Christmas is Here!

Top Left: my bread bowl- Center: driving through the snow with Dad- Top Right- Dinner at the Monroes
Middle left: My Christmas Gifts- Center: My Christmas El,f cleaning my car, Middle Right: Midnight Mass
Bottom Left: homemade tamales from my clients- Center: the elf at work again!- Bottom Right: it freaks my family out that I am baking:) 

Christmas, Oh Christmas.

It has been a strange and fabulous holiday. 

While you were all opening gifts with your family, sipping hot chocolate by the fire, and eating Grandmom's green bean casserole...

I was attending Midnight Mass, opening the most random assortment of gifts from my Irish twin, eating with other people's in-laws, getting hit on by drunken Mexican men riding their bikes through the snow, and cracking the whip on my personal Christmas Elf. 

The Christmas Elf being my dad.

 Who showed up by surprise.

 And has been cleaning my apartment, driving me all over the county, watching Twilight movies with me, and cooking me the best late night Christmas steak and potato dinner ever!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

I hope your day has been as festive as mine!

Lori Ann

Tidings of Comfort and Joy!

Happy Festivus, people!!

I called my sisters for the airing of grievances, wrapped foil around a paper towel roll for the aluminum pole, and put my laundry away for the feats of strength.

It was truly a festivus miracle!!

Anyway, I have finally figured out my

  Christmas menu

Here we go..

Beverage: Cranberry Ginger Ale on ice

Appetizer: Homemade spinach dip, in a homemade bread bowl

The bread bowl just  came out of the oven! Is it just me, or does this bread bowl look like a spaceship? Oh yeah..this is gonna be the BEST Christmas dinner ever!! 

Main Course: Steak, a Twice baked potato, and some fancy salad

Dessert: Trifle made with strawberry cake and strawberries.

The only thing on this list that I have made before are the twice baked potatoes, so it will be a celebration of experimental cooking!

 Wish me luck!

Lori Ann

Scones and Sisters

I rarely remember to count my blessings.

As my sisters always say, I like to be the martyr.

Today, I am thankful for two things.

One, for my sisters.

Erin

 for sending these:

yay for presents, it's nice to see something under my tree! Thank you for knowing what makes me happy, Eri!

And

Danielle

for making me laugh with a story that will go down in Hinsdale family folklore for years to come!!


Also, I am thankful for my new desire to bake.


Today I made scones.


Bread dough, rolled out after rising, cut into pieces and fried.

OH. MY. GOSH.


I ate ALL  of them with honey butter in about 2 minutes.

 Literally.


It's been a magical Christmas season and I couldn't ask for more!


Lori Ann

Merry Christmas, Darlings

It's never too late to feel brand new

Ok

I am going to get the jump on all of you with my

 NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS FOR 2011!!

Luckily I gave up heroin, stripping, and ice tea last year, so on to something new..

Resolution # 1 THE MONEY GOAL

NO DEBIT CARD.

Most of my money goes to pointless crap impulse purchases.

  I want to save money and pay off my evil evil student loans things, so I am getting rid of the card.

 I will keep the number for online payments, etc, but, for everything else, I will have to withdraw cash from the bank.

Resolution # 2 THE PERSONAL APPEARANCE GOAL

I hate my hair.

 Well, I don't HATE it, but all I do is wear it in a sloppy pony tail every single day.

This year my goal is to DO MY HAIR EVERY DAY.

Resolution # 3 THE I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS GOAL

I have been wanting to write a book for years.

This year, it is going to happen.

 If I write a page a day, it should take me about a year.

Resolution # 4 THE LIFE AMBITION GOAL

As you may know, I have a book of Life Ambitions.

 Everything from sky diving to being in a flash mob to reading the 100 greatest books of all time.

 My goal for 2011 is to accomplish at least 12 of those goals- at the rate of 1 per month:)

Well, there a million other things that I would like to improve, do, etc. but these are the main resolutions for the year 2011.

Boo Yah!

Lori Ann

p.s.- Starting in 2011, my blog titles will switch from song lyrics to quotes from movies/tv:)So get excited for that!

Random Thoughts Thursday: The Snow Day Edition

Ok people!

Here are all the updates you've been clamoring for from the land of Lori

1. the management retreat: I am deeply saddened to report that it was less retreat, more extended management meeting.

 There were some funny team building games and a great lunch, but my dreams of high bonuses and company secrets were shattered. 

 

2. My holiday to-do List

I am making some progress!!

 This has been such a magical Christmas and I really think it is because I am not letting myself stress, but just doing the things I love and trying to find joy in everything.

and last, but not least...

3. Today, I learned how to make bread. 

Left: mixing ingredients and listening to Pandora, center: my favorite part, kneading the dough!, right: It turned out pretty good, I think I took it out about 5 minutes early, because the bottom was a little undercooked, but not bad for my VERY FIRST loaf ever! 

Lori Ann

I get by with a little help from my friends

So, I coordinated my first office party...a Christmas themed Potluck/Baby Shower. 

Here are the FIVE things you need to know about what went down at the 1st annual Monroeton Office Christmas Invitational Potluck and Baby Shower Event:

1. I made up an award for everyone.

 Everything from "best smelling office", to "most infectious laugh".

 My favorite one was to Fred, my 61 year old staff member.

We gave him "the hottest in the office" and I gave him a coupon for a night of hot tubbing with management

. Oh yeah.

