White West Virginia Christmas

I hope you had a very merry weekend!

I will be heading back to Athens on Sunday afternoon.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a safe trip out of the WV mountains!

Just a brief Christmas Recap:

~My husband celebrated his 29th birthday and the new job with the fam. When we arrived at his parents' house, "Happy Birthday" and "Congratulations" balloons and banners were hung all over the walls, and he received his official collegiate hoodie and his first NY Yankees hat as b-day gifts!

~Christmas Eve was spent doing a little bit of everything a little bit of everywhere.  Hubs received the Keurig Coffee Brewer from my parents, and mom helped me add to my Fiestaware collection - I can never get enough! We spent the evening visiting and being entertained by the cutest 16 month old baby girl ever, as we hung out with my hubs' fam. Santa even stopped by!

~On Christmas morning, I found a Dell Netbook waiting for me under my in-laws' Christmas Tree.  Blogger-on-the-go heaven!  I'm in love. :) I also received my first official New York Yankees tee.  I loved it so much, I wore it to my mom's house for dinner.  I swear, I put the shirt on, and something happened... suddenly, moving to New York became very, very real. (EEP!)  I must say, I sported the blue quite nicely! I spent the day lounging at my mom and step dad's house, eating dinner, and visiting with my brother and his wife.  I ended the day by watching Rocky IV - it's totally one of my faves, like, evah. Seriously.

And now, some gorgeous pics from the super snowy, wild and wonderful mountains of central West Virginia (taken from my parents' back yard):

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have safe trips if you're traveling, and a great last week of December!

3 Days of Celebration in the Mountain State

Image via Charleston Gazette;
http://www.wvgazette.com

I hope everyone's last minute Christmas related errands, preparations, and plans are coming together! My husband and I are packed and ready to head to the snowy West Virginia mountains for Christmas; we will be hittin' I-77 and I-79 bright and early tomorrow morning.  This evening, he and I are having dinner and watching Black Swan as a little way to celebrate his 29th birthday (which is tomorrow! Thisclose to being a Christmas baby!) 

My husband's Birthday kicks off Christmas festivities with our families in a big way. His family and my mom and step-dad will gather together tomorrow evening at my in-laws' house, where we will all officially celebrate his birthday and the big new J-O-B!  We are so excited to head to WV and see everyone - the past couple of months have been a whirlwind with the job market thing going on, so it's going to be so nice to celebrate the present and the future, and of course, breathe a collective sigh of relief!

I'll be busy with family gatherings at various houses on Christmas Eve, opening gifts at my in-laws on Christmas morning, and spending Christmas day at my mom's house (dinner! And she made those thumbprint cookies, HOLLA!!!) I'm planning to head to church w/my mom on Sunday before heading back to Athens.  When the hubs and I return to our Ohio home on Sunday, we'll exchange gifts - it's a great way to end the weekend!  We've had the same Christmas routine for the past five years, and it seems to work out really well for us.  I'm sure our routine will change a bit next year, since we will be living in NY (YAY!) so I'm going to try to enjoy this year as much as I possibly can.

Next week, I'll begin shamelessly plugging my new blog.  I will be posting here until New Year's Eve, but then the Days in the Life of a Grad Student's Wife will come to an end.  A Day in the Life of a Professor's Wife will begin, and I hope you will join me!  If you like, head on over now to follow via Google Friend Connect, email, Facebook, and Twitter.  All is ready to go on January 1st, 2011!  I can't wait to share my new journey with you all!

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I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! I'm going to give blogging a break for a few days, as I'm sure most of you are, too. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your families, and I look forward to reading your Christmas recap posts on Monday!

Oreo Truffle Tease

On Sunday night, I turned my little kitchen into a sugary chocolate zone and made the always fun, always easy, always sticky and slimy Oreo Truffles.  You know 'em - the little round treats made of three ingredients that will make just about anyone's day: cream cheese, oreos, and Baker's chocolate squares.  I got artsy, my husband got a little worried, but in the end my truffle photo shoot turned out well.  

