Race Schedule and Results

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Holiday baking and other randomness

I love holiday cookies.  Sugar cookies with icing... probably one of my favorite things in the whole world.  But I don't do nearly as much holiday baking as I'd like.  Mainly because if I bake it, I eat it and well, that never works out well for me in the end. They always taste so good going down though... hum...

Anyway, last Thursday we celebrated Christmas with my in-laws since they are going to be gone for the holidays.  I made Santa hat cupcakes which I thought turned out really cute.

Then on Saturday we had dinner with some friends and I decided to make reindeer cake pops (Hey Nicole... if you are reading this, they weren't too hard, but man... I have a long way to go to make mine look as amazing as yours!!!).  Fun little holiday treat and I was pretty darn impressed with myself because my baking skills usually including breaking apart the squares of cookie dough and placing them on a cookie sheet! :)

Our family has started a tradition of getting together at the Columbus Zoo before the holidays and going to the WildLights.  Basically, our amazing zoo transforms for the holidays with nearly 3 million led lights.  It's pretty amazing and we always have fun getting a hot chocolate and walking around the zoo at dark, and then going out for dinner as a group.  It's things like this that I'm really going to miss when I move, although I might have to make a special trip back in December to keep this tradition going (that is, unless I'm home for the holidays!!!)
 

Speaking of Atlanta.  We put an offer in on a house last week.  It didn't work out.  We think that the lady selling the house was using the offer against another buyer as leverage.  I feel like we got played.  Guess it wasn't meant to me.  Our search continues.  As of 1/20, we're going to be homeless unless we find something so keep us in your thoughts.

Lastly, I have decided not to do the Goofy Challenge.  I actually decided a little while ago just based on the busy time of year for us. We never imagined that we'd be moving when we signed up.  The race is the weekend of 1/7 and we are closing on our house here in Delaware on 1/13.  We had already shortened the trip from six days to three a few months back, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized the timing couldn't be worse.  Tom's coming off an amazing running year, but I think he's a bit burnt out (he ran six full marathons this season, PRing by over 25 minutes, did a full 140.6, and then ran across the country in 16 days!), I never really got my groove back after my accident and we know that 2012 will give us a lot of opportunity to do new things.  Coach Sharpie has a lot in store for me so she was happy with my decision!  It's not to say I will never do it, but 2012 just isn't my year.

Hope you all have a fabulous holiday.  Remember what this time of year is all about...

31 comments:

Kim said...

mmmm i want some reindeer cake pops! i love the holiday card i got in the mail from you and tom! so stinkin cute! sorry to hear the ATL house didnt work out, but something great will come your way, i know it. love ya.

Big Daddy Diesel said...

I can bake, I cant make things look good, though it tastes good

If you need help moving, let me know, I may suck at running, but I am good at picking up heavy things

Unknown said...

those are awesome! love the holiday reindeer pops. So clever!!
Good to hear you are enjoying the season friend. I love your tradition at the zoo.

Aimee said...

What cute baking treats you made! My boys would LOVE those reindeer cake pops! :)

Beth said...

the reindeer pops are so creative!!

Sorry you have to miss goofy, but it sounds like a good call. Enjoy the holidays!

Christi said...

Very yummy lookin' Christmas treats!

Steve said...

Pretty creative baking. Lisa and I are of the very lazy variety. My sweets are usually Brandy, and her's are ice cream. :)

I forget how busy you are right now. WOW!! Betcha can't wait til your both settled.

Happy Holidays. :)

Matthew Smith said...

Good call on not doing the Goofy Challenge. I think life is too busy to be focused on a race.

Sorry 'bout the house. It just means that there is something better for you out there. You'll find it!

Those Christmas lights look really cool! That is something that you'll miss, but the laser show on Stone Mountain is pretty cool too. Plus, you can always go to the Peach Drop in downtown Atl.

Nice work on all the baking! Those reindeer are really cool, and the santa cupcakes are amazing!!! Jennifer loves cupcakes!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Shannon (IronTexasMommy) said...

Everything looks awesome! I might have to make some of those Santa hat cupcakes. Super cute! Thanks for the great idea. You guys are so amazing with everything that you've accomplished this year. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out for the new home! :)

Jennifer Bechtold said...

I'm happy to say I was the lucky recipient of those cute little reindeer and they were delicious!

Jim ... 50after40 said...

LOVE the zoo - it would be awesome to see it all lit up! Those goodies look amazing! Happy Holidays!

