Camera Crisis!

So we had a mini camera meltdown here in the Haggerty household! We thought we had lost the battery charger for our beloved Nikon D40...however, tonight after making the most gorgeous cupcakes in my whole lifetime, I was distraught and wasn't able to give up hope. So I made a camera charger search effort take place. Still no avail. I couldn't find it anywhere- I looked in boxes, in drawers, in nooks and cranny's, in Tupperware*, so yeah, everywhere. So as I sat on the floor, in near tears...pleading with Paul to look again, he decided to take me up on the offer and took one last look. Well he walks into the bedroom and looks right in front of my dresser. And it is laying there.

IN PLAIN SIGHT.

So yeah...a Christmas without a camera, a month without pictures (in this normally camera active home), a month with no blog posts, a month where family visited this very apartment and knew of the lost charger...NO ONE SAW IT.

But here is the good news. I made earl grey cupcakes tonight that are the prettiest, yummiest, nicest cupcakes ever. AND- I have pictures to prove it :D

*I was desperate. What can I say...

A Christmas present my sister knitted for Paul! He loves this thing.

Here I am modeling the hat my sister made me! I love it- colors, fit...everything! Go Mandie!!

The awesome new decorations I got for our place. Courtesy of TJ Maxx and Target babe. (Goooooooo BARGAIN!)

Me showing scale...Excuse my dirty gym clothes.

Leeloo still life

Our new electric tea kettle and amber sugar crystals for tea.

Let me reassure you that these little sugar pebbles make tea taste so clear and perfect. I have had 3 cups of tea already today.

SO GOOD!

Close up. Gorgeous.

Earl grey cupcakes...yesyesyesyes.

The recipe actually calls for ripping open tea bags and pouring the leaves into the batter. Mmmmm. Then the frosting is vanilla bean with orange essence buttercream.

Tis been a tea day.

Salty and Sweet

Since I have been off of work for 3 whole days now, I have been cooking and baking my life away (and I like it!!). I made: Sugar cookies, mint shortbread cookies, chocolate crinkles with strawberry preserves, and...*Da-Da-DUUUH!* salted caramels! Holy smokes. I have shown you a few of the delights I have made up but now I must show you my new additions:

Chocolate cookie dough- all ready to chill.

Mmm. All done!

Sugar getting ready to become some awesome caramel.

With the cream, salt and butter additions.

Pour your sugar on me!

All cut and sprinkled... Close up!

I made a lot...

And just so you see that I don't just make and eat a million cookies and candies, I made stir 'fry' tofu tonight :D

All these goodies are ready for company visiting this holiday season- you know who you are!! Lucky dogs, you.

Christmas Picture Extravaganza!

Paul and I had to celebrate Christmas early due to work schedules and figuring out when we can go to Pittsburgh, Ohio and back to Maryland so we could visit family. Here is a photo tour of our weekend :)

Shotzye just wanted to sun and relax on her Christmas break...

Leeloo is more of the 'watch a bunch of movies' type.

Our pretty purple stockings!

Student Christmas cards :D

...they actually like me! haha

Our tree- with presents, woot!

My new cupcake earrings Paul bought me from etsy! i love 'em!!!

close-up

Paul's stocking stuffers

my anthropologie shirt I got :D

Paul just saw his new WII!!!!!!!!!!

my lovely jacket :D

Shotzye was excited!

Christmas cookies cooling

Sugar cookie close-up

Glittery star

Swirly star

Polka dot ornament

Pretty snowflakes!

My gingerbread cookie!

Paul's g-man.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas :D

Some Christmas pics...

On the inside of an airplane

(AT MY LAST DRILL WEEKEND!!)

Megan (the air force elf) and her baby Keira!

Gav on a fire truck

yikes...a bit akward when this was happening front of a bunch of children...

Panicked kittys on the way home

Yay! home :)

Close up.

A CHRISTMAS FROG!!

Thanksgivinz

Paul and I just got back to MD from a loooong week. Starting last weekend, we went to Richmond, VA for an early Thanksgiving with Jamie's family. After that, my mom came to our place for a few days until we drove to Pittsburgh. We went to the tree lighting at National Harbor and went shopping at Old Town Alexandria. Good times. When we were in the 'burgh, we had some more turkey at the Haggerty's and hung out with them for a few days. Then this morning we drove back to Waldorf (normally a 4 1/2 hr drive...today, a 6 hour drive...grr traffic!!) and we just got done setting up our pretty tree. yippee- it is so Christmas comfy in here :D

My sparkling snowflake ornament I got at the National Harbor when my mom came to visit. My mom got one too- they were too pretty to resist!!!

Spooky!! He lives up to his name too! Even with my cat whispering, he still attacked me. yikes!

Kitchen insanity.

Mmmm!

My plate. Notice I dont skimp on those potatoes + gravy!

Dessert! Homemade apple pie annnnnnd my pumpkin pecan chocolate chunk cookies with maple brown butter frosting...what a mouthful!! And BOY WERE THEY TASTY!

Ziggy. my friend. He was such a cuddly baby boy :)

Paul and Gavin making a fire.

Leeloo checking on the birdie status.

Christmas decor!