Christmas Gourmet Dinner Night

 

I promised a post on my Christmas Gourmet Dinner Night and dang it, I am going to deliver!   Everyone except my gourmet dinner night friends can leave now.  It is their duty to read this.  So let's get rollin'.

I LOVE Gourmet dinner night when it is at someone else's house.  Who wouldn't love showing up to a nice dinner with appetizers, main course, side dishes, fun beverages and a delicious dessert?  It is all fun and games until it is my turn to host.  I can decorate a pretty table:



But the food is my problem.   This year, I got smart and brought it my mother to do everything be my sous chef.  I helped throw her a birthday party the day before where I made vats of chicken salad so I figured she owed me.  Or at a minimum, she would come help because she is  my mom.  Here she is at her party the day before:

She came to my party and made the main course--Parmesan Crusted Chicken and rice.  She also brought leftover shrimp and fruit from her party.  All of this made me look like the Hostess with the Mostess. 



We had Ashley's hot artichoke dip to start.  yum.



I made my famous salad.  My friends had all had it before but no one complained:


I bought rolls from the Lion House Pantry at Deseret Book and tried to pass them off as my own.  They were disgusting and dry and in the end, I didn't even want to take credit for them. 

I was going to wow my friends with a fancy dessert but sometime around 3:00 in the afternoon, I found Buster sitting on my bar going to town on the sheet cake.  The aftermath:


Luckily, I was using a cookie cutter to cut out little cakes and the crisis was averted.  Here I am piping on frosting with a Ziploc bag:

The finished product:

The best part of the evening is our annual gift exchange.  Everyone brings three identical gifts that cost ten to fifteen bucks and we put them under the tree.  Then we each draw three names and we give our gifts to those people:

The gift giving:

Here is some of the loot:






I gave the Mindy Kaling books and lip glosses.

Everyone stayed until 1:00 am talking and laughing so I figure it was a success....



 

even if my kitchen looked like this the next day:

 



Party of One

It is Superbowl Sunday and I'm sure most of you are watching the big game.  I couldn't care less who wins.  I am just happy to be to be getting a little alone time.  I had surgery a few days ago to repair my broken nose.  Sam took my kids to Disneyland for the week so I could recover.  I had big plans to get some projects done around my house but so far there has been a lot of this:

I have some pretty sweet black eyes and a cast on my nose.  It's a good look.  But that's okay because I am not in a lot of pain.  The best news is that my new insurance actually covered my surgery.  It took three straight days of me hounding them about exceptions to pre-existing conditions, letters of continuous coverage, and other legal nonsense but they finally agreed to cover it.  Thank you IHC Select Med Preference!  I am a loyal customer for life! 

My parents have been so good to take care of me along with other very kind friends.  I feel very blessed.

I got other good news too.  Someone turned in Sammie's skis and we found Luke's poles in the garage so I no longer have to pay for those.  And my car insurance paid for my accident without increasing my premium.  I must be living right.  We even had some sunshine and days that got up into the 40s last week.  And I worked out at the gym several times.  There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Also, in my downtime, I caught up on all the Downton Episodes I have been missing.  This show is so good people.  It is the best thing on tv.  If you are not watching, you really should get your hands on the dvds.  Start at the beginning.  You won't be sorry.

Here's to February!  And nicer weather!  And good tv!  And looking like hell but not caring because my surgery was covered!  And brighter days ahead!

JOHNuary

Believe it or not folks, January was not all bad.  The Bachelor is on tv, I finally got Christmas down, and I got to spend 15 of the 31 days of January with John.  John lives in Arizona so getting to see him that much was pretty cool. 

We went to a BYU basketball game with my kids:

We went tubing with Luke and Sammie and John's daughter (he has two kids.):

John and and I got to take a trip to Southern California:

I got to meet John's hilarious grandparents and sister:

We got to go to dinner at my awesome aunt Pandy's house.  We also visited Seaport Village in San Diego: 

Back in SLC, we went to a Jazz game and then went to dinner at Red Iguana which was the restaurant we ate at on our first date.  They even put us at the same table...total coincidence.

 





Come back again soon John, January is too bleak without you!

10 Things I Hate About You (January)

Is anyone still out there?  I have heard from several of you wondering if I'm okay because this blog has all but died.  I always hate January but this January takes the cake.  I'm pretty sure the universe is out to get me.  That..or I just do really dumb things.  Probably both.   Here are 10 shizzy things that have happened to me this month..in no particular order.

