Pure Sugar

A couple weeks ago I read over Sarah’s recipe for granola. (Actually it’s her mom’s.) I couldn’t wait to try it, and today I finally got around to making a batch. I used walnuts, dried cranberries, and flax seed in my version. I omitted the sesame seeds, wheat germ, and wheat bran. I have to admit that it came out really good! Next time I might use maple syrup instead of honey. I’m looking forward to experimenting with different fruit & nut combinations. Since yogurt and granola is a breakfast staple (I eat it just about every other day), I think this will be a fun addition to my culinary repertoire. (Not to mention that it’s so much cheaper than store-bought!)

I hope everyone’s new year is off to a great start! Ours has been quite relaxing. Drew’s mom took the boys on the 1st and we’re picking them up later this morning, so we’ve been able to get some things done around the house, as well as actually sleep past 5:30 a.m. which has been really nice

Yesterday I did a big grocery shopping trip. I’ve decided to make an effort to do more shopping at Aldi. Do you have one of these stores near you? They are significantly cheaper on many items and lots of frugality bloggers around the web have written about the store. It’s good for basics like snacks, canned goods, frozen items, and cheese. Their milk is priced extremely well, but they don’t sell 1% oddly enough, and that’s what we drink. Unfortunately their produce at my local store is not always the greatest but I am picky about my fruits and veggies anyway. I walked out of there yesterday with four bags full of groceries for $32. Not too shabby! Then I just filled in at a couple other stores.

Since shopping took me forever I decided to just pick up lunch on the way home. I was really craving a tuna sub, but the last time we went by, our local Subway franchise was being remodeled and wasn’t open. I didn’t want to risk that (don’t mess with a hungry, pregnant woman!) so I picked up some chili at Wendy’s.

We also got all the Christmas decorations down, watched some movies, and just took it easy. I’m not prepared for the craziness of real life to start back up this week, but I guess I don’t have a choice! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Well, 2008 ended pretty much exactly how it started — with a snow storm! We probably have about four or five inches out there and it’s still blowing around. Originally I thought maybe we’d order a pizza tonight, but it’s too cold out to get in the car to pick it up. Instead we’ll make due with frozen pizza and mozzarella sticks, and I’m making some potato skins. The pizza from our favorite pizza place would certainly be tastier, but I don’t feel like bundling up and heading out, especially since I have this cold. I think tonight we’ll just nibble on snacks and probably play some Wii games. I highly doubt I’ll make it up to the stroke of midnight. I’d rather usher the new year in with a good night’s sleep (as my dad always says)

2008 had it’s ups and downs, that’s for sure, but overall it was a great year for us. I’m so looking forward to 2009 - I can’t wait to see what it has in store! From my family to yours — we wish you a happy and healthy New Year! Cheers!!!

I know I’ve written about the affordable eyeglass frames at Zenni Optical before, but did you know they have a selection of holiday frames as well? The ones pictured here have evergreens and snowmen on the sides - how cute! If I still worked at the wine shop, I would have certainly considered these as an alternative to my everyday black frames during the holiday season. If nothing else, they would be a way to strike up conversations, I bet. I don’t recall ever seeing frames like this at any of my local optomotrists. I think these would be cute for anyone who works with kids, too. I can totally see my son’s first grade teacher wearing a pair. There are lots of other holiday-themed styles as well (snowflakes, a horse-drawn sleigh, pointsettia, and lots more). Be sure to check them out and see for yourself.

Several of my friends in blog land have purchased their frames from Zenni Optical and they’ve all been pleased with the results. You certainly can’t beat the price. (Just $16 for the frames shown!) I think the last time I bought frames they were $120. Maybe next year I will place an order and see for myself!

With little else going on today besides waiting to conduct my rescheduled interview for my feature story and blowing my nose every five seconds, I thought I’d join in on the New Year Fun at Kelli’s blog. You simply post the first sentence of your first blog post of each month, and you can also add a favorite photo from each month. Here’s mine!

~ January ~
Earlier today my brother was demanding that I update my blog, so here you are .

~ February ~
 What a strange morning. I was waiting for the bus with Jake, as usual, when a car slowed down and the driver said, “School’s cancelled!”

~ March ~ 
Ages ago I saw Giada DiLaurentis make a sandwich like this on her program and ever since I’ve wanted to try it.

~ April ~
OK, I am almost feeling ready to give the Forest Canopy Shawl another try.

