Gobble Gobble and Jingle Bells

I have been so pre-occupied with trying to get recipes on here that I have neglected my blogging duties. Writing a descriptive recipe is a lot harder than I foresaw it to be. I am somewhat of a perfectionist, so between my limited computer skills and being very new to cooking, it is a challenge to satisfy my "need to get it just right" tick. Over the weekend I started to get a little burned out from this thing, so I put it down and didn't allow myself to think about it for a day or so. Monday is now here, the boys are being very good and I feel like I can take a quiet moment to put a few thoughts in writing.

Well Nate's days at community college are coming to a close, 3 days and counting. As of last night he still has a 4.0, but is a little worried about the Chemistry final, but I'm not….that man can pull an A out of you know where and I have no idea how he does it. Still waiting on something to happen job wise, but we have a few back-up plans in place, just in case. Cross your fingers.

Thanksgiving is almost upon us. A time where you will probably travel at least a little, consume more food in a few days than you would normally in a whole week and see people you haven't seen all year. Turkey (baked, smoked or fried…my family in Texas usually has one of each), ham and pies galore….ooey gooey sweet potatoes and beloved green bean casserole…stuffing, giblet gravy (no wait, that's probably just something we did, sounds gross but oh so good, just can't think too hard about what you are consuming : ) and warm rolls...creamy mashed potatoes, cookies, cranberries, and all things pumpkin, I could go on like this all day. I believe I have 3 dinners to go to this year…I know what my New Year's resolution will have to be after all that wonderful food. This will be my first Thanksgiving in years not spent with my giant family back home, which is going to be very hard; but on the flip side, it means this is the first time in years we are spending it with my husband's family. The change in traditions will be nice to revisit and I'm glad the boys have a chance to spend the holidays here. We may still have to bring the Texas spirit to Iowa and throw something on the pit, preferably a turkey or brisket. One of the biggest differences from here to there will be the weather. We have no snow on the ground yet, but I'm sure there will be by the time turkey day rolls around. I think it would be really fun if the first snowman or sled ride of the year was spent with lots of family stuffed with food. I haven't found those extra special dishes I am going to contribute to the festivities yet, but I am still looking. I think I want to try to find a twist on a classic pie, some kind of melt in your mouth bread and a great veggie something.

For the 1^st time in my entire life, I am kind of wanting to go and experience Black Friday. The thought of a gazillion people pushing and fighting over merchandise…suffocating body heat, the deafening hum of all the voices and tight crowded spaces has always made me a little nervous. For some reason, probably the fact we have been so broke for a while, I am craving the granddaddy of all shopping fixes. So if anyone has a few hundred dollars they would like to donate to my retail therapy, by all means :). Christmas shopping in general up here has always had a special feel to it for me. Maybe it's the snow….but there is nothing like braving the weather, making the hour drive to Des Moines, fighting the crowds and finishing with a good meal at a nice restaurant. Money or not, I still want to at least go window shopping this season.

Pretty soon, we will be busting out the Christmas décor. We managed to bring my 10 or so boxes of decorations in the move. I think my mother-in-law is going to let me decorate the tree this year….it's one of my favorite things to do during the holidays. At one of my floral jobs that was a big part of the business. We would professionally decorate Christmas trees for hotels, restaurants, large businesses and fancy parties. There is actually an art to it….and I love it. I would love to start a business during the holidays doing just that, which I briefly tried a few years ago, however it was a short lived due to a small disaster. I learned that unlike businesses who just want something to look beautiful, people in their homes usually want it to be sentimental as well. I was doing a tree for a lady in a huge and beautiful house. She had most of her own stuff that was high quality and actually matched, all I really had to buy to make a masterpiece was lots of beautiful ribbon. The disaster came when she pulled out a huge box of heirloom ornaments passed down from a grandmother…yeah, I broke one and needless to say, she didn't call me to do it again the following year. Lesson learned. Even though I am usually very careful with my work, I am still gun shy to try again for people I don't know. So I will relish in the opportunity to do a tree for my mother-in-law, especially since I will probably be doing it with all my own decorations. I've always dreamed of someone asking me to do a tree from scratch; giving me an unlimited budget and allowing me to go and buy everything new…that would be amazing. No worries of breaking anything irreplaceable, plus getting to pick out what I want to work with. Yeah buddy, that would be awesome.

Can't wait for the holiday ball to get rolling. The boys are finally old enough to start getting excited about the approaching festivities.  I remember that feeling when I was a kid.  That magical feeling.  I'm so glad I get to watch my kids experience that.  Santa Clause and presents, special church services, family and friends, decorations and music....the whole works. I loved Christmas time then, and I love it now.  Ho Ho Ho let's get this party started!

This time of year is fattening, exhausting, fun and heart-warming. It creeps up so fast and is gone before you know it…leaving you feeling like another year is gone. Make every moment count this year; stop and appreciate the time spent with people you don't get to see often and take pleasure in all the small things that make the holidays special. Try not to stress, material grandeur is not nearly as important and love, laughter, good food and great company.