A little extra sweetness this holiday season.

When Mike's grandmother was alive and well she would make cuccidatti cookies (among others) every year around Christmas time. The house would constantly be filled with a sweet baking aroma of sugar and vanilla with a warm sense of family encircling the home. These cookies were an all day process and by far were a favorite of every one in the family. Mike's grandmother would constantly have to shoo her family members away when they tried to sneak some while her back was turned.

I may not have had the privilege of meeting this amazing woman, but I plan to pay homage to her by making it a tradition in our home to make these cookies every year.

Tradition has become so important to our little family, I hope it is becoming more important to yours too.

The Quiet Life.

this time of year is always difficult. having seasonal depression makes me sleep for hours on end and the concept of getting out of sweatpants is enough to overwhelm me to the point of a panic attack. i do poorly at keeping promises, i do poorly at getting things done and most importantly i do poorly on thinking positive thoughts about myself. due to my work, we have layoffs for two plus months this time of year and though i have yet to determine whether this is beneficial or detrimental to my health, it is what it is.

i have been doing my best at keeping busy. with lots of projects with the shelter, enjoying time with friends and gradually chipping away at our home, things have been better this year. i am still waiting on my unemployment to take place and have yet to receive payment which of course sends me into panic mode. why can't these things ever be easy? and why oh why do the unemployment office staffs always have to be so rude and angry! i can imagine what they deal with, but i certainly wish someone would treat them better so they would enjoy their jobs just a little more. 

anyway, time to stay positive.

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happy hanukkah to all of our friends and family!