Remember when getting 12 inches of snow used to be fun?
Then I quit my job and became the official How Sweet snow shoveler. Mr. How Sweet gives me a solid “B.” I’m hoping this means I’m relieved of the role of official How Sweet lawn cutter.
Our Christmas tree is still up. I attempted to take it down right after New Year’s, but my mom caught wind of that and told me to keep it up so she could see it. That was well over a week ago.
I turn it on every night because the lighting in our family room is so dim that I can’t see a thing. I wonder if this means I’m getting old? The tree is coming down tonight. (Maybe.)
I made some really gourmet mac ‘n cheese today. Like… really gourmet.
See?
And then I topped an Oreo with some frosting.
Because Oreos just aren’t indulgent enough.
I’ve been listening to the Jersey Boys soundtrack for 7 hours, consequently belting every song.
Now I’m losing my voice. Mr. How Sweet won’t mind. I never stop talking.
I’ve also taken 18 naps.
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
I still think all this snow is exciting(says the one who didn’t have to shovel anything).
Just consider the Jersey Boys payback for all the Dolly Parton Mr. How Sweet puts you through :-)
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Mr. How Sweet It Is — January 13th, 2011 @ 10:14 pm
Fact: Mr. How Sweet sent a text to his good buddy earlier this week wondering why Dolly Parton’s birthday is not an official holiday.
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Kristina @ spabettie — January 13th, 2011 @ 10:50 pm
this needs a LIKE button.
Yeah, I am starting to lose my mind here! So, the kids are out of school tomorrow now and Monday for MLK day. I need a vacation!
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I heart you. That is all.
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Sounds like a pretty fabulous day to me. Enjoy it! :)
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What a productive day :D
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Sounds like a great day :) Luckily, we have a landlord who does the shoveling — one of the only good things about renting!
And our tree is still up too… shameful. But I can’t face it… putting it up is such fun, why is taking it down so bad?!
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chocolate, awesome music, and a slugfest? PERFECTION!
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I love this! I too, am the “designated snow shoveler” around these parts! But when I mention that I’m from Wisconsin…and that we have about 3-4 feet of the stuff….maybe you can work up a little sympathy for me? :)
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:33 pm
Done! You win. :)
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MMMMM i love annies mac and cheese…I grew up eating that at least twice a week…dipped in apple sauce…don’t knock it till you try it :)
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:33 pm
How about Mr. How Sweet REALLY thought it was gourmet mac and cheese? Geez, I wonder what this says about my cooking…
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Jersey Boys is the best! Have you seen it yet??
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:32 pm
Yes!
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haha that sounds like the perfect day- sans shoveling. maybe Mr.howsweet will let you start your own snow removal company… commencing with the purchase of a snow blower?
now I’m craving mac’n cheese.
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I’m always all about feminist power and equal division of labor…until it snows. And then I’m happy to stay in my warm kitchen baking cookies like a good little wifey, while my husband does all of the snow shoveling :-)
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My dang trees (yes…I have THREE…but they’re little wee ones of my kids) are coming down this weekend. I can’t stand it anymore! Or the snow. Thankfully our landlord shovels or I would have called in sick to work the past three days! I want to take 18 naps! :)
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I just had a good amount of leftover frosting until I used it up yesterday. Why didn’t I put some on an Oreo?! (I mean a 365 Whole Foods brand Chocolate Sandwich Cookie……)
Anyway, I live in FL. We don’t have snow. :)
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:32 pm
I’m moving in.
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Jae — January 14th, 2011 @ 1:22 am
Pshh, don’t go to Florida. Come to New Orleans, where there’s
1. NO snow
2. Bacon bacon bacon
3. Gumbo with Andouille sausage
4. Jambalaya with sausage
5. Bacon Poboys
6. Crawfish and lobster dripping with buttery goodness.
7. French Quarter Jazz
So how about that? :)
I wish I was able to take 1 nap!
