Sassy Snowflake

Christmas Light Spotting

2010-02-20T17:40:00.003-05:00

I saw two house on Thursday night with Christmas lights on. Its so late, though, it makes me wonder if they were on for another reason. Especially since the houses were located on the same block.

Any thoughts? Also this week, I saw an ad announcing a local mall's 2009 Christmas events. But Christmas sightings are becoming rarer and rarer.

For that reason, although I intended to post weekly until we were 100 days out from Christmas, I have decided a vacation is in order. I'll be back refreshed and ready as ever on July 25th- 6 months until Christmas- with weekly postings. And back to daily writings starting 100 days out- September 16. In the meantime, have fun looking through the archives, reminiscing about Christmas '09, and dreaming of Christmas 2010!

If you have any website ideas or other Christmas thoughts/sightings/plans/recipes/ideas/you-get-the-idea, please let me know! Either via the comments or you can always email me: sassysnowflake365@gmail.com.

The Christmas Tree is Gone

2010-02-10T16:10:00.001-05:00

I finally, finally took advantage of a snow day on Monday to take down my Christmas tree. My friend noted, "Probably a good idea...considering its February!"

I admit, I leave my decorations and tree up longer than most, but this was a record for me and probably a bit too long. But a combination of many factors- travel, weather- helped me break my record.

As I was taking down the ornaments and lights and tinsel and tying up and putting away the tree, I realized laziness was definitely another factor. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I must remembered how much work taking down the tree is and that helped lead to my apathy! Organizing the ornaments, fitting everything into tubs, stuffing the tree into the attic (no small feat at my place!)...When you are putting up the Christmas tree, its a fun and festive event. Taking down the tree is just a bummer!

Until next year!

Storage for Christmas Decorations

2010-01-27T19:54:00.002-05:00

As I begin to contemplate taking down my Christmas tree (yup, its still up!) and putting away my other holiday decorations, I started thinking about the storage and organization of my Christmas decorations.

I use the big plastic storage bins for my items, and try to group the contents of each box by category: items for the Christmas tree, decorations for certain rooms, miscellaneous. But often, decorations are stuffed into whatever tub has room. But the tubs aren't clear, and I don't label them, so its always a bit of a surprise as to what is inside.

I do have a separate, smaller tub with dividers for ornaments. Inevitably, though, there are the ornaments that don't fit into the partitions. I save boxes, such as those from 100-calorie snack packs, for those larger ornaments and stick them in the "tree tub."

I do have one Christmas wreath I use for the door- right now, it is shoved into a tub too. Is it worth it to buy the separate wreath holders? And don't get me started on my wrapping paper! The rolls are shoved, standing up, in the back of my coat closet! Definitely room for improvement there!

What are your best practices in regards to storing these items (often many of which are sentimental, treasured, and/or fragile). Especially considering that they are only pulled out and used once a year?

Decorations Still Around?!

2010-01-20T16:50:00.002-05:00

"Did you see the Plaza Lights?!?!"

Unfortunately, no... I arrived in Kansas City this week- one day after the big holiday lights decorations were turned off at the Plaza. “Its really a great thing to see- the lights and decorations are beautiful!” my colleague told me. I can’t believe I missed it by one day- the lights are even still on the buildings, just not turned on. And counting by the number of people who asked me if I saw them, the display must be spectacular!

But it seems to me that visible Christmas decorations are much more widespread at this late date than in previous years. In the past few days, I have seen holiday lights decorating houses, large blow-up Santas standing in several yards, and bows and wreaths everywhere.

Have you noticed more Christmas decorations around, even though we’re past the halfway point in January? I think part of the phenomenon is attributed to the cold and snow that much of the country experienced in early January. Any other explanations?

As for me, my Christmas tree is still lit and decorated, but I’ve taken down all other holiday decorations. I still haven’t set a date for putting away the tree- partly because I love my tree, and partly because it takes so much effort to put away!

Food Recipe: Blackeyed Pea Salsa

2010-01-13T20:59:00.004-05:00

My aunt made this super-easy dip/salsa for our Christmas get-together this year, and I loved it. We used Fritos to dip, but the salsa would be really tasty with pita chips. I've also spread the salsa in regular pita bread for an easy lunch to take to work. And it stores well- nice for making a day ahead of time!

