Here is our 2011 Christmas video!
Enjoy!
Merry Christmas ya'll!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
New Strengths
So the college I went to was all about the Gallup Strengthfinders. As a result, some people who went to my college LOVE strengthfinders and some people HATE strengthfinders. I don't think there are people who are really on the in between on this one :)
I will let you decide if I am a lover or a hater.
My roommate recently told me about a free online test that is very similar to Strengthfinders. I.had.to.take.it! Seriously, I have been wondering for years what my #6 strength is! The man who created it, does say that it is not exactly like the real strengthfinders...but it is free and I figure it is close enough! Before you head over there, know it is 170 questions.
Also, I made Ian take it. I can't remember what all five of his strengths are but I do remember: Belief, Learner, Input, and Ideation.
My old strengths (from my Senior year of High School) are: Belief, Learner, Restorative, Achiever, and Intellection.
My strengths (as of right now)
I will let you decide if I am a lover or a hater.
My roommate recently told me about a free online test that is very similar to Strengthfinders. I.had.to.take.it! Seriously, I have been wondering for years what my #6 strength is! The man who created it, does say that it is not exactly like the real strengthfinders...but it is free and I figure it is close enough! Before you head over there, know it is 170 questions.
Also, I made Ian take it. I can't remember what all five of his strengths are but I do remember: Belief, Learner, Input, and Ideation.
My old strengths (from my Senior year of High School) are: Belief, Learner, Restorative, Achiever, and Intellection.
My strengths (as of right now)
- Intellection
- Discipline
- Strategic
- Focus
- Context
- Ideation
- Maximizer
- Significance
- Activator
- Analytical
- Responsibility
- Belief
- Achiever
- Learner
- Restorative
- Self-Assurance
- Arranger
- Communication
- Futuristic
- Harmony
- Competition
- Relator
- Connectedness
- Fairness (a.k.a Consistency)
- Input
- Deliberative
- Developer
- Command
- Inclusiveness
- Individualization
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Woo
- Positivity
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Christmas Letter 2011
Here is our Christmas letter. Just in case you are wondering, I got the idea from here.
And here is our Christmas picture. Not too bad considering we do not have a fancy-smanchy camera and we just used the self-timer.
And here is our Christmas picture. Not too bad considering we do not have a fancy-smanchy camera and we just used the self-timer.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Pizza Party!
We had Bob and Mark over for a pizza night. I am pretty sure that neither one of them had ever made pizza before - we had a great time showing them how to make their very own pizza!
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| Hi Mark! |
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| rolling out the dough |
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| The perfect combo of American (notice the meat and peppers) and Korean (notice the mustard and mayo) pizza! |
Pop 'em in the oven
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| I need to work on my "taking photos of stuff in the oven" pictures |
Finished Pizzas - delicious!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Slightly obsessed...pumpkin scones
YA'ALLLLLLLLLLL!
I need to share this with you! I am currently obsessed (after I wrote the title for this blog post, I realized that slightly and obsessed never go in the same sentence for me) with PUMPKIN!!!!!!!!!! (Guess who got a care package from America with CANNED PUMPKIN in it last week?)
Case-in-point: I had some pumpkin pie oatmeal with a pumpkin scone for breakfast today and I drank a lovely pumpkin spice latte. I forgot how ahhmmmaazzzziiinnngggg pumpkin from a can tastes. I am not going to even suggest that the pumpkin puree I made back in September can even begin to compare to canned American pumpkin.
Currently I am also intrigued with using milk kefir in dessert-y recipes to add probiotics (do probiotics die in the oven when they get heated to a certain point?) and reduce the amount of sugar needed for a recipe. Have I shared this recipe for sugar free pancakes? These are the only pancakes getting eaten in our house (er, apartment) right now.
Can you tell where this is headed?
Pumpkin (in a can, from America)
And
Kefir - reducing sugar in dessert
Pumpkin Kefir Scones (with dried cranberries if that floats your boat or if you are my amazing husband the craisins kinda sink the boat...)
Ingredients:
3/4 c milk kefir
6 Tblsp pumpkin puree
1/4 c dried cranberries (unless you are making this for a boat sinker, then leave them out)
1/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
dash of cloves
dash of ginger (more like half of a dash)
2.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
flour (start with 2 cups....I ended up using closer to 3 cups)
1.) Preheat your oven to 200 C (maybe 400 F) and turn on some Christmas music, a sermon (I listened to this one) or whatever you like to listen to as you bake.
2.) Mix the together kefir and pumpkin (and cranberries if you are using them). Set this bowl in a safe place (not near your computer preferably)
3.) Mix together all the dry ingredients. Then stir in the pumkefir mixture. You want the dough to be a little bit sticky but not too sticky. The first time I made these, I added in quite a bit of flour.
3.5) Take off your wedding ring (Or get half way through the next step and have your amazing husband come take them off for you.)
4.) Knead the dough a few times on a floured surface. Pat the dough into a circle. Cut it in half, then each half into half, then each half-half into half (that is, eighths). Place each scone on a baking sheet (or the bottom rack of your oven if you have a janky oven like us).
