Which got me to thinking about all of my idiosyncrasies/loves/favorites of the holiday season.  So I give you a Twelve Days of Christmas rundown about me:

1. You will never see me write, type or say X………mas together.  My mother used to tell me all the time, “You can’t take the Christ out of Christmas,” and even though I don’t regularly (ahem Catholic guilt) go to mass, this has always stuck.
2. I am a sucker for holiday movies.  My favorites include Meet Me in St. Louis, Home Alone, National Lampoon Christmas Vacation, White Christmas, The Santa Clause, and does anyone else remember The Night They Saved Christmas???  It ranked up there with The Neverending Story, The Boy Who Could Fly and Flight of the Navigator on my repeat rental circuit at the Video Den.

   

3. Every year I am given an ornament that symbolizes that year.  I got an ice cream cone when I scooped ice cream at an ice cream parlor; I got a soccer girl when I played soccer; I got a sorority one during my Kappa Alpha Theta days; I got an Austrian/German looking Heidi when I visited my friend in Austria that fall; etc.  It’s a great tradition and I love that it’s so symbolic for my life.  Each ornament tells a different story!
   
4. I have a Sesame Street stocking – still.  My mom handmade all of our stockings out of felt back in the day, and mine was of all the characters.  They look EXACTLY like the Jim Henson version.  She had quite the talent.  I still can’t part with it!

    

5. We open stockings, eat some coffee cake and sip coffee, open Santa presents, open family presents and then have an Eggs Benedict brunch every Christmas morning, in that order.

   

6. I snoop.  A lot.  I think I inherited it from my paternal grandmother.  I found Ballerina Barbie one year before the 25th and you know what happened?  Santa never left it under our tree
   
7. We used to go ice skating or to the movies every Christmas afternoon.  We’re reinstituting that tradition this year, and I’m excited!
8. When I was a kid, every Christmas Eve my sister and I were given matching Lanz nightgowns as early gifts so that we could wear them to bed and wake up matching for Christmas morning. 

   
   

9. I love in the months after Christmas, still smelling pine when you run the vacuum.
10. Running to the mailbox after school or work to find Christmas cards waiting to be opened.  I love me my technology, but nothing beats receiving some lovin’ in the old fashioned snail mail form.

    

11. Decorations!  When I would be riding on the bus back from volleyball games in high school during the winter season I would count how many decorated houses I could spot to and from.  And simple candles in the window, while elegant, didn’t count.
12. Sears Catalog. I can’t say I have the same affinity for this that I did once upon a time before the advent of the internet (I think with homeownership on the horizon I might change my tune), but I LOVED looking through the toy section and circling everything I wanted Santa to bring me – that I would inevitably go digging through closets to find.  Guess I never learned that curiosity killed the cat!

What are YOUR favorite things about Christmas?

I was able to get some shopping done last week and wrap up a few gifts this weekend, but we still have a lot to go!  And it’s Geoff’s birthday on Saturday which is also another hurdle celebration we have to get through

Zack Morris Time Out

Rose mentioned to me on our last outing that she pronounces Geoff’s name G-off in her head.  That’s okay if you do too!  In fact, most of his college friends refer to him as Ge-off.  It’s a weird spelling, and I still love him.

Time in.

Luckily I got his birthday totally taken care of during my lunch break!

But you’ll have to wait to see what’s inside.  We’re also going to BLT Steak for dinner Saturday and then hopefully out with friends.

Before I went on my shopping adventure, I had this uber-exciting PB&J sammy.  Jealous, aren’t ya?

My first stop was Border’s, where I saw this guy (Bob Schieffer):

My second stop, which would give away the gift, is where I saw former DC Mayor Anthony Williams.

Celebrity hour!  Well, celebrity by DC standards

This afternoon also marked our building’s tenant holiday party.  Compared to last year, it, for lack of a better term, sucked.

Limited tables.

Mediocre sweets.

I had the petit fours.  The strawberry fudge was suspect as was the little elf cap back there.

Tomorrow marks the end of the office holiday celebrations with a company wide gathering from 4:00 to 6:00.

Stay tuned for my Twelve Days of Quinn’s Christmas Quirkiness later this evening.  Just pretend we’re 12 days away instead of ten

Windmills

Being Green (#10 in the world)

Hans Christian Andersen

Viggo Mortensen (well, his parents are)

Aqua

Æbleskiver

Æbleskiver are a Danish pancake, often served at Christmas.  With just a week and a half to go, I figured, there’s no time like the present!