INGREDIENTS:

1 can blackeyed peas (washed and drained)
1/4 cup chopped onion (I also like to add scallions)
1/3 cup each of green and red peppers
3 slices of jalapeno peppers chopped
1 small can green chiles

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Pour Italian dressing over the mixture- how much you use is really up to you. I just lightly coat the ingredients. Mix the ingredients and dressing together and let set in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

12 Days of Christmas are Over

2010-01-06T19:39:00.003-05:00

Today, January 6, marks Epiphany: the date when the three wise men visited baby Jesus and also the end of the 12 days of Christmas. So I guess the holiday season is really over...

Given the season is wrapping up, I'm also going to slow down my updates. Look for a new update every Wednesday- so no more daily notes, but still continuing throughout the year. In the meantime, feel free to catch up on the archives! I'll pick up the daily updates again when we are 100 days out from Christmas 2010 (thats September 16, if you're counting!).

Thanks again for reading- I had a blast putting this site together this year! Hopefully you enjoyed as well!

See you January 13!

New Years Resolutions

2010-01-05T20:34:00.000-05:00

While not directly Christmas-related, the topic of making New Years resolutions is holiday-related, so I wanted to spend a few moments on the subject!

I think I make resolutions every year! I am naturally a planner and list-maker, so New Years just gives me another opportunity to indulge. For 2009, I was successful in some resolutions (travel to Europe), not so much in others (fit into my 'skinny' jeans on Dec. 31).

So what are my resolutions for this year? I'd like to be more healthy overall (see: not fitting into 'skinny' jeans!)- eat more natural foods, less snacking, relieve stress, try yoga. But I didn't make my 2010 goals as measurable as last year. I guess I'll see if this is a good thing or not!

What are your thoughts on making resolutions- do you or don't you? Why or why not? And if you do, what were this year's resolutions?

Leaving Christmas Lights Up All Year?

2010-01-04T19:06:00.001-05:00

So I spoke earlier about when is a good time to take down your Christmas decorations. A closely related, and strongly debated, topic is whether its acceptable to leave your outside lights up all year (not necessarily on- just leaving the strings of lights on your roof, windows, bushes, etc.). The pros and cons:

Sure, why not leave your lights up? It makes your holiday decorating easier- usually. You spend one year out in the cold and on the roof and are spared the trouble for the next few years to come. Its also helpful if you physically can't set up and take down the lights each year. And really, its sometimes pretty difficult to even tell the lights are up, if they aren't lit.

Don't leave lights up year 'round! In her song, "Redneck Woman," Gretchen Wilson was proud of the fact that she leaves her Christmas lights up the entire year. But many people think it looks messy and tacky. And, just because you leave your lights up, doesn't necessarily mean an easier time decorating- bulbs may burn out, strands may not work, and strings of lights may come untethered.

My verdict. I don't like the look of lights up all year. But, if it comes down to leaving your lights up all year versus not having any lights at Christmas, then I say, go for it!

What are your thoughts? Do you leave your Christmas lights displayed the entire year?

Dealing with the Post-Christmas Blues

2010-01-03T18:22:00.000-05:00

The Christmas season is over, and if you're like me, the end of the holidays is a bit sad and depressing. Especially with the thought of heading back to work tomorrow! No more holiday parties and events to look forward to, no more days to celebrate. Just cold, winter weather- and over 350 days until Christmas comes again.

So how to deal? My tips:

Make new plans with friends and family. I already have two dinners scheduled with friends and know when I'll next visit my family. It will keep you in a festive mood!
I always need something to look forward to or anticipate. Even if its something small, like a free Saturday, or big, like my next vacation.
As much as I love the holidays, the post-Christmas months give me a chance to regain my schedule, organize, and declutter. Regardless of if you make resolutions or not, there is always something clean and nice about starting a new year! Take the time not spent running to and from obligations and parties and shopping to relax.
Be thankful for the time you spent with friends and family and memories made. Maybe set your computer desktop or screensaver to a favorite picture from the holidays.
Leave your Christmas tree or decorations up just a bit longer, if it makes you feel better. Just as it doesn't matter what others say or do as to how early you decorate, it doesn't matter how long you keep them up! Ditto with listening to Christmas music!

