In which we catch up
Well, chickens, I hope the Americans amongst you had a lovely Thanksgiving! Ours was delicious--both the food and the Longhorns win over the Aggies...
So here's what I've been up to over the past few days:
*Pondering next year's brine for the turkey. I'm thinking apple-maple-bourbon. And adding bacon to the dressing, although I am reliably informed that Mucking With The Dressing Will Not Be Tolerated, and if I want to add bacon I have to make two separate pans.
*Playing with my Kindle Fire. As I tweeted, I bought a Kindle Fire this weekend and now want to have its little Kindle Fire babies. It's divine--the perfect travel device. Carries more books than you could ever need, accesses the web and email, streams movies and music. And it's a little bit smaller than the Nook. Now, I received a Nook as a gift and a glorious gift it was, but I did find it a bit heavy for me. (Think reading a hardcover book.) I passed it to my daughter when I got my Kindle Fire and she is LOVING it, so this is a purely personal thing. If you're in the market for an ereader, it's worth noting that the Nook has more storage and expandable storage if that's important to you.
*Coining a new phrase. BITCHKRIEG. For the mood that assails you and causes you to level everything in your path with scorching intensity.
*Musing on how lovely you readers are. Seriously. There were some very wise and thoughtful responses to the last post both here and via Facebook, and I truly appreciate them all. Thank you for taking the time to share.
*Buying out Sephora. I don't know about y'all, but I go for months without buying new makeup and then I make the mistake of running out of something and walking into Sephora. And I end up making four trips in a row because I keep going back for something I decided I couldn't live without. (If you're looking for a great neutral shadow, Urban Decay's Toasted is simply gorgeous and would probably flatter almost anyone. It's a shimmery nude that makes your lids look finished and brightens your eyes without screaming "I'm wearing enough makeup to choke a drag queen!" I'm also a fan of Benefit's waterproof eyeliner pencil--Bad Gal is great, but it smudges quite a lot so I have switched to the waterproof version which, oddly enough, still smudges a bit when you put it on so you can blend nicely, but then stays put quite well.) And I'm going back tomorrow for a holiday nail polish sampler I decided I can't live without. I am pining for GLITTER, preferably in a black polish. Or white. Or silver. Or red. All of which are in the Sephora OPI holiday sampler! I think it includes bronze as well. I'm getting ready to do some major work on the book, and I don't imagine this was one of Hemingway's tips, but I find that having a killer manicure gives me a bit of a lift when I'm typing.
*Making some holiday gifts. I don't want to make myself crazy, but I do like to putter in the kitchen during the holidays. On the menu this year, my Chapultepec Cookies (chocolate with Mexican spices, adapted from a friend's recipe) and homemade cinnamon schnapps. What are YOU making?
Comments
THE BEST new word ever!
THE BEST new word ever! Bitchkrieg is so where I am right now! I hate what I call the interregnum--the period between Thanksgiving and winter break at school. The kids are bouncing off the walls, we have performances out the ying-yang, and I am ready to commit homicide on a daily basis.
The apple juice-bourbon-brown sugar brine was phenomenal, so I suspect that changing out the sugar for maple would be over the top. I am now a brine convert, although I panicked for a bit when I saw how brown the turkey was getting.
I love Sephora, but I'm also an ULTA girl. I am officially no longer allowed in there without DH; however, he has been known to go in on his own to buy stuff for me. I am SO lucky!
Finally, every year I make Moravian sugar cake for us for breakfast on Christmas morning, and usually make a couple to give away to good friends. I've actually had people ask if I would make them one. Plus, this year my daughter-in-law brought cranberry bars for Thanksgiving weekend--a sugar cookie base with cranberries, milk and white chocolate chips, and pretzel sticks. They were fantastic, and I'm getting her recipe to make for the secretaries at school.
I love the word BITCHKRIEG,
I love the word BITCHKRIEG, and I plan to use it. Seriously.
Also, SEPHORA. That place is the holy grail of makeup and hell all rolled into one -- because I can never get just one thing. I go in for mineral makeup, I come out with 8 things -- mascara, nail polish, face stuff, eyeshadow, a brush set, a tote bag, and lip gloss. It is uncanny and unavoidable.
For Christmas, I traditionally make chocolate chunk cookies, which are not the size of cookie; no, they are the size of pancakes. I have great difficulty making regular size cookies (I blame my mother, who cannot make small food if there was a gun to her head). Sometimes, I make sugar cookies, but I've yet to find the perfect recipe (soft, with enough flavor). So, this year, I have a recipe for Somoas aka caramel delights. Yes, the girl scout cookie. I am going to attempt that, and maybe some lime-sugar cookies.
And now I'm hungry. Time for breakfast...
Nail polish
I just picked up the OPI sampler at ULTA and I can hardly wait to try them all, so glittery and holiday-happy.
That Urban Decay shadow is
That Urban Decay shadow is from the heavens. It is also in their Naked Palette, which is the best eye shadow investment anyone can make. Twelve (I think) neutral shadows that I wear a zillion different ways.
My Sephora addiction is also a serious concern. Yes, I am expecting another package from them tomorrow. It's shameful.
Thought of you!
When I picked up the Sephora OPI holiday sampler. There's a perfect shimmery red--VERY you--called Sample Sale. I think it's exclusive to Sephora and I can't find it outside of the samplers.