Sugar Sugar...

My eyes were bigger than my stomach... 

Or more accurately, 

my energy level was not in sinc with my plans...  

Holy smokes, I am so tired...  

And it's all my fault...  

A very close and dear friend of mine came into town 

for a week or so 

and I wanted to show her some Chicago fun...  

She drove in from Michigan to house/dog/cat sit 

some 20 or so animals for her cousin...

Um, mild exaggeration, 

but you get the picture..

Yeah, I'm talking halo time for my friend...  

We won't mention the sick dog all night story...  

Oh, sorry, I just did...

Well, she deserves a mani/pedi for that one!!

Just sayin'...

Okay, back to the story at hand...

Fate had it that every holiday event 

was clustered around this past weekend...  

However, it was sort of perfect, 

because the days were fast and furious... 

Consequently, I now want to collapse on the couch 

and stare at Food Network shows 

the rest of the week...  

I am sure she feels the same...  

The first night we caught up 

and shared a delicious meal at my house... 

The next night she helped me throw
 my annual holiday craft party, 

(more on that later...)

Next day was the One of a Kind Show at the Merchandise Mart 

and that night was the Southport Street holiday evening, 

where we chatted, 

shopped and drank free booze 

at shops along the way... 

Chocolate Martini, Wine, Rum Cider thingy, Sangria...

Saturday we went out for an fantastic dinner 

and drinks 

(another good story to share later)... 

Come Sunday, we were both a little done, 

but I had planned more, 

in my infinite wisdom, 

for it was Cookie Day!  

Thank God my mother came over 

to provide sanity and purposeful helpfulness 

in the wake of flying sprinkles, 

clouds of flour 

and exploding bags of royal icing...  

I don't know how many dozens of gingerbread and sugar cookies 

we made and decorated... 

The kids enjoyed the decorating 

and that was the intent...  

Always striving for the Norman Rockwell moment, right?!

Did I over plan the weekend?  

Probably.  

Was it fun?  

Heck yes!  

Sunday night, a neighbor hosted a wine tasting 

down the street at the local WineStyles...  

Sorry, this chick was tapped out...  

However, T$ skipped down the street 

to sample some free hooch...

He had enough energy, I guess...

Our sugar cookies were so tasty 

and the icing recipe is a keeper.  

Wir froren unsere Ärsche...

For those of you who don't speak German, it means, 

"We Froze Our Asses"...

Why German, you ask?  

Because Jack and I had a little mother/son day 

at the Christkindl Market 

at Daley Plaza last Wednesday....  

CPS was kind enough (sarcasm) 

to have a half day (again), 

so school let out before noon...  

Kate wanted to go to play with a friend, 

so Jack and I had a date in the city...

After settling an argument about cab vs L train 

(I won: train) 

and whether or not the IPad would make the journey 

(NO!)  

We made up and headed toward the Loop...  

It is time my boy learns about the CTA system 

and how to get around... 

Should he choose a high school out of our district, 

there is a good chance the L will be his mode of transportation...  

Time to foster some street smarts in this kid... 

First stop was the Macy's Christmas windows...

They are pretty, but I sure miss the days 

of the spectacular Marshall Field's displays...

They were wondrous...
  

Next, we walked to Daley Plaza 

to see the Christkindl market...  

Established in 1995, Mayor Daley invited the city of Nuremberg, Germany 

to participate in what has become 

the largest outdoor Christmas festival in the city...

Vendors from Nuremberg make the trip every season 

to sell their wares...  

They even bring their "Chriskindl Princess" 

to preside over the festival each year...

Jack and I bee-lined to a food kiosk 

first to grab a little lunch...  

Jack was impressed by the vendor's German accent...

I was more impressed with the tasty hot dog, 

enormous crunchy french fries 

and the icy cold Coke...

I was starving!  

We stood at a highboy table 

and inhaled our lunch in the cold...
  

And I mean cccccold... 

It has been strangely balmy all week, 

but Wednesday the refrigerator door was opened...

