It's two days past Christmas here in Australia and I'm taking some time to catch up on things here and I also watched the QVC special today - it was so great! I hope you get to work with them again!
Yes please to the cookie recipe if and when you're up for sharing it xo
The news of the tour is so exciting! If I didn't live on the other side of the world, I would definitely be trying to attend a meet and greet! I hope all three shows sell out and you get to do more if you want to! I would also try to attend a besties Zoom any time in the future one was scheduled xo
Busy's Menorah is amazing!
I have been invited to a house party for NYE but the lead up to Christmas with two young children is always so hectic that I really just can't be bothered! Very happy to stay at home and have some quiet drinks!
I love Busy's menorah. I don't typically do anything for new years , other than hang out at home and sometimes I am the last one standing, kids and hubby sleeping. But in fairness my husband has to be at work by 4am. So I would love to do a zoom happy hour. For Christmas, I bake cookies with the kiss and make a pistachio cake.
Still undecided on our Christmas dinner meal this year, either a Shepherd's pie or braised short ribs...both favorites in my house. As for NYE, I just don't like it, I find it sad...like why are we celebrating a whole year passing by drinking and staying up past midnight...I am usually asleep long before 12am anyway. A Zoom cocktail hour sounds ABSOLUTELY IDEAL...and my birthday is December 27th (49...not sure yet how I feel about that) but really I consider the entire week from Christmas to NYE to be special for me...a Zoom with you all would be icing on my cake!!!
Last night we were invited to celebrate the first night of Chanukah with boy #2's friends and their families (he's 17) and it included yummy latkes. I made chocolate chip meringue cookies, brownies and tollhouse choc chip bars to bring for dessert! This weekend we will celebrate Chanukah with my family and my mom does it up with latkes, homemade applesauce, homemade blintzes - it's the best. I'm terrible at things like holidays and birthday parties (I was the mom who forgot that birthday parties were supposed to have goody bags - why do they need goody bags!?!) so there is little gift shopping these days because the boys (boy #1 is 20) would prefer for us to take them shopping to pick out what they want. Not a lot of plans over the holiday but I'm daydreaming of travel so maybe we will dash out of town for a few days - although this weekend is supposed to be freezing here in St. Louis so might just have to hunker down. Boy #1 flew in from school in Colorado last night so it's a full house. Also no new years eve plans here yet. Would be game for a zoom! Happy happy merry merry. XX
I can't recall the Gap candle story. I would love to hear it.
The holidays are strange since I'm a 52 year old orphan and not getting the warm and fuzziness from our families these days.
The hubs and I do a low key Christmas. I thought I was prepared, but my to do list grew exponentially this week. I'll try to spin stressful feelings into "excitement".
Plus my employer is essentially doing a company shutdown the week between Christmas and New Year's. So I get a vacation without the pressure of more work when I get back.
This is my first time not being in my hometown for Christmas. My mom is visiting me right now but I’m sad I’m not able to be with her on Christmas Day. 😔
It's been an interesting week for me. Finally got my TV fixed so I can watch programs on the "big" screen again. Luckily for me, it was fixed just in time to watch the White Lotus finale. Also had to replace an over the stove microwave. This was an adventure. Nowadays, it's hard to find a white microwave that doesn't do anything special other than microwave. You can find them in a stainless steel finish. You can find them in a shiny black finish, but a plain white finish is tough to find. As to what the unit can do, it was difficult to convince the salesman that I didn't need it to be a convection oven or an air fryer. I'm a single man. My microwave isn't a big cooking tool. It is something that makes popcorn, warms soup and reheats leftovers. Also I use it almost daily to cook some bacon for breakfast (yes, you can find bacon trays that will crisp your bacon in a microwave!). But after more than a dozen years of daily use, the plastic face of the old one started to crack, the handle fell off, and there were weird places inside where the paint had bubbled. Also, sometimes the soup was came out at the same temperature as lava and sometimes it came out kind of tepid when in for the same amount of time. But I finally did find a simple microwave. It was the kind of unit that the salesman didn't even try to sell me a service plan for as the service plan would have cost more than to just replace it. But it got delivered and a couple of days later a couple of handymen showed up and swapped them out and all in all, I'm happy again appliance-wise.
