In the Beginning...

...this is what my stash of holiday baking wares looked like.  And I didn't have room to put it all in the pile.  Right now, it may look a mess, but it will turn into deliciousness!  Pictures of what I made for the holidays this year are coming soon...

Also, Aisling wanted to get in on the baking action...mainly just to eat the chocolate.  Hey, Mama didn't raise no fool.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Time for the first batch of Chex Mix!  Let the angels rejoice!  I made this pan full of salty, crunchy goodness to take home for Thanksgiving...it's been way too long since I've had this addicting stuff!  But now that it's Christmastime again, I will probably make at least 4 more batches over the next few weeks.  Waistline be damned, Mama needs her Mix!

Not Even Remotely Food Related

But I just had to gush over our first-ever appliance purchase!  (Do we qualify as grownups now??  Scary thought!)  Behold...Whirlpool Duet Washer and Dryer...high efficiency, large capacity, front-loading wonders of modern engineering.  All wrapped up in a lovely cranberry gloss finish.  Beautiful!!  I love to just look at them...wonder if I will love doing laundry now, or if it will be one more tedious task (albeit beautifully packaged) keeping me from practicing my baking skills?  Only time will tell, but for now, I will bask in the warm ruby glow of the first new appliances we've ever owned.  (I feel like they should be cinnamon-scented or something...maybe I'll write to Whirlpool to suggest it.)