{ Happy New Year's! }

{ evaluation of this year }

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
I climbed a mountain.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions last year. This year, however, my resolution is to remember more peoples' birthdays and give them a card (or at least wish them well). Unfortunately, I always forget birthdays :P

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousins had another baby girl, as did a couple we used to know through church. My close friend Sohee had her baby boy before she went back to Korea.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My aunt did. Her funeral was the first one I've attended as an adult, and it was very hard.

5. What countries did you visit?
I didn't even leave the province this year!

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
A full time teaching job.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 1, Canada Day. We stood on the dry shore of a mountain lake bed and watched Derek and Jordan shoot off fireworks in the middle of the wilderness. It was something from a dream.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating from University and becoming a substitute teacher.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I would really say I didn't have one; I'm quite proud of this past year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious--a few colds and flus, but that's it.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
We paid off about half of our student loans. Now that's money well spent!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I've been really inspired by Stephen this year. He showed me the power of godly change and the ability to gain wisdom when you seek it.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Several doctors and nurses that I made cappuccinos for at the hospital! Learn some manners!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and living costs. Other than that, paying off debt.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Teaching for the first time on my own.

16. What songs will always remind you of 2005?
Almost anything by Hillsongs. Oh, and Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes"

17. Compared to this time last year:

I. are you happier or sadder?
Happier

II. thinner or fatter?
Fatter. Haha. Not by much, though.

III. richer or poorer?
Richer. Much, much richer (yay for two incomes!)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spend time with my husband. We've both been so busy this year ...

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hmm, nothing comes to mind, actually.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas was spent with both our families. We visited with his family throughout the holidays, with my family on Christmas day, and my two brother-in-laws stayed in our condo with us for five days.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
I fell more in love with Derek, truly.

22. How many one-night stands?
Zilch.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

24. What was the best book you read?
Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm really not that into music ... I guess I started liking Jack Johnson.

26. What did you want and get?
Pointy toed boots. Two pairs, no less (black and pink)

27. What did you want and not get?
A full time teaching job.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
King Kong was pretty amazing.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 22. I celebrated with my family. We went out for dinner and opened gifts together.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having my own car would make things easier. I'd also feel a lot more independent.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Teachery. HAHA. You all know what I mean (black pants and blazers were my two best friends).

32. What kept you sane?
Ranting over MSN to a chosen few people (you know who you are!)

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Wentworth Miller is kind of cute ...

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fact that the liberals are still in power and are still in the lead to win this next election. Bah!

35. Who did you miss?
Sohee.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Breanna.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Last year I quoted an old proverb as my motto for 2005, and I think it held up, really. It is: "Make hay while the sun shines." Both Derek and I learned the value of hard work this year. It really did pay off for us.


Play along on your own blog, if you'd like!

{ the Christmas rundown }

Christmas for our family was hectic and busy, but was also a lot of fun. Both Derek and I had the opportunity to spend time with the people that mean the most to us: our parents, brothers, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We ate two turkey dinners, Chinese food on Christmas Eve, and more chocolate than we could stomach. I got Derek a handheld GPS this year, and he loved it; it's been following us out to the car and around the city to various locations as Derek marks in some of our favorite local destinations. From Derek I got a beautiful new pair of ice skates (I loved skating when I was little, but I haven't done it in years!). This year we will go skating together for the first time ever. I can't wait. He also got me a gorgeous spice rack and my favorite perfume. From other family members I was lucky to recieve the cutest set of mixing bowls I've ever seen (think robin's egg texture, color, and shape), a Starbucks mug I've had my eye on, a gift certificate for a neck and back massage, credit to take a one-day bread making course, and the DVD Amélie, among other things. And oh, I also got the flu. Luckily it held off until our in-laws left our house, but the next morning, I was completely out of commission. Today I head back to work, still a little queasy. Despite the business and sickness, however, I still feel well-rested from this bit of time off (especially the time off of teaching). I'm feeling refreshed for the upcoming New Year!

And what about all of you? How were your holiday celebrations?

{ Just in time for Christmas: }

{ a long-standing christmas tradition }

our Christmas stockings
So, our halls are decked, our tree is clad in its twinkling lights, and although we don't have a chimney, our stockings are laid out, their wide mouths yawning in anticipation of the sweet, Christmasy gifts.

