On March 17th, Everyone is Irish!

In case you haven't been keeping count, it has been 3 months, almost exactly, since my last big holiday bash. To keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay I organized a great green fest to celebrate the luck o' the Irish.

I was so excited that I planned it weeks in advance and decorated my house way early, ensuring that we were properly prepared to usher in the Celtic celebrations.

Here are some of my decorations:







As you should now know, my parties revolve around great company and good food and I take an immense amount of pleasure in being able to create a relaxing, enjoyable experience for my friends. My first big rule when I host a "formal" party (meaning I printed invitations) is that no one is asked to bring food. Please understand that it's not because I think I'm the best cook (because I know I'm not!) but because I don't want anyone to feel any stress or burden by coming. It also helps that I love cooking for my friends. With all of this in mind, I geared up for a fun Irish and green themed meal to serve.



First on the docket: Irish Country Stew. This is chock-full of yummy veggies and flavor. I wanted it to be authentically Irish, so my ingredient list included: cabbage, leeks, parsnips, carrots, onions and bacon. I was quite pleased with the results :)



I also whipped up a couple of loafs of Irish Soda Bread, using a recipe provided by an Irish grandmother. Holy cow! This was by far the most popular dish of the night with everyone requesting to take some home. :) Here is the link to the recipe on my foodie blog: Gourmet Gossips



I was excited to find this lovely imported Irish Cheddar in our grocery store. I served it with British Melba Toast and it was also gone before the end of the night.

Other green themed foods included:

Green Trifle, made with green angel food cake, white chocolate pudding, blackberries and lime flavored whipped cream

White Chocolate popcorn, dyed green, of course

Spinach Dip (a party mainstay) served with Wheat Thins



To round it all out, I made homemade root beer (our teetotalers' replacement for Guinness). I carbonated it with dry ice and it was a major hit. I sort of felt like we were a bunch of kids when everyone gathered around the kitchen to watch me put the ice in the root beer. :) Luckily, not only did it look fun but it also tasted great!



There was no need of silly games or gimmicks because we had such great company. I turned on some Celtic music in the background and everyone chatted away for hours. I have to admit that I had an absolute blast and was grateful for that so many friends came! Sadly, my brain didn't think to remind me to take pictures of everyone dressed in their green duds, but I assure you that they looked great!

After the festivities had died down, Alexander and I decided that this definitely needs to be an annual tradition, so plan for it now friends; I'm thinking March 16, 2013 sounds like a great day for a party!

Christmas 2011

This was the first Christmas I have spent away from my family so I was worried that I would be super homesick, but this Christmas turned out quite lovely and special despite the separation.

We started out our celebrating by hosting our 1st Annual Ugly Sweater Party and boy was it fun! I cooked up quite a spread of food including my first ever attempt at my Grandma's homemade rolls. We also had a white elephant gift exchange which was really fun! We ended up with a black elephant carving from India and a CD of the Messiah.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures at the beginning so most of us had shed our sweaters by the end. I also was unable to get a pic of one of the other couples.


Alexander


Stephanie and Jack


Kelley and John


Kathy and Joe

Christmas Eve Alexander and I were invited to spend the afternoon with our good friends at their family party. We had an enjoyable time and it was a fun diversion, although a tad awkward at times. ;)

I spent the rest of the evening tiding the house and getting everything ready for Christmas. My mother instilled in me the idea that the house must be spotless on Christmas. We were promised Santa would not come until our rooms were clean, like really clean, as in everything out from under the bed clean. So I cleaned away.


The tree Christmas Eve

I loved going to Sacrament meeting on Christmas Day. It was such a beautiful way to celebrate the birth of our Savior and I appreciated the spirit that it brought into the rest of our activities.

We were blessed to be invited to eat Christmas dinner with our dear friends who we also shared Thanksgiving with. I made garlic mashed potatoes, sauerkraut with apples and bacon, homemade rolls and a coconut cream cake. Our hosts provided a succulent ham and other delicious accouterments. We then played a lively game of Lord of the Rings Monopoly which I accidentally won. ;)

Christmas evening I skyped with my family while they did the annual singing at Grandma's house. I admit to getting a bit teary eyed as we sang our favorite Christmas songs. However, I was so grateful for the modern technology that allowed me to be a part of the joyous gathering. I love and miss my family so much that this was an incredible blessing for me.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I am sorry to see it end. Thanks to all of those wonderful people who made this holiday so special for us and kept us from feeling lonely! Love you all!