No matter what you try, though, keep in mind- a reason the holiday season is so anticipated is it only comes once a year. And it will come again in 2010! In the meantime, I've already seen Valentine's Day decorations up...

Do you have any tips for dealing with the post-Christmas blues?

Camp Victory, Iraq, Christmas Decorations

2010-01-02T03:48:00.001-05:00

Prior to Christmas, I had a soldier detail for us how deployed members of the military would spend their Christmas. He was nice enough to pass along some pictures of how his base, Camp Victory, in Baghdad, Iraq, was decorated for the holidays. Very interesting!

This first picture is of a Christmas tree in Al Faw palace,

where many service members work on the base.

Cute decorations!

A Christmas USO show featuring Santa, Anna Kournikova, and Billy Ray Cyrus, to name a few.

An illuminated pathway to the palace, made from water bottles wrapped in paper

and lit from the inside using chem lights.

Post Christmas Shopping Roundup

2010-01-01T20:35:00.003-05:00

I've done a little post-Christmas shopping. While many stores are having great sales, the selection isn't very extensive. Especially when it comes to discounted Christmas supplies! Walmart was out of Christmas lights by 8 am on the 26th. I did buy 4 new wrapping paper rolls though (as if I don't have enough already)!

Meanwhile, Old Navy is already pulling out shorts!!

Did you pick up any post-Christmas deals?

Food Recipe: Crab Dip

2009-12-31T19:14:00.000-05:00

In honor of New Years Eve and the celebrations for the new year, I wanted to share an appetizer recipe that I love (and I am not even a big seafood fan!). I had a picture to add, but the photo totally doesn't do the dish justice. Just trust me, its really tasty!

INGREDIENTS:

8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped onion (the spice, not actual chopped onions)
6 1/2 ounces crab meat
cocktail sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Chop the crab meat into small bits. Mix the cream cheese, mayo, onion, and crab meat. Spread the mixture onto a large plate. Spread a thin layer of cocktail sauce over the mixture. Serve with crackers or bread. Super easy!

When is it Time to Take Down Decorations?

2009-12-30T19:46:00.001-05:00

Christmas is through for another year. But with New Years Eve and New Years Day approaching, its still the holiday season. Which leads to the important question- how long do you leave your Christmas decorations up?

I know several people who take advantage of time off work and school to remove their tree and decorations before the New Years. Others mark the passing of New Years as a sign the holiday season is over, thus leading the way for decorations to come down.

Meanwhile, as I learned in Puerto Rico, others celebrate Christmas as much after the holiday as before. They celebrate Epiphany, or the date when the three wise men visited baby Jesus, as part of the larger Christmas season and keep decorations up through that date (January 6th in 2010).

As for me, I like to keep my decorations up through the New Year. But then, I play it by ear to decide when I have the time and desire to take down the tree. The most likely time? The weekend of January 9-10. If I don't un-decorate then, who knows how long it will stay up!?!?

When do you plan to take down your tree and other Christmas decorations? Or have you already?!

Review: White Christmas at the Fox Theater

2009-12-29T18:44:00.000-05:00

I visited the Fox Theater in St. Louis, MO on Christmas Eve to watch the musical adaptation of "White Christmas." The movie is one of my favorites, so I was looking forward to seeing the play. And what better way to spend a rainy Christmas Eve?

The play was pretty true to the movie. In the show, the General's daughter and the innkeeper's secretary/concierge had much larger roles in the musical than the movie. And, this go around, Betty was a redhead!
With all of its singing and dancing, the movie adapts really well into a musical. The cast sang the main favorites: Count your Blessings Instead of Sheep, Sisters, and, of course, White Christmas. But there were also a few numbers not found in the movie.
Lots of tap dancing, which was fantastic!
The timing of the musical seemed a bit off. The first act started to feel a little long- over an hour and a half. Meanwhile, Act Two was less than an hour.
The last scene is always my favorite, and the climactic one of the movie, but I thought the play really minimized it. It felt like the scene had just begun and then it was over.
My tickets were to the matinee on Christmas Eve, and I was surprised by how many empty seats there were. But it was a holiday, and tickets were a bit pricey!

