Da,da-da, dum. Da, da-da, dum...

"...merry, merry, christmas!" "Christmas is here..."

Two days before Christmas Dom and I ventured to Kansas City and saw the Trans Siberian Orchastra. It was a sold out show and let me tell you...there were a TON of people there!

We had seats on the floor (which we decided next time it wasn't worth the extra couple dollars cause everyone one the floor is at the same level so ....if your' short like me then its not that cool!) We were cozily sandwhiched between some folks in our row - the seats on the floor were veery close together and seamed smaller than your normal sized floding chair. lol Anyway, the show beagn and we were awed (well I wasn't so much but everyone else seemed to be) with lights and long haired musicians (yes, guys and girls with very long hair)! They are known for thier light show - I wasn't too into crazy laser lights but it was an interesting spin on thier...group. Personally, I thought they went a little over board with the lights but thats just my opinion! I wasn't so keen on the constant hair flipping (by both guys and girls) while playing but again just a little off the scale for me... They music was good, for the most part - definitely A LOT heavier in person than I have heard on the cd or radio. Thier new album I guess they are putting out is called Night Castle (this is only their second album, yes they have been popular off thier one cd for the past 15 years...!) and they gave us a sampling of it and thats kinda when I was like, ok when is this going to be over....they had a stage full of flames that were sycronized to the music, but its just....not my style. Not sure if any of you have heard them or even like them but I thought I did and they still do have a couple songs on the cd that are nice but I would not be one of those people that go and see them every year. I saw them once and would not care to see them again. I know Dom enjoyed the lights and he enjoyed them but in the end, its just not quiet my cup of tea. (but I am glad I saw them because now I have wanted to see them in the past when they had come to Syracuse and whatnot - now I know)

Here's Dom and I at the show...He took a picture even though they were very admint about taking pictures. (some people werent even allowed in with thier cameras ...thankfully the security guard that checked our pockets just said don't take them out...bad Dominic... it was only one ;) )

Joyful Spirits, Baking Goodness!

Dom & I made a list of four items to bake this Christmas season. He chose Toffee & Chocolate Covered Pretzel Sticks - I chose Peanut Butter Balls & Sugar Cookies. One night we decided to have our friends over for dinner and then we made the sugar cookies with them (a kid-friendly activity). We had some other friends stop over as well which made it all the more merrier! We rolled out the dough and cut all the shapes. Then we baked them and made three bowls of colored frosting. Once the cookies were cooled we frosted and sprinkled them and made them all different! It was lots of fun and the cookies were soooo yummy! Everyone took part in the fun in some way or another - even if it was just taste-testing! :)

Byron, helping me roll out some dough

Melissa & Izzy making some fun shapes

Tammy & Timmy cutting out some shapes

Some of the adults finishing the decorating after the kids had enough...they decided to watch Tom & Jerry cartoons and laugh hysterically in the livingroom...kids find things funny so easily!

Some of the finished COOKIES!

Local Business' with Familiar Faces

Teresita's Sew Creative, owned and operated by (our very own) Jennifer Zapp, was announced in the St Mary's Star today!

She made front page, first article! She has been opened for some time now but has kept herself low key until she could get things going first. If your local, stop in and see the shop - it's very darling in there - if you're not local - she has a website:

http://www.teresitasewcreative.vpweb.com/

Also, there is another new local shop in town now owned by Teresa Morgali - "Mommy Knows Best." This is a baby store here on the outskirt of town. I haven't been in there yet but I hear they have all kinds of stuff including maternity clothing and the likes as well as new and used kid clothing and furniture.

It's so neat to know that the little town of St Marys is building and becoming more self sufficient.. in that now instead of having to drive to Topeka JUST for a needle... now you can just stop by the Sew shop for one. It's just really neat to see shops opening (especially by people you know) and making our town a little more self sufficient and making it not a necessity to drive all the way to Topeka for everything!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year ! ! !