As to Christmas, it's pretty much not a big deal at my house. While I marvel that my neighbors have decorations for literally every holiday that comes around, I have literally no decorations for any holiday. But heck, it's just me and Gus Cat and he doesn't seem to mind. Also back when I lived in Idaho, and had Gus Cat's predecessor, George Cat, I did try a Christmas tree one time. Spent a morning decorating it. I was working swing shift that day, and left for work in the afternoon. When I got home around 1:30 am, and walked into my house, it looked like a hurricane had hit. Seems the only ornament that George Cat wanted to play with was towards the top of the tree so he knocked it over so he could get to it. I cleaned things up and went to bed and in a very short time, crash, the tree went over again. So I gave up. Cats and Christmas trees don't seem to be a good mix and I'd rather have cats. As to the outside, I'm too old and my knees are too bad to be crawling up ladders to put decorations up so I just don't. Overall, it's just easier and my neighbors decorate enough for all of us.
Christmas is however, a time that I use for reflection and remembering. One of my fondest memories is the year I told my parents I wouldn't visit them anymore for the Christmas holidays. Please calm down and put your thumbs away, there was a method to my madness. I'd noted for a couple of years that when I came home for a Christmas visit, my parents would be exhausted from all the "getting ready" they'd been doing. Painting and cleaning and such, kind of like I'd never visited the house before and they needed to make a good impression. So they'd start out tired and cranky. Then instead of visiting them, they'd drag me around to visit all these other people, friends and relatives, most of which I didn't know and the net result is I got very little time to actually visit with my parents. So I stopped and instead would come home for a week in August. No holidays in August. Instead of rushing around, we'd sit on the porch and have a beverage and visit. It was much better.
Later, my mom contacted early onset Alzheimers and I had to stop visiting. She didn't remember me and I'd just scare her, because all she saw was a big scary man. It was tough to have to stop visiting, but you don't know how thankful I was that I had those summer visits when that happened. And to this day, I have those memories and that is what is most important.
I also get kind of nostalgic for things we from when I was a kid. I grew up in Northern New Mexico. At Christmas if you were lucky you got invited to someone's house to attend "Las Posadas de Navidad". A posada is an inn. This was kind of a play about Mary and Joseph's journey to find safe refuge for the birth of the baby Jesus. It was a community event and involved a lot of singing. Anyway, they'd travel in a procession to various houses which represented the inns. At the first couple they'd be turned away, but at the last one, they'd be given refuge and a celebration would break out
The other event was called "Los Pastores" or "The Shepherds". While there was music and singing this was more of a serious play about the shepherds search for the baby Jesus on the night of his birth. This was more of a set piece and usually was performed in a church. It's been years since I've been able to attend these events and living far from New Mexico and not wanting to travel from one cold and snowy place to another, I just don't get to see them anymore.
There are videos of these events on YouTube, but they are of various quality.
So enjoy your holiday season everyone. Hug those who are precious to you. Remember those who are no longer with you. Be kind to each other and especially to the people who have to work at this time of year. Make memories! You get to keep them forever. And that, as the man said in the movie, is all I have to say about that.
Can we please get customized kitchen-aid paddle attachments that say, “I know one of you fucks did something with my paddle attachment”(I’m sorry if I’m not remembering the quote quite correctly.) But boy oh boy - kitchen rage - BEEN THERE! Cassie you seem to have the sweetest team of men on your hands, I love hearing stories about your fam!
I'm currently trying to talk my 23 year old into spending at least one part of the 3 celebrations (eve, morning, day) with us instead of the whole time with his girlfriend's divorced parents and they live with her mom so they see her everyday :-(
That is really hard. I remember being that age & trying to figure out how to be with my person while also not disappointing my divorced mom or excluding any family member. I hope you get to have some time together at some point. 💜
Not going home for the holidays again but spending it with friends. I am going to make latkes sometime this week and to tell y'all the truth once the packages are done I will be enjoying a quiet Christmas which I actually savor! Btw, a Zoom cocktail party is never a bad idea!
