Santa Baby

I've been an awfully good girl! I want a lot but really ...

In all reality though, Christmas lists are always a challenge for me. More than likely because I'm so impatient, if I see something I want I end up buying it for myself because there is no way in the world I can wait until Christmas for said item! That would require patience and well, we've already discussed that.

But, items I've been eyeballing that if I don't buy before Christmas include:

1. Dot flannel puffer vest | Gap
   
2. Yustina Bootie | Piperlime - Lucky Brand
   
3. "Kencott" Patch Pocket Quilted Coat | Nordstrom - Burberry
   
4. Tuscany Urn | Frontgate 
   
5. Ashworth Jewelry Armoire - Rubbed Black | Pier One Imports
   

There you have it, some of my current Christmas wishes. Hope I've been nice and not naughty ;)

Bright Eyes

My newest love: Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener

I use the Luminous 2 light/yellow and I am now OBSESSED. It gives my sometimes tired mommy eyes just a little bit of POP and makes me feel all ZINNNGGGG.

I put it in the corner of my eyes to give them a little somethin' and feel all purdy. If you're looking for a little somethin' extra for your eyes, I'd recommend giving this bad boy a shot!

Gee, Thanks.

Thanks for this weekend. Thanks for beautiful weather to round out the holiday. Thanks for the bountiful amount of family time. Thanks for pounds of food that I have gluttonously consumed over the past few days. Thank you for the endless snuggle sessions with little man that hubs and I have squeezed into these extended days. Thanks for safe travels while visiting our family. Thanks for the adorable giggles, screams, coos and smiles that my baby boy is learning everyday. Thanks for my husband's tiger paws that perfectly envelop my tiny hands and keep them warm while walking along the blistery cold streets of Chicago. Thanks for my new Zara coat to keep me warm and sorta cute for the remainder of the winter. Thanks for my hundreds of tiny lights that adorn my new landscaping and Christmas tree to make the season extra merry and bright. Thanks for Italian sweet cream in my coffee. Thanks for shellac and the beauty it brings to dry pale hands in the winter. Thanks for a working furnace that keeps my babies warm. Thanks for food in my pantry. Thanks for letting me know what it feels like to be loved. Thanks for the opportunities I have been given. Thanks for my education. Thanks for my wiener puppy. Thanks for pretty shoes on my feet. Thanks for my parents and their wisdom. Thanks for in laws and extended family. Thanks for copious amounts of friends. Thanks for home decor and the delight it brings me. Thanks for strollers, without their existence I fear my arms would have fallen off. So, therefore, Thanks for my arms, and legs and other extremities. Thanks for clean water. Thanks for beautiful landscapes. Thanks for the four seasons (weather, not the hotel). Thanks for chapstick. Thanks for chocolate. Thanks for boots. Thanks for Kung Fu Girl. Thanks for entertainment. Thanks for laughter. Thank you for health. Thank You for family. Thanks for making me realize just now, that if I continue to list everything I am thankful for we may be here until next Thanksgiving (or perhaps Thanksgiving circa 2056). Gahh, Thank You, Thank You, Thank YOU.

The obligatory "I'm Thankful" post didn't make it up on Turkey day, but it needed to make it up. So Sunday night is going to have to do. Thanksgiving.  The one day of the year where those of us who are lucky enough gather with our loved ones and celebrate.  Celebrate family. Celebrate life, health and happiness. Simply celebrate a reason to celebrate.

I once read "It is not happy people that are thankful. It is thankful people that are happy", and I could not agree more. It is so easy, and I know I often get caught up in it. In all of it. That I forget to take a step back, gain a little perspective and realize just how much I honestly have to be thankful for. It's truthfully overwhelming when I take some quiet time and really think about everything I have to be thankful for. Golly Goodness. What a blessed life. Whew.  I'm grateful.  And tonight before I lay my head on my pillow, in my bed, in my cozy home, surrounded by my healthy family I will snuggle extra tight, I say thanks to Him for all of said items and so much more. Thank You Lord for all You have given me. More than any girl deserves.

Thank You.

Recipe Monday: Buffalo Chicken Dip

The age-old football party/tailgate favorite: Buffalo Chicken Dip. There are so many variations that can be made to this recipe, but in the end they all come out the same ... DEEEELISH!  Plus HUGE bonus ... when you eat it as a dip, you don't have to worry about anyone seeing your treacherous wing eating face, getting that delectable sauce allover your cheekies or having to wear gloves because you have a cut on your finger and the wing sauce makes it sting.  Not that Shane or I have any knowledge in any of these departments or anything ...

Oh heavens he is going to KILL me, so worth it though.  Hehehe, okay so we hosted a couples baby shower this weekend, and I knew the food better be boy friendly.  Therefore, I thought this would be a great addition to the menu.

Hubs and I are ranch people, opposed to the bleu cheese connoisseurs ... so my recipe includes ranch, but feel free to substitute or add both for that matter if you want some bleu cheese in your recipe. Additionally, any shredded cheese works ... so don't feel like you need to buy anything in particular. Just use whatever amazing cheesy concoction you can scrounge up from your fat mold cheese drawer.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients

• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese (reduced fat or the regular super fat kind will work)
• 1/2 cup wing hot sauce (I use Frank's)
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing (I use Ken's, but any ranch will do, even a thicker veggie dip kind would be fine. This is also where you could use bleu cheese if it tickles you fancy)
• 2 cups shredded or chopped chicken (I buy a fryer chicken from Kroger because it has tons of flavor and it's super easy ... I've also made it with chicken thighs [cooked anyway you prefer] ... I know you can also buy canned white chunk chicken and use that too, but quite frankly that freaks me out. Meat in a can just shouldn't be allowed. Ever.)
• 2 cups cheese (I use the cheddar blend, but again, any will do)
• Serve with celery and Frito scoops ... so they're not part of the ingredients, but you'll wanna snag em' on your grocery run :)

Directions

There are 2 ways to make this goodness. Layered or mixed. I do both, but I think I've recently decided I like it mixed for a couple of reasons. First and most importantly, its the easiest Second, it ensures you get all of the mixture on your serving utensil (celery or Frito). You know how sometimes you get those "scared to dip" type of people? The ones that just dip the tip of their chip only halfway down in the mixture.  I want to grab them by the shoulders, shake them violently and scream "DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH CREAM CHEESE YOU JUST LEFT AT THE BOTTOM!?!?!" And for that very reason, I think we should just all agree to mix it all. Capisch?

HOWEVER - if you want to layer it do so like this:

• Spread cream cheese evenly among the bottom of an ungreased 1 qt shallow baking dish
• Top with layer of your NON-CANNED chicken
• Mix ranch and hot sauce together - pour over chicken
• Finish her off by topping with your cheesy goodness
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes (or until mixture is hot and bubbly and heated through)

But, I'd suggest the mix.  Pull chicken off the bone and chop into bite sized little pieces.

Next put all of the ingredients in a bowl.  Then stir them all together. Now plop em down in your 1 quart baking dish so they can get all warm and cozy together.

Finally, pop em in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Garnish with some baby celery/green onions/or extra cheese to give it a little prettiness.  Serve with celery and Frito's. Hello buffalo chicken heaven without sauce all over your hands and face. Sheer perfection!