You might need a nice cup of coffee to go with this post - get ready to eat your computer screen!

Oreo Truffles:

1 8 oz. package of softened Philadelphia Cream Cheese

2 pkgs Baker's semi-sweet chocolate squares (16 squares total)

1 pkg  Oreo cookies

assorted sprinkles and fun things :)

Toss all cookies but 9 into blender; chop into a fine oreo "dust".

Pour into large mixing bowl, mix together with softened cream cheese.

Continue to stir/fold/mix until oreo and cream cheese are throughly blended.

Melt chocolate squares in microwave, a few seconds at a time - take out between intervals, stir, replace in microwave.  Continue doing this until chocolate is completely smooth, but be careful not to "cook" it!

Roll oreo/cream cheese mixture into 1" balls and coat with melted chocolate.  Place on wax paper. Do a few at a time, decorate.

Refridgerate.  (Makes 3-4 dozen.)

*Try to wait at least a couple of hours before devouring all of them - they're way better cold.

Oh, and don't forget to clean up (why do i enjoy running soapy water through my blender?):

Ok, you got me.  I just wanted to show off my awesome blender and lime green toaster!

Great Gift Ideas for the Stumped Shopper

Still searching for the perfect gift? Yep, most of us are.  Time is running out! Most online orders need to be placed by the end of this week to ensure timely delivery for Christmas, so you may want to get to mouse clicking lickety split - or haul your rear to the mall before all of the great gifts run out! Continuing with the 25 Days of Christmas, here are my gift picks for both girlies and guys - some of which I may have actually purchased for special loved ones of my own! 




Shop books at Anthropologie

My absolute favorite items of the year are the fresh-cut clothbound literary classics by Penguin.  I stumbled upon these at Anthropologie, but unfortunately, I had already shopped for the bookworms on my Christmas list! I'm definitely keeping them in mind for friends and family - and for myself, too - for future gift giving occasions. The brightly colored and classy embossed canvas covers  accompanied by a color coordinating thin satin ribbon bookmark and thick, shaggy-edged pages would look great stacked on coffee and end tables, and bookshelves, of course! Choose from great works like Jane Austin's Sense and Sensibility, Brontë's Wuthering Heights, and Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  These gorgeous books are also available in Children's classics such as Peter Pan and Huckleberry Fin.

And now... some of my other favorites!  Get a pen and a piece of paper, and take some notes! 

1. Silk Tie ($60) and 2. Collar Stays ($12.50 for 8), Banana Republic; 3. Power Stretch Glove, $30, The North Face; 4. NFL Training Camp for Nintendo Wii, $100, NFL Shop; 5. "Assistant to the Regional Manager" Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute bobbleheads, NBC Universal Store; 6. Showtime's The Tudors complete series DVD collection, $129, Barnes & Noble; 7. Charcoal keg-a-cue grill by Wincraft (available in all NFL teams), $109, NFL Shop; 8. Picnictime football cutting board, $30, Bed, Bath, & Beyond; 9. Kobalt utility toolbox ($30), long-nose pliars ($9), hammer ($8), and screwdriver set ($20), Lowes.

1. Tree Coin pendant necklace, "Live the Green Life" collection ($28), Fossil; 2. C.O. Bigelow Lemon-Lime body care, $12-$16.50, C.O. Bigelow; 3. Year of Cookie Cutters (set of 12), $25, Crate & Barrel; 4. Peppermint Hot Cocoa mix (8 servings), $6, Starbucks; 5. Martha Stewart Collection non-skid mixing bowl set, $17, Macy's; 6. Knit muk-luk slippers, $15, Old Navy; 7. Boyfriend lounge pant, $40, Pink by Victoria's Secret; 8. "Love" print socks, $7, Gap; 9. Ragtime throw, $50, Coldwater Creek. 

...I'll take one of each, please! Happy Shopping!