Hope you all had a blessed Christmas and have had a good and holy start to the New Year! Life definitely picks up its pace during the holidays. This Christmas was another "first" for Dom and I as it was our first Christmas together. Some of you may know that we tried last year but due to the snowy weather in Syracuse and surrounding areas, I was un-able to fly out to spend the holiday with Dom - thats ok though. It made it even more special for us this year. :)

On Christmas Eve it began to snow about 11 o'clock in the morning and continued snowing all day and all night... in fact, I believe it snowed continually till the day after Christmas! For all those singing, "I'm dreaming of a white...Christmas!" you definitely got your wish this year! I had to admit, I was hoping for a white one as well. On our way to Mass we got stuck but thanks to some friendly folks passing by gave us a hand and we (well Dom) were able to help some others when Mass was over. It was definitly an added twist on the excitement of Christmas! Anyway, to make a long story short we had Christmas dinner at the parental units house and everyone was able to make it... so yes, it was a full house! It was a wonderful Christmas....

Next came New Years and my dear friend Meg was in town so we got to celebrate the end of the year with her and some other friends and then ventured back to town here and brought in the New Year with a holy hour at the Church - what better way to end a year and bring in the new one, right?

In the past, back in the younger days, I would always take a piece of Bristol (a thick paper) and draw the highlights of that year on it... I think I have about four of them. I would spend new years eve thinking of all the wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful things that had happened. This year was very easy for me... I got married to not only the LOVE of my life, but my BEST friend... It simply was the best of the year!

I hope you all have had a wonderful end of the year 2009 and hope that this new year of 2010 will bring you much happieness and will be a year of holiness and good health.

May our tiny King, born in the bitter cold, and for Whom there was no room at the inn, find a place in our hearts and fill our lives with gratitude and the gift of joy!

Sledding Excurtion

It was a cold day in December when a snow storm came through the small town of St. Mary's. It had been years since there had been so much snow.... It was surely a time to take advantage and enjoy the beautiful white snow that had completly danced across our town! We went ... SLEDDING!

(Me & Cecilia, my sister in law)

We went down the big hill behind the in laws house. It was fun taking the four wheeler up to the top and then sledding down... actually I didn't care so much for it cause one, it was a LONG walk up the hill again... lol and the snow was coming down so hard that you couldn't keep your eyes open while going down the hill so you couldn't see where you were going so therefore... you would fall off your sled! However, it was fun overall and the snow was so pretty!

Dom & Christopher (my brother in law) un-tieing the sleds from the four wheeler

"O Christmas Tree, O..."

Last night Dom & I went on another "first" adventure - It's so much fun having "firsts"....(even though the numbers are slowly dwindling! :/ ) We got our first Christmas Tree together... Its still very bare but we are letting it rest and the branches fall. We are going to move it in front of our window. I will let you know what it looks like once it is all decorated and ready to be lit to celebrate the Birth of Our Lord!

"Things To Do Before I Turn 30"

It was about 5 years ago (so when I was about 20-21) when I was attending college in a small town in the middle (not literally) of Kansas. I was at my friend Kate's house with another friend Annie and I can't exactly remember what we were doing that day but I do remember that we made a list of things we all wanted to do before we turned 30. I am not sure if the other two have kept thier list or not but I have kept mine... I found it one other time (probably during a move or something) and then stumbled acr0ss it today. My list of things to do before I turned 30 was:

1. 
   
   Go to Europe (Ireland, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Rome, etc)


2. 
   
   Write a childrens book & illustrate it


3. 
   
   Take swing and/or Irish dance lessons


4. 
   
   Make wine (by crushing grapes under my feet)


5. 
   
   Make a beaded lampshade


6. 
   
   Learn to play the piano


7. 
   
   Start a cork collection (make a corkboard after enough are collected)


8. 
   
   Wherever I live have a flower garden with a lot of roses


9. 
   
   Get a manicure


10. 
    
    Get a pedicure


11. 
    
    Sell one of my drawings/paintings


12. 
    
    Make a candle


13. 
    