I met Aunt Else’s at the FoodBuzz Festival, and when the president, Chad, reached out to see if I wanted to try their cast iron pan and aebleskiver mix, I jumped at the chance.

A very heavy package arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago, and tonight was the night.

I had read up on Janetha and Allison’s blogs to see their trials and errors.  I liken myself to Allison in many regards – love of wine, advertising background, school in Ohio, married with a dog, etc -  so you’ll soon see where this is going.

Luckily, I had Chad coaching me over and over the whole way.

I started with the mix.  I mixed 2 cups of water and 3 eggs together.

And then added 2 3/4 cups aebleskiver mix.

I was off to a good start!

In a medium heated pan, I added a dime sized amount of vegetable oil and poured in the batter.

I failed to listen to the part where he says, “Leave room for expansion.”  I filled them to the brim.  Uh-oh.

That’s when I added the fillers, ham and cheese.

After adding my toppings, well…….

…..

……

……it was save to say Attempt #1 was a fail.

That’s when Geoff “I’m the Breakfast King” came in.  And he said, “I’ll take the physical challenge.”

It sure wasn’t Double Dare, but it was beginning to feel like we were getting slimed.

He started better than I did and only put a little in each hole (TWSS).

He added the toppings.

And I read him tweets I’d received from Karena, “They’re super easy with chopsticks.”  To which Geoff mocked in a girly voice and said, “Lies.”

At this point, it was after 8:00 and I knew he was beginning to get impatient when he said, “I’ve had it with quarter turns, I’m just flipping them!”

And here is the non-glamorous result.

Served with some lukewarm Campbell’s Sirloin Burger that also exploded in our microwave.

I have to say, the aebleskiver were delicious!  The perfect merriment of savory and sweet.  And it felt a little naughty having breakfast for dinner!

Despite the fact that the rotating didn’t go according to plan, we’re definitely going to use this again.  Mainly because we don’t want it to beat us, but also because the dough was so good, and the fillings are truly endless.  I think this is just one of those things that requires trial and error.  Third time’s the charm, right?

To order an aebleskiver pan of your own (or a loved one, 11 shopping days left!), head on over to www.auntelse.com.

Or follow on:

Facebook
Twitter
FoodBuzz

Thank you, Aunt Else’s, for the opportunity to try such a unique product.  Third time will work, I know it – well, hope so.

And I’m blaming my lack of Danish blood for my first two errors. I’m Irish.  We dance.

We drink.

We gab.

Cook, we do not.  Unless it’s potatoes, of course.  We’ve got that down.

So now the real question is: Who gets to clean the kitchen?

Vapiano is one of those new upscale chains that melds fast food with a high end restaurant experience.  Upon entry you are given a card that works like a fare card to be used for wine, salads, pasta and more.

You then enter a cafeteria-esque line in either salads, pasta or pizza and place your respective order.

I ordered the special of the day, the Apple & Fig Salad with Shrimp.

The shrimp were cooked up right in front of me!  I could have had chicken or beef, but shrimp was a flavorful and light option.

The figs, goat cheese and almonds were also delightful.  It almost looks like Christmas with the red and green hues!

A huge selling point are the tables.  Big hooks beneath the counter to hook your purse and a TREE in the center for communal eating.  Talk about bringing the outside in!

Vapiano is rapidly growing not only in the Washington area, but nationwide.   Dallas and Fort Myers gals should definitely check it out!

And they’ve got a GREAT happy hour, with heavy pours.  It’s all about getting a ‘lotta bang for your buck!

I love our office birthday celebrations with the female coworkers.  It’s a great way to celebrate with good friends and have some good food.  How do you celebrate your coworkers’ birthdays?

Last night Geoff and I went to a friend’s coed cookie exchange party.  I made some Martha Stewart Chocolate Chunk Cookies.  Yesterday afternoon I spent a lot of time doing this:

Don’t worry, my hands were clean!

When we arrived we went straight to the cookie table to display our wares.  Ours were the ones on the left.

All kinds of yumminess!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care!

And tasty appetizers.  Buffalo Chicken Dip was scrumptious!

It was also a kid friendly party.  There were crafts for the little munchkins.

One of the guests, Linda (originally from Laos), makes some kick a$$ egg rolls.  Pork, onion, garlic, rice noodles and red cabbage were just a few of the ingredients.  Ignore the deep fryer to the left.

The egg rolls made the little ones, and Amy, very happy!  Check out Duncan in the background.  He was a-dor-able!

It was such a fun cookie exchange!  So fun, that I was in bed by 9:00.

