christmas – Page 2 – Some Punny Bunny

Watergate Cake

Posted on December 9, 2024December 22, 2024 by Eryn 🐰

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Happy Blogmas Day 9!

I’m excited that my classes are wrapping up, which means it’s time for potlucks! Each class hosts a potluck on the last days of class; at least my professors do.

I’m making churro cupcakes for my intercultural class because they would be a fun way to share my Americanized twist on Hispanic culture.

One of my professors is a self-proclaimed lover of sweets, particularly chocolate, so I will make my brownie bites again for my English class.

In my history class, we’re wrapping up with a focus on Nixon and the 1970s, and I’ve decided to make Watergate cake — I mean, what a fitting name, right? I might also whip up a version without pecans, just in case! You might be thinking, “I’ve never had Watergate cake; I only know Watergate salad!” or you might be saying, “What on earth are either of those?” I really enjoy Watergate salad too; it’s a lot like ambrosia salad, which is basically just whipped cream mixed with a bunch of fruit! As for Watergate cake, it’s a delightful vanilla cake made with pistachio pudding, coconut, and pecans.

The best part is that all these recipes use a box mix; with just a little tweaking, they won’t taste artificial! It’s a fun and easy way to make delicious treats!

For a tired and true Watergate Cake recipe

For the cake:

1 (16.25-ounce) box white cake mix
1 (3.4-ounce) box instant pistachio pudding mix
3 large eggs
1 cup Vegetable oil
1 cup club soda
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.
Using an electric mixer, beat cake mix, 1 box of pistachio pudding, eggs, vegetable oil, and club soda for 2 minutes. Stir in pecans.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 50 to 55 minutes.

For the frosting:

1½ cups cold milk
1 package (3.4 oz) instant pistachio pudding mix
1 carton (8 oz) whipped topping,thawed
¼ cup chopped pistachios and pecans
Maraschino cherries

place the milk and the remaining package of pudding mix in a large bowl. Whisk until smooth. Let sit for 5 minutes (the pudding will firm up a bit). Then, fold in the whipped topping.
Spread the frosting on top of the cake. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and Maraschino cherries. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the frosting to firm up slightly.

I really love the recipe I’ve always used since it’s what I grew up with, but I’m excited to give this coconut version a try tonight! It seems like a fun twist on the classic! Watergate Cake Recipe

Lifestyle, Monthly Muses

Busy before the holiday

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Eryn 🐰

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Happy Blogmas Day 8!

I took a little break from the blog because life got quite busy! On Thursday, I had a wonderful time at my niece’s bake sale, which was a fantastic success. The kids watched “The Grinch” in the gym, and we sold a lot of snacks. The highlights were our themed offerings: green popcorn and green sugar cookies decorated with red hearts. Of course, I also made coal cake pops.

Then Friday, I had the chance to visit Fullerton, and I was really impressed with everything the school has to offer! They have a fantastic communications degree program and so many resources to help students. I love how they focus on building communities that make everyone feel like they belong, encouraging self-discovery and critical thinking, and providing inclusive and welcoming spaces.

The library was definitely my favorite spot! It’s actually two buildings, and the basement level is where the communications media section is located, featuring podcast rooms, a radio station, and a TV studio—super cool! That said, I still think UC Irvine has the most beautiful campus I’ve ever seen!

Saturday was filled with fun as I attended a demonstration at my niece’s karate dojo. It was absolutely adorable watching the kids in action! Unfortunately, the Zoom link was acting up, so many people missed the event. Once the demo wrapped up, we transitioned into a dojo holiday party, which was complete with a gift exchange. One little kid ended up with a set of wine glasses and wanted to trade for something else, but his parents were all about keeping them. I mean, who thought wine glasses were a good fit for a children’s holiday white elephant party?

With all this hustle and bustle between school and work, I think I really need a day to just kick back and relax!

Monthly Muses

Holiday Traditions

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Eryn 🐰

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Happy Wednesday, and welcome to Day 4 of Blogmas! What holiday traditions do you have?

I love using this blog as a personal journal sometimes! I would really enjoy hearing about your holiday traditions. Who knows, I might borrow a few ideas for when I start my own family one day!

