It's finally here!

My tree has been up since last weekend, but this week has been full of white elephants, secret santa's, and sugar plum fairies. So I am finally getting some pictures up... just in time. My camera doesn't take dark pictures very well, but here we are:

My tree looks like its on fire..... I also got two new ornaments for my tree. I bought the first on Etsy.

It is hand stitched by fariada in France, she even included some crocheted pieces and other goodies when I ordered from her. I'm in love with this little heart.

Todd and I went to Balletwest's Nutcracker on Saturday and it was incredible. Their sets and costumes were so fantastic. ...So I had to get a souvenir, this is him in full action:

I made macadamia butter popcorn last night to go in Christmas packages, it's so yummy, when you don't burn half of the syrup - which I did - and then put too much salt in the new batch - but hey, half of it turned out really great. Now that that's all done, maybe I can retire for the rest of the winter.

Macadamia Butter-Crunch Popcorn
Makes about 30 cups

25 cups popped popcorn (from about 1 cup kernels)
4 cups raw whole macadamia nuts, about 1 lb (toasted)
1 ¼ cups packed light-brown sugar
5 tbsp light corn syrup
10 tbsp (1 ¼ sticks) unsalted butter
1 ¼ tsp coarse salt
¾ tsp baking soda

1. Preheat oven to 200˚. Put popcorn in a large bowl. Add nuts; set aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture comes to a gentle simmer, about 4 minutes. Stop stirring; continue cooking until mixture lightens in color, 5 minutes more. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.

2. Pour sugar mixture over popcorn and nuts; toss to coat. Transfer to rimmed baking sheets; bake stirring every 20 minutes, until almost dry, about 1 hour. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

-Martha Stewart

Spill your (holiday) guts...

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate! Every year I always trick myself into thinking that I might like Egg Nog, I mean it's tradition, right? and I try it and I always hate it.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He wraps all presents that aren't a mountain bike.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No
5. When do you put your decorations up? the middle of December when school finals are over with.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mashed potatoes and gravy
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: There are so many, but mostly just being with my family. I can only remember all of the silly tricks we would play on each other, I think it's because we would laugh so much ...like that time my brother gave our little sister a log for Christmas.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My brothers, sister and I were awful about searching out presents. So when I found some presents before Christmas that later "came from Santa" I confronted my mom about it and she told me the truth. But then I told my brother, cause he had his suspicions too.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Just one, we usually try to give each other something really funny for Christmas Eve, so we can stay up laughing and playing.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? White lights and matching ornaments, I know I know, I'm supposed to have this big gaudy thing and I always did when I was growing up but now I can't resist trying to actually make my tree look pretty.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love it when it snows on Christmas.
12. Can you ice skate? A little and then I fall down.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My favorite gift isn't a Christmas gift. It's my grandma's wedding band that I received for my wedding.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? being with family
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? pie
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Just that everybody gets together. My family always makes a point to be together on Christmas and it just doesn't seem like Christmas without that.
17. What tops your tree? This year it is a dove.
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? It's nice to receive presents but I Love giving presents much more.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I have a few, but I have a particular version of Ave Maria gets me everytime.
20. Candy Canes... Yuck or Yum? Yum