With all that rest, Geoff was ready to make me a lovely breakfast.  English Muffin with Jam, Scrambled Eggs and a Bacon Strip

After breakfast, Geoff went for a run in the freezing rain, while I cleaned and wrapped some Christmas presents.

We then headed out west so I could get my mom for a Cupcake Decorating Holiday Gathering while Geoff did man things for my mom at her house.  Before we left for the party she served up some chili.

Perfect for the cold and rainy day!

Then my mom and I left for the party.  Erin had set up four stations to decorate.  The Carrot Cake Station was my favorite!

She had plenty of munchies!

Everyone got small boxes to fill with each cupcake!

The house had trees throughout.  Erin’s family also has a Christmas tree farm, and their own chickens for eggs.  Pretty cool!

More nibbles and bevvies.

More trees.

Another station.  Chocolate Mint – YUM!

Erin was great getting everyone to know one another!

My four decorated.  Trust me, others’ were much more beautiful.

It was such a fun and creative idea!  We all posed at the end for a holiday photo.  What a fun afternoon!

I can’t believe I’ve known Erin for nearly 14 years!  Time flies!

When my mom and I got home, Geoff helped set up her tree inside.  It’s good to have a man around sometimes

My mom had to fluff it out.  You always have to let the trees settle before decorating.

Such a fun baking weekend with friends and family.  You should see my freezer now.  We’ll have goodies through next Christmas.  And freezing makes you less likely to dive into the treats.  Outta sight, outta mind!

Yesterday we went to my coworker’s house for a holiday party.  Her house was an updated farmhouse in Silver Spring and was STUNNING.  I wish I could have taken pictures, but I felt it might be weird as she’s one of my internal clients.  I had three crackers and cheese and a splash of red wine to look festive.

Before I left I filled  up on some fibrous black bean soup and bread. 

A great tip before going to a party is to eat some soup first.  You’ll be less inclined to nibble upon arrival!

I stayed for about two hours and then made a dash to go to the gym before Geoff and I left for the Caps game, a gift from one of my printing vendors.  Sweet!

I managed to get three miles in on the treadmill before calling it quits.

We took the metro to Verizon as parking is miserable in Chinatown.  We have finally learned our lesson!

We split up when we got there to use the loo.  I rested my purse and gloves on the ledge that holds the TP.  Quickly, my purse and gloves dropped to the floor.  I collected the purse contents and my glove.  But where was the other one?  I looked under other stalls and then…..I turned around.  To see my glove floating in the toilet bowl.   As Leslie tweeted to me, “Man Down!”  Santa, add new gloves to the list!

You can’t attend a game without a beer.  And a giant one at that.

We had great seats!

Hockey is so much better in person.

At the third period, we decided to beat the crowds and head to get some food.  We went next door to Clyde’s.

I started with a Blue Moon.

I was craving barbecue but ignored my cravings and let Geoff pick the appetizers.

Fried Calamari

Crab & Artichoke Dip

Both were delicious, but even this morning I’m wishing I’d just gotten a barbecue sandwich.  I hate when I ignore my cravings!

How do you feel about hockey?  Love the games?  Indifferent?

Just got back from a walk with Thump and caffeinaiting myself for a workout.  Happy Saturday!

What she didn’t do well, however, was my daily hairdo.  She was not the mom who would French braid, God love her.  To compensate, however, she would part my hair on the side, pull a little on my right side back with a barrette and stick a GIANT BOW on it.  Seriously, the bow was the size of my head.

Now, I don’t have photos at the moment, but I am going out to my mom’s this weekend and will proudly feature them on Monday morning’s post.  It’s too good.  And embarrassing. 

Oh, I guess you guys want to know the winner of the Conair Ion Shine, huh?

Wait for it….

…..a little longer….

…..ok, fine – using Random.org and entering all your multiples for tweeting, blogging and following the WINNER is Chandra, of Chandra’s Shenanigans!!!!! 

CONGRATS Chandra!  Email me to send me your mailing info!

To all the rest of you, thanks for sharing your stories and entering, and stay tuned for next month’s Quinn’s Favorite Things Giveaway!

Last night was the Junior League of Washington’s placement with the National Rehabilitation Hospital’s Annual Holiday Party.  The main event was a deluxe bingo game and we were each meant to bring a $10 prize.

After my first volunteer session, I realized how many teen boys were at the hospital, so luckily I found this male-driven calendar at the Borders in my office.

Other gifts were on the “prize table.”

I have to say, mine was one of the first to go

The doctors performed some holiday medleys.

And there were plenty of treats for the patients and their families.

Festive Cupcakes!

