Tri-Color Lament

The only thing I miss about working in an office this time of year is access to one of these bad boys:

 

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At my last job I sat dangerously close to the break room (like 2 feet), so I had my choice of any holiday fatness my heart desired.  Now if I want a special treat I have to actually walk my 8+ month pregnant behind into the store and buy it.  It's all just too cliché and sad to do.  So I mostly don't.  Which is good.

 

And it's also so hard to justify buying 5 pounds of popcorn for yourself, no matter the time of year.

 

But it doesn't mean I can't still dream of taking a little hand bath in a caramel, cheddar, original menage trois.  Can I get an AMEN!?

 

And Happy Holidays!

'Tis the Season

I just got introduced and reacquainted with 2 holiday MUST HAVES.

 

The first one is this absolutely delicious smelling holiday candle:

 



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It would make the perfect gift for a woman who loves the smell of Christmas merriment.  It comes in an adorable red felt box that just screams MERRY MERRY!  Or you can do what I did and just selfishly gift it to yourself.  It's already paying me back in dividends as one of 2 measly Christmas decorations that I am doing this year and as the only candle ever that my husband has complimented or enjoyed. 

 

He's one of those types of guys that doesn't believe in things like paying for smells or decorations, much less decorative smells.  Which at first makes you feel like he doesn't appreciate the things you like, but then when you think about makes you glad he's a man and how highly alarmed you would be if he actually did care about candles.  Oh, you know one of those too?

 

This candle is available in Wilmington, fittingly, at Nest in the Forum.  Small candles are about $13 and large is $34.  My advice, get a couple smalls and spread them throughout the house.  That way you won't have one giant half used candle to deal with next year or to have to throw out. 

 

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Next up is the holiday cookie of the week, the month, the holiday, nay - THE YEAR!  If you love peppermint things like me, and I loooooooooove peppermint things, this is really just YOUR cookie:

 

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It's like if Oreo's, Santa, Trader Joe's, and a giant peppermint had a holiday orgy, this would be their love child. 

 

I had the blind luck of forgetting about these for a few  years and likely saving myself 10-15 holiday pounds.  But I was reintroduced last night and after tasting that glorious chocolaty minty crunch again I say, "Bring on the holiday pounds!  For you peppermint, I'll do anything!"  They are just so, so good. 

 

My friend gave me five.  I had 3 on my way home from dropping her off and 2 for breakfast.  If I learned anything from my former roommate who ate an entire box of Thin Mints in one sitting, it's that sometimes you just need to rip that edible band aid off, eat the shit out of something, and move on with your life.  And if you're really, really lucky, you'll find a good chocolaty chunk of surprise leftovers on your upper lip a little later that you can savor for just a moment longer.

 

Happy Holidays!   Enjoy these must haves before they are no longer available!

Cookie Monster

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

 

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Fun fact:

 

"Ever wonder how the chocolate chip cookie came to be? Legend has it that it was created in the 1930s by Ruth Wakefield at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Mass. Wakefield apparently decided to add a few bits of chopped chocolate to a batch of butter cookie dough, expecting the chocolate to melt into the cookies as they baked. To her surprise, the chocolate held its shape and America's favorite cookie was born." (Source)

 

In case you are ever one Baked-Goods Jeopardy you might need to know that.  Now go get a cookie and celebrate!

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year dear readers!  I hope this year is the best ever for you and yours.  Any interesting resolutions this year?

 

Mine is to be more awesome.  Resolving to do this, I am going to start 2013 by giving away a $25 gift to any "Darden" restaurant to one lucky reader.  This restaurant group includes Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, and Seasons 52.  I know everyone has at least one of those in their town, right?!

 

All you have to do to enter is start following DivaSaysWhat.com and leave me a comment that you have done so.  If you already follow me than just leave me a comment saying what you did last night to celebrate New Years Eve.

 

You have until January 15 to enter!  Good luck :)

Bark

And, I'm back. I've been busy studying for my real estate class exam, and searching for the allusive Fancy. Good news, I passed the former and ate the latter! Both were glorious.

Now I come to bring good tidings and more money saving tips. Have you ever tried the Peppermint Bark from Williams-Sonoma? At $26.95 it's even more expensive than it is delicious. Not exactly what you want in an edible treat, am I right!?

I walked into a Williams Sonoma store last week ready to buy a box or two, BEFORE I saw the outrageous price. When I turned that box over to see that it would cost me over half a hundy to get 2 boxes, I flipped that baby right back over and high-tailed it out the door.

