5 thing Friday - cards, more traffic!, The Girl, Christmas fun and games, nails

Our Christmas cards this year were so last minute.  I had Scout take a quick pic of he and his brothers, used a pic of The Girl and Teddy at the tree farm, and fished around for this pic of Hubby and I this summer.  Then I had them printed at Walgreen's for about $10. 

On the daily, Hubby complains about the traffic in Austin.  No matter what time of day, if there is sun out, there is traffic.  To get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time, you either have to leave home before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Pictured above is the very full feeder road running alongside an equally full 183. I did so much shopping on Amazon for gifts this year - totally worth my sanity.

The Thursday before Christmas I took gifts to my mother, helped clean her sewing room, changed out sheets and quilts on her bed, and enjoyed a lunch out.  She got teary a couple of times. I think the holidays are tough on the elderly for so many reasons.  She barely participates any more and giving her gifts gives her a side order of guilt.

 Her shirt says "Santa, Stop Judging"

The Girl and Teddy were here about 5 days. I wish Houston was not so far away and I bet she does, too.  We are discussing whether it would be a good idea for us to keep Teddy over the busy season.  I hate that for her, as Teddy is therapeutic for her after a long day.  But I also hate thinking of him alone in a quiet apartment for hours and days on end.

On Christmas morning we all slept in and took our time opening gifts.  Then we had a breakfast casserole and sangria.  Mostly people lay around the rest of the day and did whatever they wanted to.

We played a few games here and there, but not all 6 of us together.  Next year, we need to get some kind of thing going - contests, prizes, special apps - to lure people in from the couch.

The Girl gave me some nail supplies since she knows I have been stressing the condition of my hands.  I'm going to keep them polished so they will look better, start back up on the biotin, and treat them gently.

Happy last Friday of the year! 

Gina

Fun times with Carol

Just before Christmas, my friend Carol and I had a mini Girl's Weekend. Carol picked me up on Friday and we headed to San Antonio to see Billy Joel in concert - such a great show!  Three hours long and 32 of his songs, not to mention a rendition of Highway to Hell by his roadie as BJ playing electric guitar.  We didn't get to bed until midnight and I slept until 8:30 which never happens.

The next morning, Carol's sister, Lydia, picked us up for breakfast and took us here.   As you can see it was very busy - we actually got there at the perfect time, because by the time we left there was a line out the door.

 

We had the BEST Mexican breakfast - I had the barbacoa, scrambled eggs, home fries, and homemade tortillas.  So good!

The place was even more decorated than it usually is. So many tiny colored lights everywhere, not to mention sparkly ornaments and greenery.  Carol and Lydia made great breakfast companions and we laughed a lot.

The two of them spent less than $10 apiece on goodies.  Me? I spent around $28.  I took a big box back to my peeps.

Hubby and I went to La Margarita years ago and I remembered the candied orange halves - they were still there.  Along with so many other wonderful things.  Empanadas, coconut patties, pralines, pink cake, pecan and coconut cookies.

After breakfast we headed to Dripping Springs for the wine pick-up party at Sidecar.  I'm gonna make Carol a wine snob yet.

We settled in at a table out front to listen to live music and chat.  Around 3 p.m., we decided we better high tail it to Burnet - we had another pick-up party to attend at Torr Na Loch.

We got there in time to find it packed it was cold outside, so no one was really hanging out on the patio.  We did a short tasting and tried some BBQ turkey meatballs, and some chocolate crinkle cookies, but the main star of our show was this white wine sangria.  They flavored it with rosemary sprigs and cranberries and it was delightful.

We got home around 6, popped some chicken in the oven and socialized until 9 p.m. at which point Carol and I both were ready to call it a day, as she had to drive back to Houston the next day and I had to work.  But it was all worth it for fun Girl time together!

Gina

Yesterday

Sunday was a special day at our house for more than the obvious reason.

