Seriously, People

This is NOT OK.

It is not OK to have a big honkin' Christmas tree in the middle of Wal-Mart the day after Halloween.

It is NOT OK to have Christmas music blaring in Khol's on an average Monday night in the beginning of November.

It is NOT OK to have your house already decorated and lit up.  I don't care if you are from across the border.  That is not how we do things in this neck of the woods.

We must give thanks first.

Give thanks, people!

Then, we can say Merry Christmas, decorate trees, blare Christmas music, hang lights...and drink Peppermint Mochas from Starbucks.  

The day after Thanksgiving.

*stepping off of soapbox*

~jennykate

Homemade Food Gifts for the Holidays

Picture from: Parents Magazine

Every morning I get an e-mail from Parents Magazine with lots of great ideas. So, this morning I thought I would share one. They have these adorable monogrammed mugs w/ yummy goodies inside. I think this is what I'm going to make for my co-workers!

Ingredients
3 cups or 3 envelopes (3.2 ounces each) instant nonfat dry milk powder
2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 cup powdered nondairy creamer
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
1. Stir together the dry milk powder, confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and nondairy creamer in a large bowl. Divide among 18 bags (1/3 cup each), and top with marshmallows and mini chips.
2. Attach these instructions to side of mug: Blend cocoa mix and 3/4 cup boiling water together until chocolate chips begin to melt.

There are lots of other great ideas for Homemade Food Gifts. So, be sure to go check out their website: Parents Magazine

Whatcha Talkin' About Wednesday

What did you say? Huh? You said what? NO WAY! Say that again. Seriously! You've GOT to be kidding me! SHUT...UP!

Twilight will be coming out in less than 2 days! Count them...one...two! I'm beyond excited! As you all know, I PRE-purchased my tickets last week. I have my t-shirt and I'm ready to go. Every since I finished the last pages of Breaking Dawn last week, this is what I have been looking forward to! I'm going to the 5:50 show (that's central standard time). I know a few of you share my excitement and a few of you are sitting on the other side of the computer screen shaking your head right now...and that's ok. I'm sure if I had not read the series and I had no clue what people were so stoked (yeah, I went there) about, then I would be sitting on the other side of the screen shaking my head and thinking they were all CRAZY! Twilightaholics! There should be an "anonymous" group sprouting up any time. This is pretty much "THE" topic of conversation around the water cooler (just kidding, I just wanted to say that...the water cooler is in the kitchen and we don't stand around there and chit-chat).



The other "hot topic" around here is OU Football. We have a very precarious situation, in that, this Saturday we (OU) are playing Texas Tech...who beat Texas...who beat us. Did you follow that? Supposedly this game is THE game to watch. So, tune in and if you're not a Tech fan, root for the Sooners :) It's nationally televised on ABC. Look for me...I'll be the one in red :P

Last night, I went to my first of many Thanksgiving dinners. It got me thinking how everyone celebrates differently...different traditions, different places they go, and different foods to eat. We've already planned out our menu for Thanksgiving. Usually a couple of weeks prior, we sit down at my Granny's kitchen table on a Sunday afternoon and hash it out...who will bring what. One thing is always the same, my Granny makes the turkey, gravy, and dressing. She's the best hands-down! The rest of the side items include mashed potatoes, my Aunt Chrissy's hot rolls, my Aunt Bev's broccoli and cheese casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and all the yummy pies you can handle! (I think we have a thing for casseroles) We gather at my Granny's, eat, watch football, and nap! Oh, and then of course, we break out the sale ads for Black Friday. All of us girls hover around the cleared off kitchen table and we start making lists! There's always games of monopoly or tripoly...or card games. We know how to have a good time! This year, we're picking up an old tradition that we used to do all the time, and we're drawing names for Christmas gifts. Our family is getting so big and we felt like it would be a way to exchange gifts without everyone buying for EVERYONE. So, we'll see how that goes. Can't wait! I'm excited already! I love the holidays!

So, what are you talkin' about?