Introducing Krimpet Karnackle ChickChickadick

Holiday music on Pandora?  Check.

Hot cocoa & marshmallows? Check.

Fireplace cranked up? Check.

Holiday specials DVR'd to watch with Doodle? Check.

Holiday crafting begun (and almost finished)? Check.

Christmas gifts purchased/made? Check.

My holiday season has begun!! Popop, D and I have started watching the holiday specials and decorating the house. D works his crazy overnight shift until Christmas Eve so Popop and I are on our own for holiday activities. I spent a whole snowy Saturday in jammies with Aunt Jessa crafting. I made ribbon topiary trees while Doodle, Roo and Aunt Jessa painted hand made ornaments.

D, Popop and I watched the animated Christmas special Elf On The Shelf. I LOOOVED it! It was adorable and a great way to bring a little fun to every morning during the holiday season! I had mentioned watching the show to Aunt Jessa and she happened to have a coupon for the EOTS because that sucker is EXPENSIVE!!! He ranges between $30-$80 depending on where you buy him!! I figured I'd wait until after the holidays and pick him up for next year.  Apparently a big elf heard that I was in the market for an Elf and whispered it in Santa's ear.

 

Santa's kookiest elf

Santa made an exception and sent an elf to our house even though we have no children...yet.  I would like to present our Elf Scout, Krimpet Karnackle ChickChickadick.

 

D gave our elf his first name after one of our favorite TastyKakes from NJ and Popop and I gave him his middle name and last name. Karnackle is Armenian for Elf and ChickCHickadick is a bastardization of the Czeck word for elf.

 

Krimpet Karnackle ChickChickadick has already explored one of our trees by the fireplace and hidden on top of the fridge for Popop to find. I am estatic to start this tradition and can't wait to share the holiday magic with our family!

 

Our Turkey Day Update!

Our Turkey, HOMEMADE Green Bean Casserole & Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole

I am thankful for many things and this past weekend has reminded me of how lucky D and I truly are. Last year, we had Chinese from the frozen section of our local grocery store, pop tarts, pop, and chips. The year before that, we struggled to find a meal because we didn't realize that NOTHING was open on Thanksgiving. The year before that, we had a feast of turkey, pies, rolls and all the fixin's. What happened those two years of crappy Thanksgiving dinners?! I'll tell you what happened-loneliness.

D & I enjoyed a HUGE dinner with family and friends the year before we left Jersey. Popop had every imaginable food and drink available to us because he knew it would be a while before we came back to see him. When it came to our first Thanksgiving without our family around, we figured we'd keep it low key; go see a movie and hit a restaurant. Unfortunately, nothing was open. The second year around we knew to stock up on groceries and movies and just chill inside our house. This year, we celebrated big. This year, we have family close to us and friends close enough to be family.

We bought a turkey (BOGO, baby!!), I tried new recipes for homemade green bean casserole (no cans in sight! Fresh green beans and sauce made from scratch!) and fresh, homemade sweet potato casserole (Uh...AMAZING!!) made with maple syrup and bourbon. Popop showed me the secret recipe for his stuffing and we enjoyed the holiday together.

Even though there was a nasty bug going around and Aunt Jessa, Doodle, Roo, & Uncle Josh weren't able to come over, we enjoyed our time spent together. D, typical man that he is, watched tv while Dad and I toiled in the kitchen. In the end, we had a wonderful meal and learned a lot about each other. I'm including two lists-Things I'm Thankful For and Things We Will Do Differently Next Time! Hope you enjoyed your holiday as much as we did!

D enjoying his spot on the couch...He's lucky he burns WATER!

Hmm...am I the Easter Bunny? Bunny ears + eggs = Hippity Hop



Popop and I get a little happy while cooking!



Things We Will Do Differently Next Time:

Make the sides ahead of time

Wash as we cook

Wear aprons

Decorate more

Play music as we cook

Drink more

Crack open the Cranberry Wine during dinner (we forgot about it!!)

Stuff the turkey

NOT COOK THE GIBLETS!!! They smell GROSS!

Things I Am Thankful For:

A wonderful husband who adores me and supports me

Goals to work towards

Dreams to plan

A wonderful family that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!!

Having the day of and the day after off

A great job that allows me to afford extravagant holidays

Friends that love me for who I am

White meat

Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving

Our new Traditions

You better be nice!! Santa's Elves are everywhere!! Even in Target on Black Friday!!

Christmas Shopping!!!

 D and I were talking last night about what our Xmas budget was and what we wanted to do. We were mulling over doing just stockings or a big gift that everyone in the house could use (He wants a freezer and I want a tent!! ) but still haven't made a decision. Since we're on a tight budget in order to be able to afford our adoption and our vow renewal this year we're limiting how we are going to celebrate.
We have agreed not to spend more than $100 per person and fill up a stocking and put gifts under the tree. The gifts aren't the important part to me. I WANT A CHRISTMAS TREE! Our last tree was destroyed by the Minions of Furry Doom aka our cats and we have yet to buy a replacement. That is my goal on Black Friday-find a beautiful tree for less than $100. I've been a busy little beaver slowly buying ornaments and I'm about to start my Christmas Crafting for our Tree Trimming Party that is coming up.

We're doing a candy cane theme for our tree this year. This theme is perfect for putting simply wrapped gifts under the tree! I'm sort of a Christmas Tyrant. Everything has to match and look good together! We will probably wrap with brown packing paper and add pretty tags..nothing too fancy. I don't want the presents to take away from the tree.
Speaking of presents, I'm THRILLED to share this wonderful resource for Xmas shopping with you! Make your gifts count twice when you purchase from Christmas Frenzy! Not only do you get a fabulous gift to give, your purchase makes an adoption THIS MUCH CLOSER to happening! Check it out and make sure you buy some awesome stuff!

Wait..there are only 100 days until Xmas?!?!?

Yeah...I know, right?! ONE HUNDRED DAYS! Our halloween decorations are hung, our Halloween party is planned, we're starting to think about Thanksgiving and WHAM! We realize it's only 100 days until Christmas!
D and I talked about our budget last night and made our christmas list of who we're sending gifts to and how much we're spending. We are super excited to have Popop out here for the holidays again! We'll have a tree trimming party, bake cookies with Aunt Jessa and her family, have a huge dinner, open stockings and gifts, go carroling, shop in the Old Market while the Dickens players are out and go to the tree lighting ceremony!
Family, stuffing, friends, shopping, sparkly lights, glittered names on stockings, the smell of pine, the tinkle of ornaments, the smell of turkey roasting, the bright faces of people waiting to open their gifts, the satisfaction of picking the PERFECT gift for someone you love, the preppy christmas card pictures, the tear of wrapping paper, the bewildered look on the cats' faces, the rush of people all in good moods because it's THE SEASON to be happy, the fireplace full of warmth, snuggling with D under a blanket with a cup of cocoa while watching all the xmas specials...these are all things I look forward to and can't wait to share with my child.