After lunch, Jack and I perused the kiosks 

that sold beautiful glass ornaments in all colors,

the beer steins,

the nutcrackers,

 

and the Peruvian goods (huh?)... 

Later we hoofed it back to Macy's 

to search for some Christmas gifts 

that Jack would use his money to buy...

We were largely unsuccessful, 

but it was fun to be in such a bustling store...  

Jack saw a Lush Bath Bomb 

he thought Kate might like, 

but he failed to notice its name (SEX BOMB)...  

Nope, let's pass on that one....  

Despite the chill, it was fun to hang 

with my boy for the day... 

And it finally felt Christmas-y outside, in the busy Loop... 

I miss downtown sometimes...

Speaking of Bath Bombs...  

Here's a great tutorial for a DIY Bath Bomb....  

They make great holiday gifts!!

The Perfect Sneakers...

One thing I won't ever claim to be is a runner... 

It's a love/hate relationship I have 

with the whole running thing...  

Aspiring to look like those impossibly fit models 

in the Title Nine and Athleta catalogs, 

I slog my humble one mile circuit in the morning...  

A few years ago, I survived the first few weeks 

of low motivation, winded lungs and complaining joints 

to string together a real running routine...

  I even ventured beyond my well worn route 

to farther reaches on occasion...  

It felt good, having more toned muscles 

and stronger wind capacity....

My husband rewarded me with admiring comments

and amorous hugs...  

But then hip trouble and probably bronchitis

 interrupted my health and fitness streak...  

It all went down the drain after that, 

with spotty performances for a couple of years...  

I couldn't get back in the groove...  

There were too many excuses to not run: 

Morning meetings at school, 

doughnuts to make for the guys at the factory, 

flannel sheets that called to me...  

It felt rotten to have lost the tone and cardiovascular prowess, 

but not rotten enough to get my posterior to move...  

Until Facebook...  

Lately, some of my FB friends have been 

doing amazing things with their bodies...  

Usually it annoys me to no end to hear 

about yet another 5k conquered 

or how certain protein supplements 

are the key to a perfect life...  

As a food lover, the quote: 

"Nothing tastes as good as fitness feels" 

makes me want to gag...

Sorry, but a slice of Devils Food cake 

with a cold glass of milk tastes WAY BETTER 

than screaming, burning muscles...

Sorry, just sayin'...

And then some ladies ran some amazing marathons,  

at the tender age of forty-something, 

to support a sick friend....  

And another friend, who shrank from the sight 

of any activity that might generate a hint of sweat, 

worked herself from the couch to a half marathon in six months...  

It was truly inspirational...  

The last straw caught me by surprise...  

One of my super fit friends, 

who lives and breathes marathons, 

posted The Holiday Running Streak...  

In a nutshell, the challenge asks you to just move your body,

every day, from Thanksgiving until New Years Day...  

That was it...  

My body was calling me to rejuvinate my wiggly thighs, 

Bingo arms and jelly-like belly to something stronger...  

I have been going to a Pilates class once a week 

since September, but I knew that was not nearly enough 

to improve this old bod much...  

The Holiday Running Streak spoke to me....   

Could I run every day for thirty nine days?  

I wanted to try...  

The first three days were hell...  

On the first day, Thanksgiving, the wind blew so hard 

it almost knocked me off my feet....  

It took all I had to leave the warmth 

of the flannel sheets on that dark, cold morning...  

Day Two was less windy, 

but my lungs and cottony mouth protested loudly...  

My stomach announced on Day Three 

that eating before running was NOT a smart idea...  

After that, hitting the bricks got easier each day until Day Eight...  

Good Lord, old running shoes 

give up on the eighth day 

and my shins cried out for mercy...

Shin splints, the runner's deal breaker...  

Oh, sorry....  

I am not a runner...  

Right...  

Although, the budget could ill afford 

a new pair of running shoes during the holidays, 

there was no choice but to hit the Sports Authority, 

coupons in hand, to find the most economical Asics for sale...  

Luckily, they were to be had...  

Here are my thoughts on running shoes...  