And quite the cheese display.

I sat with a boy and his mother who had been in the hospital for four months.  In June, he went back to the University of Maryland and was skateboarding with friends without a helmet.  He fell doing a trick, and has recovered tremendously, but he still had his mother helping to identify numbers on his bingo card.  Just shows the importance of wearing a helmet.  Skateboarding, biking, motorcycle riding, horseback riding, etc.

Anyway, while there were all these goodies, I ate in the car on my way over.  Sandwich.

Liquid crack.

What I love about volunteering there is that I could be having the worst day ever, and when I go over and help the patients and families, and give them a good night, my spirits soar.

Today was also our Marketing & Research holiday luncheon at Smith & Wollensky.  We started with some yummy bread!

And to start I was coerced into getting the Tuna Tartare.  I had about 1/3.

And for the main course, the Chinese Chopped Chicken Salad.

Spicy and peanut-y!  It was so huge though, I had maybe 3/4.

Some of our group ordered dessert.  Like we needed it!  Check out my coworker Meaghan’s chocolate cake!  It was HUGE!

Seriously, it was the size of her head!

Off to catch up on The Office! I have another holiday party tomorrow for the group I directly support in my office.  Have you had your holiday party this year?  What was it like? Has it been scaled back by the economy?

You can access it on iTunes right here should you be drawn to anything in particular

• Someday, Rob Thomas, 4:07 (a recent addition to The Biggest Loser commercials and it’s inspiring to me)
• It’s Your Life, Francesca Batistelli, 2:52 (another TBL inspirational one)
• You and Me Song, The Wannadies, 2:49 (this was on the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack that came out my freshman year of high school.  I distinctly remember closing the door to my bedroom and circling boys faces in my yearbook that I liked.  Boy crazy from the womb, I swear it!)
• If You Could Only See, Tonic, 4:21 (reminds me of the end of freshman year of high school)
• Sara, Starship, 4:52 (I had a babysitter named Sara and I thought this song was about her)
• Seasons of Love, RENT, 3:02 (I was editor of my HS yearbook and my senior year my advisor brought us to study at Columbia and we went to see RENT on Broadway.  I’ve seen it three times live, and twice on the big screen.  HUGE fan!)
• I Know You’re Out There Somewhere, Moody Blues, 6:37 (lame I know, but I was 6 and listened to the lyrics to remember my grandfather “Sir.” My first experience with death and tragedy)
• Stronger, Kanye West, 5:11 (a lot of people talked about how running music is so important, here’s one of mine, despite the fact that I think Kanye’s a giant D-bag)
• You Can’t Resist It, Lyle Lovett, 3:10 (I performed this in a talent show at age 7)
• Part of Your World (from Little Mermaid), Jodi Benson, 3:13 (the movie spoke to me, what can I say
• Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey, 4:09 (‘nuff said, it’s my anthem)
• Fools Like Me, Lisa Loeb, 3:38 (reminded me of Geoff when we first met)
• Neon, John Mayer, 4:22 (played this song on repeat in my sorrow after my heart was truly stomped on.  The jerk is still waiting tables and in and out of trouble with the law.  Should have listened to my mama on that one.)

There are so many more I could add.  And so many speak to different years of my life – particularly high school and college.  I mean, Murder on the Dancefloor pretty much dictated my senior year of college and first year into the real world. You better not kill the groove.  And college was all a mix of Phish, Martin Sexton, Madonna, Widespread Panic, Nelly, basically a giant melting pot of tunes!

Have great nights and don’t forget to ENTER the QUINN’S FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY!

Since I started, I’ve given away some of my most favorite things, and I hope the winners have enjoyed them! 

• August
• September
• October
• November

This giveaway I have used nearly every day for the past eight years.  Geoff calls it my “Medieval Torture Device,” I call it my savior.  I give you the Conair Ion Shine.

This hair dryer is AWESOME!  It works like a brush and I swear blow dries your hair in half the time.  I always flat iron my hair after, so this is perfect to make sure I’m all dry prior to straightening.

You can use it like this…

Or my favorite maneuver, the flip and dry….

And I want to share it with you! 

Leave me a comment and tell me a hair horror story.  It can be a bad cut, bad dye, gum in the hair, whatever, I just want to hear all the juicy details  

For bonus points:

• Follow www.dailymoderation.com and tell me you’re following me!
• Follow me on Twitter and comment to tell me you’re following me there.
• Blog or retweet about the giveaway and you receive two extra entries!  Just let me know!

Deadline for the giveaway is Friday morning at 10:00 am!  Good Luck!