'Tis the Season for Gorging on Cookies!

Many years ago some friends and I started the tradition of a day of Christmas cookie baking.  This meant lots of drinking (helps make the cookies taste better), lots of laughs and many cookies.  Unfortunately, as time goes by, things change.  One friend has moved on with her life and I am not a part of it.  The other passed away 6 years ago.

So as I bake every year since my friend passed away, it's with a heavy heart.  But the wonderful memories of the fun times we had are still there.  I still have the scar on my finger from where I tried to open something with scissors and opened up my finger instead.  And as any big brother would do, my brother had to note that the excessive blood gushing from my finger and the feeling I was going to pass out was because of the drinking that had started at 9a.m.  He was living with me at the time and was our safety monitor/cookie taster.

Two cookies have become a mainstay in my Christmas cookie repertoire.  The first one is the famous Snicker Surprise.  I say famous because over the past 13 years, I have wowed my co-workers with this recipe and they have become addicted to it.  As the holiday season approaches, they would always ask when the Snicker Surprises would show up.

As you can see from the opened up cookie, it has an amazing gooey center--as the cookie bakes, the Snicker melts and becomes this "crack" like substance that everyone becomes addicted to.

They are easy to make, especially if you have a Kitchen Aid mixer.  The Kitchen Aid mixer has to be the best kitchen appliance and the best investment ever.  We have had this mixer for over 10 years and it still in great shape (I hope I haven't just jinxed myself).

The other amazing kitchen tool is this years Christmas gift from an amazing friend (also fellow baker!)  I was so excited to use this over the weekend during my Christmas Cookie Extravaganza.

These have to be the cutest measuring cups and tea/tablespoons I have ever seen!! How can you not be happy while using these!  My friend knows me to well!

Back to the Snicker Surprises.  They have lots of yummy brown sugar, peanut butter, sugar and butter in them....

The aftermath once I add the flour is always disastrous.  I don't use the bowl protector and I usually do a double batch, so things get a bit out of control.  But why bake if you don't have fun and make it messy.

Snicker Surprise Recipe

2 Sticks Butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 package Snickers minis

Preheat oven to 300. Combine the butter, peanut butter and sugars using a mixer on a medium speed until light and fluffy.
Slowly add eggs and vanilla until thoroughly combined.  Then mix in flour, salt and baking soda. 
Cover and chill for 2-3 hours. (I don't always do this. Most of the time I cook right away--the dough will be gooier but still comes out ok!)
Remove and divide into 1tbls pieces and place the Snicker in the center.  Form the dough into a ball around the Snicker.  Place on a greased cookie sheet and cook for about 12 -15 minutes. They are so delicious when they are still a bit warm. 

My other staple is No Bake Oatmeal cookies.  These are my brother's favorite.  He came over on Sunday to try out the batch I've made.  I think he went into a cookie coma shortly after.

These are so easy to make and really quick.  This is how your pot will look as you dump in the initial ingredients.  Please note I was making a double batch--I heard all the gasps when you saw all the sugar!  Still there is a lot of sugar in these but hey, doesn't the peanut butter and oatmeal balance it out??

Here is the finished product, cooling off on the counter.  You will definitely need some counter space for this.  I made the mistake last year of lining my wood dining room table with the wax paper for the no bakes.  Needless to say, I had a big mess of wax residue left on my table after.  Cookies were ok, so says my brother.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cocoa
pinch salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups of quick-cooking oatmeal

In large saucepan, combine sugar, milk, cocoa, salt and butter and mix well.  Bring to a boil and cover saucepan for 30 seconds to allow steam to wash sugar crystals down sides of pan.  Stir mixture and bring it to a boil that can't be stirred down for a minute.  Then remove from the heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth.  Add oatmeal and mix well.  Immediately drop by spoonfuls (I use my Pampered Chef melon baller which works wonderfully!!) onto waxed paper.  Let cool completely and store in a tightly covered container.