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Mr. How Sweet is torn. On one hand, the Christmas tree is coming down tonight (maybe) which means he need to help. On the other hand, there is gourmet mac-n-cheese at home. Mr. How Sweet smells a trap. Mr. How Sweet is also a man, meaning he is easily distracted by food.
Question…is there chicken in that gourmet mac-n-cheese?
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I am glad you “confessed” to having your tree still up! Mine is still up too. I hope that if I bring out the ornament box it will magically get put away while I am at work. (Here’s to wishful thinking…)
We have ours hooked to the light switch, so all the neighbors can be a witness to my procrastination skills.
I like Flylady.net. She likes you to do things in 15 minute incriments. So 15 minutes undress the tree….15 minutes eat a sleeve of oreos and frosting….
yeah…I like that!
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I’m designated watch the kids while the Mr deals w/snow. Have some kids and get out of outdoor maintenance lol. I did pitch in w/this last storm as it was just beyond ridiculous here.
Okay – should you accept this challenge/goal… have the tree down by Valentine’s Day :) One year our mini tree was still up then. I felt ashamed but no one knew but us, plus it was mini so who cares.
BTW… does Mr How Sweet always talk in the third person??? lol
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Mr. How Sweet It Is — January 13th, 2011 @ 10:57 pm
Mr. How Sweet says, “Yes, he does.” He learned to talk this way by watching The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin cutting wicked promos on Monday Night Raw back in the day.
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:31 pm
He beat me to it Rachel… and you would think he does by his comments, huh?
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18 naps? I want your life!
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I just took my tree out last weekend (by I, I mean I watched as my husband did it) and I couldn’t wait to see it go. It was real and it was making a huge mess.
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Ohhh yes – nothing like having to trudge through those 12 inches of snow and getting your feet soaked! haha Love the Jersey Boys soundtrack.
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I love reading your posts. They always make me laugh at just the right time! I am so happy I found you on tastespotting a few months ago! :) Your the best!
I made your homemade French Bread pizzas last week. They were a serious hit with my family and friends. I couldn’t find whole wheat so I used the long ones with sesame seeds. They were so amazing I am making them again this weekend! The Crab Bites (on the Eng Muffins) are on the menu for this weekend too!
If you tired of snow you can come visit me in Florida…but it’s gonna be 32 again tonight here! :( At least there’s not 20 ft of snow! :)
Us wanna be 1950′s housewife’s gotta stick together!
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:31 pm
Thank you so much Rebekah! You are the best. Thank you so much for reading.
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Erica A — January 14th, 2011 @ 3:21 pm
I thought I was only one who would love to be a 50s housewife!!! Glad to see I’m not alone!
Love the site, read it everyday!
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I remember when snow used to be fun. Now I get annoyed when my socks get when from a puddle that someone tracked in. When did we get old?
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:31 pm
Sad isn’t it?
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my tree is still up too, and I turn the lights on each night… BECAUSE our living room is very dim!! …I didn’t consider it is because I am getting old… until now… ;)
I like the extra light. I may take the tree down, and string the lights up, dorm room style, around the room. HA.
A solicitor came to the door the other day, and looked at the tree… totally judging me. I don’t care.
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:30 pm
LOL!
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i want to stay at home, eat mac and cheese, and lose my voice. but not shovel snow. please and thank you.
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My tree is coming down today also! My friend Daryl says we officially have until the 15th of January. We are ahead of schedule.
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Jessica — January 13th, 2011 @ 11:30 pm
Sweet. I feel better now.
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Jersey Boys is the best!! Did you see it while you were in NYC? I just took down our tree and I cried a little. It made the whole living room look so pretty and cozy. Now it’s just big and empty.
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Some how a 24 pack of Velveeta Shells & Cheese showed up at my house tonight… & the combination of the magic of it appearing & your pictures of such amazing macaroni & cheese has made it pretty much necessary for me to eat some for dinner. Dang you cravings & magical appearances of processed cheesy noodles.