Overall, its hard to live up to such a classic movie, played by well-known actors and actresses with famous voices. But I enjoyed the show, and the fact that it was Christmas Eve really added to the festivity.

Food Recipe: "Easy" Candied Nuts

2009-12-28T18:22:00.001-05:00

I saw this recipe in Real Simple magazine and though it looked delicious. So I tried my hand at making the nuts- and while the end result tasted good, I did not find the recipe easy whatsoever! I admit, I am not the world's best baker, but I had a lot of problems. Hopefully, my experience will be a lesson for you!

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups unsalted mixed nuts (This should have been my first clue- I had a horrible time finding unsalted nuts!)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and toast, tossing once, for 6-8 minutes; transfer to a bowl. Next lesson- once the nuts are done toasting, TAKE THEM OFF THE BAKING SHEET! Otherwise, they will continue to toast and end up burnt.
In a large skillet, combine the sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons of water. Simmer; swirling the pan occasionally until the liquid is amber colored (about 12-15 minutes)- do not stir as it will crystallize the caramel. Yup, I stirred- so I had to start this step all over again with new ingredients. But I never could get my mixture amber colored. And my second batch started to crystallize again. So I figured it was done...
Stir in the nuts, then spread the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, separating the nuts as much as possible. Let cool. As you can see from my picture, my nuts were nowhere near as pretty as the magazine's. But, I guess the most important thing- they were very tasty!

Christmas Over for Another Year

2009-12-27T14:44:00.003-05:00

Well, Christmas Day is over for another year; but we still have a few days left in the Christmas season to enjoy! A quick rundown of my holiday:

Family holiday parties: 5
Times watched "A Christmas Story": 3
Times watched "White Christmas": 2 (one of the movie, one of the play)
Apps bought for my new iPod touch: 8
Number of times I caught a pet sleeping on my new Lambie blanket: 4
Times sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus: 1 (during church, no less!)
Inches of snow: maybe 1 (but enough to turn the ground white!)
Calories consumed: way too many!

How was your Christmas? Did Santa bring you everything you wanted?

Drink Recipe: Homemade Bloody Mary Mix

2009-12-26T17:35:00.000-05:00

I admit, I am not a fan of Bloody Marys. I just don't care for tomato juice. But my father loves a good Bloody Mary, and at the cocktail class at Sur la Table, we learned how to make a homemade, spicy tomato juice, which can serve as a mixer for Bloody Marys. I made the juice, canned it in a pretty jar, and had a nice, homemade present for my dad!

INGREDIENTS:

5 pounds tomatoes, cored and chopped, or canned tomatoes (I definitely took the easy way out and used canned)
1 small, chopped onion
3 crushed garlic cloves
2 jalapeno peppers, halved and seeded
1/4 cup lemon juice
dash Worcestershire sauce
horseradish to taste

DIRECTIONS:

In a large pot, simmer the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and peppers until they are soft (about 15 minutes).
Puree the tomatoes in a food mill (I dont have the fancy Sur la Table contraptions, so I left this step out. As a result, my mix didn't make as much juice). Strain the tomatoes through a fine sieve. This is very important! Otherwise, you will have tomato pulp (even if its very fine) and seeds in your mix.
Add the lemon juice.
You can freeze, can, or serve the juice. I attempted to can mine, so that it would last. I hope I was successful...
When ready to serve, mix the juice with the Worcestershire sauce and horseradish. Add vodka and ice.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T07:43:00.001-05:00

It's finally here!!!! Merry Christmas everyone! Have a wonderful holiday!!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!

2009-12-24T16:20:00.000-05:00

To me, Christmas Eve is just as much a holiday as Christmas- so I'll keep this short and sweet!

I was in DC this past weekend, just in time for their monster snowstorm. I included a few pictures below- I've never seen so much snow in such a short period of time!
I am glad I finished my Christmas shopping early- it seems like the malls and stores are swamped more than usual!
I want to thank American Airlines for not charging me to check a bag this week.
I'm off to see White Christmas at the Fox Theater in St. Louis, MO today. Look for a review after Christmas!

