New Year's Resolutions~

When I read this cartoon, it put a smile on my face.  I am not one to make New Year's resolutions...why? because I learned a long time ago that they just set me up for failure.  I learned in life there are some things I can control, and others I can't...and those others on occassion tended to come sweeping in and cause my resolutions to go right out the door!

I tried something new last New Year.  I decided to pick ONE SINGLE WORD to focus on for the upcoming year.  Something that would effect my life as well as my family's in a positive way.  The word I chose was SIMPLIFY.  And, I am proud to say I feel like we accomplished that in many ways. 

So this year, I will be choosing a new word to focus on...just one word.  I have a few rolling around in my head and plan to pick one by tomorrow so that I can begin focusing on it Sunday.  I'll let you all know what I chose next week.

In the meantime...I pray everyone has a Blessed and Safe New Year's Eve!!  I have so enjoyed getting to know each of you this past year and look forward to seeing what you all have up your sleeves for 2012!!!

Bittersweet Christmas~

The past month has been a whirlwind for us...Thanksgiving, followed by our oldest's graduation from college, to her starting her new job full time, to our youngest finishing her Senior year 1st semester and looking at colleges, to the anticipation of Christmas and celebrating with family and friends.

We had a very blessed Thanksgiving, we were so proud of our oldest as we watched her receive her college diploma, then watched as our youngest finished her 1st semester Senior year with honors and acceptance letters to 5 out of 6 colleges she has applied to (still waiting on the last one) and to have had a wonderful and Merry Christmas with our friends and family.

But with that came the bittersweet...our babies have now grown up and are starting lives all their own.  How did that happen???  Seems like just yesterday they needed us for EVERYTHING!  So it was a bit bittersweet for my hubby and I...so proud, yet that little part of us deep down inside wanted to stop time, go back for just an instant, to when they were little and asking for baby dolls, and barbies. 

We are in transition...no longer parents of girls that need us for every little thing, who are now quite independent, and have minds all their own.  But yet, we still long for those few moments of "mom, how do I do this?" and "Dad, can you fix this for me"...and they still oblige on occassion.

It will take time to adjust...

We are so proud of the young women they have become and wouldn't trade it for anything, yet there is always a part of a parent that would love to hold onto their little girls and stop time.

Christmas Eve Dinner~

The presents have been purchased and wrapped, the tree is lit, wish I could say we have a roaring fire going in our fireplace BUT...it's been so darn hot here!!  There will not be a White Christmas in Georgia this year : (

We are all ready to settle down, relax and enjoy the company of family and friends.

Christmas Eve will consist of attending our church service and then heading home for...

Basic Hot Oil Fondue (Bourguignonne)

Our girls love hot oil fondue!  It is tradition for us to serve it for New Year's Eve, but now that both girls are older and have plans of their own for the evening (sorry mom and dad, you're not invited) they've requested it for Christmas Eve dinner.

This year my parents will be eating with us, so we will have two pots going...one for meats and the other for veggies.

Basics needed for hot oil fondue:

Fondue pot (metal, not ceramic for hot oil)

Skewers (always have extra on hand)

Oil (Peanut and Grapeseed work best)

Meats:

Tenderloin or Sirloin cut into bite size pieces

Boneless Chicken Breasts cut into bite size pieces (keep separate from other meats/veggies due to possible Samonella)

Veggies:

Peppers (red, green, yellow, orange bell peppers)

Onions (we use the small white pearl onions, our local Trader Joes has fresh already peeled...BONUS!)

Zucchini/Squash

Cauliflower

Broccoli

Veggies should be bite size pieces as well.

Choose several things to dip your meat and veggies in such as:

Steak sauce

BBQ sauce

Terriyaki sauce

Hot Mustard

Bearnaise sauce

There are so many great choices available...it is fun to experiment!!!

This is the part the girls love best...all the different sauces and flavors!!

We usually serve Jasmine rice and dinner rolls as well.  Super easy.

Fondue is a fun way to celebrate an evening around the dinner table with good food and conversation!

I hope each of you has a Very Blessed and Merry Christmas with your loved ones on Sunday!!! Can't wait to see what the New Year has in store for everyone.