1.  I got dropped from my health insurance.  It is a long story and involves my own stupidity.  Don't ask.

2.  I broke my nose.  No glory story here folks..just opened a door in my face  (two days after finding out I am uninsured.)

3.  I will be having surgery this week to repair my nose.  I get to pay out of pocket for it because there was nothing else I wanted to spend 2600 DOLLARS ON!

4.  I was deathly ill for most of the month.

5.  I got in a car accident in a snow storm when my brakes locked up and I slid into someone.

6.  Sammie left her skis (that are rentals) where the ski bus drops her off and Luke left his poles (also rentals).  I now get to replace both.

7.  I am pretty sure it has not gotten above 40 degrees the whole month.  Most days, it has been below 10 degrees.  Don't get me started about the smog and inversion.  It breaks my spirit.

8.  I worked out an average of one day a week for the whole month.  My sanity is hanging by a thread.

9.  I got called to be the Enrichment Coordinator for our ward.  I haven't been to Enrichment in years.

10.  I went to the dentist and found out I have four cavities.  (The best part is..I no longer have dental insurance!)

Soooo, this is why I haven't been blogging.  But I got a good feeling about February.  It can only go up from here right? 

I did actually have some good things that happened this month too.  All involving John.  Come back tomorrow for a happier post!

Best of Christmas 2012

I can't believe how quickly December flew by. Remember how November just dragged? Christmas is upon us. Thank goodness I have the entire day to myself tomorrow to get 'er done. I give you the Best of Christmas 2012:

Best Girls' Night Out: Gourmet Dinner Night at my home.

This is getting its own post.

Best Proud Mama Moment: Watching Ryan in his preschool program and dying at how cute my big boy is.

He is the biggest in the class and the sweetest child I have ever met.

Best Moment for Sammie: Having a gingerbread house party for five of her closest friends.



Guess which house is hers? (She loves pink!)

Best Moment for Luke: Having me help at his class party (I am in the top right corner in Ryan's reindeer antlers.) 



At one point I said to Luke "no, you cannot sit on my lap!" And all of his friends laughed. 

Best Moment for Mitchell: Going sledding with Grandma (photos coming!)

Best Moment for Ryan: Our annual tradition of riding the trolley at Thanksgiving Point and getting ice-cream in the malt shop afterwards. (flashed out pic with my super crappy camera):



Ryan was sick as a dog but refused to miss it.

Best Funny Photo:  my two lil' couch potatoes:



Best Break from the Madness:  Weekend trip to Vegas with John. 

Best Birthday Party: My mom turned 60 and for once, we really did it up right!

Best Christmas Miracle: Passing my eye exam at the DMV

 

 

Yesterday morning, I went to renew my driver's license at the DMV and failed the eye exam. I knew I needed to go home and get my contacts into my eyes or I would not be able to pass the test and get a new license. I first stopped at Walgreen's to see if I could get a pair of "readers" to get me through the test..but they didn't help.) I went on home. Miraculously, after 15 mins, I got the contacts into my eyes, drove back to the DMV and passed the test (I won't tell you how long it took me to get the contacts back out of my eyes last night!)

Finding Hope this Christmas Season

I have so many things I want to blog about right now (Gourmet Dinner Night for starters) but my heart is heavy and I just can't bring myself to blog about the silly right now.

I have to admit that I have cried on and off several times over the last two days thinking about the families in Connecticut who lost their dear children.  I can't seem to shake the sadness in my heart thinking of them burying their children at Christmas time.  Then, tonight, I came across this video called "An Unexpected Gift" on my friend Marta's blog.  When I watched this video, I lost it.  It took me back to how I felt two years ago with the events in my own life.  While the circumstances were different, I still felt completely shocked and had the same experience of having to act like nothing was wrong for awhile.   I totally relate to the woman's experience of feeling held by Christ and carried through her ordeal.  Watch the clip here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpV4MIUrT9Y&feature=share&list=PL4E784EC0770935C0

Last year, it was Christmas time when Sam and I made the final decision to end our marriage.  I remember sitting in front of our Christmas tree telling the kids that Mom and Dad had decided to get divorced.  They cried in my lap and I cried with them.  Yet, I was able to share with them that the Savior understood and would help us get through it.  We talked about faith and hope and that Jesus came to earth not only to pay for our sins but to learn how to comfort us and carry us when we are in our darkest hour.