One of my holiday traditions growing up was making tamales early in the morning on Christmas Eve with my family. This way, when we opened our presents at midnight, we could enjoy the tamales right away. My mom always said that the tamales we eat first are the initial gifts we get to savor. This blog has also become a personal tradition for me; this is my fourth year writing my Blogmas post.

I believe I’ve mentioned before that we watch the Harry Potter movies starting on Christmas Eve and finish the franchise on Christmas Day. Recently, someone on social media asked why the characters celebrate Christmas in the Harry Potter series, suggesting that, as witches and wizards, they would be pagan and it would make more sense for them to celebrate Yule. However, Ron very clearly says, “Happy Christmas, Harry.”

Monthly Muses

Blogmas Day 3

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Eryn 🐰

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Hello and welcome to day 3 of BLOGMAS

I am creating a 12-day Christmas advent calendar for my niece, which sparked a heated debate among my family. i have a few baubles and lipsThe question was Do the 12 days of Christmas start on December 1st or 12 days before Christmas? I believe they start 12 days before Christmas Day. However, my sister and boyfriend think it starts on December 1st. But we were both wrong! according to my church and From a traditional Christian perspective, the 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day and end on January 6th. These 12 days are most accurately recognized as the time when the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, which aligns with the celebration of His birth.

As much as I would love to wait until Christmas Day to start the 12 Days of Christmas, we’re going to kick it off 12 days before Christmas this year. I’ve filled it with all sorts of fun little goodies! There are cute stocking stuffers like lip gloss, hair bows, nail polishes, and, of course, candy. I even found these adorable mini Nutella jars at 5 Below, which my niece absolutely loves. Additionally, I thought it would be nice to include a few eyeshadow pens since she’s getting into makeup now. A little eyeshadow and lip gloss can’t hurt, right? It’s going to be such a delightful surprise for her!

Monthly Muses

Countdown to Christmas

Posted on December 14, 2022May 1, 2023 by Eryn 🐰

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Where has the time gone?

We are eleven days from Christmas! And I barely started my holiday checklist.

It’s the same every year; hopefully, I can add more things to it in the upcoming years. I think we can all tell I am a creature of habit and like repetition.

Have a Harry Potter movie marathon
Make Hot Cocoa from scratch
Decorate a gingerbread house
Make my 2022 ornanament
Christmas movie marathon
Holiday crafts
plan my 2023 goals
Write my letter to Santa
Send out Christmas cards
Make Tamales
Drive and see Christmas lights

The current list has no particular order. These are things I try to do every year. Do I do a special something every year? Heck no! It wasn’t until I put up the tree I noticed I did not make a 2021 ornament. I got ornaments as a gift, but I didn’t make any.

For a Christmas movie marathon, my must-watch movies are:

Noelle, it’s on Disney Plus. Super cute movie with Anna Kindrick as Santa’s daughter who has to help her brother become the next Santa Claus.

The Muppet Christmas Story is also on Disney plus. I would love for a bunch of very serious movies with the muppets. The Muppets’ version of Hamlet would be amazing.

The Little Shop Around the Corner is a classic romance. Boy meets girl, and they reject each other they fall in love. It’s the original enemies turned lovers.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is always a must-watch. Where are you Christmas gets stuck in my head the second I hear it.

Monthly Muses

A Winter Book

Posted on December 6, 2022May 1, 2023 by Eryn 🐰

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I was trying so hard not to buy a book this month since I’m 1000% positive most of not all of my friends got me books for Christmas.

But I couldn’t help myself. Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun seemed too good to pass up.

An LGBTQ+ holiday rom-com is all that I want from a new contemporary romance. I still wish all the tropes like give me a meet-cute but also mix it up.

Synopsis:

The author of the “swoon-worthy debut” (Harper’s Bazaar) The Charm Offensive returns with a festive romantic comedy about a woman who fakes an engagement with her landlord…only to fall for his sister.

One year ago, recent Portland transplant Ellie Oliver had her dream job in animation and a Christmas Eve meet-cute with a woman at a bookstore that led her to fall in love over the course of a single night. But after a betrayal the next morning and the loss of her job soon after, she finds herself adrift, alone, and desperate for money.

