Yours and mine: Favorite Desserts of 2012

Well, it's been quite a year for desserts.  Me and my sugar addiction just won't quit.

Did you have a favorite dessert this year? (Not just from this site, obviously...is there anything out there I need to try???)

According to Google Stats, these are your 5 favorites for 2012.

5.  Thin Mint Oreo Ice Cream Cake

4.  Nutterbutter Fudge

3.  Hot Fudge Brownie Milkshakes

2.  Cake Batter Dip

1.  Sugar Cookie Fudge

My favorites of the past year? There's not really an order here (okay, maybe there is), but there is a pattern.  I bet you're smart enough to spot it.
These are the desserts that, looking back, I'd devour again everyday if I could.
My thought process when choosing favorites was, "Would I annihilate that right now, yes or no?"

1.  S'mores Ice Cream

2.  S'mores Chex Bars

3.  Graham Cracker Crack Dip

4.  S'mores Fondue

5.  White Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

See you in 2013!  
I don't know what we have planned yet for this evening.  I'm hoping it involves pajamas and wine, while Scott is probably hoping it involves fishing or something.

Sharing at Crazy Sweet Tuesday

Sunday Social and funny stuffs.

1. What is the best New Year's Eve you've ever had?

Uh...We used to rent a movie and eat nachos when I was younger.  I specifically remember watching My Girl 2 and eating Cheez Whiz and tortilla chips when I was about 8.
I'm usually the rebel who goes to bed at 10pm. It'll still be the new year in the morning.

2. Are you doing anything for NYE this year and if so what?

Uh, no. Scott will probably insist that we leave the house, but maybe just for sushi.  He also likes to go to the movies.

(I don't understand how he can be around so many people all the time.)

3. Name a book we should all read come January?

Heck if I know.  I haven't read a book in months!  Shameful, I know. I'm really disturbed by my non-desire to read. I used to devour books, but now I can't find anything I like.

I read Mindy Kaling's book a couple months ago and it was okay.
I hear I need to read Gone Girl...anything else you'd suggest??  I love some good historical fiction too.

4. What are your New Year's resolutions?

Last year, I made resolutions.  I'm not one for resolutions, normally, but the beginning of deployment corresponded with the start of the new year so I set some goals for myself.

My goals last year included "continue to function".  I think I did pretty well!

(I mean, I'm still here, right?)

This year:

I'd like to be more organized.  This includes picking my clothes up off the floor and meal-planning.  Also, it means I need to stop procrastinating errands and chores (I'm sure that, somewhere in my house, there's a bathroom that needs to be cleaned right now.)

Continue working out whenever I can.  Sometimes this is every day, sometimes it's not.  

Uh...I need to start reading the Bible again.  And we need to find a church.  I don't know why I am so lazy and, like, practically afraid of meeting new people...especially in a church setting. So many expectations! However, that's a lofty goal that I'd like to accomplish this year, but maybe not 'til we move in the spring.
These are not very specific, therefore set up for failure, but, really now...It's all I can come up with right now.  Any ideas?  What are your resolutions?  

Linking up to The Sunday Social with Neely and Ashley.

funny stuffs.
Is it just me, or is the funny stuff on Pinterest not as funny as it used to be? Maybe it's me...

Source: quickmeme.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Got it covered, cat.

Source: makemestfu.net via Aileen on Pinterest

SO true.

Source: diylol.com via Kristin on Pinterest

If possible, now that she'll be a cute pregnant lady, Kate might be even more adorable than usual. *sigh*

Source: 50shadesofsuck.tumblr.com via Kristin on Pinterest

The caption on Pinterest reads "Just, you know, combining all of the most awful things in the world."
Agreed.

High Five for Friday

1.  I need a haircut.  Any ideas?  I was thinking of actually going shoulder-length for the first time since college.  I can't handle blow-drying out this mess anymore.

2.  We watched the season finale of Dexter first thing upon returning to Alaska on Christmas Eve (priorities, priorities).

