Christmas 2011

I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas this year! I did.

We started out at home by opening prezzies and playing with them for a couple hours. SANTA BROUGHT ME A NEW CAMERA! I was surprised to say the least. I was obnoxious with it all day long.

Then we headed to Grammy & Grandpa’s house for a lovely brunch & more prezzies.

I was satisfied with this delicious appetizer spread. Shrimp will always have my heart.

Then the table was set and the food was comin out!

I was ready.

Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli, 5 Cup Salad on the side. OH and that’s mustard in the middle (GREY POUPON… I love that I appreciate good mustard these days).

Twas delish.

We then opened presents while I ate about 2,000 cookies.

They were sitting in front of my face, I had to.

My FAVORITE!!!

SO light & airy. Perfectly sweet.

I have always been a lil messy hehe!

Loved the star one’s too, the shape AND the taste yummy.

OKAY they were all amaze! No complaints here.

After presents…MORE dessert!

Aunt Mary at your service.

I requested a smaller slice of the traditional Jubilee Roll 🙂

YUM. Love the pink part the best. And the nuts.

My work here is done. See I wrote my name in it? Ha.

Afterwards, we headed to see my other Grandma (Italian-style) and I can’t lie… I ate some ravioli & meatballs and some random goodies. Definitely couldn’t resist (Grandma’s famous sauce is irresistible).

And there you have my lovely food-filled Xmas.

***

But have no fear, I went for a nice 4.7 mile run today. It was too cold and was pissed at myself in the beginning because it was borderline torture. But once I got into my groove, the runner’s high hit and I was good to go. I could’ve definitely ran even more! BUT I didn’t.

I am feeling headachy and just yucky right now. Could it be… jetlag hitting me two weeks late? No. Maybe? But I just hope that’s what it is because I seriously do not want to be sick. PLEASEEEEEE!

I hope no one is experience PCD (Post Christmas Disorder). Do you like my acronyms? It’s my new thing. Fortunately, PCD is not affecting me this year because I’m just happy looking forward to getting back to NYC (New York City….ha) for my last semester of college. I love having something to look forward to. But first, New Years…? Yeah, no plans as of right now. I’m hoping that changes asap. 2012 is almost here, unbelievable.

How are you going to spend your last week of 2011?

Make it a good one – Casi XoXo

I’m Baaaaack!

Hi! I made it back safe & sound from Australia a week ago. Is it weird that I am not feeling jet-lagged at all? It’s a 14 hour time difference, what’s going on? Maybe I’m SuperWoman or something…probs.

ANYWAYS it’s nice to be back, it’s like I never left. Except it is because the last time I was home it was summer and now BAM it’s winter…although it’s raining!? WTF! Gimme some snow. That’s okay though because it means it’s a little warmer and I got a couple runs in outside.

Outside running > indoor running. The natural hills & cars driving by is motivation in itself to keep going. Instead of running inside on a treadmill like a mouse in a wheel. Ick.

Running is definitely necessary with all of the cookie-making that’s been going on.

OH and P.S. I still have no camera. UGH! Therefore, my Blackberry camera will have to do for now.

These cookies I found from Kristin here. She is one of the bloggers I religiously follow – check out her website, she’s great!

They came out of the oven & it was love at first site! Love ’em! Now they actually taste like brownies, which is definitely not a bad thing. They are moist (do you hate that word? ‘Cause I love it…) and nice ‘n chocolaty. AND very easy to make.

I made a bunch more cookies including meringues! I am in love with meringues in general and let me just tell you – I knocked these babies out of the park.

• 4 Egg Whites
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 1/4 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• Optional Food Coloring

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven 350ºF

2. Beat Eggs until stiff.

3. Gradually add Sugar/Vanilla/Food Coloring

4. Fold in Chocolate Chips

5. Plop tablespoon (or whatever size you’d like) of mixture onto baking sheets covered w/foil or parchment paper

5. Place cookies into oven & immediately turn oven OFF.

6. Let sit for at least two hours (hard, I know)

7. Take out in a few hours & enjoy!

OKAAAY I know…these are pink. I didn’t add enough red dye but they are still adorbs. Idea for Valentine’s Day? I think YES. The next batch I did white with green & red sprinkles, but I ended up baking them for too long and turned a slight orange color. Still very very delicious. See the chocolate chip hiding in there?

I love the crunchy outer shell and the soft, delicate center. They would be good without the chocolate chips, but I like them with! The more chocolate, the better! 😉

***

And as for breakfast this morning, I finally tried Gingerbread Oatmeal.

I just threw in a pot: oats, flax, water, milk, cinnamon, ground ginger, ground clove, molasses, pinch of salt, and the rest of an energy mix that mostly consisted of granola and cranberries. I didn’t measure anything, I like to eyeball.

I decided something was missing (sweetness) so I added brown sugar. There ya go. Exactly what it needed! It was pretty good, I want to try pumpkin oatmeal next. Can you tell I LOVE this time of year?

***

THREE days until Christmas. Unbelievable. I hope you are getting in all of your last minute shopping 🙂 ! I still have a few things to conquer GAH.

Cheers!

-Casi-