Finding work at a local coffee shop, she’s just getting through the days—until Andrew, the shop’s landlord, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate Ellie’s financial woes and isolation. They make a plan to spend the holidays together at his family cabin to keep up the ruse. But when Andrew introduces his new fiancée to his sister, Ellie is shocked to discover it’s Jack—the mysterious woman she fell for over the course of one magical Christmas Eve the year before. Now, Ellie must choose between the safety of a fake relationship and the risk of something real.

Perfect for fans of Written in the Stars and One Day in December, Kiss Her Once for Me is the queer holiday rom-com that you’ll want to cozy up with next to the fire.

Tell me that doesn’t sound adorable. I would love nothing more than to curl up with a peppermint hot cocoa, and Santa cookies to spend the next few hours devouring this book. But I have to wait till tomorrow cuz I ordered the book to late. I’m crying cuz I’m so impatient and this book seems so cute. It’s giving the Sandra bullock movie, While You Were Sleeping vibes.

Speaking of that movie is that a Christmas movie? Cuz I kinda feel like watching it. I’ve decided it’s a Christmas movie. I’m watching it. If you need me for in the next hour and 43 minutes, don’t.

Uncategorized

It’s the Holiday Season

Posted on December 1, 2022December 2, 2022 by Eryn 🐰

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December is here!!!!

I cant believe its time for Blogmas. 31 days of Christmas has begun already.

I can’t believe it’s December. I feel like this year has passed by so fast once it was august. And my stress from this past week (my partner getting Covid and me having to go to the doctor; it’s been rough) has made me not realize how soon December came.

But we have to keep moving forward.

I’m usually all over Christmas, but this year I don’t even know how to get into the Christmas spirit when I tried so hard to keep the fall vibes for so long.

I have an entire month to get in the mood. I’m sure I’ll watch one Christmas movie and be like you guys I don’t know why I ever doubted my love for this joyous season. But

I’m a little stressed about everything I want to do this season and I still have to buy Christmas gifts. I don’t think I have ever been this late to buy gifts. Usually, by now, I have a list and have checked it twice. But right now, I don’t even know what I’m getting, some people. The worst part is I don’t even know what i want for Christmas.

Are you in the holiday spirit already?

Monthly Muses

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2021May 1, 2023 by Eryn 🐰

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It’s Christmas Day

Merry Christmas, and thank you for joining me for Blogmas! I have no idea if anyone will be reading blogs on Christmas day.

Today is a day to spend with family, so I hope you’re doing that today.

Christmas means a lot of different things to different people, and I love that. To me, it’s about being around the people I love. It’s eating together. It’s love, laughter. It’s happiness and joy.

And I knew things were going to be different this year, but I didn’t realize how different until the day came. I’m glad I will be at work instead of home alone today.

Last night I tried to spend Christmas Eve with my boyfriend’s family. It was awkward and uncomfortable. Mainly because everyone had already left by the time I got to the house.

When It comes to my boyfriend and his family, I feel like I’m always inviting myself over. His parents were falling asleep but didn’t want to go to bed because someone was at the house, and I just was like, gee, thanks, that’s not awkward at all. Which then is embarrassing because I’m there, and I don’t know how to say, “Hey, I know I forced my presence on all of you, and now it’s awkward, and I want to leave.”

I never learn, and I never listen. My mom has told me a thousand times if you aren’t invited, don’t ask to go. And I still ask to go. I want to spend time with them, but they don’t consider me family. And my boyfriend says it’s because I’m never over, but when I am over, there’s no conversation, or it’s late. They want to go to bed and not play hostesses to the little girl without a family.

Last night, I just wanted my family, and I didn’t get it. I just wanted to sing carols and have warm hugs and have fun. I miss even the simplest things like watching a movie, eating, or decorating our house special.

My mom was sick this year, so she didn’t miss out on people not visiting. She was more grateful she could rest and not have to get out of bed and play host. It’s not COVID; it’s just the flu. Around this time of year, either I, my mom, or my dad end up sick without fail. This year it’s my mom’s turn.

Just some silly little videos of what my Christmas used to be.

https://videopress.com/v/qg9BP8cP?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata

https://videopress.com/v/L3y4bOB1?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata

Bun Appétit, Monthly Muses

All about tamales

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Eryn 🐰

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Happy Christmas Eve!

