Christmas Break Down

Great Aunt Becky does this thing where she gets a gigantic box, and puts little toys in it. She ties a ribbon around those toys, and attaches the kid's names on the ribbons. Then she asks the kids a Christmas type question. If the get the question right they get to pull a gift.

My kids don't go to church (please don't judge). We help them if they don't know an answer.

It looks sort of like this:

It's hard to get good photos because they are in constant movement.

The boys liked their Jacob's Ladders the most.

All was good. No kids were in trouble. No one was stressed that I knew of. Everyone was having a pretty good time. 

Then things started unraveling in my mind. 

I was in the kitchen sitting in the back corner. One person (I won't say who) started saying how I never help. Ummm...excuse me. She was right I didn't help at that moment. I was stuck in the corner with two older people blocking me in. I don't help in the kitchen at events like that because I'm always in the way. I do help bring in dishes, taking the trash out, dumping 1/2 drank drinks...and you get the picture.

I simply didn't say anything. I just rolled my eyes inside. With this person I feel like I never can say anything. It doesn't help.

The meal was over. People moved, so I could get out. I gathered peoples empty dishes to throw out, and took the trash out. I bet no one noticed that.

Then I got my cheese ball, crackers, and cookie plate out. Goodies were already out on the table to be devoured.

The same unnamed girl said to me, "Don't put that stuff out. It's not time yet. We just ate."

I put it out anyway. My aunt said, "It's ok just set it here. Other stuff is out."

The unnamed person said, "Don't put that out Alissa!"

I stormed out of there. I vowed to not put anything out the rest of the day. Seriously it was Christmas!

Somehow, my stuff got out later... I didn't put it there.

I could use a few choice words! Why waist them on Christmas!

Grandpa left the event because he left his meds. That's not the whole reason why he left. We bitched together later.

Isaak got so busy playing. He said his parts hurt. Later on I realized that his freaking pants were wet with pee. What 1st grader pees his pants because he's too busy playing?

I told Mica, "If you don't want those glasses on give them to me. Don't set them down somewhere to get broken." Well he broke them in 1 day.

On the way home I was complaining venting to my husband.

What does he say? "Get over it." Those words are possibly the worst words you can say to someone that's annoyed, mad, and hurt. This is coming from someone that's been complaining about work to me for the last month. I needed time to pout "Get over it." I was quiet the whole rest of the night. When my husband asked me what was wrong I said, "Nothing." I was getting over it. It drove him nuts that I was quiet. In the morning he asked me again. I tried the, "Nothing" thing, and that only worked once. I came clean. He said, "Well I learned that from you." I don't tell him to, "Get over it!" when he's mad. I actually agree with him that this person, or that person is a pain in the ass, and then say, "I don't think they're going to change. You can choose to be around them, or remove them from your life."

So folks that's how Christmas ended.

Do you ever get stressed during the holiday season? They say it's one of the most stressful times of the year.

The Tale Of My New Tights

I'm loosing weight, but I'm not skinny. I'm not old, but I'm not young either.

My lovely husband decided to go to the mall to get me 2 pair of tights for Christmas. Instead of going into a legit store, he went into a small kiosk to get them. There is no returning these tights. Most tights in my mind are for college aged kids and younger. Not for 30 and 40 year olds. *Please take no offense if you wear them. They are just not my thing.

I bought 1 pair, and they were thicker tights. Still risky in my mind. I bought them for my husband just as much as myself.

I decided to go to this kiosk to try and return them. Of course it said on the receipt that you can only trade them in 3 days time. I tried to play dumb. Ya that didn't work.

I said to him, "Never buy something at a place like that again...EVER!" For the record they are being worn under my pants when it's cold.

He said, "Man you need to be more adventurous with how you dress. Show off your sexy side." He then said, "I'm not getting you anything anymore."

All weekend I've been sticking out my chest, walking all funny, and singing I'm Every Woman by Whitney Huston. He came up to me and said, "Why are you walking that way?" I said, "I'm practicing my sexy walk. I'm bringing sexy back." 