Even though I indulge in my cookies during the holidays, I make sure I stay on track with my workouts.  Makes me less guilty about the cookie gorging!!

So as you indulge this holiday says and you don't feel like working out.... remember...

80's Rewind

I am a child of the 80's and I still love the 80's--the music, the movies, the clothing...ok, some of the clothing.

The 80's are definitely making a comeback right now through clothing.  I have to say, I am quite excited about some of the styles coming back.

One of my most favorite things is the tight, colored jeans.  I still remember these hot pink tight jeans I had that I wore all the time.  I even had these floral shoes that I'd wear with them. (That may not have been the best decision, looking back on it now).  So when I saw the colored jeans back in the store, I had to get some!  I am a proud owner of purple and red ones.

The other jean style revival from the 80's is the patterned jeans.  Even though I could go crazy buy different ones, I used restraint and only polka dot ones.  I LOVE THEM!!!!!  How can you not be happy wearing some fun colored or patterned jeans???

Another style trend that I am loving is the leg warmers. Gone are the days of the Flashdance/Jane Fonda/Fame style leg warmers. (Even though I have to say that back in the day, I had some cool red leg warmers with white flecks in them that were pretty cool.)

Now the "leg warmers" are mostly called boot socks and are to be warn with knee high boots.  The fun of it is to let the tops of them stick out and it looks cute.  I am obsessed.  A friend and I hit Nordie Rack a couple of weeks ago and got great deals on very cute boot socks.  I'll try not to combine my purple jeans with my ruffled boot socks---that may be an 80's overkill.

All this 80's style got me very nostalgic to 80's music.  I listen to 80's alternative and punk on a regular basis still.  But I went through my iPod and put together a playlist for the gym of songs I hadn't listened to for a while.  This playlist gets me pumped, energized and just down right happy!!! (And for those of you who want to get technical, some of these may be early 90's but I can't really remember.  Late 80's--early 90's kind of ran together--what can I say; I was a college student then!)

Jump Around--House of Pain
Rump Shaker--Wreckx-n-Effect
Push It--Salt N Pepa
Wild Thing--Tone Loc
U Can't Touch This--MC Hammer
Humpty Dance--Digital Underground
Supersonic--J.J. Fad
Jam On It--Newcleus
It's Tricky--Run D.M.C
Pop Goes the Weasel--K7
Brass Monkey--Beastie Boys
It Takes Two--Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock

**Note how great the band names were back then!!!

Now on to the 80's rewind that I don't like.  What is the deal with Hollywood remaking 80's movies.  It's very upsetting to me.  The originals are just fine and for the children of the 80's, they have a space in our heart.  So when they are remade, it angers me.

When Hollywood remade Footloose a year or so ago, I couldn't believe it.  Sorry but you just can't replace Kevin Bacon as Ren!!  I refuse to watch the movie.  Nothing will top the original.

Recently I went to the movies with my friend that I have known since 6th grade.  So we have grown up through the 80's together--we've seen all the 80's movies that are dear to our hearts together.  We were horrified when we saw the movie poster for Red Dawn in the theater.  CLASSIC MOVIE!!!  I mean, hello!!! How can you go wrong with Patrick Swayze, Lea Thompson, C. Thomas Howell, and Charlie Sheen (pre craziness).

What are they going to do next--remake Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles??? (Hollywood, if you do, I know all the lines and I have red hair-hint hint.)


This is totally me:

Never Say Never

The holiday season is bearing upon us and the stores are in a frenzy today for Black Friday. 

Yesterday as I was driving out to my dad's for Thanksgiving, my brother asked me if I was going to go do some Thanksgiving eve or Black Friday shopping.  I went on a mini-tirade about how it's crazy that people go out in the frenzy.  I said there is nothing I need that badly that I would risk being trampled.  Many news reports note that a lot of these door buster "deals" aren't really deals. 