Godiva Opening her New Ball


Our Annual Christmas Ornament

Tom the Turkey

Tomorrow night the Young Women are having a Thanksgiving potluck, because let's be honest, we need as many Thanksgiving dinners as possible ;). We are also going to make Thanksgiving table decorations. I found this cute idea for Glowbirds and I thought it would be perfect.*

I decided that I needed to practice making one first to ensure that I knew what I was talking about when I gave the instructions and I am pleased to say that it turned out to be SO STINKIN' CUTE!

I mean, seriously, look at this face! He looks so excited to be here! :)




This little craft really got me excited for Thanksgiving, despite the fact that this will be the first year I don't get to spend it with my family. Regardless, we will have an exciting day as we have been invited to enjoy dinner with our good friends and their four rambunctious children. :)

*You will notice I made a few modifications, namely, my votive is not quite a bubble, rather it is less round but was $1 at Walmart (bubble votives can be found at Hobby Lobby for $2, but I was being careful with the budget). Also, I used organza ribbon for the tail-feathers and craft foam for the beak and wattle.

Halloween 2011

This Halloween has been much more eventful than last year. We were invited to a cool pumpkin carving party on Friday where I carved both our pumpkins (hopefully I can get some pics from the host since I was a loser and didn't take pics of them). Alexander's pumpkin is the whale-shaped fast food speaker from Homestarrunner.com, which is admittedly super random. I carved a simple cat into my pumpkin. The party was a blast though and we had a great time.

On Saturday I had the privilege of helping to host the ward Halloween trunk-or-treat and carnival. Back in April I asked if we could have one this year and volunteered the young women and young men to put it on, which technically meant the YW leaders put it on. I spent a good portion of the day setting up and finalizing details of the event and it went off without a hitch. We had a great turn-out and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. We had a cool crawling maze on the stage complete with fog machine and strobe light. We also had a beanbag toss, a donut eating off a string thing, a ring toss, a fishing booth, a cupcake walk, pin the nose on the pumpkin, a target toss with velcro balls game, and pumpkin bowling (where we rolled pie pumpkins into pins). In the background we had a sweet Halloween mix CD that Alexander compiled and the adults had a great time munching on apples and popcorn and sipping apple cider. I had a friend taking pics for me, so once I get them I will post them.

Of course I decorated the tables because I have this decorating disease. Luckily I went very simple and I personally enjoyed nibbling on the candy corn.



Alexander and I dressed up for this event. We didn't decide on our costumes until Thursday, so I was in a bit of a rush to sew and put them all together. In the end we won Best Couples Costume, so I think they turned out well.

Hansel and Gretel: These aren't the best pics, Hopefully I will get one with us together that was taken by a friend at the trunk or treat. Aren't we so adorable?





And finally, the traditional big-eyed and innocent picture:

Goodbye Summer!

Goodbye Summer, hello beautiful Autumn! Labor day weekend reminded me of why I have fallen in love with Kansas City. Despite the previous week being rather terrible (I got a flat tire in a sketchy neighborhood, replaced all the tires & fixed alignment and then the next day the car wouldn't start due to a faulty fuel pump) the weekend was an absolute blast!

On Friday we headed to Crown Center to enjoy our 2nd annual Irish Fest. We literally stuffed ourselves with some of the best food of the Old World and laughed at all the odd merchandise one can buy at an Irish Fest (underwear decorated with Guinness beer insignia anyone?). I ate a frozen chocolate-covered banana and a meat pie and Alexander enjoyed fish and chips and a sausage roll. The best part of the evening was sitting down with a glass of ice cold, freshly squeezed lemonade and listening to the fine stylings of the Irish musicians. I was seriously giddy about how perfect it was.

On Saturday I participated in a three-ring circus to get my car out of the shop and the rental car returned (honestly, they would be the most wasted 2 hours of my life if I didn't have a good friend to spend them with!). I then took a much needed nap before we celebrated a late birthday dinner for Alexander at the tastiest Chinese restaurant in Kansas City. Best General Tso's chicken ever!

On Sunday we were invited over for a game night with a bunch of other families in the ward. Everyone (except me 'cause I'm lame) brought yummy desserts and we had a great time getting to know each other better. Ever played Mafia with a group of adults? It's hilarious!