Happy Holidays! Loved the QVC project- hopefully they make a spot for future projects with you and Busy! I took up your get out of your comfort place and I created my first game that I will be marketing on a website I’m making. It took months to do and after 15 or so iterations- it has a box as well! So- I’m about self challenges as I go further into being a senior I go further into accomplishing more and more! I recently moved back to South Florida but it’s not the magical place it was in the 90s and I lived in South Beach- so I’m planning to move back to Connecticut- where most of my family is and I’m a northerner at heart! My dog Max turns 12 on December 27th- we still travel as much as we can! Cheers to you and Busy and all of our fellow besties!🎄 Lex
Not too much going on for the holidays here. It's officially "cold" in Florida (below 70) and it's not for her!!! Would absolutely loooooove a zoom!! One holiday treat I do enjoy is boozy eggnog! Anyone else?? Love you so much and love reading all the comments! Sending a hug to anyone feeling some sorta way right now.💖
That sucks! I remember liking silk nog some years ago. I just bought some oatmilk creamer that I've bought before but apparently they changed the recipe and it looks like dirty dishwater and I'm very disappointed!! The Target website reviews confirmed I'm not the only one this has happened to so I hope they get it together!!! I was looking forward to that damn creamer. 🤣
It's two days past Christmas here in Australia and I'm taking some time to catch up on things here and I also watched the QVC special today - it was so great! I hope you get to work with them again!
Yes please to the cookie recipe if and when you're up for sharing it xo
The news of the tour is so exciting! If I didn't live on the other side of the world, I would definitely be trying to attend a meet and greet! I hope all three shows sell out and you get to do more if you want to! I would also try to attend a besties Zoom any time in the future one was scheduled xo
Busy's Menorah is amazing!
I have been invited to a house party for NYE but the lead up to Christmas with two young children is always so hectic that I really just can't be bothered! Very happy to stay at home and have some quiet drinks!
Love to you, Caissie xo
I love Busy's menorah. I don't typically do anything for new years , other than hang out at home and sometimes I am the last one standing, kids and hubby sleeping. But in fairness my husband has to be at work by 4am. So I would love to do a zoom happy hour. For Christmas, I bake cookies with the kiss and make a pistachio cake.
Would love a zoom happy hour, and wishing for another playlist from Busy!
Please plan a virtual happy hour!!!!!!! Please please
Still undecided on our Christmas dinner meal this year, either a Shepherd's pie or braised short ribs...both favorites in my house. As for NYE, I just don't like it, I find it sad...like why are we celebrating a whole year passing by drinking and staying up past midnight...I am usually asleep long before 12am anyway. A Zoom cocktail hour sounds ABSOLUTELY IDEAL...and my birthday is December 27th (49...not sure yet how I feel about that) but really I consider the entire week from Christmas to NYE to be special for me...a Zoom with you all would be icing on my cake!!!
Last night we were invited to celebrate the first night of Chanukah with boy #2's friends and their families (he's 17) and it included yummy latkes. I made chocolate chip meringue cookies, brownies and tollhouse choc chip bars to bring for dessert! This weekend we will celebrate Chanukah with my family and my mom does it up with latkes, homemade applesauce, homemade blintzes - it's the best. I'm terrible at things like holidays and birthday parties (I was the mom who forgot that birthday parties were supposed to have goody bags - why do they need goody bags!?!) so there is little gift shopping these days because the boys (boy #1 is 20) would prefer for us to take them shopping to pick out what they want. Not a lot of plans over the holiday but I'm daydreaming of travel so maybe we will dash out of town for a few days - although this weekend is supposed to be freezing here in St. Louis so might just have to hunker down. Boy #1 flew in from school in Colorado last night so it's a full house. Also no new years eve plans here yet. Would be game for a zoom! Happy happy merry merry. XX
I can't recall the Gap candle story. I would love to hear it.
