Dreaming of a White Christmas

I hope everyone who celebrates Christmas had a lovely one and those who celebrate something else, or nothing, also had a lovely day/week/month.

We had a White Christmas in Fort Worth, the first in almost 40 years- the first for everyone in my family, even my parents, who moved to Texas 31 years ago.

We lasted about 45 seconds outside and my niece lasted 4.5 seconds in the snow and we were over it. The next day I did make a snowman on the hood of my car using snow from my windows, but that was the extent of our frolicking. The roads ended up being really icy and my sister lives out in the boonies, so the whole family had a Christmas sleepover.

Oh, and did I mention that, while the rest of my family got candy in their stockings, I got soup!

Here's my Christmas dinner. (clockwise: broccoli, sweet potato, fruit, apple crumble)

And BUFFALO!

Here's what I didn't eat. 

(cole slaw, ham, fruit salad, sweet potato casserole, macaroni casserole, fire baked rolls)

These casseroles broke my heart.

Homemade peppermint cheese cake with Oreo crust.

Just kill me now!

It was nice to be with my family and watch my niece experience her first Christmas. I'm so very grateful and blessed to be surrounded by people whom I love and who love me.

Happy Holidays!

Bren tested, Doctor approved

I avoided Thanksgiving so it didn't seem right to avoid Christmas, as well. I had grand intentions to try to make some sort of pie or holiday cookies, but then I got horribly sick and lost all motivation. Maybe next year...

I did, however get to enjoy some approved snack items like:

Rosemary chicken(lovingly prepared for me by a friend) to compliment the BBQ chicken everyone else was having



and almond cheese & oat crackers to go along with the cheese & cracker tray



and guacamole I made from scratch



One of my resolutions is to create and try more recipes this year. My sister helped get that ball rolling by giving me this for Christmas:



I'm curious WHAT is actually in these deserts, so we shall see. Stay tuned!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

Last night I had a party to celebrate my sobriety birthday and a friend brought over caramel apples. Homemade. Caramel. Apples. Bless her soul for doing that, but FML for watching 20 of my closest friends shoveling them into their faces.

Also, since I've gotten sick, practically everyone I know has gone to TX. No, seriously. There was a conference there and at least 50 people I know were there; both my bosses have gone recently; and at least 15 of my other friends have gone, as well. One friend just came back and another is going next weekend.

Cue the pity party...

Before this year, nobody ever went to TX. Why would they? I even tried getting people to go with me and nobody ever would. Now it's a mass exodus and I'm left in the dust.

Really it isn't that big of a deal. It's just that I was supposed to be in TX this month. I was going to reward myself for my 1 yr and go for a couple weeks so I could celebrate with my Mom for her birthday and go to the Texas State Fair.

This is a pic of me enjoying a funnel cake. See the sheer determination on my face?! I ate so much that day I had to purge so I could eat more. That's how dedicated to the State Fair experience I am. I don't mess around.



I just want a caramel apple!

If Halloween is already this rough, Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to be torturous!