Warms You to the Core

Last weekend Hallmark had their Open House and I went to get a new ornament for Chuck and a recordable Christmas story book but I also got a little container of Aspen Mulling Spices! Yum right? Throughout my shopping travels that day I made sure to pick up some Apple Cider because how could I not take advantage of this new score?

That Sunday I was so excited to 1. drink some spiced cider and 2. fill my house with the wonderful aroma!

As soon as Chuck got home I pounced..."Honey want some cider?" He of course said Yes!! So I determined how much spice I'd need for just enough cider for us!

Then poured some cider, added the spices, turned the heat and waited impatiently for it to warm up and for the amazing smell waft throughout my house!

Check out that steam!!!

Poured us 2 glasses of cider and enjoyed our first of many!!

Not only did we drink these two cups but we heated up the cider again later after dinner and enjoyed some more! If you can get your hands on the Aspen Mulling Spices buy them immediatly. Sure I could probably just put the spices together myself but this is easier! Thanks Hallmark for placing that right by the checkout line for me to see!!

The Funeral Crasher

Can you believe I've finished yet another book?? I can hardly believe it myself and then when I look at my 2010 book list and I see 2 books left I feel like it's all a lie. I am so excited that I've almost reached my goal and I am sure that I will :) It's one New Years Resolution I have kept YAY!!

But back to the reason for this post. This morning I finished reading The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham (A.K.A Sophie Kinsella)

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This book is essentially about a money hungry biotch! Sorry for my bluntness but there is no other way for me to decide the main character Fleur! And what kind of a name is that? I'm sure it's a beautiful name to some but for me I have no idea how to pronounce it properly. It wasn't the only name that I had trouble with. How in the heck do you prounce Xanthe??? While this Xanthe character is mentioned once or twice it really bothered me. The names in this book were quite annoying to me.

Essentially this woman Fleur (main character) is a disgusting person who preys on rich man on the day of the funeral/memorial for their deceased spouse. SICK!! I mean all I could think of was Will Ferrel's character in the Wedding Crashers! Yes I know that was a joke and this kind of stuff might really happen but I am just disgusted by this person. Thank god she's not a real person I know otherwise I'd have to slap her silly and tell her to get a job and support herself and her daughter who she drags through this scam of hers!

Other than disliking the main character and of course the other villian in the book I hate to admit I enjoyed it. I have a strong suspicion I enjoyed it because after reading The Given Day I was ready for some light reading. I am a little discouraged by Madeleine Wickham's novels because they just don't live up to the writing she does as Sophie Kinsella and honestly while I enjoy those books they aren't masterful! She should stick to her Kinsella writing, but that doesn't mean another Shopaholic Book. Overall grade = B-. While I enjoyed it I don't think I would have if I hadn't just finished such a heavy book.

I am very excited for the next book that I'm going to read but I must take a break. Not because I am tired of reading but because I am taking my PHR (Professional Human Resource) exam in a couple weeks and I NEED to study!! It will be weird to not have a novel to read for the next couple weeks and honestly I'm not sure that I can NOT read, but I am going to give it my best shot and put all my reading time into Study time!! Then it will be onto "Water For Elephants" and "The Eggnog Chronicles"

More Holiday Suprises!!

Another bundle of Christmas Joy arrived at our doorstep! I have been impatiently waiting for these items....

What might be in these packages?

Why the best things ever!!! I ordered these two awesome DVDs, well I'm sure they will be awesome!! Chuck and I were supposed to be going to see the Rockettes Live in the flesh but unfortunately with his job they are a pain in the butt with taking time off and we won't be able to, so I did the next best thing. I ordered a DVD of their performances and this one I watched on TV so I know it's going to be GREAT!!

The other DVD I got was one about Christmas in New York. Never having been to the Big Apple ( I am dying to go) you might find it odd that I feel this deep connection with NYC. I just think it's the most wonderful place ever! I'm sure some New Yorkers might disagree but until I've seen the bad parts for myself I will always have a LOVE for it! So I was really excited there was a DVD about Christmas in New York. I also love any DVDs or TV Shows where they play Christmas Music with a flurry of Snowy Scenes. We don't get snow and another thing that I love with all my heart but have never lived in it.

