OOTD

Outfits sure were lacking when I was off work. I usually wore pjs or comfy clothes most days. I went out and bought new pjs because I was getting sick of the ones I was wearing day after day. I would get dressed for an hour or two each day then back into my pjs. I don't want to be uncomfortable laying around resting. lol

Now that I am back to work I have to start getting dressed for around 6 hours a day. I come home and try to get into my pjs as fast as possible. One thing I haven't done much of is shopping. I did Christmas shopping, but I tried not to buy things for myself. I received some Christmas money that is burning a hole in my pocket. I am hoping to make it to the outlets soon!

Dress: Forever 21

Cardigan: Nordstrom Rack

Tights: Target

Booties: Gift

Necklace: Jane.com

Cardigan: Gap

Shirt & Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Bass

Jacket & Scarf: Gift 

Tshirt & Skirt: Old Navy

Tights: Target

Shoes: Bass

Scarf: Forever 21

Tshirt: Target

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Bass

I bought the scarf a few years ago at Forever 21. I thought it looked ridiculous tied like I am wearing it when I bought the scarf. Now I love it. lol Funny how times change. 

Menu Monday

Well it's time to use up the Christmas dinner leftovers. I had lots of mash potatoes and ham leftover. It doesn't matter how many mash potatoes I make we have a lot left over. This year we made about half of what I normally make, but still had tons left. Next year I am going to make 2 potatoes, so I don't have any left. lol 

Mash potato leftovers are great for shepherds pie. My mom had put some ground hamburger in our freezer when she was here. I grabbed the hamburger, pie crust, frozen veggies (always have some in the freezer), can of cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese and the leftover mash potatoes. I mix the hamburger, veggies, and cream of mushroom soup together. Dump it in the pie pan, sprinkle the cheese over top, spread the potatoes over the cheese and wa-la shepherds pie. I was able to make 2. I put one in the freezer and one in the fridge. 

Ham leftovers I am going to make ham & potato soup. 

Art and I made homemade sausage from scratch. I will have a whole post about our sausage making. We will be having sausage & sauerkraut for dinner. 

Turkey burgers & homemade fries

Stew - My mom made this delish stew while I was visiting my family in PA. Pork or beef stew meat, 2 packages of brown gravy, 1 package of dry ranch dressing, potatoes, & carrots. Mix the gravy & ranch together with one cup of water. Put meat, potatoes, carrots, gravy & ranch mixture into a crockpot for 6 hours on low. Super delish and easy!

Steak, mash potatoes and swiss chard

Merry Christmas from the Post's!

Holiday Style Link-Up: Holiday Traditions

Growing up we had Christmas traditions that we followed almost to a "t" every year. I LOVE traditions and I love the holidays. Christmas Eve at noon my mom would make homemade pizza and we would open presents from my parents. Christmas Eve night we would go to my grandparents for a big dinner, open gifts from my grandparents, cousins and aunt. Christmas Day we would rush out to the tree to see what Santa left in our stockings. Around noon we would go to my great grandma house where all my Grandma Fischer brothers, sisters and their kids would come over. Great grandma had 10 kids, so there were a bazillion people at her house. Everyone stopped by her house even if it was just for a little bit. The young kids went to the basement to play while the adults talked upstairs. It was a LOUD German house. If you needed something you had to SCREAM. lol  I love those memories.

My brother and I didn't really ever believe in Santa. When my sister was born we decided she NEEDED to believe in Santa. We love it that she thought Santa was real and played it up. Poor little Lacey was soooo upset when she found out Santa was fake. 

Even now as an adult when I still eat pizza on Christmas Eve. Even if I spend lunch time alone I eat pizza. It is my families tradition and I am not going to stop eating pizza on Christmas Eve. Today Art is working and I am eating leftover pizza from last night. I decided to order pizza for dinner last night just so I could have pizza for today. 

Lacey and I started a tradition I am not sure how many years ago making a gingerbread house every year. We buy the kit and put it together sometime around Christmas. Sometimes we were putting it together on Christmas Eve, but when we are together it is our tradition. We do not want other people to help us decorate our house either. We will allow our mom to put the icing on the house because she has A LOT of experience icing cakes. 

Christmas 2011 pictures above

This year it didn't work out with all my health issues eating up all my PTO time at work to travel to North Dakota for Christmas. I am hoping next year we can either be in North Dakota or my family can be in California with us thawing out. 

I am linking up my Holiday Traditions Post with More Pieces of Me and On the Daily Express. 

Christmas Menu

I can't believe it is Christmas in 2 days. It just doesn't feel like Christmas this year. It came so fast. I don't know why this year doesn't feel like Christmas. I have decorated the house, Art put up the outside lights, all the gifts are bought & wrapped, cookies are made, menu is prepared, but it still doesn't feel like Christmas. 

I am looking forward to Christmas Day. Everyone is coming over to our house in the early afternoon for appetizers, presents and Christmas dinner. 

Appetizers

Spinach Dip
Sausage Dip

Dinner

Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli Salad
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
Rolls
Pies
Cookies


Every year Art gets a ham as a gift from work. I love this because we receive a few days before Christmas & it's free. lol The hams are always very tasty too. 

What is on your Christmas menu? Do you have traditional dishes you make?

Peanut Butter Blossoms

It feels like Christmas when the house is decorated and Christmas cookies have been baked. I rarely ever bake for Christmas. I just don't have the time to be baking with working full time and all the demands at Christmas time. This year I have had some time off because of health issues, so I decided it was time to do some Christmas baking. I forgot how yummy these cookies are until my cousin Laura made them for Thanksgiving. 

source: Betty Crocker

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Additional granulated sugar (about 2 tablespoons)

About 7 dozen kisses milk chocolates

Directions

• 1 Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder.
• 2 Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in additional granulated sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• 3 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Immediately press 1 chocolate candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Menu Monday

It has been weeks since I have made a menu. My mom came to take care of me for over 3 weeks. I think during that time I cooked one meal. I am returning to work this week, so I need to have a menu planned. 

BBQ Pork Sandwiches & roasted veggies
Bubble Up Pizza
Brussel Sprout Salad
Warm Balsamic Kale Salad 

I forgot all about Bubble Up Pizza until my mom made it recently. Then I saw it on Pinterest a week or so after she made it. It is so simple and yummy. 

2 cans of biscuits
tomato sauce
pizza toppings 
cheese

• grease a 8x8 pan
• preheat oven at 350
• cut biscuits in half & lay in the 8x8 pan
• pour tomato sauce over biscuits
• put pizza toppings and cheese over the top
• I made it with pepperoni & cheese
• bake until the center of the cheese is melted

I bought 4 cans of biscuits $2.82, tomato sauce $1.19, pepperoni $2.99, and cheese $2.54 at Target = $9.54 for 2 meals. Each pan of pizza serves 4 people. 

Hump Day!

Holiday Party Part 1: Casual Holiday Style

My friend Caryl over at More Pieces of Me is having a holiday link up party! This is her first link of party, so I wanted to support her by participating. 

This week is casual holiday outfits. The outfit below I would wear to church on Sunday, casual work Christmas party or a holiday party at my house. To dress it up more you could add a sparkly tank & heels. 

Tank & Tights: Target

Jacket: JcPennys

Skirt: Lane Bryant (borrowed from my aunt)

Shoes: Lucky from TJ Maxx

Necklace: Jane.com

Bracelets: J Crew Factory & Zuni

Link up to the fun & check out the other outfits!!