'Twas the Day After Christmas

  It's really the same thing every year, for months I look forward to Christmas with an enthusiasm that can't truly be explained. I put all of my time and energy into creating festive things, from Christmas ornaments, to gifts, to cookies, and various treats. Then, on Christmas Eve I am a-twitter with excitement. The following day is much like a passing dream and then it's all over. Nothing can express the sorrow that seems to flood me throughout the week after Christmas.

  Usually I spend my week after Christmas doing nothing but mourning for the holidays of my past while staring dismally at the ghost of Christmas that lingers everywhere, like scraps of wrapping paper, leftover treats, the empty tree, and everything else that has faded in some way or another.

  But this week after Christmas I was surprised and still am as each day that greets me is actually fresh and full of delightful activities (minus having to do Geometry of course). I wanted to let you guys see what my day after Christmas was like so I shall compose a list. And just in case you are wondering, no, I did not not spend the day after Christmas in my pj's, having a LOTR marathon whilst munching on leftovers. Not that I'd frown upon those of us who have done just that though.


My Day After Christmas


I spent hours reading a book.

I began planning a high tea party.

I got to work on finishing a crocheted lace table runner that I want for my tea party.

I got most of my New Year's goals written down and dreamed over.

I ate part of my mini gingerbread house (it's actually made of graham crackers.)

I read my old diaries.

I poetically daydreamed over my gifts.

And lastly I had a chocolate from a box of delightful things a friend had given to me.


After Christmas fun, is so much better than after Christmas blues!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today..... Monday, December 19, 2016

Looking out my window..... I see brilliant sunshine penetrating every space outdoors. Tiny patches of snow are quickly melting under the fierce light from the sun, the sky is a lovely shade of blue but everything looks expectant as if waiting upon the arrival of snow.

I am thinking..... That I would most likely not be able to produce a satisfactory post if I couldn't listen to music while I was writing. 

I am thankful..... I am thankful for the ability to love.

One of my favorite things..... While this is not technically a "thing" one of my favorite "things" are The Piano Guys.

I am wearing..... A pinkish burgundy skirt with a black and white peony printed blouse.

I am creating..... I would have said Christmas gifts but I just finished up with all my gift making yesterday.

I am reading..... One of my favorite books, Anne of Green Gables

I am hoping..... That by some form of a miracle that I'll wake up on Christmas morning to see the world blanketed in mounds of feathery snow.

I am learning..... That real love is sacrificial love (no, I am not just saying that to prove I actually listened at church.)

In the kitchen..... Various ingredients are laying on the counters in preparation for making Christmas snacks this afternoon.

Picture thought.....  Diane and I actually set up a tree in our room this year and worked for hours on end making ornaments for it. Though  it may be a touch rustic, I find it absolutely perfect.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Let's talk holiday decorating. On a scale of 1-10 where do you fall? (1=Scrooge and 10= Clark Griswold). What's your favorite corner-room-table-space to decorate? Is it done?

  I absolutely love Christmas decorations but my home is not completely covered with heaps of decor. I suppose on a scale of 1-10 that I personally would fall at a five. Because each year my sister and I decorate our room thoroughly. The house in general only has a Christmas tree but my room has been touched with the Christmas spirit. I have stockings hanging on the wall. I have a cheery painted picture of a snowman on the wall (I painted it at one art class). We have our own Christmas tree laden with homemade ornaments, and we have bowls of pine cones everywhere.

2. Is there a nativity scene in your decorating somewhere? Post a picture or, if it's special to you in some way, tell us why. Or do both-it's Christmas!

  No, we do not have a nativity scene anywhere in the house. I used to want to play with the little people in those scenes though when I was just a wee girl.

3.  Do you live in a social neighborhood? If so are you glad? If not do you wish you did?

  Oh my yes! My neighborhood is such a pleasant and friendly area. Quite frequently we see our neighbors. Not necessarily as in having backyard barbecues but as in the fact that no matter what need anyone has had our neighbors are always there for each other. 

4.  As the saying goes, 'there's no time like the present'. How does that ring true in your life right now?

  Well, I have just recently discovered that keeping a to-do list is helping me massively in not procrastinating any longer. I have also discovered that for some strange reason it is satisfying to get a heap of things done in one day.

5. Do you dread Mondays? Why or why not?

  I personally dread Mondays. The reason why is pretty simple. I have lots of fun things to do during the weekend and after my delightful weekend hubbub, I get to turn to little ole Monday and have to face the rude presence of Geometry again. 