We had work and school off on Monday so we went with Joe & Kathy to the dollar movie and saw Kung Fu Panda 2 (which is so cute!). We then went way early to the Kansas City Symphony in the Park concert. We got the best seats and enjoyed the sun while eating snacks and playing Citadels. The concert was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the conductor jump and dance as he directed such awesomeness as: the Imperial March from Star Wars, Nimrod from Elgar's Enigma Variations, Smetana's Moldau, and Pirates of the Caribbean. I was also really entertained by all the kids practicing to be fine arts majors. I saw some enthusiastic conductors, a lovely ballerina and a curly-haired toddler shaking her booty. We ended the night eating peach ice cream and laughing at old school Divine Comedy.

To be honest, the last thing I wanted was to get up and go to work on Tuesday, which was a coincidence since when I got to work they told me they decided to use the funding for my position elsewhere and were letting me go. Yesterday was my last day on the job at Mickey D's, so I'm gearing up for my next adventure!

Random Reflections

I have been so busy the last few weeks. I love being busy because it makes me feel like I am useful and that I am contributing to something. Unfortunately, this kind of busy has left me exhausted and vulnerable.

On Wednesday, without any warning at all, I got very sick. I thought it was a sinus infection because I had a sinus headache and all the bad stuff that goes with it, but then I think it turned into the flu and I have been rather miserable. Along with the sickness comes a forced break. I haven't done ANYTHING in 3 days! My house is a mess, my husband is forced to eat like a bachelor again, and my to-do list is getting longer and longer.

I cannot stand being forced to sit and do nothing for days on end. The only thing keeping me confined to bed is that I feel really yucky, which sounds like a lousy excuse to me. Out of desperation I finally called my mom yesterday to ask her for advice on miracle treatments to make me better within the hour. She didn't have any, but she did reprimand me for not telling her I was sick. Two hours later she was at my door with a pot of homemade chicken soup and fresh homemade bread! My mother is amazing!

So I sit here alone while my ever-faithful husband is at church fixing other people's problems. I have just run out of orange juice and I am trying to be reflective and religious while in my pajamas. It is Easter after all, the special day when we remember Christ's atoning sacrifice for man-kind. I am struck by the fact that the pain and sickness that I am currently enduring, Christ also suffered for me in Gethsemane, so that He would best "know how to succor His people." This is such an important piece of knowledge for me; it brings such comfort, yet it makes me sad that there are so many others who do not have this knowledge.

How blessed I am to know that Christ lives and to know that He is aware of me in my trials, however small they may be. I pray that we will each feel His spirit with us in our daily lives, whatever our current situations may be.

Despite my runny nose and cough, I cannot help but proclaim in my heart, "Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God!"

Independence Day?

So yesterday was Independence Day. Being a history major, I have spent a large portion of my adult life studying U.S. History. Since there is only about 250 years of "official" U.S. history, I have focused a lot of my studying on the founding of our nation and all the little details surrounding it. Well, upon watching "A More Perfect Union" for about the 100th time, I decided that this whole celebration of our independence on July 4, 1776 is a rather silly thing. We should call the 4th of July "The Date on the Top of 'The Declaration of Independence' Day" or "The Day Two Days After Congress Voted To Declare Independence." We could even name it "That Random Day in July That We Don't Want To Work." Yeah, those would all be more accurate than "Independence Day" and I will give you some reasons why:

- Declaring that you are independent does not mean that you are actually independent. For example, when I was a teenager I said lots of things like, "You can't boss me around!" and "I'll come home whenever I feel like it!" Simply uttering these declarations of my independence did not make them true, because in reality my parents owned the bedroom and house I lived in and the car I drove, and thus they COULD tell me when to clean my room and when to come home. So Britain didn't care that America told them to take a hike, because they "owned" the land the Americans lived on. Just because the Americans wanted to be independent didn't make it so. It was the same way with the Confederates in the Civil War.

- The American Revolutionary War, which began in 1775, effectively ended in 1781 after the Battle of Yorktown, (though the war didn't officially end until 1783,) five years after the country declared its independence. Apparently Britain still thought America was theirs and so clearly we weren't really independent yet.

- Britain did not recognize America as its own nation until the war officially ended in 1783 at the Treaty of Paris (this was seven years after we said we were independent).

- America didn't "elect" (technically America appointed) its first president, George Washington, until 1789 (that's a LONG time after 1776).

So what's the deal? Apparently there is nothing we can do about it because the first Independence Day celebration was held on July 4, 1777. Our founding fathers may have done well setting up this new and unique government, but they sure didn't name their holidays very appropriately.

HAPPY NATIONAL FIREWORKS DAY!!