Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Via Pinterest

Want to know all the reasons why it is the most wonderful time of the year?! It is because .....

//It is sitting by the fire time - time of the year

//It is listening to the top songs of the year lists time- time of the year

//It is only 20 days until Christmas Eve time - time of the year

//It is eating and drinking all of the pumpkin and peppermint treats (but not together) time - time of the year

//It is not forgetting to commit to your health and wellness during the hectic holidays time - time of year (especially after having one too many of the above yummies)

//It is curl up with a good book (by said fire) time - time of the year

//It is trying on wedding dresses time - time of the year. Eek. More on that experience to come later. 

//It is finishing up (or just starting) Christmas shopping for others and maybe a few things for yourself too time - time of the year

//It is listening to all of the Christmas music time - time of the year

//It is getting to spend as much time as possible with your friends and family time - time of the year

SO yeah, just a few reasons I love this time of year even if it is cold and rainy....

Cheers!

<3 BB

ps. Hi Guys! Glad you're sticking around even though I am not around nearly as often as I would like to be :)

christmas is all around me

I feel it in my fingers. I feel it in my toes. Oh man! Oh man! Christmas is all around me. Holiday Cheer is in the air people. It's official. You know what else is official, my excitement level for said Holiday Cheer.

The tree is decked. The presents are purchased and mostly wrapped. I am attempting to stay away from too many holiday treats.

And now this week's installment of things I learned this weekend. 

1) Your tree will start to die if you don't cut off the bottom and give it some new life. 

2) Fun ornaments from friends are cuter than cheap target balls. 

3) Glitter makes everything better during arts and crafts time. 

4) Holiday parties are more fun with a photo booth. 

5) DMC from Run DMC is jacked for how old he is. 

6) It takes a lot of work to actually do your hair and makeup.

7) It takes even extra work to paint your nails....but if you do paint them, make sure it's with gold glitter 

8) When you lose your DSLR's battery charger, you can't upload any of the actual photos you took of your cute Christmas tree. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

woefully unprepared

I am woefully unprepared for this little light blog of mine today. I even did fun things this weekend and yet I have nothing to show for it this freezing Monday morning. It is literally 15 degrees at the moment, but no snow - not fair - at least give me snow with my freezing temps. 

I did things like make Christmas cookies and drink Peppermint Schnapps and hot cocoa with friends, but didn't upload any of my photos off of my Nikon.I started Christmas cards, but have yet to finish them. I toured beautiful homes in West Linn including one from the Street of Dreams that was decked out in Christmas cheer and took zero pictures....and on top of it all, I didn't get a Christmas tree this weekend.  

Worst all, I don't think I am getting a Christmas tree at all.

Now before you call me a Grinch hear me out. It makes me sad, like really sad, but our living space just doesn't have the room for it. So I might get a baby one, we're talking maybe up to my waist, but I just don't know if that's what I want in my life. It's not the same. I see everyone's pictures of their big, beautifully decorated trees and I WANT IT...but I am trying to be practical. New Alert: I hate being practical....So my question is. Do I attempt something small like this: 

Or just not have a tree at all this year? There are a ton of cute ones on Pinterest. Can I pull it off?! Help me decide, guys! 

This gif has nothing to do with my post, it's just the story of my life. 

Linking up with Sami for my lack of weekend shenanigans. 

<3 BB 

Is today over yet?

It's the Monday before Thanksgiving. I forgot my phone at home. I am tired from a good weekend. I don't want to be at work. I need to pack for Indiana. It's cold out and I just want hot chocolate and a fire...Can today be over before it starts? 

Silver lining: I have my Christmas music playlist going right now. 

In other news, I went on a great hike this weekend. Went to a Blazer game on Friday night and they won, because I touched the game ball. Watched the last Timber's game of the season....and I saw Catching Fire, which was fantastic, but long. twss

You heard it from the star herself people. Now go see the movie. 

<3 BB 

ps. sorry this weekend shenanigans post is garbage. I am ready for vacation and evidently so is my phone.

Christmas Cookies!

Does anyone else feel like they were slapped in the face with Christmas and it is now gone all too soon?  I am sad it is over already, but had a wonderful Holiday that was spent with family.  We opened presents, went to Midnight Mass, and ate wayyyyy too many of these cookies...

  Swedish Cream Wafers. YUM. 

Now, I would like to pretend that this Swedish Cream Wafer recipe has been passed down for generations and generations in just our family only, but after a quick Google search, it looks like that is not the case (insert sad face).  Either way, this is probably the world's most perfect cookie that has been made every Christmas.

I mean, what more can you ask for, really? 

Perfect Frosting: check 

Pie like cookie: check 

Sandwich form: check 

Melt in your mouth delicious: check 

Our tradition is to bake the cookies a day or two early to make sure they get a chance to cool over night and  then frost them on Christmas Eve while we wait to go to church. 

Make that dough roll.  

cookie avalanche.  

 I tried to sneak in as many pictures as possible to make it look like I did something other than just eat the cookies. Mom informed me I had poor frosting form, because I was holding the knife wrong and did not add enough frosting for her taste.

Totally posing.  

The highlight of this year's cookie making was the addition of Winter Blue frosting. Normally we just go for the red and green, but I have to say the blue might have stolen the show. 

There are still plenty of leftover cookies at Grandma's, so stop by to steal some and say hi and maybe she'll share! 

Cheers to Christmas Cookies! 

<3 BB 

Cheers To Christmas Eve!

Ready or not Christmas Eve has arrived!!! This girl is excited and ready to spend some serious time with the best family in the world. Our family has plenty of traditions, starting with cookie making last night at my Aunt's. My shopping is done and the workout is in the books, so now it's time to eat, eat, and eat before heading to our midnight church service where the fambam will take up two entire pews. Then we'll head back to Grandma and Grandpa's to open our Christmas PJs, which might be my favorite part of Christmas. (The one year my mom did not get my siblings and I PJs was tragic and she made sure it never happened again.)

Hope you have a great holiday :)

Cheers,

<3 BB