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All Things Christmas

This Monday’s Linkup with the Blended Blog is

All Things Christmas

covering the topics: Décor, Movies, & Music.

DÉCOR

I mentioned in my Friday Favorites that I am almost finished with my Christmas decorating. Although only half of my Christmas décor is on display, I’ve decided that I AM finished with my Christmas decorating.

~

MOVIES

It is a fact that I have become a Hallmark movie junkie.  When I tune into channel 312, LB will typically ask “have we seen this one?” which lets me know that he isn’t really watching.

So far my favorite Hallmark movie has been Mingle All the Way.

“̔Mingle All the Way is a new networking app designed to pair busy professionals together for upcoming events, without long-term romance. Molly (Jen Lilley), founder of the app, is determined to prove to her family that it is a success. Therefore, she joins the app, and meets another busy professional, Jeff (Brant Daugherty). When Molly and Jeff are matched, they are both horrified to realize they’ve already had not one, but two disastrous previous encounters. Nevertheless, they agree to stay matched for all their respective upcoming holiday engagements. As the pair gets closer, perhaps their business arrangement might turn into something more this holiday season”.

(source)

And it will be airing again tonight at 11PM and Sunday at 4PM.

There are a few other Christmas movies that I enjoy watching:  Elf, A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and my favorite…

It’s A Wonderful Life!

~

MUSIC

This one is easy enough:

Me: “Alexa, play Christmas Holiday Favorites”

Alexa: “Here is a station for Christmas Holiday Favorites music “Holiday Favorites” on Amazon music.”

She’s the best!

Although I haven’t listened to a single one this season, I have some great Christmas CDs:

And a favorite from Mama that takes me back to my childhood…

A Christmas music compilation from W.T. Grant Company which was sold at these “25 cent” neighborhood stores as the A Very Merry Christmas record album series (source).

A Very Merry Christmas Volume 3

which included this favorite by Cary Grant.

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

Although it has been a long and arduous eight weeks, I am proud to announce that I have successfully completed a course in Social Psychology.

Once again I can focus on my

Friday Favorites

And OMG am I glad it is Friday!

Favorite # ONE

The END of Social Psychology!

Nuff Said Stan Lee GIF

Favorite # TWO

Birthday Selfies!

On December 9th we celebrated Amanda’s birthday.

A few of us squeezed in to photo bomb her birthday selfie, including this little cutie who was giving Glammy Eskimo Kisses.

It has always been a December practice to wait until Amanda’s birthday has been celebrated before decorating for Christmas.

On Monday of this week, the decorating began.

Favorite # THREE

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Two of my trees are in place.

Most of my decorating is done.

A BIG thanks to LB for all that he does to help.

And thanks to Elvis for doing his part

Favorite # FOUR

Wendy’s Chocolate Éclair Cake

The holiday festivities at work have begun.  I know this because everyone is bringing goodies to work.

Last week Wendy brought her famous Chocolate Éclair Cake.  Reminiscent of an Éclair, it it made with graham crackers, pudding, cool whip, and [believe it or not] canned chocolate frosting. This is how she makes it:

 

Chocolate Éclair Cake

  • Servings: 20
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 2 packages instant French vanilla pudding
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip topping
  • 1 box graham crackers
  • 1 can dark chocolate frosting

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
  2. Line bottom of a 9-inch x 13-inch pan with a single layer of graham crackers. Pour half the pudding mixture over the crackers and spread evenly.
  3. Top with another layer of crackers. Pour the remaining pudding mixture over the second layer of crackers and top with a third layer of crackers.
  4. Microwave the frosting just a few seconds, then stir, pour, and spread the frosting over the top layer of graham crackers.
  5. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight. Serve chilled and store covered in the refrigerator.

prettyis.me

Favorite # FIVE

Christmas Cards!

It always makes me feel special to receive Christmas cards and I’ve collected a few already.

This one is my favorite:

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog!

