Great Gifts

This was one of my Christmas gifts from Husband. It's pretty much the best gift ever.

It might only be trumped by this gift, which will find a place on my desk at work.

Better late than never

Scenes from a Christmas to remember...

The 2011 Hallmark ornament that Husband went out and purchased for me.

Our tree.

As Christmas party favors and small gifts, I made over twenty ornaments out of felt. Six of these were bacon. Am awesome.

Happy KittyMarie.

Happy Daddy.

Happy Husband.

A Gift: Banana Bread Recipe

Not everyone likes bananas, and for those of you who don't, well, you must come to terms with your own insanity. I love bananas, I think, mostly because there isn't a lazier fruit. You don't even have to wash it. You just wait until the phallic phruit reaches your preferred yellow/spotty balance, peel, and insert into your large face hole.

However, bunches of bananas have a tendency to ripen before Husband and I can eat them, so I put the pieces past their prime in the freezer and then make banana bread whenever the mood strikes. At Christmastime, I make each of my co-workers a full-sized loaf, because it's my mission in life to give all of my acquaintances the gift of diabetes.

As my Christmas gift to you, here is my old family recipe. I don't believe you'll find a better recipe in the whole-wide, banana-loving world.

2 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening (I use butter-flavored Crisco)
2 eggs
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
9 T. sour milk
3 medium real ripe bananas (When I'm ready to use my frozen bananas, I just set them out on the counter on some paper towel for a few hours to defrost. They don't look very pretty (completely black), but they are safe to eat and have great, deep banana flavor!)
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Cream sugar, shortening, and eggs. Dissolve soda in sour milk.* Add alternately milk and dry ingredients. Add mashed bananas, nuts, and salt. Pour into two loaf pans or 5 smaller ones. Bake for approximately 1 hour or until done at 325 degrees (my oven runs colder, so I usually bake for 1 hour 10 minutes; just make sure a toothpick comes out clean).

*To sour milk, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to milk.

Daily Eye Candy

Today I'm loving this feather necklace from janiecox on Etsy. And it's only $19! Beautiful.

Her shop has a number of really cute items. I don't even know if I could call this one my favorite! Check it out today!

WHY DID NO ONE BRING THIS TO MY ATTENTION?

Come on, people. I know you. Every single one of you is smarter, wittier, and intellectually more quick than I am. In other words, all you all do think good.

So why, may I ask, upon my marriage almost five years ago, did no one bring to my attention the ramifications of taking my Husband's name. It begins with "P." People regularly shorten my name to "Kat." My name is "Kat P."

I only realized this last night, when my aunt told me how my name is programmed into her phone.

Yep, you guessed it. And then she laughed.

Seriously, you all should be ashamed of yourselves.

I'm off to the courthouse to locate a name change application now.

Daily Eye Candy

I just found an adorable online shop with an adorable name: The Curiosity Shoppe. It doesn't get more cute or more interesting than the items here! Take a peek for yourself.

I don't really want to talk about how much I need these gloves. Hello, my name is KittyMarie, and I have trouble telling right from left. Just ask Husband, who often tells me while driving, "That's the leftiest right I've ever seen." $60.

I adore this simple and sweet heart tote bag. $48.

I love these two tea towels together, but the ship is probably my favorite. Washing dishes can be fun if you have cute towels! $28/each.

This is the "How-Tie" for you inept gentlemen (or ladies, not judging) who...um...don't know how. It's certainly not a skill I've mastered. I personally like zip-up ties. $18.

This is a brooch that looks like a pipe. Love it! And it won't give you lung cancer! Score! $30.