To all the mothers and aunties and everyone care about us like a mother.
Archives for category: Holiday
From our family to yours.
Looking back through my posts, it looked like I had reviewed my accomplishments each year, with the exception of 2011. I’m not sure why I didn’t, except that I was busy.
So this year, I’m debating if I should make resolutions or not. With starting of grad school and trying to figure out if The Little Lady is old enough to go to the magnet school so we don’t have to shell out close to $300/week for day care, I’m not sure I would be able to follow through any resolutions!
I did join a spinning and stash down group. I used the handy dandy export to excel function on Ravelry and calculated that I currently have 89 miles of yarn! HOLY CRAP! Although after checking out the forum, I guess I wasn’t that bad! 
SO I guess I do have “some” resolutions, at least goals to meet the stash down groups -
- spin 12 lbs of fiber in 12 months – I’m not even sure if I have that much fiber, but I figure I can at least spin up most of my fiber so I can get some more when MDS&W and NYS&W comes along.
- Have a negative yardage at the end of the year – this means that the total yarn spun up or knit up has to be more than the amount I purchased for the year. The idea is to encourage to use your stash more, but still lets you buy stuff, as oppose of the yarn diet, which is not buy any at all. I find the idea more appealing and better fit my overall goal, then completely cold turkey, which I believe I would no doubt fail.
While I’m not making any resolutions, I have some general goals that I would like to accomplish -
- Keep the house semi-orderly. David and I both had a couple of weeks off and we worked hard to clean up our house. The Little Lady’s room is completely reorganized and cleaned to the best of our ability. So are the living, the kitchen, the craft room and the dining room. We are going to get a few more organizational items for our bedroom and clean up the basement, but both requires some funds that we just can’t spare right now.
- Eat more veggies. We went grocery shopping today, and I bought a few veggies for myself to take for lunch. Of course, this was inspired from this picture I found on Pinterest. I didn’t get all the veggies shown in the picture, but I did cut up whatever I can and put them away, so it will be easy to assemble for lunch. I even cooked up some hard boiled eggs to have for breakfast and lunch!
- Get rid of cable – you already know that one. I won’t get into it again.
I think I’ll end it right here. I can’t think of anything else at the moment worth mentioning. So what are YOUR goals/resolutions… or not?
It is very hard to believe that 2011 has gone by in a flash! I know that this past year has been really crazy and my blogging has suffered. And the jury is still out on how I will do for the new year.
I rang in the New Year by hosting a fast-pace swap online with my Ravelry friends and watched the ball drop on TV. It was quiet, but not, at the same time! When people learned that my birthday is on New Year’s Eve, they often made remarks like, oh you must have great parties! Truth be told, I’ve only really truly went out and celebrated once. And it wasn’t when I turned 21. The other time – for as long as I could remember, I’ve always celebrated at home, watch tv, and sitting in front of the computer/tv alone.
And honestly, I am ok with that.
It was fun going out, don’t get me wrong, but I think I like the solitude. The whole house is quiet, and just me, the computer and the TV. I get to do whatever the heck I want!
So here is a toast to you -
May 2012 be a happy, healthy, safe and peaceful year to you all.
Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas! Dudes and Dudettes!
We had an awesome Christmas at la casa jennsquared. Although it didn’t go without its challenge. I had planned on having ham for dinner, but our freezer was full from a recent grocery sale, so the turkey was moved to the fridge. Well, on Christmas eve afternoon, I got everything ready to brine the bird, well, it was still frozen. I felt defeated. Really.
Earlier of the day, I had commented to David that the amount of things we want to do (mostly household related stuff that we couldn’t really do regularly, or just didn’t have time to do), vs. the time we actually have do not correlate! Both David and I were off since last Wednesday afternoon, and we will continue to have this week off*, however, we’ve only combated 3 things from the list! How many items are on the list? you ask. Well, let me go check… 31! Yes, you read that right! Although there are a few things that are David specific, such as striping the parts car for, well, parts.