The baby turned 18.  We all sat at the table, finishing up dinner, talking with him about what it means to be adult - all the can's and can'ts.  Can't order a Happy Meal anymore, but can serve in the military, vote, go to jail. Can buy cigarettes.  Can drop out of school legally.  Can get a tattoo.  Can get married without parental consent.  Adulthood isn't all it's cracked up to be.  I'm hoping Bubbie has had a solid foundation, and with all of us behind him, will find his way in this big world.  But, scary times, I tell ya!  This week he gets his driver's license (finally!!), I am working an extra two days, Hubby is taking a much needed break from work, The Girl and Teddy head back to Houston, I have my last physical therapy appointment, and we may head to Highlands for a day away.  I will work all of next weekend, so as usual, the weekend will pass in a blur.  I m not sad to see 2016 go and am looking forward to the new year being awesome. 
What does your week look like?

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Grayson Reed!

Gina

Two quick crafts (aka tacky homemades)

I was really off my crafty game this Christmas season, however, I did promise a friend I would make tacky homemades. Here was my inspiration:

A burlap cross on reclaimed wood by simpleandsage on Etsy.  I had so much wood in the garage I could use for this, but I got started on it late.  I ended up buying a shabby'd plaque at Michaels, and some ribbon.

 I also made that tiny trees ornament.  Equally easy!

I bought a big clear plastic ornament (this one has their family's initial on it) and some faux snow from Michael's, and some mini trees from the Dollar Spot at Target.

The clear glass ones are pretty, but not practical if you have small children who might like to shake the snow in the ornament!  This one had a nice big opening, too.

 I wanted to place three trees (for 3 kiddos) in there, but I made one slightly taller by gluing on a couple of buttons to the base.

Then I carefully put a blob of hot glue on the base of each tree and gently lowered it into the ornament.  I have to say, that was the trickiest part of the whole craft!  A long pair of hemostats would have helped, but I just used some skinny sewing scissors.

I wish I could have found a tiny fox to put in there!

I filled the bottom with the faux snow and even sprinkled in some silver glitter, which mostly ended up below the snow.  Then I replaced the ornament top and tied on a turquoise ribbon.  It was fun and both of the crafts together took not even a whole hour.  

Gina

Christmas cookie baking day

Here are the cookies I made for assorted gift-giving and family enjoyment this year - very similar to my cookie lists of years past!  I figure a day of cookie baking is sure to chase the holiday blues away...at least that's what I'm hoping!

Gingersnaps
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1/4 c molasses
1 egg
2 c flour
2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 T ground ginger
1 t ground cinnamon
Colored sugar or sprinkles
Preheat oven to 350.  Cream shortening and sugar, mix in egg and molasses.  Sift the dry ingredients and mix into wet. Form into 1 inch balls and roll in colored sugar.  Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet and bake 12 minutes.

 These are so great right out of the oven and they freeze well, too

Graham Cracker Cookies*
14 sheets graham crackers
1/4 c sugar
2 T dark brown sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 salt
6 T butter, melted and cooled
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1/2 t vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 and prepare your cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Crush grahams until they have the texture of sand.  Whisk together the sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt and add to the crumbs.  Add the butter, egg, and vanilla until you have a soft dough.  Roll 1 inch balls of dough and space 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes, then let cool before you transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. (disclaimer:  I added mini chocolate chips to these because, chocolate!)
*I got this recipe from the Kitchn website - they have great cookie recipes!

Toasted Oat Cookies (my mother's recipe)
3/4 c. butter
2 1/2 c oatmeal
1/2 c flour
1 c light brown sugar
1 egg
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1/2 t soda
1 t vanilla
optional:  1/2 c raisins, nuts, or craisins (this time around I used candied orange and slivered almonds. My candied orange peel came from the bakery here, but you could sub in whatever you like or even leave it out entirely)
Pre-heat oven to 350.  Melt the butter in a heavy skillet, add the dry oatmeal ad cook til lightly toasted, stirring often.  Set aside to cool.  Mix brown sugar, egg, and vanilla until well-mixed.  Sift the dry ingredients and add to the egg/sugar mix.  Stir in cooled oats and raisins or nuts if desired.  Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet.  Bake approximately 10 minutes.

Russian Teacakes (a favorite from my childhood)
1 c butter, softened
1/2 c powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
2 1/4 c flour
1/4 t salt
3/4 c finely chopped pecans
Pre-heat oven to 400 and line your cookie sheet with parchment or a Silpat.  Mix the butter and powdered sugar with vanilla,  Sift the flour and salt and gradually work it into the butter mixture. (this is a very stiff dough!) Add in pecans and mix well.  Form into 1 inch balls (they will not flatten while baking).  Bake 10-12 minutes.  Cool slightly and roll into powdered sugar.  Cool completely and roll once more. 