Derek and I have stockings made in my Nana's traditional style, which my mother carried on in her memory. Mine was made when I was just a baby, and Derek's was made when he joined our family through his engagement to me. My stocking bears the felt cutouts symbolizing the simple joys of a two year old--a rocking horse, a glittering Christmas tree, a snowman, my teddy bear. Derek's stocking, on the other hand, has a character all its own, being one of the few stockings in our family created to represent his adult identity--the Bible reminds everyone of his faith and career as a pastor; the symbol of surfing boasts his love of the wild sport; a gleaming replica of my diamond ring reminds us how he made it into our family in the first place; the crunchy-looking green pickle makes Derek and I laugh as we recall an inside joke from when we were dating (we baked pickle slices into shortbread cookies and fed them to my family members, much to their disgust); and last but not least, the gold-colored Honda reminds us of the two memory-filled and identical '87 Honda Accords that he drove, back to back, for all the years we were dating. My mother chose all the symbols herself, and surprised us with the unique stocking a few years ago. Both stockings are still well-appreciated, and are part of a long-standing Christmas tradition from my side of the family.

Other stocking-related traditions? We always open our stockings first thing Christmas morning, before all the other gifts. Traditional items to make it into the stocking every year? A bottle of Koala soda, a can of Pringles, some type of chocolates, and a mandarine orange, shoved right down to the toe for good measure. A few other unique items join the bunch every year--colorful pens, nice stickers, pocket books, keychains. The gifts are small and easily recognized, but our stockings still remain one of our favorite parts of Christmas morning.

To read up on some more history of the Christmas stocking, check out this page.

What items are included in your family's Christmas stockings year after year? What other traditions do you incorporate into your Christmas celebrations?

{ raspberry coffee cake }

homemade raspberry coffee cake
I decided to jump back into my Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook yesterday to find another exciting food adventure to investigate. I poked around in my cupboards to find an ingredient I wanted to feature--Oreo cookies, poppy seeds--but nothing jumped out at me right away. Then I opened my freezer and something fell out and nearly conked me on the head. It was one of many freezer bags filled with the raspberries that Derek and I picked this summer. They were starting to form an icy layer and I realized that if I wanted to still get some quality use out of them, now was the time.

So into the cookbook I went, looking for anything that included raspberries. I found both sweet and savory recipes but finally settled on a highly adaptable Fruit Coffee Cake (page 124). You guys, it turned out so good! The ingredients were so simple, too--stuff that almost everyone always keeps on hand. And, though the photo I took doesn't really show it off, this cake has an amazing crumble top. Served warm from the oven last night, there was absolutely nothing better.

So here's the recipe. All you eager beavers should run off and give it a try this weekend!

FRUIT COFFEE CAKE
taken from p 124 of Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

1½ to 2 cups sliced, peeled apricots or peaches; chopped, peeled apples; or blueberries or red raspberries
¼ cup water
¼ cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 beaten egg
½ cup buttermilk or sour milk *
½ teaspoon vanilla
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1. For filling, in a medium saucepan combine fruit and water. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer,** covered, about 5 minutes or until fruit is tender. Combine the ¼ cup sugar and cornstarch; stir into fruit. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more; set filling aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine the 1½ cups flour, the ¾ cup sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Cut in the ¼ cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture; set aside.

3. In another bowl combine egg, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon, stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Spread half of the batter into an ungreased 8x8x2-inch baking pan. Spread filling over batter. Drop remaining batter in small mounds onto filling.

4. In a small bowl stir together the ¼ cup flour and the ¼ cup sugar. Cut in the 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over coffee cake. Bake in a 350º oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden. Serve warm.


* Note: To make your own sour milk, add ½ tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar to the ½ cup milk. Stir together and let stand 5 minutes before using.

** Note: Do not simmer raspberries.

{ gullible }

I thought I had outgrown being so gullible, but maybe not. You should read this clever little thing, though. I quite enjoyed it.

{ friendship flambé }

{ baking biscotti }

homemade double chocolate biscotti
This afternoon I had a day at home to myself, which I haven't had for quite some time. I decided to try out a new recipe, so I combed through my Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook to find a recipe that I had ingredients on hand for. I came up with a double chocolate biscotti recipe (page 220) and was thrilled! I've been wanting to try making homemade biscotti since last Christmas. It turned out just perfect--a little more miniature than the biscotti you buy at Starbucks or Costco, but crunchy and flavorful nevertheless. It's so simple to make, as long as you have the time to triple bake the little cookies.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI
adapted from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

½ cup butter, softened
⅔ cup sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces

1. Lightly grease a cookie sheet; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in white baking pieces and chocolate pieces.

2. Shape dough into two 9-inch-long rolls. Place rolls on prepared cookie sheet; flatten slightly until about 2 inches wide.

3. Bake in a 375º oven for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 hour.

4. Use a serrated knife to cut each roll diagonally into ½-inch slices. Place slices, cut side down, on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 325º oven for 8 minutes. Turn slices over and bake for 7 to 9 minutes more or until dry and crisp (do not overbake). Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

{ christmas tree tag }

our humble Christmas tree
Okay folks, I'm starting a meme! Let's see your Christmas tree! So tag! You're all it--leave your link in the comments!