Tie One On Tuesday

 It's time to kick 2010 to the curb and invite 2011 in to boogie down with you in the champagne room. Speaking of champagne, I've got a few cocktails to wet your whistle while you are shaking your money maker on the dance floor. Hollar!

Say you need something to get your boom boom hitting the room room-well this is the cocktail just for you.

Boom Boom cocktail
1 shot sweet vermouth
1 shot dark rum
1/2 shot orange juice
Champagne
Put the vermouth, rum and orange juice into a Champagne flute. Add in Champagne to fill. Toss on a slice of banana for a tropical accent, and enjoy!

Oh my! Is that a sparky pepper in your pocket or are you just glad to see me...oh, it's a sparky pepper,my mistake.

Sparky Pepper
1 oz. Pepper Vodka
Champagne
Pour champagne into a flute glass and add shot of vodka, mix slightly and see the sparks fly!

The clock is ringing midnight and the ball has fallen. It's time to give a sweet kiss good-bye. Oh 2010-let's just be friends. No, you don't need my number...I'm going out of the country for a year...on safari...helping build churches in a land far, far away...don't call me, I'll call you.

A Good Night Kiss
1 drop Angostura Bitters
1 sugar cube
1 splash Campari
Champagne
Add the bitters to the cube and place in the bottom of a Champagne flute. Add a splash of Campari, and then fill it up with Champagne.

Oh yeah! Ringing in the new year-Pedersen style. Whoop! Whoop! Now good riddance to you 2010-don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. 2011, it's your time to shine.

As the old saying goes...Here's champagne for our real friends and real pain for our sham friends and when our journey finally ends...may all of us find peace. Happy New Year!

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

This Scrappy Dog Sunday is dedicated to a little Boston Terrier named Petey. I never actually met Petey but I know from pictures and stories that he was one silly scrappy pup.

Petey loved the snow. He also loved to snore when he slept, fart at the most inappropriate times and he gave the stinkiest kisses known to man (I'm thinking Lola could give him a run for his money in that department).

I know that he is in that big dog park in the sky. Chasing squirrels, barking at unknown noises and munching on treats while angels rub his belly.

You will be missed little buddy-you brought great joy to those who knew you and giggles to those who heard the stories. Rest in Peace little man.

Merry Christmas!

From the Pedersens...

and the pups...

Lola

Jujube and...

Pete

We hope your day was filled with love, cheer,and joy. Ours was filled with stuffed animals, doggy treats and A Christmas Story..and all was right with the world.

Feel Good Friday!

 Ho! Ho! Ho! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! That's right-it's the day before that jolly man in a red suit comes to visit-no, I'm not talking about your uncle Norm-I'm talking SANTA! Are you stockings hung by the chimney with care? Have you been good little children all year-wait, don't answer that...you might get coal in your stocking.

Are you still wrapping presents? You better get on it! There isn't much time! If you are still wondering about how to wrap those lovely gifts, check out this video with a super cute cameraman!

If you're looking for the best tags to put on those fabulous gifts, check out Creature Comforts. They have a huge selection of the cutest tags. You can print them out right from your computer.  Remember, my name is spelled P-A-M.

Still looking for wonderful Holiday decorations? Kind Over Matter has a link of some wonderful free printables for your viewing pleasure.

I don't think you understand the need I have for this tree. I must have one in every color.

Alright my little kiddles. It's time for me to get the egg nog on as I watch for Santa's sleigh. He's hit Australia and Russia and is heading toward Pakistan. Check out Norad to see if he's close to your house. Merry Christmas everyone! Let cheer, good faith and love shower you during this time. You are the best Christmas present a girl could ever have...well, you and chocolate.

True Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching and through the hustle and bustle of getting ready for it, I've decided to take a few minutes to reflect just what this time of year means to me. I decided to do this while at the holiday concert for OMP's students.

If you have never been to a kid's concert or choir, then I highly suggest that you take some time and do it. It will renew your faith in humanity and give you a giggle or two. I sat in the audience like a proud parent, watching OMP instruct his students on how to drum as the choir sang slightly off key. Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to the bows painfully run across violin strings. It brought a joy to my heart that could never be measured.

As I sat and looked around at all the proud parents video taping their children and not giving a care that the choir sang off key or their child was making goofy faces while playing jingle bells, I recognized what was important about this season, about life in general. See, it doesn't matter how good you are at something, it's just the fact that you are taking that chance. That you are willing to sing off key and do it at the top of your lungs. I smiled at the little girl whose voice was shaky during her solo, I gave her a look  as if to tell her, " Go Girl! You can do it!" She smiled back and belted out Up on the Roof Top.

The crowning point of the night was when everyone was asked to participate in singing Christmas songs. Grandparents, parents, and siblings all joined in to sing Frosty the Snowman. It was at that moment that I felt the true meaning of Christmas. It wasn't about presents, or making sure I made it to church or even the perfect cookie. It was about family-in whatever capacity that meant. It was about coming together with your neighbor and for those three minutes, forgetting everything that is different about each other and embracing the person.

After the concert was over, everyone went back to their lives, but for that one night-people from different backgrounds came together to sing silly songs, to show brotherly love and to give a little of themselves and that my friend, is what Christmas is all about.

Merry Movie-Mas

I can't believe that Christmas is this Saturday? What? Where did the time go?  It was only yesterday I was putting out the Halloween decorations.Who stole my months? I have so many holiday movies to watch before Saturday. I have to get on it! These are ones you should be watching too. No exceptions!

A Christmas Story-I'm not even going to explain this one again. Just rent it, or go out and buy it. If you can't get it anywhere else, watch it in on TBS on Christmas day, where it is played for 24 hours straight. Seriously people, I can not stress enough how valuable this movie and how much you need to see it multiple times.

White Christmas-Again, not going to explain this one for another year. I'll just say-Bing Crosby,singing &  dancing, and a great song about snow that will stay in your head until next year.

Miracle on 34th Street. Can I please have Kris Kringle as a grandpa? Natalie Wood is too adorable in this wonderful romp about Macy's and Santa.

Elf-SANTA! I KNOW HIM! Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color? Yeah, I've watched that movie a few times too many. 

Better Off Dead-CHRISTMAS....CAN YOU SAY CHRISTMAS...DO YOU HAVE CHRISTMAS IN FRANCE? I don't think I need to say anymore.

Okay...so those are a few flicks playing in heavy rotation at the Pedersen household. If you will excuse me, I have to finish wrapping presents, making a million more cookies, dancing around the Christmas tree and preparing the house for Santa's arrival. Merry Christmas all! Lots of movie love to ya'll!

Feel Good Friday!

This Feel Good Friday is dedicated to my sweetie. My man around town....OMP. Old Man Pedersen! It's his birthday today! YAHOO! Happy birthday, get funky! Whoop! Whoop! Oh yeah!

I am so blessed to have OMP in my life. He is my rock, my biggest fan, and my best friend. I can not imagine life without him. Sure he's grumpy but that's just the tough exterior. Inside he's a big ol' marshmallow and anyone that knows him well, knows this. He is the most giving person you will ever meet. I love him more and more each day.

So A big ol' HUZZAH to you Mr. Pedersen! Here's to another 46 years! I love you!