The holidays are strange since I'm a 52 year old orphan and not getting the warm and fuzziness from our families these days.
The hubs and I do a low key Christmas. I thought I was prepared, but my to do list grew exponentially this week. I'll try to spin stressful feelings into "excitement".
Plus my employer is essentially doing a company shutdown the week between Christmas and New Year's. So I get a vacation without the pressure of more work when I get back.
A zoom call would be so fun.
Low key seems to be the move this year for many! Me included. 💜
This is my first time not being in my hometown for Christmas. My mom is visiting me right now but I’m sad I’m not able to be with her on Christmas Day. 😔
I feel that. Glad you are together now. But I get it!
That menorah is AMAZING!!!!!!
Right?
Hi All--
It's been an interesting week for me. Finally got my TV fixed so I can watch programs on the "big" screen again. Luckily for me, it was fixed just in time to watch the White Lotus finale. Also had to replace an over the stove microwave. This was an adventure. Nowadays, it's hard to find a white microwave that doesn't do anything special other than microwave. You can find them in a stainless steel finish. You can find them in a shiny black finish, but a plain white finish is tough to find. As to what the unit can do, it was difficult to convince the salesman that I didn't need it to be a convection oven or an air fryer. I'm a single man. My microwave isn't a big cooking tool. It is something that makes popcorn, warms soup and reheats leftovers. Also I use it almost daily to cook some bacon for breakfast (yes, you can find bacon trays that will crisp your bacon in a microwave!). But after more than a dozen years of daily use, the plastic face of the old one started to crack, the handle fell off, and there were weird places inside where the paint had bubbled. Also, sometimes the soup was came out at the same temperature as lava and sometimes it came out kind of tepid when in for the same amount of time. But I finally did find a simple microwave. It was the kind of unit that the salesman didn't even try to sell me a service plan for as the service plan would have cost more than to just replace it. But it got delivered and a couple of days later a couple of handymen showed up and swapped them out and all in all, I'm happy again appliance-wise.
As to Christmas, it's pretty much not a big deal at my house. While I marvel that my neighbors have decorations for literally every holiday that comes around, I have literally no decorations for any holiday. But heck, it's just me and Gus Cat and he doesn't seem to mind. Also back when I lived in Idaho, and had Gus Cat's predecessor, George Cat, I did try a Christmas tree one time. Spent a morning decorating it. I was working swing shift that day, and left for work in the afternoon. When I got home around 1:30 am, and walked into my house, it looked like a hurricane had hit. Seems the only ornament that George Cat wanted to play with was towards the top of the tree so he knocked it over so he could get to it. I cleaned things up and went to bed and in a very short time, crash, the tree went over again. So I gave up. Cats and Christmas trees don't seem to be a good mix and I'd rather have cats. As to the outside, I'm too old and my knees are too bad to be crawling up ladders to put decorations up so I just don't. Overall, it's just easier and my neighbors decorate enough for all of us.
Christmas is however, a time that I use for reflection and remembering. One of my fondest memories is the year I told my parents I wouldn't visit them anymore for the Christmas holidays. Please calm down and put your thumbs away, there was a method to my madness. I'd noted for a couple of years that when I came home for a Christmas visit, my parents would be exhausted from all the "getting ready" they'd been doing. Painting and cleaning and such, kind of like I'd never visited the house before and they needed to make a good impression. So they'd start out tired and cranky. Then instead of visiting them, they'd drag me around to visit all these other people, friends and relatives, most of which I didn't know and the net result is I got very little time to actually visit with my parents. So I stopped and instead would come home for a week in August. No holidays in August. Instead of rushing around, we'd sit on the porch and have a beverage and visit. It was much better.
Later, my mom contacted early onset Alzheimers and I had to stop visiting. She didn't remember me and I'd just scare her, because all she saw was a big scary man. It was tough to have to stop visiting, but you don't know how thankful I was that I had those summer visits when that happened. And to this day, I have those memories and that is what is most important.