6.  Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis-which on the list is your favorite holiday plant? Are any of these on display in your home right now?

  I love poinsettias. We don't have any holiday plants in our home. 

7. Share a favorite quote from a Christmas movie.

  I have a thing for ridiculously lame Christmas movies and during the holiday season it's not very hard to find multiple cheesy movies. I watched one recently and had to explode with laughter when this quote was said. "Our library got a new book last month. Pandemonium." The hysterically sarcastic way that it was said made me bubble over and I couldn't help myself.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

  It's pretty much official. I can not stand Emma by Jane Austen. I tried to read it so many times and each time I found myself slowly dying inside. It is slow mind-numbing torture. I loved The Three Musketeers and Pride and Prejudice, but for some reason I can't stomach Emma. It's on my list of required reading for this year so I keep plowing through one dreadful paragraph at a time.

Awk + Awe ~ November

  I know that I haven't posted an Awk + Awe in quite some time and the reason behind that is that I was simply far too busy and by the time I had remembered that I needed to make an Awk + Awe post it was already too late. So let's just ignore the fact that it is already December the fifth and continue.

  I believe that most of you already know that I have been part of a home school group for the past few months and considering my natural tendencies to find myself in awkward situations, you can most likely imagine the doozie of a time that I've had at my home school group.



             Awkward

•  I was sitting there quite calmly in my chair at my home school group, busily conversing with Christina and Wade as well as several other of my friends, as you know, I have quite a mess of curls on top of my head and so naturally they were in my way. I reached to sweep my hair back and my fingers caught onto the necklace I was wearing and I nearly choked myself with it. Christina didn't seem to be concerned and Wade definitely wasn't since he burst out laughing.

•   One class that I have at my home school group is acting class. All of us kids were sitting around the auditorium being taught how to project our voices (out teachers find passing a mike around to be sloppy and unprofessional.) I happen to love acting so memorizing my script for our Christmas play was tons of fun. I have this one problem though, it seems that whenever I become extraordinarily excited or nervous, my nose starts to bleed. So imagine this, there I was, I had just finished acting out one of my parts and all of a sudden my nose started to bleed. Giselle, who had been sitting beside me, didn't really catch on to what was happening, but I must have made a scene and a half (which is hysterical since it's acting class) whilst I fled the room to the restrooms. 

• This next awkward moment occurred the very next class after my nosebleed during acting class. I was sitting in another classroom explaining to Sabrina how my nose had bled during acting class. "Oh, so that explains what that stuff was dribbling down your chin" she said with a gag. I smiled, because I couldn't help it, it's not every day I flee an acting class. I could still taste the bitter rusty acid taste of blood in the back of my throat and that terrible taste caused me to cough quite vehemently for a second or two. "Are you okay?" Sabrina had asked with a look of genuine concern. "Yes, I'm fine," I said, and in a British accent I added "I"m just coughing because I had a bloody nose, and a bloody throat, and a bloody face in general." Sabrina chose that moment to scoot back in her chair in mock horror. I suppose my British did get too carried away.

•  Somehow I seem to have the very worst luck with bringing awkwardness upon myself. My most unfortunate moment at my home school group happened during writing class. It was all completely innocent. I was sitting at the table scribbling away at a story, quite fervently too, and a sharp flash of light caught my eye. I looked up to see what it was and it turns out that there was a glitter on Carter's lips. "There's a glitter on your lips" I spoke before I had time to think. He reached up to remove it and then halted, "Wait, why were you looking at my lips?" he asked. I could have died right then and there. Like I said, it was completely innocent, but nevertheless, that was one of the most awkward moments I have ever had in my life.

• I love the Sundays of Advent, and one traditional thing that my church does is to have communion each Sunday during Advent. It's no big deal but knowing me, I still had a chance to provide an awkward moment. I was walking down the aisle, in line behind a lot of other people but right behind a particularly tall man. I suppose I must have become distracted with looking off across the room at some lady tucking up her hair because before I knew what was happening, my nose smacked straight into the extraordinarily sharp shoulder blades of the man in front of me. I have just come to the conclusion that lines are not my thing.

           Awesome

•   As you already know, I love acting, so I found it quite awesome when my acting teachers commended my acting. It was one of those warm and fuzzy moments.

• Right now I am only four days away from the big day at my home school group, known as the night of the play. I am extremely excited.

• Another one of my awesome things is the fact that I am now reading Anne of Green Gables again, I used to love those books and apparently they are still every bit as good now, if not better since I can actually understand what I am reading, so that to me is a pretty awesome thing.