Fast forward to me sitting on my dad's couch before dinner, looking at the ads to check out these "deals."  The Michael's ad caught my eye.  There were some great deals on scrapbooking stuff that I always use (I am old school and I still scrapbook.)  Plus there was Christmas wrap and some children creative art kits on sale.  Hmmm.... my mind started churning.  Then I notice the 30% off the total purchase coupon.  And the fact that they were open on Thanksgiving from 4-11pm. 

Me: "Dad!  Do you mind if I take this coupon just in case I decide to be crazy and go to Michael's tonight"
Dad: "Sure. Whatever. Take it"
My Brother: "Ummmm, didn't you just go on and on in the car about how there is NOTHING that you need that badly to go out today or tomorrow?  How quickly things change."
Me: " Shut up. That was before I saw the Michael's ad.  I don't know if I will actually go but....maybe I'll drive by and check things out"

Fast forward again to halftime of the Cowboys/Redskins game.  I am a Cowboys fan and my brother was taunting me about the touchdown that the Redskins had just scored.(Older brothers....good grief!)  I was grumpy and full from eating too much.  All I could think about was heading home and crawling into bed.  My brother asks if I was still up for my Michael's adventure as we got on the road back home.  I was wavering at that point.

Our half hour drive was pretty uneventful and there weren't that many people on the road at 6:30pm.  I started to rethink my Michael's trip.  I didn't really feel up to going home and watching the rest of the game.  Maybe a little shopping would cheer me up.  Decision made. 

I dropped off my brother and headed over to the shopping center where Michael's is.  I was worried what it would be like, as the Walmart, Target and Best Buy are right there also.  But I don't think they were opening until 8pm, so I feel confident that maybe things would be good.  And I was right.  There was no traffic getting into the shopping center.  I pulled in front of Michael's and there were 5 other cars there.  WHAT????  How could I be so lucky!!

I was walking in with another lady and she turned to me....Do you feel weird about being here on Thanksgiving? she asks me.  I said yes. I'm glad someone else feels the same way! 

It was amazing in there.  Holiday candles, check.  Christmas presents for the kids in the family, check. Wrapping paper, check.  Scrapbooking goodies, check check check.  Easy check out, check.  Huge savings, CHECK!!!! 

I felt like I was on some kind of crazy high when I got home.  I was so excited about how much I saved and excited about all the amazing stuff I got!  I can kind of see now why people go out to get the deals, even though I would never be able to deal with the crowds!

I'm not saying I would do it again because I think I was very lucky in my experience.  But NEVER SAY NEVER!

Healthy Motivation for the Day (It was an amazing day out today and after my gorge yesterday, I went for a 2 hour walk with a good friend.  Not a better way to feel energized again!)

C'MON MAN! Part Deux

My previous C'MON MAN posting was fun to do, so as I go through my days and something comes up where I'm saying, C'MON MAN, I am keeping track to fill up a new posting.  I have to say that living in Northern Virginia, I pretty much saying C'MON MAN all the time, especially while driving.

Part Deux of C'MON MAN, fiery wench style (meaning, not sport related like the "real" C'MON MAN)

This first one is actually about me.  Yes, I do say C'MON MAN to myself more than you would know!  For about the first week or so after getting my hair dyed it's fiery red, I have the issue of the color bleeding.  Usually this is just bad after washing my hair.  But since my head gets so sweaty while working out, it also will bleed because of the sweat.  So unfortunately for the gym, I use their white towels while working out to wipe my head, face and neck constantly.  At the end of the workout, the white towel now looks like I've used it to clean up a crime scene and is all streaked with red.  I'm not talking lightly; it's pretty major.  Every time, I say to myself... SELF!  You need to bring your own towel.  That is just disturbing and gross.  But here we are again, a week after getting my hair done and I left the gym with another crime scene towel this morning.  C'MON MAN!