Then the very best thing ever!! An AWESOME Holiday Sweatshirt! I was so stoked to find a BUNCH of holiday sweatshirts on Amazon.com that I saved probably 10 others but I couldn't wait to order this one! How freakin cute is this?

I immediatly put it on!! Ladies and Gentlemen this Holiday Nut is ready to shop!!

I am of course almost done with all my christmas shopping, but I still plan on wearing this once Dec 1st hits! Heck I may even wear it the day after Thanksgiving as we decorate our condo! All I can say is that this Christmas Lover couldn't be happier right now....unless of course it snowed and I was sitting in a super classy high rise apartment with an amazing view in New York City... :-)

Poor Puppies

It's no secret to those who know me how much I LOVE my pets! They are my kids and they are just so darn cute! There are moments that they will prove to me how much they love me. No it's not through kisses or cuddling... It's through clothes!

The other day Chuck brought hom a little A's helmet (and a Texas one for my Sister) from Baskin Robbins! What was my first reaction?? It's the perfect fit for Roxy!!!! The poor little thing was subjected to this             ------->

Doesn't that face just scream love?? Haha okay maybe not but she amused me long enough to take a couple pictures and I think she looks so CUTE!!

Not only do I put little hats on Roxy but Buster gets some extra love too! The great thing about Buster is he really does get excited when I pull out his t-shirts to put them on. No joke, this dog LOVES his shirts! Unfortunately his trusty green shirt has run its course. While I was out shopping yesterday I picked up a new collared shirt for him from Old Navy!!

Isn't my big boy cute??

A better shot of the shirt. Chuck hates the shirt, says it makes him look girly but I just love it. And this is our dog  who would play fetch until your arm literally fell off, and on this awesome shirt there is a patch that say All Star Ball Chaser!! I love it and so does Buster!

Poor Chuck wanted a "manly" dog and I've turned him into my own little dress up doll! It just figures that Buster the 50lb male dog would be the one to LOVE wearing clothes, while my little 20lb Princess Dog Roxy absolutely HATES the clothes. She always trys to take them off, especially the little sweaters I buy her for winter time!

Anyone else love "torturing" their puppies with cute outfits?

The Given Snooze!

Monday night I was able to sit down and finish reading our book club book for this month, which was The Given Day by Dennis Lehane. Considering this book is 700 pages long I was shocked to finish it so early but I have to say reading it on the Kindle is amazing. The book didn't seem like it was that long. Maybe it's because you aren't holding a bulky book or maybe it's because you don't know what page number you are while reading on the kindle, but I love it! I will say though the Kindle does tell you what percentage through the book you are and I think that's much better than the page numbers. But onto the book.....

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I shouldn't be so harsh as my title says but this book was a bleh book. I am indifferent. I enjoyed it but I can't say that I loved it or that I'd be interested in reading it again. There was no high moments and no low moments. I never once got excited or to a point where I couldn't put it down. The book takes place back in 1900s and its about the lives of 3 people coming together. It really is only about 2 lives but there is a third thrown in there, the third being Babe Ruth, yes the famous baseball player.

But the story is essentially two lives leading up to, during, and briefly after the strike of the Boston Police Department. If you are into history then please dive into this book, but for those who like novels with a little more excitement steer clear. I liked the writing style and have actually added a couple books by Dennis Lehane to my 2011 book list (yes I'll be sharing that soon and it is quite long) but I just couldn't really get into this book.

Overall grade is a B-. As much as I wasn't totally into I did really enjoy the one character Luther and his journey throughout the book. Don't let me down Dennis Lehane with my books for next year!

I've started and am 27% of the way through my next book. It's the Gate Crasher by Madeleine Wickham, A.K.A. Sophie Kinsella. It's a book I actually started months ago, could not get into but was determined to finished. So I restarted it and am actually enjoying it this go around. Maybe it's cause The Given Day was somewhat heavy and this is total fluff, who knows, but hopefully I'll have more favorable book review for you soon!

Christmas Has Arrived!!

It's almost to my Favorite time of the year!! CHRISTMAS SEASON!! It really is the best time of the year for me. I hate the sun so any time the weather is foggy, rainy, and dark I am in my own little Heaven! That may sound weird to some people because I live in California, but I am so not a summer time person. I love when I can bundle up or wear my super cute winter clothes and be cozy and comfy!! Just thinking about it now I am getting angry that the sun is out LOL....

