Archive | December, 2010

oh the faces I make.

7 Dec
People say I have funny faces.
I guess they’re right.
That’s all I can say.  (That and it’s good to make fun of yourself once in a while.  Laugh at my expense!  The song – one of my current favorites – is completely in jest; these still-frames do nothing to suggest beauty!  Though, in accordance with one phrase of the song, when I make faces like this, people probably do stare.  But not for good reasons.  I hope this makes you laugh at my stupid faces!)
[ Thanks to my friend, Justin, for helping me alter code to properly embed my videos!  No more half a face! ]

the cooking pastor.

7 Dec
Here it is, friends.  Get your frozen cake balls from the freezer and melt that coating chocolate.  Enjoy!
Fun fact: This was actually the first time I’ve worn a cleric – the pastor collar.  I’ve avoided it to this point but – of all reasons – I put one on for the artistic purposes of this video.  But don’t worry – I just borrowed the shirt.  I still don’t own one …

[ The background story?  I made turkey cake pops for Thanksgiving.  I happened to sit at a lunch table, they became the subject of conversation, one of my Children, Youth, and Family professors was present and saw the pictures that were shared.  An activity was needed for the CYF Christmas Tea this coming Friday.  I can’t be there in person so this video will be the substitute as it leads them in their own creation of winter cakepops. ]

this weekend I –

6 Dec
– made this.

– watched LOTS of movies, all having subtle or obnoxious Christmas themes.  Many of my favorites: Elf, Love Actually, Just Friends, Bridget Jones and The Holiday.  (No worries – I could never simply SIT and watch this many movies.  They were enjoyment while wrapping yarn balls, making cake pops, and conversing with my cotton-headed ninny-muggin friend, Sara.)

– The Cooking Pastor?, you ask.  In the post-production stages.
3 Dec
Good morning and happy Friday, friends!
Snow is to begin to fall here in St.Paul shortly and ‘The Cooking Pastor‘ begins filming this weekend!  A cleric collar plus an apron and my macbook … it’s going to be grand.  I’ll be cooking up something so delicious it’s eschatological.  I can’t wait to share the final product with you, hopefully early next week.
Have a safe snowy weekend!

fifth annual bake-off.

2 Dec
Oh my goodness.  I’m just realizing that I never wrote about the fifth annual Thanksgiving Day Bake-Off!  How could I forget?  No worries.  I’m here now with pictures and the whole story …
The fifth annual Thanksgiving Day Bake-Off was planned by my cousin, Connor, and I.  We hold all power in the bake-off as the ones born on December 8th.  We decided on the rules for this year’s bake-off and let the baking begin.  (Please find the official rules at the bottom of this post.)

The day approached.  Tensions grew high.  Who would win and earn the honor of wearing the apron?  


Eh.  We don’t really know.  We never really voted. 


But my grandma said I won.  And who’s to challenge Grandma Julie?



I think Connor was disqualified.  His version of a bird was clever – humor points given – but he did not follow rule number five.  His pie was grabbed from the freezer.  His mom had bought it.  I call his entry not valid.  


What will happen next year for the sixth annual bake-off no one knows.  But I can pretty much guarantee Connor will enter with the hopes of finding another clever way out of actually putting forth any culinary effort. 










The fifth annual Thanksgiving Day Bake-Off participants hitherto agree that they will —

1. Bring their entry to Thanksgiving (Location: TBD.)  Entries should be carried/packed in any type of container.  (Previous years prove that the ‘undisclosed’ container and paper bag rules are not followed – let the chaos ensue.)
2.  The entry, brought by the participating cousin, must be a dessert.
3.  The dessert must bear some resemblance to a bird.  (Bonus points if it’s a good-looking turkey.)  In other words, make it into a bird.
4.  The dessert-that-looks-like-a-bird may not actually include any poultry.
5.  Participant must bake/create said bird dessert by oneself.  
6.  Though the theme of this year’s bake-off is presentation-heavy, the taste of the dessert will still be judged.
7.  The winner, in both presentation and taste, will win the honor of having his/her name written on the very official bake-off apron. 
As always, participation, rules, and any day-of clarifications are governed and decided by those born on December 8.

wednesday.

2 Dec
That hairdresser I’m smitten with?  I visited Brent yesterday.  But it turned out to not be just him.  Cory washed my hair, observed the hair cut, and then helped diffuse (dry) my hair.  Cory – with gauged ears, a nose ring, and italian loafers – and I had a great conversation about Lutheranism.  Then it was the strangest to have two guys, one on either side, going at my curls with blow dryers.  Obscure.  (But also fast.  I wish I had four hands and two blow dryers each morning to dry my hair.)
I assisted at Luther Seminary’s morning chapel.  There is chapel each weekday morning at school, with Wednesday being a longer service which includes communion.  I assisted and got many compliments on my shoes.  When you have a wear a robe, one must wear fun shoes.  
I ate lunch with a group of friends and one of my Children, Youth, and Family professors.  We’re brainstorming a ‘Cooking Pastor’ cooking show.  Seriously.  Filming may begin this weekend.  I’ll keep you posted.
I submitted my ever-stressful mobility paperwork for placement within the ELCA.  (woot!)  My future is now in the hands of the bishops.
I needed groceries.  My fridge had been empty since my return from break.  Coming out of the grocery store, the bell-ringing Salvation Army man stopped singing his “Come-to-Jesus” song to wish me a merry Christmas and tell me he liked my coat.  Why, thank you.
Add confirmation and an early bedtime and that’s my Wednesday.

How was yours?

winter list.

2 Dec
Walking about in my yellow coat, taking advantage of the necessity of scarves, and loving the white snow that has fallen, I think to myself, “Winter.  You’re not so terrible.”  Granted, yes.  I realize the worst is yet to come … but let’s make the most of it, shall we?  That means –
The unveiling of the winter list.  
It’s in no way final.  Adjustments are guaranteed.  But, for now, this is what I have on this second day of December as my goals for the winter season.
a. build a snowman.     b. venture to the Holidazzle lighted parade.     c. go sledding.     d. make, share, and eat hamballs – Mary O. style.     e. attend the St.Paul Winter Carnival.     f. volunteer at Feed My Starving Children.     g. create, address, and mail Christmas cards.  (Wonder if you’re on my list?  Email me your address!)     h.  try my hand at these.     i. shop for a real Christmas tree at those places with the strings of naked lightbulbs – but not actually buy one.     j. organize a quilting bee/club of sorts.  (All are welcome; maybe a bit of a ‘learn how to quilt’ organized get-together.  I’m thinking January.  Details still to be determined.)     k. visit every one of these places, hopefully with my dear friend, Sara.     l. a trip on an airplane to somewhere warm?  (In the works … )     m. roller derby?  I’ll be in the audience.     n. twirl in the falling snow, a la Winona Ryder in Edward Scissorhands

shenanigans.

1 Dec
I’m sure it’s what my mother thought.  Shenanigans.  
She walked into the kitchen the morning of the Lindsay-Emma-Molly sleepover and found us eating these:

They tasted no different than boring pancakes.  Perhaps, they even tasted a bit better because of how awesome they are in rainbow colors.  Oh, the possibilities of food coloring gels.

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