Christmas Wish List

As I read through the various blogs that I follow, I found one that was particularly interesting and gave me an idea for a post of my own.  The Blended Blog is one that I read regularly and also enjoy linking up on their site.  This past Monday’s post was TBB Wish List written by the adorable Andrea Nine.
From what I’ve read, it seems that we all have a leopard print fixation this year.
I was motivated to include a few items from my own Pinterest Wish List and incorporate those items into the post today.
Sing along as you read the following “Christmas Wish List” post to the tune of a song made popular by Mariah Carey:

All I Want For Christmas is You

~
I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I must have these Archway cookies
buy them for me this I plead
I don’t need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
If you’ll give these glasses to me
I will put them on my face
I just want this for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
What I want for Christmas
Is shoes
Oh, I won’t ask for much this Christmas
I won’t even wish for snow
And I’m just gonna keep on waiting
for a  jacket, this I know
I won’t make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won’t even stay awake to
Hear this little gold watch tick
‘Cause I just want all of this stuff
And I know that its enough
What more can I say?
it’s what I want Christmas day!
~
Yes that was goofy, but I had fun.
And I’m serious about the cookies.

Although it is Mariah Carey who made this song popular, I’ve included a clip from a favorite movie Love Actually featuring Olivia Olson.

Enjoy…

 

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Black Friday

Black Friday began as it normally does.  Everyone is recovering from over consumption on Thanksgiving Day.  Some are planning to go brave the crowds and shop.

On November 23, 2001, my Mama was out to begin her Christmas shopping.  My Daddy was beginning work on a project that would be a gift for Mama.  He was planning to build an arbor that would hold a swing and be covered in roses.  His friends Fred and Charlie would be helping him.

It would be his last day with us.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have been at home being my typical home body self.

Somewhere between 4 and 5 in the afternoon,  I was sitting in my room, on my bed watching one of my favorite movies: Overboard [starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell].  My phone rang.  I picked up the phone and said hello.  A voice began speaking to me so hysterically that I didn’t even recognize who it was, nor the message being relayed.  “Who is this?” I asked.  And then I heard her say “Kim. Its Gina. Daddy is having a heart attack”.

I dropped the phone, ran to my car and left.  No shoes, no drivers license, no word to my family.  I drove the short distance [about 3 miles] to Mama and Daddy’s house to find that I would have to park a few houses away and walk to get to them.  When I walked in through the garage door I saw Mama sitting on the sofa, surrounded by family and friends and obviously in shock.  I saw firemen down the hall, in her bedroom, working to revive my Daddy.  I started toward them when my Uncle Roger grabbed me and held me close.  I put my head on his chest and began to pray “Lord Jesus, please take care of my Daddy”.  I said it again and again.  He prayed with me and assured me that Jesus would take care of Daddy.

It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but Jesus did take care of him; Daddy went to be with Jesus that day.  November 23, 2001. The day after Thanksgiving.  Black Friday.

It has been 17 years and even as I type these words, I’m wiping tears from my face.  I’ll never stop missing him.

Today I saw a familiar photo and Facebook memory that Mama shared last year:

 

The arbor was finished later in 2002 by my Daddy’s friends Fred Scarborough and Charlie Brown.  I believe there were others who helped as well.

We’ll see you again someday Daddy.

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Countdown to Thanksgiving Dinner

I’ve included the recipe below because we (I) need it.
Also, I delegated the responsibility of the green bean casserole to Stephanie.
She accepted the challenge and did a great job!
If you have family/friends who are willing to help, let them help.
That is my #1 Thanksgiving dinner prep tip.
On

Monday

I finalized My Menu:
Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Brussels Sprouts [wrapped in bacon], Classic Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole (Pioneer Woman), Cranberry Relish, Marshmallow/Fruit Salad, English Pea salad (Paula Deen), Pecan Pie Bars, pumpkin pie [or something similar].
This is not a big deal because I have the same menu every year, which seems to make things easier for me.
No complaints yet.

Tuesday and Wednesday

It was the usual:

I went to work, and completed assignments for my class.  It’s important to get that classwork out of the way!

