short novels in it - all holiday themed
Hand sanitizer - I am a bit of a germ freak
Nivea lip balm - it's like heaven for your lips and brings my chapstick/lip gloss total to 1472

Days 7-9 packages, which included a treat for Jim (so sweet)


Day 7 "Socks for staying home in" AKA - soft fluffy socks that make your feet feel delightful. And, just what every LADY needs: A little holder for that item that you need to have, but don't care for the world to see. Too funny! : )

Day 8
Fun, cute pj's in this pattern


Day 9 - A GAP fleece pullover in pink (cute) and Jims present "The Super Dooper Reindeer Pooper." You can imagine where the brown jelly beans dispense from.
Day 10-12 along with a special Christmas gift

Day 10Day 11

Day 12
Thanks girls!

Diet Schmiet, and an introduction

Would you be starting any New Years diet if this were a breakfast option?

Homemade, still warm, yummy doughnuts! Jim and I made these this morning as a New Years treat. They are time consuming (rising time is a total of 90 minutes), they are not good for you (um, they are fried in oil), but they are so darn yummy.

I followed Altons recipe.
I will warn you that
1 They are time consuming
2 Alton is a big proponent of measuring certain ingredients by weight and I follow this method in my baking, so I don't know how the ounces of flour would convert

Knowing this, I tell you...GO GO GO make these.

I made my own coffee flavored glaze for the doughnuts, and must say it was delightful. If you want to give it a whirl, combine:
3-4 T brewed coffee (thank you Giovanni)
1 C confectioners sugar
1/2 t vanilla extract

Then add sprinkles if you are feeling crazy.

I went with sprinkles and a hazelnut latte (again, I shout out to Giovanni)


Who you ask is Giovanni?
Giovanni...meet my pals
Pals...meet Giovanni


Santa brought Giovanni to the Andersons and there was an immediate connection. He makes espresso, coffee, lattes, cappuccino and more with the press of a button. We have trained (read programmed) Gi-Gi (only I can call him that, he and Jim are still working out nicknames) so that we hit one button and get a pre-measured coffee at our desired strength. I like a mild 8 ounce coffee first thing in the morning, Jim goes for our own version of the Americano - two three ounce shots of extra strong coffee topped off with hot water. Gi-Gi does it all.

Here he is in action making my very first cappuccino from the machine:

And there is the finished product. Nice froth and foam, perfect strength. True love. I would say I love it a latte, but I am just not that dorky. Well, I am actually and I kind of said it.

I need to recap the 12 days of Christmas from my friends, give a year end recap, get back to Writers Workshop, talk about being anti-resolution and much more. I have been a bit of a slacker, but I'll be back on track now that everything is winding down.

This just in....

My husband is too sweet....


Just to tell me that he knew I was missing Ohio this Christmas but that he was enjoying the time with me.
Flowers just to cheer me up! And only two days before Christmas! Either a last ditch effort to get on the nice list or just a really nice husband.

And here they are in front of the sink. Definitely makes washing dishes easier.

PJ Day - My Holiday Hustle Reward and Carries version on the Night Before Christmas

Just a few days before Christmas

And there was much celebration

Carrie was taking a few days off

Finally, some much needed vacation

The day of nothing was planned
For days ahead she stayed up late
It had been such a long time
Since she had an unscheduled date

It was a day to relax
Nothing left on the list
Shopping - done, cleaning - done
Wrapping, well you get the gist

She could do what she pleased
For she had nothing else left to do
Read a book, take a nap
watch a movie or two

She had scurried and hurried
Giving herself deadlines to meet
Planning ahead to be sure
The holiday crowds she would beat

The packages were shipped
The menu was set
List upon list
So there was nothing to forget

In her PJ's she stayed
Comfy slippers on her feet
A cappuccino was drank
As a mid-morning treat

Seven days were still left
From work she would stay away
She was relaxed and calm
The way she hoped it would stay

For Tuesday again
Was a day to just chill
Get a pedicure, bake a pie
But in that she found thrill

Christmas Eve would come soon
And bring great elation
Jim and Carrie were planning
Gingerbread house creations

While they would miss the Christmas Eves
That had come in the past
Together they would celebrate while eating
Reubens and fries.... oh such class

Then Christmas Day would arrive
And they were hosting a brunch
Carrie had it all planned
There would be no time crunch

The friends would arrive
Great company on Christmas Day
It would help ease the sadness
Of missing friends and family far away

And now as for me
I am off to just sit
Another cappuccino? Perhaps
I think I deserve it

So as you scurry and scamper
And you are out and about
Remember to enjoy and be thankful
That's what it is all about

Take a moment or two
And remember the true reason
We hustle and plan
And celebrate this great season



*Update - Those are my favorite pjs (I love polka dots and I love pjs)
**Update #2 - The day got even better - I got a new crock pot and was taken out to dinner - Red Lobster in fact! Woo Hoo!!!

Writers Workshop - Its all about Christmas

This weeks prompts should be easy enough, but I am struggling

1 A letter to Santa
2 Describe a favorite winter memory
3 You're snowed in with your family, what do you do all day
4 The best gift you have ever be given or gave
5 A Christmas tradition you have started with your own family

We only have to pick one, but its tough.
1 My letter to Santa would probably make me sound shallow because, while I am all about peace, love, and happiness, somewhere in there would be a request for a Coach Madeline Tote Purse. Then there would be me asking you to put Florida and Ohio a little closer, an afternoon with my mom, and oh yeah, a matching wallet for the purse.
You get the point
If you want some great letters, check out this post I did a while ago. Go here if you want to see them

2 Can a winter memory be from like three days ago. Here is what I remember, I was carrying about ten boxes into the post office to ship and I wasn't freezing, I didn't have on a hat, scarf, or gloves, and in fact was wearing flip flops. In other words 30 years of Ohio winter makes this winter cozy, just without the frostbite. Oh, the joys of Florida life. Did I mention I am wearing flip flops?