If I am about to pound the pavement, 

subjecting my joints to maximum punishment, 

while shamelessly exhibiting the worst running gait 

(think lame giraffe), 

then at least the shoes should be dreamy clouds 

of low impact heaven...  

There should be so much gel and cushion 

that running should feel like flying, don't you think?  

Ok, maybe an experience similar 

to that of a hovercraft, then, right?  

The shoes should change color, 

in a chameleon-like fashion, 

to complement whatever running gear I am wearing...  

That's easy, since I have had the same sad running clothes 

for about the last six years, 

consisting of three running skirts 

and three jog bras...  

The shoes should always stay tied 

to prevent humiliating wipeouts 

and they should have dog shit detectors... 

If any irritating juts in the pavement should approach, 

those shoes should propel me over them 

in a James Bond-like maneuver...  

You know, jets or rockets...

Maybe I am asking too much, 

but the fact that I talked myself into getting out of bed, 

when my head, feet, lungs, quads, hips and arms 

had very good arguments for sleeping in 

is reason enough to have miraculous shoes

 to help me get the job done...  

Let's just say, it's nice to have new kicks 

and the gel insoles will have to do...

Only 28 days to go...

Leftovers....

Do you still have a refrigerator 

full of Thanksgiving leftovers?  

We did a decent job of consuming turkey + fixings sandwiches
to take care of most of the foodage,
however, there were lingering bits still haunting the fridge
that I couldn't bear to toss yet...  

Still, I needed precious fridge space,
so I turned to my favorite problem solver, Pinterest,
to find a solution to this culinary baggage...  

Sure enough, I found the right answer;
Turkey Pot Pies...  

The page wasn't really a recipe,
more a suggestion of how to assemble the pot pies...  

So, if you, too, are wrestling with space and food waste,
try this....  

Take pie dough that is either left over
from your pie making frenzy of last week
or use some store bought stuff
and trace a circle, adding about an inch,
all around the pie plate... 

I used a disposable aluminum single serving pie plate,
but any pie tin will do... 

This will be for your bottom crust... 

Cut out the circle and fit it into your pie tin... 

Refrigerate about ten minutes...  

Now the fun part!  

Fill your pie tin with whatever leftover goodies you like...  

I tossed in shredded cooked turkey,
sweet potatoes, stuffing
and then I drizzled gravy all over...  

Much like a Shepherd's Pie, I spread mashed potatoes
over that and then topped the whole shebang
with another pie crust circle...

Crimp the edges, cut slits in the top
and brush beaten egg with milk over the pastry,
for a nice browned crust...  

Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes
or until the crust is brown...  

Hello, today's lunch! 

That pretty much cashed in most of the leftovers,
but I still have a fair amount of turkey left... 

The troops are turkey-ed out,
so I may put together a pan of turkey enchiladas
and freeze them for another date...  

On another note,
after Thanksgiving was booted out the door
(at about 8 pm Thursday night),
it seemed the Christmas season was upon us, full tilt... 

We succeeded in avoiding any Black Friday Sales,
namely because we are broke,
but I have to say it was fun to stay home
with a fire blazing in the fireplace,
Jenga games happening on the floor
and cheesy movies on the TV... 

Yesterday, I decided that this blissful family togetherness
was wearing thin,
so I broke out the Aldi Gingerbread House making kits...
  

One good thing about squirreling away
Halloween and Dollar store candy
is that is really comes in handy for this project...
  

We have more than enough sugary goods
to doll up twenty houses... 

I love watching the kids' creativity come out...  

It's one of my favorite Christmas traditions
and they only fought over the candy once....

Okay, twice...  

Have you made out your December Calendar of Fun yet?  

Nope, me neither....

but I am coming up with some ideas...  

On the list are:  

Cookie Day  

Ice Skating  

Ladies Crafting Party  

Date Nights    

I need to find some more fun things
to do with the kids that are easy on the budget...  

Would love to see some holiday shows, but tickets are $$$...  

Anyway, share with me any fun,
family friendly holiday traditions you enjoy... 

I'd love to hear 'em!!