Posted by Sara on Nov 29, 2008 in
Southern Life I’m a known holiday scrooge. I don’t like decorating the tree. Sometimes I don’t even put it up. I hate the rush at the mall and the mad dash to the post office. I’m usually late or down to the wire for the packages to arrive on time. My friend Shelby wrapped all my family’s gifts for me one year. Why? I’m not sure other than she’s awesome!
However, I do love one thing about this time of year (other than the point of it for those of us in the Christian faith). I love holiday TV shows. I don’t watch much TV the rest of the year. Why live vicariously through actors when I can live my own life? But my favorite December activity is sitting brianlessly on the couch in front of the tube for hours on end drinking hot cocoa and taking in the holiday specials.
Anyone with me?
If you like this too, I happened across this link for the 2008 holiday specials schedule. Enjoy!
P.S. Don’t call December 16th. I have a hot date for the 29th year in a row with Charlie Brown. I wonder what Christmas tree he’ll pick this year?
Tags: 2008 Holiday TV Guide, Charlie Brown Christmas Special
Posted by Sara on Nov 27, 2008 in
Southern Life I’ve never been big on football. I think it’s probably sacrilegious to grow up in Alabama and not pick a team. It’s just not neutral territory. Either the crimson tide is rolling or you’re bleeding orange and blue. No questions asked.
In high school, I think I only attended two of my school’s football games – one because I had to be there and another because a boy I sort of liked at the time said he was going. We weren’t very good. I don’t know that we even won a game the four years I was there.
My first college roommate adored football. Her walls were plastered with pictures of her favorite team, and she planned her life around their games. Our room looked a little funny since my side of the room consisted of floral prints and monogrammed sheets – we do love our initials in the South!
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Tags: University of Texas Football
Posted by Sara on Nov 25, 2008 in
Southern Life No. I’m not pregnant.
However, I solved an international mystery. I found the Bermuda Triangle. It lies in the coordinates between my stove, kitchen sink and kitchen trash bin.
I’m putting out a search warrant for the following items that disappeared just this week:
1. Three dehydrated orange slices.
2. Titus’ green sippee cup, thankfully only filled with water, not milk.
3. The three remaining slices of bread from a nearly-finished loaf. The plastic bag too.
4. The trash bin lid.
If this keeps up, we may have to add a fifth item.
5. My mind.
Can you relate?
Posted by Sara on Nov 22, 2008 in
Travel I count on the color yellow to bring sunshine, cotton candy and carefree days to my mind. Have you ever met a happier color?
Funny that’s the color of the autumn leaves in Canada. No time for red, brown or orange. Only yellow will do.
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Tags: Banff, Canada Autumn Colors
Posted by Sara on Nov 21, 2008 in
Travel In Banff National Park, a land filled with glaciers, lakes, rivers and streams, I never saw a single water fountain. Not. A. Single. One.
Moral of this story: take your own bottled water people.
We did, and we were glad.
Tags: Banff National Park
Posted by Sara on Nov 20, 2008 in
Travel With all the hiking and raw-meat cooking we were doing in Banff, I wanted the chance to be 100% elegant. High tea at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel fit this bill.
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Tags: Banff, Banff Springs Hotel, Canada
Posted by Sara on Nov 18, 2008 in
Travel Jasper National Park sits just north of Banff National Park in Canada. Admission to one buys you admission to the other.
Kenny picked out another hike for us in the southern tip of Jasper National Park. He was very eager to see and touch a glacier, and this hike offered the chance to see one.
After our first day of hiking Big Beehive by Lake Louise, I realized that hikes in Canada are not like walks in Texas, so I was better prepared that the view would be worth the pain in my lungs and my thighs. (Forget stairmaster…take a trip to Canada!)
The view on this hike was ABSOLUTELY worth any discomfort along the way. We ended high above the tree line in the tundra along a ridge looking down into a canyon a thousand feet below us. Off to our left was the huge Saskatchewan Glacier melting down to form a lake and a river running through the canyon. The mountains straight ahead were rocky and steep.
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Tags: Jasper National Park
Posted by Sara on Nov 17, 2008 in
Travel 
If you can swing it, stay at the four-star Delta Banff Royal Canadian Lodge. We LOVED this hotel!
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Tags: Delta Banff Royal Canadian Lodge
Posted by Sara on Nov 16, 2008 in
Travel 
My friend and former colleague Colleen grew up in upstate New York. With her close proximity to Canada there she knows a bit about Canadian culture. She once mentioned to me that if I ever have the chance I should try maple walnut ice cream, which apparently, is a Northern favorite.
After the hike to Big Beehive, I thought a treat sounded great. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a beautiful hotel positioned on the bank of Lake Louise. A candy store in the hotel was selling ice cream. They served maple walnut.
YUM! The ice cream reminded me a bit of butter pecan, a Southern staple. However, the maple flavor made me feel like I was eating a pancake for dessert.
Great recommendation Colleen!
Tags: Maple Walnut Ice Cream
Posted by Sara on Nov 15, 2008 in
Travel Lake Louise is probably the number one image that comes to mind in Banff National Park.
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Tags: Big Beehive, Lake Louise