Makin' Cookies

Today I made cookies.

The traditional Christmas cut-outs.

In all sorts of fun shapes and sizes!

Before the cookies I made myself some scones for breakfast,

and Katie decided chocolate chip cookies were needed as well.

So far it's been a good baking day.

I'm thinking I'll get down to scrap some things later.

Also, if you haven't seen Alex read Twilight, you should.

Whether you like the book or not

(but especially if you don't)

he has an interesting (and honest) take on the first of the saga.

Operation: Squeaky Potato

There is not much I can share about this mission,

but we made a mess.

A really really BIG mess!

We also jammed out a little.

That's right, dancin' it out while scrapbooking-

that's how I roll!

Some random thoughts to end the evening.

I (with the help of Adam) have been thinking about sports.

Specifically the future of the Sabres.

Also, I love Grier!

Stand Tall

I'm already in love with my new camera!

Can you tell?

In other news,

I'm very behind in scrapbooking.

I have stacks of pictures and

pages of sketches

that just need the time

and inspiration to make them come together.

Slowly I'm chipping away at them.

Slowly.

It's also really fun to be this far behind.

To look back and remember what I've done in the past year.

Makes me really think about what's around the corner for next year!

*Note to self!*

Get through December first.

So here's one page for today.

"Standing Tall"

When I was hiking in Colorado.

Other things that make me especially smily this week:

Christmas cookies are ready to be rolled when I get to them,

John Green was on Jeopardy,

I made a trip to Archives today,

and Chapbooks are on the horizon.

college kids on beer, and ex-girlfriends,

the Sabres won last night,

I had coffee with a kid I haven't seen in forever,

(a welcome surprise)

I'm HOME!

(in case you haven't noticed)

Oh yeah, and I'm going ice skating later today!

New Camera, Cake, and Pages

It was my mom's 29th birthday today,

again.

I made a chocolate cake!

Grandma's recipe:

(not really a secret though)

1 cup milk

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup cocoa

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 eggs

1 cup hot coffee

Heat oven to 350.

Put all ingredients into large bowl and use electric mixer to blend.

Pout into 9x12 cake pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.

It's good stuff.

Rich, and very moist!

And now . . .

for your consideration . . .

pages courtesy of my new Christmas camera!

Care Package

Next week is finals week.

The above picture is the care package from my mother.

THANKS!

So instead of stressing,

I finished my homework and decided to sit down with a cup of mint tea

and write you a blog about how beautiful this season is.

It's been snowing,

and more snow is in the forecast,

that makes me really happy.

I have nine days and then I'm home for breakfast making and stew simmering.

Also!

On a completely unrelated note:

Operation Smile so Wide it Hurts

is in final stages.

This epic long distance adventure started with this cupcake.

It ended

(or will later tonight)

with a

(hopefully)

huge smile on a special someone's face.

I mention this because the surprise has kept a smile on my face all week,

and the people of SinnersSaintsSweets deserve a shout out for how awesome they are!

Have a great hump day!

Welcoming December with Open Arms

We made snowflakes.

Drank hot dranks.

Made a Christmas Pandora channel.

Forgot about the stress of college.

Said hello to December the best way we know how.

Hope your first day was as good as the girls at Putnam.

Thanksgiving Weekend

This weekend started with a quick trip down to Chicago.

I went with the high school to go see Billy Elliot.

[Google Images]

I saw the show on Broadway in 2009,

but I like Chicago,

and I liked Billy Elliot,

so I went again.

We hit up a lot of the same spot we did the last time I went down with the school

so I didn't take a lot of pictures.

But this was in the Art Institute, on the stairs at the main entrance.

Can't really tell from the picture, but all the colored blobs are words.

After the excitement of Chicago I had a great feast with my family.

Then I got down to the business of SCRAPBOOKING!

Here are a few pages for your consideration.

Some go Waaaaaaaaaaaaay back,

but still fun to remember.

On to December!

Intrigued With Purple

[Snippet and Ink]

I said before that I sat down and worked out some cards this weekend,

while now I can't get it out of my head.

I just want to make, make, make!

All of my supplies are at home though,

so to make up for it I'm examining

color combination ideas,

layouts,

and stamps.

[Snippet and Ink]

The color that right now I'm pondering is purple.

I always associate this color with my younger years, when it was my favorite.

I'm figuring out that it's a color to be reckoned with.

It's more complicated than I originally figured.

There are so many different shades,

different feelings.

However, no matter what the shade it pops out.

Purple will not be put in a corner,

will not follow simple directions.

It follows its own drum, and I guess that could be frustrating.

I think that's why I've never really used it.

[Snippet and Ink]

But today I challenged myself.

I told myself to sit down and talk it out with this special color and make it work.

[Snippet and Ink]

It's fun!

I Still Got It!

I went home this weekend to see my sister in The Pajama Game.

(Great job by the way! It was awesome and made me smile big smiles.)

While at home I found some time to make a few cards.

This is the first one.

Whipped it up in about five minutes,

without a real plan to start with.

So . . .

I think it's safe to say:

I STILL GOT IT!

I can make cards!

Fun Times on the Home Front

I went home this weekend to spend some time with some of my favorite people.

The girls

(Katie, Claire, and I)

had a Chick Flick Movie night Friday night.

It was a little off cause the lava cake wasn't really lava-y,

and I was missing Allie and McCaulley.

(Some of the original chicks in CFMN)

The next day was a little off as well.

I drove to Point, made scones,

(that didn't hold together)

and cupcakes

(with lumpy frosting)

=(

On the brighter side!

I learned how to throw, catch, pitch, and hit a softball.

Surprisingly enough

(not really if you know me)

I made it to the age of 19 and had never hit a ball without the use of a tee.

A big thanks to Adam for helping me out with that,

no matter how much he laughed at me in the process.

Saturday evening was spent with Katie.

On a date.

We went to the Stevens Point Concert Choir's Pop Concert.

It was AWESOME!

This is Adam after his Sammy Davis Jr. medley.

And the men in their grass skirts singing The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

After the concert Katie and I got some Cold Stone shakes,

and after doing two different ice cream dances,

we sipped up our chocolate goodness in Adam's breakfast nook.

Thank you to Katie for all of the pictures!

Thanks to those who made me laugh so much it hurt.

It was great fun.

Let's do it again sometime.

=)

Chalking it Up as Another Good Weekend!

I headed to Hudson this weekend for some family fun!

I went to a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) meeting.

We made Christmas 48 trees for soldiers.

It was a pot luck and I got to make cheesecake!

After the meeting I got some time to hang out with resident young-one; Jax!

We drew with chalk . . .

made and frosted cupcakes,

(that I, sadly didn't get a picture of.) =(

played Monopoly,

and watched Toy Story 2.

Another fun filled wonderful weekend!

Apple Fun Time

I went home for the first time this past weekend.

It was super busy.

First, there was John Green.

[All Stolen off Facebook]

I almost didn't make it,

but I did miss out on the dinner.

However,

here are some pictures,

of John Green, in my library!

This is John Rick Rolling his audience (myself included) on Saturday.

And this is my (Awesome) sister getting our books signed.

(I was with my mom checking out another author.

After my excited time with John Green

(did I mention I shook his hand?!?!?!)

I got to hang out with my friends.

I took Katie out for lunch for her birthday

and then spent a super long time with Adam.

I made apple pie,

and watched Iron Man (one and two)

(really good movies!).

I played Taboo,

made tacos,

and didn't take ANY pictures.

Then I headed back to Putnam.

Now it's Tuesday,

and I made apple crisp.

Then I made Sponge Bob mac and cheese!

Have a great week!