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My Christmas tree is still up, too. :)
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Jessica, your desserts make me want to drool. They look fabulous. How do you do it? I was wondering though, one of these days, do you have any idea how to make red beans and rice (a new orleans staple) actually flavorful? all the ones I’ve had literally suck– even when they do have sausage in them.
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Jessica — January 14th, 2011 @ 2:01 am
I’ve actually never had red beans and rice! Am I really missing out?
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Jae — January 14th, 2011 @ 5:43 am
haha when it’s cooked Juuuuuusst right, then you are ( I’ve only ever had it once or twice with perfection and it’s been so long ago), but the other times, you’re not :)
I am still sore from shoveling the driveway two days ago! How pathetic am I?! And I only was given a C…but I blame the wind on all of the drifting. (That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!) :)
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Jessica — January 14th, 2011 @ 2:00 am
The wind and drifting is SUCH a pain!
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‘Gourmet’ mac and cheese is my go to comfort food. Especially when the hubby is not home. Straight out of the pot is best (which I am sure you will agree.)
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Now I want mac n cheese. :)
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There is nothing wrong with 18 naps…. and I could never be the official shoveler. Thank God for the Husband who snow plows!
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I just miss when snow meant no school. Not it means walk to work through slush and try not to slip!
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Mmmm, oreos with frosting. I must confess this weekend I made my daughter’s birthday cake and had some left over frosting. I then used a slice of turkey bacon (it was on the counter and handy) as a spoon. Fortunately, the “spoon” broke and I discovered bacon and frosting is an AWESOME combination!!! Enjoy your snow!
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Our Christmas tree is still up too. I just don’t want to take it down yet!
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Change “Jersey Boys” to “Assassins” by Sondheim, and I could say the same thing :)
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I have actually never shoveled snow before because I grew up, there was never enough snow to shovel. Now I’m living in Cleveland where we get TONS of snow, but I live in an apartment, so conveniently, no shoveling :) But I am sure I will experience it one day!
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Growing up, our furnace opened up right from the basement to the living room. A grate covered it so we didn’t fall in (obviously) but coming in from the cold and stomping our boots off was the most magical thing. As it dripped down through the grate and onto the furnace (I think? I know nothing of these sorts of things) and melted it created the most WONDERFUL smell. I guess it was just a comfortable, we’re home and toasty and dry comfort. I love it so much and that is the ONLY thing I miss about snow.
Well that and wearing lots of layers and boots. And not sweating.
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Minus the snow shoveling, it sounds like a pretty great day. :) Shoveling the snow is just way too hard.
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Our Christmas tree is still up too haha… I’ve been so busy with work that I’m just too exhausted to take it down each day. Goal is for this weekend – it’s getting a bit outta hand! :P
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this is so disfunctional. love it.
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haha, oh the years of fun snowy days:) That was before we had to shovel, scrape and drive in it…..
I love watching it fall, I love snow days but really, I just like it because I know that when spring comes it’ll be that much better.
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snow days are only good if you’re about 7 and get to watch cartoons all day and skip school
for the adults who have to shovel snow, they are not quite so fun :)
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Frosting on oreos sounds fantastic! I always eat the center cream out anyways! ;-)
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Your mac and cheese looks delicious! No worries… our Christmas tree is still up. I keep putting it off b/c taking the tree down is definitely not as fun as putting it up!
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Last year we kept our tree up until after Valentines. My granddaughter wanted to turn the Christmas tree into a Valentine tree SO we took off the colored ornaments and added red hearts and crafted some new hearts to hang. It was a blast and fun memories. This year – gone after Christmas day!!!
SO did you take it down????
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I must say I hate cleaning the snow off my car… but love shoveling snow LOL… mmmmm mac and cheese… I admit the boxed kind is the only kind I like LOL
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Ha! Love it. We shovel about 8 months of the year here. You’d think I’d be thinner…. :)
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