Category Archives: christmas

christmas, photography, weekly-winners

Weekly Winners: Christmas trip wrap-up

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I debated doing this as a Weekly Winners post (posted on a Friday versus Sunday), but since it’ll be easiest to wrap-up my last week in photos… I’m going with it.

 

Started by the lovely Lotus, Weekly Winners is a fun little thing bloggers do to showcase some of their favorite photos from the previous week.

Visit Lotus’ site and check out her various entries, and find other participants. See some amazing photos brought to you by bloggers around the world. Leave a little love when you do — its like food for the soul!

 

Photos taken using my Droid Razr, Nikon Coolpix L20 or Sony DSLR A230.
View all of my photos on my Flickr stream.

♥♥♥

Frost
Winter arrived finally, the same day we arrived in Texas for Christmas. It warmed up briefly, then another front brought another cold blast. Frost on the windshield was just a small piece of evidence of the cold.
042: State Championship Game
My high school played in the state championship game at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, TX. I couldn’t believe I got to go!! And on top of it all… WE WON!!! First state championship win since 1981. GO BIG YOE!!
State Championship Game
Yoe Pride Never Dies!
043: Texas Ornament
I love Nashville so much, but when you are born and raised in Texas… it holds your heart for life.
Pinky
I got to visit Texas A&M campus this trip… I love getting to “touch base” any time I can. Ironically, this was the first time I ever noticed the statue of Pinky Wilson, who wrote the Aggie War Hymn.
Bonfire
Close-up of a portion of a bonfire statue/display.
044: Kyle Field
Welcome to Aggieland… Home of the 12th Man.
045: Christmas tree
Christmas tree at Mom and Dad’s… ready for the family to gather and enjoy the holiday!
Sax
My nephew played his saxophone for us before we opened Christmas gifts. He did a great job, and it made me remember when I was the one playing for MY grandparents… and it almost made me want to get my flute fixed and pick it up again. (Almost)
Nativity
Grandma’s nativity (with one addition)… Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, and I never want to to lose sight of that.
047: Holiday snacks
Christmas may be technically over as Dec. 25th drew to an end, but holiday treats don’t have to stop!

♥♥♥

christmas, drinkuplinkup

#DrinkUpLinkUp — Candy Cane Vodka

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Something a little different for #DrinkUpLinkUp! I made my own Candy Cane Vodka. Oh okay, I didn’t MAKE the vodka, I infused it with candy canes. It just sounds more daring to say I made it and leave it at that.

 Candy Cane Vodka

I wanted to surprise my co-workers with something special… something handmade. I noticed infusing your own vodka on Pinterest, and I figured it was perfect for my fellow Saturday-night bartenders. So I set out to make it happen.

I used this site to help me out. (Betty Crocker site… who knew Betty was a drinker!? hehe)

Candy canes purchased. Handle of vodka purchased. Glass jars had been collected over time. Here we go…

Candycanevodka

I was pretty surprised the candy canes all dissolved within a couple hours, but I let it sit over a week nonetheless. Then the fun of filtering using a coffee filter. THAT was the most difficult part, simply due to how slow it went. But it made a HUGE difference. The vodka went from cloudy to a clear pink. So pretty!

My addiction to Parrot Bay rum this last summer netted me two pretty bottles to put the vodka in. I painted the tops and made a label.

Candy Cane Vodka

For anyone curious… its yummy! Definitely drink it chilled – which I don’t know anyone who drinks vodka any other way. But warm its a little like, well, Scope. lol But chilled, it just tastes like liquid candy canes. SO YUM. I’m going to try Skittles next time I infuse vodka… mmm…

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