You say it's your birthday!!

Yup...mine will be tomorrow. The Big 3 - 9. Damn...I hate that. I hate growing older. One more year down....ugh. But, if you're not growing older, you're dead....so....yeah.

What do I want for my birthday? That question was posed to me by the mister. My answer? "Enough to go around". Does that count? I want what money can't buy. I want happy healthy kids that I don't have to worry about. I want a home that is happy, tidy and filled with food and love. For the most part...I have all of that. So lay off!

And why is everyone SO insistent that I celebrate my birthday? It's Christmas time...AND both my daughters have birthdays..and I have two stepdaughters to take into account. I'm stressed about all that, who cares about my birthday.

Now, I'm not one of those girls who needs to be pampered on their birthday. I don't need a 'date' night or a fancy dinner or roses or something sent to my work. In face I get pissed off if anyone makes too much of a deal about my birthday.

It's another day. I get older. Then I wake up and start all over again. Besides all of that...I'll be 40 next year....UGH!

Why do I not like to celebrate my birthday? Maybe it's because I was given up and not wanted by the woman who gave me life. Maybe it's because I hate getting older. Maybe it's because I don't feel I deserve any celebration. Who knows....who cares.

And, for the record, I don't say its' my birthday. It's the Annual Emergence From Some Lady's Vah J.J.

Silver Tree....Silver Tree....

Last year after Christmas, I was on a purging frenzy! The more I get rid of (Free Cycle) the BETTER I feel!

So, I decided, after 3 years, our tree was ready to find a new home. I gave it away on Free Cycle...and the hunt was on.

James and I always wanted a silver tree. I know....and yes....Silver.

When I was a kid I remember having a colored tree...with sparkly gold glitter birds in it. Yup...it was the 70's.

But we've wanted a silver tree...reminiscent of the 1950's. I've looked and looked...searched high and low. All I came up with are trees that are WAY out of our budget!

It looked as though it would not be....and I would be destined to purchase a plain green tree this year.

But wait! What's that?! In the mailbox?!? A Garden Ridge Pottery mailer?!

Holy crap! They have 7ft tall silver trees for $149?!?!

I got VERY excited! Then...what's this?!? ON SALE FOR $75 bucks?!?

Now, this is a two-stage excitement story.

The mister was at a college football game...it was two days after Thanksgiving...on Saturday. I had managed (as I do every year) to stay inside during Black Friday. But since, the mister was gone and I was alone...I'd go check out the tree.

Now, if you know me...you know this : I am directionally retarded. I can't find my way out of a paper bag with a map, a candle and a clue. And I was going to go to a store, I've never been to...nice.

Well....I googled directions....from my phone. And as luck would have it....I found it! That, in and of itself is cause for celebration!

But wait...THERE'S MORE!

Not only did I FIND the store...they were having a ONE DAY ONLY SALE. And guess what was on sale? OUR TREE!!!

So, instead of $149 or even the $75...I got it for $59 plus tax!! Yay for me! And I spent $30 on decorations....where else...at the Dollar Tree...and spent $35 bucks.

So, in total...I got the tree AND decorations for UNDER what the original tree was priced at!

Yay me!

The Beginning Of Christmas

Turkey Day Leftovers?!?! BALLS!

So, as usual, I'm watching Food Network...and the tons of shows for Thanksgiving, after Thanksgiving, what do to, what to prepare, what to do with the leftovers....and so on.

Well, here's an idea that I loved! Basically, take your stuffing, mashed potatoes, and turkey and make fried balls out of them.

SO, our leftovers were : Stuffing : Cheesy Potato Casserole : Mac and Cheese.. I added an egg and mixed them all together...rolled into balls....dredged in flour.....and fried!

I made a gravy from vegetable broth, flour, milk, salt, pepper.... and Voila!

Thanksgiving 2009

Here are some pics from Thanksgiving in Cleveland, Tx 2009

What I cooked For Thanksgiving....

Although I didn't not use any meat...I still went all out fattening for my dishes! It's Thanksgiving...right?!

So I made a home made mac and cheese and a cheesy potato casserole and a dutch apple crumble.

Here's the pics...and I'll post the recipes tomorrow.....as usual....I forgot them today...