Christmas Cards & the Winter Wonderland Sign Winner!

I hope all of my snow bunnies are staying warm after the big snow storm this weekend! I thought of all my Minnesota bloggers as I watched the footage of the Metrodome caving in - Stay safe and cozy, girls!

After a fun week of hosting a giveaway for the "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland" wooden sign I hand-painted as part of a Christmas craft blog post for 25 Days of Christmas, we finally have a winner!  Random.org chose lucky #62 out of 84 total entries as the winner. I will be mailing the sign to Jessica @ My Simply Complicated sometime this week!  Jessica is currently in school full time and runs her own graphic design business as well.  She attended the SITS girls' Bloggy Boot Camp earlier this fall (which I am so jealous of!) Make sure to check out her gorgeous blog and try the Bacon-Cheddar Pinwheel recipe she recently posted!

Quotable Cards

It's already day 15 of Star & Jmo's 25 Days of Christmas - I cannot believe it!  December is flying by, but my shopping list is 98% complete and all of my cards have been given to/sent via snail mail to friends, family, and co-workers.  
Today's topic for 25 Days of Christmas is "Christmas Cards".  This year, I purchased three designs: a UNICEF card featuring deer in a snowy field for close family and friends, a fun and lighthearted glittery snowman note-sized card for co-workers, and a clean, colorful, pop-inspired square card featuring a fun quote by Walt Whitman for the blogging buds I've swapped mailing addy's with over the past few months.  I carefully choose Christmas cards each year; I understand that it would be a lot easier and way more cost effective to head to the local dollar store and buy a few boxes of the same exact card for all of my recipients, but that is zero fun! I take pride in signing each card and addressing the envelope with pretty handwriting.  As I fill them out, I take a minute to actually think about the person I'm sending or giving the card to.  Preparing Christmas cards to give to my friends and family is one of my favorite hobbies during the holiday season.  If you get a card from me, just know that it is sent with love and warm wishes! Really!

Cards by UNICEF.

I chose these UNICEF cards for the close friends and family I exchange with every year.  I thought the design was very wintry and peaceful. The light glittery iridescent shimmer isn't visible in the photo to the left, but it - along with the sweet and simple wording inside ("Wishing you beautiful winter moments, Happy Holidays") - sealed the deal on my purchase.  Yes, I'm one of those "Happy Holidays" card senders.  I believe it's the simplest way to acknowledge all of the holidays that one may celebrate during the winter season.  When I send or give a card that says "Happy Holidays", that is exactly what I mean. Whatever it is you're celebrating, whether it be the New Year, religious holidays, or in my case, family birthdays, have a happy time! 'Tis the season to be jolly, ya'll!

Notecards by Artworks, available at B&N Stores.

I love being part of a workplace that is all about celebrating the season.  We enjoy great food and fun mingling during our annual luncheon that's held in December, and share our favorite dishes and swap gifts during our Christmas potluck and gift exchange.  Most of us share more personal gifts and treats with each other as Christmastime nears (which reminds me - I have a huge batch of Oreo Truffles to make! Hello cream cheese!)
I absolutely love the first day of December, when I stick Christmas cards in everyone's mailboxes at the office.  They always tease that I'm "on the ball" or "too early!" but I know they love the cards - they display them ASAP! This year's "co-worker" cards are definitely the best yet - I actually think the envelopes were almost as cute as the card itself! 

Hallmark Contest Winner
Jen McQuinn, Cincinnatti, OH

Become a Hallmark Star!
This past Spring, I took advantage of a really cool opportunity and entered Hallmark's "That Says Christmas" card design contest (read about my experience - and being named a finalist - here!)  Although I wasn't chosen as a winner, I had a blast networking with the other Hallmark fans and Hallmark staff on facebook.  I made a few cool buds and now, when I'm out card shopping for a specific person, I only choose the Hallmark Contest winners' cards! I'm sure you've seen 'em around.  Check out the winners for this year's "That Says Christmas" contest - and if you're looking for a single card to suit someone on your list, show my Hallmark friends some love and choose one of their designs!
If you're into photography and/or illustration, and think it might be neat to see your very own design in Hallmark stores and card displays across the country (and win a few hundred dollars, too!), I highly suggest entering Hallmark's card design contests! Visit http://www.hallmarkcontests.com to get the scoop on upcoming events, details, how-to's, and past winners.


