Are You A Resolutioner?

'Tis the season to make resolutions ... but I never make them. Ever. Although not for the same reasons as Calvin!

I've been cruising around the Internet and reading all about the wonderful resolutions people make. Some folks are even talking about how they achieved their resolutions...which means they actually wrote down their resolutions, remembered them, worked at them and evaluated their progress. Wow. I'm SO impressed.

But I still won't be making any resolutions this year. I used to feel guilty for not making them. But I may have figured out why resolutions don't work for me. Most of the resolutioners seem to be list makers too. Probably even outliners. *shudder* Their desks might even be organized without using piles on top of it. Maybe. :)

My brain doesn't work that way. I don't think in lists. I don't approach tasks from the details out. Big pictures come first for me. Details come later on. I've got more of a global brain rather than a linear brain. I do strive to be better, to do better, but it doesn't happen via resolutions.

That's my excuse reason and I'm sticking to it! So, are you a resolutioner or not? Does it work for you?

Be Jolly By Golly!

Be Jolly by Golly Blogfest!!

The wondeful Jen Daiker at Unedited and the lovely Melissa at Through the Looking Glass are hosting the Be Jolly by Golly Blogfest! Love it :) Check out their links for the guidelines and a list of all the participants!

I thought I'd share a few photos of our tree and a few favourite ornaments first...

after all, we are Canadian, eh? :)

I've been looking for a really good recipe for chocolate fudge and haven't found one I love yet. Until yesterday. I found this one online for Mackinac Island fudge. Delicious! And easy too.

There are tons of recipes out there for Nanaimo bars, but this is the one I like the best. I have to make 3 batches at least - and that doesn't last too long once family and friends come to visit.

Base: In a heavy sauce pot, melt 1/2 cup butter. Add in 5 tbsp cocoa, 1 slighly beaten egg, 1/4 cup sugar & 1 tsp vanilla. Take off heat and mix in 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs. Press into an 8" square baking pan.

Filling: Cream together 1/4 cup butter (softened), 2 tbsp custard powder, 3 tbsp milk. (I use a mixer for this whole step.) Add in 2 cups icing sugar and mix until smooth. Spread over the base.

Let it sit for at least an hour.

Topping: Melt 4 squares of semi-sweet chocolate or 4 oz of chocolate chips. I use the microwave. Add in enough butter and stir until it melts and is pourable. :) Spread this over the filling and refrigerate for a bit until it's easy to cut. Probably an hour or so.

So, there you go! A couple of my favourites. Maybe next year I'll be able to get permission to share our favourite family recipe for Scottish toffee - but for now I'm afraid I'm sworn to secrecy!

I hope to visit a lot of the other posts, but it will take me a few days - between school and family and hockey games to attend it's going to be a busy couple of days!

I hope everyone enjoys the very best of the holiday season. Take care of you and yours. If you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope this time of year brings you peace and joy. Take time to enjoy your families, friends and yourselves! Merry Christmas everyone!

December

Well, so far my December has been...

this (minus the high heels!)

and this,

and this,

 

and this

and this too.

I can't wait for more of this,

 

and this,

especially this,

and maybe even this...

So, how's your December going?

Book Order Magic

Do you remember getting those book orders when you were in elementary school? They were 4 or 6 pages long and offered you a wide variety of books to buy. To me it was magic. A catalogue of books...a short catalogue, but a catalogue nonetheless!

We didn't grow up in a house with lots of money - but we never knew it. My folks knew reading was important to me. Books were more than objects - more like friends.

I still have several of the books I ordered back then - they're in my classroom today. The kids get a kick out of it when I show them that I've kept them.

I, obviously, continue to give out book orders at school. I go through the pages and discuss what I know of the books. Not all of the kids in the school I teach at can afford books, but they love to look and dream too. And they know if they really want one of the books in the order, I'll buy it for the classroom. :)

Today my latest box of books arrived. For the class, we had 3 graphic novels, 3 novels, 2 historical books and 1 science book. The kids get so excited when we get new books! Lots of ooohs and aahhhs. I have to use a jar with all the students' names in it to help me choose the kids who get to read them first. They get snapped up so quickly! Love it!

Do you remember getting those book orders? Were they magic for you too? :)

Dribs and Drabs

It's been a busy week  - lots of goodies going on.

Shannon McMahon has an anonymous critique going on her blog Somewhere Between Fact and Fiction. It's a great idea and I know she'd be thrilled if some new friends popped on over to help out with some insights. Check it out!

Talli Roland's blogsplash was a huge success! The Hating Game reached #24 on Amazon in the UK and #460 on Amazon in the US. Those are incredible numbers!! Congratulations Talli!


In other news, we were hit by almost a foot of snow last night - and we're expecting another 6 inches or more tonight. It all came in a few hours, so the plows weren't able to keep up. The roads were a mess, but we all made it to school and work! Winter is definitely here!

Janet Summer Johnson awarded me the Creative Blogger Award way back. Thanks Janet! Life has been nutbar crazy & that's my excuse for not thanking you before this! If you haven't visited Janet yet, check out the link - you won't regret it!!

Jessica Ann Hill awarded me the Magical Blog Award more recently! She's a terrific new friend! I love the photo on the award - la Tour Eiffel lit up is gorgeous! Check out her blog for lots of fun. :) Thanks Jessica!

So, have you been hit by snow yet? I know my Aussie and Kiwi friends are in the midst of summer and I'm more than a little jealous after all that shoveling!!

Talli Roland's The Hating Game

Help Talli Roland's debut novel THE HATING GAME hit the Kindle bestseller list at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk by spreading the word today. Even a few sales in a short period of time on Amazon helps push the book up the rankings, making it more visible to other readers.

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

No Kindle? Download a free app at Amazon for Mac, iPhone, PC, Android and more.

Coming soon in paperback. Keep up with the latest at http://www.talliroland.com/.

 ***
About THE HATING GAME:

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy. After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £2000,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

***
Sounds like a great book, doesn't it? Click on a link and help Talli make a Splash!! I know I am :)

I started Talli's book last night and it is a fun read! Love the characters!! :)