• Something else that I find to be pretty awesome is the fact that I get to bake some desserts to bring to the play this week. I love baking so I'm excited, in fact I have already planned to take chocolate chip cookies and chocolate peppermint cupcakes. I can hardly wait.

Melt In Your Mouth Apple Crisp

  It is now officially Christmas season since all of the other major holidays are in the past for the year. I suppose when you think of Christmas season spent in the kitchen you might envision lots of cookie baking, various pies making, and the whole house smelling like ginger, cinnamon, and various other scents that are somehow labeled to Christmas season, but, no. To me, I see absolutely no reason why I can't still be making my favorite creations even though they are "labeled" in the Summer, Spring, or Fall categories. To me it's a bunch of nonsense labeling certain baked goods to certain holidays.

  Since I was having such fun feeling like a culinary rebel, instead of creating at least a dozen belly-sinking fruitcakes, I have instead used my baking time to create lighter and generally more pleasing desserts than those usually handed out in all of the Hallmark movies. As far as I know, most people in real life can't stomach Christmas cookies, and fruitcake even less so. On a mission, I swept into the kitchen and have been making season defying desserts ever since.

  One of these "rebel" desserts that was absolutely delicious and had enough cinnamon in it to warrant it a spot on a holiday list, was an absolutely delicious apple crisp recipe. I know, you might be thinking, oh, it's a fall recipe. But don't even let that thought cross your mind again, this is a superb recipe worthy of any and every season.

Melt In Your Mouth Apple Crisp

For the streusel topping:

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon (you can add more if you want to channel your inner rebel)
1 pinch of salt
5 tbsp butter cut into small pieces

For the apple layer:

3 large apples, sliced thinly and peeled
3 tbsp melted butter
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 pinch of salt


In a medium bowl mix everything together (it's easier if you use two forks) until you have a coarse crumb mixture. Pop it into the fridge and begin making the apple layer. In a small bowl mix together the flour and the melted butter. Add in the lemon juice, milk, and vanilla, making sure to mix well. Stir in the browns sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour this mixture over the prepared apples and toss to coat. Spread the apple layer evenly into an 8x8-inch pan. Distribute the crumb topping onto the apple layer making sure that everything has been covered in a blanket of the streusel topping. Bake at 350 degrees F, for about 30-35 minutes or until the the streusel is a lovely golden brown and bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving with ice cream, or if you let the pan cool to a pleasant temperature you can sit down with the whole pan and have a movie marathon. I didn't actually do that but I know it sounds like fun.

My Dear Diary ~ A Morning Spent Shopping

  I don't know about you, but to me spending an afternoon, or evening, or whenever really, scribbling away in my diary is a pretty perfect way to use up my time and document my life in a pleasing and enjoyable manner. Even though the idea of having my life recorded is terrific, it is the fact that I can write absolutely whatever I fancy at the moment into my diary that makes me love it so much. Plus, my diary is like a friend to me, however strange that may sound.

  Now I did not plan to go about making a blog post consisting of nothing but yapping about my diary so I shall not turn it into that now. My point for writing this post was to tell you about my morning that I spent shopping, I am only giving you a proper introduction to my diary because today you shall get to meet her because I have had a pretty terrific morning that can only be told to you properly if I go and share my diary entry about it with you.

  But, before I begin, there is one thing that you must know about my diary, and that particular bit of information is that her name is Arabella, I don't know why I chose that name but she looked a bit British so I went with it.

  Now that I have given you that vital bit of information I can share my morning with you just as I did with Arabella. Well, everything but my handwriting, which you can be glad you don't have to view since this font is a lot more legible.

