TGIF

Thank God it is Friday...... The snow is lightly falling this morning, my husband hopes it snows at least 6 inches...just so he can use his new snow blower. He has been inching since our first skiff of snow for a good snowfall so he could use his snow blower. Maybe this weekend he will get his wish.

Today is date night for my husband and I. We are going to do some Christmas shopping, go for supper and a drink then finish with some more Christmas shopping. I am looking forward to a night out alone with Allan, we haven't gone out just the two of us in a while now. Well since mid November in Regina.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

The Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us and getting into full swing. So many more things to do and so little time to do it in. 22 days until Christmas, time goes by so fast. I still have a few gifts to buy and stocking stuffer's to get for the kids, baking to do, menu to plan and party's to attend.

We are attending our first Christmas Party of the season on Saturday. We get together with 3 of my girlfriends from High School and their families each year at Christmas. This year we are going to go bowling first and then head up to Brenda's house for finger food, games, giggly gift exchange and fellowship. This year we are also exchanging recipes for the appetizers that we bring. Next weekend (Dec 13) we have the Bridge Crew Christmas Party with a Potluck Supper. There is always lots of food and a good variety as well, after that we should be done with parties but you never know what lurks around the corner.

My husband has turned out to be a hard to person to shop for this year. Usually by Nov 1 I have a pretty good idea of what to get him but not this year.....not a hint or a clue of what he would like. So I had to grill him the other night for ideas of what he needs at least this was a start. Gave the girls some ideas as well for gifts for their dad and I have figured out what to get him....won't mention it here or even give a clue as I don't want him to find out anything about his present(s). I am sure he will be happy with what I get him.

Dr's Appointment

This afternoon I have a much needed appointment to see the doctor. I am so tired these days....even after 8 hours of sleep I feel like I may have only had a few hours. I am sure if I closed my eyes for any amount of time I will fall straight to sleep.

I have a case of the dropsy's as my dear grandmother would say it. I drop things for no reason...it is like my fingers forget they are holding onto something. Many times I can catch whatever I have dropped before it hits the floor. Good news my reflexes still work pretty good.

Will be glad to find out what is going on with me...what I am lacking as this having no energy has gone on long enough.

Well I should run...have to eat lunch yet.

Whiff of Joy Advent Calender

Visit Katharina over at Stamping with A Whiff of Joy who is hosting a very generous fun event on her blog. She is giving away Fabulous Whiff of Joy prizes each day. Every day from 00:01 GMT December 1st until December 24th a new window will be opened on the Whiff of Joy Advent Calender, showing a fabulous gift that can be won that day and the winner of the previous days gift will be posted at the same time. To check out Katharina's blog click HERE

Cleaning Cupboards

Yesterday morning when my husband opened the cupboard to get the sugar out for his coffee as usually something fell out. This cupboard has been in need of a cleaning for close to a year now, maybe even over the year. So I figured with this the season to be baking more than usual this was as good a time as any to clean the cupboard. Being in the cleaning mode decided the oven needed cleaning so set it to clean and walked away. As I started to clean out the cupboard I found things that needed to be thrown away years ago...found an empty box and set to cleaning and throwing.

You see back in June after my dad passed away and we cleaned out his cupboards I gave my son many things but there was still stuff that he didn't have a need for at this time so I added it to my cupboards. I found I had 2 bottles of Cayenne Pepper and an unopened bag of the stuff. That seems like a lot of Cayenne pepper...so seeing that one of the bottles must have been 10 years old that hit the garbage box first then the second bottle followed right behind as it must have been close to the same age.

As I preceded to clean out the cupboard I found things that I bought I don't know how many years ago. I found more tea than what I know what to do with.... I should not be allowed to buy any more tea until at least half of what I have is gone. I have Candy Cane Lane, Gingerbread Spice, Earl Grey, Chi Tea, Lemon Zinger and the list goes on and on.

Back in the spring when I started my Life Style Change I picked up some tea from the health food store called Body Sense. Well I remember opening the tea and I was sure I had put it in the cupboard but couldn't find it anywhere. Then I figured that my dog Rocco had made off with the box and stashed it under my bed like he did with so many things. Lifted the mattress and box spring of the bed frame no tea there either, I had pretty much given up on ever finding this tea. It was like it had disappeared into thing air. Well it was more like slipping into the dark corners of the cupboard...there is sat waiting to be found and that I did when I cleaned out the cupboard. So 2 hours later my cupboards were done, the stove had cleaned itself all that was left was to wipe it out - which my hubby did as he was cooking supper and a box of garbage went out to the burning barrel.

