Christmas Post Partum

The day after Christmas has arrived. Most of us are still in food comas from yesterday and doing some Christmas cleanup because the sugar plums were too busy dancing yesterday. I am definitely ready for a long winters nap after the past couple of days.

Christmas festivities recap:

Christmas Eve we went over to my grandparents for an hors d'ouerves party. It was nice to see some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins I haven't seen in awhile. Tons, TONS, of food. Cucumber sandwiches, ham salad sandwiches, little rye breads, egg rolls, cocktail weenies, pigs in a blanket, pepper jelly and crackers, and the list goes on!
Gathering around my grandparents living room, listening to Christmas music, catching up with family... A great Christmas Eve.
My sister and I had to finish up our elf work Monday night. Finishing wrapping presents, making Christmas morning breakfast ahead of time, setting the table.

Santa (yes, I still get Santa presents at 23) was very good to me! You know you're getting becoming a grown when you get a new wireless router (super fancy one) and are excited about it.

My aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandparents came over for Christmas dinner. Beef tenderloin, bernaise sauce, asparagus, salad, twice baked potatoes. It was a feast! My belly is still hurting. Not to mention the egg nog Creme brûlée my mom made... Soooo good!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Here are a few pictures my dad took:

Spritz

I was invited to my General Manager/Vice President's cookie exchange tomorrow evening. Of course, I had to make my mom's world famous spritz cookies!

I forgot to take pictures while making them. It is best to use a cookie press. I got an electric Cuisinart one at JC Penney for $20. They are the best things in the world. They come with a whole bunch of little shapes you can use. I used little flower ones that look like poinsettias.
Target has some manual ones. Macy's does also.

Here is the recipe:

6 ounces of SOFT cream cheese (use Kraft Philly) 

1 lb of Land of Lakes margarine SOFT

2 cups of sugar

2 egg yolks

2 teas vanilla

5 cups flour 

2 teas salt

Cream the margarine and cream cheese, add sugar and mix well til fluffy, add egg yolks and vanilla, mix well, add salt to flour and mix into the cream cheese mixture.

Fill the cookie gun and GO!

Bake at 375 for approx 10 min. 

Don't forget the colored sugar sprinkles, Red and green

This recipe makes about 14 dozen cookies... a little more.

You MUST use Philadelphia cream cheese and Land of Lakes margarine. Otherwise, these cookies will not turn out. No skimping allowed!!!

Enjoy!!!

gif(t)s

I have a secret obsession with gifs. I have a whole bunch of them saved on my phone to use when emojis just can't deliver. They're the gif(t)s that just keep giving

Here are some of my faves:

say whaaaa?

just be quiet

I wish I could have this one animated above my desk everyday

lemme alone

srsly?

Don't mess with NeNe

hollaaaaaa

I think this is my fav of all time

Gifs are the perfect addition to any text message, blog post, or email. Don't be surprised if I start sending them to you on the reg.

Christmas Time

I have been totally MIA lately.
Work has been busy... it seems like I have late meetings almost every night lately. 

I've decided to get a head start on my New Year's resolutions. Blogging happens to be on that list! A little closer to 2013 I'm going to devote a post just to my resolutions.


I did decorate my apartment for Christmas the week after Thanksgiving and plan to leave it up until the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Here are some of my instagrams:

I did an ornament exchange with a group of my friends. We did it secret santa style and it turned out to be so much fun! Here is the ornament I got from my friend Amanda.

Until next time...