2010 and 2011

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TODAY was 50 degrees and raining

TONIGHT:  Dance till my feet hurt

TOMORROW:  Revel in the newness of the new year

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New Year's Eve - Twenty Ten

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In looking back, I loved this year.  I learned so much.
I had two words for this year - (fine:3)
1. Let Go - the painful one

  2.  Reconnect - the good, fun one

Family...Friends of many years...New Friends...

r e c o n n e c t

“Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss.

Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real.”  

                                  ~Deepak Chopra

Finding bliss again ~ there's nothing better.

Thank you, 2010.

I promise I won't let you down in 2011.

Namaste

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To My Rozie ~

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I dedicate this small post to you and with my gratitude that we were able to connect in 2010 ~ I had no idea how much I missed you!

Thank you for your love, your dedication, the humor we share...

...your wisdom and sensibility.  You Rock my Sox Off!!!

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Dressing my Redheads

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 Too flippin cute! And I'll take the adult versions!!!

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About Books...[and: It just gets better from here]

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"At the turn from our bedroom into the hallway, there is an old full-length mirror in a wooden frame. I can't help but catch a glimpse of myself as I pass. Turning fully toward the glass, I consider what I see. This reflected version of myself, wet, shaking, rumpled, pinched and slightly stooped, would be alarming were it not for the self-satisfied expression pasted across my face. I would ask the obvious question, "What are you smiling about?" but I already know the answer: "It just gets better from here."

- Michael J. Fox (from his book Always Looking Up)

  I'm all goopy about the upbeat positiveness irrupting from this book - so I MUST read it...ahhh...but in what format?

Dear Kindle - Promise to be good to me and I'll FILL YOU up in return! xoxo

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Monday...

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Christmas Eve

The Christmas Play

Halos and Reeboks

but it's the message that matters.

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Ray Charles sang it best...

Christmas is the time of year

For being with the one's we love
Sharing so much joy and cheer
What a wonderful feelin
Watching the one's we love
Having so much fun

I was sittin by the fire side
Taking a walk through the snow
Listening to a children's choir
Singing songs about Jesus
The blessed way that he came to us
Why can't it remain
All through the year
Each day the same
Heyeah, that's what I wanna hear
Heh heh
It's truly amazin
That spirit of Christmas

All the kin folk gather round
The lovely Christmas tree
Hearts are glowing full of joy
Sense the gifts that we're giving
And the love that we're living
Why can't it remain
Ohhh all through the year
Each day the same
Heyeah, that's what I wanna hear
I'll tell ya
It's truly amazin
That spirit of Christmas

Let me hear ya
Why can't it remain
All through the year
Each day the same
That's what I wanna hear
Listen to me
It's truly amazin
That spirit of Christmas
Ohhh It's truly amazin
That spirit of Christmas
Ain't it so
It's truly amazin
Yeah, that spirit fo Christmas

Oh Christmas
Oh Christmas

December 23rd..............destination

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I'm sure the car is headed to this address.

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Got the front porch done - ready Santa.

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Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart,
you won't find it under a tree."
~ Charlotte Carpenter.

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December 21st

December 20th

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Cranberry Almonds Streusel Cake

The cranberries makes this cake so moist and amazing.

Serves 8

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2 1/2 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 stick salted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla exstract

1/4 teaspoon almond exstract

1 1/2 cups sour cream

2 cups fresh cranberries

3 tablespoons sugar

Topping:

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1 1/2 stick salted butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350.

In a medium bowl mix together flour and baking powder.

Butter a 9 inch square or round baking pan.

Cream butter and sugar until light.

Add the eggs, one at a time, stir well.

Add vanilla, almond extract, sour cream and the flour mixture.

Beat until combined.

In a small bowl toss the cranberries with sugar.

Fold them into the batter.

Spoon the batter into the cake tin.

Im a small bowl work together sugar, flour and butter until crumbly.

Sprinkle crumbles on top of cake.

Bake until golden brown, about 50 to 60 min.

Dust with confectioner's sugar before serving.

I'm finding these lucious treats a little too close to the holiday?  

Aw, c'mon - this would make a GREAT January treat!!!

via sweetpaul

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December 17th...

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I am IN THE SPIRIT

and could post tonz of these ideas....

I'll start earlier next year - promise!

deer via dooce

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NOT your traditional Christmas Cookie

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Maybe it's the cocoa, the syrup and the orange peel combined

that make this MORE than a cookie & better than a brownie 

-it's a fresh yummy combo

Chocolate and Orange Stars
Makes 35

1 1/4 cups butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Preheat oven to 340F.
Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy.
Stir in cocoa, syrup and salt.
Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring well between each.
Add flour and orange peel; mix well.
Cover a large baking tray with parchment paper and pour the batter on top.
Bake for about 35 minutes.
The cake is supposed to be a bit sticky.
Cool and press out stars with a cookie cutter.
Dust with a little confectioners’ sugar before serving.

via Sweet Paul 

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Bergdorf's

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Nope.

I am not going to be able to fit in

New York during this

Christmas Season....

So-o-o-o....

I brought Bergdorf Goodman's 

famous holiday windows to you!

    

Mmmm...lucious!

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December 14th

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December 13th

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December

San Francisco, a Good Book and a Beer

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Here's what I can tell you about this post:

my friend of many years, Claudia

knows me well and reads these blogs.

And as such, she sent me this link:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/travel/05SanFran.html?pagewanted=1&sq=travel&st=cse&scp=4

 It's one of the best reads as it combined three of my favorites:

San Francisco

A Good Book

and (re-acquired) appreciation of a nice beer

The pics remind me of my time spent in that awesome city

where relaxing in a bookstore was not the smell of a 

big box warehouse serving cafe mocha or green tea, but rather all the

recognizable (old)  book smells, the sights and sounds

recited in this marvelous article.

Way to go, New York Times!

I'll be back, San Francisco!

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so there!

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via unclebeefy

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Trust the Stars and Moon...

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I'm at work.

I'm tired for some reason and yawning.

I'm at the reception desk.

Phone at my ear and I'm on "hold"

So, making myself useful, I visit Yahoo.com

Daily Horoscopes.

Gemini.

...and it says:

"This is the perfect time to take a break
and wait until you feel re-energized."

I take this stuff seriously.

It's 6:42 in the evening.

One more dog run around the back yard

and we're "gone" for the evening....

I'll vacuum tomorrow, Scarlett!

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The Finer Things...

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Bombolini (Ital)

Oh, I know about breakfast:

 - some of you drink blended GRASS!

- some go with an ENERGY BAR...

- some actually make a bowl of oatmeal

But my people don't bother with such things!

(Remember, these are the folk that believe

spaghetti is a side dish)...

No, my lovelies - my people go for the gusto:

Go buy a couple dozen doughnut holes;

Fill an injector with Nutella;

Inject doughnut holes with Nutella -

VOILA: BOMBOLINI

Serve with fresh brewed cappuccino.
(and Nona sez fresh squeezed OJ won't kill you).

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Dec Twenty Ten

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via simpleblueprint

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12 ~ 2010

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practice makes perfect

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Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party. Ding.

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party. Ding.

Now is the tmie for all god men to smoe..........CTRL/ALT/DEL

(aw, c'mon...that was damn funny!)

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