Christmas Ornaments and Trees and Elves

This year we decided to go for an artificial tree rather than purchasing a real tree.  You see, every year we have bought a fresh tree to fill our home with that holiday tree scent.  The problem with a real tree is that begins to leave a mess a week later.  In Florida you're probably better off buying a Christmas tree a week before so that it will stay nice and green without all the prickles on your floors, even worst, your rugs.  Ah! That and the fact that you never know if some critter is lurking in that tree. I've heard horror stories of how these trees can carry ticks and lay eggs in your home.  Yuk! Can you imagine?  The fact that critters could be in the tree alone is enough to make me go for a fake one.  Besides, I purchase those holiday candles and I can get the scent without the pine needles all over my house.

So the real reason I decided to write this post....  Well, this ornament ... what can I say ... I volunteer at a school and had one of the kids ask if I had an elf that visited my home while I was asleep and play with my things.  I know it's been a while since I was a kid but who thinks of these things?  Really?  I'm no Scrooge but don't we have enough with leaving a carrot for the reindeer on Christmas Eve?  Okay, okay, maybe I wasn't in the holiday spirit when she asked.  The word spread like fire and next thing you know I'm faking a visit from the elf so that my little people think they too have an elf.  Ay ay ay.  

Anyway ... I had to share that.  

The elf that one of the little people tried catching the other night was finally caught and now lives on our holiday tree.  Since they apparently freeze when you see them (or catch them in our case), we all get to see him hang on the tree.  

What was hard was finding an elf anything.  Fortunately, I was able to find this ornament at Target but the more I look at it the more I think it's an gnome.  Whatcha think? According to the youngest 'little person' elves have pointy ears and curly shoes and clearly this fella has neither.  Oh well, it's as close as an elf as it gets.

Well, off to bed I go.  I just had to get that out there.

-Hizles

Simple Things Sunday - Baking FAIL

Take a peak at my kitchen this evening ....

These cheetos (fingers) aren't mine

I was feeling inspired and decided to bake some sugar cookies.  Keep in mind that the only cookies I have ever made have been chocolate chip cookies and while dropping is easy I thought I'd try cookies cutters.  Hmmm .... what do you think?  

What a sad looking batch :-(

Perhaps I'm just not a sugar cookie kind of gal and decorating, probably not either.  

Sugar cookies always remind me of Christmas so it made sense for me to make these.  I'll give it another try as Christmas gets closer just to get in the festive mood.

Hope your baking is a lot better than this!

;-)

Hizles

  

For the love of JUICING

We have been going through fruits and vegetables in my house like it’s nobodies business! 

About two month ago I decided to start blending all those green vegetables that are so hard to eat all on their own.  I didn’t want to slather them when fatty dressings or cook them.  The only other option for me was to blend them and take it like a big girl.  Yup.  A smoothie made out of kale, celery, cucumbers, cilantro, lemon, apple, pear, and pretty much anything green.  I picked up the idea from Kimberly Snyder.  Haven’t heard of her?  Google it.  After reading (part of) her book I thought I would try and make the change to slowly cut meat out of my diet.  I can’t tell you I have been successful, since I gave it up a couple of weeks after … what can I say, I love meat.  Other circumstances lead me to fall off the wagon too.

I realized that while she was right on many points, I just wasn’t ready to make such a drastic change.  So instead I have my veggies in a cup.  Two weeks ago, while sick as a dog, I thought I’d try again but instead of blending I am juicing.  Oh yeah! JUICING BABY!  While juicing doesn’t make me visit the ladies room as often as the blending did I do feel great.  My refrigerator has never been so jam packed with fruits and vegetables as it has been lately. 

This is just a sneak peak at what my kitchen looks like most mornings and evenings. 

Other members in my home prefer more of a fruit juice than a green veggie juice.  

Here's to good health!

-Hizles