Kristin Deaton said...

And I am going miss you and tom while down there!!! See you soon I hope. Enjoy your Christmas

Aunt Nan said...

Where did you get your baking talents...it certainly wasn't from me. They're really, really cute. You're too talented. Love you, honey. Mom xoxox

Jason said...

I am getting more and more excited by the notion that you will be in AZ in November with tons of baked goods for after the race.....very excited.

Your house will come through and it will be exactly what you wanted. Trust in the process!

Anne-Marie said...

The cupcakes and cake pops are adorable!

I think you made the right call on the Goofy Challenge... there will be lots of great things ahead for you in 2012! :)

TriMOEngr said...

Enjoyed the update. Loved looking at your baked goods (love the Santa hats and reindeer). Too busy to be that creative this year. Sorry things didn't work out on the house. Will keep you and Tom in my prayers that things will work out sooner than later as I know the unknown can be really stressful.

Heidi Austin, PT, DPT said...

wow you are one talented girl! i could NEVER rock that reindeer pops.... amazing job. good luck with the house hunt. yuck :( stay positive... sending hugs and prayers your way!

Unknown said...

Great pictures of you and Tom! You WILL find a house, I have faith! Merry Christmas!

Chloe said...

I know the feeling about being homeless - Jason and I are almost in the same boat. Ugh :( But hopefully it will work out!!

You are Betty Crocker! Those treats look wonderful!!

Carolina John said...

We were homeless like that for a few months last year. Closed the sale of our house in SC in march 2010, loaded everything up in PODS except the clothes we needed, and bought the house in Raleigh at the end of May 2010 and moved in here. It was much harder for Kelley and the kids than it was for me. Just be calm about it. Really I wish we had moved straight into a rental instead of waiting to buy a house in a market I didn't know. Now almost 2 years later I never would have moved to this part of town, bought this house in particular, or financed it the way that I did. It's easy to make mistakes when you're homeless.

Matty O said...

BDD is the ONLY PERSON I have ever known to actually openly offer to help someone move... dang, I wish I knew him 4 years ago ;)

those treats looked off the frickin hook! Those would have lasted 2 minutes in our house ;)

You guys are buying at the right time, nothing typically moves in winter months so you should still be able to find a great deal out there, be patient and don't rush into anything too fast.

Fingers crossed it works out in time for you guys!!!

Merry Christmas!

Heather-O said...

Those cake pops look awesome! Recipe please!

That sucks about the house in Atlanta, but like you said, it probably wasn't mean to be. That means there is something bigger and better waiting for you out there ;)

Too bad about Disney, understandable though. That is a race that is definitely on my to do list, but it's really hard to plan for that time of year.

Happy holidays and good luck with the continued house hunt. My fingers are crossed!

Caratunk Girl said...

Those cake pops are the CUTEST!! how did you do the eyes??? AND those cupcakes are awesome. If we lived near each other at Christmas we would be doing nothing but baking and eating. haha

Sucks about the house. I have my fingers crossed that something better comes along soon for you guys.

Jamie said...

What a bummer about the ATL house! Sam and I are just starting to think about houses and the whole process is equally terrifying and exciting.

I'm sure you'll find something great soon.

Wes said...

like I said. Atlanta is a buyer's market. There are tons of places you will love. Drive a hard bargain!

Ironman By Thirty said...

It sucks to be used like that... Oh well, I hope your luck turns around in Atlanta! Maybe Santa will bring you a house ;)

Maybe when you do the Goofy in the future, I'll be able to run it then too and we can have a party!

I hope you two have a very Merry Christmas!

Molly said...

LOVE the cake pops! I do a bunch of cookie baking this time of year, but I give them away as fast as I make them.

What a bummer about the house, you'll find one that is meant to be, and it will be perfect : )

Merry Christmas!

Alisa said...

Love your baked goodies. Santa Hat cupcakes---brillant!

I'm sorry the house didn't work out, you'll find something better---that's what our realtor told us when we were shopping.

2012 is going to be EPIC!

Jennie said...

Super cute treats, and Wildlights sounds like such a fun event! :)

I'm sorry to hear that the offer didn't work out. That only means that there's a better house, THE house, out there waiting for you guys!

I hope you and Tom have a very Merry Christmas!!

Anonymous said...

those cake pops are ADORABLE! totally impressed!

Rachel said...

Wow! Those treats look AMAZING!