PimpDaddyPain completly spoiled me this Christmas, he hit all the right notes, things I needed, things I wanted, thing I would have never bought myself… and he gave me the day off. We had a very low mantience meal of frozen pizza and peanut clusters. Later in the evening we went to see family, and he enjoyed turkey and excess there… The best gift I got this year though, was the ok to go ahead and quit my job.

The snow kept me house bound for days, and we both got used to me being home again. He liked coming home and not having to wait for dinner. I liked not having to worry about making so many sales a day. Not having to worry about getting back and forth to work is a blessing. I tried to take the car out the other night and got stuck right away. I’m not good in the snow. We sat down and looked at our income to expense ratio and realized if we cut down on our extra spending by just a little… I don’t need to work. So he told me to quit.

And it feels good. I am going to be looking for part time work (less than 20 hours a week), just so we can pay off some debt and put money in savings… although right now I am talking to a friend about doing in home childcare for her, two kids at $3 an hour (although one is in school)… and maybe another little boy. I used to do this, and loved it… so I am hoping it works out. Even if it doesn’t, I already have several other jobs in mind just to pass the time a few days a week.

I did promise to put more effort into my art. He wants me to do something every day.. be it crochet, make a card, think up a recipe, or use Photoshop. Keeping the house clean, cooking, and making art… oh yeah, Merry Christmas to me!

More snow, originally uploaded by Shiny (aka Rachel).

Every year PimpDaddyPain fills Christmas cups with candy and hands them out to his coworkers. We were at the Dollar Store a while back and he noticed the pre-filled cups, and decided to get them instead… and then I found this recipe, and knew I had to make some to put in the cups.

So I ended up buying the cups, filling them, and wrapping everything up. I feel used. No worries though, for every peanut cluster I put in a cup, I ate one. Or two. PDP took a little baggy full into work today for breakfast, and his boss absconded with them all, so I made sure and packed extra in the boss’ cup. Maybe the Christmas bonus PDP gets tomorrow will be bigger too. Hee.

The peanut clusters were ridiculously easy to make, and a huge hit with everyone I’ve passed them out to so far. Even my landlady, the queen of homemade candy declared them delicious. She about died when she learned I made them in the crock pot. Sooo good.

As soon as Christmas inflation wears off and baking items aren’t so outrageously price, I’m going to make a double or triple batch of these to send off with our late Christmas presents.

Christmas 2008 by Micheal, originally uploaded by Shiny (aka Rachel).

The weather and mix up over the studio turned out to be a good thing, I love how having the pictures in the house really gave everything a homey feel. PDP’s Uncle and his girlfriend came over tonight and we exchanged gifts… they printed off their favorite three, framed two, and gave us an extra frame (the 10 x 10 ring shot didn’t fit the frame they bought)… so we finally have pictures of ourselves up in the house! After a year together, we’re finally getting it together. LOL

The first three (coincidentally, the ones they had printed for us) I’m sharing are edited by the photographer, the rest are as is, pimples, duct tape, and clutter included.

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This is one of the best foods known to man, friends. I made a double batch tonight, and had to share. They are that yummy… I could exist off these. They are relatively easy to make, and bring back wonderful memories of Kentucky and Corona.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to throw a beer bottle against the wall? I always find myself wondering that too… the last time, or the time before… one of the two, I was visiting Mary Dawn I made these for her and family… we ate them all, and Sidney, her wonderful husband, very lovingly took the Corona out of my hand so I wouldn’t act upon my desire to know.

I no longer drink beer, or eat flour tortillas, but these are just as good. They are my “go to” for impressing friends, and at one point, prospective men.  I made them for a guy once, who was having dinner with my family and me… and I pulled them out of the oven without using a mitt. Impressive, oh yeah. He laughed, and laughed, and forgot to explain how the house wiring worked when he left. I like to think that it was because my food was that good, and not the fact he’d watched me nearly drop an entire pan of heavenly manna due to sheer idiocy. Humor me, ok?

Now this dish was created using this recipe. I have changed it, using corn tortillas, canned jalapenos & carrots, pepper jack cheese along with monterey jack, more garlic, taco spice, cumin, onions, and uhm… more chicken, and more cream cheese. I make a huge pan of the filling, dump some in a bowl to eat with chips, and make enchiladas with the rest.

This is one of those things you twist and make your own… no recipe really needed. And yes, that’s old (I wouldn’t say vintage) Pyrex. I collect it. Just because. I don’t have a favorite pattern, I just like the teal on white, or white on teal versions… or just the plain white/clear stuff. I pick it up at garage sales for cheap. What doesn’t have lids goes into my office for storing things, and what does have lids gets washed and cooked with… a lot.

Enjoy!

I picked up 7 more Christmas gifts this morning, and PimpDaddyPain took care of two last night. We’re down to like… 10 people, 5 of which live out of town and understand it’s going to be a while. I still have to mail Mary Dawn her birthday present, at this point I’m just going to wait and send it with the goodies for her kids at Christmas. This is the first year I’ve done “serious” Christmas shopping, when our list totaled a rough 30 (after paring down), I just about died.

Part of me really wants to be responsible, and make them all candy or something… but I’m lazy, and my schedule at work has been all over the place… so I couldn’t commit to time in the kitchen like that. As it is I’m making like 7 scarves, two blankets, and a set of kitchen stuff. Thank goodness I can crochet at work! We even seriously discussed gift cards, and then vetoed the idea. As much as we love receiving gift cards (hint hint hint!), PDP and I both deplore giving them for reasons that are personal and silly.

Anyways, the point is… I am nearly done Christmas shopping… and have yet to even buy cards, or put a tree. We raided The Dollar Tree last weekend and got ornaments and ribbon, I have a few Superman ornaments (it’s tradition, my Mom has given Becky and I one every Christmas since my dad died), a few of my Dad’s snowmen ornaments (he collected them) and a few we’ve picked up randomly throughout the year… but otherwise, everything is cheap, and thankfully plastic. My cats are awful, and have broken several things in the past few weeks.

I’m rambling again. It’s cold, and I feel like I talk more when the temperature drops. Perhaps to keep my hands warm? Who knows. I am off to cuddle up with Chris and a book. Comment, dang it! I miss hearing from you guys.

While in the Centralia area a few weeks ago, I gave Nicole the blankets I had made for her little baby boy. Luckily they went with a jungle theme for the nursery (you should see the dresser she painted, it’s super cute and wild!), and the predominant color yellow blended in just fine. I gave them to her just in time, too! Orin Luke arrived early Thanksgiving morning, weighing 9pounds-5ounces, and measuring 20 1/2 inches long! The sweet thing about his delivery date is, 23 years ago on Thanksgiving, Nicole’s Mom went in to labor with her… although she was born on November 30th, yikes… long labor!

So, welcome to the world, sweet Orin Luke, I can’t wait to meet you! Soon enough he’ll have a little cousin to play with… Becky’s ultrasound came back, and she is having a boy, two weeks earlier than originally though… March 30th! She’s over half way through.  On Thursday my sister-in-law is having her sex check ultrasound, although she isn’t due until some time in May.

Back to the point… I wanted to share the blankets I made for Orin. Keep in my mind the mainly white one was my very first crochet project. These aren’t the best ever, but I had a blast making them, and can’t wait to make more for all the little nephews and nieces in my life.