A Social Network Christmas

I love this video - such a unique, modern twist on the birth of Christ through the eyes of Facebook!

Kisses Make Everything Better

'Tis The Season...

While listening to this...
... I made these:

Jeanette Sinclair's Reeses Bars

1 package graham crackers (ground to powder in a food processor or blender)
1 box powdered sugar
2 sticks butter, room temperature
2 C creamy peanut butter
32 oz hershey's chocolate bars melted

Mix all ingredients but melted chocolate together in kitchen aid with paddle attachment
Press into a buttered 9x13" baking dish
Top with melted hershey's chocolate
Let sit until firm


...and these...

Debra Sadler's Scottish Shortbread

1lb unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 C white sugar
5 C flour

Press dough with hands and rolling pin into a large 9x15" cookie baking sheet. Score into rectangles with a plastic knife and prick with a fork.
Bake at 275 for 1 hr. (Yields 48 biscuits)

Hoping to make this Mocha Cocoa as a delicious pairing with the shortbread - excited to try this recipe :)

Homemade Instant Hot Cocoa Recipe

4 cups dry milk	1 cup non dairy creamer	1 4oz pkg chocolate pudding mix
1 1/2 cup sugar	2/3 cup cocoa powder	1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

How to Make

First finely grind or chop chocolate chips. I used my Magic Bullet Express Mixer to grind the chocolate chips to a powdery texture so it will melt completely. I tried a slightly more coarse texture which results in a longer melting time in the mug. The taste is the same, just took a few more minutes for the chunkier chocolate to melt in the liquid.

Place the dry ingredients in a food processor and pulse a few times till thoroughly blended. Store in an airtight container. Makes approximately 32 servings and yields 8 cups of instant hot cocoa mix.

Mix and Serve. Mix 3 tablespoons of hot cocoa mixture with 8 ounces of boiling water or hot milk.

*****

Or this twist (with decaf or regular instant coffee)...

Instant Mocha Cappuccino Mix

1 1/2 cup instant coffee	2 cups hot cocoa mix (recipe from above)
2 cups non dairy creamer

How to Make

Blend all your ingredients in a food processor until they are the same consistency. Makes approximately 33 servings and yields 5 1/2 cups of instant mocha cappuccino mix.

Mix and Serve. Mix 2 tablespoons of instant mocha cappuccino mix with 8 ounces of boiling water.

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

With our Christmas Outreach Concert, "The Wonder of Christmas" coming to a close this past weekend, I'm left pondering the words to one of the songs we sang: "We hear the stories, we sing the songs; but is there any wonder left in us at all?" Abba, I don't want to lose sight of the WONDER of YOU! As Kenny and I prepare our hearts for this Christmas Season, we're looking forward to reading through this book together, "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" by Nancy Guthrie. I don't want this Advent season to go by without really taking the time to ponder the mystery of it all: Emmanuel, God is with us! Oh, the wonder of it!

Fate!

Just one pair...sitting abandoned on the DSW check-out counter... FATE! :-)

I probably loved them so much because I love THIS...
...and THIS :-)

What do YOU think? ;-)

Merry & Bright

Last Saturday, we grabbed our Canon (along with my brother to photograph!) and headed to historic downtown Glendale, one of our favorite local spots, for Christmas pictures! It's always eventful attempting to reign in two enthusiastic huskies, and one unenthusiastic husband (heh) but we managed to get some fun shots! Enjoy :)


Leona burrowing her way under Kenny....camera shy?

I love that sweet Emma :-)


They are NOT cooperating...and I am amused :)





::MUSH::



This is probably my favorite from the lot -from an artistic standpoint. I love how both the girls are looking straight at the camera (thanks to Abigail who's antics we're quite amusing in effort to get the dogs to look at her) :)

May your days be merry and bright!!!

Wrong...On So Many Levels.

Election Day!

We did our part on this historic election day!

Something In The Water

Brooke Fraser: Something In the Water, Video


I'm in love with Brooke Fraser's newest album, "Flags" which released earlier this week. Musically, it's like a gourmet meal for the senses!! I can't get over all the different facets and layers of the production...simply: it is magical :) The best "feel good" track is cut #1, "Something In the Water" which I can't listen to without smiling and tapping my toes :-D And, I'm equally crazy about the song "Crows and Locusts" ...epic. Thanks, Brooke, for an incredible and inspiring album!!

Split Ends, No More!

After 7 months, I finally got a haircut! Nothing spectacular...but it just "feels" better :) (girls, you know what I mean!) She just fixed the layers and trimmed the ends...ahhh...a fresh haircut!

Bluebird Bakery

I got to have lunch on Friday with some of my favorite people at one of my favorite places! One of my oldest and dearest friends, Lydia, was visiting from Colorado with her 11 mo. old, Aida and I was excited for her and Steph to meet. Of course...Ethan came along, too :) We met up at the Bluebird Bakery in historic Glendale and had a delicious lunch and shared good food and even better conversation...

Whimsical table numbers made me smile:

I had the harvest salad (yum) with ham and bean soup! Perfect Fall combo :)



Aida drank out of a big girl cup!


I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friendships and to be able to love on and invest in their kids. Love you girls!

It Started With Crazy Eyes

It all started as we were leaving. One of my best friends, Stephanie and I usually spend Fridays together since I am off work and she is still on maternity leave. We were gathering our things and buckling Ethan into his pumpkin seat (getting ready to get our Maxx-inistas on) when he made these crazy eyes:

And he continued making this hilarious expression every time she lowered the top down!! We got laughing so hard we could hardly stand it - especially when she proceeded to include the theme song from psycho (think: "eee eee eee!"). Then, Ethan started laughing at us... (we are pretty funny)

...And thus ensued the Ethan photo shoot in his pumpkin seat :)

I mean, how could I resist this face???


And then I looked outside...and the sun had dipped behind the trees and the leaves were falling and I just had to get them out in the yard for more pictures :) hehe. (TJ Maxx...you'll just have to wait!)


You'll probably remember Steph from the materninty photo shoot I did with her back in June! It's hard to believe Ethan is actually here now :)

I love this child.




Did you just adoringly put your hand over your heart? Yeah...I thought so ;-)

Ethan and his Gigi :)

We did eventually end up paying a visit to TJ Maxx...but not until we uploaded the photos and "ooo-ed and ahh-ed" over his sweet little faces....and a brief (but delightful) rendezvous to Starbucks!