~All I want For Christmas~

I think as you get older your want for things change. I will always be a kid at heart and still love giving and getting surprises.... Brian always likes to give big gifts even though I have asked him repeatedly not to... I've learned to accept his generosity but he has also learned to be a little more realistic. This year I told him all I wanted was a pantry...we have the closet with a rubbermaid shelf in it. it is completely impractical and I would love for him to just put money aside for that...but my lil kid inside me does want some goodies...I thought it would be fun to put down things that all 3 of want this year. Starting with me:) I always follow a golden rule with presents for Moe. The old saying " Something they want, something they need, something to play with, and something to read." I can't really spoil what I have gotten him or Brian for that matter... so I will just have them pick from that little saying and see what they come up with. 

                                              ~ Mama's List~

1. something to read- ;) not really but i guess it is words...I have lots a books right now and have been doing other hobbies lately. Parker Brothers has came out with new board games that are in their old classic more sturdy style. I love playing board games and already told Santa I want this. I sure hope he brings it! While I was linking this I couldn't help but notice this has doubled in price since the last time I saw it. Not cool! It must be a popular item this year. 

2. something I need- a calendar! a cool one. I always get a lame leftover one mid February that has pigs in nun outfits etc.  this constellation one is sold out but I love the style and how it is also an art piece. 

3. something I want- stupid fun kitchen towels. the kind that have silly things on them. It seems like I'm forever buying the generic ones that aren't cool at all. BOO! I want stupid fun non practical ones! 

4. something to play with- I love old jewelry ! I think this new disposable jewelry trend of plastic-y crap from Forever21 and where ever else is ridiculous. My favorite pieces I have are all old: a turquoise watch my brother found in an old abandoned house, my Great Grandma's gold dipped sand dollar ( I remember picking it out with my Mom at the beach. She gifted it back to Mom then she gave it to me before she passed) , and the antique jade pendant Brian got me for our anniversary.  A timeless piece like an old locket, or something that was someone else's at one time would be a great gift. This old purple glass necklace from Friendly Fox vintage is really cool! 

So there ya have it. My lil list of things that would be neat gifts. Be creative with your gift giving! One year I got a tiny gift for each person from a thrift or antique store. I found some very sentimental special gifts! Some examples: ornaments, old records, an old cool purse with a nice new pair of earrings inside, etc. 

I am excited to see what the guys come up with and share! Merry Holiday shopping friends! 

~ Give Thanks~

1. A special bond that cousins share

2. The unexpected embrace and love for a new family member. All three of us have fallen head over heels for this special orange guy. Even the dog seems to be laying next to him closer and closer each day.

3. The silliness that happens. 

This year has had so many blessings. I feel like I could ramble on and on. The biggest thing I am thankful for is how much stronger our marriage has gotten in just one year. How we've started to find our places and become more of a lil family. It is a big adjustment for anyone but adding family members being very ill, my job being frustratingly inconsistent, moving into a home and selling an old one, creating new traditions, clinging to old ones, being down to one car for a few months.... you get it. Some other things I am also thankful for this past year in no particular order:

4. Finishing a craft and sewing space. It has given me a sense of freedom and creativity I have been missing.
5. My parents~Even though they are no longer together, they and their spouses have really been by our side  to help us through. Dad working on things with Brian around the house. My Mom helping me tackle jobs that really seem impossible some times.
6. coffee
7. Knitting- I've been "reteaching" myself and really gotten into it more than ever. I'm on Raverly and have a couple new pals that are really cool. It's opened up a whole new world for me that I'm really digging.
8.  our health~ early this spring we had a scary moment with Moses. I didn't talk much about it because it was all unknown and I was just putting my faith out into the universe. He has a severe cartilage deformity in his rib cage.His chest protrudes on the left side of his sternum then concaves on the other. It looked very worrisome but after an mri , ultrasounds and xrays we learned he was just fine. Now he says it's just "because he has such a big heart". I, of course, completely agree:) Our family Dr. was simply amazing and really showed how much she cares for her patients. I want to add her to my list.
9. Ridding myself of the things that don't matter. I saw a quote the other day "The things that matter aren't things." I have been able to part with stuff that was formerly sentimental. What I really want is a clutter free space to grow and create for us. That is what our lives are.
10. My old friends. They have been there through thick and thin. Even though we cant see as much of each other as we'd like our love never dies and only strengthens. Incredible souls surround this family.

I hope that this holiday weekend you take the time to give thanks... because so very often days are about taking but not taking the time to appreciate them.
                    ~Happy Thanksgiving Dear Friends~

~Reciplease: Perfect Cookie Edition~

Like everything else.. I'm super picky about even a simple chocolate chip cookie. I love my Mom... and all my friends and family but I really don't care for any of their chocolate chip cookies. It's nothing personal. I'm just a big pain in the ass. This makes it especially hard, because finding a good recipe/cookie has been really quite impossible. I have specific qualities that such a cookie meets: low to no crumble, no cake/fluff texture, dunkability (must maintain form after a milk dunk), slight chew, not over baked to a hard brick state, darker chocolate chips(we prefer dark chocolate in this house), a larger hand held size with portability factors, and only chips! no other nonsense! oats,nuts, berries, etc. this is a Chocolate Chip Cookie! that is all. So anyway, after years of baking and bitching.... I made my own recipe. It's super easy and super delicious and I like it. You can borrow this recipe if you want. To me it is perfect in every way... but you may not like it if you find any of the above qualities I just complained about somewhat tasty. If I'm using the calories on something naughty I feel it should be spectacular. Here ya go..

                                        ~No Bitch Super Rich Just Right Chocolate Chip~

Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of brown sugar

1/2 a cup of room temp unsalted butter

1/2 a cup of olive oil

2 eggs

1 tsp of baking soda

1 tsp of baking powder

1 tsp of salt

3 cups of flour

Half a bag of  Ghirardelli bittersweet 60% cacao chips

Directions: 

Preheat oven @ 350

beat/cream: sugar, oils, butter together 

add eggs and beat until fluffly

add all other ingredients and mix

do not over mix! it makes the dough tough

 add chips

make dough balls palm size then gently flatten onto sheet

bake @350 for 8 to 10 minutes depending how dark you prefer them

cool on a cold cookie sheet(not a rack) then place in a tupperware container 

* you can add a tsp of vanilla to this and it will be fine but I like the natural sweetness and saltiness of the recipe this way

Enjoy! 

~Hey Shortie~

It seems entirely vain and obnoxious to post about something so trivial with everything else going on in the world... but I'm planning on cutting off my hair. A lot of hair. Like I'm ready for a big change kind of hair cut....It's scheduled for next Tuesday and I'm getting terrified and excited about it. I'm going for something along these styles...maybe just a smidge longer to start with. Have any suggestions? I would love to see!!

and yes the first and third pics are the same girl. I absolutely love this cut. I think it's just what I've been needing.... anybody else doing or planning a big change? last time I cut my hair I had no idea how to style it and got frustrated and grew it out.. this cut calls for more effort but looks a little more grown up then my ponytail I like to wear...