I don't care if Deb is a Xanax addict.  I love her.  I'm unflinchingly loyal.  This girl needs an Emmy. And I'll take one of those sparkly dresses too, please.

source

3.  I posted vacation pictures yesterday.  Did you check it out?

4.  I made this soup for dinner on Christmas.  Scott has decided that I cook better than restaurants often do (he said it, not me..I swear).  When we go out to eat, we're often disappointed.  Plus, you never know what's in the food at restaurants.  

You need to make this soup. It freezes really well. You could also leave out the chicken, a' la vegetarian style.

5.  I wanted a Longchamp for my birthday.  Then, I read that they have no cell phone pocket on the inside. Is this true?  I need a cell phone pocket.  And now I don't know what to ask for concerning my birthday.  

In short, I went on vacation and now I'm whining about hair and purses.  If you have suggestions, let me know.  Speak up so I can hear you over the sound of my tiny, whiny violin.

Linking up to My Grey Desk Blog.

Vacation recap.

Vacation recaps can be boring.  Hopefully mine won't be. 

Port of Miami

The first thing that caught my eye in Miami?  The port. That's where Dexter hangs out.

A view from our balcony.  I might frame this one.  I like the colors in it.

Oh, yes.  The ship. Carnival Glory.

Pedicure was well-worth the money.

Manicure was not.  My nails are already all gnawed up again.  

Our only view of Cozumel, Mexico... 

...because we spent the day in the infirmary, and then confined to our room.  

"Yay" for quarantine, right? #no

Husband was not well.

But the next day, we managed to get off the boat and spend some time in the country of Belize.  

I need to stop skipping "arm day".  I think that's Guatemala behind me there. 

Maybe. I have no sense of direction. 

I show you a picture of my shoes only because I threw up all over them (and myself) the day before.  I did a pretty good job of scrubbing them up.  They spent the night drying on the balcony.  

Oh, the things they've seen!

Scott's "I'd rather be in Alaska" face.  Nice hat, right? #no

In Roatan, an island belonging to Honduras.  

Sea turtle farm in Grand Cayman.  Caymanians eat these things.

You're supposed to rub their necks to stop them from flapping their flippers.  You'd think that would tickle though.

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As for our week in Pennsylvania?  Well, I was sick for most of it.  Actually, all of it.  I had a fever when we landed in Pittsburgh and horrible body aches for 2 days.  Along with a sore throat, the congestion that followed wasn't pretty.  So my lack of pictures speaks for itself.  I was too miserable to take any.

This is me in our house in Pennsylvania.  It's a remodeling project that is stuck in transition because we live in Alaska.  We have big plans for it.  Someday.

That's a large Sheetz coffee.  Only $1.

 Oh, and I was playing with the manual camera settings while we were in Miami.  I like this one.
This is what December should look like.  Warm and pleasant.

I'm writing a letter to Carnival Cruise lines.  Next week, guys, you'll get to read it too...

It took a few weeks...

But I think the tragedy of what happened in Newtown, CT has sunk in for me.

When I heard about it, it was Scott, pointing to a CNN-tuned t.v. in a Burger King in Grand Cayman, saying, "Look, a school shooting."

I learned the basics through the news they broadcasted on the cruise ship that day and the next.  I saw facts and details on blogs, Twitter, etc.  I saw the safety letter my school district sent out to our faculty, staff, and parents.  But I didn't read too far into my school emails because I was just so thrilled to be in Pennsylvania (flu or not!) and wanted nothing to do with that state of Alaska.

But then, I spent some time with our niece last week.  She's 7.  First grade.  She lives in Pennsylvania.
And she's so smart!  Like, really smart!  (Like, smarter-than-some-of-my-4th-graders-smart...)
And she believes in Santa.  And she adores her Uncle Scott. And we opened presents early for Christmas. And she lets me fix her hair.  And she reads to me.

She glazed us a clay ornament.  The kid is 7, sees me twice a year, and she spells my name right.

And I started thinking...
"This is what those 20 kids were before Dec. 14: they were just like her."

I went shopping for an outfit for her.
Now I think, "Those kids won't get to wear their new Christmas clothes."

I watched her open gifts that had been purchased and wrapped weeks ago*. 
Now I think, "Those kids won't get to open their gifts."

