Last Day of the Year

Today was all about getting things in order.

I completed a Recommendation Letter for a friend. - done
Cleaned out my car. - done
Laundry and Floor Mopped - done
Cardboard boxes broken down and put out for recycle - done
2011 coupons purged - done
Final trip to grocery store - done
Black-eyed peas soaking. - done

Waiting on Midnight.  Happy New Year to Everyone and may the new year bring good things.

Have you missed me?

I'm afraid I got a little carried away with the holiday and found myself neglecting my blog.  We had a great Christmas and hope that you did too. 

During my time away, we were also able to get our fireplace and chimney cleaned and repaired.  (We've been looking to a solution to this for a while and finally decided to bite the bullet and get it done.)  We were able to enjoy a fire on Christmas eve.  The repair was expensive but necessary. 

I made what I hope is my last grocery run for the year today to pick up a bunch of broccoli and a couple of deals.  (Gordo's cheese dip, Pace picante sauce and salt.)  I've been averaging about 35-40% savings over the past few weeks. 

In starting to think about the next year, I'm thinking about a new grocery budget and just how to best utilize the items on hand.  As usual, my freezer is still full and I just ordered 40 pounds of chicken breasts to be delivered in about a week.  (We're having another freezer week!  Surprise!)  Fortunately, DD will be taking at least half of this chicken - maybe a little more. 

I'm also looking at what items we need to stock up on.  I think it may be time to focus on some drug store type items (personal care and first aid) since these items were neglected in 2011 in favor of food items.  I hope to have some yearly totals within the next few days.

I want to focus on my creative baking side this year by baking at least one "treat" each month and trying at least one new recipe or dinner idea each month.  It's an aggressive goal.

A couple of ideas to keep stress at a minimum....

The holidays are all about traditions .. and priorities.  We are simply not able to do everything and the sooner you let that expectation go, the better you'll be able to manage your stress.  With that said, let's look at some practical ways to manage and organize your holiday preparations.

First, start early.  Yea, I'm talking about really early.  Buy discounted gift wrap and decorations at after Christmas sales.  All through the year, work on ideas and projects for holiday decorations and gifts.  My best move this year was to pre-purchase this year's Christmas cards at after Christmas sales last year.  I pulled them out at the beginning of the season and addressed as I had time.  Then I simply dropped them off at the post office at the appropriate time.  No rush, no fuss.  I also started my Christmas decorations right after Thanksgiving.  I find that the earlier I get it out, the more festive I feel.  It's a lot of work to decorate for Christmas, let's enjoy it for as long as we can.


Second, tackle tasks in steps.  Cookies and candies are a good way to implement this tip.  I started with two candies that can be made ahead of time.  I made rum balls first (they chill for up to two weeks before you even eat them).  One evening I mixed this up and formed the balls.  They're resting comfortably in the fridge til party time.  The second goodie I made was fudge.  I would say that fudge lasts at least a week and a half tightly sealed.  I used a metal container with a tight fitting lid. 

Cookie dough can also be made in two steps.  First, mix the dough and chill. Then, bake a night or two later.  Some doughs even freeze well.  You can also form cookies that start as balls and take from the freezer to bake at any time, in any quantity.  I have three cookie doughs in the fridge and freezer right now.

Third, focus on the most important thing.  This is the hardest to wrap our head around.  Take gifts as an example.  Decide who you want to buy for and first ensure that you have something for them.  You can always go back and add items or upgrade the gift but you know, regardless of what happens, you will have a gift for them. 

Food is another good example.  Pick a thing or two to serve and get that settled first.  Add other items as you have the time or money.

Remember, you can't do it all but with good planning you can do more than you think.

Ooops! I missed my post yesterday...

I had a busy day at work trying to get everything wrapped up before I took off for the holidays.  Something always comes up at the last minute.

Speaking of that, I was struggling with what I wanted to prepare for dinner.  When I finally decided on a pot of spaghetti, DD piped in and ultimately joined us for dinner.  The beautiful thing about spaghetti is that for just a buck or two more, I was able to feed double the people with virtually no extra effort. 