I have always been grateful that it was Christmas time when we were at our lowest point.  It gave my kids something else that was fun and happy to focus on.  But, more importantly, they learned why Jesus Christ came to earth.   The Savior made good on his promise--He has carried us ever since.  Here we are a year later..doing so well.  My children are happy.  Ryan still asks me questions about why we got divorced and what that means exactly.  I don't have all the answers but I can tell him that Heavenly Father and Jesus love him just like his earthly parents love him and that everything will be okay. I hope that the families in Connecticut who lost their precious children can be comforted the same way as I was that Christmas.

May the peace and love of our Savior bring each of you hope this Christmas season.

This and That--December Edition

I have waited a good week to publish this post just so I could call it "This and That--December Edition"  Was anyone else in a November time warp?  It felt like it would never end. I was sick for most of November and it was the world's longest month.  Welcome December!!!

Here are a few things going on in my life:

1. I am a fan of Ann Taylor again. Sarah from Ann Taylor Corporate formally apologized to me over the phone for the rude manager at the Fashion Place Location. She also sent me a letter apologizing with a 40% off coupon and a $25.00 gift card for my troubles. I guess I can forgive them. I do love saying to someone at Corporate, "I know that if I were in your shoes, I would want to know if one of my employees was out of line." I act like I am doing them a favor!

2.  It must be the time of year for apologies because I also got an apology out of the blue from a guy who stood me up months ago at Cheesecake Factory.  I have never met him in person and I thought I would never hear from him again after I gave him a piece of my mind via text.  Lo and behold, he apologized yesterday.  I forgave him and told him I was over it and have moved on.  Here is a pic of me moving on with John at Temple Square seeing the lights:

2. My friend Sara texted me to say "Who gets a medium soft drink at McD's?"  Apparently she was behind a person in line doing just that.  Yeah, seriously. That is offensive. It is the same price as the large. None of you better be doing that!

3. I saw an article on MSN (where I get all my news) yesterday about a guy who is actually trying to colonize Mars. He is putting together space shuttles to take people there and DROP THEM OFF in these pods they will live in and they have to pay $500,000.00 to take the space shuttle there. I got nauseous reading about it. Seriously, have you seen Mars?

4. I put up a new garland on my banister. It is pretty freakin' adorable. I have to thank Ashley for it since she bought me the lit garlands after Christmas last year at Michael's for $1.50 each and the balls at Land of Nod on clearance as well. The big polka dot balls and candy canes picks are from Taipan and last time I checked, they still have them. The garland might have too much stuff on it but since I have no man living in my house to complain about it, I am going with it.
 

5. Along those same lines, I also added some new balls to my Christmas tree and put balls in these two containers. Pretty dang proud of my crafty self:

6. I am hosting Gourmet Dinner Night at my home in December. I should be panicking and cooking like a mad woman to find recipes. I'm not. I've done nothing. Odds are good that I will end up buying dessert and probably most of the dinner. GDN gals, you've been warned. On second thought, maybe you are rejoicing right now after the last time I hosted!

7. I took my kids to the BYU game last Saturday night in Provo. We ate at Brick Oven beforehand and Santa came around to visit each table. I love this (flashed out) picture of the boys:

8. I got this darling workout jacket at Target. It was still 40 bones but compared to the Lululemon stuff..it was a steal. They have knock-off Lululemon pants there too. Sometimes Target really gets it right. Mine is in hot pink and I wear it everywhere..not just the gym:

9. My saintly neighbor Doug installed the lights on my home again this year, and raked every.single.leaf off my lawn. I don't have a single rogue leaf out there, people! He comes over every other day or so to change out lights that are out. Jealous? My yard and house have never looked so good. I may never remarry just so he can always do my yard--it looks so good!

10. I have a new favorite make-up product.  I still love everything Tarte makes but this is a product by Benefit called Watt's up!  I got it at Ulta and it is an highlighter for your face.  I put it above my cheekbones.  It is perfect for holiday parties or just any day when you need a little oomph to make your skin glow (love Buster in this photo.  He is in zombie mode):

11.  (Because this random post goes to 11!)  My Christmas Elf hasn't shown up yet.  He might not make it this year.  How is that for lazy mom 101?  When you don't have the energy to hide the elf every night--you know you have given up!