Only boys...

DPP #24: Welcome to family Christmas. (Actual post to follow, but these kids exhaust me)

DPP #23: Simon Pegg is Awesome.

I had an exhausting morning, but my afternoon was family filled at the flicks! I had some pretty decent expectations going in, and it definitely fulfilled them.

DPP #22: Well, I just got home from a 3+ hour, six course dinner. I wasn't expecting it to take that long, but it DID photograph well.

DPP #21: Kitty Crinkley Chaos.

Hyperactive cats + tissue & wrapping paper + fresh air = Complete Christmas Mayhem of a Hot Mess.

Just send my stuff!

The postal service is really annoying me these days. First I get ripped off in mailing gifts off to people. One day a package is $1.88, and the next day, the same exact package is $2.22?! Boo that. My grandmother’s gift took an extra week to get to me after I paid extra for quick shipping, and the same with Tim’s. I spent extra for 2 day express, six days ago. And I find out today that they are just now shipping it. Ugh.

They think that putting out a free baked goods table while you wait in line at the post office is going to make up for it. No amount of M&M cookies makes me get my mail faster!

DPP #20: Even my Panther Purple kicks didn't help at tonight's game. But the boys cheered them on anyway!

DPP #19: Pour some sugar free in meeeeeeee

Protein shakes and coffee drinks just got a whole lot better.....

DPP #18: The fourth wiseman?

I'd like to see you try and touch my baby Jesus.....

DPP #17: Scratch that, I want my own!

The illusion of sharing....because actually sharing a Scratch cupcake would be a Christmas miracle!

DPP #16: Good Friday Morning.

DPP #15: Art Hour!

When feeling like your stomach is about to turn inside out, what better to do than have a little crafting hour?

DPP #14: My baby has an Owie!!!

My treadmill belt started tearing awhile ago. It is quickly disintegrating and that is quite possibly the scariest event of the year. Its been mine several years and several thousand miles (roughly 10 a day). I have searched and found no suitable replacement. Desperate measures have been taken. Hoping for a Hello Kitty Miracle.

DPP 13: Bag of Chocolatey Joy

The little goodie bag of chocolate that lay on my plate tonight at dinner. The event was OHC's Women's Holiday event. Mom bought a table, decorated it beautifully with some holly and candles. The event itself was.....lacking. But the decor was festive!

DPP 12 & 12.5

Yolk might be giving First Watch a run for its Ultimate Breakfast Place money......I would have eaten every meal both days there if I had known!

December Photo Project! #11 &11.5 : Cold and Windy City

I'll have a proper Chicago post this week hopefully, but for now, you'll get a sneak peak DPP style.....
DPP #11: Chicago!!!!

DPP #11.5: Ruth Chris Steakhouse. Gluttony at its best. Even for those who didn't have a single ounce of meat!

DPP #10: Santas Helpers at Half Time.

DPP #10: I worked the UNI Mens basketball today (As I do every game). But not every game has dancing lip syncing little elves as the half time show.....

DPP #9: Helpful smile in every aisle!

Nothing like a late night shopping trip to HyVee to get food that you totally forgot you have to make for the next day with a cohort that clearly loves some Curtis Stone action in the meat department.....(pun intended?)

DPP #8: A pretty pink protein drink!

Today's protein shake got a little bubbly in the blender. But light and airy is so much better than concrete sludge when it comes to a pretty pink protein drink!

Simon's Cat in 'Catnap'

A new Simons Cat always makes my day brighter.

DPP #7: Santa could be a snack.

With 23 minutes to spare. DPP #7 Christmas Kitty having deep deep Christmassy thoughts. Or she hears Santa. And wants to eat him.

DPP #6: Gift box Galore!

A perk of a family only business. All gift boxes are up for sharing!

DPP #5: Twinkly Toys

The small furry ones love Christmas. If only because it means EVERYTHING is a toy. All the balls to swat and all the lights to pounce! I'll deal with it. Christmas lights make everything that much more homey.

Thanksgiving 2011: Feast!

We take a break from our regularly scheduled DPP to bring you Thanksgiving. Over a week ago. Almost two weeks ago actually. Oops. But between my parents leaving the day after, multiple added games at UNI, my brother's knee surgery, and whatnot, I have been a rich busy going to and from and from and to everywhere.

This year, we had a solid 12 people. We usually only have the eight of us, (grandparents, uncle, my immediate family) but this year, the Gilbertson family joined in the festivities. It was a nice addition, and it gave me quite the reason to go out and make extra food. If you are new to this (very new, cause it doesn't take long to figure out) that I love baking, cooking, anything food related. But I don't have many occasions to make as much as I want to make without becoming 400+ pounds myself having had to eat it all. So this was the occasion! I started a few days early, making a little bit each night, but in the long run, my contributions were: broccoli salad, corn pudding, cubed sweet potato casserole, a cream mushroom tart, an onion apple puff pastry, cranberry sauce, cherry pie, goat cheese pumpkin cheesecake, and a carrot cake.
So clearly plenty of food was to be consumed!
The unfortunate part was that I had a volleyball tournament that same afternoon (all weekend really, of the holiday, totally bogus) so we had to have an early meal, and it was virtually a race through it all, straight into the massive amounts of desserts before I had to zoom off to work for the rest of the day. Needless to say, I don't think I have to comment on how I feel about working on a holiday like that. Weekend of, a little more acceptable. But 3pm on Thanksgiving....ugh.


I did get my favorite part though, feeding the outdoor cats their yearly turkey carcass. Its always a brutal massacre and AWESOME to watch.

DPP #4: Meals and Muppets!

DPP 4: My wunderbar parents got back from Germany late last night. They went for a week of Christmas Market hopping to celebrate both their birthdays.

We celebrated today with family meals and the Muppet movie (at his request).

DPP #3: Finally someone else's turn!

Fives times summonsed myself, finally I get justice by watching Tim get his own! Mwahaha!

DPP #2: Gooey Appley Goodness

Day 2: It's the season of cinnamon apples, walnuts, and raisins. (But its ALWAYS the season for raisins)

Happy December!

Last cat post today, I promise. But they wanted to say Happy December!

December Photo Project! #1

It's that time of year again! Time for the December Photo Project! I actually really like this challenge. I did it two years in a row and then took last year off? Well, this year, its back on! I promise not too many cat or food pictures, but I can't help what I love!

DPP Day #1:


Its 5:45am. I have one diva thinking the sink is her chaise lounge, and one thirsty cat that thinks she's a dog drinking from the toilet.