it has begun.

The chaos that is Christmas has begun here at work.

The good news is that this means Christmas songs! I must admit I have been listening to Christmas music for a good two weeks prior to this to prepare for the season.

There are so many good Christmas songs…

There are also some songs that are…not as good. This would be one of my least favorite Christmas songs (I realize the video doesn’t help Newsong’s case at all)…

What are some of your favorite or least favorite Christmas songs?

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Thankful.

**I realize this post comes 3 days AFTER Thanksgiving**

The holiday season has come again this year (go figure, like it wouldn’t) and it hit me right in the gut in the form of a 23.5 lb turkey.

There are many things that I am thankful for this year…here are a few things I came up with in no particular order:

• my wife – the love of my life
• family – those who are still and those who are no longer with us
• shelter – a new home that we love
• Bailey dog – the newest addition to our family
• a steady job that I enjoy (most days)
• good health
• my friends – new friends and friends that will always be close to my heart

I love Christmas and I can’t wait for it to get here, I just wanted to step back for a moment and give thanks before the chaos begins.

What are you thankful for this year?

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what if…

If you were a hot dog, and you were starving, would you eat yourself?

I know I would.

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my two cents (vol. 3)

Here are five things I’m into right now.

1. Adam Burrows

We were in Nashville this weekend and saw this guy at the Bluebird Cafe. He is a RIDICULOUS guitar player. His music runs the gauntlet from amusing, heart-breaking and down right haunting. I definitely recommend you check out his music. It is a blend of folk-rock and his finger picking along with his lyrics make for a good harmony of beautiful music.

Highly recommended.

2. Nashville

Big $ and I visited Nashville this past weekend to see her sister and brother-in-law and I can never get enough of that city! It is such a culturally-rich and hospitable town. We were going out on Saturday night and I asked my brother in law if khakis or jeans would be appropriate. His response summed up one of the reasons I LOVE Nashville:

You can never go anywhere in Nashville in jeans and be under-dressed.

Sweet.

3. The Ukulele

My in-laws recently visited Hawaii and they brought me back a ukulele. It is soooo cool. It has been quite an adjustment learning chords for this thing because they are completely different than a guitar. However, it doesn’t take very long before you’re looking for your grass skirt and doing a hula dance.

Yes, yes I have learned the chords for “Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” and yes, it’s awesome.

4. The new Mac Tablet

If the rumors are true, I would certainly be interested in getting my hands on the new, highly-rumored Mac tablet.

Such portability and functionality would go a long way. Plus, it would be cool…and geeky…which I like.

I’d like to think it looks something like this:

or this

5. Fluffer Nutter Graham Crackers

Our snack of choice. The picture says it all.

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What are you into right now?

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50 lb chicken pot pie

I have really been getting into cooking lately. Whether it be hours and hours of Food Network (Throwdown with Bobby Flay, what what) or trying my own hand at some different recipes, I’m all about some food.

Last night I decided to tackle one of Paula Dean’s recipe – The Lady and Sons’ Chicken Pot Pie.

Lady and Sons is of course Paula’s famous restaurant in Savannah. Never been, but I hear it’s slap-yo-mama, butterlitiously good.

NOTE: This is a stock image…NOT my chicken pot pie (courtesy foodnetork.com)

The recipe was good. I thought it turned out really well…

BUT…

It was sooo heavy!

The recipe called for almost an entire stick of butter and an entire quart of heavy cream.

I won’t lie to you, I had almost a bowl full and I thought Big $ was going to have to roll me out of the kitchen…tasty, but ridiculously rich. I recommend this dish, if you like really, really rich southern food.

All in all I’d have to give this recipe THREE AND A HALF out of five stars.

If you’re interested here is the recipe.

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