Not National Candy Cane Day.

For some reason we are celebrating National Candy Cane Day at work today, even though it's not actually until December 26. I guess we aren't working December 26 so we had to work it in sometime. To celebrate, we're all wearing something striped; I'm going to be a nautical, blue and white, boatnecked candy cane, because those are apparently all the stripes I own. To celebrate here, I thought I'd show you some of my favorite ways to enjoy candy canes.

As a Hot Chocolate Stirrer

In a Candy Cane-tini. (P.S. - This recipe looks amazing)

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

These have a Candy Cane Kiss on top, and

chopped up Candy Cane Kisses

in the cookie. Yum!

I love peppermint, so really anything that has Candy Canes in it is right up my alley. What's your favorite way to enjoy Candy Canes?

Today is the Day.

That our Total Money Makover begins. Rob was a Dave Ramsey fan in college, and he introduced me to him when we started dating. We started our marriage without any debt and were on track with Dave's plan. When Rob's Jeep started having problems, for some reason we let go of the principles that we believe in and took out a loan to buy a new car.  It has been hanging around my neck for the past two years. For a while I was trying to pay extra on the new Jeep, and save, which was sort of working. I wasn't making that much headway on either one. Then Rob had to have two knee surgeries within 3 months, which completely depleted our savings. I've had no motivation with the car or with the emergency fund since May. This man is changing that:

{via}

Today, I start pouring everything we've got into our car loan. Knocking it out. I don't know why we thought we were smarter than Dave, that we could handle the debt, but I'm glad we're getting it turned around now. I've just recently figured out how this debt has been changing my financial behavior, and that a lot of recent decisions have come about because of the resentment that I was feeling towards it. This week we started by eating at home, which is not something we're good at. I like to cook, but I don't like to cook after I've been at work and then taught lessons and it's almost 7:00 before I get started. I've got to get over it though. I'm changing habits, and that car debt is history! 

Sweet Little Jesus Boy.

I think for the month of December I'm going to show you some of my favorite new and old Christmas songs on Wednesdays. We're going to start a little early, because technically it's still November. Last night at orchestra we finally got to play with one of the choirs thats singing with us this weekend and the rhythm section and soloists of the other, which was so great. Songs that had been a little boring with just the orchestra had a completely different feeling. Sweet Little Jesus Boy was the biggest transformation in my opinion.

This is Audra McDonald with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, so of course this is really polished and shiny, which is nice, but if we're going to do gospel, I really want to hear that gospel sound. Ours is a little grittier, a little earthier and it changes everytime we do it, which is wonderful. When we played this last night it gave me chills, which is what I think Christmas songs should do. What's your favorite song of the season?

Pumpkin Sage Parmesan Peace Pasta.

Say that five times fast. This is what I made to take to our family's Thanksgiving celebrations, so I thought I would share it with you. I got this recipe from the fine folks at Annie's Homegrown last year, and I absolutely love it, but I tend to only make it seasonally.

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You will need:

• 1 box Annie's Homegrown Peace Pasta & Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1 tablespoon chopped Fresh Sage (I've used dried and it works pretty well)
• 3/4 cup canned 100% Pure Pumpkin (NOT Pumpkin Pie Filling)
• 1/3 cup lowfat Milk
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)

1. Boil the pasta according to the directions on the box and drain. Leave the pasta to drain in the colander and return the saucepan to the stove.

2.  Add the butter and cook on high heat until the butter is brown (about 1 minute) This is what makes it taste awesome!

3. Turn the heat to low. Be careful of splattering; stir in the sage and cook for 15 seconds. Turn off heat.

4. Add in the pumpkin, milk and cheese packet. Whisk to combine.

5. Add the pasta back to the pan and stir well to coat evenly with sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

This pasta is really satisfying and tastes like fall. It's a little different, but very good. Enjoy!

In which I make a wreath.

For months and months I've been wanting this wreath from Pottery Barn:

Outdoor Ornament Pine Wreath

Everyone I showed it to said, "You could make that really easily." So, I decided to try making it myself.

I used a 30-inch plain pine wreath and red. white and silver shatterproof ornaments. I bought the ornaments at Old Time Pottery and the wreath at Michael's.

I used florist's wire to attach the ornaments; I just fished it through the ornament's loop and then wrapped it through the wreath form and twisted the two ends together. Easy peasy. I started with the larger ornaments and then worked down through my sizes, just placing them randomly. Since I had shiny and matte ornaments I made sure I was alternating those as well as colors.

Finished product. Rob would like credit for his arm.

The wreath came pre-lit, which is very pretty,

but I couldn't figure out a good way to

have it lit on the door without a

ton of unsightly wires.

Here it is on the front door, with the

Moravian Star.



We got the tree and most of the decorations up this weekend, which is a relief because the next three weeks are going to be pretty nutty.  I'm absolutely in love with how my wreath turned out, and I couldn't wait to put it on the door. This was such a simple project, really anybody could do it. From this project I've gotten really interested in other DIY projects, so who knows what I'll end up making next.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sorry I took a few days off, but I just needed some time to spend with family.  Yesterday we drove to St. Pauls, which is outside of Lumberton, which is outside of Fayetteville, which is...you get the picture. We went to the farm that my grandmother was born and grew up on, which is what we always do.

This is the farmhouse. Isn't it quaint?

I think this is an old tobacco drying

shed. They grow soybeans now.

My grandmother was one of eleven children and all five that are still living came this year, which was really neat.  Most of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren still come every year, even if the original family member has left us. This year, I think the final headcount was 67, but that's a little unclear...something to do with a diaper change.  My great-aunt Verlon, who lives on the farm does the turkey and a lot of the sides, but almost everyone brings something so there is a LOT to eat.

This trestle table is at least 6 feet long.

There was a ton more food on the

stove, but I didn't get a picture

of that.

This is the dessert table. Sorry about some of it being

covered. With 67 people coming in and out

of the house, I think we did pretty well

to just have the 1 fly get in.

Rob really likes the farm for Thanksgiving

because 1) He get to eat off a platter,

which is socially acceptable

behavior for the males in my

family, and 2) the food

 is GOOD.

There is always a huge number of children every year, which is great because there is so much trouble for them to get into on a farm. Tractors to ride on, go-carts to play with, dirt piles to jump on...

I'm really glad I don't have to wash any of these children.

I hope your Thanksgiving was as happy and as family-filled as mine was! Are you ready to decorate?

Where, Oh Where Has My Cheddar-Bo Gone?

This post was inspired by an unhealthy love of something fat. In college, my favorite thing to eat at Bojangles was a Cheddar-Bo biscuit, fries and a sweet tea. It would still be my favorite thing to eat at Bojangles if I could find it south of Goldsboro, NC.

You see my dilemma. I obviously can't drive an hour and a half to get a Cheddar-Bo biscuit, but it frequently seems like a good idea. Well, Hardee's has solved the problem for me. Introducing the Cheddar Biscuit:

Here is a link for a FREE Cheddar Biscuit,

so you can try out the awesomeness

for yourself.

All it is, is a biscuit cut in half with two slices of cheddar cheese, placed under a broiler and then put back together. Hardee's nailed it. They even wrap it in foil like Bojangles does, instead of a regular paper wrapper. It's the little things people. So, in this post I've presented myself as an addict and as someone who likes fatty food. Most of the time I am neither, but I'll make exceptions for a biscuit as awesome as this.