    Milk a cow


14. 
    
    Go on the Price Is Right or SuperMarket Sweep


15. 
    
    Go to an opera


16. 
    
    See a tornado


17. 
    
    Lay in the middle of a field under a blanket of stars with good friends, a bottle of wine, cigarettes & poetry


18. 
    
    Ride a camel


19. 
    
    Jump on a moving train


20. 
    
    Get married

Ok, Well I have not completed them all and all of them I do not think I will do... Mainly because they would not be on my list if I were to make one today. Lets see...I have completed nine of them! Thats pretty good I would say as I have not had this to follow or mark off... Just things that in time were completed. Kind of neat to look back and think of the time when I had not thought I would do some of the things on the list. So far I have:

• Gone to Europe - Went traveling around Poland on my honeymoon, hence I ...


• 
  
  Got Married


• 
  
  I started a cork collection about 2 or 3 years ago


• 
  
  Have gotten a manicure & pedicure


• 
  
  I milked a cow at the Neiders farm


• 
  
  I have been to a couple of opera's - one was in NYC & we saw The Phamtom of the Opera


• 
  
  I have been wine drinking in a field with friends and cigs


• 
  
  Have made a candal

Of all the things left to do on the list (which I still have a good four years to do...) I don't think I really want to write and illustrate a childrens book anymore; it would be a neat thing to do but... I can't see myself doing that... The taking the swing or irish dance lessons... I can do a little of both in the amateur way and I like those ways just fine...so what need to take the lessons? The making the wine... very well may be done because the hubby found a wine maker kit - but one that I wouldnt have to crush any grapes beneath my feet which I would like so much better! I could very well see myself making the beaded lampshade, definitely seems feasible. The learning to play piano... well you never know, I have four years and besides I can read basic music so in a way I have learned to play over the years... just nothing too fancy thats all! Lets see... the whole flower garden and roses thing... I get fresh flowers from time to time but I don't live in a place to have a garden so until that day comes when I do.. that one won't be completed. This whole Price is Right or Supermarket Sweep - Well I don't want to be on the Price is Right anymore cause Drew Carey is the host and I don't particularly care for him that much and the whole show is just not the same so I have no desire to be a contestant... and the Supermarket Sweep doesnt exist anymore. As some of or well I would think all of you know I live in Kansas ... so chances of seeing a tornado could be possible - even though hubby has lived here all his life and never seen one! As for riding a camel or jumping on a moving train... I would say well the riding the camel I will haev to go to Egypt for and I don't think we plan on that in the next four years - and the moving on a jumping train was merely a fad at the time I wrote the list. I don't think that idea really intrests me at all today. Would it intrest you? Besides, I have become more "chicken" if you will in my later years of becoming more wiser and I would be too afraid of getting in trouble for doing it... mroe so than I would be afraid of getting hurt. lol Even though it should be the other way around.

Well, that is my list and what I have and haven't done and what seems feasible to accomplish within the next fours years before I turn thirty. Hubby and I started a bucket list while we were dating and since have checked off and added more things to do... before we "kick the bucket"...if you will. Its nice to have. It keeps life intresting and keeps you looking forward to new adventures and having dreams... dreams, adventures and life to live together. Do any of you have a "bucket list" or "things to do before..."lists or have you ever had one or ever wanted to have one?

Banana Muffins

Yum!! I tried a new recipe for banana muffins yesterday. They turned out quiet yummilicious! Their form was adorable - and the consistency - texture inside was nice and soft and moist yet all together! I was pleased with the end result!

heheh I do have to tell you that the recipe said not to over stir the batter - like three times it said that so I was like ok...no overstirring the batter! So, don't you know I mixed the dry ingredients in with the wet mixture and was like ok... the recipe says it will be thick but ... I couldn't even get all the flour mixture folded in! I knew something was not right but was like hmmm... well I could either add a splash of milk or beat the mixture together... So, I continued to mix the batter together - thinking the whole time, this is way over mixing!

