Lazy Winter Dinners

You know what I love about the winter? Easy meals. You can throw anything in a crockpot, casserole dish, or microwave plate for some meals that warm the belly and warm your house.

As of late, I am eating acorn squash. For 15 minutes on high, I get a delicious little veggie serving with a little indulgence of maple syrup or splenda and cinnamon. Yum yum yum.

If I had my crock pot out here in DC, which, really is my mom's so I guess I don't really have one, but you know what I mean. Anyway, I would throw in some chicken, some stock, some potatoes, turn it on and go to work. Here are the basics to crockpot gold:

Meat
Soup/Stock
Potatoes
Perhaps some veggies

Done and done. Mix your flavors and your soup/stock and you've basically created delicious every time.

Side note: make sure that you actually turn on the crockpot before you leave. Not that I'm telling you from experience, or anything, but let's just say it was a sandwich night and a waste of a roast. Womp womp.

What are your go-to winter meals?

So What Wednesday

Linking up with Mrs. Dew at Life After I "Dew" to say SO WHAT!

So WHAT if...

• I'm undefeated in the arguments I have with people...in my head? I use logic and reason and they have nothing to say back.
• I'm on a blogging role this week? Sometimes, the mood just strikes you and you can't help it.
• Even though I complained about the fact that DC doesn't exactly have winter weather, I'm not complaining that I just walked into work without anything more than a sweater? I dig the mild weather since I can only imagine how quickly it would get grey and ugly here with snow.
• I totally complain about my glasses rub my headband? It jolts my vision, and me being me, I think I'm having a mini-seizure before realizing what is going on.
• I am still talking to THAT ex? Yeah. I know. I know. But sometimes I get to exact my passive aggressive revenge via reply texts. It's the little things, my friends. That, I actually have pity for the kid when he admits that there's "no need to be in Denver anymore". Yeah. That's because he doesn't have me there. Boom.
• I am congratulating myself and cursing myself for being so clever with my Christmas gifts? It's something special to DC and breakable, so naturally now I have to transport them with me to Denver on the plane. There goes my carry-on space.
• I wish that Pandora would play more boy band Christmas music? C'mon. You know you sing along with "Merry Christmas Happy Holidays" with JT, JC, Joey, Lance, and Chris.
• So what if I had to google that random last member of *NSYNC? Admit it. You forgot the dread head's name, too.
• I have one heck of a laundry list of to-do's for the new year? Find a place to live, ship my furniture and remaining home goods, give up all my old court stuff, become legit in the new court, and work in two offices.
• I may or may not be able to rival those "bump" pictures of you preggo eggos out there? THIS IS NOT A PREGNANCY NOTICE, but rather, I have enough Beyonce to mimic and confuse the hell out of people at formal events when I order hard alcohol and rub my belly. A parlor trick that is not for getting or keeping a boyfriend, but seriously hysterical.

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Everyone has those movies that will put them in the Christmas spirit. No matter the time of year, I feel cozy, loving, and Christmas-y whenever my favorites are on...and yes, I will play these in the dead heat of summer to feel cool with the snow. (Legit works. I also use Deadliest Catch episodes for the same effect.)

This year, I'm needing some help to get in the Christmas spirit. I don't want to invest too much in the decorations as I 1) don't have a place to store them, and 2) already have a full spread in Colorado. Not to mention I'm also a little low on the Winter Wonderland that is Colorado when it snows.

Without further adieu, here are my favorite Christmas movies to get me in the Christmas mood! (Nod to my first choice with a little rhyme action.)

Seasonal Adjustment Disorder

I know it's called Seasonal Affective Disorder for people whom never see the sun in the winter, but I am having a severe, self-diagnosed case of SAD - Seasonal Adjustment Disorder.

You see, in Colorado, it gets cold in December. In fact, the first weekend of December is the Parade of Lights which also coincides with the coldest days on record. (Check it. Overnight lows in the SINGLE digits this past weekend.) Add the the cold temps the fact that the fluffy white stuff falls from the sky and blankets the grey world in a glistening white blanket. It's so much fun to frolic in the snow.

Granted, I have these sentiments right now because I have yet to see snow since March 27, 2011. How do I know the date? It was the weekend I moved to DC and it snowed a dusting that morning and was melted by 10am.

If I were in Colorado, I'm sure that I would be twi-ranting about winter drivers, cold weather, and slush that makes for a dirty Bruce. (Bruce is my car in Colorado. I know I haven't talked about him lately, but we're not really talking right now since it's been 3 months since we've seen each other.)

So, blogosphere, how does one prepare for Christmas when there's nothing to make me break out into song that, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

I've been playing Christmas music intermittently because I don't want to overplay my favorites. I have set up my Charlie Brown tree. I have started to make my list for everyone. I have made plans with my friends in Colorado for my trip home. I am playing Christmas movies that I love.

But, seriously, y'all, I'm having a tough time putting together that in 16 days I will be boarding my flight to Denver and in 19 days I will be waking up to Santa's bounty under the tree. Like, legit cannot figure it out. I think that I need to get my online shopping done so that everything arrives on time. That? Would be embarrassing.

How do you prepare for Christmas without snow?

Oh, Colorado, you do have a Christmas card look about you.

Keystone

From my old bedroom window

Post blizzard frolicking with Mr. & Mrs. E.

My mom's car. Everyone, I'd like you to meet Sue B.

'Tis the Season

On this, the first Friday of December, I thought I would spread a little holiday cheer to start the weekend and the season.

Merriest of merry to you and yours!

My Charlie Brown tree. Four ornaments and four Christmas plates thanks to my Grandmother sending out all of her old  stuff to the grandkids.

Harry-dolph with his Christmas green mohawk and antlers

Izzy the Elf (sister dog as she's my dad & Sharon's)

Sidney the Elf (legit sister to Izzy)

Philadelphia - City of Brotherly Love

Post-Friendsgiving, my friend Liz and I took a day trip to Philadelphia.

Liz's friends were running in the Philadelphia Marathon, so we got up at 4:30AM, you read that right. After celebrating Friendsgiving until after midnight, we got up and rode the train up to the City of Brotherly Love. It's a two-hour ride, which was a nice nap before we had to function.

We made signs that said, "Do it for the cupcakes!", "Keep running! People are watching." and "RUN! Zombies behind you!"

The last one was the most popular with the runners. There were a lot of smirks as they realized I was being funny. Which, lemme tell you, if I'm running for more than 5 minutes, I need things to keep my mind from thinking too hard on the whole running aspect.

After the race, we walk around town a little, went to Independence Hall, saw the Liberty Bell, and shopped a little. We would have don't the obligatory Rocky Steps, but the course for the marathon crossed in front and made it difficult to access.

Pass and Stow made this bell. Thanks, National Treasure for that trivia nugget.

Iconic.

Legit City Hall. Denver, take note.

Independence Hall

Friendsgiving DC Edition

Go on over to my DC blog for a recap of the Friendsgiving DC Edition!

Click here:
Adventures in the District