Dear Arabella,

  Though it is only 3:27 in the afternoon, I was in the mood to write so here I hideout in my room, secluded efficiently from most of reality. Isn't that terrific?!
  This morning at around nine, Mum whisked Diane, Sean, and I off to to go about some shopping for Christmas supplies and various other items.
  My lower back was doing a splendid job of hurting and throbbing uncontrollably, so that made for an interesting ride into town. I didn't care too much though, because everyone knows that physical comfort is overrated. #sarcasm
  Once we had arrived at the store Mum led us all to the Christmas section of the store which seemed to be branched off as another building. That building had frequently opened doors so lots of cheery birds were flying around chirping incessantly. I was in awe of all the supplies in the Christmas department, we browsed for a while and Mum selected several rolls of wrapping paper and a large container of gorgeous ornaments. I could have spent hours in that department doing nothing but sighing over perfectly darling ornaments and so on.
   Sadly however, we left to finish up the rest  of our shopping . Since it's Christmas season, there were exceeding amounts of elf balloons everywhere. They were floating over shelves, and peeking from behind boxes, and some were basking in the warmth of the ceiling lights. Sean didn't seem overly impressed about them, but that only amused me.
  Mum took us to select winter boots then and I have to admit that I was a touch upset over how Mum made me get a pair of boots suited for orcs instead of a lovely pair that I wanted. I believe as Mum put it "you have to be practical, you're using these outside in the snow, it's not like you're using them to go to church or something." Can you believe that?! I'd much rather be cold and stylish than warm and sporting boots that orcs would fancy.
  However, Arabella, all thoughts of fashion problems were soon forgotten when I arrived to the tea section and was informed that I could select anything that suited my fancy. Naturally I chose the "English Breakfast Tea" knowing that once I arrived at home that Dad and I would have to thoroughly look over the assets of the tea, noting it's flavour notes and so on.
  Once we had checked out and were leaving, the store's greeter took one look at our tub of ornaments and immediately began telling Mum how he decorated his tree with purple ornaments and how the tinsel we had selected didn't actually look that pretty on the tree. Mum tried to politely edge away from all of his excessive chatter but that man followed us right along. I don't know exactly why but he struck one of my many absurd funny bones.


  That was only an excerpt from my diary but I believe it served to tell you about my morning spent shopping. You see, sometimes I can explain things better to Arabella than anyone else.

Blackberry Cheesecake Doughnuts

  I have always had a certain fascination with pretty desserts. Not just the sweets that grace high end patisseries but the simple little things that look delicious and pretty to boot. In fact I remember every Christmas time once the Christmas Swiss Colony catalogue came round, I would always flip through to where their cheesecakes were. I had such an obsession with cheesecake and honestly still do. I would just sit and stare at those rich and creamy desserts swirled with various fruits and want to eat nothing more than cheesecake.

  A few days ago I came across a recipe for cheesecake stuffed doughnuts and I knew I had to make them. I have made a few tweaks and added my own little spin on the original recipe and after sinking my teeth into one I just knew I had to share the recipe. Even though they taste delicious, it was the fact that they looked so pretty that made me like them so well.


Blackberry Cheesecake Doughnuts

For doughnuts:

1/2 cup warm water
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 tsp yeast
4 large egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
4 tbsp softened butter
1/4 cup heavy cream

For cheesecake filling:

8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
a pinch of salt

For blackberry topping: (You can just use jam but I wanted to have a homemade topping.)

1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups blackberries (If frozen allow to thaw)


  Starting with the dough mix the warm water, zest, vanilla, yeast, eggs, and sugar till well combined. Add in the butter and the cream mixing it lightly. Add in the flour and salt, mixing gently. Knead the dough for a few minutes and then transfer to a lightly greased, covered bowl and allow to rise for one hour, or as needed till it has practically doubled in size.
  Once risen, transfer the dough to a floured surface and roll out to a half-inch thickness. Cut out rounds and allow to rise on a covered parchment tray for half an hour, or till puffy. Bake at 350 for ten minutes. While they are baking grab a bowl and combine half a cup of sugar and anywhere from one teaspoon of cinnamon to a tbsp depending on your personal preference. In a small saucepan melt five tablespoons of butter. Once the doughnuts have baked, dip them into the butter and then roll them in cinnamon sugar. (Please note that this step is completely optional but I found it to be a delicious addition.)
  For the filling beat everything together. (That was blunt!) Spoon the filling into a piping bag fitted with a long circular tip. Poke a hole into the sides of the doughnuts and fill.
  To make the blackberry filling combine the water, sugar and cornstarch on medium heat. Add the butter and the blackberries. Bring it to a boil stirring gently. Boil the mixture, stirring constantly till thickened. You'll want the mixture to have thickened to the consistency of soft jam so that it does not run all over the place when you garnish your doughnuts.
  Allow the berry mixture to cool (it's a good idea to make this while your doughnuts are rising, that way you don't get impatient and eat all of your baked doughnuts while you are waiting for the mixture to cool.) Pipe a "nest" of cream cheese filling on the center of each doughnut and spoon a dollop of blackberry filling into each "nest." These doughnuts are the best served on the same day as they were made so feel free to serve them along with dinner, as an after dinner snack, and for a midnight snack if necessary.