Holy Mocktails, Batman!

I'll have to admit that I've missed my cocktails since being pregnant. A glass of vin rouge would definitely make me happy as that's my typical winter beverage of choice... but it would NOT make the congestion happy... so quickly that desire goes by the wayside. And truthfully I'm almost half way there and it's not been TERRIBLE... but I'm bored with water and really craving some new flavors.

My original "fake it" drink when we first found out was Club Soda with extra extra limes. Not sure why, but it was just zippy enough to keep me salivating. And since it looked like a Gin or Vodka tonic, it was easy!

But that's boring, too, and getting old!

So that got me thinking... It's the holidays, and cranberries sound SO yummy! Unfortunately, the store was already sold out of fresh, so I decided to improvise.

I don't measure anything, but here's the jist... more or less of each to taste:


* 2-3T of frozen canned cranberry juice cocktail concentrate (yum, i love this stuff right out of the can. Is that bad?)

* Club Soda (8z or so?)

* A splash of Canada Dry Ginger Ale for some 'sweet'

* Generous squeeze of limes


Voila! It's tart, tangy, zippy... and pretty, too! Think of it as a Sparkling Crantini.... yummy delicious.

Cheers!!!!

Cribs, Changing Tables, Carseats... OH MY!!!

In just a couple days we will be able to look at some of the very first pictures of our baby bug, and this has caused me to start thinking about the nursery... which has caused me to start thinking about the endless things we'll need for the bug... which has caused me to start thinking about REGISTERING!!!!! What an overwhelming feat. I took a stroll through www.buybuybaby.com, which has come highly recommended from several friends. (And they accept non expired Bed Bath & Beyond coupons.. yeah!) I'm shocked at the number of options available for EVERYTHING! It's different when you're registering for a wedding -- you know what you need, what you like, and what you want. But how is it possible to know which of then twenty pack and plays the bug will like best? I'm glad I started looking now instead of in a few months!

Recommendations? Favorites??

The Most Perfect Christmas Day

Our Last Christmas Day before Children... we chose to spend it in jammies while watching Christmas movies, taking naps, and ordering the only take out we could find... Chinese. It was perfect! We made breakfast casserole and the best ever pecan sticky buns for brunch, opened stockings (someone got something sparkly!) and chased the kitties for a few hours.. then settled into Ralphie's saga with the Red Ryder BB Gun and Clark's quest for that perfect tree. We finished off the day by a visit from our dear friends, Jared & Allison... who also donned their jammies. What an amazing day. We welcome 2010 with wide open arms. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

The Endless "To Do" List

And so it begins. No work for two weeks and a list of things "To Do" the size of California.. starting with the endless grocery list.

Bringing a passing dish to every place we go, 4 days in a row. When is there time to cook? Finishing the scrapbook from our wedding, which was almost 2 years ago. One more gift to buy! Wrapping? Of course. Cookie Exchange.. eight dozen, DOWN! Christmas morning brunch -- french toast casserole, or egg strata? How 'bout both!?!?! Don't forget to pack! Gifts in the car? Clothes? Food? Passing Dish? Christmas Cards! Whoops.. not going out this year. Decorations? refer to previous post regarding house fire... at least ONE thing not on the list this year....

Every year it gets more and more hectic... full of things we want to accomplish and things we need to do... places we need to go and people we want to see. But really, it's the joy of Christmas, not the stress, the anxiety, the sheer and utter exhaustion. Why do we make it so stressful? We say yes to ONE more party.. ONE more gift... ONE more THING.

Someday, I'll take that trip to Tahiti and spend Christmas on my remote desert island with the people I love.

Until then... we're out of milk, can you add that to the grocery list, please?

Big News... Big News!!!!!

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