As you all know, the time changed two weeks ago, so now we are plunged into darkness at 5pm now.  It's horrible and I hate this time of year.  What I hate more is the fact that people seem to "forget" that it's dark earlier when they are driving and are driving around without their headlights on.  C'MON MAN! Use your brain!  How can you see?  I was leaving boxing the other night at 5:15 and almost pulled into a black car without their headlights on.  Hello! I cant see you!  (Just so you know, the parking lot I am pulling out of backs to trees so there really isn't extra lights around in case you were saying C'MON MAN to me for not being able to see in a shopping area). Headlights are put on the car for a reason....use them.

Tuesday I pulled into the gym for my spin class and a lady was sitting in her car smoking.  Since there is a liquor store right by my gym (yes, exciting and convenient), I wasn't sure if she was waiting for them to open or something.  Nope...she just needed those couple extra drags off her cancer stick before coming in to the gym to pump some iron.  C'MON MAN!  Fine, that is the choice that you make and good for you to be coming to the gym.  But can you please curb the smoking until after your workout?  Smokers don't realize they stink.  STINK!  (I can say this as having smoked for quite a few years).  So when someone is working out near me stinking of cigarette smell, it's very nauseating!

Once upon a time, the retailers would start the holiday season after Thanksgiving.  Then over the last several years it edged to around Halloween.  But noooo.....2 months of holiday decorations and music just isn't enough anymore.  I was in Target two weeks before Halloween and they had out there decorations.  I got very confused all of the sudden.  Did I miss a month? I know time flies but is my memory going that I totally missed the end of October and most of November?  As I walked further two aisles, I saw all the Halloween decorations.  Nice that all these holidays can get along and live side by side in harmony.  But that didn't push me over the edge (it was close).  On Monday, I was out with a friend in a town center by us and we both stopped at the same time as we heard the wafting of Christmas music.  We looked at each other, as we needed to confirm that we were hearing the same thing.  Yes, indeed it was Christmas music.  I may also point out that it was a gorgeous day and was about 70 degrees out, which made the music even more intolerable.  Why why why do they have to start playing Christmas music so early?  Starting it at Thanksgiving always gave me a headache but now two weeks before? C'MON MAN!  Stop pushing it.  The holidays stress me out, plain and simple.  The pressures of present buying, spending all this money... trying to see all the family and make everyone happy.  It's too much.  But now the retailers have to remind me so much earlier?  I hate it.  Will we be seeing the retailers decorating at Labor Day next year?

Fitness/Healthy Tip for the day

I Heart Zombies

I have a fascination with zombies.  Ok, let me take that back.  I am obsessed with zombies.

This obsession started from my original obsession of reading post-Apocalypse books. I think my obsession with post-Apocalypse books started years ago after watching The Day After on tv back in 1983. (yes, I just aged myself!).  That movie made me think about survival after an atomic bomb, chemical warfare or alien attack.  (I've had a vivid imagination since I was young).

Before I go on, I will note that I don't have a bunker under my house.  I don't have a year of supplies in my house to survive nor do I own any fire arms (anyone knows that it's better to use a baseball bat, pick ax or shovel against zombies anyways--duh!)  I do watch the show Doomsday Preppers because it's interesting, but it also assures me that I'm not as crazy as other people.  I enjoy reading the books, but not actually prepping for  the downfall of our society as we know it.

With that said, back to my obsession.  A lot of the post-Apocalypse books I've read to have zombies in them, which fascinated me.  I think it's the strategy of how to stay alive against creatures that intrigues me.  I'm not saying that I would survive in an actual event, but it's interesting to read about.

My obsession kicked into high gear when the movie 28 Days Later came out.  My husband went to see it with friends and he told me all about it.  Finally seeing it on DVD, I was hooked.  If you haven't seen it, it's a must see.  The sequel 28 Weeks Later isn't as good but I still liked it.  Whenever these movies are on one of the million movie channels that we subscribed to through Fios, I have to watch it.  I can't count how many times I've seen it.

