So Christmas and my birthday are over. They went by in what seems like a rush, but the good thing was that I didn't feel rushed during them (minus the last minute wrapping bout leaving me without a shower on christmas day).

It was great to be around all my family, even though I live very close to most of them its rare that we all get together. Christmas day was spent with three different families. My immediate family (ended with McKenna telling my mom she wished she would tell her that she didn't want her to leave, heartbreaking right??), Mikes family for some awesome turkey (why didn't we steal leftovers??), and out to my aunts and uncles for another awesome dinner with a bonfire and fireworks (so pretty on christmas night!) and then back to my grandmas for a lot of laughing (my grandma asking Tola, "remember that preview we were watching, like a second "Night at the Museum" what was that again I can't remember the name?" And tola innocently answering, "Night at the museum...part 2") It was a great day.

The day after christmas was nice too, I kind of ditched out on work with permission from the boss (innventory begins) and spent the day hanging out at home and cashing in some gift certificates (a new bathroom dispenser set, a recipe box-the same one I gave holly for christmas last year :) and a peeler...all things I needed). I then had the brilliant idea that I wanted a wii...so yeah, I got one. I talked myself right into it and nervously purchased it.

Oh, I didn't mention I bought a wii b/c I got two, yes TWO stand mixers for christmas! One from my momma and one from Mike. Mike stayed up all night to go shopping at 4.30 am to get me a kitchenaid mixer! He almost had to punch a lady to get one of the ten of them. What a guy, huh?

So, Christmas was good here indeed. It's sad to see its over so in protest I might leave my tree up until February and decorate it for valentines day. Think the needles will last that long?

I realize the picture here is awful, but let me just tell you, this is a catalog from fredericks of hollywood that I randomly got in the mail yesterday. The mailman wrote on it so the girl would say, "I need a mailman." Not the first time he's done this either.

So the remodel continues (and continues) we almost finished the spare bedroom, gave it some new paint and mike put in a laminate floor that looks really nice. He's almost finished with the trim and then we can move stuff in. Tomorrow night someone's going to come help replace the entire breaker box. He was supposed to come over two weeks ago but never showed up or called so please keep your fingers crossed. I guess that's what you have to deal with when you aren't hiring out contractors (saves lots of money though). Once the breaker box is changed we can move forward with everything else. We (mike) can wire the bathroom and kitchen and then the drywall can go up too. So this is a big step! Yay!

While Mike's taking care of that tomorrow and we are without power I'm going to my aunts to help out with my part: making cookies! Someone's gotta feed the hungry workers. Actually we're just going to make up a bunch of batters to bake up at a later time (seeing as I don't have a mixer or a functioning kitchen) this works out perfectly for me :)

I was starting to make my cookie baking list and got all excited when I remembered this one.
I made this recipe a couple years ago and they are AWESOME. Do yourself a favor and use some kind of food processor (magic bullet!) or something to chop the cranberries. Something I wish I would have thought of before I spent so much time trying to cut up rolling cranberries.
http://allrecipes.com/Cooks-Profile/Photo.aspx?PhotoID=7571 (there's a picture, seeing as I don't have one)

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar



DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg until well blended. Mix in 1 teaspoon orange zest and 2 tablespoons orange juice.

Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the orange mixture. Mix in cranberries and if using, walnuts, until evenly distributed. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Cookies should be spaced at least 2 inches apart.

Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are golden. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 teaspoon orange zest, 3 tablespoons orange juice and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over the tops of cooled cookies. Let stand until set.