When Things Go Badly Bake Something Delicious

Just a random shot of bleached and glittered trees, cuz I have time for stuff like that right now.

{insert sarcasm}

Someday I'm going to laugh about it.  But right now, I am not laughing.

My best intentions to make Christmas special for my family have gone strangely awry.

Last night I was dreaming, I was in the basement of an antique store with a steer.  The whole "bull in a china shop" was playing in living color all night long in my mind.

I am not sleeping well.

At all.  

After Christmas I shall share a very ugly story on the blog.  I keep trying to FIX this nightmare so it must remain a Christmas secret for now.  I am not certain if this makes me very, very stupid or just really, really determined to finish what I have started.

{insert deep breath}

It's fine, don't worry about me, it's all good.  I'm just a little stressed, tired, and disappointed.  

First world problems and all that...

Let's bake instead of dwelling on my angst.  I mentioned this recipe last month and several readers requested it.  It is fairly easy.  I don't think you'll have nightmares about bulls in china shops from baking for your family and everything going horribly wrong.  This recipe is easy and delicious.  Really.

Pumpkin White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bars 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels, divided
• 2/3 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan.
COMBINE flour, cinnamon, cloves and baking soda in a small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until blended; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 1/2 cup morsels and nuts. Spread into prepared jelly-roll pan.

BAKE for 18 to 22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

PLACE remaining morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag. ***Alert!  They aren't kidding about using a good quality bag, do not use a flimsy little sandwich bag! Microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 45 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle over bars.

 The last photo is from the Nestle site because I didn't take a picture of the finished bars I just started eating them and forgot all about getting the shot.

I am not being paid by Libby or Nestle now or ever.  Amen.

Enjoy!

Best Birthday Ever

On Friday Hubby and I went to Seattle, checked into the Mayflower Park Hotel and the good times began.

After shopping in the afternoon, we changed into our evening attire.  First stop was downstairs at Oliver's.  It's our favorite spot to sip a Silver Bell and watch the world go by in Seattle.

 The hotel was decked out for Christmas with beautiful Christmas trees and fresh flowers throughout the building.  The Mayflower was built at the same time as our house so we feel at home when we're there.

 Then we took a cab to McCaw Hall in the Seattle Center.  Hubby gave me tickets to see Nutcracker Suite for my birthday.  It's the last year for the Maurice Sendak version of the Nutcracker in Seattle.  It was fun to see all of the children so excited and dressed up in their holiday dresses and suits.  There was a group of design students with amazing gowns.  One student had lights in the hem of her ball gown.

My favorite scene is the Snowflake Dance.  The picture is from PNB.  The best moment for me was after the Waltz of the Flowers, the little girl sitting in front of me spontaneously jumped to her feet and started applauding.  She was so caught up on the moment.  Then she looked around, realized she was the only one standing and sat down, but continued to cheer.

We took the monorail back to our hotel, where after sharing a fruit and cheese tray and cocktails; I had sweet dreams of sugarplum fairies.

 Saturday was my birthday and we began our day with breakfast at Andaluca's.  I had the French toast stuffed with almond cream cheese and orange butter.  Best birthday breakfast and a wonderful start to our day in downtown.

 We did some Christmas shopping and then walked to Pike Street Market.  I got fitted for new running shoes at Sound Sports.  We browsed through Watson Kennedy, Sur la Table and the antique mall.  We ran into a snow machine making the streets even more festive.  There were many Seahawk fans and a some 40whiner fans too.  Some Sea Hawks chanting going on was making it all a lot of fun.

 Now I know what to do with the rusty Tonka trucks in our back yard.

We went home Saturday evening.  It was a fun time in the city and a wonderful birthday.

 I continued to celebrate on Sunday with the children's program at our church, soup lunch at my folk's place, and a BiG Seahawk win.  In the evening, a special birthday dinner at Mark and Karen's place.

Since my birthday is in December it is usually rather hit and miss but this year was amazing.  It was 12/13/14 and I celebrated on the 12th and 13th and the 14th.  I'm feeling very spoiled and blessed.