He laughed and said, "Well it's really not working for you." 

I said, "I'm doing all for you babe." ;)

Before we left the mall I saw these shoes:

I said, "Travis you have to get these shoes!" 

He said, "Whatever." 

I said, "You have got to try them on for me. They match the tights you bought me. You need to learn to be more adventurous in the way you dress."

He tried them on to amuse me, but didn't buy them.

Later I messaged him something I want him to buy to be more adventurous you know.

The sad thing was is that he didn't know if I was serious, or joking. I was so joking. Not that there's anything wrong with this shirt, it's just not me, or my husband. It sure matches the tights he bought me though.

Souce

While I appreciate the thought, stick with getting me things I ask for, or get something at a place where I can return an item if needed.

For the record he's not mad at me, and I'm not mad at him. While I appreciate him getting me things I just want to make sure I can use those things. The same goes for him. If a gift I got him wasn't going to be used I'd want him to take it back to get something that can be used.

What's something crazy you've gotten as a gift before?

Christmas

Mica woke up at 2 AM to see what time it was. I woke up at 4:30 AM. The official wake up time was 5:15 AM. 

Santa left our fireplace open again. 

Isaak was so excited to get the gold stuff out of his stocking.

I know it may seem odd to some of you that Santa would buy such things for a little boy. Isaak's favorite color is gold. He loves glitter to. The boy uses all my tape, and asks for the stapler to.

When I saw the gold stapler and tape dispenser at Michaels on clearance I had to get it for my son. Then I won the Bling Toothbrush.

Isaak had a huge smile on his face when he saw his gold merchandise. 

I stuffed the top of Mica's stocking with socks. I'm sure at first that's all he thought he was getting. There was a few Star Wars Lego mini sets, and other things in there. Mica's been wanting glasses, so I got him and Isaak clear ones.

Mica got the biggest Lego set that he's ever gotten. It's a castle.

Both boys started right in with building, while they ate their breakfast. A dangerous combo I know, but it was Christmas after all.

I was expecting that Dad would have to help Isaak, but my littlest man isn't so little anymore. He figured it out on his own! He was so busy that he wouldn't look up for the camera.

Veggie Roulade

I've been wanting to make this dish called Veggie Roulade since I saw a video tutorial on it. I'd show the video, but can only find it on Facebook. If you click on the link above it will take you there. There's also a website that has this dish that I found here.

I made it for Christmas.

I cheated and bought 2 pastry crusts at Whole Foods. Laying pie crust down has never been my thing.

I also bought:

• 1 eggplant
• 1 green zucchini
• 1 yellow zucchini
• 1 bag of mixed colored carrots

You will also need:

• Olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• sage
• Greek yogurt
• Dijon Mustard 

Directions:

1. Start out with your crust. Spread Greek yogurt on it until it covers the bottom of the crust. 


2. Spread a soup spoon full of Dijon Mustard and sort of mix into the yogurt.


3. Sprinkle sage on next.   





4. Wash and scrub the veggies. *Do not peel the skin off the veggies. Peel the veggies length wise in long strips.


5. Start making a coil of veggies in the crust. Keep it as tight as possible. The carrots are the easiest to peel, but the hardest to coil. They want to coil on their own in a different direction.







6. Sprinkle with Olive Oil, salt, and pepper. You could sprinkle with garlic salt. That would taste good to!


7. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes, or until veggies turn a little more brown. You want it to be soft enough to cut. My oven bakes slow. We had to bake ours for 45 minutes. 


8. Cut with a sharp knife.

Christmas Eve

I hope everyone that celebrates Christmas had a good one!
No real snow fell, so I add fake snowflakes.

Everything was good in my own little family. My sister Terra's family had the stomach flu. They were under quarantine, and had to stay home. :( We missed them. We are planning on getting together with them on this Sunday, but 2 of them still haven't gotten sick yet. I'm not hoping they do get sick, but none of the rest of us want to get the stomach flu! We'll see what happens.