Then I started reading about the kids.  And looking at their pictures.  It's something I advise you TO do and NOT TO do at the same time.  It's a sad process, but I couldn't stop.
I read every article I could find the other night.  
I thought about the teachers.  Would I jump on top of my students like this teacher did?  I don't know. How many of you could say you'd really do that?

Anyway, as I hugged Jordynn good-bye the other night, I thought about all those poor families.  I'm glad, really glad, that I was able to gain some perspective on this situation.

Some bloggers dedicated cookies and crafts to the victims at Sandy Hook last week.  I was out of town then, but I want to repost my favorite cookie from when I was 7 years old.  You should go make them with a kiddo today.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies.

*Would you believe that we forgot her gifts? We had to buy her new ones (books, of course). Aunt-and-uncle-of-the-year, right?

Sharing at Walkabout Wednesday and Random Wednesday

Merry Christmas!

My two new favorite Christmas decorations.  

Merry Christmas!

I'm back and I'm going to make marshmallows

I don't really want to talk about the "I'm back" part.

Let's just say that we're actually lucky to be home.  United Airlines cannot be trusted when it comes to departure times.  I had quite a nice nap on the plane, as few are traveling to Anchorage.  Got a whole row to myself.

I'm trying to keep this in mind.

Source: pinterest.com via Kristin on Pinterest

I owe you a tale of a treacherous cruise-ship adventure..but I'm still writing it.  And I'm going through our photos now to see what's worth sharing.

So all you really need to know is that I'm on the mend (I had a cold with suspiciously-flu-like symptoms) and I'm ready to get back in the kitchen.  I've still got two weeks off of school to bake, clean, work out, and whatnot.  I call that a win in my book.
Here's some things I'd like to try.

Crockpot Beef Stew (Christmas dinner along with a day of laundry and Christmas movies? Sounds okay to me.)

Apple Pie Ice Cream (without eggs!)

More crab cakes! (I dream about these things.)

Crockpot Cashew Chicken

Gingerbread Scones (I'm a sucker for baked goods with molasses.)

Funfetti Marshmallows

Peppermint Marshmallows

Vanilla Marshmallows

The answer to your question is "Yes.  I'll be the person at the grocery store on Christmas Eve."

Also?  I should probably buy my husband a Christmas present.

Allie @A Day in a Joyful Life: Invitation Ornament

Today, I'm going to look like a real craft blogger.  Because Allie is here with a tutorial.  She labeled stuff for you and everything.   Thank you, Allie!   I'm going to try this with one of our wedding invitations!   (Hot pink will look good on a Christmas tree, right?)

Hey Kristin's kNook readers! I'm Allie, and I blog over at A Day in A Joyful Life. You may know me and my blog from The Great Pumpkin Swap that Kristin and I co-hosted awhile back. Today I'm going to try to prove I'm more than a swapaholic-- I occasionally craft.  Between work and life I barely find time to do crafting, but I do love it.  I put this particular craft together after my own wedding last year because I wanted to commemorate our first Christmas as a married couple. You've probably seen similar ideas floating around the Internet, but I came up with this idea when I saw the clear ball ornaments at Michael's, so I call it my own. It's super easy, and a great idea for a gift for any newlywed couples in your life, or really anyone who had a special occasion involving an invitation! This is my first tutorial, so please be patient with me. A big shout out to my husband for taking the pictures, and a tip to anyone who does a hand-heavy photo shoot: take a few minutes to remove the chipped nail polish before you begin.

Add some solid color paper in there, and any other adornments that suit your fancy-- for this one I punched out some small leaves and tossed them in since this was a fall wedding. Finally, add some ribbon to hang and you have a gorgeous ornament that the happy couple will cherish for many years. 

{I apologize for the semi-blurry pics of the finished product-- my camera skills at their finest, people.}

I hope you find this simple but meaningful little craft useful! Thanks to Kristin for having me on the blog, I hope all of you stop by and see me sometime! Have a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! 

The Life of Clare: Raw Christmas Puddings

Needing a healthy-ish treat for a last minute get-together?  I think you need to try Clare's recipe.  I adore that she calls them "puddings", as I would probably call them "that ball thing of chocolate and nuts".  Let's go with "puddings".

Having tried these, I can personally say that this combination of raw food is delicious (and would be a great pre-workout snack...because I know you're all working out this week, right?).

