just jill...

day 18 ~ glory be to the highest...!!

A beautiful sight to see on my morning walk...
If this doesn't make you believe in Santa I don't what would!!

day 17 ~ don't look, but i think i got my xmas wish...

TL and I are on a little get'away weekend down in San Diego. You know, where the sun shines about 360 days a year. AND LOOK what happened right outside of our hotel window before my very eyes...!!

okay, just kidding it's actually just the miracle of photoshop. I like to be tricky during the holidays.

day 16 ~ owls love christmas too...

day 15 ~ a lonely christmas bush...

This is the only thing that is keeping me calm at this point...
I loved this little lonely christmas bush..!!

day 14 ~ only in CA...

day 13 ~ he made me do it...

Come on y'all, you gotta love Jimmy Kimmel. He's the best. I hate to admit it, but I wish he was going to be in my stocking this year or at least a guest at my Christmas Eve Brunch..!



"I'll eat it... I'll eat it..!!"

day 12 ~ don't judge me, it's christmas...

On permanent rotation...



You know you like it too... Shawty.

day 11 ~ let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Fat chance, but a girl can dream can't she...



1. Snow berries, 2. Snow Dunes, 3. SNOW!!!!!!, 4. snow!, 5. Snow Man, 6. Snow, 7. Let it snow, 8. snow bikes, 9. first snow

Thank you to all these lovely flickr photographers for sharing their photos...

day 10 ~ breakfast (non-traditional...)

Last year I introduced you all to the Traditional Breakfast that my family has had year after year... but this year, I'll be making Breakfast not on Christmas morning, but on Christmas Eve, so I figured I'd try something of the non-traditional kind.

Check it out... Pioneer Woman to the rescue...



Picture "borrowed" from the Pioneer Woman...

Sleep'n In Omelette...

■6 whole Onion Rolls (I plan to use that sweet Hawaiian Bread)
■1 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
■8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
■1-1/2 stick Butter
■10 whole Eggs
■2 cups Milk
■1 teaspoon Chopped Chives
■1/2 teaspoon Dry Mustard
■1/2 teaspoon Salt
■1 dash Cayenne Pepper

Generously butter an 9x13 baking dish.

Tear onion rolls into chunks and place them in the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese, then tear cream cheese into small pieces and place over the top. Cut 1 ½ sticks butter into pats and place over the top.

Mix remaining ingredients and pour over the top of the dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, bake at 325 degrees, covered, for 45 minutes. The remove foil and continue baking at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Eat. Faint. Repeat.

day 9 ~ i love me some aunt bill's...

Growing up my grandma Bert always made this fudgey candy called Aunt Bill's Candy. It was always around the house when we visited her in OKC. And, the few years we didn't go to OKC for Christmas, she would always send us two batches. One for the family and one for my brother Scott. Wait, he got his own? (why I never complained about this I'll never know, but then again, knowing me I probably did complain and it just fell on deaf ears.)

Let's fast forward about 25 years and there I was in OKC visiting my dear friend Alison for the Thanksgiving Holiday, my dear grandma Bert long gone and many years of sadly, no more Aunt Bill's Candy. Alison, was at the time managing an upscale kitchen store, with all kinds of fancy dishes, pot and pans, and beautiful items to fill up your kitchen. I was standing around waiting for her to get off of work and I looked over on the counter and saw a box of "Aunt Bill's Candy" for sale. I stared at it for several minutes and then let out a little yelp. I asked her,"How in the hell did these people get MY Aunt Bill's Candy recipe..?" She was obviously confused at first, but then I said, "I thought Aunt Bill, was, like, MY Aunt Bill, someone in like, MY family, like a relation to grandma Bert..." I've never heard anyone (anyone) laugh so hard. Alison, my sweet lifelong friend (who was like a grandaughter herself to my own grandma Bert) laughed her ass off at me. And finally after all the tears had cleared, she said, "Sorry, sweetie, Aunt Bill is of no relation to you, she's all of our Aunts. It's just the name of the candy." To this day, I'm still a bit miffed about that...

Anyway... I've had the recipe in my box for years now and have always gone right past it due to the thought that it was probably too hard to make. With my history in the kitchen, something like candy would surely result in either the house burning down or several of my friends and family ending up in the emergency room. Either way, I didn't think it would be a good idea.

This year... I'm feeling a bit more brave. (So suck it, friends and family!!)

day 8 ~ another blast from the past...

Look at this awesome foursome... And to think not'a one of them ever ended up in jail.
Oh wait, 1 out of 4 ain't (that) bad..!

day 7 ~ it's brrrr...

In honor of the cold front we're experiencing... I love me a scarf!! Especially a handknitted thick and cozy number!! (and don't judge, it was 37 degrees this morning and I needed a scarf. Or 2.)



1. Cachecóis Corrupiola | Scarf, 2. My new delicious scarf, 3. Scarf it up, 4. Noro Scarf, 5. Cable Scarf, 6. Orange Crochet Scarf, 7. scarf close up, 8. Irish Hiking Scarf, 9. 17.365 scarves much?

Thank you to all of these lovely flickr friends (with great taste...) for sharing their photos!!

day 6 ~ it's an annual thing...

Taylor is now 10, but still excited to get her tree I'm sure...

On a side note: When I texted miss Taylor to ask her what her favorite color was and that I was only asking because Santa Claus asked me to, her reply was, "I don't believe in Santa anymore Aunt Jill..." Even though I teared up a bit, I knew that was just her way of letting me know she's growing up, because I know deep down we ALL still believe in Santa!!

day 5 ~ every party has one...

In honor of all the upcoming Christmas parties you plan to attend, just be glad you don't know Jennifer...



