confessions of a shop-a-phobic and other midnight ramblings

Hope everyone had a lovely holiday- I went home to Louisiana and it was cold as hell.

Relatively speaking of course... I've adapted to Florida quite well.  No one ever threw their back out shoveling sunshine, if you know what I mean.

Whenever I go back (lately it's been once a year) my mom always takes me shopping.  I think it's because I never give her a Christmas list.  We hit up the pre-Christmas sales and I think I almost had a mental breakdown in the dressing room of the Loft because I couldn't decide whether or not I liked a black and gray cardigan with the faintest of cheetah prints.  I wanted to like it (because, seriously who wouldn't??) but I think I literally sat behind that locked door for 15 minutes while my mom tried to convince me from the other side how cute it was and how she'd get it for me.  Reluctantly, I let her, knowing full well I wasn't happy with it.  Which is dumb because it was just a stupid cardigan.  Which makes me think there might be some underlying issues about myself that I can't pinpoint because I felt utterly depressed walking out of there with that little tissue-paper filled bag.

And then we went to the White House Black Market, where I never shop because I can't afford it and I live 6 days a week in khakis and polo shirts anyway.  Which is super lame but very practical.  Lord help me if I dripped oil or avgas on a $60 shirt.  JCPenney special all the way, baby!

I found my groove at WHBM and finally succumbed to the fact that half my closet is composed of black and white clothes and I should just quit trying and give up on color, period.  Let's just say that the little cheetah print cardigan is returning from whence it came.  My friend Sunnykef gave me some absolutely delicious earrings for Christmas too and I'm wearing them every chance I get.  Seriously, look at these things!  

I'd never pick them out for myself, but if they didn't weight about 3 lbs apiece I'd wear them to work out in, too.  And to work, if my headset would fit over them.  But any other time- bring it!  Housework?  Sure, these earrings make swiffering and cleaning the toilet much more fun!  (Actually, I don't clean the toilet, Scot does... but I'm not letting him wear my earrings.  I'd have to pierce his ears to do that and I hate blood and needles, and even if we did get that far I wouldn't be able to even laugh at him wearing them because I'd be passed the efff out on the bathroom floor.  Assuming the piercing takes place in the bathroom.  Normally I don't pass out on the bathroom floor for other circumstances.  Except last year's Mardi Gras party, but you'll have to check with him about that because I don't remember...good god MAKE ME STOP TALKING).

Anyway.

I'm damn lucky to have a guy who takes toilet duty.  AND cat litter box duty.  Heh heh.  Dooty.

Anyway.

I shouldn't blog in the middle of the night.

Now that my train of thought has left the station without me...I think what I was trying to say is that I got some kick-ass ear bling.  Alrighty then.  I also got 2 decorative wine stoppers, which must mean my family thinks I drink a lot.  I say, define "a lot!"  

Oh, that reminds me, I have a new found obsession with Rose (not, ROSE rose, but "Rose-AY"- like the sparkling wine?  I don't know how to type accents, sue me.)  I must purchase some for New Years, without the repeat of the consequences of downing a whole bottle of champagne (see "Christmas Party Oh-Twelve" aka, the post before this.)   It's probably a million dollars a bottle though- one glass cost me 12 bucks when Sunnykef and I went out over Christmas.  But it's bubbly and pink (one might call it rose-colored!) and delicious.  

Scot's stuck in Punta Gorda tonight being a hero and all and fixing an airplane so I'm getting in some quality time with you fine folks.  He got us annual passes to Walt Disney World for Christmas-which I am totally over the moon about, remember what I said about the end of the world last post?  Toldja.  But I'm super excited and am trying to decide to take him to Epcot first or MGM studios (Or Hollywood studios, whatever.  It'll always be MGM to me!)  I don't know if Tower of Terror is a good kickoff to his Disney indoctrination though.  We'll see.  

Have a fun and safe Happy New Year, and don't blow yourself up! (it's the new "Don't shoot your eye out," it'll catch on, wait and see)       

have yourself a tacky little christmas...

The other night I threw what was probably my most complex party yet-at least when it came to the variety of food.  My friend Jenn and I collaborated to host an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party and oh lord did our friends come up with some amazing creations!  

This year I was informed that when I go back to Louisiana for Christmas that it won't be the normal routine that I'm used to.  Usually, on Christmas eve, my aunt and uncle have a big party at their house and I get to visit with everyone and see all my cousins.  On Christmas day, everyone meets at my grandparents' house for turkey and dressing and opening presents.  It's been that way as long as I can remember but this year there's a shake-up.  2 of my out-of-town cousins aren't even coming in so the Christmas eve party?  Cancelled.  The turkey and dressing on Christmas day?  Exchanged for a brisket.  And the presents?  Now it's going to be (sort of a?) Pirate Gift Exchange thing.  Which reminds me I have to go find a $25 or under gift for a girl.  No one in particular, because we don't know who gets it.  Yeah, makes me really want to put thought in to this project (NOT!  Yeah, you hear the grumpy teenager in me coming out, too dontcha?)  Anyhoo, since my holiday is being turned topsy-turvey, (except the new tradition I started with Kelly last year- pre-church margaritas at Cantina Laredo.  Klassy, I know) I wanted to have as many friends as I could over for some good get-together time.  Here was my menu-

Deep-fried cajun turkey (god bless friends who own a bbq joint!)
Rolls and homemade cranberry sauce to make that turkey into mini sammiches
Succotash
Pepper Jack grits-stuffed sweet bell peppers
Spicy marinated shrimp
Sausage puffs (these are always a hit!)
Rotel dip
Homemade spinach artichoke dip
Homemade saltine oyster crackers (found the recipe on Pintrest and I don't care if I never eat anything else in my life- these were awesome!)
Fruit and veggie platters
Cherry bourbon pecan balls
Raspberry pound cake balls
A tri-color bundt cake in xmas colors (cute and simple!)
Red velvet peppermint swirl brownies
Key lime shortbread cookies
Nutella sea salt fudge (as delicious as it sounds!)
Homemade peanut brittle
Various little candies and pretzels I bought to spread around

I'm trying to remember it all- my friend Fedora ('memba her from the male stripper episode?) and I drank 2 bottles of champagne together ($5 a bottle Verdi Spumanti- it's delicious!!!)  

I almost feel like Christmas is over already...the party is done and I'm back to work.  The only thing reminding me is that we have presents under the tree (which my freaking cat will NOT stop eating.  Seriously, she's already ingested and re-deposited some curly ribbon in a slobbery mess on the bedroom floor).  A selection of my friends keep telling me there's a sparkly ring waiting for me under that tree, which I say is a load of crap lol.  Tell you what, the odds of that happening are the same as the odds of the world ending tomorrow (oh Mayans, ya'll and ya'll's silly calendar!) so hey if it does end no one will know what's under my tree anyway.  The plan Sunday is- presents, then brunch, then pack because we both have flights to catch...me to Louisiana and him to Pittsburgh.  I plan on gorging myself with crawfish etoufee and meat pies (and spell check just tried to change "crawfish" to "crayfish"...uh hellz no!) and hopefully fit in some visiting time with the few relatives that WILL be around town.  I leave you with a Merry Christmas if that's your thing (if it's not, Happy Thursday), and some sweater photos-   

  We dressed the cat up,and note the Christmas equivalent of the tuxedo shirt

 Me and Baby Bird- of course she did feathers!

Co-host Jenn and her hubby with his awesome homemade sweater