NFC North Champs

Our win against the Bears last week made us the NFC North Champs! Hip hip horray! I've been too busy to write about the game, but I liked where the offense was heading last week, and the D came up with some big plays as well. If only Mason Crosby could get his groove back, we'd be in business! Anyhoo, it was a great win, and a good feeling to clinch the division! Go Pack!

Holiday Wine Club!

We had our Christmas Wine Club at my friends Kelly and Jonathans house this past Tuesday. As always it did not disappoint! Their house was festively decorated, there was a fire in the fireplace, there was Christmas music on the radio. They set a pretty table with some really beautiful placemats, and it was just so fun!
We had salmon with caperberries (my first caperberries EVER!) and tarragon (I think) and potatoes made with maple syrup and cloves! So delish! I went back for seconds, and may have even sneaked thirds!
Our class was on dessert wines, so they were pretty sweet. (We tried a sauternes, eiswine, vin santo, tokaji, and a muscat.) The vin santo tasted like a sweet port, and the Mom made a banana tarte, and I made a baked brie (that acquired a hole somehow in the oven so all the cheese melted out! what a disaster!) and Kelly made a really tasty chocolate cake, that was only semi-sweet and really complimented the dessert wines.On top of all that we had a couple meat and cheese plates and crackers! You cannot imagine what a lovely evening it was! Ahhh...so Christmassy! Here are a few photos of the festivities!

Naughty but Nice Xmas Cookies!

I made Christmas cookies again this year! Well, actually I enlisted the help of my friend Daniel, who happens to be a wonderful baker, and I just assisted him. But anyway, I opted out of the traditional snowmen and Santa shaped cookie cutters for a more original twist on the classic holiday cookie. I decided to use the lingerie cookie cutters my mom bought me in France a couple years ago. I have a bustier and a bra and panties (or one piece and two piece swim-suit if you prefer something more conservative). Anyway, it took one night to bake the cookies, and a second night to decorate them all. It was a lot of hard work, but very fun. And we drank champagne and listed to holiday music the whole while, so that helped out a lot.  I think they came out great, AND they are 100% original. You can't buy these tasty treats in any store. Anyway here are a few photos.

The "Winter Wonderland" collection

Men's wear

The "Holiday Classics" collection

"Holiday Classics" Seperates

Yummy Cookies!

Oh la la!

"Feliz Navidad" 

Pearl Harbor Day

Today is the anniversary (if such a happy sounding word can be applicable) of the attack on Pearl Harbor that marked the United States entry into World War II. I have been to the memorial twice, once when I was 11 or twelve, and the second time last year. Both times I was so moved by the experience that I thought of nothing else for several days. It's the closest I've ever come to war, and the encounter was one of the most emotionally confusing things I have ever experienced (both as a child and adult). That the most shameful acts of humanity somehow always manage to produce the greatest acts of valor in humanity is beyond my ability to rationalize. It was shocking to learn that most of the seamen killed at Pearl Harbor were kids. 17, 18 or 19 or so, just boys really. I saw photos of them.
War is...there isn't even a word I know of that describes it adequately. A terrible, awful, sad, tragic, regrettable, devastating, unnecessary, gut wrenching thing. And that's just how I felt as a tourist to the memorial on a beautiful, sunny Hawaiian day. I can't even watch movies about it because of my sensitivity to the senselessness of it all. It gives me nightmares. I know in the past war has often been a necessity, and I do not mean to disrespect the men and women who have given their lives so that I may sit here and expound upon this. Rather, I just wish that no one, not a single person, ever had to die in war.
The fact that it happened right before Christmas makes it even more sad (if that is even possible). It's been an unusually somber day for me amidst all the holiday cheer I've generally been feeling. But I don't want to ignore it or overlook it. I think that  too few people these days really understands what war is. I feel like too few people despise it truly. If we did then no one would be playing video games, and enjoying movies that depict it. It's a sad day. And while I have holiday cookies to decorate tonight, and company coming over,  my thoughts will be with the boys still aboard the USS Arizona, at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.