Today has been a whirl and it’s not even noon yet.

The only Christmas tradition I seem to always and I mean always find time to do is make tamales. Last night I stayed at my friend’s house helping make tamales and while we finished the assembly pretty early, the actual steaming of the tamales took forever. I left at 12:30 but we still had two pots steaming.

This year we were smart and did not bother to count how many we made. We were too lazy and had too many specialty ones we had to make. Cheese with no jalapeños for the kiddos, cheese with extra spicy salsa and jalapeños for my friend’s father in law. Speaking of her father in law, this man has a gift to never be around when we are making the tamales but always arrives exactly as the first batch is ready to be eaten.

I personally love helping to make the food because I feel I learn something new each year. Two years ago I made tamales on my own and learned how long to steam them. Last year was the first time I made tamales with banana leaves instead of corn husk, so I learned how to wrap them and tie them. This year I learned to make the masa from scratch.

My mom used to make her own masa when I was a kid but I never paid attention. As an adult I’ve only used premade masa that can be found from a Mexican market. This year I decided to learn to make masa. I figured it was simple enough.

Dough

-1 1/3 cups lard or solid vegetable shortening, or butter.

-1 1/2 teaspoons salt (omit if masa mixture contains salt)

-1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (omit if masa mixture contains baking powder)

-4 cups freshly ground masa harina flour for tamales (34 to 36 ounces) and add 2-4 cups chicken broth (or 2 1/4 cups warm water.)

To prepare the dough:

-Combine masa for tamale, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add broth or water.

-Mix with your fingers to make soft moist dough. In a bowl beat the lard until it gets fluffy, add the masa and beat until the dough has a spongy texture. Taste for flavor and salt and water, if necessary.

Monthly Muses

The Places I go to see Christmas Lights

Posted on December 21, 2021May 1, 2023 by Eryn 🐰

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Just a few days to Christmas

My holiday spirit was a little crushed when I learned I would be working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My family celebrates on the 24th, which is common for most Hispanics. So working Christmas Eve at first really hurt me. Also because normally by this time of the year I have made my own ornaments, made champurrado, started getting the things to help make tamales and preparing for the new year because of work I’m missing it.

I always wanted my life to be like a hallmark or lifetime movie. And while I am currently the overworked woman with a full time job that seems constantly to take away time spent with family, where is my knight in shining armor to help me remember what I’m missing? Because it seems to me my job is also getting in the way of my relationship. I no longer have a comfortable work-life balance.

I’ve been trying to not be a Grinch and actually my friends helped me with that. My friend gifted me with homemade ornaments. Not only are they handmade ornaments, they are Harry Potter themed. She painted the Hufflepuff crest for me. I can’t begin to explain how much I love it.

I’m still super upset I won’t be going to see Christmas lights with the family.

So I decided to share with you some of my absolutely favorite places to go look at lights. And all the places I missed this year.

The Newport Beach Boat Parade

This year’s theme was “Jingle On the Waves.” I always like going on opening day. They have live entertainment, people put up booths and sell random items. It’s always fun and festive. I was super excited to hear the parade was back. I would have loved to go last year but it was canceled. I think some people still showed up but I didn’t risk it.

Enchanted: Forest of Lights

Descanso Gardens are absolutely beautiful in the daytime. But at night, with what feels like a thousand lights it is simply magical. They are sold out until the 23 and are closed the 24th and 25th. I’ll be getting tickets for January.

Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo

It’s a cul de sac where the majority of the houses have their Christmas lights. It’s so cute. You can either drive down or walk. I prefer to walk so I can take pictures. Before the pandemic people used to sell hot chocolate,popcorn and other treats in front of their houses. There was one house that sold these warm nuts that were covered in sweet stuff. I wanna say they were almonds or pecans but I don’t remember.

Naples Canal christmas lights

Along the Naples Canal there are houses and they are all decorated. It’s actually near where the Newport Beach boat parade is. That’s how I found out about it two years ago but I haven’t been back since. I recommend going on a weekday when it’s less crowded. It’s so relaxing but it gets really cold because you’re right by the water.