What’s a blog without a year in review post?? Probably infinitely more interesting and engaging, but WTH lets give it a whirl. Thanks to Heather at Hopelessly Flawed, and all those who joined in before her, for the nudge to post.
So before the year is officially over I better get at it…
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Started a blog, worked in the snack shack at baseball, grew garlic in my garden, painted cabinets, made freezer jam and bought a vehicle sight unseen via an internet auction.
2. Did you keep your New Years resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t really set any resolutions other than hey the holidays are over time to get back to reality, clean the place up and stop eating so many desserts.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My sister-in-law gave birth to my cute little niece Lucy, and my friend gave birth to a great little guy named Cooper!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Only those in my dreams.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Focus.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory? Why?
Dates, um no dates for me…well except for those random “date nights” Mr B&W and I have.
As far as dates on the calendar, well November 11 was memorable because AJ turned 11 on 11/11.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Keeping the budget in line and making it work.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not conquering the clutter monster.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well no, unless you consider sore joints from too much shoveling an injury.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new-to-me minivan. It’s loaded & it rocks. (and the boys can easily be separated)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
AJ had a great year with High Honor Roll, a Baseball Championship, Sportsmanship Award and a golden Birthday.
Bubba deserves credit for a fabulous start to his first school year, and no trips to the principal, yet.
G-Man had a great internship and is poised to graduate on schedule and make 2010 memorable too.
Mr B&W gets kudos for keeping it all together and working his butt off for us.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some real loser teenagers that think killing random people is somehow fun. UGH disgusting, appalling and depressing.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Money, what money?
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My youngest starting Kindergarten and him being really into it.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
You Spin me Round (Like a Record Baby) by Dead or Alive. Bubba sings and dances to it incessantly so it is now permanently etched in my mind.
17. Compared to this same time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
Who said we were supposed to be keeping track?
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Play with the boys, listen, exercise, declutter, and finish all the projects I started.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinate.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family at home, reveling in the magic and joy on their faces.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I fall in love with my guys over and over when I look at their cute faces. I am sappy that way.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Well now that The Shield is over I’d have to go with House. Although Survivor and Jeopardy are family must-watch TV shows.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t really go around saying I hate people. But I am sure there are some bozos who probably deserved it, like pedophiles, wife beaters and psycho teenage killers.
24. What was the best book you read?
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, really makes you think about what you eat.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That I play a pretty mean base on Guitar Hero World Tour. Oh, and I don’t really know EVERY word to all the songs I thought I did.
26. What did you want – and get?
More time with my husband. (isn’t self employment great?)
27. What did you want – and not get?
No snow.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I did not see very many new movies, so the re-release of The Dark Knight would have to be it.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Officially I turned 47 this year, so yeah all I recall is the delicious Chocolate truffle cake with raspberry sauce.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeausurably more satisfying?
If it were 75° and sunny all the time.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I embodied the Mom-on-the-Go style thanks to Angie at You look Fab.
32. What kept you sane?
Mr B & W and those random margaritas.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I am not big on fawning over celebs, but I do enjoy watching Gordon Ramsey rant and rave.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I would have to say healthcare. It bothered me terribly that so many people with coverage think everything is fine, which for them maybe it is, but seem to not care that many people do not have affordable healthcare, or any at all.
35. Who did you miss?
I miss G-man and AJ when they are not at home.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
AJ’s new social studies teacher! She is super nice and has a clue.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Don’t drink wine with Shelly.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Another one Bites the Dust
Alrighty then, now it is your turn…go ahead it’ll make you think, and maybe grumble a little too. Post to let me know you joined in, and the Comment Luv will link you up.
Happy New Year!
Now that Christmas has come and all the presents have been unwrapped, it’s time to review that list of presents to see what was worth it, what did not pan out as expected, and what was a surprise favorite. Maybe that will help any of you thinking of buying some of these goodies in the future!
So here’s the roll call of gifts (links provided for your convenience, and not my gain!):
AJ:
Smokin’ hot favorite…bonus being it has an antenna and brings in 7 channels to the room without any cable hookups! Well actually for him 6 channels because he won’t be watching the Worship channel anytime soon. WORTH IT
This one was really a family gift, but AJ is rockin’ out on the bass and hoggin’ the mic! Guess the apple does not fall far from the tree. G-Man is a natural on lead guitar, and Mr B&W can bang those drums. WORTH IT
Well his is actually blue striped…but you get the idea. I think he loves it because it is like one “the Chief” wears. SURPRISE FAVORITE
Card full of money from Grandma:
Definitely a bigger hit than a box of random stuff from the dollar store or a sweater 3 sizes too small. When you are far away it is hard to get a pulse on the wants & needs of the grandchildren. So in this case, having money to help get that new catcher’s mitt is WORTH IT.