I also made Kitchen Sink cookies, to use up some nuts, chocolate chips and coconut in my pantry - I just changed up a basic chocolate chip cookie.  I bought some cute containers for gift giving,

and will freeze some for our family on a pretty tray, all ready to pull out on Christmas Eve.  With some hot cocoa and the fireplace going, it will make for a sweet evening!

Gina

Thrifty clothes for downtimes

One day last week I went shopping for myself out of desperation to be comfy on my off days.  Fist on the list:  these cheapo men's house shoes/moccasins from Academy.  For some reason I have been really wanting a pair!  I wear them around the house with socks.  They have zero padding or arch support and I don't care.  And for $8 I consider them thrifty, since they are lined with flannel and made of suede.

 All the women's styles had bows and/or fluffy fake sherpa inside them.  ugh.

I went to my fav thrift shop and found a bonanza of blue jeans!  Five pair of  jeans in my size and in great shape!  A couple of them will be "working in the yard" jeans.  The others I can pair with a sweater and clogs while I am out running errands.  Jeans are so expensive nowadays...these were marked $6 or less apiece AND the lady gave me a senior discount after tsk tsking me that I hadn't come on Wednesday when all the clothes were marked 50% off.

I also found 3 long sleeve shirts - one flannel, one corduroy, one broadcloth.  I love that you can roll up the sleeves and usually I look for men's thrift store shirts so that I have more sleeve to work with.  With my stylish moccasins I paid less than $30 for all of the above and now I am cozy comfy on my days off!  What about you - done any thrifting lately?

Gina

5 thing Friday - traffic, candleglow, wagon, sammie, cup tree

Driving in Houston is bad.  Maybe not as congested as Austin, but still, if I think on it too hard, I feel like a nervous wreck knowing that my child navigates it daily.

 Plus, the weather in Houston is awful.  I lived on the Gulf coast for 11 years.  

I do not miss it.

This time of year feels hard for me.  I have no real reason to be sad, but I feel like I lost something that helped anchor me to the holidays, and that takes a little of the shine off of Christmas.

This is the same wagon I plucked from a dumpster.  Stay tuned to see my not-Pinterest-worthy use for it.

One day last week, Bubbie and I took a morning off to go to a city council meeting.  It was such an interesting morning!  And I was craving lunch out, but I had to get him back to school.  So when I got home I made a Rustown Mom version of a Schlotzsky's sammie - turkey, ham, havaarti, colby jack, and mixed greens with apple cider vinaigrette on butter-toasted bread.  It was delectable. 

My $10 thrill of last week.  I love me a mug tree.  I had one years ago and it was such a sweet addition  to the counter and I am loving all of the cabinet space it cleared up.  We no longer have to fight for space in the cabinet for hot drinks and fixin's. I don't know why I didn't buy one sooner.   It's a good thing, Martha.

Gina

The 2016 Christmas tree

The tree farm is one of those family traditions that Hubby is just not ready to let go of.  I think a couple of the "kids" still like it, too, so I guess until it's just the two of us, we will continue on with it!

We always mean to get there early, then Friday after Thanksgiving dawns and no one feels like getting up and moving too fast.  So, by the time we get there, they are very busy.  Which is not all that terrible according to Hubby's philosophy - where else do we have to go and what else do we have to do?

We were going to skip the tractor ride out there - our peeps are older and we can walk out to the trees ready to cut,

 But The Girl wanted Teddy to enjoy the ride.  And he did!  So many things to smell.

Firstborn was at work, otherwise I would have gotten a pic of the four of them together.  That's harder and harder to manage nowadays.

 

There are lots of photo ops, even with cloudy skies.  

Someone had the idea to spray paint a few.  Surprisingly, they were selling!  Scout and I couldn't resist taking some pics of them - the purple one is probably living large in some hipster's den right now.

The one we settle on is almost always 7-8 ft tall and so wide you can't easily sit on one side of the couch and that's exactly how my peeps like it.  For them, the bigger the better in Christmas trees! 

Gina