What a Wookie!

Confession time -

I could have given you the countdown to the release date of Episode VII at any time in the past several months. The days to Christmas? Not so much. I guess you can see where my priorities lie. (One hint: The answer is always Star Wars)

So as soon as we got our tickets, my most pressing concern has been WHAT DO I WEAR TO THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF THE ENTIRE YEAR???? (Only my wedding keeps it from being the most important event of my decade)

Lucky for me, Target helped me make that decision tonight, and I have never been happier. Or furrier, for that matter. I probably won't be the only one, but be on the look out this Wookie at the theater release of The Force Awakens!!

Please ignore my filthy mirrors. Finding the perfect Chewbacca onesie was waaaay more important than cleaning.

Who else is dying for Star Wars?

Twist on Tradition: Spinach Stuffing!

Pssst! Don’t freak out on me, but.... it’s already DECEMBER. You’ve probably already been wracking your brains for Christmas gift ideas, but have you thought about this year’s menu yet? If you’re like me, you’ve likely worn out some of your traditional recipes over the last few rounds of holidays and are on the prowl for a new twist. Sometimes I just want something new! And if that something new happens to be something easy and inexpensive, then I’ll be a happy little elf.

I don't have a pic of my recipe, so here's a funny. 

With that goal in mind, here is a quickie that I’ve perfected over the years that gives a new twist to a standard holiday classic – Stuffing! Love it or hate it, this is one dish that will always be a holiday staple, so why not give it a new look?

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Spinach Stuffing

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 Can well drained spinach (or Italian cut green beans if it takes straps and crowbars to get your fam to eat spinach)
• 3/4 Cup melted butter or margarine
• 1/2 Cup water
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• 3 Cups unseasoned stuffing mix
• 2-3 Cloves Chopped Garlic (fine) (I add 4 cloves to mine, but I have a pathological fear of vampires)
• 1/8 – 1/4 Cup Chopped Onion (fine)
• 2 Tsp Italian Seasonings

Here’s how to make it:

In a medium sauce pan, dissolve the bouillon cube in the ½ cup of water, then add melted butter. Stir in drained spinach and all seasonings. Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately remove from heat. Stir in stuffing mix (gently) and cover for 5 minutes)

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And Voila! Now you’ve got an original easy-peasy Christmas dish that goes especially great with ham. One note on this one, though – it’s definitely not a recipe to use for stuffing a turkey. The greens in this recipe would turn bitter in the bird, not to mention come out looking like Yoda turds.

What twists on tradition have you made in the past?

5 Tips for Surviving Cyber Monday

A TV worth braining Granny for in the UK last year.
Courtesy Daily Mail.com

Did everyone survive Black Friday? If you're reading this, I'm assuming you haven't fallen to the zombie hordes during a fight over portable electronics or accessories.

And if you are one of the lucky ones who made it out alive (and with some remnants of currency left in your pocketbook), then you're probably already embarking on the joy and terror that is... *enter Rod Serling impersonater* CYBER MONDAY.

Even though you'll be doing it from the relative safety of your a computer screen at work or at home (possibly even in your jammies and you lucky SOBs know who you are), there are still plenty of perils to be avoided and on this spendiest of weekends. The biggest of those perils is too often overspending. Just because it saves you $100 now doesn't mean you really NEEDED that combination Roomba/Coffee Maker/Wine Decanter, right? So here are some quick tips to help get you through Cyber Monday with sanity AND money intact:

1. BUTCHER THE HELL OUT OF YOUR LISTS. Make lists, check them twice, then ditch anything you don't really need. Now think about everything you just hauled off to Goodwill during your last cabinet and attic raid and remember how excited you were to get those gadgets on sale. NOW go through the list again and try to imagine how long before you shove this year's gadget of your dreams to the attic... and then to the Goodwill pile.

2. STAY ON TASK. Those ads, those beautiful colors, the flashing lights... all telling you how much you need this multi-function foosball/ping-pong/air hockey/puzzle table to reinvigorate your family game nights. Ooooh! Or this at-home soda maker with healthy and all natural additives, and some nearly natural colors. DON'T GET DISTRACTED *whiplash*. If you go into your Cyber Monday shopping knowing that you need a Star Wars present for little Becky, vacuum for Mom, or to replace your threadbare towels in the guest bathroom, stick to it. No buts, just do it.

