I have a DeLonghi microthermic flat panel radiant heater. It is awesome. It heats up quickly and takes care of a good size room easily. There are multiple settings but usually I am cranking it high. I got it last year for use in a room that never quite gets warm enough, also for use when I am going to be hanging out in one room for a long period of time and I want the extra warmth but don't want to heat the whole apartment to that level.




My cats love it too. I often see them stretched out in front of it basking in the panels warmth. I don't have any pictures.. yet.

So when I saw this picture today over at that lolcat site, it did indeed make me "lol", as I can totally imagine that being my Joey warming his little fuzznuts near the heater.

and officially, my little village got its first snow late last night. There have been a tease of flakes at times, but it has been all green up until this morning. Today, the snow covered the grass.

yesterday afternoon I saw Joey was watching the snowflakes fall. They weren't really sticking, so I didn't expect anything to wake up to.







however, I did wake up to a good dusting. Nothing on the roads. Maybe an inch fell?





with the sun, it is already melting.

Ok, time for G rated cookie pics.


big mess compared to the organization depicted in (e:theecarey,50601)


lots of sugar cookies and gingerbread men


soft peanut butter cookie w/ Hershey's kiss


A white chocolate coated oreo ball


(ground oreos, cream cheese mixed together then chilled. Followed by dipping into melted white chocolate. Crazy easy and yummy)

3am silliness.

Just making use of cookie "mistakes".


I call this, "Bukkookie"






more cookie pictures to come..

G rated ones, that is.

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

.