3 Jim and I are kind of boring. We would get up, have a yummy homemade breakfast (waffles or pancakes or a dutch baby), go back to bed, take a nap, watch a movie, I would sew or finally re-learn how to knit, he would play a video game. I should strike boring, because its fun and relaxing for us

4 That's a tough one. Really. I am very blessed and I know it. I can't name a best gift ever.

5 OK, I am kind of cheating on 5. It's just Jim and I. We long for the day when its "Us and the baby, or Us and the kids", but that is another story for another day. And I get that we are a family, but I guess I just always think of kids when I think of a family. The point is, I am trying to justify the fact that Jim and I don't really have our very own Christmas tradition. Are we horrible? We are making gingerbread houses together on Christmas Eve this year. Maybe that will start a tradition. Who knows? I do know this....My house is going to totally kicks his houses butt!
Our families do have traditions though, and I am going to share them (that's the cheating part)

My side of our family: My dad wears a Santa hat and passes out presents. Nothing too unusual there. However, before you receive each and every gift you have to say HO!~HO!~HO!
There are usually about 20 of us at the house and it's funny to watch as each person gets their gift. If you forget a HO!~HO!~HO! the present is snatched back from you. The little ones aren't even able to speak and can't say Mom or Dad, but they say HO!~HO!~HO!. I think Alyssa once snatched her sweet great-grandmas present back from her for not saying HO!~HO!~HO!
I don't know when or how it started, but it's fun!

Jims Mom: I could be wrong, but I think this one is thanks to my sister in laws husband Jon. Its the holiday cracker
These are so much fun. You pull them open and there is usually a joke or fortune, a toy, and a festive paper hat. They are now a must at every holiday gathering. As you can see here:
The holiday dinner with friends in 2006. Ummm...where are Jeff and Allison?
And a dinner I hosted with the family around the holidays, also in 2006.
The cracker king is the guy in the middle on the left
These also lead to an interesting encounter at World Market last week. We are having a few of our friends over for Brunch on Christmas Day ( I swear I am keeping it simple). Well, I can't have a holiday gathering without these, and I can usually count on World Market for them.
So I headed over to pick them up. I couldn't find them and started to panic. Finally I decide to just ask, and since I assumed everyone MUST know what holiday crackers were the conversation went like this:
ME(M): Hi, where are your Holiday Crackers
EMPLOYEE named Erin(E): Weeelll, we don't have a like special holiday cracker section, but there are all kinds of crackers back in the market section
M: No, I'm sorry, I mean Holiday Crackers that you break (demonstrating how they open)
and they have fun stuff in them
E: (puzzled look) What do you mean? What stuff in them, like a filling
M: Well, they kind of remind me of dynamite sticks and you pop them open and they have
toys and a paper hat in them. I should have been more clear. They aren't edible. Not like food crackers
E: They explode?
M: You know, I am probably not doing a good job explaining what they are (again, I am
demonstrating the pulling them apart action as if it is going to help at all). Is there someone
else we can ask, or maybe I can just keep looking.
E: Hey Lisa, do we have Holiday Crackers (I am STILL demonstrating as she yells over to
Lisa, don't ask me why)
Lisa: Sure do, behind you and to the left.

And there, not more than a few feet away is the display of Holiday Crackers. I am so excited and tell Erin that my brunch would not have been the same without them and try to show them to her. She is so over it and says simply "Can I take these to the counter for you while you shop"
Poor Erin.

Jon also brought Jaffa Cakes to the family and I am eternally grateful. I am a proud member of the Secret Order of the Smashing Orangey Bit. Actually, thats not true...I can't get the jaffa cake launch. And I spent a LOT of time on it. Trust me.

Jims Dad:
My special cd. I like country music. My secret is out. Every year Jims Dad makes me a cd with the top 20 country songs of that week (or weeks around Christmas). I love it, it's just for me and its personal. I was worried I wouldn't get one this year since we are staying in Florida. I should have know better. I got it. And I love it!!!!

Those are a few of our family traditions. I am sure Jim and I will start our own, but I will always look forward to these. And this year, I will dearly miss them.

It happened...like it always does

It happens every year. This time of year is always bittersweet for me. Usually its a whole lot more sweet than bitter, and that is a good thing. It doesn't matter because every year, I have my moment. The moment that I allow myself to give in to the bitter, the sad, and the painful. After years of fighting it, a few years ago I told myself to stop and let the emotion take over. The thing is, I can't plan it. Its not like I say "OK Carrie, cry, sob, get angry and move on." It just happens. And this years culprit were these:
Eyelets. What seemed like millions of them!
I spend most of this season like this guy....





However, after making A bajillion and three Christmas cards, I was tired, stressed and beginning to feel more like this:

It had been a long week. It don't think I stopped going going going for over a week at the point. I hadn't got to blog, my body ached and the Grinch was starting to creep up. I decided to call it a night and head for bed.
So, when I spilled the container of them all over the tile floor, I was done. I sat down on the floor of the dining room at 1:15 in the morning and sobbed. Like a baby. And the truth is...It had nothing to do with the four hundred and seventy thousands eyelets scattered around. I needed to do it. To grieve for the part of this season I long for every year. To feel the pain I think I am entitled to once in a while. To miss my mom and want her here. To miss the family and friends I still have that are not in Florida to celebrate with. To ask the questions I never ask. To let all that I hold in out. I let it out. And you know something? After a few minutes it did feel good. Then, I laughed because of how ridiculous that scene must play out in others minds. Now that that is over with....

The following day, I was still feeling a little homesick. Something arrived that would change that. Stay tuned.....