First of all i'd like to wish everyone a Happy Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Channukah, Christmas or anything you do celebrate! Even if you do not celebrate anything I do hope you have a peaceful and stress free holiday season! :)

I had to come into work this morning to babysit the office just in case. There is no one here and I am sipping on apple cider that is much to expensive...I had a craving for it and the coffee shop downstairs has Starbucks prices..yikes! I also  had my ipod on, dancing around here (it's a HUGE office). Figure I might as well enjoy myself if I'm going to be stuck here all morning!

I will head home in about 90mins and probably do some writing. My partner won't be home till 2ish. When he gets home we'll light a fire and chat, perhaps have a relaxed dinner eating on the couch and sip on a few martinis (his idea!). Apparently he has made me a gift (or at least something he was working on). It's unlike him to do things like that so I'm thinking he is trying to be sweet since this is my first holiday without my dad and I wasn't able to get home. I'm actually curious as to what he's come up with! I will hand him his two Gap thermal long sleeve shirts and call it a night :) I think he wanted to finish installing the new sink and toilet too! can't wait!

Tomorrow is Baklava making day, followed by our usual drive around the city to see what's open. We'll try to find a chinese place to have lunch (as many chinese are Buddhists and open their restaurants..YAY!) and we know of one coffee chain that will also be open. Nothing in store for the evening, I'm thinking just a downloaded movie and microwave popcorn!

Unlike for most people, this is a VERY quiet and boring time for me. I usually have nothing to do and no one to see. The only friend I have here is out of town though i do expect to see another friend this weekend who has come to town to see his family. :)

I received a special surprise from a woman i never met but we've communicated online alot as we have many of the same interests. It was a $25 Ebay gift certificate delivered to my email! WOW! LAst  year she was out of work and i gave her a box of organic fruits and veggies delivered from a local place where she lives. She told me not to feel bad and not to feel like i have to give back. I guess that's the spirit...giving!

I think I'll do some more dancing, followed by more writing :)

Peace and blessings to all during this holiday season!

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I was listening to my favourite podcast this morning and the host was talking about how broke she was last year and discussed a few frugal things she did for friends. She called it "Romantic Dinner for two in a bag". What she did was get together with a friend, made a bunch of pesto and placed it in small jars, then went to the dollar store and bought candles & pasta. She placed the jar of pesto, bag of pasta and candles in a gift bag and gave this to couples! This would be a great idea for anyone! She said it didn't cost her more than $3 a gift. How amazing is this?

Other ideas included placing coffee mixes in baggies then placed into a cup from the dollar store & adhorning with ribbon and added peppermint sticks. Something which i did as well this year!

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Since there are only two of us who officially work in the office (there are ministers coming in and out and their staff on occasion), the office never really had holiday parties. I decided to take it upon myself to have one today. Kind of...

I bought a 99cent large can of apple juice and made Spiced Apple Cider spiced it up with some fresh ginger (1tsp minced), 1/2 tsp anise seed,  a few cloves (say 5) and one medium cinnamon stick broken 4 pieces. I didnt have any oranges to put in it though. I made it last night in the crockpot at home, strained it and brought it to work. Placed that in the crockpot at work and am keeping it on low.

I made a Red Pepper Bean Dip which took me all of 5 minutes to make: 1 can white kidney beans (drained & rinsed), 2 roasted cloves of garlic, 1/2 cup roasted red peppers in a jar, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp hot chili sauce, juice of half a lemon & Salt & Pepper to taste. Throw it all in a blender and voila! Serve with chips.

I also made some Dairy Free Peanut Butter Fudge, also a 5 minute time investment (plus cooling time): 3/4 cup margarine, 1 cup organic peanut butter (not sweetened) & 2 cups icing sugar. Melt margarine in a saucepan, then take off heat & stir in peanut butter till blended, then add icing sugar a bit at a time till well incorporated. Pat down in a 9X9inch pan and chill for an hour. Cut & Serve.I find using sweetened peanut butters with this makes it way too sweet, at least for me.

The boss was thrilled, we've been pigging out on the stuff since this morning. I haven't even had lunch yet because i am too full! :)

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