But yes Christmas Season is coming and coming quickly! Our local stores had a BUNCH of Christmas stuff out already. And on Halloween I decided to take a ride over to Michaels, since I hadn't been there in awhile, and I was so excited when they had pulled most of their fall/halloween stuff and made room for all things Christmas!

Check out my finds!!

This cute little basket will sit on our entryway table with mints! I love having mints by the door!

I got a light up necklace and reindeer ears to wear to work and other Holiday Functions! I CANNOT wait to share the new sweatshirt I bought. I already have 4 other ones saved! HAHA. But I am so excited to wear these to work the week of Christmas! The bells on the Reindeer ears will no doubt annoy my coworkers but I will just be spreading good cheer right? :-)

And the BEST score was these cute little hats! No they aren't for kids...well they are...they are for my kids...my two dogs Buster and Roxy!! Buster-Roo gets to be Santa Claus and Roxy is his little elf! We've already tried them on and while they don't like them I'm sure they made their Mom proud by humoring me! Buster doesn't last long before he's pawing to get it off. But Roxy goes comatose and looks so miserable that it is really funny! And she makes the cutest ELF ever!! I'll share pictures of them once Chuck and I can get them used to them enough to stay still for pictures!

Anyone else doing any Christmas shopping? We've got 90% of our shopping done for the families. I am doing a few little things for friends, still have to shop for Chuck, and then my parents. But I am very excited cause my girl friend Alycia and I are going Christmas Shopping on the 10th and I'm sure more times than that...She loves Christmas as much as me so its' nice to not feel so crazy!!

Kendall Got a Kindle!

As you all know I'm a huge reader. I love books. Part of what I love about books is the smell, turning the page, the different shapes and sizes, the joy of going to the library to pick up a book you've been patiently waiting for...

I thought all of that was SUPER important to me until I got this......

A pink case? No No No....the amazing KINDLE!!

I had been researching for months and months. Creating a Pro's and Con's list, talking it out with coworkers, with Chuck (who by the way said to me..."I don't understand..did you want me to talk you into buying it or out of buying?") and then I did what anyone in my generation would think to do...I consulted my facebook friends! No joke I literally went on and updated my status asking for opinions! And I am so happy that I decided to purchase it!

Look at it!! It's so pretty! And I've already got 4 different folders to keep myself organized...one for my 2010 Book List, Book Club, 2011 Book List, and then a MISC folder for the dictionary and guide it comes with!

Reading on this is just like looking at a book! I am super impressed by the screen and that I really feel like I'm staring at a book and not an electronic screen!

I am so in love and here's why:

1. Super light. With my carpal tunnel books tend to cause me pain and I hate always wearing my braces so I was ecstatic that this is so light and I am not using both wrists at the same time and to be honest when I read I tend to contort my hands in ways they shouldn't. This makes me hold it normally YAY!

2. Looks just like a book page.

3. Can download a book within 60 seconds! That's right WITHIN 60 FREAKIN SECONDS!

4. Fits so nicely in my purse

5. Not HEAVY - Did I mention this already? Here's another benefit to it's lightness...it doesn't weight down my purse! It's not bulky so it and its case slide right into my purse, no removing important items in order to fit a book in there.

6. I got to buy a super awesome Pink and Green case

7. I can read more than one book now if I want to without havng to lug out more than one book. I love that right now I have about 10 books on this thing adn I could be reading them all at once if I wanted to. Not my style but sometimes it'd be nice to have both my book club book and another book on hand. NOW I CAN!!

8. No more clutter at my house with books stacked everywhere.

9. No more paying for shipping and buying used books!

10. No more WAITING on books to come in on the library and then paying the late fee because I've checked too many out!!

I highly recommend the Kindle for all you avid readers...

Happy Belated Halloween!!!

I hope everyone had an awesome halloween!! Our was pretty low key but I did make some festive Halloween cupcakes!

