not your grandma's cookies!

Cookies making was a hilarious time. I meant to post about the cookies, but that will come later...

but I got side tracked at sketchysanta.com (thanks (e:libertad,50606) - so flippin' funny!)

All the kids look mortified. We learn about 'stranger danger' but then are encouraged to go sit on some strange mans lap?!

Santa is so lecherous!


Oh, then I got sidetracked into looking at other stuff, naturally.

..THEN somewhere in my mind the thought to look up "BUCK ANGEL" surfaced. Thanks to whomever planted that seed. MY EYES! MY EYES!


As I was told, a simple Google image search will tell you all you need to know.

Sketchy Santa and Buck Angel.

What better way to spend a peaceful Sunday?

Good grief..

received an early (for me) morning wake up text,

8:38 am: "Are you free today?, we should do COOKIETIMEZ!"

In my head, over and over, "NO!!!" as per (e:theecarey,50597)

8:54am, my actual response sent back: "Yes.. Let's make some cookies!"

And so.. I AM making cookies after all.

I got up and dug out cooking making ingredients and tools. I am seriously well organized and ready for (e:pyrcedgrrl) to come over with remainder of supplies needed for cookie making. I don't know what she plans on making, but I am sticking to the basics- soft sugar cookie cut outs and iced gingerbread men cookies.

gathering everything together:




table prepped for making a mess with frosting and sprinkles:



Most importantly, we shall imbibe on coffee with chocolate-mint liqueur, or wine or whatever else I have in my cupboards and fridge. This idea made me think of a cook on The Food Network, Sandra Lee.


I never care for her style/presentation (AT ALL) but I found it hilarious that no matter what she was planning on cooking, she always had a cocktail to go with it (kudos for that). Holidays, birthdays, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Children's parties.. always a cocktail to be paired with the meal and event. Random internet quote in reference to her: "The only time that woman ever gets excited about what she's making is when it's 'cocktail time'" (hahahaha)
I actually wondered what kind of cocktail she would pair with baking holiday cookies. I got a little derailed in looking for specific information when I found her recipe for a Candy Cane cocktail which has a short ingredient list of vanilla rum, chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps, & candy cane garnish. I'm confident I would like that. mmmmm.

So now, a few holiday beverages:

Candy Cane Cocktail:



Gingerbread Martini:



"The Snowtini"

watch the slurring drunk cook Sandra Lee make her Snowtini:


can also be seen at, The Daily Martini (hell yeah!)


This looks really cute. Oh, (e:Mike)...
Santa's Sleigh Party Favor



better pic but smaller


anyway.. so now off to put the coffee on, find some fun music and put the kitties in the bedroom to keep fur infused cookie batter to a minimum. :)

I'm behaviorally inconsistent this time of year. There aren't any expectations or traditions, so I'm pretty much a free agent when it comes to holidays. Even so, there is less than a week left and here are a few thoughts..

• I like informal- laid back parties. I remember having some events last year that were more "uptight". I'd prefer to pretty much avoid that experience more often than not. I can blend in, have a "nice" time, but I am always happy it is over; like I had been holding my breath the whole time. As for the atmosphere of other parties, time is irrelevant and it is usually a surprise how much time had passed since arrival. Laughs are genuine, conversations and interactions feel authentic and later, I remember how grateful I am to have such cool friends and acquaintances

.

• I put up a small tree and a few lights if only to light up the long evenings. I also like sparkly things.

• I have my shopping done, but I only had a few people to buy for and that is never a stressful thing; usually just the traffic annoys me and the frustrated feelings emanating off of people. The perfect gift is something you want to give someone, not reading and scrambling around for something off of a "christmas list", right?

• I have however, bought myself stuff. I don't get out to shop, really don't care for it, but once I am out (for others), I am much more inclined to buy for myself. Bought a bunch of movies at various places and some music. And lip gloss, of course.

• I was going to make cookies, but I really don't need to. I'll just eat them. I'm so done with eating.

• I mailed out some Christmas-holiday-festivus cards. It has been a couple of years since I last did that. I realize that I do not have addresses for snail mail. It took a little digging and asking around to get what I needed.

• Still no snow. There are a few very light patches, but mostly still green. I wonder if that is what is needed to feel that holiday vibe?

• Watched a few holiday themed movies. I think that is one of my favorite things to do. I really like, and own, Elf and The Holiday. There are others, but I have to rent them, which might be something to do this coming week.

• tried a scalp massager (like that seen below). It is such a simple thing but feels so good. I bought one for my step dad, but I'm going to go back to the store and buy a couple more (one for me!).

• Sherlock Holmes movie comes out on Christmas- if my plans are light, that might be something I go see.

How are your preparations coming along? ready?

Where do I find those little strings of Christmas lights that are battery operated?

(e:matthew), I think some of your ferns have a set?


Thank you!

FYI!