From that point on, I was hooked.  I was reading tons of zombie books.  Thanks to my brother, he fueled that fire in me by getting me a variety of zombie items for the holidays. (Courtesy of thinkgeek.com, for all your zombie necessities)

Is that zombie monkey cute or what??  The Zombie Survival Guide is a great, hilarious read.  Definitely makes me think of the movie Zombieland, where many great tips can be learned.

So with this obsession, it's quite obvious that one of my favorite shows on t.v. is The Walking Dead on amc.  Amazing show.  They do an incredible job with the visual effects and each episode keeps your on the edge of your seat.  Spoiler alert--A lot of people get killed on the show.  Unfortunately even ones that you get attached to over the last 2 seasons and into this 3rd season.  For those women out there who aren't convinced about this show, there is something sexy about men fighting zombies to survive.

And my favorite.... (spoiler alert for below...)

who unfortunately died at the end of Season 2.  Season 3 just isn't the same without Shane. (My husband would disagree with me.  I think he may have actually cheered when he died....as I wept.)

Healthy Tip for Today:

Sweaty Or Weird Shaped Ears??

I have had issues with earphones for my iPod for years but it's now a critical situation.  I don't know if I just have sweaty ears so the ear buds fall out or if my ears are just shaped weird!  Does anyone else have this issue?

My current ear buds are okay and have worked better than the earphones that came with the iPod. 

The ones that came with the iPod always fell out of my ears.  They never stayed in while I was working out.  Maybe I move my head a lot when I work out? I'm not sure.  I noticed in recent Apple commercials that they have redesigned their earphones so I'm not sure if those are better.

I thought when I bought these new ear buds that things would be better for my very serious dilemma!  But these won't stay in my ears either.  I have to constantly push them back in my ears as they slide out during my workout.  Part of the problem could be the sweat pouring down my head (another dilemma that I have while working out--even without a hat on, my head sweats so much.)

So I think I am finally at the point in my crisis where I may need to break down and buy (pause as I cringe), headphones.  Like the old school type that covers your ears.  I know it's the rage and so many younger people are wearing them now.  I see people at the gym with them but they are kind of silly looking.  It's like someone just walked out of a recording studio or off a DJing gig.

 Source: beatsbydrdre.com

(Ok, maybe I have done some research and I have already picked out the color I would want...)

I just feel like I would look like Princess Lea wearing these around! (Thus the need for turquoise!)

Fitness Motivation for the day (Why I don't mind a sweaty head at the gym):

Happy Halloween

Halloween candy always kills my diet.  Every year I try to buy candy that won't entice me.  But the candy company's are very crafty with their Halloween candy bags. Putting Whoppers (ick, I'll pass), Take 5 (my husband eats them all before I can even find one), Jolly Ranchers (love them but I can control myself) and Reese's Cups (some self control but barely) all together.  They strategically put one good candy in with others that I can resist. 

The first thought that went through my head this year was to buy something healthy.  Obesity is such a huge problem in the US and I want to stand behind what I believe in. (Don't worry, I won't get on my soap box about that). This is how I pictured myself handing out healthy snacks.

But I really don't feel like cleaning up the eggs and toilet paper from the house tomorrow, so I gave into the society's belief that we should get our kids high on fructose.  I waited until Friday to get the candy and would have bought it today to help with not eating it before the kids came but Hurricane Sandy put a wrench in that.  Thanks to Sandy also, I ate my fair share of Reese's Cups on Monday and Tuesday.  I was out of my workout schedule due to the gym being closed, which usually helps with the cravings.

Now, all I can hope for is that the kids actually go trick-or-treating tonight so I don't have the candy left in my house!

My dilemma for this evening is that I have boxing at 6:30.  Since I didn't get my workouts in on Monday and Tuesday, I am definitely not skipping.  My husband has guitar lessons, so the house will be unmanned.  I think I'll just leave a bowl of candy on the doorstep and hope for the best.  I figure that is better than not having anyone or any candy there at all.

Halloween Fitness Motivation: Why I am working out twice today