Originally I was making these for our Halloween Potluck at one of my offices but then last minute they had to change the date and I was at my other office that day :-(

But Saturday Chuck, his Sister, and I were going to hang out and watch the game so I whipped these up real quick saturday afternoon! As I was innocently decorating them in Halloween colors I realized I was also decorating them in the SF Giants colors! Being as we live in the Bay Area and Chuck's family are huge San Francisco team fans I knew he'd be happy. Me on the other hand, the A's fan and hater of Giants, not so happy! I considered removing the frosting and using a different color but hey it was Halloween!

I picked up the cute papers and toppers at Target! I just love the little mummy guy!

On actual Halloween we just had another low key night. When we first moved into our Condo we were so excited hoping to have trick or treaters that the first year we bought a HUGE bag of Candy and we got ZERO trick or treaters! Last year we didn't buy any candy and had 2 kids show up at the door. So this year I figured why not be prepared and I bought 2 six packs of the mini Snickers and mini Reese's. I figured if we get Trick or Treaters that'd be plenty and if not it wasn't too much crap leftover. Well we had one group come and CLEAN US OUT!! I was really excited but then felt bad turning the light off, especially when another group came around and we had to ignore them :-(

Did anyone do anything fun for Halloween?

Happiness!

I just finished reading our October book club book, The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner.

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This book is actually about the author searching to find out what makes people happy. He bases his research off of other people's research but he's trying it himself. He goes to 10 different countries which include: The Netherlands, Switzerland, Bhutan, Qatar, Iceland, Moldove (FYI it's the least happy place), Thailand, Great Britain, India, and America.

This book was interesting. To be honest I was not looking forward to this book at all, it just didn't sound like my cup of tea. First it's not fiction and second it's a research based book. I was suprised to find myself enjoying certain aspects of this book. I like the author, he's got some grumpiness to him, but you can tell he wants to figure out the key to happiness. While he's naive in thinking that someone can lead you to the secret of being happy I give him kudos for his efforts. 

The overall book was boring though. I am sad to say that even his quirky experiences and his dry humor couldn't save me from being bored. Once I got to the chapter on Moldova I was ready for the book to be over. The saving grace?? I wanted to find out what in America people felt was happiness. Boy was I let down, it had to be one of the most boring chapters in the book. Maybe because he's not an outsider of America he couldn't really get into the mindset that he had for the other foreign countries.

The highest grade I can give the book is a C and I can only recommend it to those who like to read about other people's experience in researching a subject with no definitive answer. 

Not Your Pie

I was so excited to try out this new recipe.  It's not a Hungry Girl recipe so it's not healthy for you but man of man is it a really yummy mexican recipe! I got this recipe, Nacho Pie,  from the AMAZING Taste of Home Magazine! If you don't have a subscription get yourself one NOW!! They really have awesome homestyle recipes!!

This one is pretty simple all you need is: Tortilla Chips, Ground Beef, Sour Cream, Taco Seasoning, Tomato Sauce, Onion Powder, Crescent Rolls, and Mexican Cheese Mix.

First you must brown your ground beef, (with the onion) then drain. Return to heat and add your 8 oz can of tomato sauce and taco seasoning.

While that is cooking away on the stove top get out a pie pan and your crescent rolls. Take your crescent rolls and put in your pie plate with the point of the roll facing the middle. This was a little harder than I thought and I had to break up one crescent to get it all covered. This is no big deal though as long as the bottom and sides are completely covered.

After you get your crust down layer with crushed up tortilla chips.

Add your beef mixture.

Then carefully layer with your sour cream. I couldnt make it look pretty like the picture but I'm sure it won't affect the taste :)

Add some more crushed tortilla chips.

Then top with Mexican Cheese Blend. And pop into your oven for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees!

Yum look at that golden crust and melted cheese!!

Cut a piece for yourself and....

Enjoy this amazing mexican dish!

I loved this dish...no big suprise!! The only thing I'd change is I wouldn't put the layer of sour cream in it. I'd bake it off and then add the sour cream right before eating! The crescent roll crust really adds a little difference to it but still good. Next time I plan on adding the sour cream to the top and a little salsa! Maybe even some guacamole and salsa mixed together! YUM!! Try it!!

Pumpkin Pancakes? Yes Please!!

Again Gina at Gina's Skinny Recipes as offered a new recipe using Pumpkin! I was so excited, there was no way I wasn't going to try it!