2. We talked a lot of trash about other departments, and speculated on high level company relationships. 

3. There was some evidence shredding.

That's all I can say.

4. I finally got to tell the whole office the story about the former tenant (Scott, a non complaint diabetic alcoholic) dying in my apartment before I moved in.

 If I haven't told you that story, you are missing out. 

5. It was a magical Christmas feast the likes of which none of us may ever have again!
 (or just a tepid holiday gathering that gave us a chance to gossip and eat)

Now..on to the management retreat tomorrow.

 Oh man, I feel like Alice in Wonderland.

 What happens at these events?

 Will there be insider trading?

Can you inside trade in social work?

 How much of a bonus is going to come my way?

 what kind of company secrets will be shared?

Fear not, faithful readers.

 We will be taking this journey into the unknown together.

Expect a full report on my management retreat tomorrow! 

Lori Ann

Feliz Navidad!

Wrapping dollar store gifts for my Irish Twin

Admiring the white trash glow of my tree at night

And crossing "watch Love Actually" off of my Holiday to do list.

Pure. Christmas. Magic.

Lori Ann

p.s.- Recibi una invitaction a comer posole con mi gente Mexicano el dia antes de la Navidad! Que emocion! 

There's not a thing that I would change

No one knows me really. Except my sisters.

They are my teachers, my cheerer-uppers, my defenders, my examples, my make me laugh until I criers, my best friends.

Today is one of their birthdays. 

Happy Birthday, Eri. 

You are everything that I wish I could be. 

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double.  

Toni Morrison

Lor

Baby, it's cold outside

This is my second attempt at decorating my tree. Equally bizarre/trashy as the first time:)

I can't stop listening to and watching this!

I initiated an unauthorized Christmas themed potluck at work. 

It's going to be Monday morning at 11 am.

You are all invited!

Lori Ann

p.s.- Once again the South has had the last laugh.

 After an unseasonably hot and long summer, it is now unseasonably cold.

 Apparently there is no benefit to living here.

 You are going to be extra hot in the summer and extra cold in the winter. 

Well, there is the barbecue and hot accents...humm...maybe its worth it..

If only in my dreams

I think I may have just decorated the most bizarrely awful Christmas tree of all time. 

Too many lights on the bottom, not enough on top. 

Ornaments are strangely placed and the tinsel looks like a 3 year old was in charge. 

But, sitting here in my living room, with the lights off, listening to Oh Holy Night, that all fades away.

I feel almost at peace.

 I have fancy hot chocolate, homemade Christmas cookies, a strange little tree, and Matt Damon movies (my personal holiday tradition). 

There is just one thing missing. 

Well, four things really. 

Lori Ann

A Merry Christmas

You guys! 

Tonight was my office Christmas Party.

 It was hilarious and super fun.

 and INSANE.

# 1- I started and participated in a DANCE OFF!! 

(which was one of my life goals!)

Not me, but the starting team on the dance off!!

# 2- I was offered secret alcohol that was being passed around in green cups! 

# 3- I won the "Michelangelo Award" for the most creative person, for the 3rd year straight!

People were chanting my name!

 My company's Christmas party is the one time a year that I feel what its like to be popular.

 I don't know what it is,
 (maybe the alcohol they are drinking!)

but I genuinely feel like every one's favorite at this party.

 It's a nice feeling.

This party was the kick off to my holiday season, and it looks like it is going to be an amazing Christmas season!!

Lori Ann 

Random Thoughts

Ok, so...

1. I got myself one of several Christmas gifts I have planned for good ole' number 1 this year...

A SEWING MACHINE!

 I named her Hester and let me tell you..she is temperamental.

 She and I have been trying to make a table runner out of sparkly penguin fabric and she is not as enthused as I. 

2. I made my "holiday to do list" today.

 (that was probably an unnecessary use of quotations, but I can't stop, I am the same way with the semi colon. I never know when its needed and I feel a desire to throw it in everywhere)

 ANYWAY, on my list this year: see a choir concert, go to Midnight Mass, get a real tree, have a 'shopping and movie' day, have a baking day, volunteer on Christmas day, etc.

3. I never did review the Harry Potter movie.

 I know my readers are clamoring for my thoughts: I liked it.

 I have come to realize that I can never truly LOVE a Harry Potter movie because of all that they leave out.

 I think my heart will always be most broken by them leaving out SPEW.

 It's what inspired me to write my own manifesto!

 Anyway, I CANNOT wait for the last one.

 Battle of Hogwarts, the Prince's Tale, Kings Cross Station, Epilogue..its going to be amazing!

4. The company Christmas Party is tomorrow night.

 I am going with two agendas.

 1. Revenge. 

2. Win some awards, baby! 

Every year they distribute these random awards.

 I've won the Michelangelo creativity award 3 years running..I don't want my streak to be broken.

5. My James just turned 7.

 And let me tell you something..7 never looked so good. 

6. Happy Hanukkah to all of my Jewish peeps.

 You know who you are, gremlin!

 (Seriously though, I really find almost all Jewish people to be hot.) 

(I'm telling you all this because you are a NTK basis..a Need To Know basis..and you all needed to know)

(look for further personal revelations in the future)

7. My parents are back from Paris and London.

Apparently they had a great time. I am so happy for them.

Lori Ann