Christmas in March!

Douglas and I like to pretend that we are foodies. We watch the iron chef every Sunday night and try to guess what they are cooking before Alton announces the dish or ingredients. We try to be adventurous in our cooking and eating as much as possible. So for Christmas my parents paid for us to go to a cooking class where ever, when ever, whatever style.
This past Wednesday we cashed it in for a Tapas class at Sur La Table. (Can I add an aside that this was the week after I had gotten my wisdom teeth out and up to this point I had eaten soup and ice cream) The class was a huge success!! We had so much fun learning little knife tricks and the science of why certain things work where. AND I could eat! We made 7 different tapas (Salt Cod Fritters with Allioli and Meatballs in Saffron Tomato Sauce were my favs!) and I left completely satisfied. These are dishes we would make again for any party or gathering.
I highly recommend something like this to anyone who has any interest in cooking!

namaste

Lately I feel like I've been going 90 to nothing physically and mentally. Tonight was the first night I have been home in the evening in about a week and I was really excited to just have a good home cooked meal. Well that didn't go as planned because my parents had a meeting and I had zero energy or will power to cook a real meal so Mr. Wok sounded just fine as long as I could eat it on my couch and watch Parenthood.
The greatest remedy that I have found to this crazyhecticness has been yoga.... on demand. I'm telling you don't knock it till you've tried it. Yes, of course I would rather be in a class with humans to do this or be rich like ellen and have my own yogi come teach me every morning when I wake up. These are not luxuries I have. My luxury is that I can practice the are of yoga in my living room whenever I want.
Also I think It should be mentioned that hollywood lies. I do not feel a Jennifer Anniston body developing in any kind of future.

Pot Luck

Man I've been slacking on posts. I'm not even going to try to catch up... nor will I say it won't happen again. Things have been wonderful in the past few months, that can serve as a catch up.
One thing that has been great are my Monday nights. I'm blessed to have moved have to the same city as my friends and roommates from school. As crazy as our schedules are, we mark our calendars to get together once a week and catch up on life, eat lots of calories together (I'm sure they don't count because we are just laughing the whole time), pray for each other, talk about the bachelor... you know all the necessaries. It is one of my favorite nights of the week. It is the kind of thing I really hope we are still doing 60 years from now.

ok I figured it out! It hit me just like that this morning and I have to get it out really quickly hopefully before church! My giving for Christmas needs to be to someone I know, I have been praying for so much and who really needs it.
My friend Jenny has meant so much to me, taught me sooo much over the years and now her family is in need. She is giving her life to the Lord through her beautiful gift of music but it is not always easy. They have had soo may things in their way this year. They just canceled a few shows for the first time ever due to family emergencies in the band.
Again I don't know exactly what I'll give, but now I know who. They had a wonderful baby girl this year and she deserves a perfect Christmas. Jenny and Ryan are a great cute and they deserve a date night or two. Ohhh I cannot wait!!! I don't want to ask for anything but if anyone (of my 3 little readers) wants to help bless this amazing family let me know! They are so deserving! If anything would you join me in praying for Jenny, Ryan, little Annie, and the rest of the amazing band or Addison Road.

Is it just me or does all the gift giving take some of the joy out of the holidays?
Don't get me wrong, maybe I should explain a little. One of my favorite parts about Christmas is a day that my mom and I spend baking pies and breads and fudge and pecan clusters and whatever else we think up that year. We put them in baskets and on plates and give them to neighbors and friends. Love it. So fun! The kinds of gift giving I don't really get a whole lot of joy out of: It is 2 weeks before Christmas, life is busy, I don't have a "list" to give my parents, Douglas doesn't know what I want, I don't know what I want (if we are honest it is because life would be just as great and just the same if we didnt get as much stuff).

It is just something that has really been on my heart lately. I know that gift giving should not be out of necessity, but for so many at this time it is right now. And often, at times like Christmas and birthdays we feel like we are owed something. I don't feel right spending $100s on gifts just to add to a blue ray collection of 57 or a shoe collection of 32. In just the same I don't feel right receiving that much. This is not to say that I won't give gifts to those I love... or accept some. Lets just scale down and spread the wealth!

To be honest, a lot of this has selfish motives. The stress of finding "the perfect gift" or deciding just what you want has taken a little from what I loved about Christmas as a child. And really and truly to think of the joy I could bring to someone who might get nothing. I might be a little late on this whole thing, but there is always need somewhere.

Basically won the lottery.

Okay if you don't have an item of clothing you would be willing to part with and love cupcakes you may stop reading now. For all the rest of you normal humans this is big!
Never going to turn down easy cash, I went to Buffalo Exchange (off Greenville) today with one of my friends this afternoon to try to exchange some clothes (note to self- take current fashion). After she insisted that we go next door to get "the best cupcakes ever" (also a claim by Ellen DeGeneres). Well twist my arm! This little bakery had the best deal EVER. If you live in Dallas, you are crazy to pass this up! Bring in one clothing item and get two free cupcakes! I had left all my clothes next door for them to donate over there, but my wonderful friend had her rejects from Buffalo Exchange. Four Free cupcakes!!!! Thank you Society Bakery! Jenny called her husband to tell him about our exciting news and he thought we had won the lottery or something. We sure felt like it!

Grateful

I spend all of my work day on the phone. I'm grateful when someone answers at the other end, even more so when they are friendly. After today I'm grateful for my job.
I call churches all over to gather information on salaries. In this crazy economy we all know that can be... crazy. This afternoon I spoke to a man on what seemed to be his cell phone (usually they are in the office). I should mention this was the senior pastor of a church. He was willing to help with the information. He answered some of my questions and when I asked about his salary he answered "as of this month, zero." I was speechless. This man's heart was so full. He has been the pastor at the church for 16 years and saw no reason to leave. wow.
He is looking for other work at the time, but will continue his 65 hr work week at the church. I'll be praying for Pastor G. and his family. It is neat to see someone with such trust and faith in the work of the Lord. I know he'll be blessed.