C is for cookie, it's good enough for me; oh cookie cookie cookie starts with C~ Cookie Monster

Who doesn’t like to munch on a little sugary biddy that fills your stomach with glee and turns your kitchen into a workshop? So to pay tribute to the baked goodness and the holiday season, this weekend I am hosting a cookie exchange and absolutely cannot wait!

Typically, I’d be excited on a completely different level. The event was pieced together through a social network so I don’t know a soul that is going. But we’ve all been messaging back and forth and everyone is dead set on coming.

Apart from not knowing anyone, there could be quite a bunch of people that turn up (up to 40 + which is still not fully confirmed and I’m trying my hardest not be edgy about it) and of course the entertaining aspect is great. This week the exchange was even featured in a weekly newsletter! I was like a proud mama hen, watching over this little exchange that could.

There is a bar in the city that during the holidays is a hot spot for serving Glogg (mulled wine)which have been nice enough to let us takee reign. Utter geekness, getting excited about turning into domestic goddesses and lordships (no way am I calling the guys a God unless they bake an almond cake with a chocolate ganache glaze just for me!) to have gotten this thing off of the ground.

Hosting a party….yes please! There is a little sadness with it since this type of exchange is taking place at a bar. Not to say the least that I’m not super excited for the mulled wine and tons of people who will show up because I totally am….but….there are several people that have children and it would have been nice to have been able to include their munchkins and do something like a cookie decorating section just for them. Maybe next year.

So X marks the spot, and my kitchenaid is going to get used to its utmost powers starting tomorrow. For the cookies, because several people are seriously bringing their baking side out hardcore, I am going to be making three different types.

-Gingerbread Snowflake Sammies with Lemon Meringue filling (the ever faithful recipe!)
-Guy Fieri’s Crazy Oatmeal Cookies
-Rugelach or Baklava (I’m still torn)

I love the holidays for these reasons, memories, sharing and good company! And TONS of cookies!

Of course the cheering antics are back: Game Night at the Saddledome. Please keep this streak alive! Hardwork and determination pays off but keep it going! Go Flames Go!

Badassery

Pardon the curse. It’s that time of year to either find the motivation to get into the gym or avoid it like the plague. It’s freezing outside so rather than packing on an additional winter “jacket” the gym has become a morning tribute. But in reality, cuddling up in a warm bed sounds way better.

At the gym and getting the fitness on, I was on an elliptical, getting ready to step up the intensity, when a lady smiled at me in the mirrors. Strange, but okay?

Zoning out in the middle of a workout always happens but her smile got to me and I forgot all about the song I was on or how my breathing was. After finishing up the cardio session and was getting ready to walk away, that same lady smiled again at me and said something that brought heat to the cheeks in 0.9 seconds.

I was singing along with the iPod. I stared at her, but immediately started to laugh because she told me that I looked concentrated in the workout but she could tell I had hit a good song or I was listening to something funny because I’d start to mumble along with whatever was playing in the headphones. This is lovely, so now I can add entertaining people around me with sweat pouring off of the body to the list of things to avoid.

So this got me thinking, do you walk away from the startling realization that you sing while working out feeling completely embarrassed. I mean, the gym is not an arena filled with screaming American Idol fans or even the shower. Off an octave or not, you’re not alone.

Totally outrageous, but I’m embracing it. I don’t care. That song was good and got me through the workout, calories are burning and that’s what matters. I’ll definitely be paying attention to my actions tomorrow at the gym but for today, “I’m holding on to what I haven’t got!!”

For the Cheering antics: Its game night. I keep the faith for Calgary, but of course am mainly watching a certain defenseman work the ice (hopefully longer than 9 minutes tonight) so it doesn’t matter. Good Luck!