New Year's Resolutions

Yep, it's that time again...Time to make some resolutions and set some goals for myself for 2010. I don't like resolutions that much, but if I post them here, maybe they're more likely to be followed than if I just share them verbally with Gordon - so here goes!

1. Get in shape - I've started to do this slowly but surely over the past three months or so. My main intention besides looking and feeling great is that I want to live for a LONG time and I want Gordon to live for a LONG time. We're not kids anymore and life is just too precious to throw it away on a bag of potato chips - no matter how satisfying and stress relieving said bag of potato chips are. Mainly, I love my husband, I love my family and I love my friends and I want to be around to share in the laughter and joy that we will experience together for many more years to come. And, I'd like to start thinking about having that fictitious baby within the next couple of years and getting in shape first is so important!

2. Don't sweat the small stuff - So the apartment isn't cleaned to perfection and my purse doesn't match my coat or my shoes or my accessories or whatever it may be. These things just don't matter in the long run and in 2010 I will try with all my might to only stress and worry about those things that really truly matter!

3. Be a better wife, daughter, sister, friend - I guess this one kinda goes with #2. Boy do I get stressed sometimes and who takes the brunt of it? Yep, that's right, the people I love the most. I want to be a better person to all of those people and have the patience, kindness and overall best intentions/wishes for each and every single person that I love and loves me back, even with all of my faults. 

4. Save money - If I don't get to Korea by the time I'm 30, I'm scared I never will and I think I owe it to my biological mother who had the strength to give me up for adoption, to honor her and learn more about where I come from and the culture and traditions that exist. So forget that new Kate Spade bag, new pair of shoes, new curtains, couch, etc. All of our extra money will go into our savings account for our trip to South Korea!

I'm sure there are many more resolutions to name, but let's not go overboard here haha! I wish all of my family, friends and readers of this blog a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I've got a feeling that 2010 will be a year to remember!

Croquembouche

One of our Christmas desserts - delicious!!! Here's the link to the recipe (It's worth the time, trust me!).

Christmas Baking

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is baking Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve. For the past three years we've been observing this tradition at my sister's apartment. The best part of this is revisiting my mom's old recipe cards and reading her handwriting. Makes me feel like she is still very much a part of our Christmas tradition - one that we will continue for many more years to come.

Weigh In #3

So let's see...I've lost a total of 15 lbs. in exactly three months. I still have a long road ahead of me, but I'm okay with that progress and happy to see the number on my scale continuing to decrease. Since I started with my personal trainer, I also feel a little more toned in my shoulders, arms, legs and abs - so slowly but surely I'm getting there. Let me survive Christmas (aka Christmas cookies) and by December 28th I'll be ready to focus, focus, focus. The 5k is a little over five months away...Can I do it?!

The Christmas Can-Can

Heard this on the radio today, searched it out and found this video...Super fun and festive! 

Can you feel the love?!?

This has got to be my favorite picture from last night's Christmas party...I just love it when my BFF and my hubby get along! hahaha :)

Christmas Party Yumminess!

We decided to make/bring these treats with us to a Christmas party tonight. Just another reason for us to have more fun together in the kitchen - love it!

 Rosemary-Cayenne Cashews

Bacon-Cashew Brittle

Gruyere-Parmesan-Thyme Cheese Straws

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

No Christmas tree this year, but we still have lots of Christmas cheer!

Baby Shower "Rattle" Cupcakes

Made these for a friend's baby shower this weekend. So fun!

Look To the Cookie by Guest Blogger, MJG

Me again... can you tell I have some free time on my hands lately? Anyway...For those who don't know, or have just never heard me pronounce the words dog, coffee or water, I am originally from the South Shore of Long Island (I understand if you no longer want to talk to me.)

Growing up I realized we had two things in abundance, beaches and Italian Americans some of which I have come to miss since relocating to Upstate NY. No, not the brown water of Jones Beach and not the the Growing Up Gotti cast memebers I would run into (yes Luigi does exist and he sounds that ridiculous in person), but rather Italian Cookies bought from the Salumeria or Meat Store (Side note, thank you Ravioli Shop for everything you do, P.S. It is owned by another LI ex-pat.)

Especially missed are my personal favorites:

The glorious Rainbow Cookie (recently discovered  at Leo's Elite Bakery in East Rochester).

And although it is not necessarily an  Italian cookie, it is a NY staple... the proper Black and White Cookie (local whereabouts unknown).

Yes, Wegmans and most of Upstate NY does have the B&W's far in superior brother the half-moon. But a true, Black and White cookie should be at least the size of my hand with a firm white icing and dark chocolate ganache on top of a slight citrus cake/cookie base. Every half moon I have had has mere chocolate and vanilla cake frosting slathered on top of a cake base.

And in closing please allow me to let another South Shore native describe the true value of the B&W cookie in these infamous scenes:

Adorable...

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook today and I found it super cute and thought I would share it with you...Enjoy!

 

MoMA Kimchee by Guest Blogger, Michael Gordon

I have come to realize I am a modernist at heart and it being Christmas time and all I have been perusing the MoMA Store website for gift ideas.  While on-line I stumbled upon the perfect stocking stuffer for your regular author. No, it is not the $3,500 Le Corbusier chaise lounge reproduction, but rather these $15 trinkets...

In case you can't tell, these are magnets and business card holders of Korean food, kimchee, so-ju and all.

On second thought, maybe I should get the magnets for Lisa and the chair for me. 

Doppelganger by Guest Blogger, Michael Gordon

Everyone is told they look like someone famous, but I also get told that I remind them of two famous people...

Lisa (and her whole family) tell me that Angus T. Jones during the first few seasons of "Two and a Half Men" is what I must have been like as a kid.

And Ethan Suplee, most recently of "My Name is Earl," is the modern day me.

Now Angus was of course adorable, and Ethan ... I will say...  is cuddly like a teddy bear.  If we were simply speaking about their looks I would take it purely as a compliment, but with the idiosyncrasy of their recent characters I'm not so sure.  What do you think, do I look like them or just act like their characters?

It's Training Time - Update #7

Well after some major splurging during Thanksgiving, (who was I kidding when I said the eating festivities would only be for one day?) I ended up gaining 4.8 lbs! Can you believe it?! That's a lot of butter! But now, I'm back in my groove and hoping that Christmas doesn't kill me. Just going to keep chugging along, keep going to the gym and keep eating less. Weigh in #3 - I'll be ready for you yet!

New friends!

On Saturday while Christmas shopping, I spotted these two little fellows sitting way up high on a shelf in Parkleigh. 

And, if you know me, it was love at first sight...I just couldn't (wouldn't) put them down. So as we were looking around the store, I carried them with me one in each arm. When it was time to check out and leave, Gordon took pity on me (even though we decided not to exchange Christmas gifts with each other this year in an effort to save money during these "difficult economic times") and bought them both for me despite our agreement. I am one lucky lady to have such a wonderful husband and two new friends to snuggle with!