Suddenly, I had a revelation! I saw the carton of large eggs sitting on the counter... a full dozen - none missing. I had forgotten about the two large eggs! So, needless to say - I then had to get the eggs incorporated into the batter! So much for NOT over mixing. I thought they turned out jsut fine though. It wasn't like they were heavy like rocks - in fact they were on the light side but I am guessing the less mixing together allows for more air and thus would make them more fluffy?

Cold Day In Pink

I loved how I got the comment, "Is it because you're here that we got so much snow and cold weather?!" lol I had to laugh but really... I am excited we got snow here and excited that it's the most snow they have had in years! I have to also admit I was hoping, not even praying, for a lot of snow... Makes you realized how much God really DOES know what we want and need! It was funny cause I was so disappointed in hearing the same ole line, "We never get a lot of snow here and if we do it melts by the next day..." And then all of a sudden ... :) It's exciting. It makes me happy. Even if it is the most snow here I will see for another 6 years!

Speaking of snow and cold... Ok so there isn't any heat at my friends shop. lol yes, thats correct. No heat... yet of course. She just dresses warm and wears her coats or scarves most of the time. lol You must think she is crazy but I am convinced she will get heat soon...Anyway, I was down helping her for a little and well today...with the wind chill I believe the lady on the radio said it was minus twelve - Yes, -12 degrees! So, it's cold out... and therefore that makes it even colder for us in the little shop. We had snow/frost/ice on the INSIDE of the door today! Don't worry something is going to be done... But anyway... so today are fingers were so cold etc and my friend I work with said, "Hey don't they say that whiskey or something warms you up?" I was like yes... and she holds up a big bottle of Whiskey! So, she filled our coffee cups (that had coffee in them already) with the delicious, yet shimming shaking whiskey! It did help believe it or not..for a little that is... then it was just ok - its too cold in here. We managed to stay till the shop closed with new ideas for warmth tomorrow... We shall see how it goes! Until then... Buh Byes!

PS It was cool today cause I wanted to wear my "pink" (kinda a coral color) boots cause they are comfy and warm for the most part... so I had on my knee high, pink striped socks with the boots (they were a little visible) a knee length black comfy skirt and a pale pink sweater...and to top it off I added my pink scarf! I was like hmm how many more shades of pink can I wear today?! lol Just something I wanted to share!

Wondering Tidbits From My Brain

1. Wondering if the pizza dough I made a week ago is going to thaw in time to roll it out and make pizza for dinner. Was this a smart idea? I should've just made some fresh, but thats why I froze some so I woulnd't have to make it every time...
2. Thinking of all the delicious things I want to make like:

• cinnamon rolls or those ones I saw on Picky-Palate that were pumpkin rolls...mmmm!
• sugar cookies made from a recipe that makes them thick and chewy!
• my chrstmas skirt - well maybe its not delicious but it's something I want to make!
• rum balls - my mom used to make them and I found a recipe that seems to be what she used to make (I think anyway?!????)
• fudge - Dom and I are planning on making some...I just can't wait to actually make some and taste it! Hopefully it will turn out right!

1. (this stupid thing won't follow my format...so it is back to number one.. :( ) Wanting to get a good cook book and make all the recipes in it - like Julie did from Julie & Julia, which I saw last night - it inspired me. It was a good movie I think, I enjoyed it anyway.
2. Thinking of all the thank you notes I have to address now that I have my list of addresses again! Hmmm when am I going to get to that....
3. When am I going to get to do laundry again? The basket is getting full - that will be fun to lug in the snow!
4. Its pretty darn cold outside with the wind whipping around like it is! It took me a half hour to warm up and dig out my car this morning! Most snow Kansas (well St Marys) has gotten in years they say! Kinda cool as I was missing the snow in Syracuse... but I am good now. :)
5. Cant wait to get the rest of the wedding pictures developed and an album to put them in - that will be fun!
6. Wondering if I am going to finish the book(s) I was planning on reading during Advent!

I think thats all thats going through my brain at the moment...