I'm Still Kickin' and Screamin'... a little

 A quick update is in order today.  MIA in November, honestly I do not even know what happened to November.  Retail, I work in retail.  That's what happened.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.  So many blessings to be grateful for this year and always.  We had a wonderful day including a nice Thanksgiving Day church service, where we did not sing We Gather Together.  It's okay, no big deal, I'll wait another year.  It's fine.  No biggie.  I know, I know, it can't always be all about me and my favorite Thanksgiving song.  Seriously, I love my church and I am so thankful for it.  And by it, I mean the people.  I'm looking forward to the Advent Season.

I made the cranberry fluff for Thanksgiving and gave thanks for my Kitchen Aid mixer and my Cuisinart.

 I made pumpkin bars which I intended to share the recipe before Thanksgiving.  It's a pumpkin bar recipe I found in Country Living in the 80's.  It had been years since I made this recipe but it's a good one.  Next year I'll share it in a timely manner.  Pumpkin, white chocolate and macadamia nuts are a delicious combination.

 I didn't take a single photo of our Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house so I stole a few from my sister that is a Snapsister.  Aren't we blessed?  That's a lot of family, food, and fun, right there.

After dinner we went home to watch the Seahawks win.  Sam and Angela came over with the Bumpus hounds and a good time was had by all.

I didn't shop on Black Friday, except online.  Friday night we went to Kulshan Brewery for Coconut Kenny's pizza with Max and Kassie, Sam and Angela, and Karen.  Blake stopped by to say hello.  It lightly snowed and I love snow so that was a bonus.

 I've done some decorating and in true crazy town fashion I started with the areas that are low priority, the guest room, the laundry room, the master bedroom and the sitting room.  I hope to get our living area done this weekend.  Well, I hope to get it started...

 On Saturday I went to Jon and Cait's wedding reception.  Everything was beautiful, the brunch was delicious but the highlight for me was seeing Caitlin in her gorgeous dress.

 There were cupcakes so I guess it's the real deal.  No one is officially married without cake.  The MOB, Leslie is a good friend and it was so great to see her hard work come together so beautifully.  Leslie made all of the bunting, she gathered vintage tablecloths, and it came together so pretty.  Speaking of pretty, Leslie had a very pretty dress and vintage jewelry.

 Let's just revisit Cait's dress, shall we?  I loved it so much.  Maybe because I there when she bought her dress so I felt sentimental about it.  Or maybe because it was fabulous.

 On Monday I went to Seattle with my sissies, Kathi, Jodi and Melinda.  We are there to Christmas shop but we do a few little things for ourselves too.  I had my eye makeup done at Nordstroms, Jodi had her hair done, Melinda got her boots polished.  I'm thinking next year we should go overnight and book a spa day.  We shopped and lunched and then shopped some more and then ended our day at the Train Wreck for dinner.  Obviously, we were successful! 

 Isn't my little band of angels sweet.  A vintage find, still in their original box, still intact and made in British Hong Kong.

I am still working on projects and have enjoyed some success.  I've also weather some serious #project fail, #Christmasfail and some #howdoesthatevenhappen.  Post Christmas I will share the projects with tutorials so y'all know what NoT to do.

Don't forget to go to Grandiflora to buy your Bethany Home Tour tickets.  The tour is Saturday.  On Thursday Shelly and I get to help our friend Holly with a small detail in her and Brian's home.  They are on the tour and you do not want to miss their Christmas home.  See you there!

That's all and that's enough!

It's A Lot of Bling

 On Friday I had some studio time with the girls.  We worked on wreaths.  Big, shiny, bright shiny brite wreaths.  It takes a lot of ornaments to make a wreath but it's okay because we have a lot of ornaments.  And doodads, and bling and bits and bobs.

 We can laugh at ourselves and our slight obsession with vintage Christmas.  It's a lot of laughs and a lot of stuff and frankly, we are just a lot.

