Christmas cards! Golden Globes!

Favorite thing I saw this week (1 of 2)
My talented friend Alice Allen designed our Christmas card this year. It turned out great! My mother-in-law took the fabulous picture. Snapfish printed them. (I addressed the envelopes and put the stamps on them!)




Favorite thing I saw this week (2 of 2)
So excited about the Golden Globe nominations. Hooray for The Hurt Locker! Hooray for Modern Family! Hooray for (500) Days of Summer! And what about The Hangover earning a nomination for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. I know it won't win, but I like that such a screwball comedy is nominated. Hooray for no nominations for New Moon!


Favorite thing AM did (didn't do) this week
We had great intentions of going to see Santa on Friday afternoon. We got to the mall, rode the "moving stairs" (AM's favorite part of the mall), and proceeded to Santa's area. We had to wait for him to come back from his break. When he did, AM promptly said "no, no, no," demanded to be held, and wouldn't even look in St. Nick's direction. We waited through one family to go through the process, and showed her the kids--all smiles, no tears. She still would only say "no, no, no," and was stiff as a board. We decided there was no use in waiting in the line for her to completely melt down, and left. Maybe next year, Santa.


Favorite thing I ate this week
I snacked all week on leftover cheese and sausage balls. They're the best; cold or hot. And they are so easy...1 lb sausage, 1 lb shredded cheddar, 3 cups Bisquick, dash of tabasco, dash of water. Mix together and bake at 350 'til bubbly and brown. I might even make another batch before Christmas...

1, 2, 3, Boppalo!

Favorite thing AM did this week

Somewhere along the way AM has picked up counting in Spanish. We didn't teach her, so I am guessing it was that bilingual little Dora the Explorer that gave AM this useful skill. However, I am not sure what has happened to the number quatro (that's 4 for those of you who took French in high school). Everytime she counts she says, "uno, dos, tres, boppalo, cinco, seis." Yes, "boppalo." It used to be "buffalo," but morphed into "boppalo" somewhere along the way.
I have tried to upload a video, but can't get blogger to accept it. Why must it be so difficult?

Favorite thing I read this week
With all this cooking, shopping, decorating, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-watching, there isn't much time for reading. Aside from the final exams from my ARH 101 class. In the identification portion of the test, I asked them to id Andy Warhol's Marilyn Diptych. See image below. One of my student's response to this was Dipstick Marilyn. Andy W. would probably actually be proud.





Favorite thing I watched this week
Matthew and I are slowly catching up with Sons of Anarchy on FX. In Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King recently called this show one of his favorites of the year, and said it was like The Sopranos on motorcycles. I can't attest to that, because I never watched much of Tony Soprano and his motley crew. I can say however, that the Sons crew is totally engrossing. It doesn't exactly make you want to be in a motorcycle gang, but it definitely makes you want to have them on your side. It's a bit violent, but it's so well-acted, you get used to it. That's bad, I know.

Favorite thing I ate this week
This is a good (quick & easy) recipe for us right now. We get tired of chicken and beef, so sausage is a good switch. Plus, I'm still craving anything tomato-y.
Quick Skillet Sausage & Tortellini
1 lb of link sausage (We use the turkey kind), sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 jar of seasoned tomato sauce (I use most of a jar of Bertolli pasta sauce)
2 small packages (or 1 large pkg) of refrigerated cheese ravioli, cooked & hot
dash of basil, oregano, or whatever you use to dress up jarred pasta sauce
grated Parmesan cheese

Cook sausage in a large non-stick skillet until browned and cooked through. Add tomato sauce, peppers, and onion. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Add spices and pasta. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or so. Serve in bowls; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.