Now for today, I want to make some chocolate chip cookie dough truffles and get caught up on my laundry.  I have the chimney repair folks scheduled to come at noon - it's been raining here and everything is wet.  I'm not sure if they will be able to get the repair done today.  I guess we'll see later.

I have one small sewing project and one gift to get.  I would like to get back to the P or over to BJs to see about a ham for Christmas dinner.  I also need to find some dip mix since the P didn't have any Monday.

Holiday Baking has begun

Tonight to mixed together a batch of Molasses cookies and some oatmeal cookies.  The oatmeal dough will have either chocolate chips or pecans added in.  I baked up a few of each for a gift box I put together and a snack for DH and I.  The rest of the dough is "chillin" in the fridge.  I may move it to the freezer tomorrow.

I have rum balls and fudge complete and ready to eat.  Dough is mixed and ready for oatmeal cookies, molasses cookies and one batch of spritz.

I would still like to make some chocolate chip cookie dough truffles and maybe some pecan bars.

Still finalizing the menu for Christmas eve (a party type snack meal) and Christmas Day (traditional dinner).  Any ideas to share?

Sittin by the fire....

With our fireplace cleaned, we're sitting here warming our tootsies!

If you're gonna play with the boys, you gotta play like the boys!

Today we went to see our granddaughter practice and play hockey.  She'll be 6 in February and she's in a class with all boys.  I guess that ice hockey is not a popular sport for girls in the South.

First, a little bit about Grace.  She sensitive and loving.  On the other hand, she's a sports lover and decidedly anti-princess.  Don't ask her to wear a dress or anything pink for that matter.  She's played soccer and softball (with her twin sister) and now she's trying ice hockey. 

Back to today's practice.  She's a good skater (especially having never skated before a couple of months ago) but she's a bit careful.  (I don't think she likes falling down.)  She's the littlest one out there but she's a go-getter.  The only problem I see that she had with these boys (and some are considerably bigger than she is) is that she's just not apt to "get into it" they way you have to in hockey.

After her game today, I told her that if she's going to play with the boys, she's got to play like the boys and show her game face!   Agggggr!

Shopping Update

We have just about finished our Christmas shopping.  We have two people who need an "extra" gift and DH and I need to get each other a surprise gift.  Most of the gifts are wrapped except what has been shipped in from my mother for the little kids.

I am spending my Friday evening mending (again) my fitted sheet.   You may recall that I was put into a night brace for plantar fasciatis (I don't think I spelled that correctly) at the end of the summer.  Not only was the night brace outrageously expensive but it wore the linens so bad that they tore.  My first attempt to fix it involved fusible interfacing.  It worked but an area just past it has torn now.  This time, I am going to make an actual patch to sew onto the sheet to take the stress away from the thinned area.  Nice sheets are expensive ($60 and up), especially for an overly thick mattress.  No other area of the sheet is worn so this seems like an appropriate action.

Quick Post

Not much going on here .... Check back later.

Oh, Fudge! (updated)

Today has been a crazy day.

First, I mixed up some cookie dough discovered that I had left the egg out.  Not much of a problem.  I added the egg at the end and mixed it in well.  I don't think it will cause much of a problem.  This dough will go into the freezer for baking next week.

Next, I decided to mix up a batch of fudge before dinner.  I progressed through the recipe with little problem but I did notice that it took forever for the boiling mixture to come to temperature.  That five minute time was entirely too short.  Everything went well but when I poured it into the pan, I noticed that the fudge looked oily.  I double checked the recipe and I really goofed it.  I used 12 ounces of butter instead of the 6 ounces it called for.  (I still can't figure out how I made that mistake.)  To help with the oiliness, I blotted the top of the fudge with some paper napkins and it's cooling.  I may have to toss it and remake but I will wait and see.

The first batch of fudge was indeed bad and went directly into the trash.  Since I had the items on hand (thanks to my stockpile), I ran the recipe again.  This time I was more careful to check my quantities.  (I did add just a little extra milk because I read that it would make the fudge just a little creamier.)  It cooked up in less time and it looks, smells, and tastes good.  As long as it sets up properly, this should be a winner. 