Taste Test: Pomegranate and Mint Infused Vodkas

2009-12-23T20:18:00.000-05:00

Its been a week since I attempted to infused vodka with pomegranate and mint (separately, not together!). So its time to taste test! My thoughts:

Pomegranate Infused Vodka: I think this one needs to sit a bit longer. The pomegranate flavor isn't very strong, and the seeds are just starting to lose their color. The color of the vodka is a very pale pink. I'll check back in another week.

Mint Infused Vodka: In this case, the mint has definitely infused! Maybe a bit too much- next time I wouldn't leave the mint in for a week. At the moment, the taste of the vodka has a strong resemblance to toothpaste. In addition, the mint leaves are looking pretty tired. But once I strained the mint leaves out and added the vodka to hot chocolate, in lieu of peppermint schnapps, it tasted pretty good!

The Christmas Store, Bellevue, WA

2009-12-22T19:16:00.000-05:00

I had wanted to visit The Christmas Store on a trip to Bellevue earlier this year, but since it was June, the store was only open approximately 3 hours each week. But on my most recent trip in December, I was able to check it out!

LOCATION: Bellevue is a nice, suburban shopping area. Lots of

malls, shops, and restaurants- a good place to shop the day away. The Christmas Store is a bit off the beaten path, though- closer to the freeway than the main shopping area. But there is plenty of parking and its easy to find.

MERCHANDISE: The store itself isn't very big, although rooms have a way of leading to additional rooms, so its larger than what you anticipate when you walk through the doors. When compared to other stores, the shop does not have a large selection- in fact, the rooms can feel a bit sparse (but unlike other Christmas shops, you are able to maneuver around the store in a winter coat without worrying about knocking items off shelves and trees!). But just because there is not a large inventory doesn't mean the shop doesn't have fun and unique items. Plenty of items caught my eye. In the very back room, the store also has a sale section, which is worth a look.

ODDS AND ENDS: The store actually provides coupons in the local paper- thats a great deal! While the store carries some pricey items, nine times out of ten, the price of an ornament will be $7.95. As I mentioned in the intro, the store is open pretty regularly during Christmas, but cuts its hours big time once the holiday is over, so definitely check before visiting.

PURCHASED: Actually, I didn't buy anything- but its not because I didn't want to! As I mentioned in my review of Molbak's, I only had a (stuffed) carry-on suitcase, and the two ornaments I loved would have never fit: a red ball ornament, covered in glitter and jewels, and a glass snowman filled with sparkly, fluffy "snow".

OVERALL: If you're in the area, its worth a quick stop (especially if you have a coupon!). But I wouldn't make a specific out-of-the-way detour just for the shop.

Drink Recipe: Homemade Mulled Wine

2009-12-21T18:41:00.001-05:00

I love mulled wine, especially when the weather gets cold. But I have never attempted to make my own; I always use a pre-bought mix. But while being stuck in the huge snowstorm that hit Washington, DC this week, I thought it would be the perfect time to try and make my own!

Just a word of warning- a plethora of mulled wine recipes exist on the internet. I tried to wade through as many as I could, looking for the ingredients that I thought I would like best (lots of cinnamon, not a lot of fruit or sugar). I used this recipe from BellaOnli ne as my starting point. Final verdict- totally delicious!

INGREDIENTS:

1 750 mL bottle of red wine
6-8 cinnamon sticks (the recipe calls for 6; I had 8 left, so I just dumped them all in!)
12 whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup of sugar
The recipe also calls for 1/8 teaspoon of ginger, but I was all out, so I left it out of my concoction. Further, it asks for a lemon or orange, but I left that out, since I am not a big fan of citrus.

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the wine, spices, and sugar in a large pot. Heat through, but don't boil (you'll burn off all the alcohol!). I find that heating the wine for a long time on a low setting provides the best taste.
Make sure to strain the wine before you drink it- otherwise, you'll have bits of cinnamon and cloves in your glass.
Another tip: I only pour little glasses, so it stays hot while I am sipping!