That's it for this snowy and blustery Monday! Dress cute and cozy, use plenty of moisturizing balm underneath and on top of that long-wearing lipstick, and get those Christmas cards out if you haven't already!

Holiday $hopping Tip$

Over the years, I've learned some great tricks of the trade when it comes to Holiday Shopping, via trial, error, and complete success. We're well on our way to Christmas, and most are probably well on their way to finishing up shopping, but what the hay - if you're like me and you just started, you may benefit from these little tips:

1. Make a frickin' list. And stick to the frickin' list. Write or type all of your little friends and family members' names, and beside their names, jot down a gift idea, where to find it, and the estimated price.  How do you know all of this info already?  Hopefully you've searched the web up and down for ideas.  Now take your completed list to the mall and get to work - and mark 'em off, one by one. Once a person is marked off, he or she is D-O-N-E done!

2. Budget, ya'll.  Know how much you can comfortably spend during the holiday season, and do not overspend.  When buying a gift for someone who may be gifting you in return, keep in mind how much they're likely to spend on you. This will prevent any awkwardness when you swap gifts:  you don't want to spend $100 on a scarf for your friend while she purchases an $18 Bath and Body Works travel-sized gift set for you. Just plain awkwardness.
Also, if you're sticking to your list and your budget, you're not going to feel that awful guilt when you get home and start wrapping gifts ("did I buy too much? Not enough? Oh no, will she even like this gift? Or did I actually like it for myself?") Stick to list. Stick to budget. Plan, my friends!

3. Purchase One Great Gift.  Not a crap ton of tiny crappy craptastic ones.  You will save money, trust me on this: I'm guilty of committing the crime, "Just one more thing... oh, just another little thing, ohhh she'll love this extra little thing!"  Can we say, "Cha-Ching"?! Don't do it.  One great thing.  Which is what I'm doing for the peeps on my list this year - my husband and I are all about simplifying this holiday season, as our life is slightly chaotic and out of balance with the rest of the world, with the dissertation/job hunt and all. I can truly speak from experience and TRUST me - the gifts I remember are the great ones, which weren't even that all expensive.  Just great gifts - that were useable, thoughtful, and from the heart.



Join us!

 Have any great shopping tips you would like to share?  Link 'em up at the 25 Days of Christmas!

It's not too late to join up - and don't even worry about trying to play catch up, just hop in with tomorrow's topic: "Favorite Christmas Activities"!



Happy $hopping!

Ding-a-ling-along-ding-dong-Ding!



Count Down w/us!

 Day 5 of the "25 Days of Christmas" is one of the main reasons I decided to participate.  I really...dearly... freakishly... LOVE Christmas music! Two months ago, while everyone else was doin' the Monster Mash, I was ready to listen to my jingly-jolly favorites, but figured someone would check me in to the Athens Lunatic Asylum if I tried.  Thankfully, it's December - and I can listen to as many *ho**ho**ho*s and *ding* *dong* *dings* as I please!

To get my Christmas music fix, I tune in to 93.3 WLZT-Columbus the entire length of every single workday.  Their playlist is extremely long with tons of variety, the DJs have vibrant personalities, and they give away tons of prizes throughout the holiday season.  (Last year, I won tickets to see Mariah Carey!)


As for favorite songs, "Sleigh Ride" by the Ronettes is THE one. It must be the Ronettes version. Must. Fast-paced, retro, and fun, it makes me want to go frolic in the snow! I have it set as my ring tone, and lucky for you, I found a less-than-decent video with decent sound quality on Youtube. Please, listen. And feel free to get up, dance around, and smile - it's a totally normal response to this super happy holiday tune!