I also get kind of nostalgic for things we from when I was a kid. I grew up in Northern New Mexico. At Christmas if you were lucky you got invited to someone's house to attend "Las Posadas de Navidad". A posada is an inn. This was kind of a play about Mary and Joseph's journey to find safe refuge for the birth of the baby Jesus. It was a community event and involved a lot of singing. Anyway, they'd travel in a procession to various houses which represented the inns. At the first couple they'd be turned away, but at the last one, they'd be given refuge and a celebration would break out
The other event was called "Los Pastores" or "The Shepherds". While there was music and singing this was more of a serious play about the shepherds search for the baby Jesus on the night of his birth. This was more of a set piece and usually was performed in a church. It's been years since I've been able to attend these events and living far from New Mexico and not wanting to travel from one cold and snowy place to another, I just don't get to see them anymore.
There are videos of these events on YouTube, but they are of various quality.
So enjoy your holiday season everyone. Hug those who are precious to you. Remember those who are no longer with you. Be kind to each other and especially to the people who have to work at this time of year. Make memories! You get to keep them forever. And that, as the man said in the movie, is all I have to say about that.
Wishing you a peaceful season, dear Herman. Kiss Gus for us!
Can we please get customized kitchen-aid paddle attachments that say, “I know one of you fucks did something with my paddle attachment”(I’m sorry if I’m not remembering the quote quite correctly.) But boy oh boy - kitchen rage - BEEN THERE! Cassie you seem to have the sweetest team of men on your hands, I love hearing stories about your fam!
I am VERY lucky, even when one of those fucks definitely did something with my mixer paddle! 🤣
God bless ‘em!
Yes! Do a zoom happy hour!
I'm currently trying to talk my 23 year old into spending at least one part of the 3 celebrations (eve, morning, day) with us instead of the whole time with his girlfriend's divorced parents and they live with her mom so they see her everyday :-(
That is really hard. I remember being that age & trying to figure out how to be with my person while also not disappointing my divorced mom or excluding any family member. I hope you get to have some time together at some point. 💜
I made Almond Snowflake ❄️ Cookies for my sisters 👯♀️ cookie party!! They melt in your mouth!!❤️🎄
Sounds delicious!
Not going home for the holidays again but spending it with friends. I am going to make latkes sometime this week and to tell y'all the truth once the packages are done I will be enjoying a quiet Christmas which I actually savor! Btw, a Zoom cocktail party is never a bad idea!
A quiet Christmas sounds lovely. With latkes!
Happy Holidays! Loved the QVC project- hopefully they make a spot for future projects with you and Busy! I took up your get out of your comfort place and I created my first game that I will be marketing on a website I’m making. It took months to do and after 15 or so iterations- it has a box as well! So- I’m about self challenges as I go further into being a senior I go further into accomplishing more and more! I recently moved back to South Florida but it’s not the magical place it was in the 90s and I lived in South Beach- so I’m planning to move back to Connecticut- where most of my family is and I’m a northerner at heart! My dog Max turns 12 on December 27th- we still travel as much as we can! Cheers to you and Busy and all of our fellow besties!🎄 Lex
Congratulations on your game invention!!!
Not too much going on for the holidays here. It's officially "cold" in Florida (below 70) and it's not for her!!! Would absolutely loooooove a zoom!! One holiday treat I do enjoy is boozy eggnog! Anyone else?? Love you so much and love reading all the comments! Sending a hug to anyone feeling some sorta way right now.💖
PS the menorah is soooooooo great!
I like eggnog, but I bought some oatmilk nog for the Cookie Swap & it wasn’t great. 😩
That sucks! I remember liking silk nog some years ago. I just bought some oatmilk creamer that I've bought before but apparently they changed the recipe and it looks like dirty dishwater and I'm very disappointed!! The Target website reviews confirmed I'm not the only one this has happened to so I hope they get it together!!! I was looking forward to that damn creamer. 🤣