Decorations in Bellevue, WA

2009-12-20T19:11:00.000-05:00

From my Christmas store review previously of Molbak's (andanother store review is forthcoming!), you can see I spent some time in the Pacific Northwest last week. While I never ventured into downtown Seattle, I spent some quality time in the suburb of Bellevue, which, among other things, is home to a fantastic mall. And Christmas decorations! The whole main street across from the mall was lit with snowflakes and lights and decorated with toy soldiers. Christmas music was piped through speakers onto the street, which definitely added to the festive spirit.

I've also included a picture of a giant gingerbread "town"

that was displayed in the lobby of my hotel. Amazing!

But my favorite Christmas encounter occurred at the Seattle-Tacoma airport. Riding through the airport on a golf cart was Santa and an elf. The two rode through the terminals and gates, wishing all the travelers a Merry Christmas (and this was at 6 am in the morning!). It definitely put a smile on everyone's face!

Christmas Store Review - Molbak's, Woodinville, WA

2009-12-19T18:00:00.000-05:00

While Molbak's isn't really a Christmas store, per say, it has so many Christmas decorations and holiday items that it deserves its own review!

LOCATION: I am not too familiar with the area, so take my thoughts on the area with a grain of salt! First, Woodinville seems like a super cute town. The town and the area around Molbak's reminds me of a picturesque Northwest town- very outdoorsy feeling. And bonus points- they have wineries! But, I will say, the traffic in Seattle and its suburbs can be horrendous. And I even live in a place that has pretty bad traffic.

MERCHANDISE: Wow, this store is amazing. And HUGE. The first thing I noticed after parking the car was the amazing smell of pine surrounding the entire store from the lot of Christmas trees outside, as Molbak's is primarily a nursery and gardening store. In addition to the trees, the shop sells 42 varieties of poinsettias. Who knew that many varieties even existed? But the store also has a large Christmas section, with decorations, lights, and ornaments. It seems like so many stores are limited to only ornaments- not here. They stock all types and kinds of holiday decorations. One of my favorite displays was a twist on the themed Christmas trees. Instead of a tree, the store hung up pine branches- it almost looked like an upside down Christmas tree. Then, they decorated the branches with fish and undersea ornaments. The end result looked like a coral reef! The one downside of the store- its not cheap.

ODDS AND ENDS: One of the best things about this store is its Garden Cafe. You can order lunch (and wine!) and sit among plants and flowers in the store's indoor garden. But beware, the line to eat gets long and it takes awhile for the cooks to prepare your food. But its a nice way to cap off a shopping trip (or gain sustenance for further browsing!). The store also allows you to bring your pets with you.

PURCHASED: I was pretty limited in my purchasing ability, since I only had a carry-on suitcase with me for the trip. But I did pick up two Christmas dog cookies as a holiday treat (no, not for me- for pets)!

OVERALL: To be honest, this store is completely overwhelming. But in a GOOD way! Plan to spend a lot of time in the store (and spend a lot of money)- and eat at the cafe!

Christmas in Iraq

2009-12-18T19:09:00.000-05:00

Its easy to get wrapped up in the Christmas holidays and forget that many brave men and women are spending the holidays overseas, away from friends and family. So while we keep them in our thoughts and prayers, I asked a soldier deployed to Iraq to give us some insight into how Christmas is spent overseas. His take:

"How you celebrate Christmas depends on where you are in Iraq. Some soldiers on isolated outposts live in more sparse conditions, so they don't have many options when it comes to celebrating. Those soldiers at larger bases usually have access to shops and stores at which they can buy decorations. Mostly, we rely on what family and friends mail us. We usually have small Christmas trees because the rooms or tents we're in generally don't have room for a larger tree. To make up for the smaller tree, we have a larger community tree somewhere near where most of us work. We'll also put up decorations whereever we can; the most popular options are usually lights strung along the outside your work area. Of course, fire hazards are always a concern, so tents and other places don't often get lighting. The chow halls are open longer for lunch and dinner on holidays since they usually get crowded. We'll usually get half a day off of work for Christmas and - if lucky enough to swing it - manage to get the whole day off (as long as someone else covers your duties)."