~ May ~
If you missed out on Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day, or Baskin-Robbin’s 31-cent scoop night, do NOT miss out on Carvel’s Happy Hour tonight.

~ June ~
I’m so awful — I can’t quickly find a wedding photo to post on our 7th anniversary!

~ July ~
The farm shares are just getting better and better as the weeks go on!

~ August ~
Last winter my parents got a new snowblower and graciously gave us their old one, which is much more powerful than the one we had and much better suited for our driveway.

~ September ~
It’s Thursday, isn’t it?

~ October ~
Want to know a sure sign of autumn?

~ November ~
I’m getting so impatient to finish redoing our upstairs bathroom.

~ December ~
I’ve been grouchy since the moment I woke up this morning, and things just aren’t looking up.

 Thanks to Kelli for hosting, and if you want to join in, be sure to add your name to the Mr. Linky on her blog.

I think I just might be suffering from a holiday hangover because I am so tired and achy today. I think all the driving, all the delicious (but not necessarily healthy) food, and general craziness surrounding Christmas has caught up with me. But that aside, we certainly had a wonderful holiday! We had dinner on Christmas Eve at Drew’s mom’s house, and then I hosted on Christmas day. I would, without a doubt, make the beef tenderloin again. I could not believe how easy it was, and the result was delicious. Next time I might only cook it until 125 degrees (internal temp.) instead of 130 — I think it could have been a bit rarer still, but it was pretty pink inside and melted in your mouth.

The boys were thrilled with their toys (Legos, Transformers, a Hulk Smash game, baseball set, just tons of toys!) and Drew took us all by surprise with a family gift he saved for last. When the boys tore off the wrapping paper and I saw that he’d bought a Wii, I was shocked! (Happily shocked, but utterly surprised!) You see, Drew isn’t really into video games or computer games. He’s not the kind of guy who sits around playing World of Warcraft. Heck, I can’t even get him to play Wordscraper on Facebook! But apparently he’d been looking into various video game systems and really liked the Wii. He also got a Wii Fit and several games to go with the system. We’ve been enjoying the tennis game most of all so far, and Jake loves his I Spy game. It really is a lot of fun!

I was spoiled with some beautiful jewelry (including a gorgeous etched glass cameo that will look stunning with a knit lace shawl — now I have my motivation to finish one!). And the other gift that blew me away was a hand-painted jewelry armoire. I’ve wanted one of those armoires for years! I am so excited to transfer all my jewelry into it. Drew loved his book of Tom Waits sheet music, and the various iPod Nano accessories that I picked out for him, as well as a few other odds and ends.

We spend the day after Christmas at my parents’ house and had a great time there visiting with mom and dad and my brother and sister-in-law. Mom made a bunch of delicious Polish food and I especially enjoyed the homemade kielbasa that they buy locally and the cabbage pierogis. *So good!* I am really spoiled. The “kielbasa” and pierogis you buy at the supermarket aren’t even close to the real things. We got home late Saturday afternoon and had a lazy day yesterday.

Today I’ve been trying to clean everything up and getting ready to take down the tree and decorations. As much as I love having them up, I also love after I take everything down and put it all away, reclaiming all the space in my house! I love starting the new year clean and uncluttered.

I hope you all had wonderful holidays as well. Any exciting plans for New Year’s?

Well it looks like a pretty rainy day out there today, but hopefully at least some of the snow will stick around. We have well over a foot of it, so I doubt it all will melt away.

I have to say that this is the most relaxed Christmas Eve I’ve had in several years. I think part of the reason is that I chose food for Christmas Day that doesn’t require really any prep work. Last year we did a variety of appetizers and pizzas and that was really time-intensive. In previous years I’ve done brunches and prepared egg dishes that needed to be prepped and set overnight, as well as a variety of baked goods. This year it’s filet mignon (which I still think was the best buy of all the holiday food sales), au gratin potatoes (sorry, from a box — easier and the boys will eat them), salad, green beans, and rolls. Super easy. My MIL is going to bring dessert — anything leftover from tonight. That should work out well.

This morning the boys and I plan to bake some chocolate chip cookies for Santa. I’ve also been doing a little candy making for last-minute additions to gifts. And I am still not done with one last knitting project! Argh! I just hope I have time to finish it up. If not, I am sure the recipient will understand.

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope your preparations are going well!