Cathedral Window Cookies

Photo from Flickr

Photo From: SPPress

Grandma Walker's Cathedral Windows

INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup butter 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 2 eggs, beaten 1 (10.5 ounce) package rainbow colored miniature marshmallows 1 cup chopped pecans (I used only 1/4 cup or so) 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Melt together the butter and chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler or in the microwave. Stir to blend, then stir in the eggs, colored marshmallows and pecans. Pour the mixture into a 9x5 inch loaf pan, lined with wax paper or cling wrap. Dust with powdered sugar (optional, I skipped it) and refrigerate until firm. Remove chilled dough from loaf pan, remove the wax paper or cling wrap, and slice into 1/4 inch slices.

Grandma use to roll them in shredded coconut too. Recipe from Allrecipes.com (same as my grandmother's)

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU--NUTCRACKER?

I am a posting fool today. I have the chills so my family headed to the club for dinner with Santa, I stayed home, freezing with the chills. I wanted to share what I purchased for my son on ebay. I won--isn't it funny how they say won, a Steinbach Collectors Handcrafted Nutcracker from Germany. My son actually has his traditional Target Nutcracker fight this Nutcracker--no resale opportunity there! I am not sure who will win this battle, but it is hard to beat those lightsabers in the fight for control of the bedroom.

I just wanted him to have something special and for boys, there is not much. The girls have feather trees, cute ornaments, pink nutcrackers, christmas purses, earrings, etc. I am sure his future wife (in 20 years) will appreciate this addition to her lovely Christmas decorations. He also wants the Steinbach Yoda. We will see....

If you want one too, it can be purchased from Amazon by clicking below and May the Force be with you.....

Christmas China

While all of you on your blogs are discussing your celebrating the holidays with family, being thankful and charitable giving, I am talking about other important matters: setting my table. Deep and meaningful.... no, slighty superficial, oh yes! Below are some of my favorites china patterns. I host Christmas Eve dinner every year. I usually use my Sheffield China by Spode which looks nice on my red velvet tablecloth. Also, I have antique white, 24 inch linen napkins tied with ornament frames from Michael's that serve as placecards. I order a fresh arrangement from our local florist and then we are all set.

What is your favorite pattern or what do you do?

CHRISTMAS LABELS

Thank you to all you bloggers out there who helped me to find some unusual stationery items. One Fabulous Mom introduced me to Little Beane Boutique and I ordered these adorable address labels to seal my Christmas Cards.

A Visit From the Christmas Bat

Photo from Flickr

Most families are visited by Santa Claus, an Angel or the Christmas Elf. We were fortunate enough to be visited by the Christmas Bat. Imagine being awaken to a lovely little creature swarming around your head. After all the screams, tears and the general "freaking out" by my children, my brave bat slaying husband put an end to this little darling's life. Thank goodness we're are a tennis family--the only way to catch a bat is with that expensive Head racquet that had just been restrung. We may not let our daughter (who owns the racquet) know about this.

Now on to animal control to see if our special present has the gift that keeps on giving...a case of rabies. If so, we will have a wonderful dose of rabies shots for the next week. "Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal"--Home Alone I (modified)

YOU SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS, WE SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR--School Parties, Uh!

Living in Ann Arbor, people speak their mind freely when they are offended and we are totally geared toward doing what is best for the minor at the expense of the majority. More on this at a later time).

Hence, our school party this year is a Happy New Year party. Our elementary school is composed of many multi-cultural students (and mind you, it is never the foreign student's parents that complain), so holiday parties are always a problem. Some schools have just stopped having parties all together.

A few years ago, a parent in our school sent a rather rude letter home asking that no gingerbread homes be made because it was a Christian activity (but we can still play the dreidel game). The following year, my friends who is Muslim said, if we are going to talk about the dreidel and Hanukkah, then we need to talk about Eid. Exhausting! I would love for you to talk about them just not out of retribution.

My suggestion to all you parents out there is to..... stop being so offended all the time. I am sorry that Christmas is such a big deal in this country. My children love celebrating all holidays so please share yours with us and try not to restrict others' efforts.

Final piece of advice---worry about your own child. Do not send a letter to the entire school prohibiting gingerbread houses and stop worrying about the entire school playing the dreidel game. Make sure your own child understands the importance of learning about others cultures, is willing to share his/her own and stop being so offended all the time!!!!

So you see where we are--Happy New Year! We will be cheering in the New Year at 3:25pm on Friday if you want to join us. Cupcake--a favorite from Flickr (I have been saving it all year and no, I did not make it and probably will not make ever in my life time.

Christmas Cupcakes

All Cupcake Photos Available on Flickr

I just received a few flattering comments asking if I made these. Thank you for thinking I am this talented or patient. As I picked up the prepackage, pre-rolled cookie dough sheets from the store this morning, I realized I am very comfortable with keeping things simple for now.

Inauguration Dress

On thing that we all can agree on is that we care what Michelle Obama's dress will look like for the Inauguration. Women's Wear Daily wrote an article on the dress option submitted by designers. A few other sites have been ratings the dresses--which is more fun. (see: yahoo touch here). To see more of these dress, please check out WWD.

Isaac Mizrahi sketch for Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama. Diane Von Furstenberg

Monique Lhuillier sketch for Michelle Obama.

