Prepping for the Parental Invasion

Right now, I am watching the Humanitarian Bowl on TV and tracking my parents’ flight, which is expected to land in the next hour or so. Today has consisted of a lot of cleaning and prepping for the visit. (Although I was able to make some significant progress on a few Amy Butler sewing projects.)

I am excited for their visit since I haven’t seen them since August. Their visits always force me to plan fun things to do in Philly and I can’t wait to explore the area once again!

Post-holiday Projects

I am never allowed to complain about being bored. Right now, I have so many ideas running through my head about projects and other things to do that I don’t ever see how I’ll ever be sitting around twiddling my thumbs.

Sometimes I think the post-holiday time of year is the best time. I have stacks of books I can’t wait to read, I have home decoration ideas for after the holiday decorations are packed away, and I have oodles of nonholiday- and nongift-related projects.

I’ve posted a few pics related to post-Christmas winter projects that I have already started.

First, Steve and I enjoyed spending a few gift cards this weekend to revive our somewhat neglected bedroom. I decided that, since we’ll be celebrating our third wedding anniversary this week, it was time to take down our wedding pictures in the bedroom. We’ve enjoyed so many activities and moments together since our wedding day that I don’t want to be held to that one moment in time forever (although we had one heck of a wedding). We also took down the big gawky mirrors on our hand-me-down dresser and bought a much smaller, sleeker mirror;  framed the card I received from Steve for our anniversary last year that features a Ward Hooper print of Idaho Sweetheart Coffee; and ditched a lot of the clutter on our dresser. These small changes really make our room seem bigger and much more put together.

Second, in addition to sprucing up rooms in the house before my parents arrive in a few days, I am super excited to begin working on some new craft/art projects in 2009. Given that I am only six months away from finishing graduate school, I am salivating at the idea that I may actually have time to work on some large-scale projects again in the near future. Therefore, I am coveting my new project journal given to me by my brother and his girlfriend. Not only is the journal appropriate for my interests, it features art from Nikki McClure, an artist from Olympia, Washington, where my brother went to college. I absolutely love her artwork and, as you can see by a picture I posted, I have long displayed art from one of her old calendars in our bedroom.

Handmade Gifts

I wanted to bring special attention to a few special handmade gifts that we received at Christmas this year. First, I have posted pics of a calendar my mom sent that features pastel drawings done by herself and her longtime friend, Dee. Second, I posted a pic of the hand-knit socks my mom made for Steve. Third, I posted a pic of the handmade bath salts and lipbalms that Steve made for me.

Let’s Go to the Mall!

Well, I am sure that I am not the only person who went to a mall yesterday. I may be the only one who will admit it, but I know that there were thousands of people out with me at the King of Prussia Mall yesterday. In fact, when I spoke to my mom, who lives 2,000 miles away, she mentioned that several national news organizations were filming from the KOP mall.

Now, I don’t go out to malls more than a few times a year, but yesterday Steve and I had to go out for two reasons: One, I needed to get out of the house and get some exercise. Two, I always think of the day after Christmas as “National Buy What You Want Day.” This happens to many of us who have not purchased items for ourselves in a few months and who are now desperate to reoutfit and reorganize our dowdy lives. Plus, now we know what were in those beautiful packages to us under the tree, and it’s time to buy some things that would complement our other new things. (I am sure this is a very American philosophy.)

Needless to say, I had a lot of success at KOP, despite crazy lines and harried shoppers. I bought a new winter coat (my black pea coat that I have been wearing for five-plus years is now officially retired), some outfits for going out this winter, and a beer (well, I didn’t take this home but I did enjoy it while I was out). I then promptly went home and ordered two pairs of shoes online. And I thought the spending tear was over!

Holiday Wrap-up

Well, I can tell that I am ready to move on from Christmas. So far, I’ve spent the morning cleaning out mail bins, updating my iPod, writing thank-you notes, and loading pictures onto my new digital photo frame. After I am finished with this post, I plan to make sure we stop getting paper statements on our bills. I figure I might as well start new year’s resolutions now.

We may be hosting people tomorrow night and my parents are visiting next week, so there’s no time like the present to begin tidying and updating rooms.

I hope to start some new projects this weekend: I’ve cut out a few pieces of fabric for a new purse and am really excited because my local fabric store will be having a 20 percent off everything sale next week when my mom arrives in town.

However, before I completely move on from the holiday, let me go over a few highlights:

Christmas Eve was nice: we made Peanut Soup (a family tradition) and mushroom and cheese brioche (see pics below).

Christmas day was low-key: we opened presents in the afternoon, ate a tasty polenta eggplant lasagna and a simple tiramisu.

Overall, Steve and I had a great time making the last month festive and fun. I am looking forward to January and hope to exercise more, read more, and relax more. We’ll see how it goes!

A Low-Key Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I am stuffed to the gills and looking forward to turning in early tonight. It’s been a nice, low-key Christmas this year. Steve worked until mid afternoon today, so we didn’t get our gift opening started until a few hours ago.

It was a great Christmas, and I am excited to have some free time in the next few weeks. I can’t wait to get focused on new projects and new activities. I’ll be sure to keep you updated!

Poinsettias and Food

One more day of work and then the holidays really begin!

Tonight we’re feasting on a black bean pie and watching the Poinsettia Bowl.

Go BSU!

Feasting, Day 2

Well, it wasn’t much work, but we made a delicious dinner tonight. It was sandwich and movie night at our house. Thanks to Joe, we got to watch “Finding Sarah Marshall” tonight, which really beat going out to a movie as it is twenty degrees outside.  We also noshed on sandwiches made with sourdough bread (always a family treat during the holidays!). The sammies were awesome!

And some good news . . . I ended up with great grades this semester. I’ve actually surprised myself!

Cookies and Cats

We had fun baking some cookies this weekend, and, as you can see, the cats are very involved in our holiday activities.

The Eating Begins

Steve and I decided to make special meals every night this week, and we had a great time planning and shopping for our meals this weekend. It’s my thought that the holiday week needs to be remarkable for many reasons, and delicious food is an important factor. I also like to cook food that incorporates a lot of vegetables and other healthy elements so I can eat as many cookies after dinner and feel less guilty(!).

We started this official holiday week with a recipe from Moosewood Cookbook by Molly Katzen. I love the Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, New York. It was really fun to live in Ithaca for three-and-a-half years and dine at the restaurant regularly.

I whipped up Katzen’s Mexican Pepper Casserole, which incorporated different types of bell peppers, onions, yogurt, sour cream, and jack cheese. It was a delicious and comforting dish that I am sure we will make again.