We've been battling a slight cold at our house, but that's nothing compared to the stomach flu. We're kind of at the tail end of the cold. It's the oddest cold - Isaak woke up with a sore throat one day, and after that day he just had a stuffy nose. No coughs, or sneezes.

Christmas Eve is a big deal. Just as big as Christmas. This post will be about Christmas Eve. We get together with grandma, grandpa, great grandpa, cousins, aunts, uncles and 1 great aunt.

On Christmas we do our own gifts, and Santa. Then for lunch we get together with everyone - meaning all my mom's side of the family. We're small enough to get together, but big enough to fill a house.

I decided to curl my hair for the first time in years twice this week (once for my work party, and once for attending a church service). I got asked 5 times if I cut my hair? Nope! I used the Rock and Roll hair curlers I got from the 90s. Yep they still work. I love seeing the boy's expressions when I do different things to my hair. At first they didn't think I'd take the silicone curlers out. I played it up,  "Yep this is how my hair will stay." ;) Then they fought over who was going to take them out. I let them both try a few, then I took over. They wanted to yank the curlers out of my hair with no mercy. - Ouch! Then they thought the freshly curled locks would be how my hair stayed. My hair looked a bit like Shirley Temple's hair on steroids.

No worries my hair calmed down sort of. It's easier to curl it than straighten it. I have a feeling pin curls are going to be back in.

I painted my nails to look like my earrings. I'm sorry the photo of my fingernails is blurry. It was time to leave.

The boys were bouncing off the walls Christmas Eve day. I took the day off to watch them. Dad got home early to "help". His idea of helping that day was playing on his phone, and taking a cat nap. He's not like that every day, just that day.

The boys took a break from bouncing off the walls to decorate a Christmas tree veggie tray. I let them decide what veggies we needed. I washed, peeled, and cut them. They decorated it, and told me what they needed more of. It was Mica's idea to do the start on the top of the tree. It was my idea to carve the stars in the radishes.

We headed off to church. Isaak said, "This is so boring!" 10 times, while we were there.

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's for a big dinner, and to unwrap gifts.

I didn't really get great photos because it was dark, and everyone was moving. Both boys got a big Lego thing, viking themed clothes, a GC to Toys R Us, books, Sculpey, and other random things. Isaak likes the Sculpey, Shrinky Dinks, and Creativity in a Can better than anything else. Mica's crazy about the Legos.

I got a shirt, some kitchen things, a necklace, money, and a sponge happy face that Isaak thought was hilarious.

We got home late. I told Mica that he could put the Santa gifts under the tree. It's his rite to passage for not believing. I didn't want Christmas to go downhill for Mica. It's not a spoil alert. All the presents were wrapped.

Do you do any celebrating on Christmas Eve?

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

This week has been grey and rainy. Blah! 

I was longing for snow. Some snow is on its way. We'll see.

I hardly drive at night. I don't like to. I just don't see the same way I do in the day time. I had to take the boys across town to their ju-jitsu at a different Y. I almost got in an accident. A car in front of me was going at a good speed, then slowed down fast. Thankfully I didn't run into them. Ekkk! 

At a spot light I captured the photos below:

They look almost like impressionist paintings. Rain can be pretty I guess.

WW: Holiday Card {Linky}

Front of the Card - 
It took 3 different shoots to get this. The weather, and our facial expressions wouldn't cooperate the first two shoots. For the record: I hate not being behind the camera. It still is pretty fun.

Back of the Card - 
Enlarged and Flipped so you can read it better on here:

A blogger asked if some of my cards could be featured on their site? I said yes. Here's a link to their blog. There are other ideas of some creative Christmas cards on there. Take a look. 

This year I decided to change things up and do a New Years card instead of a Christmas one.

Past Cards:

 

Do you send out holiday cards?

Giving and Getting

I get so excited about picking out the perfect gifts for people. Most of the time when I enter giveaways it's for other people - not for me. When I get a Christmas gift from my boss I spend it on things we need for the house. 