You will need a few ingredients to make these: Fat Free Milk, Baking Spray, Pumpkin Butter, Whole Wheat Flour, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Cinnamon, Baking Powder, Brown Sugar, Eggs, Vanilla, and Canola Oil.

Combine your dry ingredients and then your wet ingredients!

Then combine the two. Start heating up a pan and spray with baking spray. Pour out 1/4 cup of the mix into your pan.

This batch made 8 pancakes but I only had two. I should have cut down the batter but I was following the recipe from Gina. Don't these look amazing?!?!?!

I made sure to add a nice dollop of pumpkin butter because there really is never too much pumpkin!

I really loved these with the pumpkin butter. Without the pumpkin butter they were okay. I was hoping for them to be more Pumpkin-y but that's okay. The recipe says you can add syrup to it but I figured why add more fat when not needed so I just smothered them in some amazing pumpkin butter and chowed down. These were great with a cup of coffee and while I didn't like the pancakes on their own I will be making these again as long as I have pumpkin butter.

Speaking of which I am out of pumpkin butter!! I can't believe how quick it went. Guess its time to whip up another batch :)

A Wild Affair!

Another book down! I just finished last night another one of my books and that was A Wild Affair by Gemma Townley.

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This book was alright. Gemma Townley has a nice writing style but I can't get into it as much as others. This one revolves around Jessica Wild who is engaged and planning her wedding to a "perfect" man when a mystery woman enters. And then her life starts to unravel and she's forced with some tough decisions! If you want an easy read go for it, but overall I give this book a C...it was just average!

$10 in Free Money = Score! $20 in Free Money = MAJOR SCORE!!!

Oh Kohls how I love thee!!

Our local Kohls (and probably all other Kohls) sends out $10 "gift cards" in the mail every once in awhile and I LOVE THEM! I don't normally shop at Kohls except during Holiday season but when those little cards come in the mail I'm there within a few days! The best part is that not only do I get a card, but Chuck gets one too!! Meaning $20 for me to spend WOO HOO!!

This last time I was able to score this awesome new white board calendar!

We have been trying to find a system that works for us and normal calendars do not. Our schedule tends to change and I absolutely hate whiting out or crossing out anything on calendars. In my planner and at work everything goes in pencil but at home I was dumb and put everything in pen....So I got rid of our old calendar.

Then I found this awesome steal of a deal at Kohls...the price on the back said $29.99...could it really be worth that....even with $10 off I'm still spending $19.99 on something that I could probably find at Target or Walmart, or at least something similar...

I had already used my other $10 on stuff for a swap I'm participating in so I really didn't have anything I HAD to buy with my other $10...Great thing about our Kohl's is that they have price checkers throughout the store...Just in the off chance it was on sale I scanned.....

On sale for $17.99 WOO HOO...This baby cost me under $10...I was so excited...and since I was saving a few bucks I treated myself to the TransSiberian Orchestra CD they had at the front for only $5, and that $5 went to charity YAY!! Overall a SUCCESSFUL trip...and Chuck loves it too!

Anyone else score any great deals lately??

Diet Soda in Cake???

Who knew that you could add soda to a cake?? I certaintly didn't and even when I first heard that I was too chicken to try. But I came across the recipe once again Gina's Skinny Recipes and knew I had to try it.

Super simple...all you need is a cake box mix, a diet soda (I used lemon lime), and two egg whites!

Mix the cake mix, egg whites, and soda together (you only need 10 oz of soda, FYI an entire can is 12 oz)

When the cake mix and soda mixture fizzed and bubbled I was a little put off...could this really be good when it looks like a science experiment?

Pop it in the oven as directed on the cake box....here's hoping.........

You are supposed to cut into 12 pieces but I cut it into about 16 or 18 pieces. We wanted to try it two different ways and neither of us wanted big pieces...

First piece was topped with some whipped cream, fat free of course, like the recipe recommended.

Then we took another piece and sprinkled some confectioners sugar on it.

Can you say DELICIOUS!! Both ways were fantastic and the cake was AMAZING!! Who knew that soda and cake mix could actually turn out to be a good combination? I was a non believer but I'm whistling a different tune now!

Even better was I took the leftovers to work and it was devoured in one day. I can't wait to try other cake mixes...next ones will be Strawberry with Diet Lemon Lime and then Chocolate with Diet coke!

Everyone must try this recipe!!