5.) Bake for 17ish minutes. Here is a timer for ya'll in case you have a janky oven that is timer-less. {Even though our oven IS janky, I am still VERY thankful for it}
And you are good to go. Seriously, you are not going to miss the 3/4 cup of sugar most other pumpkin scone recipes call for. I adapted this recipe for Honey From Rock.
I need to share this with you! I am currently obsessed (after I wrote the title for this blog post, I realized that slightly and obsessed never go in the same sentence for me) with PUMPKIN!!!!!!!!!! (Guess who got a care package from America with CANNED PUMPKIN in it last week?)
Case-in-point: I had some pumpkin pie oatmeal with a pumpkin scone for breakfast today and I drank a lovely pumpkin spice latte. I forgot how ahhmmmaazzzziiinnngggg pumpkin from a can tastes. I am not going to even suggest that the pumpkin puree I made back in September can even begin to compare to canned American pumpkin.
Currently I am also intrigued with using milk kefir in dessert-y recipes to add probiotics (do probiotics die in the oven when they get heated to a certain point?) and reduce the amount of sugar needed for a recipe. Have I shared this recipe for sugar free pancakes? These are the only pancakes getting eaten in our house (er, apartment) right now.
Can you tell where this is headed?
Pumpkin (in a can, from America)
And
Kefir - reducing sugar in dessert
Pumpkin Kefir Scones (with dried cranberries if that floats your boat or if you are my amazing husband the craisins kinda sink the boat...)
Ingredients:
3/4 c milk kefir
6 Tblsp pumpkin puree
1/4 c dried cranberries (unless you are making this for a boat sinker, then leave them out)
1/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
dash of cloves
dash of ginger (more like half of a dash)
2.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
flour (start with 2 cups....I ended up using closer to 3 cups)
1.) Preheat your oven to 200 C (maybe 400 F) and turn on some Christmas music, a sermon (I listened to this one) or whatever you like to listen to as you bake.
2.) Mix the together kefir and pumpkin (and cranberries if you are using them). Set this bowl in a safe place (not near your computer preferably)
3.) Mix together all the dry ingredients. Then stir in the pumkefir mixture. You want the dough to be a little bit sticky but not too sticky. The first time I made these, I added in quite a bit of flour.
3.5) Take off your wedding ring (Or get half way through the next step and have your amazing husband come take them off for you.)
4.) Knead the dough a few times on a floured surface. Pat the dough into a circle. Cut it in half, then each half into half, then each half-half into half (that is, eighths). Place each scone on a baking sheet (or the bottom rack of your oven if you have a janky oven like us).
5.) Bake for 17ish minutes. Here is a timer for ya'll in case you have a janky oven that is timer-less. {Even though our oven IS janky, I am still VERY thankful for it}
And you are good to go. Seriously, you are not going to miss the 3/4 cup of sugar most other pumpkin scone recipes call for. I adapted this recipe for Honey From Rock.
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| Our Christmas tablerunner and some yummy scones (that you should go make and eat!) |
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Christmas Home Tour
Hey ya'll - want come over to see our cute apartment Christmas-ified? Even if you an ocean away, you can come on in and see our cozy place.
This blog
shows each step for the Christmas trees with pictures. I did have a few problems getting the
tree to end up a circle, so I just put the back towards the wall and no
one can tell what the back actually looks like. I used magazine that
were different lengths to add variety.
My friend Gabi, recently taught us how to make a mosaic using pictures. (Thanks Gabi!) So here is my snowflake mosiac....
I tried to make a Christmas tree. It is, uh, a little Charlie Brownish (to say the least) It did not
come out perfect, but it definitely better than no Christmas tree at all. We also have a designated place to put presents. I will save ya'll from actually having to see it!
What is your favorite way to decorate for Christmas?
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| The front door...paper snowflakes and a Christmas potholder |
Magazine Christmas Trees
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| These might look difficult to make, but they are SO simple, all you need is a magazine! |
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| This is the back of my shorter Christmas tree - not perfect, but that will be a secret ! |
My friend Gabi, recently taught us how to make a mosaic using pictures. (Thanks Gabi!) So here is my snowflake mosiac....
 | |
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| white snowflakes on a white wall...(obviously I am obsessed with paper snowflakes) |
What is your favorite way to decorate for Christmas?
Monday, December 5, 2011
Right now...
...I am listening to Christmas music, addressing Christmas cards, and enjoying a nice glass of warm water. The kiddos are taking their final exams, thus I have nothing to do (desk-warming!).
I have about 10 blog posts in draft, and I promise to get working on those soon : )
For now, you can enjoy the photos that did not make the cut for the Christmas card.
Next week, I will let you see the one did make the cut! Speaking of Christmas videos....here is ours from last year. I still crack up when I watch the end of this video.
I have about 10 blog posts in draft, and I promise to get working on those soon : )
For now, you can enjoy the photos that did not make the cut for the Christmas card.
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| This is one is okay.... |
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| Oh man! This one reminds me of the video we made last year! |
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