I was prepared to go home and slave over a double-boiler of white chocolate for the next few hours and make my own at a fraction of the cost. That is, until I randomly walked into the Hallmark store (so random) to look for cocktail napkins.

Not only did I find some cutie patooties that say "Merry Christmas, Y'all", I also found the exact same bark for sale for half the price.

Same box and everything!

Christmas is the time to shower the ones you love with gifts and merriment. Not blow your financial wad on two sheets of minty chocolate.

Save your money and go to the Hallmark store for bark. Williams-Sonoma is so over bark-wise. You heard it here first!

Yule Tide Mariah

Real Talk.  This video is brilliant for a number of reasons. 

 

 

 

How can you go wrong with fundamental classroom instruments, Jimmy Fallon, cute kids, and the motha freakin' Roots band?!  Answer: You can't.

 

But the #1 reason why this video is the end all be all of Yuletide merriment is because it showcases the sheer vocal prodigy that is Mariah Carey.  Only the original MC can stand along like this and still sound like an angel we have heard on high.

 

For real y'all.  You will never see Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus going straight acapella on an ORIGINAL chart topping Christmas song.  It just doesn't happen.  Unless you're Mariah Carey.  In which case thank you ma'am for blessing my ears and the Christmas season with the best Christmas song of all time.  #2 being the ever soulful Silent Night by the Temptations.  Can a sista' get a baritone in here!?

 

 

RESPECT

Gobble Gobble

Happy Turkey Day everyone!!



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How are you are celebrating this year?  And where are you giving thanks?

 

I'm in the great state of Florida.  Jacksonville to be precise, spending time with some of my extended family that I do not get to see nearly enough.

 

I am sure we will be stuffing our faces, laughing our asses off, and maybe, just maybe, drinking some wine together. 

 

This year I am thankful for everything.  My friends, family, husband, and health.  But mostly I'm thankful that I just received this email in my inbox and will get to watch this the day I return home.

 

As you can see the next 3 movies in our queue belong to Grant.  Our cinematic tastes are just slightly different.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

'Tis the season to be stressin'

When I was growing up I got amazing presents from my parents.  I can't stress that enough.  But now that we are older we usually give and receive more simple things for holidays and Birthdays.  And while cash is always appreciated, I don't mind the simplicity of my immediate family holidays because it's pretty low stress as far as gift expectations are concerned. Gift me some gift cards and a few hundy and I am the happiest girl in all of toyland.

 

One time my mom actually said, "Happy Birthday.  Your life is your present." 

 

Needless to say, I've never felt the need or inclination to go Christmas shopping starting in September because I usually only buy about 3 gifts and I do it online.

 

With my in-laws, it's a whole different ballgame.  Gift giving is the name of the game, and my mother in law is always the winner!  It's amazing.  In the two short years that I have been married I have received such Christmas gifts as an iPod, a DSLR camera, a diamond necklace, diamond earrings, and more.  It's like Christmas morning!  And it is on Christmas morning so it's expotentially exciting!

 

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I'm not trying to brag here.  I'm just trying to illustrate that gift giving is now serious business with my new fam and I'm not very good at it!  Did I mention I also have 3 brother in laws?  What does a girl who has never had a brother get guys for Christmas?  And what does a daughter in law give a MIL who gives the best gifts ever and never asks for anything?

 

Seriously, what do I give?!  I did a casual Google search yesterday to see "Top Ten Gifts to Give a Mother in Law".  The results were nothing if not hilariously atrocious.  Please see this list here: Top Ten Tasteful, Gorgeous Gifts for Mother-in-Law.

 

I would seriously LOVE to see the look on her face if I gave her Paris Hilton Body Spray.  Nothing says I love and respect you like bequeathing upon you the gift of Eau de Spoiled Rich Socialite.

 

I would actually be most likely to give her the Wonder Woman apron because she loves to cook, has a good sense of humor, and might actually be Wonder Woman?  But still, not going to cut it.

 

Has anyone out there ever given an amazing gift to a brother or mother or father in law that they can recommend?  I've got 5 presents to buy, less than two months to buy them, and zero ideas.  Help!

 

Happy Halloween, or whatever

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Creative Cousin

Boo!  Did I scare you?  I just wanted to get your attention to share these super creative Halloween treats.

 

Look at these amazing Halloween dinner ideas that my cousin made when I was in DC last weekend:

 

Jack O' Lantern Peppers stuffed with turkey, cheese, onions, seasonings, etc.

 

Green Beans Casserole with Ritz Cracker Tombstones.  Scary delicious!

 

It's not too late to make them for tomorrow night's dinner.  Spook and delicious - the perfect All Hallows Eve combination!