Merry Christmas to you!

I know I am quite far behind...I want to share what I have been up to, but have been bogged down with technical difficulties. I should just bite the bullet and just share my photos as is...I will do that.

BUT, in the mean time, Merry Christmas to you!

Enjoy your day and the magical peace of the world standing still for just one day.

Samuel

Christy B. has done it again!

Check out her blog for a sampling of some of her recent pics of Samuel.

Oh! And here is his slide show...I love this guy.

baking

And how does one counteract the effects of the Navman, you ask?

Cake! Cookies! Muffins! Brownies!

Here are two more of my FAVORITE Things, both of which were Christmas presents.

The first is 101 Things to do with a Cake Mix - a book full of recipes that have a box of cake mix as the main ingredient. My copy is well loved and used...I am even using it tonight! When I use it tonight I will be using ingredients that I have on hand and just need to use - have that in your pantry? I do.

I even used it the other day when I had a chocolate craving and found the perfect recipe for Death by Chocolate Cake. Here's the recipe for a tasting of what the book has to offer:

Death By Chocolate Cake

3/4 Cup Sour Cream
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Oil
1 Chocolate Cake Mix
1 Small box instant chocolate pudding
1 Cup chocolate chips
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350*

Beat sour cream, eggs, water and oil together in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed. Add cake mix and pudding mix. Stir in chocolate chips. Place batter in greased and floured bundt pan.

Bake 45-55 minutes, or until a fork inserted into cake comes out clean.

While still hot invert cake onto a serving platter. When cool, sift powdered sugar over the top of cake.

*I had this with Cool Whip and it tasted like a Hostess Cupcake. Yum!

My second Favorite Thing ties in with baking and also just general cooking. It's my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer - courtesy of Matt a couple of years ago. Ever since I got this baby I can't imagine my kitchen without it. It helps me quickly bake cakes, cookies, brownies, shreds cheese, mashes potatoes...the uses go on and on.

OK, so one favorite thing is very affordable, the other is an investment. Both definitely worthwhile in my book.

Happy Day!

You can always go... Downtown

Chicago has many wonderful things to offer and one of those wonderful things was Marshall Fields. No need to go into the bitter details, but Macy's sweeped in and purchased Field's a couple of years ago and to the dismay of Chicagoans decided to change the name of Marshall Fields to Macy's.

Marshall Fields is a historic piece of Chicago history, particularly the beautiful department store in downtown Chicago. Every Christmas the windows are decorated with the Nutcracker theme and holiday tradition is to go downtown to see the windows at Marshall Fields - now Macy's.

So while we were in Chicago for the week of Thanksgiving, Matt, Sam, Mom, Dad and Marissa and I drove downtown to see the windows.

We even got to see the main tree decorated by the one and only Martha Stewart - it was so pretty that we had to take pictures in front of that too.

Check out Sambo with his Titi Rooster, Mita and Grandpa. We had a lot of fun!

Running along...

Happy Monday! I continue with my favorite things, a la Oprah...

Now this one is not generally sold in the states, but it can be found and if you really want one you can go with the Garmin model.

It's my running GPS! I strap the Navman R300 on my arm and off I run...anywhere! It doesn't give me a map if I get lost, but I can go for a run and turn wherever my hear desires and it tracks my average pace, my total milage and calories burned. It has a pace alarm that will tell me if I have gone above or below a goal pace and even gives me my maximum pace. Lots of information to use.

I love it. It's been great to have and I highly recommend you get a running GPS if you ever get into running.

Next up? Some favorite things that counteract the effects of the Navman...