Exhibit C.  Here’s my son freaking out on Santa’s lap.  Because really, why would I get smiling, happy children when I’m paying $27 for a photo op with the man from the North Pole?

Exhibit D.  Here’s the cute-in-theory “Cookies for Santa” tray that we made together.  It features my kids’ handprints fashioned into Santa faces, and their thumbprints as Christmas lights.  But oh yeah, I used the flimsiest paper ever, which translated into a wrinkly mess upon Mod Podging to the tray.  Craft fail.  I sure hope Santa doesn’t mind.

Exhibit E.  Here are just some of the boxes that have taken over my dining room.  With the basement still under construction, I have nowhere to store them but right out in the open.  Where are the pretty wrapping papers and ribbons adorning the tops of each gift?

Exhibit F.  Here is my daughter performing quality control on the dough for our Andes Mints Chocolate Cookies.  Such a lady.

I can’t help but feel happy when I look at these pictures.  They show my genuine, crazy, messy, less-than-perfect Christmas.  And for me, that’s perfect.

What does your perfect Christmas look like?

My three-year old has been attending a summer camp for the last few months.  This means that for three hours a week, I experience the joy of having only one child to cart to Costco or to have around to “help” me with the cleaning or laundry.  On especially good days, it gives me the ability to spend some quality time alone with the little one.  Sadly, camp ends this week.
While camp has afforded me some peace and quiet, the opposite is true for the saintly young women who have been “counseling” a rather large group of two and three-year olds.  If I were in their shoes, I don’t think I would have lasted beyond the first session.  So, I thought it was important to acknowledge their hard work and my appreciation for what they do.  I came up with this:

The launching point for this gift was the adorable pink and orange pouch set that I found in the Target Dollar Spot. Two cute pouches for $3 – I couldn’t resist!  Then, continuing the pink and orange theme, I found Essie polish in “Watermelon,” Sally Hansen foot lotion with orange accents on the bottle, and orange nail files.  To tie it all together, I created a gift tag that reads “These kids kept you on your toes all summer, so it’s time to give them some TLC!”  A little cheesy, but oh well.
I hope the ladies like their gifts!

Well, it’s that time of year again when the realization of summer’s fleeting presence hits us all. For many, the last month or so of this most wonderful time of year is an action-packed race to the finish line. I am no exception, and one of my favorite activities to squeeze in is a visit to the Wisconsin State Fair.
The pig races and livestock barns are always a big attraction, but let’s be honest – the food is what really fuels my 1.5 hour drive across the Illinois state line. The Wisconsin State Fair is known for its cream puffs and cheese curds, but it also touts a fantastic “food on a stick” selection. Take the “beer battered macaroni and cheese bites with bacon on a stick” or “Frosted Flakes chicken on a stick,” for example. Apparently everything tastes better if you put it on a stick, and I guess that’s why the Wisconsin State Fair is offering twenty-one “on a stick” selections this year.
So, I thought I’d test this theory out at a recent barbecue by spearing my fruit salad instead of tossing it, as is usually done. The result was beautiful and delicious, even though nothing was deep-fried. I used strawberries, clementines, pineapple (canned), kiwi, blackberries and grapes, but you could obviously mix this up any way you choose. Next time I do this I will use fresh pineapple instead of canned. That was a mistake as it was mushy and not as flavorful as fresh pineapple.

What’s your favorite food on a stick?