Thursday

November 15th is

Cleaning out your refrigerator is VERY important as you will have No where to place anything if you do not.

 

On

Friday

I stopped by the store for a few items and after work, I made my Pecan Pie Bars.

These are addictive, everyone loves them, and I cannot stop posting about them.

You can make them too!

Everyone will love you for this.

 

 

Saturday

I peeled potatoes.

Five pounds of Russet potatoes that would go into the refrigerator, covered in cold water and a paper towel, until I placed them into my crock pot the following day to make Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes.

They were perfect!

 

 

On the

Sunday before Thanksgiving

I began working as soon as I awoke… and didn’t sit down until dinner at 6PM.

My fitbit logged 22,451 steps for the day from moving around in the house!

Dinner was DELICIOUS!

I would have taken more photos, but I had my hands full!

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

 

Martha Stewart's Pate Brisee

Yield

Ingredients

Directions

1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.
2. With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream through feed tube. Pulse until dough holds together without being wet or sticky; be careful not to process more than 30 seconds. To test, squeeze a small amount together: If it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
3. Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disc and wrap in plastic. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour. Dough may be stored, frozen, up to 1 month.

 

 

 

 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!

 

united states turkey GIF by Thomas Kastrati

While next week my favorite day will be Thursday, it is a given that 99.9% of the time, Friday is my favorite.

And I love to share my Friday Favorites.

This week I began preparing for my Sunday before Thanksgiving dinner.  I’ve decorated, made pie crust, baked pecan pie bars, and picked up a few grocery items.

My favorites this week are centered on getting ready for our big dinner…

Favorite # ONE

Cheesecake-Pumpkin-Pecan Pie

aka

Chumpkan Pie

It’s a beautiful thing and I have made it only once before.  Three layers of deliciousness make up this three-in-one pie.  The cheese cake layer is first, followed by the pumpkin custard layer, and topped with gooey pecan pie filling.

I’m not even going to attempt to type up this recipe because it is long and involved. You can find the recipe here.

You REALLY need a 10″ dish for this recipe.

Favorite # TWO

Pâte brisée

Martha Stewart’s recipe for pie crust has never let me down.   Instead of using the pie crust in the Chumpkan pie recipe above, I’ve made Martha Stewart’s pâte brisée for my Thanksgiving Day pies.  I can make it in advance and store it for weeks.  In this case, I made it last Sunday.

Speaking of Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg was honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of fame this week.

Ms. Stewart and Mr. Dogg are quite an interesting pair.  You can read about them here.

(I have no idea why I included that bit of information)

Favorite # THREE

Pecan Pie Bars

These are delicious.

If you’ve never tried a Pecan Pie Bar, you must.  I’ve posted the recipe here.

Favorite # FOUR

The Hallmark Channel

I tuned in last Tuesday and I haven’t been able to change the channel!

Favorite # FIVE

Fall Décor

To prepare for the festivities, I’ve pulled out some of my fall decorations!

Commercial Salt And Pepper GIFto be continued…

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Gratitude

I cannot believe that it is NOVEMBER already!
Once again we will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in just TEN days.  And there are so many things to be thankful for.
Growing up, I remember many hymns and songs that I learned in church.
One in particular was

Count Your Blessings

(by Johnson Oatman, Jr.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

 

So that is what I’m going to do…

Count My Blessings!

 

Love – LB by my side, Elvis always at my feet, Mama right next door

Family – Those who will be with me during the coming holidays and those I’ll see again someday

Memories – I have so many happy ones

Home – My most favorite place to be

My bed – I thank God for it every time my head hits the pillow

Electricity, indoor plumbing, and modern appliances

Health – I am SO blessed to be healthy

My treadmill – I don’t have to go to a gym or hit the sidewalk

The Job – I don’t like it, but it helps to have a paycheck

Some of my coworkers – You know who you are

Weekends – What everybody’s working for

Time – it isn’t promised, but I’m thankful for the time I’ve been given – including the few minutes I have to write this gratitude post

 

Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.
The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.
~ Zig Ziglar

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

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