Thank you, Clare!

When Kristin put it out there that she was looking for guest bloggers for the Christmas season, I jumped at the chance. She was looking for Christmasy themed things and being a food blogger I had to do something food related. Recently I've started getting into raw cooking and looking at the benefits of cacao, coconut oil etc. So I decided to combine my new found love for raw foods, making something similar to the second layer of this raw chocolate slice, and the idea of my mum's mini Christmas puddings. They worked out better than I could have imagined.  

 It's super easy, doesn't taste like you're eating something that's super good for you (but they are), and they've had many stamps of approval.

   

 To the top of some, I added white chocolate, and then mint leaves and red cherries to look like holly. The others I just rolled in coconut.

Raw Cacao Christmas Puddings

Author: The Life of Clare

Serves: 14

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup activated almonds
• 1/2 cup activated walnuts
• 1/4 cup cacaco
• 1/4 cup mixed dried fruit
• 1/8 coconut flakes
• 7 madjool dates

Instructions

1. Add nuts to the food processor and pulse until crushed.
2. Add a mixture of the remaining ingredients to the food processor, until all are used and the ingredients stick together when pinched between your fingers.
3. Roll into small balls (I made about 14).
4. Now you can choose to roll cacao, coconut, or top like a mini pudding.

3.1.09

Have you ever eaten raw foods? What Christmas treats remind you of your childhood?

Holiday Glitter Canvas: Casey

I've got another teacher blog-friend!  Sometimes I wish I could teach with my teacher-blog-friends.  I like them.  Aside from starting off with a completely ridiculous statement, Casey is going to share a fun craft with you.  And by "fun craft" I don't mean that peppermint tray thingy that I saw on Pinterest a few weeks ago and just kinda assumed wouldn't work anyway.   (Try the glitter thing instead.)

Thanks for stopping by, Casey!

I kind of feel like I don't belong here. I mean, Kristin is like the real deal when it comes to blogging. Thank you, Kristin, for letting me guest post for you today.
I'm Casey and you can usually find me over at Everyday Adventures, where I blog about teaching (middle school), my fur babies, crafts and whatever else comes into my head.

You should know one thing about me: I love Christmas. I love everything about it. I love Christmas music. I love eggnog. I love wrapping presents. I love Christmas trees. And I LOVE decorating for Christmas. Usually I wait until we come home from Thanksgiving dinner to start decorating. Usually. This year I started a couple days early. As much as I love decorating for Christmas, I don't love spending tons of money on decorations. Luckily for me, I am a fan of DIY so of course I am a fan of Pinterest. This is a tale of two holiday crafts.

I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am pretty crafty. I can usually look at something and figure out how to create a version of it with what I have. When I came across this pin, and it had the worlds easiest directions with it, I knew I had to try it.

Pinned via here

So cute right? The directions said to unwrap the peppermint and arrange them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Pop them into a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes and viola! You get the cutest tray for a cookie exchange or for appetizers at a holiday party. 

I followed those directions and after 10 minutes, not much had happened. I checked again at the 13 minute mark, and again at 15 minutes. At 17 minutes it started to look like something was going to happen. 2 minutes later I got this:

I believe we can call this a Pinterest Fail.

When it cooled down, it was almost impossible to get off the parchment and when I did free it, it broke into several pieces. Boo.

Don't worry, not all my holiday crafts were disastrous this year. Here is a super easy craft that makes a huge impact on my wall decorations.

Take a blank canvas. Draw on an outline of a shape. (You could print out a template or free hand it. I traced a cereal bowl). Cover shape in glue. My first grade teacher said never make glue soup. Mrs. Rau, you were wrong. This is a time for glue soup. Cover glue with glitter. Let it dry. Overnight. Glue soup takes a long time to dry. I promise.

Even with the "dripping" I still love how it turned out. Once I put it on my mantle (and placed it strategically behind some garland) you can't even tell!

There are a ton of these posted all over blog land right now, and I love seeing how different they all are.

I will leave you with this. I feel it is only fitting since Kristin usually finds the funniest things on the Internet. (I mean, she has like a gift or something)

Pinned

Pinned

(I do love me a GoT reference -Kristin)