Betsey Johnson

ai Milla sketch for Michelle Obama

Christmas Greens: Real or Memorex

Well after our tree fell down and the needles fell off, we purchased another "fresh tree" and fresh roping, a few fresh wreaths both pine and boxwood. I just love fresh greens but every year, it is always a mess and seems like an unnecessary expense. Please let me know what you do.

Monogrammed Gingerbread Houses--Watchout Hansel & Gretel

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Gingerbread Houses. This year we did our annual tradition and they are displayed on crystal cake plates. My trick to successful Gingerbread house assembly is A GLUE GUN! Put it together with a glue gun then fill in with frosting. Trader Joe and Ikea have great priced, unique gingerbread houses--of course, we purchased full price standard houses because we needed them immediately! For those perfectionist, Red Envelop will customize your house for you. Other spectacular houses are below as well as a cute little book.

Red Envelop Red Envelop White House Gingerbread House White House Gingerbread House Book for those enthusiast

DEVIL IN THE JUNIOR LEAGUE

A gift for those Junior League gals. My friend, a former Junior League President suggested this book for a light read. It on my list!

BEST CHRISTMAS PROJECT EVER! -SAVE THOSE CARDS

One of my favorite Christmas treasures is my Christmas cards from years past. Each year I purchase an ornate frame and put our card in it. It is so amazing to see how your children have grown. One of our friends even said, "I have known you since --here"-pointing to one of the pictures. I also do the same with our pictures from Santa (I made these all black & white--no idea where they are right now but hope to find the soon).

Add a little fresh greenery

Beach at the Homestead and Grand Hotel Porch John Shultz Photography Photocard and Picture with White House Santa

The Beach at the Homestead

My all time favorite!

Holiday Tote Bag

For the past two years, Barnes and Nobles has offered this tote bag that is $5 with purchase. I put all my coupons, Christmas lists and Christmas cards to mail in it and take it around with me. This keeps me somewhat organized during the holiday craziness.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRAZINESS

William Sonoma

Here is my day--birthday breakfast with friends, picked-up by my mother and taken to the mall for 1.5 hours to help with ideas for may family for Christmas, mom drops me off at Country Club for late birthday lunch with another girl friend, who drives me home and I get in the car to get my kids (2 hour process with activities).

Right now, I am suppose to be at a party (friend is having an open house at his ophthalmology office and then off to a fundraiser "Time for Women" which is at an incredible home with fabulous people and it is an exclusive list that you must attend and donate to keep being invited. Well, I probably just ruined that invitation for next year. As you can see, I am home trying to baking fancy Christmas cookies for our cookie exchange/gift for teachers tomorrow and a Bûche de Noël for my daughter's french class. Oldest daughter also needs a snack for school. I think my priorities are screwed up.

FYI: The William Sonoma staff person said that the trick to making these fancy stained class window cookies is crushed up Lifesavers instead of colored sugar. I will let you know how these cookies turn out. Yes, I purchased the sugar cookie mix (needed a little simplicity).

COOKIE BAKING UPDATE: Did I say that I do not like to cook? Well, my dog ate the first

unfrosted Bûche de Noël right off the counter--this is not the first time for this and guess what, I have not learned; I believe it happened last Christmas too.

Secondly, the cookie mix from William Sonoma is delicious but the small crystal sprinkles do not work; you must use chopped lifesavers. Made 8 cookies and quit for the night. My school will not miss my effort (I have learned this over the years) and I will spend the time making cookies for my kids.

Tomorrow, I will help with cookie exchange, walk with a friend, lunch with a friend, get another christmas tree since our last one fell over and the needles were all falling off. Two parties on Sat. and one Sunday. Crazy, crazy but fun!

MY CHRISTMAS CARD UNWRAPPED!

Well, here it is, my Christmas card for 2008--a custom made silhouette of my children and our dog made by Le Papier Studios. The top version is my Christmas card and the bottom is a 5x7 for framing.

I am planning to put a little black and white picture on the inside of the card so people really know what my kids look like and how they have grown. This years effort is a little outside my usual picture, but I think it is fun. I will share what I do with my cards every year at a later date.

I would love to hear what you are doing for your card this year!

St. Joseph Ball--Winter Wonderland!

Well, finally I have a chance to write a post. I have been working hard this past month working on the bathrooms, yes I said the bathrooms (known as the lounges) for the St. Joseph Ball. My job (with a committee of fun women) was to transform stadium bathrooms into bathrooms you would see in a home. My dear friend was the chair and did a beautiful job implementing her theme "Winter Wonderland". As over 800 guest in black tie walked into the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center, there was a Christmas tree lot and carolers singing. As you entered the pre-party the entire rooms looked like a town with a gazebo and snow all around. When you walked down to the basketball stadium (all covered in black to hide the fact you are in a basketball stadium), you see a town and the inside of a home (this is a place to relax and eat Christmas cookies during the ball). Also there was a sidewalk (with street lamps) that guided you do the dance floor. The table decorations were incredible! Anyway, below are a few pictures of the event.

Room built in the middle of the ballroom where people can socialize after dinner.

Bathroom entry

Women's Lounge

Men's Lounge

Another Women's Lounge

Sometimes You Need A Good Laugh

This is on a large sign in downtown Ann Arbor. Not trying to offend anyone...