The Perfect Gift...

Everyone has that friend, or family member that is hard to buy Christmas gifts for. You know the one I'm talking about right? Well, consider your problem solved! Why? Because  a good old fashioned hand made Christmas sweater is the perfect gift for ANYONE! And where can you find these festive and merry jumpers you might ask, why at: http://www.myuglychristmassweater.com of course! Here are a couple of my favorites! (The dresses are especially fun don't you think?)

Oh Christmas Tree!

Bringing the 'lil guy home!

Squeezing through the door!

All the while the reindeer is watching us:)

First ornament of the season! Bacon!

And finally the tree topper!

Christmas is here! Christmas is here!!!

Week 13: Packers vs. Vikes

Game Day Mimosa at LG Bar and Grill

Well, yesterdays game started out strong but kind of fizzled, and for a while there I wasn't sure we were going to come out on top. Thank goodness for Morgan Burnett!
The Rodgers to Jones TD in the first quarter was spectacular. Jones really did a great job of hauling that one in. The run game went OK, although Minnesota's run game fared slightly better. Lol. (Adrian Peterson had a record day, with a career long 83 yard run for a TD). I don't think it has so much to do with our running backs lack of skill so much as the offensive line not executing the run blocks effectively. They just can't seem to create the gaps that other teams are able to, and it leaves our backs...well, on their backs. I do like the Starks/Green combination, and I think playing both of them is working out.
Crosby is on his way out for sure. I hate to say it because he has been so awesome for so long, but he almost missed a 30 yard field goal, at home, and then did miss the 53 yarder to end the half. If we are going to make it to the playoffs, we cannot afford to only make a 3rd of our field goal opportunities. I'd be really surprised if they stick with him for the rest of the season. It's too bad, and I feel for him. And I feel awful saying all this but it's true.
The end of the first quarter, beginning of the second was sort of blah. There were a bunch of 3 and outs and then Jordy Nelson hurt his hamstring. GREAT. That's just what we need. At least Greg Jennings is back out on the field.
I thought the play calling was really conservative yesterday, and I didn't care for it. McCarthy was definitely playing it safe all the way. Twice we were at 4th and  inches and McCarthy chose to punt. I know AP (Adrian Peterson) is a threat, but with the Vikes main receiver out of the game, I would have given the offense a shot. I know the decision probably has to do with the backup personnel on the field, and not being exactly sure what the offensive line, in particular, would do. But Rodgers was out there, and Jennings and Cobb, and Kuhn, and Green. I mean for crying out loud one of those guys could have moved the ball 2 inches for a first down. We didn't play an aggressive game, and that annoys me, because that's what football is all about. But anyway.
Then on the first play after the half Crosby made yet again another huge mistake. (The rule is if you kick a ball out of bounds between the 5 yard line and end zone on a kickoff, then the ball automatically gets moved to the 40 yard line.) The next play AP took it all the way down to the 13 yard line in one run. It was around then that I started to get nervous. But luckily Burnett got those two interceptions int he second half. If not, I'm not at all certain we would have come away with the win.
The defense played OK, but not great. The Vikings had a +200 ground game, but our secondary did well against their (almost) non-existent pass game. There wasn't much pressure on the QB, and I was a little frustrated by that but...Oh well.
All in all, I guess it was an OK game. And we got a division win, and the Bears lost. So all of those are good things. I just wish we were playing less sloppy (I think we had between 8 and 10 penalties yesterday), and more confident. And what happened to the no huddle? Is it because of the offensive line issues? We take on the Lions next week, and I really hope the O-line protects Rodgers and gives him time to make some plays. I also hope Matthews is back by then to give our pass-rush a little life.
Until then!

I Saw Santa!

I missed most of the Christmas Parade this year due to bad weather and a the temptation of a nice cozy seat by the fireplace to read. But I managed to make it out for the last couple minutes. And I made it in time  for the best part which is to see Santa wave at me and hear him wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! Hoooray! AWESOME! Only 22 days till Christmas!