Ok, now I'm annoyed. (updated)

My first order of business for Christmas goodies was to whip up a batch of rum balls to let them age in the fridge until Christmas.  I stopped by the P this afternoon and picked up a box of vanilla wafers and started crushing them as I was cooking dinner.  Added the other dry ingredients and as I sat down to finish it up, realized that I don't have any corn syrup.  Dang.

I'm NOT going back to the grocery store this evening.  I considered substituting honey but I only have wildflower honey and it's taste will likely compete with the other flavors in the rum ball.  I also considered substituting maple syrup.  The 100% maple syrup is too strongly flavored to work and the commercial syrup may not be thick/sticky enough.

I guess I'll be heading to the store in the morning.

Updated:  I decided not to wait and used Mrs. Buttersworth in lieu of the corn syrup.  It was sticky enough to hold the balls together and they smell wonderful.  I got a little taste from the bowl and it was good.  They are currently "aging" in the fridge.  I need to get some fancy little mini cupcake or candy liners to dress them.

The end of the Pumpkin

I purchased a pie pumpkin in late October/early November for decorative purposes instead of a jack-o-lantern.  All through the fall, I've used the pumpkin to decorate the table and sit on the kitchen counter.  I decided this evening that the pumpkin's end was near.

I split the pumpkin in two and roasted it in the oven (at 350) for about 45 minutes.  After it cooked and cooled, I scraped off the seeds and peeled the outside away.  I rinsed the seeds and removed the membranes as much as I could.  The seeds are sitting on a baking sheet drying out now.  I will roast in the oven tomorrow night with some pan coating and kosher salt.

I cut the pumpkin into small pieces and processed in my food processor until smooth.  I found that the fresh pumpkin was more watery than the canned and was brighter in color.  I wonder if I cooked it down a bit if it would be more like the canned stuff.  I got about three cups of pumpkin puree.  Tomorrow night I may simmer the puree a while to condense it.

Where did Sunday go?

I had intended to get some "chores" done around here today and bake up some goodies.  Unfortunately, that all fell apart when DH wanted to go shopping.  We did get a few things done first and then headed out.  

We were able to locate one gift but we were unsuccessful in finding the other.   We got home too late to take on any cookie baking but I was able to throw together a coffee cake for after dinner.  The dishwasher is loaded waiting.  I'm just about ready to put a load of clothes in the washer. 

The Christmas cards will go out tomorrow and I am going now to wrap at least two gifts.  Progress must continue or I'll spend all of Christmas eve day wrapping gifts. 

On another note, here's a tip to save a little money.  A while back I made some homemade fries and after the oil cooled, I strained it and stored in the fridge.  Tonight we had fried cube steak and I used that same oil to cook it up.  Great way to save just a little change.

December 10 More Shopping and a baking plan is forming

DH and I went out shopping again today.  We were able to find something for DS and now all the children (big and little) have something to unwrap.  We still need to pick up a few fillers to even things out a bit but much of our shopping is done.  After tomorrow, there is only one weekend left for shopping.

Tomorrow, I will be wrapping the new gifts we have and inventorying what we need.  I will also be making at least two treats.  I'm thinking about some rum/bourbon balls (they last two weeks in the fridge).  I may also make some pumpkin snicker doodles for immediate eating.  I will make a baking plan tomorrow to cover what we ( I ) will be making and when.

My tentative baking plan includes:  fudge, spritz cookies, gingerbread men (small batch), peanut butter ball (DD), oatmeal cookies (for DH's work).  I also have a recipe somewhere for some cookie dough truffles. Mmmmm.  

Starbucks

DH and I decided to have a little "date" tonight and ran over to the Starbucks after dinner for a little snack and a hot beverage.  We like to do this in December once the weather gets cold and the holiday beverages are available. 

I remembered after we paid why we don't go more often.  (or - why they call it fivebucks)  DH and I each had a piece of cake and a latte.  The damage was more than $13!  Holy Cow.  We can have dinner out for just a couple of bucks more.

Good thing we don't do this often, usually not more than once a year.  It was good and we did enjoy it.

