advent take 2

Remember this advent calender?

My sister made one with jingle bells and I think it turned out very well indeed! She tried stringing fake cranberries but it didn't work. Has anyone ever strung fake fruit successfully? Regardless, I love this advent calender. Especially with the jingle bells!

fancy dinners

My sister called me last night while I was eating dinner and when she found out that dinner was Top Ramen she started making fun of me because I had posted all the "fancy dinners" I was going to make this month. Well I am going to make those "fancy dinners" this month but that is not what we eat everyday. When we are not eating "fancy food" we are eating leftovers or probably one of the following:

Top Ramen or Sloppy Joes (my husband makes 4 things and 4 things only these are two of those things)

Grilled Cheese sandwiches and frozen burritos (the other two things he makes)

Grilled chicken or pesto pasta using store bought pesto not homemade. Homemade is for those fancy dinners.

So now you see that we are not all that fancy after all.

presenting jane austen...kind of

I was wandering around the fiction section of Barnes and Noble last night and I was a little surprised when I saw just how many Jane Austen spin offs there are. Not that I don't like Jane Austen spin offs, I own five or six (some good, some bad, I always prefer the real Jane Austen). There have got to be hundreds though, so here are some for you to enjoy, some good, some bad.

Mr. Darcy presents his Bride or Jane Austen for Dummies?
I really want to know what Jane Austen for Dummies has to say, when I buy a "For Dummies" book it is usually to learn how to juggle or something like that.

Me and Mr. Darcy (I strongly do not recommend, way weird) or you can see Mr. Darcy's thoughts in Mr. Darcy's Diary, do you think Jane is rolling in her grave yet?



I included Mr. Darcy's Daughters because I actually do like this book. If you read I warn you must do so not expecting Jane Austen. They are the best Jane Austen want to be books I have read though. I am currently reading The Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy.




I saved the best for last a Jane Austen Action Figurine. Yes, you can now play Jane Austen alongside GI Joe. A dream come true...

december dinners

potato gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce

Falafel

I am going to make this from a box but if that goes well maybe I will try it from scratch. I am going to have it with hummus, pita, spinach and tomatoes.

Chicken Greek a Tikka Salad Wraps

Philly Cheese Steak

(from what I hear you need to put some cheese whiz on it it make it authentic, it is just what I have been told!)

Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles

hanukkah

Hanukkah play set and Hanukkah countdown calendar

Dreidel set

I love when I see a catalog that has Hanukkah items (there are not many). I have a friend who is Jewish and I like to look for things that she could use in her holiday celebrations. Props to Land of Nod...

twelve days of christmas

I love these Twelve Days of Christmas plates from Williams Sonoma.

christmas crafts from better homes and gardens

Glitter ornaments
One of my favorite things about this is it is easy. At least it looks and sounds easy. And you can make them in any color you want.

Homemade Advent Calendar

We never had an advent calendar growing up, I love the idea though.

Holiday Napkins

I think these are really cute. They might be a little too time intensive for me.

holiday wreaths

Jingle Bell wreath and cranberry wreath

Glass ornament wreath
I would do this one with different colors

I love these wreaths and the best part about them is that you can make them at home. I have no idea how hard they would be, maybe I will try one...