Now I have a more accurate list of supplies needed for my Christmas baking.

It's Begining......

........To Look A Lot Like Christmas. Well around the office it is. Today a co-worker and I decided it was time to decorate the office for the holiday season. We dug out the boxes of decorations, the packing tape, scissors and tacks. We started buy hanging a some beaded garland around our workstation dividers then put window clings on the glass, set up the little Christmas tree. We hung snowflakes from the ceiling. We didn't have a chimney to hang out stockings by so we picked over the photocopier instead, it can get a little heated at times. A couple of hours later our office space looks so very festive.

After we done decorating we sat back and like how it all looked and started to talk about our office Christmas Lunch and gift exchange.

My girl friend gives me a call today, telling me that her husband built me the Cadillac of tree strands. I am so thrilled as now I can up a real tree and never worry about it going dry on me. Today turned out to be a Christmas type day today.

Sugar Cookie Recipe

If you have ever tried the Lofthouse Sugar Cookies available in most Grocery Store Bakery depts you will like this recipe. I found myself becoming addicted to the Lofthouse Sugar Cookies and thought there must be a recipe out there somewhere that is close to these cookies, well I think I found the next best thing. This recipe quickly become a family favorite in my house.

I thought I would share my sugar cookie recipe just in case your wanting to try something new.
Enjoy!

Sugar Cookies

1 Cup Butter
2 Cups Granulated sugar
3 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1 1/3 Cups Sour Cream
5 - 6 Cups of flour (until consistency for rolling) I used 6 cups

Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and sour cream.
Mix in dry ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

Roll out dough to 1/4 - 3/8 inch thickness using a generous amount of flour. Cut out into shapes and bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Frost and decorate as desired

Sugar Cookie Frosting (just like Wilton's Decorator Icing)

4 Cups Confectioners Sugar
1/2 Cup Crisco Shortening
5 Tbsp Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla
food coloring optional

In large bowl, cream together the confectioners sugar and shortening until smooth. Gradually mix in the milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes. Color with food coloring as desired.

hit: to make black icing that doesn't have the awefull taste to it, mix in some coco...you get black icing that tastes like chocolate.

Darkness!

This morning as I was leaving for work at 6:55am I realized that is was extremely dark outside....almost an eerie type of darkness. Usually when I walk out the door in the morning I can see my way to the garage but not so this morning. So I looked up expecting to see it was overcast but no there were stars all over the sky but no moon. Absolutely no sign of the moon what so ever...I don't recall a morning like this in a long time where there were stars but no sign of the moon...it was like it has almost fallen from the sky.

I don't know how the people in the Arctic can live with out daylight during the winter months when they have to live in nearly complete darkness 24 hrs a day. I would go crazy if we didn't have the precious amount of day light we get in the winter.

Even on my 20 minute drive with my headlights on low beam it seamed darker than usual...that might have to do with there was little traffic this morning compared to other mornings. It was such an eerie feeling that I thought maybe I had left home earlier than usual. Looked over at my clock expecting to see a much earlier time than it the 7:07 am it was at the time.

Now I wait!

Yesterday I had a job interview with the Ministry of Highways & Transportation for the position as Area Office Coordinator. My interview was scheduled for 3pm, I was asked to arrive 15 minutes early which I did...was given some questions to review and provide answers for my own reference during the interview. So I answered the questions and waited and waited until 4:20pm for my interview to start.

I actually think I did okay in the interview...my nerves calmed right down long before I was called into the boardroom. I am glad as I hate being nervous when I have to answer questions. I don't think I answered anything wrong....I hope I told them what they wanted to hear. Today is their last day of interviews and I will know within 2 - 4 weeks either way if I have the job or not.

My hours of work would 7am - 4pm which is fine with me.....like that I would be home an hour earlier than I am now and starting work at 7am is not a problem for me.

When I know if I got the job or not I will let you know.

Blog Candy - Nov 26

Head on over to Kristine's site for a chance to win some awesome blog candy. Kristine is celebrating her 1 year blogaversary and to celebrate she is giving away 2 pieces of blog candy. http://kristineskort.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-blogoversary-blog-candy.html This offer is over on Nov 26, 6PM(CET+1) so you only have 2 days left to leave a comment on her blog and post about it on your blog for a chance to win.

Kristine is a very talented and has some inspiring ideas on her blog.