My Christmas Wish List

I usually have no idea what I want for Christmas. But, this year I handed Josh a list, even though he has done GREAT every other year, without one! Here is what I've asked for so far....

1. Black and Decker Scumbuster
2. Day planner
3. Deceptively Delicious cookbook
4. Real Simple magazine subscription
5. Coffee maker w/ thermal caraffe...ours is a hotel-sized 4-cup coffee maker that drips every time you remove the pot and scorches the remaining coffee...yuck!
6. Yankee candle
7. Clothes
8. Bath and Body Works Jasmine Vanilla lotion

I can justify my selfishness with the fact that "I'm just trying to make our house run more smoothly!" These are all the things a housewife needs...right?!?

Happy Thanksgiving!

100 People and Things I'm Thankful For: (not in particular order)
1. Josh
2. Mom
3. Dad
4. Joe
5.Matt
6.Mandy
7.Vivian
8.Grandma
9.Gran
10.Pam
11.Gene
12.Reece
13.MawMaw
14.PawPaw
15.Aunt Laura
16.Uncle Philip
17.Aunt Susan
18.Aunt Mary Fern
19.Cousins
20. 2nd cousins
21. House
22. Job
23. Food
24. Clothing
25. Faith
26. Church family
27. Education
28. Marriage
29. Grace
30. Children
31. Opportunity
32. Technology
33. Car
34. All extended family
35. Chocolate
36. Mexican Food
37. Target
38. The adventures of this year
39. Life's lessons
40. Running water
41. Air Conditioning
42. Heat
43. Electricity
44. Comfy bed
45. A husband who loves me
46. Having a husband to love
47. Happy childhood
48. Big brothers to protect me
49. A dad who sill heats up my car on a cold night (thanks, Dad)
50. A mom who is my best girl friend
51. Music
52. A musically and artistically talented family
53. Seeing my big brothers on Thanksgiving
54. A healthy and beautifu new addition to the family
55. Friends
56. Friends who are in the same phase of life
57. Morning television shows
58. Inlaws who accept you into their family
59. A husband who is so thoughtful and nurturing
60. Health
61. Clean laundry
62. Clean dishes
63. Clean house
64. Family gatherings at my house
65. Hosting friends at my house
66. Teaching
67. Babies
68. Friends/family who allow me to keep their babies weekly
69. Traveling
70. Dates
71. Holidays
72. Christmas music...coming soon:)
73. Turkey
74. Dressing
75. Mashed Potatoes
76. The dessert table!
77. Green Bean Casserole
78. Women in my family and Josh's that are great cooks!!
79. Clean sheets on the bed
80. Bubble baths
81. Christmas decorations
82. Birthdays
83. Blogs
84. Blog-stalking
85. Clearance racks
86. Fritos w/ onion dip
87. Christmas stockings
88. Cold nights
89. with hot chocolate or coffee
90. Makeup
91. Winter coats
92. Hair products
93. Warm feet
94. Hugs
95. Kisses
96. Movies
97. Eating out, on occasion
98. A fun and crazy family
99. Snow....when I don't have to leave the house
100. My whole life

She's Here!!!

Vivian Mae Stansberry:

Happy Birthday Vivian, Mom and Josh!!

Aunt Aubrey and Viv:

My beautiful new niece (my one and only) arrived today and I'm SO in love with her!! She is absolutely precious! She decided to come the day before her schduled C-section to be born on the same day as Josh and my mom, pround new "Nan-Nan". She was born at 4:22pm, weighing 8lbs 6oz and 20"long. She has darling chubby cheeks and a headful of dark black curly hair!! She is gorgeous!! I'm so happy she's here! Happy birthday to Vivian, Josh and Mom!!! Congrats, Matt and Mandy!!!

hahah

I just noticed my profile says that I'm from Afghanistan...that's hilarious! I guess I ought to change that:)

Happy Birthday!!!

Today my precious husband turns 26!!! Woohoo!! Have a very happy birthday, Joshy!!! You are AMAZING!!!

Happy b-day to my mom, too! She'll turn 50 today!!

I love you both!!

A few new faves

I have a few new (and a few old) favorites that I've encountered lately:



-Starbuck's peppermint mochas...THE best!



-Coffeemate's Peppermint Mocha creamer (because let's face it, I can't afford Starbuck's everyday!)



-Tresseme hair products....especially the hair spray, straightening gel and root boost: they smell great, are cheap, and work well, too!



-Suave shampoo (Clarifying) and conditioner (Refreshing Waterfall Mist)...remember, I'm frugal!



-Restoration Hardware's Sheet Spray in Fresh....at least I can pretend that I just washed my sheets.



-Neutrogena's 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes: This actually helps my eyeliner glide on much more smoothly.



-My long time favorite: Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Makeup in Classic Porcelain...Yes, I'm THAT white!!!



-The White Barn Candle Co. Concentrated Fragrance Spray for Home (at Bath and Body Works) in Creamy Nutmeg, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin or Spiced Cider. I just counted and I have at least 7 or 8 of these in my house. They are GREAT!! They actually smell more like candles than cheap room fragrance! And, you can beat it at $5. It lasts forever! I used ot use Kitchen Spice in my classroom and loved it! It is much better than the smell of sweaty children after recess!



I'm sure I'll think of more favorites later. Now I'm off to bake and freeze some banana bread with my overly-ripe bananas for this weekend.

Cranana Bread part II

The Cranana Bread was really good! I had another slice for breakfast this morning. I changed a few things, not much. I will say the cranberries are very tart, so you may wish to slice them and mix them with sugar, first. I actually liked them tart.

Cranana Bread (recipe from Wilson's Farm, Lexington, MA)
-1/2 stick butter, softened
-1 c. sugar
-2 eggs
-2 small bananas, sliced (I mashed mine...I don't like chunks of banana)
-1 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
-1/4 c. water
-1 tsp. vanilla extract
-1 3/4 c. flour (I used 1 c. white and 3/4 c. whole wheat)
-1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
-1/2 tsp. baking soda
-1/2 tsp. salt
-1/4 tsp. cinnamon
-you could probably add walnuts to this, too

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease loaf pan(s) (I used 3 mini loaf pans)

Cream butter and sugar together. Add in eggs, one by one, mixing well between each addition. Add in bananas, cranberries, water and vanilla. Mix until blended

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to batter and mix until combined...do not overmix.

Pour batter into pan(s) and bake one large pan for about 55 minutes or 3 small loaf pans for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let rest 10 minutes, run a knife around edges to loosen and turn out on a rack to cool completely.