I’ll save the Best of 2009 post(s) for the new year. Here’s a digital scrapbook page I just finished today.
I can’t wait to get my new camera! Then my digital scrapbook pages will really be hot. I got to play with it at Best Buy last night. It is amazing. So cool! The sales people kept asking me if I had any questions… which was funny, because the amount of time I have spent researching and reading about the 7D, I bet I could answer their questions.
Looking forward to a great year in 2010.
Today my hubby had the most brilliant idea to go down to Ashland and visit Grandpa’s Cheese Barn. For those of you unfamiliar, it’s most definitely worth checking out. Grandpa’s Cheese Barn features homemade cheese, meats, and specialty items, like Jams, ciders, and syrups. There is also a sweet shoppe next door with fudge, candies, a whole bunch of homemade goodies.
Let me tell you, it was amazing. We got a whole bunch of fresh cheese: Ohio swiss, farmers cheese, horseradish cheese, & a multi pack that had marble, mozzarella, brick, muenster, jalesburg, and more. We also got salami, pepperoni, bread and butter pickles, jalapeno peach spread, & wasabi peas among other things.
It’s not the healthiest, but we ate some of our goodies with our dinner. Delicious!
The thing about the cheese is it’s freshness. The cheese has awesome texture when it is really fresh, really creamy. It is also full of flavor. I love all types of cheese, but tasting all the cheeses in the multi cheese bag, was the best!
After the barn we checked out the sweet shoppe and got a few clusters and moosetracks fudge. Both really good as well.
One of the coolest thing about shopping there has to be the free samples. There are samples of just about everything. They encourage you to try everything before you buy. It’s so cool. Unlike any shopping experience I’ve ever had. It’s amazing we could even decide on what to buy everything was so good. I literally laughed out loud when I saw a sign on a refrigerator case that said “STOP, spread samples are behind you”
They have an amazing selection as well. All different kinds of cheese one might not even imagine, like whiskey cheese, cranberry cheese, and the like.
If you are ever in the Ashland area it’s a great place to check out, right off 71.
[EDIT] According to the The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, full fat cheese makes you skinny!
Get the skinny on why here. HAHA!
Who’s watched Paranormal Activity? We watched it tonight with some friends, and everyone liked it but me.
It wasn’t scary. It was meant to be suspenseful I’m sure. But I just wasn’t scared. Maybe just because I don’t really believe in the paranormal stuff…
I kept waiting for something to happen… and there were only really 2 scenes when anything worth while did happen. But it still wasn’t for me.
I am looking forward to seeing Avatar, and the musical Nine. Hopefully my hubby will take me out for a date night one of these days 
That would be really nice. I think I can wait til Nine comes out on DVD, but Avatar is just one of those movies I think is made to be seen on the big screen. I want to see it in 3D, so we pretty much have to get out for that one.
I made a delicious new recipe today, Fiesta Chicken Salad. It was really yummy. I added my own homemade avocado dressing, which was a perfect compliment to it. I’d be happy to share the dressing recipe if anyone is interested.
Wouldn’t it be great to own a waterproof laptop. I would have to start a new blog with a name like rubber ducky, or In a Tub… so I could blog from my bubble bath. That would be wonderful! So relaxing.
Yesterday I visited my old friends Sara no H, and Katie Baby. It was really great to see them. We don’t get to see each other as much as I like, but they mean the world to me. People like that are hard to come by. Did I mention that Sara no H now lives in the Hampton’s. I always knew that girl was going places in life. So cool.
My hubby’s and my brother’s birthday’s are coming up. It’s always so hard for me to come up with good gift ideas right after Christmas. I hope the snow slows down tomorrow so I can get out to the mall without any problems. Last night I was a hot mess driving home in the slush. I hate snow!
Who has seen Avatar? I have heard that it is good, but also expensive to see in 3D. Worth it? I don’t know. Might not be a bad date idea for next weekend
It seems like 90% of my blogging buddies are on hiatus right now.. which sucks! I miss my internet friends 
Come on people, update your blogs and entertain me. Today’s post is totally uninspired.
