My Life's Ingredients

This video has been a tradition in Germany for New Year’s Eve since I can remember, but I’ve not been watching it regularly since I moved to the UK (and I’m not able to find the videotape with it my mum sent me years ago). Thank goodness for the Internet, mmmh?? We’re going to have a quiet evening again this year, first have 2 friends over for Raclette (again, a tradition on my side of the family really) and once they’ve gone home or decided to stay over night we’re going to watch a bit TV or whatever we may have recorded or DVD (TV is going to be abysmal from what I can see!!) and then go to bed early-ish. Haven’t had a big New Year in YEAAARRS, think we’re getting old!! Oh – going through Wikipedia DH found also a Lego version of “Dinner for One”. Which traditions do you have? Have a great evening/night and all the best for 2012!!!

If there's nothing else you're doing today, or if you're celebrating Christmas Eve and you have a bit of time, go here - we've been tracking Santa for years now and cannot wait for the girls to take part next year (currently totally oblivious to the whole thing!). Track Santa with NORAD

What easier to go for in December than Christmas baking! So after a lot of Christmas Markets in my November 10 things , my 10 things for December are my favourite baked goods during Advent/Christmas time (not necessarily all made by me or at least not yet): (photos for first 3 items are mine, the rest is courtesy of Google) “Stollen” (usually just the buttery type with candied fruit and raisins, but also like the Nougat type or Poppy seed one – just NO MARZIPAN one please – can’t stand the taste of it!!) – best with some squishy cream and a cuppa hot chocolate or tea! “Vanillekipferl” (vanilla crescents – tried my best in this country to get my granny’s recipe going, but somehow they don’t rise properly and go all flat – would have thought I’d have figured out why after 13 years!) (2008 batch) (2009 batch) And the 2010 batch looked again like the one from 2008!!! I wonder if it’s the butter … or flour…   “Husarenkra

Yup – similar to last year me thinks – not really very Christmassy around here yet, no deco apart from the Advent wreath with the candles, the Advent Calendar Candle and the door wreath. Everything else is still in the loft. Not sure why, apart from having 18 weeks old twins (and last year was pregnant with said twins). Baked a stollen, so that’s a step forward, but somehow I don’t feel very Christmassy, and DH’s scroogey behaviour doesn’t help much (neither does his being made redundant middle of November). And with all that, OF COURSE I’m behind with Shimelle’s JYC . Had hoped to do an album (even prepared some pages at the November Crop), then got realistic and said I’d at least do the daily blogging, but even that didn’t happen. Haven’t done ONE SINGLE ENTRY – be it on here or on paper!!! Nothing! Nix! Nada! Tomorrow is Day 4 of JYC… Hope this will change soon – can’t believe tomorrow is already the 2nd Advent!

1. One of my favorite things about December is Christmas. 2. I love German Glass ornament(s)! 3. This is what I'm hoping for today/tonight: well behaved twins who sleep longer than 6am . 4. Why does the weather make such a noise? 5. Ooh, a stollen is what I baked this evening! . 6. My ears are ringing – from the cold? ! 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an earlier night than yesterday , tomorrow my plans include decluttering and Sunday, I want to catch up with the JYC !