In short: Christmas 09

Christmas in the 'Ville was W.E.T.

As in, pouring rain and "sorry your wrapping paper is soggy." Ick.

Overall, it was a good day despite the disgusting weather. We enjoyed the day with both families and while the time together was great, we were exhausted by the time we were finished. I can't believe we spend almost a full month waiting and decorating and baking and shopping for this one day. It's incredible (and tiring!). However, it's totally worth it to be with the ones we love on such a special day.

But life does go on...

There's something soothing about digging your house out from under the clutter that is Christmas. We gave out all of our gifts but 2 yesterday, so down with the tree and the stockings, the cards, the candles, the china...it all went back to its happy place or bin or cabinet :)

We hope you had a fantastic holiday, too! I'm working on a post for New Year's, so check back for my 10 goals for 2010!!

Sign, Sign, everywhere a Sign(ature)

I've taken it upon myself to make this little corner of the internet look more like a "normal" blog. I have added a followers panel, a counter and some other fun items. Today, I decided I wanted a signature.

I am married to an IT guy. But do you think for one second I was about to ask him for help on my little fledgling pet-project blog? Absolutely not!

I'm stubborn like that.

I figured it out, though. It wasn't too hard. I used www.mylivesignature.com and had a fabulous signature in just a few steps. Adding it the blog posed a little more difficulty, but here are some instructions if you're interested.

• Get the html code for your signature
• If you're using blogger, click the Settings tab in your dashboard
• Under settings, select formatting
• Scroll to the bottom of the page, paste the code into the box marked "post template"
• CLICK SAVE!!

My signature appears at the top of each new post, so I type above it and it moooooves on down! Can't wait to see your fancy signatures!

Holiday Goodies

Winter break has finally arrived in the school district, and as if it were the perfect holiday gift wrapped up with a big shiny red bow :)

Students and staff were dismissed at 10:30 Friday morning. YES. That means I had students in my classroom for a grand total of 90 minutes, because I have 2nd block planning. The cancellation of said school day also meant the cancellation of the evening's basketball games, which would bum me out except that I had (foolishly) signed up for gate duty that would last 5 hours. So, two gifts in one for me!

Having that said, I spent most of the early dismissal day and today cooking and baking lots of holiday treats. I like to cook and bake year round, but with graduate school and the band program in full swing August-mid March, there isn't a lot of time to do it.

I have made (so far) butterscotch haystacks, oreo truffles, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies (from scratch!) and plan on making at least one cake and my husband's favorite chocolate/peanut butter layered dessert.

For your enjoyment, I'm sharing my recipe for butterscotch haystacks, which I modified slightly from many I saw at allrecipes.com

Butterscotch haystacks

makes 12

2c. chow mein noodles (I prefer La Choy brand)

1 large scoop peanut butter (probably 1/2 c. or so)

1/2 bag Nestle butterscotch chips

Melt butterscotch chips (any method, I use the microwave for about 90 seconds, stirring every 30)

Stir peanut butter into melted chips

In a large bowl, pour mixture over chow mein noodles, stir until coated

Drop in stacks onto wax paper, allow to harden (may be refrigerated)

A Big Reveal!

Introducing...

The new (not quite decorated) dining room!!