Edina and Patsy are fabulous, but
probably poor choices.

3. DON'T SHOP ALONE. There's no shame in admitting it - it's hard to police ourselves. If nobody sees us cheating on our diet, or splurging on that little item, it doesn't count, right? Wrong. And we know it. That's why this tip is true for every day of the year - don't even go to the grocery without a watchful eye if you can help it.

4. PICK A RESPONSIBLE SHOPPING BUDDY. It should go without saying, but make sure that the person you choose to help keep you honest this shopping season isn't a shopaholic fashionista in faux-Target slacks.


And last, but not least...


5. DON'T SHOP HUNGRY. Did you think that was just for grocery shopping? Heck no. As any Snickers commercial will tell you - hunger makes you crazy. At the very least, hunger can make you rush decisions and react more negatively to situations that normally wouldn't ruffle you, like when the website inevitably crashes and makes you start over just as you're buying the shopping cart you painstakingly filled. (ah, technology...) Make sure you start your Cyber Monday on a full and happy stomach, otherwise you'll be adding a monitor to your list to replace the one you just threw out the window.

Until next time - HAPPY SHOPPING!

Surviving the next month...

I wish I could just enjoy Thanksgiving without having to worry about Christmas right around the corner. I feel worse every year for cutting back on the shopping and cards and decorating... but there just doesn't seem to be enough time for it all!

And the stores aren't helping. "Come in on turkey day," some of them say. "Spend less time with family and spend your money here!" And the only way to stop them is to not shop. But some folks just can't resist the deals. My poor holiday is going under!

Black Friday is also scary. I know some folks who have come away with great deals, I myself have joined a relative for one special item or two and I'd rather avoid it. The hectic hustle and bustle sort of taints the "meaning of Christmas" and sours the gift giving, for me. But I know some people love it - and it's part of their holiday tradition. More power to them =)

Cyber Monday - okay, good. I'll take those deals. But I fear one of these years all that data exchange is going to drown the internet! And then where will we be? Ah!

Here's my advice to have a less stressful holiday season (which I intend to do every year, but usually get sidetracked)

• START EARLIER - I know it goes against the natural order to start thinking about Xmas in September, but we don't have to say it. Just buy a little at a time and put it to the side, like a secret squirrel. Sometimes this can backfire and you overbuy, so keep a list and check it twice (ho ho)
• MARK YOUR CALENDAR - I really need to pick goal dates to have things done by - gift buying, decorating outside, decorating inside, wrapping, and especially putting together and mailing the Xmas cards! Can you believe I already got one? Eesh!
• REMINDERS - I have a ton of things I'd like to do in December that I always forget about - crafts with my boys, caroling, visiting a shelter, seeing the Nutcracker, ice skating... I need to set reminders on my phone.
• MAKE IT FUN - last year, my boys helped me decorate the tree like it was a time-consuming chore. I was so sad! This year, I'm going to spice it up. I'm going to put the tree near the TV and add some Christmas cheer with a movie and treats - I might even add a competition angle for them. Hopefully they will be a little more spirited!

How do you make it from Thanksgiving to Christmas? Or whatever holiday you enjoy in these cold winter months? As for my friends on the warmer side of the globe - I wish I was there! Ha ha ho ho!

Weary and dreary

I'm proud to say I was born in Plymouth, Mass. So Thanksgiving has a special place for me. As a kid, I visited the Rock (the original Rock) many times on field trips.

We know the story, but do you know what the pilgrims really went through? The voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days - Over two months at sea!! And imagine the storms they encountered toward the end of hurricane season (September & October). And with all those people crammed on the Mayflower, ew! That would make a great Survivor - living on a boat for 39 days!

Very determined people! I admire and respect them so much more when I think of what they went through.

And once they finally landed, it took them another month to decide where to settle - they chose Plymouth on December 25th. How bout that!

All we have to do is endure our relatives and try not to overeat! Be thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

(For more about the Mayflower crossing, here's my Source)