I'm not saying it's wrong to buy stuff for yourself. I just don't a ton. 

Daddy buys things when he wants them. When he gets any Christmas bonus from his boss (it varies every year) it's his. If I mention that we need this, or that he gets annoyed with me. 

He's not materialistic. It's just if he gets a gift he's better about spending it on himself more than I am. He actually puts his money into something that will benefit his art. It's a good expense. 
   
Isaak: 

Isaak said yesterday, "Mom I put the same Lego set on Grandma's list as I did on Santa's list. What if I get the same Lego set?"

I said, "Santa knows. If that did happen to happen we could take one back, and get something different."

Isaak said, "Couldn't I just share with Mica by giving it to him?"

He's my unselfish child that loves to think of others. I never answered him. I just kissed his sweet cheek.

Mica:

Mica handed me back his tooth fairy money today and said, "Mom put this to good use. Buy me more toys if not for Christmas, save it for my birthday." 

I handed him back the money and said, "Put it in your bank. You get enough toys." 

He left the money on the coffee table. 

Yep Mica and Isaak are opposites in many ways.

Super Hemp Raw Shelled Organic Hemp Seeds Review

Super Hemp Seeds contain essential Fatty Acids (alpha-linolenic & linoleic) in a balanced 3:1 ratio. High Protein Super Hempseed contains 20 amino acids and dietary fiber. I use them in salads and smoothies.

I've had people give me odd looks why I tell them I eat hemp seeds. They give me even stranger looks when I tell them that my kids eat it to. I'm going to come out, and say it, you do not eat hemp seed and get high.

They taste similar to sunflower seeds only smaller, soft and buttery! That's why I love it on my salad.

A Superfood

Super Hemp seed is considered by many nutritionists as nature's most perfect food. It contains the a perfect 3:1 balance of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. These fatty acids promote heart health, lower triglycerides, work to reduce inflammation, promote brain health, and support the immune system. Low in carbohydrates, hemp seeds are ideal for those following the paleo diet or who need to be carb conscious for their health.

This superfood delivers a power-punch of complete proteins, making it a great addition to vegan and vegetarian diets. In fact, Super Hemp delivers 10g of easily digestable plant-based protein per 1 oz serving. Compare that to 6g protein in one large hard boiled egg.

One thing we really struggle with is filling our boys up. Mica hates eggs. We want him to have some protein of some kind in the morning. Hemp seeds are perfect.

For snack time I added help Super Hemp to Zucchini Brownies.

Everyone in my family loved them!

Bake 350 degrees in a 9x9 pan for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted, and comes out clean.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups coconut sugar (or brown sugar)

1 egg

2/3 cup coconut oil, melted

2 tsp vanilla

11/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups shredded zucchini (do not drain)

1 cup chocolate chips

4 ounces Super Hemp

I didn't hear, "I'm hungry!" after the boys ate their brownies.

They must have gotten filled up.

Super Facts:

 Super Hemp...

• Super good in recipes, toppings or raw.
• Contains more protein and omegas and less carbs than the same serving of Chia seeds or Flax.
• Is packs a perfectly balanced dose of both Omega 3 and Omega 6 (10g omegas per 28g serving).
• Is RAW, shelled, USDA-certified-organic hempseeds.
• Is Cold-processed (under 104°F) from raw, live hemp seeds.
• Is 33% protein; rich in iron, vitamin E, and GLA (gamma-linolenic acid).
• Is a product of Canada.
• Has a high oil content, hemp seeds should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
• Is $49.95, but on sale for $18.98. Get Super Hemp for 1/2 off the sale price by using the discount below.

Ideas on what you can use Super Hemp for:

• Hot cereal 
• Smoothies
• Desserts
• Breads
• Pancakes
• Granola bars
• Sprinkle on salads 
• Blend into pilafs

Don't stop there... Super Hemp tastes great with almost everything.

Disclaimer: I'm writing this in connection to Tomoson. I got this Super Hemp free for review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.