The following songs round out my top 10 Christmas tunes list:
2. Wham! - Last Christmas
3. Carpenters - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4. Vince Guarauldi - Christmastime is Here (aka Charlie Brown Christmas) 
5. Burl Ives - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
7. Elvis Presley - Here Comes Santa Claus
8. Michael Buble - Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
9. Jackson 5 - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
10. Carrie Underwood - Do You Hear What I Hear?

Mariah Carey's version of "Christmastime is Here" - ya know - the Charlie Brown tune - is absolutely amazing, and can be purchased on itunes from her newest album, "Merry Christmas II You".

I'm going to sign off with a fantastic video of my family singing a classic tune originally released by the Dixie Cups in 1964 and later recorded by the Ronettes. Enjoy my fam's version of "Chapel of Love", performed last week on Thanksgiving Day!

25 Days of Christmas and Mom's Pitchforks

Join in the Fun!



On the 4th day of the 25 Days of Christmas, we're blogging about movies!

 I have to admit, I'm not a big Christmas-themed movie watcher.  I love them, but hardly ever take a time out to enjoy watching one during the holiday season.  The movies I tend to gravitate toward this time of year "take me back" a decade or two. Not all of them are Christmas themed, but still carry that holiday-cozyish spirit; many of them were my favorites as a kid, and I would spend my entire holiday break(s) watching them over and over.  My Christmastime faves:

And of course, who can forget Shrek?!?

I was a late Shrek bloomer; I didn't watch any of them until after the Third came out on DVD! I totally jumped aboard the bandwagon when I received the Shrek boxed set of three as a Christmas present in 2007; I watched all of them in just a couple of days. I'm totally hooked. And I totally love Gingy the gingerbread man.

What are your favorite Christmas movies? Er, movies that you like to watch around Christmastime, if you're a weirdo like me? Blog about it and join up at Star & Jmo's 25 Days of Christmas!

Earlier in the week, I mentioned that I got a chance to sneak around my mom's West Virginia home and take a few pics of her decor while I was visiting for Turkey Day. I must share her style, because it's chic-country-cozy. She pulls it off, and with lots of effort.  You can't just slap a barn star on the wall and call it "country" - you've gotta be like my mom, put lots of thought into it, and search high and low for new pieces to add here and there: 

Of course she has the collegiate flags! (This pic was taken earlier in the fall.)

The backyard: It's spitting snow! The swing was put up for winter.

My favorite part is the fire pit.

Mom's had this for years - it's my favorite piece of wall decor! And appropriate - the room it's hanging in is definitely a cat nap cozy kind of room. 

You know what they say: "A house is not a home without a pitchfork".

Kitchen pic #1

I know it's dark, but dim lights are a big thing at mom's house.

So are antique popcorn poppers! (Be Merry!)

You know... the necessities. TV, CD player, Spice rack, Peppermints.

Currently burning: Cranberry Woods Candle by Slatkin & Co.

One of my favorite items - the Grand Central Station clock!

You can write on the rooster with chalk! Cool!

There are many a skinny cabinet in mom's home - in just about every corner :)

Fiestaware and a pitchfork! Goes together like a charm, who would have thought?

It's not uncommon to find Mac sleeping in the bathroom -

or anywhere else, for that matter!

The gorgeous tree - which she is planning to replace with a tall, "skinny" tree next year. Of course, she says that every year - for like, the past five years.

Now that you've taken a little tour of mom's West Virginia home, it's time to relax in at the "Cat Nap Inn".

As you can see, it's impossible to not feel cozy when visiting this home in the mountains of central West Virginia.  I spend most of my "visiting" time in a sleepy, lazy daze! And the magic that happens in the kitchen?  Let's just say that mom's brownies keep me coming back to WV.