 I made a wreath and I had in mind who I was going to give it to but I wasn't sure if she'd want it. So I asked her and assured her that she didn't have to take it.  My new daughter-in-law, Angela said she'd love to have it.  So it's all hers.  And Sam's too, of course.  Sam views Christmas trees etc. as pagan symbols.  But as far as Christmas goes that kid married his mother.  HAH!  Angela begins decorating right after her birthday.  In October.  Oh, That Sam I Am, your Mama is laughing.

 I had errands in town on Saturday.  I know, I know, bad idea going on a Saturday but I had things to do.  On the way home I made a quick stop and scored.  Twenty five cents each, yes please!

 There was a little Santa behind the counter, I asked, we negotiated and he came home with me too.  He's a piggy bank and a good example of Made in Japan spaghetti trim.  His moustache is huge and sticks out away from his face.

I am making many Christmas gifts this year and of course, I can't share until after Christmas is past.  It has been such fun for me to create for the people I love.  I'm off to the studio again today.  

Enjoy the sunshine today!

Random Friday Bits and Bobs

Brrrr...baby it's cold outside!  I have new flannel pj's though so I should be fine.  Vintage trailers and flamingos on flannel?  Yes, please.  I can only lounge in them, sleeping in them would be a hot flash nightmare waiting to happen.

I'm obsessed with finding new snow boots this year.  I really want white with some fur.  I'm thinking about the ones pictured below but I'm not sure there is enough fur.  I have leather boots but I do need some new snow boots.  My last pair was a gift that I received from my husband when we lived on E Street.  Our house on E Street was a 2 bedroom with three small boys.  Hubby came home and told me he'd spent money that day on some thing for me and he knew I'd say we couldn't afford it but he loved me and thought I should have it.  Of course, I thought I was getting flowers. No go, it was snow boots from Cenex Farm Store.  They really were the best gift, I'm so happy he surprised me with boots instead of roses.  Bill and Fred's Excellent Construction bought boots for their bookkeepers. 

Jodi, do you still have your boots?

 I haven't started Christmas decorating however; I am digging around in the attic and finding some treasures to do a bit of Christmas crafting.  I'm also working on making some gifts this year.  The glue gun is loaded.  Hmmm, I wonder if I need a background check for a glue gun with Washington State's new gun laws going into effect in December.  Cuz it's a weapon and smokin' hot over here.

I hope to take the ornament box and create a shadow box.  I love the piles and boxes of Christmas bits and bobs.  Wouldn't it be great to just place piles all over the house and call it good?

Who does THIS?  Who checks out Homemade Decadence  by Joy the Baker and The 21-Day Belly Fix from their library at the same time?  Sigh.  It's not going so good over here.  I've only had time to flip through both of them, not really a lot of time to read right now.  Or bake.  Or diet.

 I did make a pumpkin coffee cake late week.  It wasn't in either book.  T'was delish!

Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake

• STREUSEL TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts
• 
  
• COFFEE CAKE:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease and flour 9-inch round cake pan.

FOR STREUSEL TOPPING:
COMBINE flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture is crumbly; stir in nuts.

FOR COFFEECAKE:
COMBINE flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

SPOON half of batter into prepared cake pan. Sprinkle 3/4 cup Streusel Topping over batter. Spoon remaining batter evenly over Streusel Topping; sprinkle with remaining Streusel Topping.

BAKE for 45 to 50 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely.        

*I am not promoting or getting paid, just passing along a tasty recipe from the Libby and Nestle website.  I don't get paid to write this blog.  Now or ever.  Amen.       

I am fine.  I did warn you this would be random.  So stop thinking that Tami's lost her mind.  I'm all here.

Now I am going to empty my house of all decor to prep for Christmas decorating.

There may be a tree or two going up this weekend.  HAH! 

Stay cozy!

Happy Veteran's Day

All gave some. some gave all.

A special thank you to all veterans today and always.

And a hug for my special veteran, That Sam I Am.

*For clarification the pic of Sam's chest was intentional, I wanted to get a shot of all the awards.