So as you can see, I was feeling rather defeated when I realized the turkey wasn’t defrosted. I sat on the couch and goofed around on the internet to blow off steam, and while on Ravelry, a few of the ladies in one of the forum had mention making cinnamon rolls. Homemade cinnamon rolls. Hmm… My brain started reeling and after a few minutes, I declared that instead of a dinner, we will have Christmas brunch! David was fine with whatever I decided, so I got my lazy self up at 8:30pm and start the dough – AFTER we had decorated the gingerbread for Santa and babysquared had opened her Christmas eve gift – Christmas PJ.
She is still a little young to get the whole Santa thing, but it’s all good. Christmas came and we all got up super early, not because that we are in a hurry of opening presents (although that may change in a couple of year), but babysquared doesn’t sleep past 7am! I got going on the brunch making, and in between, took a break to open presents.
Lots of awesome presents! David and I got Paul and Robin a cookware set, and it came with a knife set. Part of the reason we got it so Paul can return my knife. In return, they got us a Samsung Smart Hub, just so we can give them back the PS3. When we saw each other’s gifts, we all laughed out loud on our thinking.
All funnies aside, with the smart hub along with our netflix subscription, we may just be able to get rid of Comcast all together! Currently we only have the basic cable for $18. It had all the basics we want, which is USA, Foodnetwork, HGTV, Comedy Central and ESPN. Well, that ended about a month ago when slowly all channels going to digital. We ordered the free digital box, and still no Foodnetwork and HGTV. On top of that, no more USA, ESPN and Comedy Central! I called Comcast and they told me that because I only have basics, they are not included. I argued that without the free digital box (our tv in the bedroom), I was able to watch USA, ESPN and Comedy Central still, but the one with (our tv in the living room), all the channels are gone! She politely told me that in order for me to get them all back, I have to get extended service, which is one level up. She then transferred me to a sales rep, who then gave me a load of crap, telling me that extended service is not available for my area and the only way to get the channels I wanted, I have to go to Digital Basics, which is $70!!!! Mmm… No? Granted, with the smart hub and netflix, I still won’t be able to watch foodnetwork and HGTV, but I’m willing to sacrifice them to save a boat load of $ and still watch most of the shows I like. Plus, I already lost those two channels now anyways. But I digress. Cable issue isn’t something I can solved in a blog post.
So with all the fun toys, we enjoyed the yummy food and good company, all while watching the Indiana Jones on USA.
Cinnamon Roll, Gluten Free Corn Muffin, Bacon, Eggs with Cheese, Sopapilla Cheesecake, Pumpkin Pull-apart Bread and Hot Cocoa with Peppermint Marshmallow. I didn’t quite follow the Sopapilla Cheesecake recipe linked. The crescent roll I had were garlic butter, not plain, so I had to improvise, since I’m not quite sure how garlic and cinnamon will taste together. Instead, I mixed the cream cheese with a bit of my Maple Sugar Rub from River Rat, and brush the top with melted butter with a sprinkle of sea salt. Oh, and I only have one can of the roll, so used the 8 by 8 dish instead of 9 by 13. When I get the regular plain one the next time, I’m definitely going to try the recipe listed!
So how was your Christmas? What are some of the yumminess you had during your family get together? What are some of the goodies you received?
And stay safe!
Daddy and Daughter for their first Father’s Day!!!
On Friday, Daycare did a Father’s Day Picnic, just like they did a brunch for mother’s day.
And they made this for the daddys!
So cute.
Happy Father’s Day to all.
To you, and you, and you.
Last night, Chinese New Year’s Eve, we had the hot pot for a celebratory dinner with dear friends.
Today, we celebrate the Year of Tiger with some dumplings, which shapes like old Chinese gold. ”They” say that brings you money… to eat the dumplings first thing in the morning on New Years Day.
Then we have a little festive outfit for the Valentine’s Day.
Hope you all had a happy day, regardless of what you are celebrating.
ps. The Little Lady is out growing her 3 month outfits!!!!!!!!!! Holy Crap!
From our family to yours.
This year, we are thankful for the healthy little lady that’s brightening our lives each and every day since she arrived to our family.
Happy Thanksgiving.
(not pictured: Pumpkin Soup)