Okay, so he's a little creepy and not at all Christmas-ie, but come on, did you not laugh until you almost pooped yourself?

day 4 ~ who doesn't love a pretty wreath..?

1. Gift Card Wreath, 2. Jingle Jangle Disco Wreath, 3. Wreath, 4. Golden wreath, 5. color!, 6. Wreaths galore, 7. christmas red, 8. christmas wreath tutorial, 9. bookpagewreath2

Thank you to all these lovely Flickr Photogs for their extremely lovely photos...

day 3 ~ aren't christmas nighties the best...?

Little Jilly, Scotty and TJ Spear ~ Circa: 1967(ish)...

This is my Granpa, TJ Spear... He liked to smoke Cigars, listen to Johnny Cash and was the best storyteller our family has ever seen. I wish I could climb into that holiday night gown and hear him laugh right now.

day 2 ~ buffalo chips...

These might not seem all that "Christmas-ie," but come on, it's a cookie. Just bake 'em, and then eat 'em... and then let me know if you still really care.

Buffalo Chips... (makes 4-5 dozen)



picture borrowed from Hilary Purcell from the Tasty Kitchen website...
Recipe courtesy of my Aunt Vickie...

1lb. Butter
2 Cups Brown Sugar (packed)
2 Cups White Sugar
4 Eggs
4 Cups Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 Cups crushed Corn Flakes
1-12oz package Chocolate Chips
2Cups chopped Pecans
2 Cups quick Oatmeal (uncooked)


Add Sugars to melted Butter and mix well
Add remaining ingredients one at a time, stirring after each addition
Use Ice Cream Scoop, scoop cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheet (only 6 cookies per sheet)

Bake @ 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes

day 1 ~ a countdown to christmas part viii...

Apparently, Christmas 2007 was not funny.



I love this family.
PS...I know it's over 4 minutes long, but come on, you know you've got NOTHING else to do this month.

day 17 ~ more beachy christmas...

 
Palm Trees are Christmasy too...

day 16 ~ a beachy christmas...

Merry Merry from our little beach house to yours...

day 10 ~ christmas lights make me happy...

Christmas lights from all over the world...

1. christmas lights on via del calzaioli, 2. zürich christmas lights, 3. christmas lights in the city, 4. Dublin christmas lights, 5. Twinkling christmas lights, 6. christmas lights, 7. lighting up christmas night, 8. christmas lights 3, 9. christmas lights

Thank you to all these fabulous flickr photographers for sharing...

day 3 ~ my current 3 favorites...

I love songs that spell out the words... and you can't ever go wrong with Frank!



This is "my girl..." and I promise if you listen to this song, you will go from being in a bad mood to a very good mood. Just like that!



COME ON... It's Dean. 'nuff said...!

day 2 ~ all i want for christmas is colored bubbles...

Check this out...

Colored Bubbles

 


Just think, a warm summer day...
just me and my colored bubbles...

a countdown to christmas part vii...

It may be the first, but it surely won't be the last; trip to Tar'get...!

day 25 ~ some highlights from our california christmas...

Since the holidays are long gone, I thought I would just share some of the highlights we experienced 'round these parts of the world! These are some of the things that made me laugh, cry and say things like "we need more vodka" more than once!!

First, there was the dreaded haircut... da-da-da-daaaa (say that like it's dreaded music...)

This poor little boy "allowed" his big brother to cut his hair. I think the conversation went something like this...

little boy:... "big brother, will you TRIM my hair..?
big brother:... "sure, get me the scissors..."
little boy:... "cool, here you go, now not too short..."

"snip, snip..."

big brother (under his breath):... "Whoops..." and "Uh-oh..!"
little boy:..."wait, what did you do..?"
big brother:... "Oh nothing, it looks good, trust me, and YOU'RE WELCOME..!"

Seriously, I haven't laughed that hard in months, and what a good sport little Ryan was too! We took lots of photos of the "during..." because, it was just too damn funny not to!

Look, even Ryan can't keep from laughing at his unfortunate meeting with those scissors...
All is well though, as the victim and his stylist later kissed and made up..!

Next, we have the Night that the "Hey, Chelsea Sweater" came to life...    
Anyone who puts this sweater on has a sudden urge to yell out... "Hey, Chelseeeea..!"
(I'd show you the videos of us doing just this, but I highly object to humiliating myself in public. Well, that isn't entirely true, as a very humiliating video was made of me wearing this very sweater humilating myself. In public. But, this is MY blog, so I don't have to go there)

Trust me, it's very funny and very humiliating!

Next up, on Christmas morning, the birth of one "Chardonnay" was born... Cue the migrane for my brother! So here is the back story: All my little niece wanted for Christmas was a "pair of high heels!" If you saw any list she hand wrote, the number 1 item was, high heels. This little girl had a one track mind when it came to what she wanted from Santa this year. In fact when it came time to open up the gifts, she honed right into the exact package that contained the said high heels and it was the first and foremost present she knew to go for! (somewhat suspicious if you ask me, but since I was the type of 9 year old who used to open up her gifts and then rewrap them so that "nobody" ever knew, I guess I can't be all judgy, now can I?) As soon as Taylor opened those shoes, her face lit up like it was Christmas morning!!

And Chardonnay was born..!

   

And this is the moment her daddy got his first (of many to come) migranes..!  

Later that night we enjoyed a HUGE feast completely prepared by my dad aka: Papa T. This is a picture of him calm as a cubumber even though he had practically an entire side of beef cooking in the oven.


Papa T says... "Christmas Rocks..!"

And lastly, check out this Prime Rib we enjoyed!


Nobody was heard saying, "Where's the Beef?" that night!
That is for sure!!