Thought I would pass this information on as it might impact your commute somehow. Filming has begun on the movie, Henry's Crime. There will be street closings over the next few days in downtown Buffalo. For those curious, it will be a secured area with nothing to see.

Scenes for the movie "Henry's Crime" starring Keanu Reeves will be filmed at Main and Huron Streets on Wednesday, December 16th and Thursday, December 17th with a possible alternate date of December 18th. It will be necessary to suspend inbound and outbound train service between Church Street Station and Fountain Plaza Station between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. each day. Shuttle Bus service will be provided between Main at Church/Church Street Station and Main at Chippewa/Fountain Plaza Station. Trains will operate between Erie Canal Harbor Station and Church Street Station and between Fountain Plaza Station and University Station. Delays in schedules will occur both above around and in the tunnel on the dates and times noted above. The Niagara Frontier Transporation thanks patrons for their understanding and patience as they work to minimize delays during the filming. For more information, visit .

Street Closing Information: Huron Street between Pearl and Washington will be closed throughout the day. Pedestrians access to Main Street in the vicinity of Main and Huron will also be impacted. Please consider leaving additional time for your commute and travels through Downtown Buffalo on these days

.

At last nights potluck, a visually interesting chocolaty creation by (e:james) made me think of intestines. Please tell me there is a picture?

EDIT: YES! There is a picture of james' cake (snagged from (e:paul,50562)):


It was yummy! :)

Anyway, I quickly came to this conclusion as I had just been looking at pictures of tauntauns for (e:theecarey,50519) and had also found pictures (google images) of tauntaun themed cakes. (Just go with me here). Which brings me to..

I love Star Wars. I love Cake. But as a combo...?

(ok, sure. why not?)







and as a wedding cake!

I was going through and organizing my phones picture files and looked at a bunch I had forgotten about. A bunch were from late summer. I know I still have some picture back posting that I want to do.

I share this picture only because it was truly a first time experience for me and my dinner date. I want to immortalize my only picture of it here. My quick conclusion is that I know I will not be ordering the following again.

So... sea urchin?
Have you ever had "uni"?
or when in Maine, "whore's eggs"?

What do you think of it- like it?

Uni are the two bottom pieces (from my phone, vague pic and colors are off):

Uni (oo-nee) is the Japanese name for the edible part of the Sea Urchin. While colloquially referred to as the roe (eggs), uni is actually the animal's gonads (which produce the milt or roe). Uni ranges in color from rich gold to light yellow, and has a creamy consistency that some love and is off-putting to others. It is nevertheless one sushi item that is in incredible demand around the world, which is reflected in its price. Sea Urchins are a rare treat for those who acquire a taste

.

above taken from:

I'm open to trying almost any sort of food if it is in front me. I ordered this out of curiosity and really didn't know what to expect.

The texture of this was bizarre. I don't even remember how it tasted.

First, it has an outer appearance of the texture of a tongue.
Second, once placed in mouth, you would think that chewing on it would make it smaller.
No. Mastication only made it grow. An intact custard-like swelling. And that right there is what turned me off.

Sadly, I am not part of the population that finds this to be a rare and exquisite treat. However, I do look back on the experience fondly.

google snagged images of sea urchin/uni

I just got home from making a run to Tops.

It was empty because most everyone were smart enough to stay home rather than venture out into the bitter night. Obviously I am not in that group tonight. Woah, can't believe how it is still so windy out!

Anyway, checking out the milk section, after (e:tinypliny,50517), I see that Silk brand has an "unsweetened" soy milk. I forgot about this as for quite awhile it wasn't available at every store. I also don't drink milk or soy milk regularly to know which stores (Tops, Wegmans, Co-op) have what consistently.

A closer look at the ingredients informs me that evaporated cane sugar is NOT in this formulation, unlike the others. However, carrageenan is.

Silk website link to their unsweetened soy milk.


Nutritional information:


and a picture. This is a stock picture and not something I took while at the store. My thumb knuckles are not hairy.

The sun is nice and somewhere I can hear wind chimes, lulling me into delusions from warmer memories.

Then stepping out into the windy 30 degrees snapped me back to reality.

But after looking at the blustery pic in (e:james,50526) and reading mr:mike's comment, "my street looks like rebel base" in (e:theecarey,50519), and (e:dcoffee)'s chatter comment, "I can't see across the street" (talking about snow, right?..)
I look again out my window...

Ok, really?



really?

a handful of flakes came the other day, for just a few minutes, which melted upon contact has been it so far. (e:theecarey,50495).

I'm not eager for snow, I just feel so out of the loop. heh

even the never super accurate weather report said this area would get some.. hmm

so, until then, The Daily No Snow? Not as colorful as (e:leetees) The Daily Chuck. Just green, and maybe, eventually, white.




Anyway..
plastic on the window in question did pop on the window overnight, likely from the AC not being covered well enough.

Kayla staking her sunny territory even as the plastic bulges towards her face.