I just couldn’t wait to use my new skates, so we went ice skating yesterday. We went to the outdoor rink at Lock 3 in downtown Akron. It was really fun.
I am still just amazed that my hubby came up with the idea. Then when I saw him skating my heart just melted. He was too cute. His skates are hockey skates, so I have no idea how the heck he’s supposed to stop. I mean, I’ve seen people do the whole, turn the skate thing and stop on a dime, but it just seems difficult to do, especially in a crowded rink. No sharp turns allowed where there are small children around.
It was also just really fun to see all the people laughing and having a good time. There were all types of people there with all types of skating levels, and everyone was smiling, even the people who fell down. It was nice to see strangers helping strangers up from the ice and making sure they were ok. Really nice. Good to know that kindness is alive and well.
My skates fit perfectly. They are awesome. I think we are going back next weekend too. It’s going to take time to fully break in the skates and get used to the skating.
I am still just giddy it was so fun!
My hubby got me some pretty AWESOME presents this year! So if you are reading this hun, Love You. Quit reading now!
But he also got me a pretty um… funny present. It is totally sweet that he wants me to have variety when it comes to earrings. So he bought me a bunch of earrings that are studs. But they are seriously huge. I mean huge for studs. And when I opened em, I kinda faked it a little. Because I know how sweet it was. But seriously… They are HUGE!!!
I don’t know. I wanted to try and give em a chance. You know, how like when a kid makes something ugly, you kinda pretend that its beautiful to make em feel good.
I wanted to do that because it really was the thought that counted.
But when I tried to wear them it took all of 10 minutes before I was annoyed by them because my hair kept getting caught in them.
So I took them out. And I said ” I don’t like these and I’m not going to wear them anymore”. I know I know, thats not faking it.
But I was tired and cranky and it just kind of came out. I coulnt really take it back either.. since you know, they are just .. FUNNY.
So maybe I’ll find somewhere or sometime to wear them. But until then, I will just laugh at my husbands idea of good earrings.
Anyone else have any fun / funny presents to report. Come on and share. I know that someone got something totally ridiculous that they are just dying to make fun of.
Christmas this year was pretty amazing.
We celebrated yesterday with my family at Mom’s house. We ordered Chinese food from First Wok, a local restaurant that delivers, and it was great. It’s sort of our tradition 
I received some awesome presents! I am so excited to save for a new camera and I really appreciate the best buy gift cards and cash to help. It would take me FOREVER to save for it without a little help, so I am incredibly grateful.
Gimpith Simpith Sony™ also got me Scrabble Slam, so we played that with my dad and then my hubby joined us for a sorry card game. FUN.
Midnight mass was awesome. It’s my favorite part of Christmas. The music was wonderful. The choir sang and they had great instrumental accompaniment. I love when everyone is happy and singing loud in church, its such a peaceful beautiful time. I always feel like God is listening and smiling down on us, especially to those people all joyful and belting it out, who sing off key.
Our Parish is going to be going through some changes next year, as it merges with several other parishes. Our Paster is also leaving as part of the restructuring. I am sad that he is leaving, as he married my husband me, and I celebrated all the sacraments with him. He will really be missed. I also pray that everyone involved with the churches can find peace with the new changes. I know it is hard to loose your church and pastor and everything. Many people are very upset and it is sad. I know that the church is struggling right now and is doing all this because they don’t have the money to support so many different parishes. It is sad, but I really hope that people can find it in their hearts to forgive and not blame anyone for the closures and changes.
Today we visited the in-laws. My brother-in-aw made eggs benedict for breakfast. It was the first time I ever had it, and it was good, but it was also hard for me not to think about all the cholesterol and fat in it as I ate it. I guess it won’t hurt just once.