Bubba:
Number one item on his list was something from John Deere…I think this was a big surprise, and as you can see he had fun with it! Who cares that the ground is covered with snow and ice? We thought he could fill the back up and sand the road for us.
Santa really got a deal on Craigs list. WORTH IT!
Legos were another list item, but it is not Lego CITY, so minor disappointment. What were you thinking, Santa? The box has yet to be opened, so we will see about this one. This may have to fall under NOT AS EXPECTED.
Ummm not his gift, but he has played it far more than the intended recipient (although she loves it too).
So for him this is definitely a SURPRISE FAVORITE.
Also he got a Trapper Hat, and has been wearing it out and about as well. His is fleece with faux Sherpa inside. Another SURPRISE FAVORITE.
Mr. B & W:
When he saw the plain box simply sporting the word ROKU he had no idea what it was, and the picture of popcorn on top made him think he just got some yummy Japanese popcorn…big surprise when he saw what it really was. Being able to watch Movies and TV shows downloaded from Amazon Video on Demand or streaming Netflix makes this a great gift. Getting a free $30 in Amazon Video on Demand credits makes it even better! (I am sensing a future review post on this one ) Definitely WORTH IT for me and for him, a SURPRISE FAVORITE!
There are plenty of other gifts that sort of fell into the middle of the road category…but AJ is away for a few days, so not everything of his has been thoroughly inspected. I am sure we will soon have another list of Faves & Duds after the tree is gone and the dust settles.
What were the favorites, duds or surprise hits for your family this year?
Other than clothes that did not fit, do you do returns for gifts?
Whoah where has all the time gone? I start counting down to Christmas and next thing you know 2 weeks out has suddenly turned into 2 days out! YIKES! Today I hit that on Vacation button to my Amazon store and took a deep breath, knowing I did not have to ship another last minute Christmas gift and sweat whether it arrives on time.
Now I think I have all my shopping done, but then again Mr B&W present is the only one not yet in my possession. Needless to say I am now obsessed with the “track your package” button on Amazon!
How is your shopping going? Are you done?
How about wrapping? Please do not tell me you were done with that weeks ago. I sort of enjoy the last minute Christmas Eve wrapping where I sip my eggnog (spiked of course) and debate with Mr B&W which gifts were Santa’s and which were ours. The big guy (meaning Santa 
) cannot get all the credit.
Once the holiday weekend has passed I have a couple reviews and giveaways to post…think shopping and kids food!
Have a wonderful holiday!
As if the 12″ of snow this week was not enough to get us into the Christmas spirit, baking coolies sure sealed the deal.
It all started a few days ago when Bubba wanted to make “Stoplight” cookies. So we whipped up a batch of dough, rolled it out, cut into circles and sprinkled some red, some yellow and some green. Then lined them up in a row like a stop light before we could eat them.
AJ, being a little grumpy the next day said we should have made Christmas cookies, and said he’d help make some. Lucky him, we had saved some dough in the refrigerator!
Fast forward to the next day when we suddenly get dumped on with a foot of snow! Perfect day for making cookies. Bubba was happy to help, AJ suddenly found that playing FIFA soccer on the Wii was far more exciting. (ha you think you are getting any cookies now mister?)
Behold the final product, beautifully decorated as only a 5 year old can:
Christmas Ornament Cookies
(adapted from Treasury of Christmas, 3 cookbooks in 1)
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
¾ cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon orange extract (recipe calls for almond, but the boys don’t like it)
assorted sugars, candies or decors
Place flour & salt in medium bowl; stir to combine. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl with mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla and extract. Gradually add flour mixture and beat on low until well blended. Divide dough in half, cover and refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm.
Preheat oven to 350° F. Take one portion of dough and roll out onto lightly floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutters. Reroll the trimmings and cut out more shapes. Place cookies on ungreased baking sheet. If using sugars, decorate cookies before baking (if using icing or frosting decorate after baking) To make cookies into ornaments for the tree, take a drinking straw and cut a hole near top of cookie so that later you can insert a ribbon for hanging.
Bake 10 -12 minutes until edges barely turn a light golden brown. (cook them any longer than that and they will be best used as ornaments & not eaten!) Let stand on cookie sheet 1 minute to cool, then remove to wire rack.
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I will try to post a recipe as we work our way through our holiday baking. I have a few favorites I make only at this time of year.
Do you have a favorite cookie recipe that you like to make for the holidays?