Derailment

This little train travels the same path every day, 

Round and round, never to town.

On the tracks, it's hard to stay,

When little kids who like trains are around!

December 7th Another Project and Baking

Today started slow but finished more productive.  When I got up this morning, the skies were overcast, rain was steady and there was an overall dreary feeling in the air.  I had my breakfast and started some laundry.  I still wasn't really "feelin' it" so to speak.

DD called and I met her and the littlest one for lunch.  After lunch we did a little bit of browsing and shopping.  We stopped by Target where I picked up some storage boxes and took a quick trip to Fresh Market.

After she and the littlest one headed home, I decided to brighten up the mood by getting something done.  First thing I did was to turn on some Christmas music.  That helped.  I started a second load of laundry and baked some pumpkin bars.  (It was a mix from a box but the smell added to the atmosphere.)  Then I tackled a sewing project (that cannot be disclosed yet) and started dinner.

The other project I started work on was organizing my craft closet.  I've shared this closet with storage and it is now time to make it mine, all mine!  Here's my progress so far.  It always makes a bigger mess when you start something like this.  I'll be working on this a little bit every day trying to get it all figured out.  I have a little stash of cloth (mostly from the closeout when my Walmart stopped selling fabric) and an assortment of sewing and craft items.  It will really help if I can see all my supplies at any given time.  Many times I buy something because I don't think I have it, only to find that I already have one or two at home - and vice versa. 

Finally, let me close by recognizing this important day in our history.  Image what would happen now if another country attacked us on our own soil.  We think it couldn't happen but they thought it was impossible (or at least they were watching for it) then.  Would we act as heroically as the young men and women of 1941.  Would we all pull together and sacrifice for our country like they did?  I'd like to think that we would.

This week's project

It's freezer week here.  I'm taking this opportunity to use items from the freezer versus new foods.  This allows me to purge items from my freezer, and trust me, it needs it.

For example, we had previously frozen chicken for dinner Sunday night.  Monday night, dinner was ham fried rice and egg rolls.  The ham was leftover from Thanksgiving and cut into chunks in the freezer. 

Tuesday night, I had scheduled to make a soup with some leftover roast.  I decided at the last minute that I could use more items from the freezer by making spaghetti instead.  I was able to use a half a bag of meatballs, some beef crumbles, two containers of spaghetti sauce, some chopped onions and sliced peppers.  All from the freezer.

I pulled some items out of the freezer and tossed them.  It's hard to avoid the tendency to save everything.  Some things had been in the freezer so long that I couldn't remember putting it in.
I'm going to attempt the roast soup for tomorrow.  Or maybe it will be a beef dish over noodles.  Honestly, can't decide.

Thursday we've having tacos.  It's a favorite of the little girls.  Not much of that will be from the freezer, although I do have some guacamole in the freezer.  Friday I think I will make a homemade pizza.  I have several packages of Canadian bacon in the freezer, maybe a Hawaiian pizza will fit the bill.

Somehow, I have to make a dent in the (upstairs) freezer this week. 

Home Security

Since our Christmas tree sits right in view of the front door, the sidelights on the door provide an excellent opportunity to "peek" in and take a look at the gifts under the tree.  My job tonight was to find a solution to obsure the "booty" from prying eyes.  (Home burgularies always increase this time of the year.)

At first, I thought that I would apply a frosted film on the windows since I had some leftover from our garage door but that would prevent us from seeing who was at the door.  I found some plain white fabric in my stash and proceeded to sew up a cloth panel for each side of the door.  I used the selvage as the top of the panel and attached with two white thumtacks in each.  A small hem (1/2") on each side and a bottom hem (1 1/4") finished off the design. 

The panel hides what's inside but we can lift the panel to see who is at the door.  Cost: $0 - supplies on hand.

December 5th - Menu Monday / Freezer week

I can't start baking any holiday goodies because my freezer is stuffed to the gills.  In an effort to make some room, this will be freezer week with many meals coming (at least in part) from the freezer.

