I am back! I apologize for the long hiatus… but it was a much needed slump after graduation. I was so sleepy until about noon today at work when I finally got back into my routine and started making some New Year’s goals for myself while reading some of my favorite blogs.

Here is a little re-cap of what I did over the holidays:

1) Made chocolate-hazelnut merengues and chocolate chip teacakes with my sister before Christmas. The teacakes are an old recipe of my mother’s and the merengues are from the December Cooking Light (one of my new favorite mags) Although I don’t have any known food allergies or intolerences, I realized that the teacakes are egg-free and the merenges are gluten-free– and delicious! Although I don’t have to worry about allergies for myself, it’s really nice to know that food industries are taking note and not making things that taste like cardboard for those on a limited diet.    Here is all I had left after baking and giving away to friends and family:

2) Gave some long overdue love to Tucker, my cat who lives with my parents.  Waiting for Santa!3) Exchanged gifts with Mike. He went all out and bought me a food processor, coffee grinder, dutch oven, and all other sorts of fun cooking things! Lots of peppermint bark, P.S. I Love You and a cute martini ornament. He and his family do a white-elephant gift exchange for Christmas, so he spoils me for Christmas!

I secured a place on the counter for the food processor but…

Unfortunately/Fortunately, we live with another couple who has a lot of kitchen stuff. I will have to tuck my kitchen babies away in the pantry until I need them because there is zero room on the counter! I love my roomies but I will be so happy when Mike and I can only have to organize our stuff.

4) Exchanged gifts with the family. Lots of comfy jammies for me, new slippers and lavender bubble bath and pillow spray. Also– some new Christmas china with snowmen on it for next year (don’t want it to get broken in the animal house)

5) Relaxed and didn’t indulge in heavy holiday food. I took lots of baths– something I never did in college. The lavender vanilla bubble bath smells like baby– so soft and powdery! As for food,  I usually eat pretty nasty when I go home– as in a diet soda and whatever chips we have in the pantry are my main staples. But my mom is on a mission to be healthier– so I can safely say that although I indulged a little (fudge, eggnog pancakes and red velvet cake) I didn’t go crazy and actually ate some pretty good things like barley soup and salads.

6) Made resolutions for a more eco-friendly Christmas next year. Although it’s pretty, wrapping paper is a huge waste! Especially when I have so many paper shopping bags saved up throughout the year. Next year I plan to use brown paper bags and cut-up Christmas cards to wrap my presents.If I send out cards, they are going to be over the web to save on paper.  I started this year by making Three-Bean Chili mix and putting it in leftover Mason jars for Mike’s family and the neighbors. I’d love to be able to make something for everyone I give to, but at this point in my life I love the thrill of getting something that someone really wanted– even if it has lots of packaging and isn’t hand-made. It’s a dilemma.

Overall, a very merry Christmas! We said goodbye to our tree on Saturday by recycling it—you won’t find Douglas F. Tree in the landfill this year! It was my first real tree and I will have fond memories of him for years to come.

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