Cookie # 1

Well, I planned on having a cookie making extravaganza on friday with my lil' sis and my mom. I planned all these yummy snacks, music, briggy's outfit, aprons, and of course a menu of cookies we would make. Then we had our BLIZZARD of snow, which spoiled everything :(

So, yesterday, since I DIDNT GET TO GO TO THE WARD CHRISTMAS PARTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY :*(
I tried to cheer myself up, and made my first batch of cookies for christmas. Tom loves Oatmeal raisin cookies. I really don't like raisins in my cookies....so I compromised. We both like toffee and oatmeal, so I found this great recipe (on the back of the hershey's toffee bag)
They are reallllly really good. I added the optional coconut. If you are extra homemakey you could make your own toffee bits and use them.....or buy them on sale at price rite for $1.69...up to you :)

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1-1/3 cups (8 oz. pkg.) toffee bits
1 cup Sweetened Coconut Flakes(optional)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Beat butter, eggs, brown sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; beat until blended.

2. Stir in oats, toffee bits and coconut, if desired, with spoon. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons about 2 inches apart onto prepared sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 1 minute; remove to wire rack. About 4 dozen cookies

Vegetable Dish

I signed us up to bring a "vegetable dish" to our ward's Christmas party tomorrow. I knew RIGHT away exactly what recipe I'd make. My sister-in-law, Amy gave me this great recipe book when Tom and I were engaged that had a lot of family favorites, as well as some of Amy's yummy finds. Ever since I made this recipe, I had been a staple in our home!

Spicy Green Bean Casserole

2 cans of french style green beans
2 cloves of garlic
Bacon (I usually fry about 6-8 slices) chopped up
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 t. paprika
1 t. chili powder
2 cups cracker crumbs
butter

Boil greens (in their liquid), 2 cloves of garlic, 2 T bacon drippings for 10 minutes.
Drain, but retain bean stock. Put beans and bacon mix in casserole dish. Heat soup and dilute with 3/4 cup bean stock (discard the rest)
Melt 3/4 cheddar cheese in soup mixture. Add paprika and chili powder.
Pour mixture over beans and stir well.
Sprinkle with cracker crumbs (or fried onions) and dot with butter.
Bake at 325 for 40-60 minutes

This serves 6-8
I normally put it a smaller casserole dish...I think its a 8x8...but for the party I think I'll have to double it and pile it into a 9x13.

I know its a "vegetable dish" and it contains meat...so hopefully any vegetarians in our ward won't be too upset with me....but MAN OH MAN this is GOOOOOOOD.

Pretty Paper Bows

I thought this tutorial was pretty neat....especially if you have loads of cute scrapbook paper that would make much prettier bows than the cheap dollar store ones I usually buy....guilty as charged! I don't think I'll get around to making these this year, but its definitely going into my favorite file!

Here's the link:

http://funkyphreshpapierkreations.blogspot.com/2008/12/paper-bow-tutorial.html

Enrichment Night

This evening we had a really lovely enrichment night. We read a very sweet and moving childrens book...I believe it was called "The Crippled Lamb" by Max Lucado. We had tons and tons of yummy treats and a white elephant gift swap! I recieved a red-holiday tablecloth...so hopefully I'll be able to use that next year when we have a home and a dining room table!! *cross your fingers*
I was asked to share a little holiday story or memory, and after talking with my sister Jessie, I decided on the candy cane story. We both recall learning about the significance behind the tasty treat in CCD many years ago. I remembered how it symbolized the shepards crook, the J for Jesus, and that the red represented Christs blood shed for us...but Jessie came across this sweet poem that I printed out on cardstock and added a candy cane. This would be a nice thoughtful "gift" for a woman you visit teach or a neighbor.....




Jesus, Gentle Shepherd,
this cane of red and white
proclaims the sweet love story
born on Christmas night
This cane, you see, when turned around
begins your name of Love
and now becomes a symbol
of peace proclaimed above

The lively peppermint flavor
is the regal gift of spice
The white is your purity
and the red your sacrifice

And so this cane reminds us
of just how much you care
and like your Christmas Gift to us
it's meant for all to share

Isn't that sweet? It's so nice to think about all Christ has done for us and the true meaning of His birth through beautiful (and tasty) holiday candy that you may have only thought was a "commerical" christmas accessory....I'm glad to know its so much more!

A frugal Christmas

This year, Tom and I decided that we our going to "re-gift" our "vows" we made as a new couple last year (during a FHE we wrote lists of ways we could be better people and better spouses to one another) And work on them extra hard this year....this is in replace of typical Christmas gifts. I have also been buying and sanitizing second-hand Briggy gifts the past few months, so his toys will be shiny and brand-new....to him. There are a few sale items I'll pick up, but most everything is second hand or homemade. I thought I would be really depressed about this, but I'm actually feeling really good about not over-spending this holiday season. I have a tendency to go a little bonkers buying LOTS AND LOTS....a bad habit I am trying to break. But one of my most favorite things to do as a little girl was to make elaborate "what i want for christmas" lists to santa claus. I would cut and paste pictures of the toys I wanted on contstruction paper and send it to the north pole. So this year, I am going to blog all the wildly extravagant gifts I want, just for fun.

The Cricut Expression and a bazillion cartridges:


The Willow Tree Nativity:


Amazing Temple Picture:

Of course we would want the Boston Temple, but Tom's parent's (and Devon and Eric) were sealed in the Oakland Temple....I want to buy this for them someday soon!

A bazillion scentsys:


Furniture:<



A Grecian Getaway:


China:


A HOUSE!



See why I have to contain myself? No, this isn't a sneaky attempt for my husband to check my blog and see what a really want, and break the deal and buy me goodies. No, no, no---if you do, Tom, I'll be really upset! We've got to stick to our plan!!! :)
Just thought I'd make my greedy little wish list!

Ahhhh I forgot to post!

I TOTALLLLLY FORGOT to post a $10 off coupon code for an order of $50 purchase at DESERET BOOK. It ends tonight at midnight. I just placed an order and remembered I had that code. Anyway, if you happen to catch this today, you can score a few dollars off....best get your goodies now, otherwise shipping might be backed up!

8CCDIR is for $10 off a $50 purchase
and if you make an online purchase you can enter PAULO8 for a free cd.

8CCRET is for $5 off a $25 purchase

I am SOOOO sorry I didn't post these sooner :(

The Land of Nod

Have you all heard of this store, or am I the only one living under a rock? Its really cute, over-priced stuff (think potterybarn) It's Crate and Barrel's kids branch off. I discovered it last week and was trying to scope out some idea's for Briggy and future babies play room. The only thing I don't understand is why places like this have to be so ridiculously cute and so ridiculously overpriced? I mean, they're manufactured in the same factories as KMART furniture. (I don't know if thats really true, but I wouldn't doubt it) Ergh. Well, if anyone's in the mood to splurge on some CUUUUUTTTE stuff, there is free shipping until 12/1 (on your entire order) if you enter in the code: REINDEER Ive also seen the promo code: WINTER