Saturday night - BBQ sandwiches and steak fries (both from freezer)
Sunday - BBQ/Grilled chicken and baked macaroni and cheese (chicken from freezer)
Monday - Ham fried rice and egg rolls (ham and egg rolls from freezer)
Tuesday - Roast Soup (leftover roast in freezer with potatoes, carrots and green beans)
Wednesday- Salad and baked potato (nothing from freezer)
Thursday - Tacos (ground beef purchased this week, stored in freezer)
Friday - TBD - as usual for a Friday

We may be looking at a second or partial freezer week to follow. 

December 3 and 4: Gifts and Socks

After enjoying a wonderful anniversary dinner Friday night, DH and I did a little Christmas shopping Saturday.  As he watched the SEC game (he's not a big football fan but he does enjoy an occasional milestone game), I started wrapping gifts.  (It takes a lot longer than you think!)

I was also able to make a quick trip to the P (Publix) and I was really surprised at how empty the grocery store was.  I think it was because the game was on.  I had just a few things to pick up but with a quiet store and no rush to get home, I was able to check out some things.  I found that the Johnsonville Italian sausage was marked down to $3.99 (it's usually between $4.99 and $5.30)  with the coupon I had, these were $2.99 a package.  (I got five!)  I also picked up a link of Carolina smoked sausage (on sale and with a coupon and there's another coupon in today's paper).  I picked up some carrots and broccoli, tortillas and ground sirloin.  A few random things rounded out my purchase.  I think I spent about $60 - my receipt is MIA right now, probably in the car.

One of the things I worked on Sunday was orphaned socks.  I have a basket in my laundry room that fosters the orphans until their mate if found.  Between that basket and my sock drawer, I found many matches.  It's amazing how many socks we have when they're all clean and put away.  I'm off now to spend a few minutes straightening up my laundry closet. 

More photos from the holiday house tour will be coming tomorrow.  Hope you have a great week.

December 2 - Front Porch

Here's our front porch all decked out for the holidays.

We've decorated like this for most of the years we've been here, taking advantage of the big wrap around porch.

I have garland swagged on the front rail with green miniature lights interspersed in the garland.  Two red bows hang at the end of the steps.

Bright white icicle lights hang from the top gingerbread trim.  These are the new LED lights that I purchased this year.  They are considerably brighter than the regular lights we had before. 

House Tour - a Welcoming Front Door

Welcome and Merry Christmas!

This year I changed up my wreaths and added two topiary trees to my entrance. 

The wreath was a cheap, plain one I purchased (probably either from Walmart or Michaels) several years ago.  At first, I used it with some gold glass balls hot glued on and a big, shiny gold bow.  After several years use, many of the balls had broken so I (carefully) removed the balls and substituted a few silver balls and some white/silver decorations.  I used this wreath on the inside of my door last year but with the new white paint outside, it was a better match.

The topiary trees are a new addition this year.  Old Time Pottery had these as a doorbuster on Black Friday.  I obviously didn't get there early that morning and I was VERY surprised to find they still had some at 5pm that day.  Normal retail price was $40 for the set, on sale for $20.  I decorated each with a white/silver bow and one single ornament.  These will stay outside and lit (without the bow and decorations) after the holidays.  DH is going to modify the electrical cords.  I only have one exterior plug and these cords are not long enough.

December 1 - New Month, New Theme

It's December already, I know that's hard to believe.  Seems like we were just grilling out and enjoying margarita's on the deck.  Now the cold weather is sneaking in (I wore a warm sweater and turtle neck all day) and the holiday season is here.

For the next 31 days, I am challenging myself again to post every day with something pertaining to the holidays:  gifts, groceries, decorations, traditions, and saving money, of course. 

Starting us off here on December 1st, I want to wish my DH a very happy anniversary.  This is the way we start our Christmas season by celebrating our special time.  This year, we've decided to fore go gifts and treat ourselves to a special dinner out.  We love Longhorn steaks but rarely have them anymore.  This weekend DH and I will venture over and enjoy a special dinner.  Now, I will be the first to admit that this is far from frugal but it's important to have a special "date night."

I'm just about finished with my holiday decorations and will start a tour on the 2nd.