Grandma T was there and she brought her adorable little puppy skipper. I love him. I want him. He’s amazing. And I’m not even allergic
After presents we went over Grandma & Grandpa Bickel’s house. They are the sweetest grandparents. I call them my grandma and grandpa. I really love them. It was nice to see everyone at their house. We gave Grandpa his “I Want My Senior Discount” hat, and Dad B, and the Uncles. It was good gag gift for the rest of them, but knowing Grandpa he will use his
We got to see all of my hubby’s family which was pretty cool. Dinner at his Aunt’s was delicious. We had rib roast, corn, red skin mashed potatoes, broccoli and salad. It was really good. Then we were able to watch the cavs game. WOO! It was awesome. Skipper laid in my lap practically the whole game. He’s the perfect little lap dog.
Coach Jackson complained after the game that it was not a well refereed game, which is entirely true. But he thinks that the Lakers were not getting fair calls… But it was the Cavs that were totally not getting the calls, which ended up not mattering, because they dominated! Did anyone see when Kobe game down court and totally and purposely pushed over Mo Williams? The refs apparently didn’t see it because there was no call. But it was just poor sportsmanship on his part.
So Christmas Rocked.
Hope you all had a blessed Christmas.
I would love to hear about your highlights!
With the idea shamelessly stolen from Angie , Thanks Angie!!! , who is awesome at playing the piano, I made a short video of me playing a new song I am learning on my guitar. It’s just a clip of the beginning.
The real embarrassing part is that I could easily play the song well, but as soon as I brought out the camera I got all nervous… as if I was playing for a real crowd… It caused a few errors, and screwed up the tempo a bit. My palms even started to sweat!
I’m not exactly used to playing for an audience. But, I’m practicing for open night mic at Suds! Hopefully I can get over the jitters by then.
Oh Yea, It’s Led Zepplin by the way. I mean, who doesn’t love the Zepplin
I would never have guessed it..
My hubby got us his and hers ice skates for Christmas!!! I am totally in shock right now. I don’t even know how he knew I liked ice skating. I remember I asked him once last year or maybe even the year before if he would consider going skating, but we hardly even talked about it… so it totally blew me away.
I am really excited. It has been a long time since I skated…maybe high school? But I’ve always loved it. I think it’s really romantic that he’s going to go skating with me.
Even better, there is a free rink near us. Yes FREE. Woohoo. Well, it’s just a seasonal rink, it’s outdoors. But it’s still seriously awesome. Another rink south of us charges $6.00 per person..which can add up to a lot if we want to skate often.
I also got an electric blanket. I am going to sleep like a queen. We tried it out already, and I was just loving the toastyness! I am the type of person who is either always cold. or has cold hands and feet. ALWAYS. Plus, even if I can get my hands and feet warm temporarily, they loose heat fast. So it’s pretty much the most perfect gift ever.
I hate to make it all about the presents… because I know that is not what the holiday is all about. BUT I LOVE MY PRESENTS. And I love my thoughtful husband more!!
So, it’s finally here. Time to celebrate Christmas. Tomorrow we are going to mom’s house. As always. Friday, we are going to the in-laws in the morning, hubby’s grandparents in the early afternoon, grandma’s mid day time permitting, and then my hubby’s Aunt’s for dinner. It is going to be a long day.
I’ve already made it known that I expect to stop for cappuccino bright and early!
With all that planned, we’ve decided to have our own little quiet celebration Tonight. Whoop Whoop.
I am excited. My hubby keeps telling me that I am going to love my present. He also keeps making this analogy to egg dippers… which is totally hilarious. If you only knew how much I love eating dippy eggs you would get it. It’s something simple I’m sure… but I’m totally going to be crazy over it
I wish I got my hubby some more exciting things… but everything he wants is really practical. Maybe for his birthday, which is coming up really soon. Any ideas anyone???
I got him some clothes, a belt, a nice scarf, and a Homepedics massager. I have no idea if he’ll like it, but it was the one idea that I had on my own… I guess I’m totally uninspired this year.
I had been on a lookout for a nice lambskin leather coat for him. But I never found anything that was appropriate. I looked around, but it didn’t seem to be a popular item this year. No special sales, and pretty few options. I’m sure if I really wanted to shell out hundreds, I could have found one, no doubt, but I was thinking more or less of a more modestly priced one.
Oh well… there’s always next year.
I will post some pics later with our presents. My camera died early while I was trying to upload some videos to vimeo.